Key Takeaways Fortinet expanded FortiGate with new G Series models and launched the FortiSOC cloud SOC platform.FTNT posted 20% Q1 revenue growth, record free cash flow and raised full-year 2026 guidance.Fortinet balances FortiGate hardware growth with FortiSOC expansion amid rollout and adoption challenges. Fortinet's (FTNT - Free Report) push to expand its FortiGate hardware lineup and cloud-delivered security operations platform is reigniting investor attention on the cybersecurity firm's growth runway. The company recently widened its FortiGate G Series with the 3500G and 400G models, built on its proprietary NP7 and SP5 processors and running FortiOS 8.0, the operating system introduced in March 2026 with AI-driven security, SASE and quantum-safe capabilities.
The FortiGate 3500G targets high-density data centers, delivering 595 Gbps of firewall throughput and support for 179 million concurrent sessions, while consuming just 1.6 watts per Gbps of throughput. The FortiGate 400G, aimed at enterprise edges, offers 164 Gbps of firewall throughput and 28 million concurrent sessions. On the cloud side, Fortinet in June 2026 launched FortiSOC, a unified, cloud-delivered security operations platform that consolidates six SOC functions into a single SaaS experience with embedded agentic AI for alert investigation and response.
These product moves followed a strong first quarter. Revenues grew 20% year over year to $1.85 billion, with product revenues increasing 41% to $645 million and billings rising 31% to $2.09 billion. GAAP operating margin came in at 31%, non-GAAP operating margin at 36%, and non-GAAP EPS rose 41% to 82 cents, alongside record free cash flow of $1.01 billion. Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to roughly 15% year-over-year growth, with full-year revenues now expected between $7.71 billion and $7.87 billion and non-GAAP operating margin guided to 33-36%.
The growth narrative isn't without friction. Product revenue strength reflects a hardware refresh cycle that can be lumpy, and the FortiSOC rollout currently spans only the U.S. and EMEA at launch, with broader regional expansion planned through 2026 — meaning near-term cloud contribution remains modest relative to the installed base. FortiSOC also layers onto, rather than replaces, existing tools like FortiAnalyzer and FortiSIEM, raising questions about how quickly customers migrate. Even so, the combination of differentiated ASIC-based hardware economics and an expanding SaaS security-operations footprint gives Fortinet two distinct growth levers heading into the back half of 2026, with execution against raised guidance the next test for the stock.
How Rivals Palo Alto Networks and Check Point CompareOn the same firewall-and-cloud-SOC theme, Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) and Check Point Software (CHKP - Free Report) offer contrasting benchmarks. Palo Alto Networks posted second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $2.6 billion, up 15% year over year, with product revenues up 22%, while its Cortex XSIAM cloud SOC platform helped drive next-generation security ARR up 33% to $6.33 billion. Check Point, by contrast, reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of $668 million, up just 5%, with security subscriptions rising 11% to $323 million, as weaker firewall appliance revenues tied to go-to-market execution changes weighed on results. Against Palo Alto Networks' faster cloud-platform ARR growth and Check Point's appliance-driven softness, Fortinet's FortiGate hardware gains and FortiSOC launch position it between the two on execution.
FTNT’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesFortinet shares have gained 88.5% in the past six-month period, outperforming the Zacks Security industry and the broader Computer and Technology sector’s growth of 48.4% and 11.6%, respectively.
FTNT’s 6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, FTNT appears overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 46.41, higher than the sector's average of 23.39. The company carries a Value Score of F.
FTNT’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fortinet’s earnings is pegged at $3.13 per share for 2026, which implies year-over-year growth of 13.41%.
Fortinet currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$44.82▼
$78.03Dividend Yield3.72%
P/E Ratio8.54
Price Target$60.50
McCormick & Company’s NYSE: MKC share price is a steal as of mid-2026, down 50% from record highs ahead of a potentially game-changing deal.
The proposed combination with Unilever’s food business could triple the business, generate shareholder value, and provide sufficient cash flow to enable balance sheet quality and capital returns.
Get MKC alerts:
Balance sheet safety is one of the reasons the share price is down so much. The transaction includes a $15.7 billion cash payment to Unilever, with McCormick relying on cash on hand and new debt to fund that portion of the deal. That added debt is a key reason investors are focused on the company’s post-close leverage.
The bad news is that McCormick’s leverage ratio will rise to a higher-than-wanted 4.0x EBITDA, but there is good news to offset the bad.
Already carrying investment-grade debt ratings from all major ratings agencies, McCormick’s executives have expressed a commitment to reducing the debt quickly. Plans are in place to drive it below the targeted 3x level within two years, which would provide a tailwind for shareholder value.
High-Quality McCormick & Company Presents Deep Value in 2026As it stands, McCormick is in a healthy financial position and growing its business. In this environment, the roughly 8x current year earnings are a deep discount to historical norms.
Typically trading in the mid-20x range, valuation metrics suggest a robust valuation expansion is possible over time, compounding the impact of growth. The company is expected to sustain organic growth without the merger, potentially accelerating it in the wake. Estimates as of late-June suggest much lower valuations relative to long-term forecasts, setting the stage for several hundred basis points of stock price gains over the next three to five years.
Analyst trends play into MKC’s price decline as well as the long-term outlook.
While price targets have declined, the low end aligns with the late-June price action, suggesting a floor is in place.
Within that, the consensus Hold rating comes with a 46% Buy-side bias, which, given the 13 analysts covering the stock, provides some conviction in the outlook.
In this scenario, MKC could rebound at any time with the right catalyst and will likely move sideways until one emerges. Upcoming catalysts include milestones tied to the Unilever merger, such as the expected announcement of a European secondary listing location and regulatory approvals in the United States and United Kingdom.
Institutional trends highlight the value and underpin market support as June nears its end. The group owns nearly 80% of the stock and has accumulated shares at a semi-aggressive pace over the trailing 12 months, despite distributing in Q1 2026. The critical detail is that accumulation resumed in Q2 at an aggressive $10-to-$1 pace and will likely remain supportive of price action, given the company’s core strengths and a value-building merger opportunity.
McCormick Outperformance: Organic and Acquisitions Shine ThroughMcCormick & Company had a solid Q2 with growth underpinned by organic strength and the acquisition of McCormick de Mexico. Revenue grew by 16.7%, with 1.7% organic sales growth, driven by a 2.2% increase in average prices. Both segments reported strength, led by a 2.9% organic increase in flavor solutions, with both segments amped by acquisition-related growth.
Margin news is also good. The acquisition is driving significant back-end consolidations and cost savings, leading to improved gross and operating margins. Adjusted gross margin improved by 270 bps, adjusted operating by 180 bps, leaving adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at 80 cents, up 11 cents year-over-year (YOY) and 11 cents or 1600 bps better than expected.
Catalysts and a Risk-Reducing, High-Yielding Dividend McCormick & Company, Incorporated Dividend PaymentsDividend Yield3.72%
Annual Dividend$1.92
Dividend Increase Track Record38 Years
Annualized 5-Year Dividend Growth7.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio31.95%
Upcoming Ex-Dividend DateJul. 6
MKC Dividend History
Guidance is a catalyst for share prices because the company merely reaffirmed it, despite the FQ2 strengths. The market assumes the guidance is cautious and expects the Q2 strength to be sustained in the upcoming release.
McCormick’s dividend is a risk-reducing factor for investors. The ultra-low share price results in an ultra-high yield, approximately 4% with shares around $50, and it is a reliable payment.
The company is a Dividend Achiever with nearly 40 years of consecutive annual distribution increases, and is on track to hit the 50-year mark and be crowned a Dividend King.
McCormick’s position as a consumer staples company gives it some defensive qualities, but the stock still faces risks tied to pricing, volume, consumer trade-down behavior, and merger execution. Consumer headwinds have shoppers trading down on center-of-plate costs in favor of flavors. Cheap cuts and starches work well with bold, zesty, and spicy flavors, and McCormick is a leading source. Execution risk is the bigger headwind, as delays could be reflected in the stock's price. The worst-case scenario is that the merger is completed, but synergies fail to yield the desired results.
Should You Invest $1,000 in McCormick & Company, Incorporated Right Now?Before you consider McCormick & Company, Incorporated, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and McCormick & Company, Incorporated wasn't on the list.
While McCormick & Company, Incorporated currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
With the proliferation of data centers and electric vehicles, the electric grid will only get more strained. Download this report to learn how energy stocks can play a role in your portfolio as the global demand for energy continues to grow.
The latest quarterly [url="]U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index â Rates Edition[/url] showed truck freight rates rising considerably in April and May. This pres
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many 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.
It also includes access to 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.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
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 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 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, 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.
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.
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: Roper Technologies (ROP - Free Report) Based in Sarasota, FL, Roper Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes software and technology enabled products and solutions. It caters to selected segments of a broad range of markets, which include legal, healthcare, government, food, transportation, oil & gas, medical, and other niche industries.
ROP is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. ROP has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 3.9% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $21.95 per share. ROP boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.7%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, ROP should be on investors' short list.
LOS ANGELES, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Lucid Group, Inc. (“Lucid” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: LCID) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before July 28, 2026.
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].
The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.
According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Lucid’s deliveries were disrupted by a supplier quality issue. The Company suffered a material impact on its business results due to this quality issue. The Company overstated the strength of manufacturing capabilities. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Lucid, investors suffered damages.
Join the case to recover your losses
The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.
CONTACT:
The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335 [email protected]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Lucid securities between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/LCID.
Lucid Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that:
a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; accordingly, the defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid's manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for Lucid Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/LCID, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Lucid you have until July 28, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Lucid Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Lucid Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299665
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
ATLANTA, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A shareholder class action lawsuit has been filed against ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc. (“ZoomInfo”) (NASDAQ: GTM). The lawsuit alleges that Defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts, including allegations that: ZoomInfo’s optimistic plan for continued growth was undermined by slowing seat-based demand, weakening upsells and customers revising decisions to purchase AI products and develop internal AI-driven go-to-market solutions, making ZoomInfo’s 2026 full year revenue guidance increasingly unlikely to be met.
If you purchased ZoomInfo shares between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, and experienced a loss on that investment, you are encouraged to discuss your legal rights by contacting Corey D. Holzer, Esq. at [email protected], by toll-free telephone at (888) 508-6832, or by visiting the firm’s website at www.holzerlaw.com/case/zoominfo-technologies/ for more information.
The deadline to ask the court to be appointed lead plaintiff in the case is August 24, 2026.
Holzer & Holzer, LLC, an ISS top rated securities litigation law firm for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, dedicates its practice to vigorous representation of shareholders and investors in litigation nationwide, including shareholder class action and derivative litigation. Since its founding in 2000, Holzer & Holzer attorneys have played critical roles in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders victimized by fraud and other corporate misconduct. More information about the firm is available through its website, www.holzerlaw.com, and upon request from the firm. Holzer & Holzer, LLC has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Corey Holzer is the attorney responsible for its content.
A downtrend has been apparent in KE Holdings Inc. Sponsored ADR (BEKE - Free Report) lately with too much selling pressure. The stock has declined 14.1% over the past four weeks. However, given the fact that it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts are majorly in agreement about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier, the stock could be due for a turnaround.
We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.
RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.
Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.
So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.
However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.
Why BEKE Could Bounce Back Before LongThe heavy selling of BEKE shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 29.8. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.
This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering BEKE in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 4.4% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.
Moreover, BEKE 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 trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zoetis securities between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/ZTS.
Zoetis Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the growth, competitive positioning, market share, and veterinarian adoption of key products within the Companion Animal segment while failing to disclose that:
veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis' Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; Zoetis' Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower-priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and Zoetis' dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment.What's Next for Zoetis Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/ZTS, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Zoetis you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Zoetis Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Zoetis Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299397
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Key Takeaways HomeGoods delivered 9% comparable sales growth in fiscal Q1, outpacing TJX's larger banners.Net sales in the HomeGoods U.S. division rose 11% to $2.51B as demand broadened across regions.Segment margin expanded 270 basis points to 12.9%, signaling rising efficiency and scale. The TJX Companies, Inc.’s (TJX - Free Report) HomeGoods banner is increasingly looking like more than just a complementary business within the retailer's portfolio. The chain is emerging as a meaningful earnings contributor as its scale, sales momentum and profitability continue to improve.
The latest quarter highlighted that shift. HomeGoods posted a 9% comparable sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, outpacing the company's larger banners and demonstrating broad-based demand across regions and customer income groups. Net sales in the HomeGoods (United States) division rose 11% year over year to $2,506 million. More importantly, profitability improved at an even faster pace, with segment margin expanding 270 basis points to 12.9%.
The performance also reinforces the strength of HomeGoods' merchandising proposition. The banner continues to attract shoppers with an eclectic assortment of home fashions and furnishings sourced from around the world and offered at compelling values through its off-price model. The broad-based growth across regions and income demographics suggests that its appeal extends well beyond a specific customer segment.
Just as importantly, strong sales momentum is translating into higher profitability. The expansion in segment margin indicates that HomeGoods is not only growing faster but also becoming a more efficient business as it gains scale. The latest results suggest the banner is strengthening the contribution to TJX's earnings mix and establishing itself as an increasingly important profit engine within the portfolio.
TJX and Peers See Similar DynamicsRoss Stores (ROST - Free Report) achieved strong growth through disciplined execution of its off-price model. Driven by robust customer traffic, Ross Stores delivered a stellar 17% comparable store sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The broad-based gains across income levels, age groups and ethnicities underscore the banner's wide consumer appeal. Importantly, Ross Stores translated this sales momentum into stronger profitability, with operating margin expanding 120 basis points to 13.4%.
Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) has been benefiting from the disciplined execution of its off-price model. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Burlington Stores reported 6% comparable store sales growth and a 14% increase in total sales. Disciplined inventory management, faster inventory turns and an ability to chase trends enabled Burlington Stores to convert sales growth into margin expansion and consistent earnings growth.
TJX’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of The TJX Companies have gained 1.8% in the past month compared with the industry’s growth of 2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, TJX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28.93X, down from the industry’s average of 30.91X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The TJX Companies’ fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings per share has inched up 2 cents and 1 cent to $5.17 and $5.67, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TJX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Shares of Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) are down 5% in early trading Monday, while SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) shares have slid 7%. Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) stock, by contrast, is climbing 6%.
The split is striking because these three names traded as one theme for much of the past year. Micron stock is up 265% year to date (YTD), and SanDisk shares have rallied 713% YTD. Meanwhile, Western Digital stock is up 251% YTD.
There’s no single confirmed headline driving the divergence today. Instead, the action looks like a structural rotation between two businesses that no longer fit in the same bucket.
Memory Names Cool After Parabolic Runs Micron and SanDisk are the NAND/DRAM memory names in this trio. Western Digital is essentially a pure hard-disk-drive (HDD) company after spinning off and divesting its remaining stake in SanDisk. That separation, completed in February 2025, means factors pressuring memory pricing hit Micron and SanDisk but largely spare Western Digital’s drive business.
Profit-taking is the simplest read. Micron just reported a blowout fiscal Q3 2026 on June 24, with revenue of $41.46 billion (a 18% beat) and guided fiscal Q4 2026 revenue to $50 billion. The reaction has been a textbook sell-the-news move in extended stocks.
Analysts have also flagged a softening of the scarcity premium baked into memory names. Concerns include potential new capacity from international competitor SK Hynix, a possible NASDAQ listing for that competitor, and broader worries that AI-chip valuations may have peaked. On Reddit, SanDisk sentiment swung from very bullish (score 86 on June 24) to very bearish (score 18 on June 26), with explicit put-buying activity flagged in WallStreetBets.
Community chatter also points to month-end institutional rebalancing as a contributing factor. That framing reflects sentiment rather than confirmed flow data, but it lines up with the depth of the pullback in two of the year’s most extended winners (Micron and SanDisk).
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Why Western Digital Is Catching the Bid Western Digital reported fiscal Q3 2026 results on April 30, posting revenue of $3.34 billion, up 46% year over year (YoY), with non-GAAP gross margin crossing 50% for the first time. CEO Irving Tan stated, “Virtually every AI workload, from training, inference, agentic AI to physical AI, creates data that is stored persistently and cost-efficiently on HDDs.”
As an HDD-focused name, Western Digital is insulated from NAND pricing fears and the scarcity-premium worry. Capital leaving the hottest memory names can rotate into a storage play that still trades at a comparatively cheaper multiple. Western Digital has also pointed to hyperscaler contracts running through 2028 and longer-term targets of 50%-plus gross margin and $20-plus earnings per share, supporting a separate bull case.
Sentiment on r/stockmarket for Western Digital reached 72 (bullish) on June 28, the most recent data point available before today’s session. That’s the kind of tone that tends to support rotation flows rather than fight them.
What to Watch This looks like a rotation story rather than a fundamental break in the thesis. The memory super-cycle still has bullish supporters. Morgan Stanley re-affirmed an overweight rating on Micron and SanDisk shares, and Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan sees further upside in SanDisk stock despite the surge.
However, the bear case is real, with stretched valuations and supply-glut concerns that could keep volatility elevated. Investors can watch for whether Micron stock and SanDisk stock hold key technical levels into the close, and whether fresh analyst notes following Micron’s June 24 results reinforce or temper the sell-the-news read. It makes sense to limit one’s position sizes given the volatility on display in all three names.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG 1.62%) issued a 50-for-1 split on June 26, 2024, making its then roughly $3,000 share price more affordable. But that almost marked the peak. The stock is currently down 53% from its all-time high.
It wasn't the split, but rather weakening sales performance in the business itself that followed the departure of former CEO Brian Niccol. Here are three reasons Chipotle has fallen from its pedestal.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
1. Slowing revenue growth Since 2024, Chipotle's revenue growth has declined amid inflationary costs and weak comparable sales. When the company issued its stock split, revenue was up 18% year over year in Q2 2024. Comp sales grew 11%, with transaction growth up 8.7%.
In May 2025, there was a noticeable slowdown in underlying business trends amid weakening consumer sentiment. For the full year, revenue grew just 5% over 2024, with comp sales declining by 1.7%.
Today's Change
(
-1.62
%) $
-0.54
Current Price
$
32.80
2. Higher costs pressured margins As sales weakened, Chipotle faced higher costs for rent, labor, and food ingredients. As a result, restaurant-level margin fell from 26.7% in 2024 to 25.4% in 2025. The company is still struggling to offset higher costs, with restaurant-level margins down to 23.7% in the first quarter of 2026.
Chipotle might have compounded this problem by lowering prices for some items. It prioritized keeping traffic up at the expense of its bottom line. Quarterly earnings peaked at $0.33 in Q2 2024. In Q1 2026, the company reported a 17% year-over-year decrease in earnings, falling to $0.23.
3. Uncertainty from leadership change Niccol took the CEO job at Starbucks in September 2024. While Chipotle's weakening performance is most correlated with the broader weakness in consumer spending, a change in CEO always creates uncertainty about the future, which can impact a company's valuation.
There's a reason Starbucks chose Niccol to lead its turnaround. Niccol proved to be a superb business operator at Chipotle. Under his leadership from 2018 through the third quarter of 2024, Chipotle more than doubled its revenue and doubled its operating profit margin. From the end of 2014 through Q3 2024, the stock returned 567%.
After the recent collapse, Chipotle stock is now trading at its lowest price-to-earnings ratio in years. It could be a great time to buy, but time will tell whether the new CEO, Scott Boatwright, is as successful as Niccol. The latest results showed improvement in top-line growth. Revenue grew 7.4% year over year, with comp sales up 0.5%.
Still, until costs get under control and earnings improve, the stock will likely remain discounted. Investors should watch for signs that food inflation is waning, as that would mark a catalyst for stronger margins and earnings.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ZS either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many 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.
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 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 ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow 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, 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.
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 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.
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: ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) Headquartered in Houston, TX, ConocoPhillips is primarily involved in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Considering proved reserves and production, the company is among the largest explorers and producers in the world. The company, founded in 1875, has a strong presence across conventional and unconventional plays in 13 countries. ConocoPhillips’ low-risk and cost-effective operations are spread across North America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
COP is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 10.56; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.19 to $10.03 per share. COP boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, COP should be on investors' short list.
For years, investors have compared Rocket Lab with Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) largely through the lens of rockets. That comparison may now be outdated.
By adding a profitable satellite communications business with recurring service revenue, Rocket Lab is beginning to resemble the broader business model that has helped make SpaceX one of the world’s most valuable private companies.
Rocket Lab Is Building A Space EcosystemThe acquisition gives Rocket Lab far more than another business line.
Iridium operates one of the world’s largest low-Earth orbit satellite communications networks, serving government agencies, aviation, maritime and commercial customers through long-term service contracts.
That recurring revenue stands in contrast to Rocket Lab’s traditional launch business, where revenue is tied to individual missions.
The combination creates a more diversified company spanning launch services, satellite manufacturing, spacecraft components and now satellite communications—bringing Rocket Lab closer to the vertically integrated model that has defined SpaceX’s growth.
SpaceX Showed Launches Aren’t EnoughAlthough SpaceX is widely known for Falcon 9 launches and Starship development, much of its strategic value comes from businesses beyond rockets.
Starlink has become one of the world’s fastest-growing satellite internet providers, generating recurring subscription revenue while complementing SpaceX’s launch operations. The company also designs and manufactures satellites and spacecraft, creating multiple revenue streams rather than relying solely on launch contracts.
Rocket Lab’s acquisition of Iridium follows a similar strategic playbook.
Instead of remaining primarily a launch provider, the company is adding a communications platform that could provide more predictable cash flows while deepening relationships with commercial and government customers.
Why Investors May CareRecurring revenue businesses have historically commanded higher valuation multiples than companies dependent on project-based revenue.
Launch demand can fluctuate from quarter to quarter, while communications services typically generate more stable, subscription-like cash flows that improve earnings visibility.
The acquisition also positions Rocket Lab to capture a larger share of the growing space economy, where customers increasingly seek integrated providers capable of building satellites, launching them into orbit and operating the communications infrastructure that follows.
Rocket Lab still trails SpaceX in scale, launch cadence and satellite deployment. But with Iridium, the company has taken a meaningful step toward becoming something much larger than a rocket manufacturer.
For investors, the transaction may ultimately be remembered less as Rocket Lab’s biggest acquisition—and more as the moment it began transforming into a full-fledged space infrastructure company.
Photo: 3Dsculptor / Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Rocket star Rocket Lab (RKLB +11.44%) is making headlines again this morning, after completing yet another satellite launch for Synspective over the weekend. (They also delayed a launch for iQPS, citing unfavorable wind conditions.)
This morning, though, the news doesn't concern stage separations -- but corporate mergers, and it's sending Rocket Lab stock flying 9.6% through 10 a.m. ET.
Nov. 25, 2024, close-up view of engines firing at an Electron rocket launch from LC-1 in New Zealand. Image source: Rocket Lab.
Rocket Lab buys Iridium Communications Rocket Lab announced this morning that it will acquire Iridium Communications (IRDM +22.29%) in a deal valued at $8 billion. Iridium, one of the original "satellite phone" companies, now focusing on Internet of Things (IoT), aviation, maritime, and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services, will trade all its outstanding stock to Rocket Lab for $54 a stub, paid $27 in cash and the rest in stock.
The companies call this "one of the most transformative deals in the space industry," marrying Rocket Lab's rocket fleet to Iridium's satellite constellation -- and thus giving Rocket Lab a captive customer similar to SpaceX's (SPCX +2.71%) Starlink at the same time as it gives Iridium an in-house launch capability -- also similar to Starlink!
Today's Change
(
11.44
%) $
9.67
Current Price
$
94.21
What's next for Rocket Lab stock Not long ago, I had a conversation with Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck. We discussed the commoditization of space launch, the higher profit margins available from providing in-space services like SpaceX Starlink -- and I asked what kind of business Beck might choose to become "Rocket Lab's Starlink?"
At the time, Beck was still mulling the idea. Now it seems he's made his decision, and it's to buy Iridium and take on SpaceX's Starlink business -- at least tangentially in the IoT realm -- and potentially attack it where it's a bit weaker in aviation, maritime, and especially PNT.
It's an exciting time to be a space investor.
Rich Smith has positions in Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image Credits:Rocket Lab Launch company Rocket Lab is buying satellite operator Iridium, putting it in a position to become a more full-fledged space services company, and continuing a wave of consolidation in the industry.
The deal, which hasn’t yet closed, will see Rocket Lab acquire Iridium’s stock for $54 per share, valuing the satellite company at $8 billion.
This is one of several acquisitions for Rocket Lab this year. The company previously bought space robotics company Motiv in May, acquired laser communications provider Mynaric in April, and purchased a precision component manufacturer in February. It also bought optical sensor defense contractor Geost last year.
Iridium not only operates dozens of satellites currently in orbit, but it also owns a bundle of valuable spectrum. Rocket Lab said in a press release Monday that it plans to “build upon” Iridium’s existing network in order to “scale into untapped markets and pioneer new space-based services to the benefit of global customers.”
Rocket Lab’s announcement comes after years of consolidation among space and satellite companies, including ViaSat acquiring Inmarsat and a private equity firm buying Maxar in 2023, and Lockheed Martin purchasing satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital in 2024. In April 2026, Amazon — which is building a space-based internet competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink — bought satellite company Globalstar for $11.6 billion.
SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating the proposed acquisition of Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) by Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ: RKLB) to determine whether the proposed transaction is fair to Iridium shareholders.
Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Iridium shareholders will receive $27.00 in cash and a number of shares of Rocket Lab common stock calculated pursuant to an exchange ratio, subject to a collar, for each share of Iridium common stock they own. The transaction has a notional value of $54.00 per Iridium share.
Iridium Shareholders: Contact Johnson Fistel
If you are an Iridium shareholder and wish to discuss your legal rights, you are encouraged to click here to join the investigation.
For more information, contact James Baker at [email protected] or (619) 814-4471.
Johnson Fistel is investigating whether the proposed merger adequately compensates Iridium shareholders or whether the transaction undervalues the company and primarily benefits Rocket Lab or other interested parties.
Among the issues being examined are:
Whether the merger consideration fully reflects Iridium’s long-term strategic value, including its unique global satellite communications network, licensed spectrum assets, and recurring subscription-based revenue.Whether Iridium shareholders are being asked to accept a substantial stock component, exposing them to Rocket Lab’s future execution, market, and integration risks.Whether the Board of Directors conducted a robust and competitive sales process designed to maximize shareholder value.Whether all material information necessary for shareholders to make an informed voting decision will be disclosed in the proxy materials.Whether conflicts of interest influenced the negotiation or approval of the proposed transaction. If you are a shareholder of Iridium Communications and wish to discuss your legal rights, you may contact Johnson Fistel to learn more about the investigation.
About Johnson Fistel, PLLP | Securities Fraud & Investor Rights
Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, Idaho, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder litigation involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and other violations of state and federal law.
Johnson Fistel has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Plaintiff Law Firms by ISS Securities Class Action Services. In 2024, the firm recovered approximately $90,725,000 for investors.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. This press release may be considered a promotional communication. The attorney responsible for this communication is Frank J. Johnson.
Contact:
Johnson Fistel, PLLP
501 W. Broadway, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
James Baker, Investor Relations – or – Frank J. Johnson, Esq.
(619) 814-4471 [email protected] | [email protected]
Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) has seen a significant increase in its stock price following the announcement of its agreement to acquire Iridium (IRDM) for $54 per shar
Key Takeaways Shares of both Iridium Communications and Rocket Lab rose Monday following the news that the companies plan to merge, with a deal expected to close next year.Investor interest in space stocks and related assets—including some popular exchange-traded funds—has perked up, likely in part due to the arrival of SpaceX on public markets. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.
Rocket Lab and Iridium Communications plan to combine—and both companies' shareholders like the deal.
Iridium Communications (IRDM) shares soared 21% in early trading Monday after Rocket Lab (RKLB) said it was acquiring the satellite communications network provider for $54 per share in cash and stock, or about $8 billion.1 Shares of Rocket Lab jumped 8%. (Read Investopedia's full coverage of today's trading here.)
Rocket Lab, which bills itself as providing "launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets," said the combination would create "a fully vertically integrated space powerhouse primed for growth."
Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash plus shares of Rocket Lab stock at closing, which is expected in mid-2027. Rocket Lab said it has received commitments for a $3.6 billion loan facility from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, and intends to fund the cash component "through a combination of cash from its balance sheet and other debt and equity financing sources."
Investor interest in space stocks and related assets—including some popular exchange-traded funds—has perked up, likely in part due to the arrival of Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPCX) on public markets. Combining with Iridium could help Rocket Lab better compete with SpaceX, which also launches rockets and provides satellite internet with its Starlink service. "By marrying Iridium's deep heritage, trusted infrastructure, and highly sought-after spectrum with Rocket Lab's extensive and proven launch and manufacturing capabilities, we have the capability to unlock entirely new markets," Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said.
Shares of Iridium and Rocket Lab are up 205% and 33% since the start of the year, respectively.
Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium, a pioneer in satellite telephones, for $54 a share in a cash-and-stock transaction as smaller players in the orbital economy try to catch up with market leader SpaceX. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck explains how the deal came together with Ed Ludlow on "Bloomberg Tech.
Shares of Rocket Lab (RKLB +11.44%) climbed sharply higher on Monday, gaining as much as 12.9%. As of 11:34 a.m. ET, the stock was still up 8.9%.
The catalyst that sent the rocket specialist higher was a "transformational" deal that will better position the company in the space race.
Image source: Getty Images.
Blasting into orbit Rocket Lab announced it will acquire satellite communications provider Iridium Communications (IRDM +22.29%) for $54 per share in a cash-and-stock deal valued at roughly $8 billion. Rocket Lab called the deal "one of the most transformative deals in the space industry," integrating its launch capabilities with Iridium's global satellite communications system, global spectrum access, and its 2.55 million customers.
Iridium also boasts a "500-plus strong partner ecosystem" of government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial users.
William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma hailed the deal, saying, "While spectrum is the central asset, Iridium brings much more to the table for Rocket Lab than just spectrum." The analyst highlighted Iridium's new alternative position navigation and timing Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The groundbreaking new processor is an ultra-small chip designed to "provide alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities anywhere on Earth," according to the company.
Today's Change
(
11.44
%) $
9.67
Current Price
$
94.21
The analyst also cited the company's space-based networking, flight tracking, satellite voice communications network, and several major Department of Defense contracts.
In an investor presentation, Rocket Lab said it sidestepped three of the biggest challenges associated with building a satellite communication business: access to spectrum, the long lead times required to deploy satellites and begin generating revenue, and the years needed to build a sustainable customer base and cash flow.
This deal will better position Rocket Lab to compete with Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +2.37%), aka SpaceX, whose recent IPO has shone a spotlight on the burgeoning space race. Indeed, Rocket Lab has been called a "mini-SpaceX," and its expansion into satellite communications has put it into more direct competition with its larger rival.
Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in mid-2027.
After the deal was announced, Rocket Lab stock was selling for roughly 75 times sales. While that might sound pricey, SpaceX stock is selling for 110 times sales, making Rocket Lab's valuation more appealing.
Rocket Lab RKLB shares surged in trading on Monday after the company announced an $8 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of satellite communications provider Iridium Communications (IRDM), one of the biggest consolidation moves in the commercial space industry.
Rocket Lab stock climbed 12% at the time of writing, while Iridium shares jumped about 21%.
The rally in Iridium came after the company had already more than doubled in value this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash along with Rocket Lab shares, with a combined value of $54 per Iridium share, representing a 24.1% premium to the stock's last closing price.
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027.
The acquisition combines Rocket Lab's launch vehicles and satellite-manufacturing business with Iridium's global L-band satellite network, licensed spectrum and more than 2.5 million subscribers across government, defense, aviation, maritime and commercial markets.
The transaction is Rocket Lab's first acquisition of a publicly traded company and its largest deal to date.
It follows a series of smaller acquisitions aimed at expanding the company's spacecraft-manufacturing and components business.
Rocket Lab said the acquisition would allow it to overcome three major challenges involved in building a satellite communications business: gaining access to spectrum, waiting years to deploy infrastructure before generating revenue, and building a customer base capable of generating recurring cash flow.
"We've found a shortcut," the company said in an investor presentation.
The strategy resembles that of SpaceX and its Starlink unit, combining launch capabilities with satellite communications services.
The Elon Musk-led company raised about $86 billion in the world's biggest initial public offering earlier this month and plans to expand its communications satellite business while developing orbital AI computing infrastructure.
Rocket Lab has secured commitments for a $3.6 billion bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo to finance the cash portion of the acquisition.
The company said it also plans to use cash on hand alongside additional debt and equity financing.
The announcement comes just days after Rocket Lab was added to the Nasdaq-100 as one of five new constituents.
The inclusion created a one-time demand for the stock as passive investment funds rebalanced their portfolios.
However, the broader space sector has experienced a period of heavy rotation following SpaceX's June 12 initial public offering, leading to a sell-off in Rocket Lab and other space stocks.
The acquisition gives Rocket Lab an immediate presence in space-based telecommunications services, including satellite IoT, direct-to-device connectivity, positioning and navigation, and critical safety services.
The company plans to leverage Iridium's low-Earth orbit satellite network and globally harmonized L-band spectrum to expand into new markets while providing secure satellite communications and positioning services worldwide.
For Rocket Lab, the transaction broadens its business beyond launch services and satellite manufacturing by adding an established communications network, licensed spectrum, and a large subscriber base.
The deal also positions the company to compete more directly in satellite communications by combining launch capabilities with communications services under one platform.
Incyte (INCY) saw its shares surge in the last session with trading volume being higher than average. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions may not translate into further price increase in the near term.
Key Takeaways DICK'S House of Sport is evolving into a scalable platform for long-term, experience-led growth.DICK'S plans to open 14 House of Sport and 22 Field House locations this year.House of Sport stores are driving comps, profitability, ROI and stronger landlord relationships. DICK'S Sporting Goods Inc. (DKS - Free Report) appears to be entering a new phase of growth as its House of Sport concept evolves from an innovative retail format into a scalable long-term growth platform. What began as an effort to create immersive shopping destinations is increasingly becoming a strategic advantage that is reshaping customer engagement, attracting premium brand partnerships and strengthening the company's real estate portfolio.
Management highlighted House of Sport as a central pillar of its growth strategy, alongside the smaller Field House format, with plans to open 14 House of Sport and 22 Field House locations this year. Strong landlord demand is also giving DICK'S access to premier retail destinations, allowing the company to be more selective about future locations while positioning the business for greater long-term shareholder value.
Importantly, the concept is proving financially attractive. Management noted that House of Sport stores continue to generate comparable sales growth even in their third and fourth years of operation, while delivering strong profitability and returns on investment. Beyond the direct financial contribution, the stores encourage athletes to spend more time and money, create a compelling stage for premium and emerging brands such as Vuori and Gymshark, and strengthen relationships with landlords through increased traffic to shopping centers.
The benefits are also extending beyond the flagship locations. DICK'S noted that merchandising, experiential selling and elevated service developed for House of Sport are increasingly influencing the broader store fleet, including the smaller Field House concept. As these capabilities spread across the network, House of Sport is becoming more than a successful store format. It is evolving into the foundation of DICK'S next phase of profitable, experience-driven growth.
DKS’ Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 25.5% in the past three months against the industry’s decline of 5.8%. The stock also outperformed the broader Retail-Wholesale sector’s 4.3% rise and the S&P 500’s 16.3% growth in the same period.
DKS Stock's Past 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is DICK'S a Value Play?DKS shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 15.86X, slightly above the industry’s average of 15.2X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Key PicksTapestry Inc. (TPR - Free Report) is the designer and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men in the United States and internationally. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Tapestry’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests growth of 13.8% and 36.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. TPR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.6%, on average.
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) , which operates as a specialty value retailer, currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. FIVE delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Five Below’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests growth of 14.7% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures.
Genesco Inc. (GCO - Free Report) operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel and accessories. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Genesco’s fiscal 2026 sales calls for a decline of 0.02%, and estimates for earnings suggest a 55.2% increase from the year-ago reported figures. GCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.8%, on average.
Rocket Lab (RKLB +11.43%) is buying Iridium Communications (IRDM +21.99%) for $8 billion, as the two space companies just announced -- and it's getting investors in other space stocks pretty excited this morning.
Viasat (VSAT +19.84%) stock, for example, isn't involved in the RKLB-IRDM deal at all, but as of 10:50 a.m. ET it's already up 17.1% -- even more than Rocket Lab's 9.2% bump, and nearly as much as Iridium's 20.7% gain!
Image source: Getty Images.
Details, please Rocket Lab will pay $8 billion in cash and stock to acquire the original satellite phone company, Iridium, and expand its business beyond mainly space launch and satellite construction to include Internet of Things (IoT), aviation, maritime, and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services.
Viasat isn't involved in the merger -- except that it kind of is.
Today's Change
(
19.84
%) $
12.29
Current Price
$
74.24
What the Rocket Lab-Iridium tie-up means for Viasat As a communications satellite company, Viasat competes directly with Iridium, and also with the Starlink network at SpaceX (SPCX +2.60%) -- with which Rocket Lab will now also be competing. You wouldn't ordinarily think this kind of increased competition would be good news for Viasat's business, which saw profits drop 29% last quarter, and grew its sales only 2%!
From this perspective, Viasat's share price spike today doesn't make much sense.
That said, in comments on the Iridium acquisition, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck highlighted the attraction of Iridium's wireless spectrum holdings. Viasat has those, too, and this could make it a future merger target, especially as the space industry restructures and consolidates to take on the threat of a bigger, wealthier SpaceX.
$RKLB
Rocket Lab CEO Sir Peter Beck explains why the acquisition of Iridium is so crucial:
"If you want to do large scale communications globally, you must have spectrum. And for us, this deal really enables us to accelerate our entry into this market."
"And the reason why... pic.twitter.com/XE3ed3Di2K
-- ValueOverPrice (@ValueInIdeas) June 29, 2026 This, if you ask me, is why Rocket Lab's buying of Iridium has Viasat investors feeling optimistic today.
Rich Smith has positions in Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
, /PRNewswire/ -- WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WiMi) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, announced that they are researching the use of neural networks for machine learning to optimize parameters in the dual-field quantum key distribution (TF-QKD) system. This innovative approach aims to leverage the powerful fitting ability and generalization performance of neural networks to directly predict the optimal parameter configuration for the TF-QKD system, significantly reducing computation time and resource consumption.
In the study, WiMi trained and evaluated three different types of neural network models:
Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN): Based on the error backpropagation algorithm, BPNN minimizes prediction errors by continuously adjusting the network weights and biases. Due to its flexibility and wide applicability, BPNN has become the preferred model in many fields.
Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN): Using radial basis functions as activation functions for the hidden layer neurons, RBFNN efficiently handles nonlinear problems and is particularly suitable for high-dimensional data and scenarios requiring high precision.
Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN): Based on probability density estimation, GRNN uses kernel function methods to achieve nonlinear regression, excelling in handling small sample data and uncertainty issues.
Through training and testing these three neural network models, WiMi found that all models could accurately predict the optimal parameters of the TF-QKD system to some extent. Among them, RBFNN and GRNN performed especially well in high-dimensional parameter spaces, showing higher prediction accuracy. Compared to LSA, the neural network-based prediction method achieved a significant reduction in computation time, cutting it by multiple orders of magnitude. BPNN, due to its relatively simple structure, had the fastest computation speed; whereas RBFNN and GRNN, though slightly more complex in terms of computational cost, still remained within acceptable limits, and their enhanced prediction accuracy often brought more practical application value.
Considering the varying optimization needs of different TF-QKD systems (such as real-time requirements and precision demands), WiMi also conducted a comprehensive comparison of prediction accuracy and time consumption. The results indicate that for scenarios requiring rapid response with lower precision demands, BPNN is the ideal choice. On the other hand, for applications that prioritize high accuracy and can tolerate certain computation time, RBFNN or GRNN is more suitable.
The main technical advantage of using neural networks for TF-QKD system parameter optimization lies in significantly reducing the computational complexity of parameter optimization, accelerating the key generation rate, and enhancing the system's real-time responsiveness. Neural networks can automatically learn and adapt to changes in the quantum communication environment, providing the possibility for dynamic adjustment of system parameters. As quantum communication technology develops, neural network models can be further upgraded and optimized to accommodate more complex quantum key distribution protocols and higher security requirements.
In the future, WiMi will continue to deepen its research into neural networks for TF-QKD parameter optimization, exploring more advanced neural network architectures and training strategies, such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, etc., with the aim of achieving more efficient and intelligent quantum key distribution systems. At the same time, it will strengthen integration with quantum communication hardware platforms to promote the practical application and commercialization of quantum communication technologies, contributing to the development of secure and efficient quantum communication networks.
About WiMi Hologram Cloud
WiMi Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WiMi) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.
Key Takeaways Williams is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Momentum Midstream for about $5.5 billion.WMB would add Haynesville pipeline assets linking gas production to Gulf Coast LNG export facilities.Williams could strengthen its natural gas network as LNG export demand drives midstream investment. Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB - Free Report) is reportedly approaching a landmark acquisition that could significantly expand its footprint across the U.S. natural gas infrastructure sector. According to Bloomberg, the Tulsa, OK-based energy company is said to be in advanced negotiations to acquire Momentum Midstream for approximately $5.5 billion, a transaction that would rank among the largest acquisitions in its history. If finalized, the agreement would reinforce Williams' position as one of North America's premier natural gas pipeline operators while enhancing its ability to serve the rapidly growing liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) export market.
The potential acquisition reflects the accelerating demand for reliable midstream infrastructure as U.S. natural gas production and LNG exports continue to reach new heights. By integrating Momentum Midstream's strategically located assets, Williams would gain additional transportation capacity connecting prolific gas-producing regions to key Gulf Coast export terminals.
WMB Expands Strategic Pipeline NetworkWilliams has long established itself as a critical player in the American energy infrastructure industry. Operating more than 30,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, the company transports a substantial share of the nation's natural gas, connecting production basins with industrial users, utilities, power plants and export facilities.
The proposed acquisition of Momentum Midstream aligns perfectly with Williams' long-term strategy of investing in high-demand natural gas corridors. Rather than building entirely new infrastructure, acquiring an established operator provides immediate access to valuable pipeline assets, existing customer relationships and operational expertise.
Industry analysts view this transaction as a strategic move designed to capitalize on the sustained growth of U.S. LNG exports, particularly along the Gulf Coast, where several new export terminals are scheduled to begin operations over the coming years.
Momentum Midstream Brings Valuable Haynesville AssetsMomentum Midstream has steadily built an impressive portfolio of natural gas gathering and transportation assets throughout East Texas and Northern Louisiana, two regions that encompass the highly productive Haynesville Shale.
The company currently operates approximately 4,000 miles of pipeline infrastructure, serving an extensive customer base that includes 10 LNG facilities and 26 power plants. These assets are positioned within one of North America's most important natural gas production regions, making Momentum an attractive acquisition target for larger infrastructure companies seeking long-term growth.
Its management team has successfully expanded operations by acquiring and integrating strategic assets across the Haynesville region, creating a comprehensive network capable of efficiently transporting increasing volumes of natural gas.
Growing LNG Exports Drive Infrastructure InvestmentOne of the primary factors behind Williams' reported interest in Momentum Midstream is the rapidly expanding U.S. LNG industry.
The United States has already become the world's largest exporter of LNG and industry forecasts indicate international shipments could nearly double before the end of the decade, according to a report. Massive investments in LNG export terminals across Texas and Louisiana are expected to substantially increase demand for reliable pipeline infrastructure capable of moving natural gas from production fields to coastal processing facilities.
As export capacity grows, pipeline operators with direct access to the Haynesville basin stand to benefit from rising transportation volumes and long-term commercial agreements.
Acquiring Momentum would position Williams to capture a greater share of this expanding market while strengthening its role within the broader North American energy supply chain.
Haynesville Shale Remains a Premier Natural Gas BasinThe Haynesville Shale has become one of the most strategically important natural gas-producing regions in the United States due to its proximity to Gulf Coast LNG terminals.
Unlike production basins located farther inland, Haynesville producers enjoy shorter transportation distances to export facilities, reducing transportation costs while improving delivery efficiency. This geographical advantage has attracted substantial investment from producers, pipeline operators and infrastructure developers.
Williams' existing pipeline network already serves numerous major production areas. Adding Momentum Midstream's infrastructure would create additional connectivity between Haynesville production and rapidly expanding export markets.
Transaction Could Become One of Williams' Largest AcquisitionsThe reported $5.5 billion purchase price demonstrates the significant strategic value attached to premium midstream infrastructure.
According to the report, negotiations are continuing and although no final agreement has been announced. Bloomberg reported that a deal could be announced in about a week. There remains the possibility that the current owner, private equity firm EnCap Flatrock Midstream, could ultimately decide to retain the business if negotiations do not conclude successfully.
If completed, the acquisition would mark one of Williams' largest expansion moves in recent years, reinforcing its competitive position in the North American energy infrastructure market.
Midstream Consolidation Continues Across the Energy SectorThe potential Williams-Momentum transaction also highlights the broader consolidation trend occurring throughout the North American midstream industry.
As natural gas production continues to grow and export demand accelerates, larger operators are increasingly pursuing acquisitions that provide strategic geographic advantages and established infrastructure. Rather than developing entirely new pipeline systems, acquiring existing networks often enables companies to achieve faster growth while reducing development timelines and permitting challenges.
Momentum Midstream's assets represent exactly the type of strategically located infrastructure that larger operators seek as competition intensifies within key natural gas-producing regions.
Outlook for WMBIf WMB completes the acquisition of Momentum Midstream, it would significantly enhance the ability to transport growing natural gas volumes from the Haynesville basin to LNG export facilities along the Gulf Coast.
The expanded pipeline network would strengthen Williams' presence in one of the fastest-growing natural gas corridors in North America while positioning it to benefit from increasing global demand for cleaner-burning fuel sources.
As LNG export capacity continues expanding and international energy markets rely more heavily on U.S. natural gas supplies, investments in critical midstream infrastructure are expected to remain a central component of industry growth. The proposed acquisition illustrates Williams' commitment to expanding the operational scale, improving transportation capacity and reinforcing its leadership within the evolving North American energy landscape.
WMB's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, WMB has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Delek US Holdings (DK - Free Report) and Crescent Energy Company (CRGY - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Delek US is valued at $2.93 billion. It is a U.S.-based downstream energy company that focuses on refining crude oil and distributing petroleum products. Headquartered in Brentwood, TN, Delek US operates through two main segments: refining and logistics.
Crescent Energy is valued at $3.34 billion. It is an independent U.S. energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Crescent Energy operates primarily in the Eagle Ford, Permian and Uinta basins.
Phillips 66 is valued at $68.82 billion. It is a diversified energy company that refines crude oil, markets petroleum products, and operates midstream, chemicals, and renewable fuels businesses. Phillips 66 operates across the United States and internationally.
The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.
Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader 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.
Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today.
One company value investors might notice is Yext (YEXT - Free Report) . YEXT is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with P/E ratio of 14.61 right now. For comparison, its industry sports an average P/E of 20.90. YEXT's Forward P/E has been as high as 21.17 and as low as 10.89, with a median of 12.56, all within the past year.
Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. YEXT has a P/S ratio of 1. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.58.
Finally, our model also underscores that YEXT has a P/CF ratio of 26.83. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 39.59. Within the past 12 months, YEXT's P/CF has been as high as 227.93 and as low as -1262.83, with a median of 106.38.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Yext is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, YEXT feels like a great value stock at the moment.
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL - Free Report) reached a significant support level, and could be a good pick for investors from a technical perspective. Recently, KNSL broke through the 50-day moving average, which suggests a short-term bullish trend.
The 50-day simple moving average, which is one of three major moving averages, is widely used by traders and analysts to establish support and resistance levels for a range of securities. Because it's the first sign of an up or down trend, the 50-day is considered to be more important.
KNSL has rallied 7.8% over the past four weeks, and the company is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at the moment. This combination suggests KNSL could be on the verge of another move higher.
Once investors consider KNSL's positive earnings estimate revisions, the bullish case only solidifies. No estimate has gone lower in the past two months for the current fiscal year, compared to 4 higher, and the consensus estimate has increased as well.
Given this move in earnings estimate revisions and the positive technical factor, investors may want to keep their eye on KNSL for more gains in the near future.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR, ASX: AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, today announced a collaboration with U.K.-based startup Kelpi to explore next-generation coating technologies designed to enhance the performance and sustainability of packaging materials.
Amcor announced a collaboration with U.K.-based startup Kelpi to explore next-generation coating technologies to further expand the options within its AmFiber™ fiber-based solutions platform. The partnership with Kelpi supports Amcor's broader innovation strategy focused on identifying and advancing solutions that enable more sustainable packaging while maintaining high functional standards. Amcor's research and development teams are currently evaluating Kelpi's proprietary coating technology platform, a bio-based1 seaweed material designed to deliver barrier performance and compatibility with recycling streams for fiber-based packaging.
By evaluating breakthrough bio-based coating technologies, Amcor aims to further expand the options within its AmFiber™ fiber-based solutions platform to continue meeting demanding application requirements such as barrier performance, high running speed and circularity. The potential benefits of using such bio-based coatings include reduced reliance on fossil fuel-derived feedstocks and greater use of renewable resources, which may contribute to a lower carbon footprint.
"This collaboration reflects how we are advancing our material innovation pipeline, and it supports the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's call for accelerated innovation in paper-based flexible packaging2," said Peter Ettridge, Director, Research and Development, AmFiber™, Amcor. "We're excited by the potential of Kelpi's technology, which combines processability, gas and moisture barrier performance, and paper recyclability."
"Partnering with companies like Kelpi is a key part of how we bring new technologies into our innovation ecosystem," said Frank Lehmann, Vice President, Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation, Amcor. "Its innovative approach to leveraging nature-sourced materials that won't compromise packaging performance is promising, and we're excited to explore opportunities to scale the technology within our global packaging portfolio."
By combining Kelpi's technology with Amcor's global research and development capabilities and scale, the companies aim to evaluate commercially viable, scalable solutions for customers across various consumer goods sectors, supporting a circular economy for packaging.
Learn more about corporate venturing at Amcor.
About Amcor
Amcor is the global leader in developing and producing responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across a variety of materials for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness categories. Our global product innovation and sustainability expertise enables us to solve packaging challenges around the world every day, producing a range of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons and closures that are more sustainable, functional and appealing for our customers and their consumers. We are guided by our purpose of elevating customers, shaping lives and protecting the future. Supported by a commitment to safety, over 75,000 people generate $23 billion in annualized sales from operations that span over 400 locations in more than 40 countries. NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC
TULSA, OK / ACCESS Newswire / June 29, 2026 / BOK Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:BOKF) will host a conference call to review second quarter 2026 financial results at noon central time on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The call may also include discussion of company developments, forward-looking statements and other material information about business and financial matters. The results are scheduled to be released after the market closes on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The live audio webcast and presentation slides will be available on the company's investor relations website. The conference call can also be accessed by dialing 1.800.715.9871 toll free, or 1.646.307.1963, conference ID: 6617678. A webcast replay will be available shortly after the live call's conclusion on the company's investor relations website or by dialing 1.800.770.2030 and referencing replay PIN 6617678.
About BOK Financial Corporation
BOK Financial Corporation is a $54 billion regional financial services company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma with $124 billion in assets under management and administration. The company's stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the Global Select market listings (BOKF). BOK Financial Corporation's holdings include BOKF, NA; BOK Financial Securities, Inc.; and BOK Financial Private Wealth, Inc. BOKF, NA's holdings include TransFund and Cavanal Hill Investment Management, Inc. BOKF, NA operates banking divisions across eight states as: Bank of Albuquerque; Bank of Oklahoma; Bank of Texas; and BOK Financial in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri; as well as having limited purpose offices in Connecticut, Nebraska, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Through its subsidiaries, BOK Financial Corporation provides commercial and consumer banking, brokerage trading, investment, trust and insurance services, mortgage origination and servicing, and an electronic funds transfer network. For more information, visit www.bokf.com.
Contact:
Heather King
Director of Investor Relations 214.676.4666
NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX) announced today that it will release its second quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, prior to market open. An investor conference call and webcast will take place at 8:00 a.m. (CT) that same day with Chief Executive Officer and President Eric Ashleman and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Sean Gillen. The event and associated earnings presentation will be available via webcast in listen-only mode on the C.
Due to the attention given to their trillion dollar market caps and preoccupation with A.I., the Magnificent 7 stocks (Apple, Amazon, Alphabet/Google, Meta Platforms/Facebook, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Tesla) often make people forget that there are 493 other stocks in the S&P 500 worth investors’ consideration.
Case in point: investors seeking a combination of income and growth need not avoid S&P 500 ETF exposure. At the time of this writing, State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), which is one of the leading straight S&P 500 ETFs in the market, is posting a +7.47% YTD return, with a +20.46% 1-year gain and a 0.98% yield. In comparison, the Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSE: SPHD), an ETF that draws upon different stocks from the index apart from the Magnificent 7, boasts a +10.45% YTD return, a +14.74% 1-year return, and a 4.57% yield.
The S&P 500 Of 30 Years Ago
SPHD’s focus on dividends and lack of Magnificent 7 inclusion is reminiscent of the S&P 500 in the mid 1990s.
When looking at the top holdings of SPHD, it resembles an S&P 500 time capsule from 30 years ago, an era when Frasier and The X-Files were TV favorites, The Fugees and Spice Girls were ubiquitous on the radio, people still bought compact discs, and Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fourth NBA title. Among SPHD’s top holdings are:
Verizon Communications: 3.47% Altria Group: 3.443% Pfizer Inc.: 2.97% As one might deduce from its official name, SPHD selects the 75 highest yielding stocks from the S&P 500, weighting them by yield in descending order. A subsequent 12-month volatility analysis reduces the list of 75 to the 50 stocks with the lowest volatility. Inevitably, the sectors that tend to generate dividends, i.e, real estate, utilities, financials, and consumer staples, tend to wind up getting greater representation in SPHD. The cumulative dividends are passed through and prorated to shareholders. SPHD made its market debut on 10-18-2012. A detailed overview includes the following:
Net Assets $3.23 billion YTD Return 10.45% Yield 4.57% 1-Year Return 14.74% NAV $51.73 3-Year Return 12.89% 52-week Range $46.58-$53.07 5-Year Return 6.14% Avg, Daily Volume 754,119 shares 10-Year Return 7.34% P/E Ratio 17.43 Expense Ratio 0.30% Gains vs. Income and Other Caveats
Choosing strong growth ETF or a growth & income ETF is a choice than many investors facing retirement in the near future is a major decision.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Of course, the tech bubble perception and spreading concerns about overvaluation of A.I. is a very valid one, as Magnificent 7 avoidance is a major factor driving foreign investors away from the tech sector and towards other ones in their own domestic markets. US investors who share those sentiments (such as investor Michael Burry of “Long Short” fame), but who still want major US market upside may find SPHD of interest.
However when measuring over the extended term, SPY unequivocally outpaces SPHD, primarily due to the horsepower of the technology stocks, mostly dominated by the Magnificent 7. While the rest of the S&P 500 stocks continue to grow at their respective paces, the overall S&P 500 index owes its consistent annual double-digit return performance and triple point return long haul performance from those leading tech stocks in the index. Nevertheless, SPHD has continued to offer solid, albeit less spectacular gains, and has unflaggingly never missed a monthly dividend payment since its inception.
That dividend, though, is subject to interest rate fluctuations. If rates are cut, dividends may take a small reduction, but the stocks and SPHD’s NAV will get a boost. Alternatively, rising rates may make dividends larger, but SPHD will take a commensurate NAV drop.
The other main consideration is how much money SPHD will leave on the table vs. SPY in capital gains if the market takes another strong bull run. A Federal Reserve Bank interest rate cut announcement will cause SPY to boom. SPHD will rise also, but its gap with SPY will likely widen as well, as the tech stocks will probably be leading the charge.
Allocating some of one’s portfolio to SPHD makes sense for investors seeking some income with their growth, with the income as a defensive hedge against a market downturn or volatility fears. However, this defensive posture might not be a long term hold scenario, so portfolio monitoring is a prudent practice to follow if one does buy SPHD.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Insulet (PODD - Free Report) reached a significant support level, and could be a good pick for investors from a technical perspective. Recently, PODD broke through the 50-day moving average, which suggests a short-term bullish trend.
The 50-day simple moving average is one of three major moving averages used by traders and analysts to determine support or resistance levels for a wide range of securities. But the 50-day is considered to be more important because it's the first marker of an up or down trend.
PODD could be on the verge of another rally after moving 9.2% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.
Looking at PODD's earnings estimate revisions, investors will be even more convinced of the bullish uptrend. There have been 7 higher compared to none lower for the current fiscal year, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
Investors may want to watch PODD for more gains in the near future given the company's key technical level and positive earnings estimate revisions.
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? 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.
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 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 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, 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.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
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.
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: Insulet (PODD - Free Report) Acton, MA-based Insulet Corporation manufactures and sells its proprietary continuous insulin delivery systems for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The company designed Omnipod, a small, lightweight, self-adhesive disposable tubeless device that can be worn in multiple locations, including the abdomen, hip, back of the upper arm, upper thigh or lower back.
PODD is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. PODD has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 9.2% over the past four weeks.
Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.18 to $6.46 per share. PODD boasts an average earnings surprise of +16.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, PODD should be on investors' short list.
Investors in Insulet Corporation (PODD - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sep 18, 2026 $330 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Insulet shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Insulet is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Medical – Products industry that ranks in the Bottom 31% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, four analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $1.37 per share to $1.38 in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Insulet right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
For those looking to find strong Construction stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Dycom Industries (DY - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
Dycom Industries is a member of our Construction group, which includes 88 different companies and currently sits at #16 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Dycom Industries is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DY's full-year earnings has moved 20.6% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
Based on the latest available data, DY has gained about 44.5% so far this year. At the same time, Construction stocks have gained an average of 17.9%. This means that Dycom Industries is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Orion Marine Group (ORN - Free Report) is another Construction stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 65.1%.
The consensus estimate for Orion Marine Group's current year EPS has increased 12.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Breaking things down more, Dycom Industries is a member of the Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, which includes 8 individual companies and currently sits at #46 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 39.7% so far this year, meaning that DY is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Orion Marine Group is also part of the same industry.
Dycom Industries and Orion Marine Group could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Construction stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
AppLovin (APP - 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 mobile app technology company have returned -22.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. During this period, the Zacks Technology Services industry, which AppLovin falls in, has lost 5.6%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather 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.
AppLovin is expected to post earnings of $3.72 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +64.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of $15.97 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +59.1%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $21.05 indicates a change of +31.8% from what AppLovin 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, AppLovin 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
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 AppLovin, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.94 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +54.1%. For the current and next fiscal years, $8.26 billion and $10.69 billion estimates indicate +42.3% and +29.4% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAppLovin reported revenues of $1.84 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24.2%. EPS of $3.56 for the same period compares with $1.67 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.77 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.86%. The EPS surprise was +4.71%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time 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.
AppLovin is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with 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 AppLovin. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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 AppLovin (APP - Free Report) .
AppLovin currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.37, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 30 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.37 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 30 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 23 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 76.7% and 10% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for APP
Check price target & stock forecast for AppLovin here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying AppLovin, 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.
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.
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.
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.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
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 APP Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for AppLovin, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $15.97.
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 AppLovin. 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 AppLovin.
Key Takeaways Constellation's nuclear PPAs with Walmart and Meta highlight rising demand for clean power. CEG will supply Walmart nearly 176 MW from Dresden under two 15-year contracts starting in 2029. Constellation's Meta deal supports Clinton operations, adds 30 MW and generates $13.5M in annual taxes. Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG - Free Report) benefits from increasing demand for dependable, carbon-free energy from commercial and industrial customers. Its large-scale nuclear fleet, proven operational expertise and ability to structure customized long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) create a durable competitive advantage.
On June 23, 2026, the company announced that it had entered into a long-term PPA with Walmart to provide nearly 176 megawatts (MW) of emissions-free electricity from the Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois under two 15-year contracts starting in 2029 and 2030. The agreement highlights the increasing value of existing nuclear assets as businesses seek reliable, carbon-free electricity through long-term power agreements.
Earlier, in June 2025, Constellation signed a 20-year agreement to supply Meta with 1,121 MW of emissions-free nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center starting in 2027. The deal supports the plant's continued operations, funds upgrades that add 30 MW of capacity and generates $13.5 million in annual tax revenues.
The company's long-term PPA agreements with Meta and Walmart demonstrate the rising importance of its nuclear fleet in meeting growing clean energy demand. Constellation is well-positioned to secure more long-term power agreements as companies accelerate their carbon reduction efforts.
Constellation, by improving the performance of its existing nuclear plants and making strategic investments, will be able to accommodate more PPAs with customers in the long run, which in turn will boost earnings and cash flow.
Long-Term PPAs Drive Future GrowthLong-term PPAs provide stable, predictable revenues, shield companies from wholesale electricity price volatility and facilitate investment in new power generation projects. They also strengthen customer relationships and create opportunities for capacity expansion, ultimately supporting long-term earnings growth and shareholder value.
On Feb. 24, 2026, AES Corporation (AES - Free Report) stated that it has entered into a 20-year PPA with Google to develop co-located energy projects for a new data center in Texas.
On Feb. 9, 2026, TotalEnergies (TTE - Free Report) announced it has entered into two 15-year power purchase agreements with Google to supply 1 gigawatt of solar power from projects under development in Texas.
CEG’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates an increase of 25.03% and 16.02%, respectively, year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CEG’s Returns on Equity (ROE)Constellation's trailing-12-month ROE is 16.81%, ahead of the industry average of 7.15%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CEG’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have plunged 0.6% against the industry’s 1% growth.
FDA Issues Complete Response Letter For Lantheus Imaging AgentThe FDA stated unresolved third-party facility manufacturing-related conditions.
The third-party facility is responsible for drug product manufacturing. Satisfactory resolution of the unresolved facility inspection-related conditions is required before the LNTH-2501 NDA may be approved.
The CRL did not identify any concerns regarding the data submitted by Lantheus in support of the application, nor did it identify any issues related to the safety or efficacy of LNTH-2501.
In March, the FDA extended the PDUFA date for LNTH-2501 by three months to June 29, 2026, to allow additional time to review manufacturing-related information.
The agency said that the standard review extension is not related to the efficacy or safety data of LNTH-2501.
William Blair Delays Octevy Sales ForecastWilliam Blair on Monday wrote, “While we are disappointed by the setback, we are encouraged that the complete response letter (CRL) does not appear to be clinical in nature.”
In light of the CRL, analyst Andy Hsieh pushed back initial sales of Octevy by one year in the model to the first quarter of 2028 from the first quarter of 2027 previously.
Octevy is a PET diagnostic imaging agent for certain neuroendocrine tumors.
Analyst Highlights Improving Fundamentals, Growth CatalystsTaking a step back, William Blair wrote that the fundamentals for Lantheus are improving as the company navigates through challenging pricing dynamics before transitioning the market to Pylarify TruVu at the end of the year.
The analyst said that the ongoing launch of Neuraceq, coupled with the anticipated approval of MK-6240 (tau-directed diagnostic PET agent for Alzheimer’s disease), provides multiple drivers to reinvigorate top-line growth.
LNTH Price Action: Lantheus Holdings shares were trading down 0.50% at $109.25 at the time of publication on Monday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $111.46, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
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 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 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 given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning 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 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.
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.
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.
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: Tyler Technologies (TYL - Free Report) Tyler Technologies is a leading provider of integrated information-management solutions and services for the public sector.
TYL 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. TYL has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 13.1% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.27 to $12.79 per share. TYL boasts an average earnings surprise of +2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, TYL should be on investors' short list.
Shares of First Hawaiian (FHB - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 9.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $29.63 in the previous session. First Hawaiian has gained 16.8% since the start of the year compared to the 3.4% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 14.4% return for the Zacks Banks - West industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 24, 2026, First Hawaiian reported EPS of $0.55 versus consensus estimate of $0.53.
For the current fiscal year, First Hawaiian is expected to post earnings of $2.33 per share on $914.22 in revenues. This represents a 5.91% change in EPS on a 3.8% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $2.46 per share on $948.26 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 5.49% and 3.72%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsThough First Hawaiian has recently hit a 52-week high, what is next for First Hawaiian? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
First Hawaiian has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 12.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 11.8X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 11.8X versus its peer group's average of 12X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.18. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this is even more important than the company's VGM Score. Fortunately, First Hawaiian currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to a solid earnings estimate revision trend.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if First Hawaiian passes the test. Thus, it seems as though First Hawaiian shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
How Does FHB Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of FHB have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is RBB Bancorp (RBB - Free Report) . RBB has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of A.
Earnings were strong last quarter. RBB Bancorp beat our consensus estimate by 46.67%, and for the current fiscal year, RBB is expected to post earnings of $2.36 per share on revenue of $136.68 million.
Shares of RBB Bancorp have gained 13.1% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 11.48X and a P/CF of 11.55X.
The Banks - West industry may rank in the bottom 68% of all the industries we have in our universe, but there still looks like there are some nice tailwinds for FHB and RBB, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
Bloom Energy's (BE +7.03%) stock has transformed from being an overlooked fuel cell company to one of the most closely watched artificial intelligence (AI)-driven power plays.
Shares of the company are up nearly 275% so far in 2026, pushing the market capitalization to about $93 billion. This is a steep valuation for a company guiding for $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue.
So the question is whether Bloom's AI power opportunity can justify its valuation.
Image source: Getty Images.
Bloom is solving a real AI infrastructure problem AI data centers need massive amounts of reliable power, and the electricity grid cannot always provide it quickly. The International Energy Agency expects global data center electricity use to roughly double from 2024 levels to around 945 terawatt-hours by 2030.
Bloom's on-site fuel cell systems are increasingly relevant, as they can help customers add power faster than waiting for new grid infrastructure. Oracle has already signed up for an initial 1.2 gigawatts of Bloom's fuel cell capacity for projects in the U.S., with the broader agreement leaving room for that figure to rise to as much as 2.8 gigawatts. The company claimed that it delivered a fully operational Oracle fuel cell system in just 55 days in 2025, ahead of the expected 90-day schedule.
Oracle, BorderPlex Digital Assets, and Bloom's Project Jupiter further strengthen the story. The New Mexico AI data center campus is expected to use up to 2.45 gigawatts of Bloom fuel cell capacity instead of planned gas turbines and diesel generators. The setup could provide faster onsite power, dramatically lower local emissions, and use negligible water.
Additionally, Brookfield Asset Management plans to invest up to $5 billion to deploy Bloom's technology for AI infrastructure. American Electric Power has agreed to buy up to 1 gigawatt of Bloom fuel cells, starting with a 100-megawatt order. Hence, electric utility companies and infrastructure investors are also seriously considering Bloom.
The financials are also improving. In the first quarter , Bloom's revenue rose 130.4% year over year to $751.1 million. Gross margin reached 30%, operating margin was 17.3%, and operating cash flow was $73.6 million. Bloom also exited fiscal 2025 with roughly $6 billion of product backlog and $14 billion of service backlog.
Today's Change
(
7.03
%) $
17.71
Current Price
$
269.73
Risks cannot be ignored Bloom currently trades at a rich valuation of nearly 38 times trailing 12-month sales. The company is also exposed to significant customer concentration risk. In Q1, two customers accounted for about 50% and 12% of total revenue.
So while Bloom has become a major AI infrastructure supplier with strong customer validation and rapidly improving numbers, the easy money may already have been made after its sharp 2026 rally. Investors interested in the stock may be better off building a position gradually, rather than buying aggressively after such a large move.
Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy, Brookfield Asset Management, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) stock is up 17% in morning trading on Monday, leading a sharp rally across hydrogen and fuel cell names. Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) stock is up 6%, while Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) stock is flat on the session. The clear answer to today’s market-mover question: FuelCell Energy is decisively outperforming its hydrogen peers.
The move extends an already historic run for the stock. FuelCell Energy shares have climbed 308% year to date (YTD). The catalyst stack today is company-specific rather than a generic sector trade.
FuelCell Energy now carries a market cap of around $2 billion. Bloom Energy, the scale and profitability leader of the group, sits at $77 billion. Plug Power lands between them at $3.6 billion despite a sub-$3 share price.
The Catalysts Behind FuelCell Energy’s Surge The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) approved a $49 million financing package for FuelCell Energy on June 23. The first tranche, expected around June 30, provides net proceeds of $22 million to support delivery of five 2.8 MW FuelCell Energy Blocks to Gyeonggi Green Energy in South Korea. A second tranche is slated for October.
FuelCell Energy CFO Michael Bishop stated the financing “adds non-dilutive capital to support growth” and flexibility to scale manufacturing and pursue global power markets, including AI factories and data centers. Investors are cheering the deal precisely because it sidesteps the share issuance that has historically diluted FuelCell Energy holders.
B. Riley separately upgraded FuelCell Energy stock to Buy from Neutral with a $32 price target, lifted from $13. The firm cited FuelCell Energy’s agreement to supply Fit Energy up to 380 MW of power to run AI data centers. As a third layer, FuelCell Energy was added to the Russell 3000 Index in the latest FTSE Russell reconstitution effective Friday, which can drive incremental passive-fund buying.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Bloom Energy and Plug Power Lag Bloom Energy stock is up 6% without a fresh company-specific catalyst today. The lift likely reflects sympathy buying across hydrogen/fuel-cell names and residual flow tied to Bloom Energy’s recent inclusion in the Russell 1000 Index. Bloom Energy stock has gained 211% YTD and remains the operational leader, with Q1 2026 revenue of $751.05 million, up 130% year over year.
Plug Power stock is essentially flat, hovering near its Friday close of $2.54. However, PLUG shares are down sharply over the past month. Plug Power posted Q1 2026 revenue of $163.51 million, up 22% year over year, and is targeting positive EBITDAS (EBITDA plus stock-based compensation) in Q4 2026, but the stock has lost momentum relative to its hydrogen peers.
What to Watch Next Investors can watch for whether FuelCell Energy’s first EXIM tranche disburses on June 30 as scheduled. That confirmation would validate the non-dilutive funding narrative that retail investors are pricing into FCEL stock today. Follow-through on the Fit Energy 380 MW commitment and any new data center customer announcements could shape sentiment into the next earnings release.
However, these remain highly volatile, speculative stocks with enormous prior runs. A sharp single-day move in FuelCell Energy stock doesn’t by itself alter the long-term thesis on hydrogen power for AI data centers, and the gap between Bloom Energy’s profitability and the ongoing losses at FuelCell Energy and Plug Power remains wide. Investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest given sector volatility.
Watch for whether FuelCell Energy stock holds today’s gains into the close, and whether Plug Power stock can rejoin the rally or continues to drift. The key question is whether Bloom Energy and FuelCell Energy can continue to capture the data center power narrative.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Plug Power didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
DERBY, VT / ACCESS Newswire / June 29, 2026 / Community National Bank's parent company, Community Bancorp. (NASDAQ:CMTV), today announced it has been added to the Russell 2000® Index, effective after the U.S. market closed on June 26, 2026, as part of the annual reconstitution of the Russell U.S. Indexes.
Community National Bank is a community-focused financial institution celebrating 175 years of serving Vermont and surrounding regions. In this landmark year, the bank was named to the Forbes list of America's Best-In-State-Banks 2026 as the top-rated bank in Vermont, a distinction earned for five consecutive years.
"We are honored to be included in the Russell 2000 Index for the first time, an important milestone that reflects the strength and stability of our organization," said Christopher Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bancorp. and Community National Bank. "Following our recent uplisting on Nasdaq and as we celebrate 175 years of service, this recognition underscores the dedication of our employees and the trust our customers and shareholders place in us. We are proud to represent our communities on a national stage and remain focused on building long-term value."
About the Russell 2000 Index
The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap U.S. companies and is widely regarded as a leading benchmark for the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. Membership in the index is determined primarily by market capitalization and is reconstituted annually.
About Community National Bank
Community National Bank is an independent bank that has been serving its communities since 1851, with retail banking offices located in Derby, Derby Line, Island Pond, Barton, Newport, Troy, St. Johnsbury, Montpelier, Barre, Lyndonville, Morrisville and Enosburg Falls as well as loan offices located in Burlington, Vermont and Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's financial condition, capital status, dividend payment practices, business outlook and affairs. Although these statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, actual conditions, results, and events may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, as they could be influenced by numerous factors which are unpredictable and outside the Company's control.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such statements include, among others, the following: (1) general economic or monetary conditions, either nationally or regionally, continue to decline, resulting in a deterioration in credit quality or diminished demand for the Company's products and services; (2) changes in laws or government rules, or the way in which courts interpret those laws or rules, adversely affect the financial industry generally or the Company's business in particular, or may impose additional costs and regulatory requirements; (3) interest rates change in such a way as to reduce the Company's interest margins and its funding sources; and (4) competitive pressures increase among financial services providers in the Company's northern New England market area or in the financial services industry generally, including pressures from nonbank financial service providers, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers and from changes in technology and delivery systems.
These statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and the Bank does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Acadia (ACAD) was a big mover last session on higher-than-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions might not help the stock continue moving higher in the near term.
