Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Docusign stock gained 18.7% in a month, outpacing its industry and the S&P 500 Composite.DOCU is expanding IAM with AI-powered review agents, workflow tools and major platform integrations.Docusign held about $1B in cash and investments, had no debt and posted 28% operating cash flow growth. Docusign (DOCU - Free Report) stock has gained 18.7% in a month compared with the industry’s 0.3% growth and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 2.9% return.

DOCU’s 1-Month Share Price Performance
                                                                      Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve deeper into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

DOCU’s AI-backed ScalabilityDocusign continues to benefit from broad use of e-Signature while expanding customer relationships through its Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform. The company is extending beyond eSignature by building IAM around agreement creation, review, workflow automation and post-signature management.

The company witnessed investments from 40,000 customers in IAM during the first quarter of fiscal 2027, representing 12.6% of total Annual Recurring Revenue, up from 10.8% at fiscal 2026 year-end. DOCU expanded the platform’s capabilities through new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered offerings under its Iris agreement AI engine. New contract review agents, workflow automation tools and integrations with platforms such as Anthropic Claude, OpenAI ChatGPT, Salesforce, Coupa and Thomson Reuters are intended to deepen customer engagement and strengthen DOCU’s competitive position in agreement management.

DOCU’s Strong Profitability Attracts InvestorsRecently, Docusign delivered solid profit figures in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Its non-GAAP operating income rose 18% year over year to $266 million, while operating margin expanded 250 basis points to 32%. Adjusted net income increased 12.6% year over year, while adjusted earnings per share rose 21.1% year over year to $1.09 per share. Results benefited from higher revenues, disciplined spending, increased capitalization of development costs and an insurance-related legal reimbursement. Such results boosted shareholder confidence in the company's profit growth. invest

DOCU’s Solid Cash ProfileAs of April 30, 2026, DOCU held approximately $1 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments with no debt. This solid cash position, which was enhanced by 28% year-over-year growth in operating cash flow during the last reported quarter, provides DOCU with sufficient flexibility to invest in its scaling business without hampering its short-term financial position. Free cash flow increased by 27% during this time frame.

DOCU’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderDocusign currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

A couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector are Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI - Free Report) and AMETEK, Inc. (AME - Free Report) . You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Analog Devices carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 31%.

ADI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.5%, on average.

AMETEK also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.4%.

AME beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 4.9%.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Synchrony (SYF - Free Report) . Shares have added about 9.4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Synchrony due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

Synchrony Beats Q2 Earnings Estimates, Raises 2026 EPS Outlook

Synchrony reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.59, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.5%. The bottom line increased 3.6% year over year.

Net interest income increased 1.9% year over year to $4.6 billion but missed the consensus estimate by 1.1%. The growth was driven by lower interest-bearing liability costs, partly offset by lower loan and liquidity portfolio yields.

The quarterly results were driven by record purchase volume, accelerated growth in ending loan receivables despite elevated payment behavior, continued credit strength and an expansion in net interest margin. However, higher operating expenses and an increase in the provision for credit losses partly offset these positives.

Synchrony’s Q2 Results in DetailRetailer share arrangements of Synchrony advanced 3.5% year over year to $1 billion in the second quarter. Total loan receivables were $102.2 billion, up 2.4% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $101.9 billion as well as our estimate of $101.8 billion.

Total deposits increased 0.7% year over year to $82.8 billion but missed our estimate of $83.5 billion. Provision for credit losses increased 4.8% year over year to $1.2 billion, primarily due to a smaller reserve release than in the prior-year period, partially offset by lower net charge-offs. However, the reported figure came in below our estimate of $1.5 billion.

Synchrony’s purchase volume rose 8.1% year over year to $49.8 billion on higher spend per account. The figure beat the consensus estimate of $48.7 billion and our estimate of $47.7 billion.

Interest and fees on loans increased 1% year over year to $5.4 billion but marginally missed our estimate of $5.5 billion. The increase was driven by higher loan receivables yields, partly offset by lower benchmark rates. Net interest margin expanded 30 basis points year over year to 15.08% but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 15.25%.

Average active accounts increased 0.4% year over year at 68.3 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68.9 million and our estimate of 68.7 million.

Total other expenses increased 6.9% year over year to $1.33 billion, slightly above our estimate of $1.30 billion. The efficiency ratio rose 170 basis points year over year to 35.8%, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35.05%.

Movement in Individual Sales PlatformsHome & Auto period-end loan receivables decreased 0.1% year over year in the second quarter. Purchase volume rose 5.8% year over year, reflecting the performance of new programs. Interest and fees on loans declined 0.1% year over year.

Digital period-end loan receivables inched up 4.4% year over year. Purchase volume increased 9.2%, driven by strong performance across diversified partners. Interest and fees on loans rose 1.8% year over year.

Diversified & Value period-end loan receivables increased 6.5% year over year. Purchase volume increased 11.7%, driven by partner expansion and higher gas sales. Interest and fees on loans increased 1.6% year over year.

Health & Wellness period-end loan receivables inched up 0.5% year over year. Purchase volume increased 2.1% year over year, supported by growth in Pet, partly offset by lower Cosmetic spending. Interest and fees on loans advanced 2.7% year over year.

Lifestyle period-end loan receivables decreased 0.9% year over year in the second quarter. Purchase volume rose 6%, reflecting new program growth and higher spending in Other Apparel and Goods and Luxury. Interest and fees on loans declined 1.9% year over year.

Synchrony’s Financial Position (As of June 30, 2026)Synchrony exited the second quarter with cash and equivalents of $16.2 billion, which increased from the 2025-end level of $15 billion. Total assets of $121.9 billion increased from the 2025-end figure of $119.1 billion. SYF’s balance sheet was consistently strong in the reported quarter, with total liquidity of $19.8 billion accounting for 16.2% of its total assets.

Total borrowings were $16.4 billion, up from $15.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025. Total equity of $16.9 billion inched up from the 2025-end figure of $16.8 billion.

Return on assets decreased 30 basis points to 2.9%. Return on equity was 21.4%, which decreased 170 bps year over year.

Capital Deployment UpdateSynchrony returned $950 million to shareholders, including $850 million through share buybacks and $100 million in dividends. As of June 30, 2026, the company had a total remaining repurchase authorization of $5.7 billion, with no expiration date.

SYF’s 2026 GuidanceSynchrony continues to anticipate mid-single-digit growth in period-end loan receivables. Strong purchase volume growth is expected to continue throughout 2026. The payment rate is expected to remain high. SYF expects receivables growth to accelerate in the second half of 2026.

The company narrowed its 2026 earnings per share guidance to $9.25-$9.50 from $9.10-$9.50, raising the lower end of the range.

RSA, as a percentage of average loan receivables, is increasing, reflecting strong program performance, and is expected to remain within the 4-4.5% target range.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.

The consensus estimate has shifted -6.95% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Synchrony has a subpar Growth Score of D, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Synchrony has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta told CNBC's David Faber on Thursday that the group of states suing to block Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would require "robust structural remedies" to reach a settlement in the antitrust case.

"[Paramount] wanted to talk about everything except for what this case is about. They want to talk about the streaming market, which we don't allege in our complaint. They want to talk about CNN, which is not a focus of our complaint. They want to talk about the foreign regulators. We want to talk about the three markets that we set forth in our complaint, where we think there's antitrust violation," Bonta said.

Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in July seeking to block the merger. The group of suing states also includes Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington. In the suit, the group focuses on the size of the combined company and how it would control nearly one-third of films and nearly a third of basic cable TV programming. 

Paramount, which initially sought to close the deal by Sept. 30, agreed to delay the proposed acquisition of WBD to as late as June 2027. A trial will be heard on the matter in March.

There has been widespread speculation about whether Paramount and the states will hold settlement talks to bypass the March trial.

"I will say that coming to the table has always been on the table. And if [CEO David] Ellison and Paramount want to come to the table in good faith and talk, we want to talk, too. We're happy to have that conversation," Bonta said. "We do prefer to resolve cases in the boardroom instead of the courtroom, but for now we're bringing our case, and, you know, I hope they can focus on the actual allegations we make in our complaint."

Bonta said it's no secret Paramount wants the states to consider a settlement.

If the two companies were to combine, it would unite the famed movie studios Warner Bros. and Paramount, as well as a massive portfolio of TV networks including Paramount's broadcast network CBS and pay TV channels such as its MTV and BET with WBD's CNN, Discovery and others. It would also bring together streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max. 

"Whether the market is shrinking or growing is really irrelevant," Bonta said Thursday in response to the argument that the pay TV subscriber base has been decreasing due to the rise of streaming.

Bonta said a combined Paramount-WBD would create a "presumptively illegal market concentration" in the film and TV markets the group of attorneys general identified in the lawsuit.

"We are the ones who've looked at this from a straight-up law and facts perspective in the American economy under American law under Clayton Act Section 7, which applies here as antitrust law," Bonta said. "[The law has] been on the books for over a century. And it's just a straight up, meat-and-potatoes, black-and-white, bread-and-butter, antitrust case."

The Clayton Antitrust Act is the more-than-100-year-old law that prohibits anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions.

Paramount has previously called the states' lawsuit a "misrepresentation of competition in the entertainment industry today," and said it plans to "vigorously defend the transaction and demonstrate that this challenge is inconsistent with sound competition and policy and the competitive realities of the media marketplace."

Paramount's lead trial counsel, Jeffrey Kessler, earlier told CNBC that Paramount "believes strongly" in the combination of the two companies and is prepared to bring the matter to the Supreme Court if it was faced with a prolonged blockade to closing the deal. 

During Paramount's August earnings call, Ellison said he's "confident" the deal will close.

A Paramount spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Bonta's remarks on Thursday.

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Shares of Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA | MRNA Price Prediction) stock are down 18% to $142.70 in Thursday midday trading, unwinding a meaningful piece of Wednesday’s historic 177% rally. The reversal follows a Phase 3 win for Moderna’s personalized cancer vaccine, a result that repriced Moderna stock so violently in one session that a retrace looked close to inevitable.

BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) stock is falling 4% to $108.39 as the German mRNA developer hands back part of its own read-across rally. BioNTech shares had entered Thursday up 19% year to date (YTD) on enthusiasm around the broader mRNA oncology platform.

Merck (NYSE:MRK) stock is slipping 1% to $150.63, a barely perceptible move for the pharma giant despite co-owning the same pivotal trial. Merck shares were still up 47% YTD heading into Thursday’s session.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) is down 2% to $213.64, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) is down 0.5% to $712.41. Biotech is taking the heavier hit today, and Moderna sits inside IBB as a holding, so an 18% decline in a single large constituent pulls the fund down with it.

Cancer Vaccine Win Sparks a Two-Day Roundtrip Moderna and Merck announced that intismeran, their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, hit its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial. The readout showed a meaningful reduction in melanoma recurrence in patients whose tumors had already been surgically removed.

The combination arm paired intismeran with Merck’s Keytruda against Keytruda alone. Patients on the combination lived meaningfully longer without their cancer returning or spreading, validating years of Phase 2 signals previously reported at ASCO 2026.

Why the Rally Reversed So Hard JPMorgan’s Jessica Fye framed the setup on Moderna stock bluntly, writing that the firm sees “success in adj melanoma as priced in with the stock sitting at ~$25bn market cap prior to the news,” and that “we see the read-across to other indications as critical.” That framing captures why the Moderna trade is giving so much back today.

Bank of America’s Alec Stranahan struck a more constructive tone, calling the result “a watershed moment for Moderna, in our view, effectively allowing the company to diversify away from infectious disease and potentially easing persistent capital overhangs.” Citigroup’s Geoff Meacham cautioned that full validation depends on the complete dataset, potentially due at the ESMO conference in Madrid running October 23 to 27.

Same Trial, Very Different Materiality The split between Moderna and Merck shares is a clean way to read Thursday’s tape. Moderna carries a market cap of $56.18 billion, and a Phase 3 adjuvant melanoma win reshapes what Moderna is as a business. It hands the company a credible oncology franchise on top of its existing infectious-disease base.

Merck carries a market cap of $371.63 billion with Keytruda already anchoring the company’s oncology portfolio. The same trial result barely registers in Merck stock because the incremental economics are small relative to a Keytruda franchise already generating billions of dollars per quarter across a long list of approved indications.

BioNTech is running its own individualized mRNA cancer immunotherapy, autogene cevumeran, in partnership with Genentech, in adjuvant colorectal and pancreatic settings. BioNTech shares rallied earlier in the week on the platform read-across for mRNA oncology, and BioNTech stock is now handing some of that enthusiasm back. Readers interested in the wider pharma tape can see our prior coverage on which drugmaker stock has dominated in 2026.

What to Watch Next The unresolved question is whether the melanoma result reads across to other tumor types, since the full Moderna dataset has not been presented publicly yet. Traders can watch for the complete data drop at ESMO in Madrid in late October, the next scheduled catalyst that could either confirm or complicate the bull case on Moderna stock.

Position sizing on Moderna stock matters more than direction here. The single-session round trip shows how narrow the tape can get around one readout, and a moderate weighting keeps a portfolio’s exposure to the next data point manageable while the tumor-type read-across question on Moderna’s platform stays open.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways DKS is expected to post 54.6% revenue growth, supported by strong comps and transaction gains.House of Sport, Field House and Foot Locker initiatives aim to boost traffic, sales and brand partnerships.Tariffs, sourcing costs and higher SG&A could pressure margins despite continued strategic investments. As DICK’S Sporting Goods Inc. (DKS - Free Report) prepares to announce its second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Aug. 25, 2026, investors are closely watching for insights into its performance this season.

DKS is expected to register a year-over-year sales increase in the quarter under review. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $5.6 billion, indicating a surge of 54.6% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.

However, the consensus estimate for fiscal second-quarter earnings is pegged at $3.80 per share, which suggests a dip of 13.2% from the year-ago reported number. The consensus mark has been stable in the past 30 days.

In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a negative earnings surprise of 0.3%. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.9%, on average.

Factors to Note About DKS’ Upcoming ReleaseDICK’S Sporting’s quarterly results are likely to reflect gains from solid strategic efforts, brand strength and market share gains. Also, strong comparable sales (comps) and healthy transaction growth are expected to have acted as tailwinds. The company has also been enhancing service levels through its digital and store experiences to cater well to the athletes’ needs.

The company continues to expand its House of Sport and Field House concepts, which are helping drive stronger customer engagement, sales and brand partnerships. DKS is also increasing marketing investments, which could support traffic and comps. Another key focus is strengthening merchandise through differentiated products, greater innovation and deeper relationships with major national and emerging brands.

The company is also expanding its higher-margin vertical brands, which could support gross-margin improvement. Investments in digital capabilities, including its website, app and DICK’S AI-powered digital agent, are aimed at improving the omnichannel customer experience. Meanwhile, GameChanger and the DICK’S Media Network continue to provide additional engagement and revenue opportunities. The Foot Locker turnaround is another important strategic driver. DICK’S is expanding the Fast Break store-remodel program, improving merchandise presentation, restoring apparel offerings and strengthening inventory availability. All these factors are likely to drive DKS’ top-line results in the quarter under review.

However, DICK’S Sporting continues to face a challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop, which could weigh on its profitability. The operating environment remains dynamic, with ongoing uncertainty related to tariffs, global trade and broader consumer spending trends. Tariff-related inflation and sourcing costs may also pressure margins if promotional activity intensifies or consumer demand softens. In addition, elevated selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs remain concerning. Our model expects adjusted SG&A to increase 63.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Such factors are likely to have hurt the company’s profitability in the to-be-reported quarter.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for DKSOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for DICK'S this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

DICK'S Sporting has an Earnings ESP of -0.18% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

DICK'S Sporting’s Valuation PictureDICK'S Sporting has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 12.41, which is below the five-year high of 17.28x and the Retail - Miscellaneous industry’s average of 15.53x.

The recent market movements show that DICK'S Sporting’s shares have lost 8.3% in the past six months compared with the industry's 16.4% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Three Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are three companies you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +20.8% and a Zacks Rank of 2. FIVE is likely to register a top-line increase when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.21 billion, indicating a 17.9% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The consensus estimate for Five Below’s earnings is pegged at $1.28 per share, implying a 58% jump from the year-ago quarter. FIVE delivered an earnings surprise of 70.1% in the last four quarters.

Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.05% and a Zacks Rank of 2. DLTR is likely to register a top and bottom-line increase when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings per share of $1.11 suggests an increase of 44.2% from the year-ago fiscal quarter’s reported number. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.9 billion, suggesting growth of 6.3% from the prior-year fiscal quarter’s reported figure. DLTR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.1%, on average.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.05% and a Zacks Rank of 3. WSM is likely to register a top and bottom-line increase when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 numbers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings per share of $2.05 suggests an increase of 2.5% from the year-ago fiscal quarter’s reported number. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.9 billion, suggesting growth of 4.1% from the prior-year fiscal quarter’s reported figure. WSM has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.2%, on average.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Northrop Grumman due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Northrop Grumman Sees Growth Across Key Defense Programs

Northrop Grumman Corporation reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $7.68 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.84 by 12.3%. The bottom line, however, declined 5.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $8.15.

NOC’s Total SalesNOC’s total sales of $10.88 billion in the second quarter beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.80 billion by 0.7%. The top line also improved 5.1% from $10.35 billion reported in the year-ago quarter.

Northrop Grumman’s Backlog Count
The company’s total backlog was $95.68 billion at the end of the second quarter compared with $95.61 billion at the end of first-quarter 2026.

NOC’s Segmental DetailsAeronautics Systems: This segment’s sales of $3.52 billion rose 13% year over year, driven by higher sales from B-21 and other restricted programs, as well as increased volume on the E-130J TACAMO program.

The unit’s operating income totaled $362 million compared with $321 million in the second quarter of 2025. Its operating profit margin remained the same at 10.3%.

Mission Systems: Sales in this segment increased 2.9% to $3.25 billion. This was driven by ramp-up on restricted airborne radar programs and higher volume on marine systems programs.

The unit’s operating income increased 13.6% to $501 million. The operating margin expanded 140 basis points (bps) to 15.4%.

Defense Systems: This segment’s sales rose 5.1% year over year to $2.09 billion. This improvement was driven by the continued ramp-up of the Sentinel program, as well as the higher volume of tactical solid rocket motor programs and the Integrated Battle Command System portfolio.

The unit’s operating income declined 38.3% year over year to $156 million. The operating margin contracted 520 bps to 9.7%.

Space Systems: Sales in this segment rose 4% to $2.75 billion. This improvement was driven by higher Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) missions as well as higher volume on the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) and Ground-based Midcourse Defense Weapon System (GMD WS) programs.

The segment’s operating income decreased 17% year over year to $235 million. The operating margin also contracted 150 bps to 9.5%.

Northrop Grumman’s Operational UpdateTotal operating income during the quarter totaled $1.10 billion, reflecting a significant decrease from $1.43 billion in the prior-year quarter.

NOC’s Financial ConditionNorthrop Grumman’s cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2026, totaled $2.31 billion, down from $4.40 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.

Long-term debt (net of the current portion) amounted to $14.43 billion compared with $15.16 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.

Net cash outflow from operating activities totaled $376 million during the first six months of 2026 compared with $697 million a year ago.

Northrop Grumman’s 2026 GuidanceThe company expects its revenues to be in the range of $43.75-$44.25 billion compared with its previous guidance of $43.50-$44.00 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $43.96 billion, lower than the midpoint of the company’s guided range.

NOC expects adjusted earnings to be in the band of $28.60-$29.10 per share compared with its previous guidance of $27.40-$27.90 per share. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $28.19 per share, above the company’s guided range.

Northrop Grumman projects to generate adjusted free cash flow in the band of $3.10-$3.50 billion.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Northrop Grumman has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Northrop Grumman has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerNorthrop Grumman belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry. Another stock from the same industry, GE Aerospace (GE - Free Report) , has gained 4.4% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

GE reported revenues of $12.63 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +24.5%. EPS of $2.02 for the same period compares with $1.66 a year ago.

For the current quarter, GE is expected to post earnings of $1.99 per share, indicating a change of +19.9% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +1.7% over the last 30 days.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for GE. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of D.

Key Takeaways Neurocrine's Ingrezza sales rose 17% to $1.4 billion in the first half of 2026.Record new prescriptions and double-digit volume growth drove a higher 2026 Ingrezza sales outlook.Austedo's growth and potential pricing pressure could challenge Ingrezza's momentum over time. Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX - Free Report) has had an encouraging start so far in 2026, with strong revenue growth, supported by continued momentum in its commercial portfolio. The top-line benefits primarily from Ingrezza, the company's blockbuster VMAT2 inhibitor, which remains Neurocrine’s primary revenue driver and a key pillar of its growth story.

Ingrezza sales rose 17% year over year to $1.4 billion in the first half of 2026, supported by record new prescriptions and double-digit total volume growth. The strong performance prompted management to raise its Ingrezza sales guidance for full-year 2026 to $2.83-$2.88 billion from $2.7-$2.8 billion. The midpoint implies approximately 13% year-over-year growth, indicating that Neurocrine expects the drug's commercial momentum to remain solid through the remainder of the year.

Ingrezza is approved for two indications — tardive dyskinesia (TD) and chorea associated with Huntington's disease (HD). However, TD represents the larger commercial opportunity for Ingrezza. Neurocrine estimates that roughly 800,000 people in the United States are affected by the disease, yet only about half are diagnosed and approximately 10% receive a VMAT2 inhibitor, highlighting the significant room for broader treatment adoption. Continued diagnosis and treatment penetration could therefore support Ingrezza's sales growth even as the drug's existing patient base expands.

In comparison, chorea affects the vast majority of the roughly 40,000 Americans living with HD. Although the addressable population is considerably smaller than that for TD, the indication provides an additional source of demand and strengthens Ingrezza's position across the movement-disorder market.

Pricing Exposure Could Become a Concern for NBIX Over TimeWhile Ingrezza continues to benefit from strong volume growth, pricing remains an important consideration for its future sales trajectory. In 2025, pricing concessions related to broader formulary access partially offset volume gains. Although management expects 2026 net pricing to remain broadly consistent with last year's levels, pricing pressure is expected to rise in the longer term.

A key factor could be the pricing of Teva Pharmaceuticals' (TEVA - Free Report) Austedo and Austedo XR, which compete with Ingrezza across both approved indications. TEVA’s therapies are set to enter the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program in 2027, with negotiated prices below pre-negotiation levels. This could make Austedo/Austedo XR more price-competitive among Medicare patients and potentially put additional pressure on Ingrezza's pricing and formulary positioning. Neurocrine has said it remains confident in maintaining broad access for Ingrezza, although greater pricing competition could become a concern over time.

At the same time, Austedo is gaining momentum in the market. Teva reported second-quarter 2026 Austedo sales of $696 million, up 40% year over year, underscoring the drug's growing competitive position. Like NBIX, TEVA also raised its 2026 outlook for Austedo to $2.45-$2.60 billion from $2.40-$2.55 billion.

While Austedo remains the most direct competitive threat, the pipeline is also evolving beyond VMAT2 inhibitors. Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD - Free Report) recently started clinical development on ACP-271, a GPR88 agonist for TD. Though this candidate is still in early-stage development, its different mechanism could represent a longer-term competitive consideration for Ingrezza.

NBIX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Neurocrine Biosciences have outperformed the industry year to date, as seen in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company is currently trading at a premium to the industry. Based on the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, the stock trades at 3.69 times forward 12-month sales, above the industry average of 2.02 times.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate revisions for Neurocrine Biosciences’ 2026 and 2027 EPS have been mixed over the past 30 days.

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

After six decades of steering clear of investments in department stores, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA -0.24%) (BRKB -0.04%) is suddenly investing in a retail icon. I'm talking about Macy's (M -3.08%), the legendary retailer.

Berkshire's last department store investment was Hochschild Kohn, a Baltimore-based retail chain, back in the 1960s, but apparently it didn't go as planned, so CEO Warren Buffett became wary of traditional retailers.

Image source: Getty Images.

Berkshire first invested in Macy's in the first quarter of this year, buying about 3 million shares, a 1% stake in the retailer valued at around $55 million. It significantly increased its stake in the second quarter to 7.37 million shares. At a share price of $23.55, Berkshire's investment in Macy's is now worth about $174 million. That's about 2.8% of Macy's outstanding shares.

To be sure, that's a small investment for the massive conglomerate, which holds stakes worth tens of billions of dollars in companies like Apple, American Express, and Google parent Alphabet. And Berkshire's latest investments, mainly in Alphabet, are in tech stocks quite different from a retailer founded in 1858.

So what is the sudden appeal of Macy's stock for Berkshire?

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First-quarter results were impressive Well, Macy's had a strong first quarter, its best in four years. Revenue climbed 2% to $4.9 billion, and net income soared 66% to $63 million. Earnings per share rose 77% to $0.23. All of those beat Wall Street expectations. Management also raised its full-year outlook. It sees sales of between $21.5 billion and $21.75 billion, with earnings per share somewhere between $2 and $2.25.

Yet analysts who cover the stock don't seem to expect much upward price movement. The average price target is $22.77, nearly $1 below the current price. Of the 13 analysts who follow it, 10 have the stock as a hold, two as a buy, and one as a sell.

Yet perhaps Berkshire is impressed by the ongoing turnaround at the retailer, which also owns Bloomingdale's department stores and Blue Mercury, a luxury beauty and spa retailer. Two years ago, Macy's launched a strategy to close some 150 underperforming stores and focus on 350 others, many of which it will upgrade with a better customer experience.

The stock is also relatively inexpensive, trading at just about 10 times trailing-12-month earnings. We know that Berkshire loves a bargain or, more likely in this case, a stock it considers undervalued by the market.

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matthew Benjamin has positions in Alphabet and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, American Express, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Results Show Over 97% of Votes Cast to Date Are in Favor of the Merger with SoundHound AI

Meeting Adjourned to September 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Urges Stockholders Who Have Not Voted to Vote FOR Transaction with SoundHound AI Today

, /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) ("LivePerson" or "the Company"), a leading provider of predictable conversational AI, today announced that its Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") originally scheduled for this morning, August 20, 2026, was convened and immediately adjourned to September 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The adjourned meeting will continue to be held virtually via a live audio webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LPSN2026SM.

The Company issued the following statement:

While over 97% of LivePerson shares casting votes to date have been in favor of the merger with SoundHound AI (based on preliminary results), the transaction can only be completed once a majority of all outstanding LivePerson shares have been voted – a threshold we are currently only a few percentage points away from reaching.

We urge stockholders to submit their votes as soon as possible in order to realize the benefits of the transaction and protect the value of their investment.

VOTE TODAY

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 6, 2026, are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. If you have already submitted your proxy, your vote remains valid and there is nothing further you need to do.

Vote today by proxy card, online or by phone. For more information and additional materials visit VoteLivePerson.com, or contact LivePerson's proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., toll-free at (800) 322-2885 or by e-mail at [email protected].

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
7 Penn Plaza
 New York, NY 10001
Call Toll-Free: (800) 322-2885
 Email: [email protected] 

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Voting Information

LivePerson stockholders who hold shares listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and intend to vote their shares must deliver to LivePerson's Israeli counsel, Arnon, Tadmor-Levy, c/o Moshe Pasker, Azrieli Center (Square Tower), Tel Aviv, Israel, 6702101 (email: [email protected]), an ownership certificate confirming their ownership on July 6, 2026. The form of proxy card for stockholders who hold shares listed on the TASE can be found here: https://mayafiles.tase.co.il/rpdf/1759001-1760000/P1759388-00.pdf.

About LivePerson

LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) is an enterprise leader in predictable conversational AI. The world's leading brands use our award-winning Conversational Cloud and Syntrix platforms to connect with millions of customers. We power nearly a billion messages every month, providing uniquely rich data analytics, agent training, and AI evaluation tools to unlock the power of conversational AI for better business outcomes. Learn more at liveperson.com.

Media Contact:

Riah Lawry
[email protected] 

Or

Jim Golden / Dylan O'Keefe
Collected Strategies
[email protected] 

Investor Relations Contact:

[email protected] 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws about the expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, prospects, financial results and strategies relating to SoundHound AI's proposed acquisition of LivePerson. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the timing of filing the definitive proxy/prospectus and timing of LivePerson's special meeting, obtaining regulatory approvals, the timing of closing of the proposed acquisition, and the parties' expectations, intentions, strategies, assumptions or beliefs about future events, results of operations or performance or that do not solely relate to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between LivePerson and SoundHound; (2) the possibility that the transaction does not close when expected or at all due to the failure to satisfy all of the conditions to closing on a timely basis or at all, including the failure to obtain the required shareholder approvals or to consummate the notes restructuring transactions contemplated by the Notes Restructuring Agreement; (3) the risk that the benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which LivePerson and SoundHound operate; (4) any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of LivePerson and SoundHound; (5) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (6) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of LivePerson's or SoundHound's customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the transaction; (7) the diversion of management's attention and time to the transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities; and (8) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against LivePerson or SoundHound or in connection with the transaction. Further information on factors that could affect the forward-looking statements and expectations above are contained in the filings that LivePerson and/or SoundHound AI have filed, or that will be filed, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including as set forth in the Form S-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, as well as the documents incorporated by reference therein.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and LivePerson does not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to be, and shall not constitute, an offer to sell, buy or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to sell, buy or exchange any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, SoundHound AI has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") that includes a definitive proxy statement of LivePerson and that constitutes a prospectus of SoundHound AI with respect to the shares of the SoundHound AI common stock to be issued in the proposed transaction, dated July 9, 2026 (the "proxy statement/prospectus"). The proxy statement/prospectus was filed with the SEC on July 9, 2026 by LivePerson, and the mailing of the proxy statement/prospectus began to LivePerson's stockholders on or about the same date. Each of SoundHound AI and LivePerson may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.

This communication is not a substitute for the Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that SoundHound AI or LivePerson has filed, or may file, with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF SOUNDHOUND AI AND LIVEPERSON ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-4, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available), as well as other filings containing information about SoundHound AI and LivePerson, free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by the Company will be available free of charge on SoundHound AI's website at https://investors.soundhound.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Copies of the documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by LivePerson will be available free of charge on LivePerson's website at https://ir.liveperson.com/financial-information/sec-filings. The information included on, or accessible through, SoundHound AI's or LivePerson's website is not incorporated by reference into this communication.

Participants in the Solicitation

SoundHound, LivePerson and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of SoundHound, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in SoundHound's definitive proxy statement for its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders under the heading "Proposal 1 – Election of Directors", which was filed with the SEC on April 9, 2026 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001840856/000121390026041978/ea0285618-01.htm. Information about the directors and executive officers of LivePerson and their ownership of LivePerson equity interests can be found in the section entitled "Interests of LivePerson Directors and Executive Officers in the Mergers" and "Owners and Management of LivePerson" included in the proxy/prospectus, which was filed with the SEC on July 9, 2026 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1102993/000121390026076759/ea0297465-01.htm. Further information about the directors and executive officers of LivePerson may be found in its amendment to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under the headings "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance," "Executive Compensation," "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" and is available at: https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001102993/000110299326000020/lpsn-20251231.htm; in the Form 3 and Form 4 statements of beneficial ownership and statements of changes in beneficial ownership filed with the SEC by LivePerson's directors and executive officers; and is in other documents filed by LivePerson with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies will be included in other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC if and when they become available. You should read the Form S-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above.

SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Insulet Corporation ("Insulet" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PODD) and certain officers.   The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and docketed under 26-cv-13062, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Insulet securities between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Insulet securities during the Class Period, you have until August 31, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class.  A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.  To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.  

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Insulet develops, manufactures, and sells insulin delivery systems for people with insulin-dependent diabetes in the United States ("U.S.") and internationally. 

The Company offers, inter alia, its "Omnipod 5" automated insulin delivery ("AID") system, which includes a proprietary AID algorithm embedded in the pod that integrates with a third-party continuous glucose monitor to obtain glucose values through wireless Bluetooth communication; and its "Omnipod Dash", which features a Bluetooth enabled Pod that is controlled by a smartphone-like Personal Diabetes Manager. 

Insulet also formerly offered the Omnipod Insulin Management System, its predecessor to the Omnipod 5, prior to the Class Period, but had already begun to phase out the product by the start of the Class Period.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies.  Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Insulet's manufacturing controls and procedures were defective; (ii) the foregoing created a foreseeable heightened risk that one or more Insulet products would be found to be in violation of applicable safety regulations and/or pose a risk of injury; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

The truth began to emerge on March 12, 2026, when Insulet disclosed that it had "initiated a voluntary Medical Device Correction for specific lots of Omnipod® 5 Pods after identifying a manufacturing issue through its ongoing product monitoring."

On this news, Insulet's stock price fell $16.23 per share, or 6.88%, to close at $219.84 per share on March 13, 2026.

Then, on May 26, 2026, Insulet disclosed the "initat[ion]" of another "voluntary Medical Device Correction", this time "for specific lots of Omnipod® 5, Omnipod Dash®, and Omnipod® Insulin Management System (Omnipod Eros) Pods due to a manufacturing issue, identified through ongoing product monitoring, that could result in insulin under-delivery." 

On this news, Insulet's stock price fell $7.79 per share, or 5.07%, to close at $146.01 per share on May 27, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. 

Attorney advertising.  Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.  

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG) announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s regular annual dividend to $3.88 from $3.52 per share of common stock. The increased dividend, when declared, will be paid on a quarterly basis of $0.97 per share of common stock beginning in October 2026. The new dividend rate is a 10.2% increase over the declared rate. This is the Company’s twenty-first consecutive year of dividend increases. The ten-year compound annual growth rate in AFG’s regular annual dividends paid is 12.1%.

S. Craig Lindner and Carl H. Lindner III, AFG’s Co-Chief Executive Officers, issued this statement: “Returning excess capital to shareholders in the form of dividends is an important and effective component of AFG’s capital management strategy. This increase in AFG’s annual dividend reflects our confidence in the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, and prospects for long-term growth.”

About American Financial Group, Inc.

American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release, and any related oral statements, contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on estimates, assumptions, and projections. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: the Company's expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings, investment activities and the amount and timing of share repurchases or special dividends; recoverability of asset values; expected losses and the adequacy of reserves for asbestos, environmental pollution and mass tort claims; rate changes; and improved loss experience.

Actual results and/or financial condition could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the risks and uncertainties AFG describes in the “Risk Factors” section of its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; whether or not the sale of Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina closes and AFG’s net gain as a result of the sale; changes in financial, political and economic conditions, including changes in interest and inflation rates and impacts from tariffs or other trade actions, currency fluctuations and extended economic recessions or expansions in the U.S. and/or abroad; performance of securities markets; new legislation or declines in credit quality or credit ratings that could have a material impact on the valuation of securities in AFG’s investment portfolio; the availability of capital; changes in insurance law or regulation, including changes in statutory accounting rules, including modifications to capital requirements; changes in the legal environment affecting AFG or its customers; tax law and accounting changes; levels of natural catastrophes and severe weather, terrorist activities (including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events), incidents of war or losses resulting from pandemics, civil unrest and other major losses; disruption caused by cyber-attacks or other technology breaches or failures by AFG or its business partners and service providers, which could negatively impact AFG’s business or reputation and/or expose AFG to litigation; development of insurance loss reserves and establishment of other reserves, particularly with respect to amounts associated with asbestos and environmental claims; availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations; competitive pressures; the ability to obtain adequate rates and policy terms; changes in AFG’s credit ratings or the financial strength ratings assigned by major ratings agencies to AFG’s operating subsidiaries; and the impact of the conditions in the international financial markets and the global economy relating to AFG’s international operations.

The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

Websites:
www.AFGinc.com
www.GreatAmericanInsuranceGroup.com

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High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio Top dividend stocks of Warren Buffett Top dividend stocks of George Soros

Key Takeaways Ciena's WL6e will power ION Network's new 2,000-kilometer ICS1 cable linking Jakarta and Singapore.ICS1 is designed for up to 24 Tb/s end-to-end capacity, with total capacity expected to reach 288 Tb/s.Ciena expanded WL6e to 110 customers as optical networking revenue climbed to $1.1 billion in fiscal Q2. Indonesia’s rapidly expanding digital economy is creating an urgent need for high-capacity, resilient connectivity. As cloud computing, AI, data centers, streaming and digital services drive up bandwidth consumption, network operators are investing heavily in submarine cables and advanced optical infrastructure. Against this backdrop, ION Network’s deployment of Ciena Corporation (CIEN - Free Report) WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) on its new ION Cable System 1 (ICS1) represents an important opportunity for both companies.

ION Network is deploying WL6e on ICS1, a new submarine cable spanning more than 2,000 kilometers between Jakarta and Singapore via submarine and protected terrestrial routes in Sumatra. The network will run on Ciena’s 6500 platform, supporting wavelength services up to 1.2 Tb/s, while the broader system is designed for up to 24 Tb/s of end-to-end capacity. Across six cable segments using two fiber pairs, ION expects total capacity to reach 288 Tb/s. ICS1 is scheduled to go live toward the end of 2026.

The deployment also leverages Ciena’s Layer 0 control-plane capabilities, which should help ION improve service availability and operational efficiency. The move also strengthens Ciena’s position in the rapidly developing Southeast Asian optical networking market. Ciena previously partnered with ION Network, as the operator uses Ciena optical technology for its B3JS (Jakarta-Bangka-Bintan-Batam-Singapore) and BDMCS (Batam-Dumai-Medan) cable systems.

Moreover, WL6e adoption continues to broaden. In the fiscal second quarter, Ciena expanded WL6e to 110 customers, adding 20 new users. Ciena's optical networking revenue reached $1.1 billion, up from $774 million a year earlier. It also raised its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to $6.3 billion (+/-$100 million), representing roughly 32% growth at the midpoint. However, competition in coherent optics remains intense, with vendors such as Nokia (NOK - Free Report) and others competing for carrier and hyperscaler spending.

Competition Heats Up in CIEN’s Optical MarketGrowth in optical networking and demand from AI and cloud customers is driving NOK. During the second quarter, AI and Cloud revenue more than doubled year over year while order intake reached €2.8 billion, reflecting broad demand across Optical Networks and IP Networks. Network Infrastructure delivered double-digit growth, supported by continued momentum in Optical Networks and IP Networks. The planned divestiture of the Fixed Wireless Access CPE business simplifies the portfolio and allows greater investment in higher-growth opportunities such as AI networking and optical technologies. Management noted that supply constraints continue to affect portions of the optical networking market, contributing to longer-term customer ordering patterns.

Corning Incorporated (GLW - Free Report) continues to strengthen its competitive position through innovation across optical connectivity, advanced glass and semiconductor applications. Corning is also expanding its GenAI optical portfolio with multicore fiber and high-density connectivity solutions that improve network capacity and reduce installation complexity. Secular demand for bandwidth, cloud computing and AI infrastructure continues to support Corning’s Optical Communications business. First-quarter Optical Communications sales increased 36% year over year, while segment net income rose 93%. The NVIDIA partnership includes plans to increase U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing capacity tenfold and expand domestic fiber production capacity by more than 50%.

CIEN Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CIEN have gained a whopping 361.1% in the past year compared with the Communications - Components industry’s surge of 218.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CIEN trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 50.76, above the industry’s 40.46.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CIEN’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has remain unchanged over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CIEN 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 Barrick Mining (B +2.62%) are down more than 2% so far this year and didn't get much of a lift despite strong second-quarter earnings, which the company announced before the markets opened on Aug. 10.

The upside is that the Canadian mining company's dividend is roughly 2.16%, slightly more than twice the S&P 500's average dividend yield. Its stock has also become a bargain, with it trading at around 11.5 times forward earnings, well below its 10-year average.

Here are three reasons why Barrick is worth buying for its earnings and dividend growth. 

Image source: Getty Images.

Gold is on the rise again The price of gold has fallen precipitously since its high of $5,344.30 per spot ounce at the end of January. By June 24, it had fallen to a low of $4,008.30. As of Aug. 17, however, it was up to $4,423.20. Traditionally, gold is seen as a safe-haven investment, but after inflation climbed and hostilities in the Middle East intensified, investors stayed away from the precious metal. Their concern was that higher inflation, led by rising oil prices, would erode the value of holding gold.

In June, JPMorgan Chase Global Research predicted that gold would average $6,000 per ounce by the final quarter of 2026, rising to $6,300 per ounce by the end of 2027. That estimate appears to be a bit on the bold side, but falling real yields, a softer dollar, and a growing official-sector and investment demand would strengthen the case for $6,000 per ounce.

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The settlement with Newmont clears up the picture On Aug. 10, Barrick Mining and Newmont (NEM +1.82%) announced an agreement that resolves years of governance friction and operational disputes surrounding their 2019 Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) joint venture.

For Barrick, which holds a 61.5% stake in NGM, the agreement requires Newmont to deliver $1.95 billion in cash to Barrick within 30 days. This substantial liquidity boost significantly strengthens Barrick's balance sheet, providing non-dilutive capital to help fund key copper expansion projects, such as its Lumwana mine in Zambia, and offering flexibility for capital returns.

The most critical strategic win is Newmont's consent for Barrick to proceed with the initial public offering (IPO) and spinoff of its North American gold assets. Newmont's opposition had created a major hurdle and a drag on its stock. Resolving the issue allows Barrick to move forward with bundling NGM, Pueblo Viejo, and its high-grade Fourmile project into a stand-alone public entity holding nearly 100 million ounces of gold. The IPO gives current Barrick shareholders direct exposure to a rerated entity holding nearly 100 million ounces of gold in top-tier jurisdictions.

Earnings and free cash flow growth help its dividend In the second quarter, Barrick reported free cash flow (FCF) from operations of $1.7 billion, up 28%, year over year. Earnings per share were $0.73, up 55% over the same period a year ago. Attributed adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 51%, year over year, to $2.55 billion.

In addition, three of the company's growth projects are moving ahead of schedule. Its Lumwana mill expansion is expected to double copper production there, its Fourmile gold mine in Nevada has ramped up drilling to 20 active rigs this quarter, and its Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic is expanding its plant.

The company is shareholder-friendly. It had $1.2 billion in stock buybacks in the second quarter, as part of a $3 billion stock repurchase program it began in 2026. The company's new dividend policy, which it began this year, established a quarterly base dividend of $0.175 per share, plus a potential year-end bonus.

The dividend is safe with a 24% payout ratio, and if 50% of Barrick's yearly total FCF exceeds the $0.70 per share already paid out via the four base distributions, the difference is paid out as a year-end performance top-up.

Key Takeaways BILL is making fiscal 2027 an AI-native platform year, with automation, unified selling and profitable growth.More than 175,000 businesses have used BILL's AI agents, with tiered subscriptions and usage pricing planned. Fiscal 2027 guidance calls for $1.669B-$1.719B core revenues, 23-24% margin and well over $125M GAAP profit. BILL Holdings, Inc. (BILL - Free Report) used its fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 earnings call to frame fiscal 2027 around an AI-native product shift, a unified platform sales motion and tighter focus on profitable growth.

Management also set a longer-term margin framework while acknowledging near-term disruption from sales changes, Spend and Expense dynamics and a narrower bank-partner strategy.

BILL Lays Out an AI-Native Road MapFounder, CEO and chairperson René Lacerte said more than 175,000 businesses have used BILL’s AI agents across accounts payable and Spend and Expense.

Lacerte said the company is moving toward an agentic platform that automates financial operations by default. He highlighted W-9 collection, invoice coding and touchless transaction agents as evidence of adoption.

In Q&A, a Needham analyst asked about monetization. Lacerte said BILL plans to pursue better early-life-cycle conversion and retention while moving toward platform fees, tiered agent subscriptions and consumption-based pricing.

BILL Holdings Sets a Profitability FrameworkQ4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.84 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.69 by 21.70%, while revenues of $436.20 million topped the consensus mark of $429.70 million by 1.50%.

CFO Rohini Jain said BILL is positioned for low-double-digit to mid-teens core revenue growth with expanding margins over time and aims to exceed its Rule of 40 threshold exiting fiscal 2027.

For fiscal Q1, BILL expects core revenues of $398 million to $408 million and non-GAAP  EPS of $0.96 to $1.00.

For fiscal 2027, BILL guided core revenues of $1.669 billion to $1.719 billion and a non-GAAP operating margin of 23% to 24%. It also expects well over $125 million of GAAP profit.

BILL Shifts Sales Toward Higher-ROI CustomersLacerte said the entire sales team is now trained to sell BILL as a single platform rather than separate products, with multiproduct adoption a central priority.

Joint AP and Spend and Expense customers grew 35% year over year in Q4, while customers present in both periods posted net revenue retention of 111%. Jain said the company added about 1,800 net new customers, below recent trends, partly because of restructuring.

A KeyBanc analyst pressed on customer additions. Jain said July showed recovery and projected 2,500 to 3,000 net additions in the first quarter, with the range expected to move higher over the remainder of the year.

BILL Holdings Sees Mix Changing the Growth MathA Morgan Stanley analyst asked what drove stronger AP/AR payment volume. Jain pointed mainly to ACH usage from larger newly acquired customers and stronger activity in manufacturing and construction.

Jain said mid-market customers generate roughly three times the ARPU and four times the TPV of the average BILL customer, but their heavier ACH mix carries lower take rates.

She added that core ARPU rose 3% sequentially. The trade-off reinforces management’s focus on customer quality and broader monetization rather than customer counts alone.

BILL Tightens Spend and Embed EconomicsJain said fiscal 2027 guidance includes three percentage points of growth headwind, with two points tied to Spend and Expense dynamics and one point to the bank channel. She expects fiscal Q2 to mark the growth trough.

BILL will begin presenting revenue net of rewards expense in the first quarter. Jain said the change does not affect operating or net income and should sharpen the focus on unit economics.

Lacerte said BILL is consolidating embedded finance around standardized Embed 2.0, even if some existing bank relationships do not continue. He also acknowledged Supplier Payments Plus progressed more slowly than initially expected, though committed TPV has reached almost $800 million.

BILL Holdings' Focus Turns to ExecutionLacerte characterized fiscal 2026 as a year of restructuring, capital returns and platform development, with fiscal 2027 centered on executing through a smaller, more aligned organization.

Jain’s outlook paired margin expansion and GAAP profitability goals with a selective approach to revenue quality, leaving sales execution, S&E normalization and AI monetization as key operating priorities.

What the Zacks Signal Says for BILLBILL currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Under the Zacks framework, the Rank takes precedence over favorable Style Scores because it reflects the direction of earnings estimate revisions.

The B scores indicate relatively favorable growth, momentum and combined VGM characteristics, while the C Value Score is less favorable. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates following the just-reported results.

Key Takeaways AI data center expansion is driving demand for servers, networking, optics, power and cooling systems.Hyperscalers are expected to spend $720B-$745B on 2026 capex, much of it on AI infrastructure.Dell, Celestica, Lumentum and Vertiv each target a different layer of AI data center infrastructure. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming one of the biggest investment themes in technology, but the opportunity extends far beyond chipmakers. As hyperscalers race to build AI infrastructure, they need much more than advanced processors. They require servers, networking systems, optical components, power equipment, cooling systems and other critical data center infrastructure.

This creates an attractive opportunity for investors looking beyond traditional semiconductor stocks. Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Meta Platforms are expected to spend roughly $720 billion to $745 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, with a large portion directed toward AI infrastructure. The scale of this spending is creating a powerful demand environment for companies that help build and operate AI data centers.

Against this backdrop, Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL - Free Report) , Celestica Inc. (CLS - Free Report) , Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE - Free Report) and Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) stand out as four stocks positioned to benefit from the expansion of AI infrastructure.

Dell Technologies offers exposure to AI servers, Celestica benefits from data center connectivity and systems, Lumentum provides critical optical technologies, while Vertiv addresses power and cooling requirements. Their businesses are different, but they share one important growth driver — the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.

For investors looking beyond semiconductor stocks, these four companies offer diversified ways to participate in the AI data center boom. The key question is no longer simply which company makes the best AI chip, but which businesses provide the infrastructure needed to deploy those chips at massive scale.

These stocks have a favorable combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy), offering solid investment opportunities.

Dell Technologies: Riding on the AI Server BoomDell Technologies is becoming an increasingly important beneficiary of the AI data center buildout because its portfolio extends beyond traditional personal computers (PCs) into servers, storage and infrastructure solutions. Its AI-optimized servers are particularly well-positioned as enterprises and hyperscalers expand computing capacity.

The company's recent results highlight the strength of this opportunity. Dell Technologies reported record quarterly revenues of $43.84 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, up 88% year over year. The company generated $16.1 billion in AI server revenues during the first quarter and received record AI server orders worth $24.4 billion. Buoyed by strong quarterly performance, the company raised its AI server revenue expectations for fiscal 2027 to about $60 billion.

With hyperscalers and enterprises continuing to expand AI computing capacity, Dell Technologies has a strong opportunity to convert its growing AI server pipeline into sustained revenue and earnings growth. Its AI server backlog stood at $51.3 billion at the end of the first quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dell Technologies’ fiscal 2027 revenues and earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year increases of approximately 54.6% and 86%, respectively. DELL currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a Growth Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Celestica: A Key Link in AI InfrastructureCelestica is another under-the-radar beneficiary of AI data center expansion. The company provides data center infrastructure and advanced technology solutions, including connectivity, servers and storage systems. This makes its Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (“CCS”) business particularly relevant to the AI infrastructure cycle.

Celestica's financial performance shows how rapidly demand is accelerating. Second-quarter 2026 revenues jumped 62% year over year to $4.70 billion, while adjusted EPS surged 83% to $2.54. Robust momentum in the CCS business remained the primary growth driver. CCS revenues soared 84% year over year to $3.81 billion, reflecting sustained strength in data center infrastructure demand.

Celestica also raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $20.5 billion from the earlier projection of $19 billion and adjusted EPS forecast to $11.30 from $10.15. The updated guidance for revenue and adjusted EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 65% and 87%, respectively.

CLS expects growth to accelerate further in 2027, supported by new programs and improved visibility with customers. Its close relationships with large cloud and data center customers, including Google, Meta Platforms, Amazon and Microsoft, could give Celestica considerable visibility as AI infrastructure investments continue.

For investors seeking exposure to the physical infrastructure behind AI without directly owning a chipmaker, CLS offers an increasingly compelling avenue. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Celestica’s 2026 revenues and EPS indicates year-over-year increases of approximately 64.3% and 78.5%, respectively. CLS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a Growth Score of A.

Lumentum: Powering Faster AI NetworksAI data centers need enormous amounts of data to move rapidly between processors, memory and other systems. This makes high-speed optical connectivity increasingly important, creating a significant opportunity for Lumentum. The company develops optical components and systems used in advanced data center networks. Its opportunity is expanding as AI clusters become larger and require faster, more efficient connections.

Lumentum's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 net revenues reached a record $1.01 billion, more than doubling from $480.7 million a year earlier, propelled by surging cloud and AI demand. Systems revenues came in at $356.9 million, rising 29.7% sequentially and 122.6% year over year. Cloud transceivers and Optical Circuit Switching were the main sequential growth drivers, with factories executing against aggressive production plans despite pockets of component supply tightness.

Lumentum expects continued growth momentum, at least in the near term. The midpoints of revenues and adjusted EPS guidance range for first-quarter fiscal 2027 indicate a year-over-year increase of 130% and 282%, respectively.

Management’s first-quarter guidance is supported by continued EML (Electro-absorption Modulated Laser) growth, scale-across components like pump and narrow linewidth lasers and a ramp-up in 1.6T transceivers. The company's strategic importance is further highlighted by NVIDIA’s commitment to invest $2 billion in Lumentum while promising multiyear purchases and capacity access for advanced laser components.

As AI clusters scale, demand for higher-speed optical connections should increase, giving Lumentum a potentially powerful long-term growth runway. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal 2027 revenues and EPS suggests year-over-year increases of approximately 106.3% and 115.8%, respectively. LITE currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of A.

Vertiv: The Power and Cooling PlayBuilding more AI data centers creates another challenge of keeping increasingly powerful computing systems supplied with electricity and operating at safe temperatures. This is where Vertiv plays a critical role.

Vertiv provides power management, thermal management and other critical digital infrastructure solutions used inside data centers. Its products are becoming increasingly important as AI workloads drive higher rack densities and greater power consumption.

The company's second-quarter 2026 revenues increased 24% year over year to $3.27 billion, while adjusted EPS jumped 60% to $1.52. Strong demand and expanding customer pipelines prompted Vertiv to raise its full-year 2026 revenue guidance range to $13.8-$14.2 billion from $13.5-$14 billion projected earlier. Adjusted EPS is now expected to be in the range of $6.65-$6.75, up from the previous forecast of $6.30-$6.40.

The company’s robust top-line growth suggests that AI-related infrastructure spending is translating into real demand for power and cooling equipment. As AI data centers become larger and more energy-intensive, Vertiv could remain a major beneficiary.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vertiv’s 2026 revenue and EPS indicates year-over-year increases of approximately 36.6% and 58.1%, respectively. VRT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of A.

During his three decades as manager of the hedge fund Duquesne Capital, Stanley Druckenmiller averaged annual returns of around 30%, beating not just the S&P 500 but also many other major hedge funds. Druckenmiller wound down his fund in 2010, converting it into a family office.This left him still highly active in the investing game, but just with his own money.

Investors can keep track of the Duquesne Family Office's positions by looking up its latest 13F filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Per the latest filing, submitted Aug. 14, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, Duquesne's largest position is in Natera (NTRA +1.92%). This position, worth around $865 million, makes up 16.6% of Duquesne's overall portfolio. While the family office has continued to build up a stake in the diagnostics company, much of its value is the result of the stock's big run-up thus far in 2026.

The question now is whether more upside remains for shares, or if the stock, after its strong extended run, is at risk of an extended pullback.

Stanley Druckenmiller. Image source: Getty Images.

Natera and its recent hot run Since the start of the year, Natera has rallied by over 37%. For comparison, the S&P 500 is up just a relatively smaller 13.9% over this same time frame. Cutting-edge healthcare stocks can make volatile moves, in either direction, and that's what has happened with Natera, following a spate of positive news.

Earlier in the year, Natera shares traded sideways, even as investors remained appreciative of the company's unique strengths. This includes its dominant share of the minimal residual disease (MRD) testing market, a key segment given the strong demand for products that help detect cancer recurrence. Still, despite such strengths, valuation worries became the greater concern.

However, following two key developments, valuation worries have moved to the back burner. First, in June, shares rallied on news that Natera had received regulatory approval in Japan for its Signatera product for colorectal cancer testing. Second, and more importantly, investors reacted very positively to Natera's latest quarterly results.

As insiders sell, should you keep following Druckenmiller's lead? On Aug. 6, Natera released results for the 2026 second quarter. During this period, revenue increased 37.7% year over year, from $546.6 million to $752.8 million. The company also reported a more than 100-basis-point improvement in gross margins, as well as further progress in reaching profitability. Management also raised full-year revenue guidance, from $2.85 billion to $2.91 billion.

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Alongside promising financials, Natera also keeps making progress in expanding the label for its products. After the aforementioned win in Japan, the company is now seeking regulatory approval for Signatera's use as a test for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

With the company still unprofitable, and shares trading for 16 times sales, valuation remains sky-high among medical device stocks. Near-term profit-taking, or worse, investor disappointment over further near-term developments, could lead to another sharp pullback in shares. It also doesn't help that insiders continue to sell shares, showing little interest in increasing their own personal positions.

Still, it's likely not irrational exuberance that's leading Druckenmiller to keep buying. Long-term forecasts call for double-digit revenue growth to persist, with earnings turning positive by 2028. Wait for further weakness before buying, but the long-term bull case remains intact for now.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Primoris Services Corporation ("Primoris" or the "Company") (NYSE: PRIM).   Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. 

The class action concerns whether Primoris and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

You have until September 21, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Primoris securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.          

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 23, 2026, Primoris issued a press release reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results.  In the press release, Primoris disclosed increased costs on certain renewable energy projects, more challenging-than-anticipated soil conditions, and margin compression within its Energy segment, acknowledging that these issues adversely affected fourth-quarter profitability despite higher revenue.  

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $13.72 per share, or 8.28%, to close at $151.92 per share on February 24, 2026. 

Then, on May 5, 2026, Primoris issued a press release reporting its financial results for the first quarter of 2026.  In the press release, Primoris disclosed additional adverse developments affecting its renewable energy business, including revenue and margin pressure, delayed project starts, and weaker-than-expected first-quarter 2026 results.  The Company also reduced its full-year 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance from $5.80-$6.00 to $4.80-$5.00 and lowered its Adjusted EBITDA guidance.  

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $101.69 per share, or 50.11%, to close at $101.23 per share on May 6, 2026. 

Then, on June 8, 2026, Primoris issued a press release announcing that Anthony Vorderbruggen, the Company's President of Renewables, was departing Primoris, effective immediately. 

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $18.92 per share, or 15.4%, to close at $103.90 per share on June 9, 2026. 

Finally, on June 22, 2026, Primoris issued a Business Update announcing that, following an internal review supported by an independent third-party industry expert, it had identified substantial challenges, cost overruns, and project delays affecting six renewable energy projects.  The Company reduced its full-year 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance to $2.05-$2.60, lowered its Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $275 million-$325 million, projected that 2026 Renewables revenue would decline to approximately $2.1 billion, and announced the resignation of its Chief Operating Officer. 

On this news, Primoris's stock price fell $23.39 per share, or 21.59%, to close at $84.95 per share on June 23, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. 

Attorney advertising.  Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.    

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980 

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Elastic (ESTC - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended July 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 27. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis software developer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3.3%.

Revenues are expected to be $469.49 million, up 13.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 34.45% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Elastic?For Elastic, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Elastic will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Elastic would post earnings of $0.56 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.61, delivering a surprise of +8.93%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Elastic doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Internet - Software industry, Salesforce (CRM - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $3.27 per share for the quarter ended July 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +12.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $11.3 billion, up 10.4% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Salesforce has been revised 0.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.65%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Salesforce will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Planet Fitness, Inc. ("Planet Fitness" or the "Company") (NYSE: PLNT).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Planet Fitness and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until September 14, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Planet Fitness securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On May 7, 2026, Planet Fitness reported its first quarter 2026 financial results and updated its full-year outlook.  Among other items, Planet Fitness disclosed that "2026 is off to a slower than expected start from a net member growth perspective" as the Company faced "internal and external headwinds during our peak sign-up period."  The Company further disclosed that it was pausing its planned national Black Card price increase pending a broader pricing review.  In addition, Planet Fitness stated that, based on "lower net joins than planned in the first quarter" and the decision to pause the Black Card price increase, it was reducing several of its 2026 growth expectations.  The Company lowered expected system-wide same club sales growth to approximately 1%, compared to its prior guidance of 4% to 5%; revenue growth to approximately 7%, compared to prior guidance of approximately 9%; adjusted EBITDA growth to approximately 6%, compared to prior guidance of approximately 10%; adjusted net income to a decrease of approximately 2%, compared to prior guidance of 4% to 5% growth; and adjusted diluted EPS growth to approximately 4%, compared to prior guidance of 9% to 10%. 

On this news, Planet Fitness's stock price fell $19.95 per share, or 31.19%, to close at $44.01 per share on May 7, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising.  Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.  

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Key Takeaways SharkNinja's international sales rose 36.6% to $624 million, outpacing domestic growth of 15.5%.The United Kingdom, France and Germany led gains as direct operations and product expansion broaden reach.SN raised 2026 sales growth guidance to 16%-17% and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.357-$1.369B. SharkNinja, Inc. (SN - Free Report) is accelerating its international expansion, with overseas markets becoming a growth engine. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, international net sales increased 36.6% year over year to $624 million, significantly outpacing domestic growth of 15.5%. Growth was broad based across the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America, reinforcing the scalability of the company’s global model.

The United Kingdom remained a key contributor, with sales rising 18.7% to $255 million. EMEA also delivered strong performance, led by France and Germany, while Italy and Spain benefited from their transition from distributor-led operations to direct markets. These conversions are now complete, creating a foundation for future expansion.

Direct operations are increasingly important to the company’s international strategy. SharkNinja has completed the rollout of its direct-to-consumer platform across major international markets, while France and Germany carry more than 50% more categories than a year ago. Management estimates that the company remains less than 10% penetrated across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) categories, leaving significant room for expansion.

SharkNinja is strengthening its international reach through an expanded omnichannel model. Deeper retailer relationships are complemented by Amazon, Mercado Libre, direct-to-consumer websites and social commerce. TikTok Shop is gaining traction, with the company planning to expand its presence to 13 European countries, broadening consumer reach and product launches.

The international opportunity supports SharkNinja’s broader positive outlook for fiscal 2026. The company raised its net sales growth forecast to 16%-17% from 11.5%-12.5% previously, while Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased to $1.36-$1.37 billion from $1.29-$1.30 billion. Management said the higher outlook reflects stronger underlying operating performance, providing a favorable backdrop for continued international expansion.

SN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of SharkNinja have gained 61.5% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 14.2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SN trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.18X, below the industry’s average of 3.29X. It has a Value Score of B.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SharkNinja’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 23.9%, while the same for fiscal 2027 indicates an uptick of 15.6%. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward by 40 cents and 52 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SharkNinja currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other Key PicksLifetime Brands (LCUT - Free Report) is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of kitchenware, cutlery & cutting boards, bakeware & cookware, pantryware & spices, tabletop and bath accessories. It currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lifetime Brands’ current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 156.8% and 4.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. LCUT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 271.1%, on average.

Alliance Laundry Holdings Inc. (ALH - Free Report) is a provider of commercial laundry systems. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alliance Laundry’s current financial-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 29.4% and 6.5%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ALH delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 19.7%.

The RealReal, Inc. (REAL - Free Report) operates an online marketplace for consigned luxury goods. It offers resale product categories, including women's, men's, kids', jewelry and watches, as well as home and art products. The company also holds a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RealReal’s current financial-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 158.3% and 14.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. REAL delivered a trailing four-quarter average negative earnings surprise of 37.5%.

All amounts in Canadian dollars

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The prospectus supplement, the corresponding base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with this offering will be accessible through SEDAR+ within two business days.

BROOKFIELD, News, Aug. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN) today announced that it has agreed to issue 4,000,000 5.75% Cumulative Minimum Rate Reset Class A Preferred Limited Partnership Units, Series 19 (the “Series 19 Preferred Units”) on a bought deal basis to a syndicate of underwriters led by Scotiabank, BMO Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank of Canada Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets and TD Securities Inc. for distribution to the public. The Series 19 Preferred Units are being issued by Brookfield Infrastructure L.P. (“BILP”), a subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (“BIP”), and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BIP and BIPC Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of BIP. The Series 19 Preferred Units will be issued at a price of $25.00 per unit, for gross proceeds of $100,000,000.

Holders of the Series 19 Preferred Units will be entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed distribution at a rate of 5.75% annually for the initial period ending September 30, 2031. Thereafter, the distribution rate will be reset every five years at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the 5-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.35%, and (ii) 5.75%. The Series 19 Preferred Units are redeemable by BILP on September 30, 2031 and on each Series 19 Reclassification Date (as defined below) thereafter.

Holders of the Series 19 Preferred Units will have the right, at their option, to reclassify their Series 19 Preferred Units into Cumulative Floating Rate Reset Class A Preferred Limited Partnership Units, Series 20 (the “Series 20 Preferred Units”), subject to certain conditions, on September 30, 2031 and on September 30 every five years thereafter (each, a “Series 19 Reclassification Date”). Holders of Series 20 Preferred Units will be entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly floating distribution at a rate equal to the 90-day Canadian Treasury Bill yield plus 2.35%.

Brookfield Infrastructure has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable until 48 hours prior to closing, to purchase up to an additional 2,000,000 Series 19 Preferred Units which, if exercised, would increase the gross offering size to $150,000,000.

The Series 19 Preferred Units will be offered in all provinces and territories of Canada by way of a prospectus supplement to BILP’s existing Canadian short form base shelf prospectus dated August 7, 2026. The Series 19 Preferred Units may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act (as defined below).

Brookfield Infrastructure intends to use the net proceeds of the issue of the Series 19 Preferred Units for general corporate purposes. The offering of Series 19 Preferred Units is expected to close on or about August 27, 2026.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been approved or disapproved by any regulatory authority nor has any such authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the short form base shelf prospectus or the prospectus supplement. The offer and sale of the securities has not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Access to the prospectus supplement, the corresponding base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with the offering of the Series 19 Preferred Units is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto. The prospectus supplement, the corresponding base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with the offering will be accessible within two business days at www.sedarplus.ca.

An electronic or paper copy of the prospectus supplement, the corresponding base shelf prospectus and any amendment to the documents may be obtained, without charge, from any of the joint bookrunners by contacting Scotiabank by email at [email protected], BMO Capital Markets by email at [email protected], CIBC Capital Markets by email at [email protected], National Bank of Canada Capital Markets by email at [email protected], RBC Capital Markets by email at [email protected], and TD Securities Inc. by email at [email protected].

About Brookfield Infrastructure

Brookfield Infrastructure is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data sectors across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. We are focused on assets that have contracted and regulated revenues that generate predictable and stable cash flows. Investors can access its portfolio either through Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN), a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BIPC), a Canadian corporation.

Brookfield Infrastructure is the flagship listed infrastructure company of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York with over US$1 trillion of assets under management.

Contact Information

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words “will”, “intends” and “expected” derivatives thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify the above mentioned and other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release include statements regarding use of proceeds and closing of the offering.

Although Brookfield Infrastructure believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. The future performance and prospects of Brookfield Infrastructure are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements or information in this news release. Such risks and factors are described in the documents filed by Brookfield Infrastructure with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States including under “Risk Factors” in BIP’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other risks and factors that are described therein. Except as required by law, Brookfield Infrastructure undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Ucore announces:

It has produced 99.5% NdPr sample material from two different feedstock sources (ionic clay and bastnaesite) at its Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, for ongoing and planned customer qualifications

NdPr is a fundamental product of most rare earth processing facilities, and on a scale of tonnes, Ucore has now demonstrated the ability to create 99.5% material from multiple sources with widely varying rare earth element compositions

Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2026) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has produced 99.5% NdPr from a second feedstock source at its Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, for ongoing and planned customer qualifications:

The first batch of 99.5% NdPr material was processed from approximately two tonnes of Vietnamese mixed rare earth oxide ("MREO") derived from ionic clay source material and sent to Western NdFeB magnet makers for product testing in Q2-2026;

The second batch of 99.5% NdPr material was produced in early August 2026 and was processed from approximately five tonnes of mixed rare earth carbonate ("MREC") derived from North American bastnaesite source material.

Ucore continues to demonstrate the versatility and adaptiveness of its RapidSX™ technology platform in the simulated commercial environment of its Kingston CDF. NdPr is a fundamental product of most rare earth processing facilities. It will be a featured product along with samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), and eventually yttrium (Y) within the developing Louisiana Strategic Metals complex ("SMC"). On a tonnes-of-processing scale, the Company has now demonstrated the production of 99.5% NdPr material from multiple sources with widely varying rare earth element ("REE") compositions.

The 7,400+ hours of simulated commercial runtime and corresponding commercial scale-up work at the CDF have demonstrated the potential of the computerized and patent-pending RapidSX™ technology platform for full-scale REE processing. The chemistry of RapidSXTM is the same as that of conventional solvent extraction. As a result, as demonstrated in over 16,000 comparative test results, RapidSXTM typically yields recovery rates and target product purities equal to, or better than conventional solvent extraction; the only difference being faster processing throughput and a smaller equipment footprint for the same processing capacity. Together, these attributes have the potential to create multiple opportunities for commercial savings and efficiencies, which Ucore is incorporating into its developing Louisiana SMC.

Figure 1 - The RapidSX™ Demo Plant Machine at the Kingston CDF

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1119/310605_b375ac6964164b8e_002full.jpg

"Ucore is executing a very deliberate plan for the development of its first RapidSX™ production 'Machine A' at the Louisiana SMC," stated Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The work done at the CDF directly supports and validates the SMC engineering program while simultaneously demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology platform. Our work in Kingston will continue to serve as a co-commissioning, technology development and training center to support and de-risk our commercial endeavors."

# # #

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, Ucore aims to support the development of a more diversified and resilient North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA ("Bokan").

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, products to be produced at the Louisiana SMC, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements regarding the development or execution of definitive supply, offtake agreements or other commercial agreements; the acceptability of rare earth oxide samples to magnet makers and other end users of product; the ability to provide high-purity materials or on-spec product to customers on an on-going basis; and the acceptability of the referenced samples to potential customers.

For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, its business activities, its ability to qualify for and receive any additional funding from any U.S. or Canadian government, the CDF and the aforementioned projects (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q1-2026 (filed on SEDAR+ on May 29, 2026) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers as suppliers for Ucore's expected future SMCs. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to continue and complete the ongoing research and development work required at the CDF and also later prepare a National Instrument 43-101 technical report that demonstrates that Bokan is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction and eventual commissioning and operations.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including, without limitation: the successful completion and accuracy of baseline, front-end-engineering design and detailed engineering studies; the ability to complete further engineering, procurement, and construction activities as currently contemplated; the availability, cost, and timely delivery of equipment, materials, utilities, labour and construction services; the Company's ability to secure sufficient financing on acceptable terms; the receipt and timing of all required permits and approvals; the successful scale-up and commercial deployment of RapidSX™ technology from demonstration to commercial operation; the availability of qualified feedstock from third-party suppliers; successful customer qualification and offtake discussions; continued support from governmental partners; and general economic, market, and industry conditions, including assumptions regarding rare earth oxide prices, which are subject to significant volatility..

Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate or that the anticipated results, performance, or achievements will be realized. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: risks associated with the development, scale-up, and commercialization of new or unproven technologies; the risk that RapidSX™ may not perform at commercial scale as expected; engineering design changes; inaccuracies in capital or operating cost estimates; cost escalation due to inflation, supply chain disruption, or market conditions; delays or failures in procurement, construction, or commissioning; the inability to obtain or maintain required permits, approvals, or regulatory authorizations; challenges in securing adequate financing; adverse capital market conditions; variability in feedstock supply, quality, or pricing; failure to secure or maintain commercial relationships, customer qualification, or offtake arrangements; fluctuations and uncertainty in rare earth oxide prices and demand; the risk that indicative or quoted market prices, including for ex-China markets, may not be realized; operational risks once in production, including equipment failures or lower-than-expected recoveries; geopolitical risk; changes in applicable laws or regulations; environmental or permitting challenges; loss of key personnel; and general economic, business, or competitive conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310605

Source: Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2026) - National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PC announces a class action lawsuit against Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) ("Futu" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Futu securities during the period from May 24, 2023 through May 27, 2026 (the "Class Period").

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Futu securities during the Class Period may, no later than August 25, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Futu is an online brokerage and wealth management company that provides securities trading, investment, and financial services to retail investors.

According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that certain Futu entities allegedly conducted securities business, public fund sales business, and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the required regulatory approvals. The complaint further alleges that, on December 30, 2022, the China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC") stated that Futu had conducted cross-border securities business with domestic investors in mainland China without regulatory consent, resulting in restrictions on opening new accounts for mainland Chinese investors and soliciting new business from mainland investors.

The truth allegedly began to emerge on May 22, 2026, when Reuters reported that the CSRC, together with seven other Chinese government agencies, had launched a regulatory crackdown targeting brokers allegedly operating without approval. That same day, Futu disclosed that it had received a Notification Letter from the CSRC imposing approximately RMB1.85 billion (approximately US$271 million) in confiscation of alleged illegal gains and fines, as well as a proposed personal fine against the Company's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Li Hua. Following these disclosures, Futu's stock price fell $34.10 per share, or 27.5%, to close at $89.76 on May 22, 2026.

The truth allegedly continued to emerge on May 28, 2026, when Futu reported first-quarter 2026 financial results reflecting the proposed regulatory penalties, including approximately RMB470 million in confiscated alleged illegal gains and approximately RMB1.38 billion in fines. Following this disclosure, the Company's stock price fell an additional $5.31 per share, or 4.8%, to close at $104.91.

If you are a Futu investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at [email protected] or (267) 764-4865.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.4 billion in 2025 post-trial judgments alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310583

Source: Berger Montague

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Borer Denton & Associates Inc. increased its position in CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO – Free Report) by 221.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,716 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 10,824 shares during the quarter. Borer Denton & Associates Inc.’s holdings in CocaCola were worth $1,277,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of KO. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of CocaCola by 4.3% in the second quarter. Werba Rubin Papier Wealth Management now owns 9,382 shares of the company’s stock worth $763,000 after purchasing an additional 384 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. boosted its stake in CocaCola by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 204,720 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,984,000 after purchasing an additional 948 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC grew its holdings in CocaCola by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 11,848 shares of the company’s stock valued at $963,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Petros Family Wealth LLC grew its holdings in CocaCola by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Petros Family Wealth LLC now owns 13,276 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,079,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Florida Trust Wealth Management Co increased its position in CocaCola by 11.3% in the 2nd quarter. Florida Trust Wealth Management Co now owns 129,040 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,487,000 after buying an additional 13,139 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.26% of the company’s stock.

CocaCola Price Performance Shares of KO stock opened at $90.38 on Thursday. CocaCola Company has a 12 month low of $65.35 and a 12 month high of $90.92. The company has a market capitalization of $388.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.14, a P/E/G ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.33. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $83.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $80.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97.

CocaCola (NYSE:KO – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $13.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $13.17 billion. CocaCola had a return on equity of 39.38% and a net margin of 28.56%.CocaCola’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.87 earnings per share. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.270-3.300 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that CocaCola Company will post 3.29 EPS for the current year. CocaCola Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. CocaCola’s payout ratio is 63.66%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $93.00 price target on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Seaport Research Partners set a $95.00 target price on shares of CocaCola in a research report on Friday, August 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $86.00 target price (up from $82.00) on shares of CocaCola in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $100.00 price target (up from $89.00) on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, UBS Group set a $104.00 price target on shares of CocaCola and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $95.76.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on KO

Insider Transactions at CocaCola In other news, CFO John Murphy sold 152,483 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.31, for a total value of $13,313,290.73. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 279,917 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,439,553.27. This represents a 35.26% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Bruno Pietracci sold 75,727 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.65, for a total transaction of $6,788,925.55. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 35,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,172,982.45. The trade was a 68.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 1,433,535 shares of company stock worth $121,922,698. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About CocaCola (Free Report)

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a global beverage manufacturer, marketer and distributor best known for its flagship Coca‑Cola soda. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company develops and sells concentrates, syrups and finished beverages across a broad portfolio of brands. Its product range spans sparkling soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready‑to‑drink teas and coffees, and other still beverages, marketed under both global and regional brand names.

Coca‑Cola’s brand portfolio includes widely recognized names such as Coca‑Cola, Diet Coke, Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, Powerade and Dasani, and in recent years the company has expanded into the coffee and premium beverage categories through acquisitions such as Costa Coffee.

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Key Takeaways Alibaba is using quick commerce to deepen engagement across Taobao, Tmall and Freshippo.Broader categories are expanding quick commerce beyond food into fresh produce, healthcare and supermarkets.Better fulfillment efficiency and order mix are improving unit economics as Alibaba continues investing. Alibaba Group (BABA - Free Report) is positioning quick commerce as an important growth lever for its China e-commerce business. The model is expanding beyond food delivery into categories such as fresh produce, healthcare and supermarket products. This is broadening the use cases for Alibaba's e-commerce ecosystem, spanning Taobao, Tmall and Freshippo, and is helping drive stronger consumer engagement.

Quick commerce is creating tighter links with Alibaba's core e-commerce platforms. Faster fulfillment is allowing consumers to purchase a wider range of products for immediate needs, increasing transaction opportunities across Taobao and Tmall. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, quick commerce revenues grew 57% to RMB 20 billion, underscoring the pace at which the format is scaling. Over the same period, China E-commerce Group revenues rose 6% to RMB 122 billion, with customer management revenue up 8% on a like-for-like basis, pointing to the broader engagement benefits management is citing from quick commerce, including accelerated growth at Freshippo and Tmall Supermarket.

The economics of quick commerce are also improving. Order mix optimization and better fulfillment efficiency are helping raise unit economics, with average order value increasing sequentially as the business scales. This matters because Alibaba is still investing heavily in the segment. Improving unit economics should gradually reduce the drag on China e-commerce profitability.

Scale is becoming another growth driver. Quick commerce order volume reached 2.7 times the level of the same quarter last year, with non-food orders expanding three times, allowing Alibaba to deepen its presence in higher-frequency purchases while generating additional traffic across Taobao, Tmall and Freshippo. As quick commerce continues scaling and its unit economics keep improving, the business is becoming better positioned to support Alibaba's e-commerce growth going forward.

How BABA is Placed Against PeersAlibaba's quick commerce push is unfolding alongside JD.com (JD - Free Report) and Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) , both of which are expanding fast delivery to capture higher-frequency demand. JD.com is scaling instant delivery through its owned logistics network across China, while Amazon is investing in same-day delivery infrastructure to strengthen its quick commerce reach globally. Compared with JD.com and Amazon, Alibaba is differentiating itself through deeper integration with Taobao, Tmall, and Freshippo, aiming to convert quick-commerce traffic into broader marketplace engagement. As JD.com, Amazon and Alibaba all pursue unit economics improvement in quick commerce, execution speed and category expansion are likely to determine relative positioning in this space.

BABA’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesBABA shares have plunged 12% in the year-to-date period, underperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector’s appreciation of 6.1% and 3.9%, respectively.

BABA’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, BABA is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 16.28X, below the sector’s average of 22.48X. The company carries a Value Score of C.

BABA’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $6.87 per share, implying 76.61% year-over-year growth.

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