Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways MRVL launched the Golden Cable initiative to speed adoption of AEC for AI data centers.MRVL gains from traction in scale-up switches, 1.6T connectivity and next-gen 200G per lane DSPs.MRVL posted 37.8% YoY growth in data center revenues in Q3.
Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) is transforming itself into a key contributor to the connectivity hardware solutions for AI infrastructure and data centers. The company recently launched the Golden Cable initiative to accelerate and expand the Active Electrical Cable (AEC) ecosystem for faster deployment of AI infrastructure by cloud and hyperscaler customers.

AECs are crucial for short-reach, high-density connections inside and between racks. This technology supports next-generation 1.6T connectivity for superfast networks. Now, MRVL’s partners will be able to validate cable architectures, advanced firmware, calibration data, and get support for integration and interoperability through the Golden Cable initiative.

Marvell Technology is also gaining from the adoption of scale-up switches that connect AI accelerators within and across racks, requiring multi-terabit bandwidth and ultra-low latency. These switches will support both open standard Ethernet and UALink fabrics, leveraging Marvell Technology’s low-latency SerDes and Ethernet switch IP.

Volume shipments of MRVL’s next-generation 200G per lane 1.6T PAM DSPs are also a tailwind. Furthermore, the company announced that leading AI and data center infrastructure companies are now adopting its Alaska PCIe 6 retimer product line to support next-generation accelerated AI infrastructure.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, MRVL’s data center revenues of $1.52 billion increased 37.8% year over year and 1.8% sequentially, driven by strong traction in electro-optic interconnect products and next-generation switch offerings. Carrier infrastructure revenues increased 98% year over year and 29% sequentially to $167.8 million.

How Competitors Fare Against MRVLMarvell Technology competes with Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) and Credo Technology (CRDO - Free Report) in the connectivity market. Credo has a wide portfolio of AEC, SerDes IP, Retimer ICs, and system design. Credo’s business is mainly driven by its strong AEC business, which posted double-digit sequential growth last quarter.

Credo’s hyperscaler customer base is expanding, while it is also experiencing robust growth in optical DSP and LRO solutions, along with rising PCIe and Ethernet retimer adoption. Broadcom has a stronghold in carrier Ethernet and transport markets and is a major player in telecom optical interconnects and routing silicon space. Broadcom’s advanced 3.5D XDSiPs are crucial for AI XPU connectivity due to higher density.

MRVL's Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Marvell Technology have gained 20.4% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s growth of 36.8%.

MRVL 6-Month Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Marvell Technology trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.35X, lower than the industry’s average of 7.46X.

MRVL Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MRVL’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 81% and 26%, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward in the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways The screen targets stocks whose latest-quarter cash flow meets or tops the five-year average per share.Interface saw its 2025 earnings estimate raised 8.8% to $1.85.Great Lakes Dredge & Dock's 2025 earnings estimate climbed 7.8% to $1.10.
After slashing its overnight borrowing rate by a quarter point recently, the Federal Reserve has indicated fewer reductions in the upcoming years. However, instead of brooding too much on this, investors can benefit from stocks that are cash cows and offer higher returns.

Cash is the lifeblood of any business. It offers strength, vitality and flexibility to make investment decisions, and the fuel to run its growth engine. Moreover, cash shields a company from market turmoil and indicates that profits are being channeled in the right direction.

In this regard, stocks like Interface, Inc. (TILE - Free Report) , Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc. (PRSU - Free Report) , Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD - Free Report) and Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS - Free Report) are worth buying.

One must go beyond profit numbers and look into a company’s efficiency in generating cash flows to invest in the right stocks. This is because even a profit-making company can have a dearth of cash flow and fail to meet its obligations. However, a company’s resiliency can be fairly judged when its efficacy in generating cash flows is assessed. This holds more relevance in the current context amid uncertainties in the global economy, market disruptions and dislocations.

To figure out this efficiency, one needs to consider a company’s net cash flow. While in any business, cash moves in and out, it is net cash flow that explains how much money a company is actually generating.

If a company is experiencing a positive cash flow, it denotes an increase in its liquid assets, which gives it the means to meet debt obligations, shell out for expenses, reinvest in the business, endure downturns and finally return wealth to shareholders. On the other hand, a negative cash flow indicates a decline in the company’s liquidity, which in turn lowers its flexibility to support these moves.

However, having a positive cash flow merely does not secure a company’s future growth. To ride on the growth curve, a company must have its cash flow increasing because that indicates management’s efficiency in regulating its cash movements and less dependency on outside financing for running its business.

Therefore, keep yourself abreast with the following screen to bet on stocks with rising cash flows.

Screening Parameters:To find stocks that have seen increasing cash flow over time, we ran the screen for those whose cash flow in the latest reported quarter was at least equal to or greater than the 5-year average cash flow per common share. This implies a positive trend and increasing cash over a period of time.

In addition to this, we chose:

Zacks Rank 1: No matter whether market conditions are good or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) have a proven history of outperformance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Average Broker Rating 1: This indicates that brokers are also highly hopeful about the company’s future performance.

Current Price greater than or equal to $5: This sieves out low-priced stocks.

VGM Score of B or better: This score is also of great assistance in selecting stocks. Importantly, this scoring system helps in picking winning stocks in their industry categories.

Here are four out of 12 stocks that qualified the screening:

Interface is a global flooring solution provider, delivering a range of carpet tile and resilient flooring, which it markets under the Interface and FLOR brands, for both commercial and residential environments.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Interface’s 2025 earnings has been revised upward 8.8% to $1.85 per share in the past two months. TILE has a VGM Score of A.

Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality is an attraction and hospitality company that owns and operates hospitality destinations in the United States, Canada and Iceland. PRSU operates various attractions and lodges with integrated restaurants, retail and transportation facilities.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality’s 2025 earnings per share has improved 1.6% over the past week. PRSU has a VGM Score of A.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, conducting business to maintain and deepen shipping channels, reclaim land from the ocean and renourish storm-damaged coastline.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock’s 2025 earnings has moved upward by 7.8% to $1.10 per share over the past two months. GLDD has a VGM Score of A.

Natural Gas Services Group manufactures, fabricates, sells, rents and services natural gas compressors that enhance the production of natural gas wells.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Natural Gas Services Group’s 2025 earnings per share has improved 9.5% over the past two months. NGS has a VGM Score of B.

Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back-testing software.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

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Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

Questions about whether an AI-driven bubble is forming have been around for some time, contributing to periods of increased caution among investors. Growing concerns over elevated debt levels among AI-focused companies, particularly those tied to AI infrastructure, have weighed on broader market sentiment, as per CNBC.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite slipped about 0.16% and 0.59%, respectively, on Monday. In comparison, the CBOE Volatility Index has climbed roughly 14% since Dec. 12, underscoring the recent increase in market volatility and investor concern.

This backdrop underscores the need for investors to sharpen their focus on short-term portfolio positioning, where increasing exposure to volatility and option income ETFs stands out as a compelling strategy.

The Short-Term Case for These ETF PicksMarkets remain divided over whether an AI-driven bubble is taking shape, keeping investor sentiment fragile and risk appetite subdued. Against this backdrop, increasing exposure to these funds as a short-term allocation can help hedge potential downside, offering a compelling option for both investors who are cautious about AI excesses and those who remain confident in the theme’s long-term potential.

Why Volatility ETFs?Increasing exposure to volatility ETFs in the short term can be a winning move for investors. Taking precautions upfront is better than facing avoidable risks later. These funds have delivered short-term gains during periods of market chaos and may climb further if volatility continues.

Investors with a long-term horizon may be able to look past these near-term uncertainties. Still, in the current economic environment, volatility-focused funds and strategies are ideal for investors with a short-term horizon who are reassessing volatility exposure.

With the potential for increased volatility, adding these ETFs may be a smart strategic move (See: all Volatility ETFs here).

Investors can consider iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX - Free Report) , ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (VIXY - Free Report) and ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (VIXM - Free Report) .

Why Option Income ETFs?Option income ETFs typically employ covered call strategies, where the fund holds a portfolio of stocks and sells call options on those holdings to generate income. The premiums collected from selling these options are then distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends. The trade-off is that while this strategy generates cash flow, it can cap the fund's upside potential because the call options may limit gains when underlying stocks rally strongly.

Interest in these funds has surged in 2025 as investors look to stay invested in equities while seeking more predictable returns amid heightened market uncertainty.

Investors can consider JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ - Free Report) , JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI - Free Report) , Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD - Free Report) and Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD - Free Report) .

What Long-term Investors Should Focus OnFor long-term investors, increasing exposure to diversified, less concentrated ETFs can offer a more stable path forward. Pairing this with strategies like buy-the-dip, dollar-cost averaging, and a disciplined buy-and-hold approach can make it easier to navigate short-term market volatility while staying focused on long-term goals ( Read: ETFs to Keep Your Portfolio on Track in the Long Term).

Importantly, several major financial institutions have raised their year-end forecasts for the S&P 500, largely driven by continued growth in the AI market and strong AI-driven earnings growth. As a result, completely stepping away from the AI theme may not be prudent.

Diversification becomes especially critical when investing in transformative themes like AI. By spreading investments across multiple sectors and funds, investors can capture the upside of the AI rally while avoiding the pitfalls of overconcentration (Read: Capturing AI Gains Without Overexposure: ETFs to Consider). 

Kraft Heinz on Tuesday named former Kellogg top boss Steve Cahillane as CEO to help spearhead the packaged goods giant's planned split.

By

PYMNTS
 | 
December 16, 2025

 | 

Mastercard and LoanPro plan to launch a program that will enable lenders to deliver installment loans through virtual and physical cards.

The Loan on Card program is set to launch in 2026, the companies said in a Tuesday (Dec. 16) press release.

The program will give lenders greater control over loan enablement by allowing them to combine the structure of a fixed installment loan with the convenience of a Mastercard card, according to the release.

For borrowers, the program will provide instant access to money that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, the release said.

Loan on Card will be powered by Mastercard’s global payments network and the Mastercard Installments program, while LoanPro will work with issuing banks and lenders to enable the launch of the program, per the release.

“Together, Mastercard and LoanPro intend to help lenders to deliver flexible funding to consumers and small businesses with the reach and trust of the Mastercard network,” Stefany Bello, senior vice president, digital partnerships, FinTech and enablers, U.S. at Mastercard, said in the release.

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LoanPro CEO and co-founder Rhett Roberts said in the release: “The launch of the Loan on Card program will offer a new way for lenders to deliver loan funds directly into the hands of consumers and small businesses via the Mastercard card in their virtual wallet on their phone, and ready to go.”

Mastercard launched Mastercard Installments in September 2021, saying this buy now, pay later (BNPL) program would exponentially broaden point-of-sale installment lending for consumers and merchants by creating a new class of lenders to enable it anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Mastercard Installments meets the need for versatile solutions that fit a rapidly changing ecosystem, Seema Chibber, executive vice president of core products for the Americas at Mastercard, told PYMNTS in an interview posted in April.

“We’ve literally seen an explosion in the preference for installments,” Chibber said. “And when you put it all together—people seeking expanded buying power, control and financial management, and the flexibility and convenience of a digital experience—we had to be ahead of this trend.”

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See More In: BNPL, buy now pay later, Lending, LoanPro, loans, Mastercard, News, partnerships, PYMNTS News, SMBs, What's Hot

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Ares Capital (ARCC - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Ares Capital currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.53, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 15 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.53 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 15 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 10 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 66.7% and 13.3% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ARCC

Check price target & stock forecast for Ares Capital here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Ares Capital, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is ARCC Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Ares Capital, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $2.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Ares Capital. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Ares Capital.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

It also includes the Focus List, a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the elements to beat the market.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could, wouldn't you jump at the chance for access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investing journey?

That's what the Zacks Focus List offers. It's a portfolio of 50 stocks that serve as a starting point for long-term investors to build their individual portfolios. The stocks included in the list are set to outperform the market over the next 12 months.

What makes the Focus List even more helpful is that each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, which explains the reasoning behind every stock's selection and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Brokerage analysts are in charge of determining a company's growth and profitability expectations, or earnings estimates. These analysts work together with company management to evaluate all factors that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

Earnings estimate revisions are very important, since investors also need to take into consideration what a company will earn in the future.

Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.

Utilizing the power of earnings estimate revisions is when the Zacks Rank joins the party. A unique, proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank uses changes to quarterly earnings expectations to help investors create a winning portfolio.

Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Because stock prices react to revisions, buying stocks with rising earnings estimates can be very profitable. Focus List stocks offer investors a great opportunity to get into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Shopify (SHOP - Free Report) Ottawa, Canada-based Shopify Inc. is a leading global commerce platform that helps in starting, scaling, marketing, and running a business of any size. Its platform and services are engineered for simplicity and reliability, while delivering a better shopping experience for customers everywhere.

SHOP, a #3 (Hold) stock, was added to the Focus List on September 6, 2022 at $29.94 per share. Since then, shares have increased 433.9% to $159.85.

For fiscal 2025, seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $1.45. SHOP boasts an average earnings surprise of 5.3%.

Earnings for SHOP are forecasted to see growth of 11.5% for the current fiscal year as well.

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Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Nextracker (NXT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Nextracker currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.71, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 28 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.71 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 28 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 17 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 60.7% and 7.1% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for NXT

Check price target & stock forecast for Nextracker here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Nextracker, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is NXT Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Nextracker, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $4.15.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Nextracker. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Nextracker.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about JD.com, Inc. (JD - Free Report) .

JD.com currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.57, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 21 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.57 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 21 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 14 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 66.7% and 9.5% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for JD

Check price target & stock forecast for JD.com here>>>

The ABR suggests buying JD.com, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in JD?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for JD.com, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $2.82.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for JD.com. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for JDcom.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) .

Coca-Cola currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.24, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 25 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.24 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 25 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 84% and 8% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for KO

Check price target & stock forecast for Coca-Cola here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Coca-Cola, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in KO?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Coca-Cola, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $2.98.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Coca-Cola. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Coca-Cola.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

The Zacks Premium service makes this easier. It features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All of these can help you quickly identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

It also includes the Focus List, a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the elements to beat the market.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?

That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.

Additionally, each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, something that makes the Focus List even more valuable. The report explains in detail why each stock was picked and why we believe it's good for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Earnings estimates are expectations of growth and profitability, and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

What a company will earn down the road also needs to be taken into consideration, and this is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.

When a stock receives upward earnings estimate revisions, it will likely get even more positive changes in the future. For instance, if an analyst raised their earnings outlook last month, they'll probably do so again this month, and other analysts will follow.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions to make it easier to build a winning portfolio.

There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one of these features is then given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Using this data, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Because stock prices react to revisions, buying stocks with rising earnings estimates can be very profitable. Focus List stocks offer investors a great opportunity to get into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) Alphabet is one of the most innovative companies in the modern technological age. Over the last few years, the company has evolved from primarily a search-engine provider to cloud computing, ad-based video and music streaming, autonomous vehicles, healthcare and others. In the online search arena, Google has a monopoly with roughly 90% of the online search volume and market. Over the years, the company has witnessed increase in search queries, resulting from ongoing growth in user adoption and usage, primarily on mobile devices, continued growth in advertiser activity, and improvements in ad formats.

Since being added to the Focus List on May 19, 2025 at $166.19 per share, shares of GOOGL have increased 85.46% to $308.22. The stock is currently a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.

16 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.57 to $10.52. GOOGL boasts an average earnings surprise of 18.7%.

Additionally, GOOGL's earnings are expected to grow 30.9% for the current fiscal year.

Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMZN, META, GOOG either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The analysis is provided exclusively for informational purposes and should not be considered professional investment advice. Before investing, please conduct personal in-depth research and utmost due diligence, as there are many risks associated with the trade, including capital loss.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

NETGEAR, Inc. (NTGR - Free Report) has been beaten down lately with too much selling pressure. While the stock has lost 7% over the past four weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel as it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts expect the company to report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Here's Why NTGR Could Experience a TurnaroundThe heavy selling of NTGR shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 29.65. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering NTGR in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 25.1% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, NTGR currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Major players in healthcare are increasing their commitments to return capital to shareholders, resulting in significantly higher dividends. Recent dividend announcements from major companies in the sector highlight evolving capital return strategies.

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small-molecule drugs targeting oncological and inflammatory diseases, today announced an update on its clinical development activities and financial status.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NEM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

REDMOND, WA / ACCESS Newswire / December 16, 2025 / MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS), a technology pioneer delivering advanced perception solutions in autonomy and mobility, today announced commercial momentum in the Industrial and Security & Defense sectors with an initial order for MOVIA L sensors with integrated software.

"We are pleased to close out the year having gained traction in our commercialization efforts and, in particular, with this early validation of our strategy in the Security & Defense sector," said Glen DeVos, MicroVision's Chief Executive Officer. "This customer use case highlights the immediate value that our short-range MOVIA L sensor can bring to mission-critical systems, whether protecting lives on the battlefield or cargo in industrial transport settings.

"With its light weight, low power consumption, and rugged reliability, our solid-state, flash-based MOVIA L sensor is the right solution for harsh environments across our target industries," continued DeVos. "Moreover, having increased our production capacity for MOVIA L in 2025, our high-quality, automotive-grade sensors are available now at a competitive cost, bringing real and immediate value to customers."

As announced at the IAA Mobility conference in September, the Company expects its next-generation MOVIA S production launch in Q4 of 2026.

About MicroVision

MicroVision is at the forefront of driving the global adoption of innovative perception solutions, with the goal of making mobility and autonomy safer. Our engineering excellence,based in Washington State, Washington D.C., and Hamburg, Germany, enables us to develop and supply integrated lidar hardware and perception software solutions. Our proprietary technologies enhance safety and automation across various industrial applications, including robotics, automated warehouses, and agriculture, and are instrumental in the development of autonomous systems. MicroVision's core technology, initially developed for the automotive industry, continues to accelerate advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. Building on our history of providing technology to the military segment, our target offerings include semi- and fully autonomous airborne and terrestrial sensor systems. With our solid-state lidar technologies, encompassing MEMS-based long-range lidar and flash-based short-range lidar, integrated with our onboard perception software, MicroVision possesses the expertise to deliver safe mobility at the speed of life.

For more information, visit the Company's website at www.microvision.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/microvisioninc, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/microvision/.

MicroVision, MAVIN, MOVIA, and MOSAIK are trademarks of MicroVision, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release, including those relating to commercial progress; solution value, benefits, and cost; production launch; and statements using words such as "expects," "believes" or "intends" are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements include the following: our ability to successfully complete the offering on the anticipated terms and on terms and conditions satisfactory to us; the possible adverse impact on the market price of our shares of common stock due to the dilutive effect of the securities to be sold in the offering; capital market risks; our ability to operate with limited cash or to raise additional capital when needed; market acceptance of our technologies and products or for products incorporating our technologies; the failure of our commercial partners to perform as expected under our agreements; our ability to identify parties interested in paying any amounts or amounts we deem desirable for the purchase or license of intellectual property assets; our or our customers' failure to perform under open purchase orders; our financial and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change; government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain additional contract awards and to develop partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches and delays in product development; the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products; dependence on third parties to develop, manufacture, sell and market our products; potential product liability claims; our ability to maintain our listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market, and other risk factors identified from time to time in our SEC reports, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the SEC. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific factors that may affect us. It should be recognized that other factors, including general economic factors and business strategies, may be significant, now or in the future, and the factors set forth in this release may affect us to a greater extent than indicated. Except as expressly required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in circumstances or any other reason.

Investor Relations Contact

Jeff Christensen
Darrow Associates Investor Relations
[email protected]

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE: MicroVision, Inc

About Angela Harmantas
Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

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NFLX Technical Analysis
Netflix looks like it’s going to be basically where it ended the session as it opens on Tuesday. It is still a little negative. That’s not a huge surprise. They just outlaid a ton of money on Warner Bros. Discovery. But in the end, a lot of this will end up being positive for the company as they build their ecosystem up with an already somewhat stable and proven plan.

So ultimately, I do think this ends up being a good thing. And I do think that the pullback in Netflix ends up enticing buyers. I’d be particularly interested in this market if we do get down to the $80 level, maybe even the $83 level, which historically has been important.

CMCSA Technical Analysis
Comcast had a pretty good day on Monday as it announced that it is expanding its footprint into another group of homes, I believe, somewhere around 30,000. This does look like a market that’s trying to find its bottom, but this is a miserable-looking chart. At this point in time, until something structurally changes with the business, it’s probably a fade-the-rally type of scenario.

I am going to be looking at this through the prism of where I can sell it and how much I can sell it for. With this being the case, I look at this as a potential opportunity to short this market at higher levels because quite frankly, this is a market that although you could make, I guess, a little bit of an argument for an attempt to bottom out, the reality is that we have so far to go before things structurally change for Comcast that I think this is just going to be a nice opportunity to get short, maybe somewhere near the $30 level. If we turn around and break below the $26 level, the bottom falls out.

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.

Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. comp sales increased 4.5% in Q3, supported by higher transactions and unit volumes.
Walmart saw traffic growth in stores and online, showing strength in its omnichannel model.
Faster fulfillment and value pricing helped Walmart attract shoppers across income groups.

Walmart Inc.’s (WMT - Free Report) U.S. segment delivered a solid performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, with comp sales rising 4.5%. This growth was supported by increases in both transactions and unit volumes, signaling broad-based consumer engagement rather than reliance on only pricing. Traffic gains were seen both in stores and online, underscoring the strength of Walmart’s omnichannel setup.

Management pointed out that comp sales were positive across each month of the quarter, suggesting stable demand rather than a one-off seasonal or promotional spike. Share gains were also described as broad-based across income groups, with upper-income households continuing to shop at Walmart more frequently, while middle-income customers remained steady. Even as lower-income consumers faced pressure, Walmart’s value positioning helped sustain traffic.

Efforts to enhance convenience and speed played quite a role in boosting transactions. Faster fulfillment resonated strongly with customers, with a growing share of digital orders delivered within three hours. Management emphasized that customers are responding positively to these convenience enhancements, which are increasingly central to Walmart’s U.S. comp sales performance.

WMT expressed confidence that the underlying drivers of transaction growth remain intact as the company moves into fiscal 2026. A continued focus on value, disciplined pricing actions and faster fulfillment is expected to support sustained customer engagement. While the consumer environment remains dynamic, Walmart’s ability to attract shoppers across income levels positions U.S. comp sales to continue being driven by transaction growth.

What the Latest Metrics Say About WalmartWalmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 22.4% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 21.5%. Shares of Costco have declined 12.5%, while Target tumbled 25.9% in the aforementioned period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 40.32, higher than the industry’s 36.5. WMT carries a Value Score of C. Walmart is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 12.71) but at a discount to Costco (41.81). 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

New cash portion of offering includes >20% participation from Directors, Officers and Executive Management

December 16, 2025 09:29 ET

 | Source:

Akari Therapeutics Plc

TAMPA, Fla. and LONDON, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) (the “Company”), an oncology biotechnology company developing novel payload antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 12,607,487 of the Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) or ADS equivalents in lieu thereof, each representing 2,000 ordinary shares. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue unregistered warrants to purchase an aggregate of 12,607,487 ADSs. The offering included significant participation from Directors, Officers and Executive Management along with certain institutional investors, and was priced at-the-market under NASDAQ rules.

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The Company has agreed to issue 10,043,774 ADSs in a registered direct offering and unregistered Series G warrants to purchase 10,043,774 ADSs for a combined purchase price of $0.3883 per ADS and accompanying warrant. In a concurrent private placement, the Company has agreed to issue unregistered pre-funded warrants to purchase 2,563,713 ADSs in a concurrent private placement together with unregistered Series G Warrants to purchase up to 2,563,713 ADSs for a combined purchase price of $0.4041 per ADS and accompanying warrant. The Series G Warrants will have an exercisable price of $0.3883, be exercisable on the date of shareholder approval (the “Shareholder Approval Date”) and have a term of five years from the initial exercise date. The offering is expected to close on or about December 17, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company, are expected to be approximately $5 million, of which more than $1 Million includes a new cash investment from the Company’s Directors, Officers and Executive Management. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for continued research and development as well as working capital and general corporate purposes. 

In addition, certain of the existing note holders have agreed to convert approximately $2.50 million of the Company’s outstanding debt into unregistered pre-funded warrants to purchase 6,409,410 ADSs and unregistered warrants to purchase 6,409,410 ADSs for a combined exchange price of $0.4041 per ADS and accompanying warrant. The warrants shall have the same terms as the Series G warrants.   Such pre-funded warrants and warrants issued in connection with the exchange are not exercisable until the Company receives shareholder approval authorizing the exercise of such warrants.

“The additional capital from this transaction supports key development initiatives for our oncology ADC payload platform, while the reduction in liabilities improves our capital structure.” said Abizer Gaslightwala, Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics.

The ADSs (but not the unregistered warrants described above or the ADSs underlying such warrants) are being offered by the Company pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-289056) originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 29, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on July 31, 2025. The ADSs to be issued in the registered direct offering are being offered only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to, and describing the terms of, the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the registered direct offering, when available, may also be obtained by contacting Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., 640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, by phone at (212) 409-2000, or by email at [email protected].

The unregistered warrants described above are being issued in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the ADSs underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying ADSs may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Akari Therapeutics

Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company developing next-generation spliceosome payload antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). Utilizing its innovative ADC discovery platform, the Company has the ability to generate ADC candidates and optimize them based on the desired application to any target of interest. Akari’s lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and with a proprietary linker, delivers its novel PH1 payload directly into the tumor. Unlike current ADCs that use tubulin inhibitors and DNA damaging agents as their payloads, PH1 is a novel payload that is a spliceosome modulator designed to disrupt RNA splicing within cancer cells. This splicing modulation has been shown in preclinical animal models to induce cancer cell death while activating immune cells to drive robust and durable activity. In preclinical studies, AKTX-101 has shown to have significant activity and prolonged survival, relative to ADCs with traditional payloads. Additionally, AKTX-101 has the potential to be synergistic with checkpoint inhibitors and has demonstrated prolonged survival as both a single agent and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, as compared to appropriate controls. The Company is generating validating data on its novel payload PH1 to continue advancing its lead asset, as well as other undisclosed targets with this novel payload.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.akaritx.com and connect on X and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release includes express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, about the Company that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of the Company. Actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “opportunity” “will likely result,” “target,” variations of such words, and similar expressions or negatives of these words are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding statements related to the offering, the expected gross proceeds and the expected closing of the offering.. These statements are based on the Company’s current plans, estimates and projections. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. A number of important factors, including those described in this communication, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect future results and may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, without limitation: the Company’s need for additional capital; the potential impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, costs, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the business; risks related to global as well as local political and economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; potential delays or failures related to research and/or development of the Company’s programs or product candidates; risks related to any loss of the Company’s patents or other intellectual property rights; any interruptions of the supply chain for raw materials or manufacturing for the Company’s product candidates, including as a result of potential tariffs; the nature, timing, cost and possible success and therapeutic applications of product candidates being developed by the Company and/or its collaborators or licensees; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by the Company, and/or its collaborators or licensees may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials, therapeutic applications, or regulatory approval; uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of the Company’s product candidates; risks related to competition for the Company’s product candidates; and the Company’s ability to successfully develop or commercialize its product candidates. While the foregoing list of factors presented here is considered representative, no list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
908-824-0775
[email protected]    

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (“Freeport” or “the Company”) (NYSE: FCX) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 15, 2022 and September 24, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before January 12, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Freeport failed to ensure appropriate safety practices were followed at its Grasberg Block Cave mine located in Indonesia. The Company’s inadequate safety measures created a heightened risk to its mine workers in the country. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Freeport, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

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CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm