Apple (AAPL) shares ended the last trading session 3.2% higher at $245.5. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 5.8% gain over the past four weeks.Apple is benefiting from strong growth in Services revenues. AAPL now has more than 1 billion paid subscribers across its Services portfolio.This maker of iPhones, iPads and other products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.74 per share in its upcomin ...

Core Insights - IREN Limited has doubled its AI cloud capacity to 23,000 GPUs through the acquisition of an additional 12,400 GPUs for approximately $674 million, expecting to achieve $500 million in AI Cloud annualized run-rate revenue by Q1 fiscal 2026 [1][10] AI Cloud Expansion - The company is rapidly expanding its AI cloud business, with over 10,000 GPUs online or set to be commissioned soon, including next-generation liquid-cooled GB300 NVL72 systems from NVIDIA [3] - IREN is on track to install more than 60,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs at its British Columbia sites, transitioning from bitcoin mining to AI, including a new liquid-cooled data center for GB300 NVL72 installations [4] Financial Performance - IREN is projected to achieve $1.25 billion in annualized revenues by December 2025, with approximately $1 billion from bitcoin mining and $200-$250 million from AI Cloud [4] - The company's shares have appreciated 314.5% year to date, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Finance sector's return of 14.9% and the Zacks Financial Miscellaneous Services industry's 9.7% [8][10] Competitive Landscape - IREN faces strong competition in the bitcoin mining market from companies like Strategy (MSTR) and CleanSpark (CLSK) [5] - Strategy has reported a bitcoin yield of 19.7% at the end of Q2 2025, with expectations to reach 30% and $20 billion in gains if bitcoin prices hit $150,000 by year-end [6] - CleanSpark produced 2,012 bitcoins in Q3 2025, a 28% year-over-year increase, with an average revenue per bitcoin of $99,000, reflecting a 50% year-over-year increase [7] Valuation Metrics - IREN's stock is trading at a premium, with a price/cash flow ratio of 4.82X compared to the industry's 3.81X, and it has a Value Score of F [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.08 per share, unchanged over the past week, while the company reported earnings of 4 cents per share in fiscal 2025 [14]

Key Takeaways Accenture projects Q4 EPS of $2.98 and revenues of $17.3B, signaling year-over-year growth.GenAI bookings hit $1.5B in Q3, while revenues surpassed $700M, fueling client reinvention.ACN ended Q3 with $9.6B in cash and rising managed services demand.Accenture plc (ACN) is set to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Sept. 25, before market open.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.98 per share, suggesting 6.8% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported level. The co ...

Core Viewpoint - Comerica Incorporated (CMA) has shown strong stock performance, gaining 21.8% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 13.9% and its peers [1][9]. Factors Aiding Comerica's Performance - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cuts are expected to support net interest income (NII) and margins for Comerica, with management anticipating a 5-7% increase in full-year 2025 NII compared to 2024 [6][7]. - Comerica's total loans reached $51.2 billion as of June 30, 2025, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 1%. Management expects average loans to increase in the third quarter of 2025 [8]. - The company maintains a solid liquidity profile, with total debt of $8.7 billion and total liquidity capacity of $40.5 billion as of June 30, 2025 [10][11]. - Comerica has a strong capital distribution plan, with a dividend yield of 4.03%, higher than the industry average of 3.28%, and an active share repurchase program [12][14]. - Operational efficiency measures have improved the efficiency ratio to 65.8% in Q2 2025 from 67.8% in the prior year, reflecting better cost control [15]. Concerns for Comerica - Non-interest expenses have been rising, with a CAGR of 5.3% over the last five years, and management expects expenses to increase in Q3 2025 due to higher compensation and benefits [19][22]. - The bank has a high concentration risk, with commercial and commercial mortgage loans accounting for 81.2% of total loans as of June 30, 2025, exposing it to macroeconomic risks [22][24]. Financial Performance Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Comerica's sales implies year-over-year growth of 3.55% for 2025 and 3.18% for 2026, with expected sales of $3.38 billion in 2025 [25][26]. - The company is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 12.91X, above the industry average of 11.79X, indicating a premium valuation [29].

Core Insights - Commercial Metals Company (CMC) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Concrete Pipe & Precast, LLC (CP&P) for $675 million, aiming to enhance its early-stage construction solutions portfolio [1][8] Deal Details - CP&P is a provider of precast concrete solutions in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions of the U.S., fully owned by Eagle Corporation and ECPP, with strong margins and cash flows [2] - The acquisition price of $675 million corresponds to a multiple of 9.5X CP&P's projected EBITDA for 2025, which adjusts to 8.5X when accounting for expected cash tax benefits [3] Transaction Benefits - The acquisition will create a scalable platform for CMC in a fragmented industry with robust profit margins, providing a long-term growth opportunity through both organic and inorganic means [4] - The deal is expected to be immediately accretive to CMC's earnings per share and free cash flow per share, with anticipated annual run-rate synergies of $5 million to $10 million by the third year, primarily from optimization initiatives [5] - The addition of CP&P will enhance CMC's core business by introducing a complementary revenue stream with higher and more stable margins, requiring less capital than traditional steel operations, thus improving cash flow generation [6] Stock Performance - CMC's shares have increased by 9.4% over the past year, contrasting with an 18.4% decline in the industry [7]

Core Insights - Orchid Island Capital (ORC) and AGNC Investment Corp. (AGNC) are prominent players in the mortgage real estate investment trusts (mREITs) sector, both providing attractive long-term returns and substantial dividend yields. The analysis aims to determine which company presents a better investment opportunity at this time [1]. AGNC Investment Corp. - AGNC employs an active portfolio-management strategy, regularly adjusting its holdings and implementing hedges to adapt to market changes, which positions it defensively against volatility [2]. - As of June 30, 2025, AGNC has hedged 89% of its outstanding balance in Investment Securities Repo, TBA position, and other debt, which may enhance cash flow stability and support long-term growth [3]. - The company holds $73.3 billion in Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS), benefiting from GSE guarantees, which makes these investments relatively safer despite market volatility [4]. - AGNC's liquidity, including unencumbered cash and Agency MBS, stood at $6.4 billion as of June 30, 2025, with a modest increase in leverage to 7.6 times [5]. - The current dividend yield for AGNC is 14.4%, although it has not increased its dividend in the past five years [6]. Orchid Island Capital - ORC focuses exclusively on Agency residential MBS, which limits credit risks but increases sensitivity to interest rate changes and prepayments [7]. - The recent decline in mortgage rates is expected to improve ORC's book value as spreads in the Agency market tighten, enhancing net interest spread and overall portfolio yield [8]. - ORC currently boasts a dividend yield of 20.6% and has increased its dividend three times in the past five years, supported by a strong liquidity position of $492.5 million [10]. - Earnings for ORC are projected to surge by 450% in 2025 and 40% in 2026, significantly outpacing AGNC's expected declines [9][24]. Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, AGNC shares rose by 8.1%, while ORC shares increased by 4.3%, compared to the industry's growth of 5.2% [11]. - ORC is trading at a 12-month forward price-to-tangible book (P/TB) ratio of 0.88X, which is a discount compared to the industry average of 1.07X, while AGNC trades at a premium with a P/TB of 1.24X [13][16]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates AGNC's earnings will decline by 15.4% in 2025 and 0.9% in 2026, while ORC's earnings are expected to rise by 450% and 39.7% in the same years [19][20][21]. Conclusion - While AGNC remains a reliable mREIT with a disciplined strategy and steady dividends, ORC presents a more compelling opportunity for income-seeking investors due to its higher dividend yield, strong liquidity, and significant earnings growth potential [22][24].

Company Overview - AppLovin (APP) shares increased by 4.5% to $649.59 in the last trading session, with a notable trading volume and a total gain of 48.4% over the past four weeks, driven by investor positioning ahead of its inclusion in the S&P 500 [1] Earnings Expectations - AppLovin is projected to report quarterly earnings of $2.34 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 87.2%. Revenue is expected to reach $1.34 billion, marking an 11.7% rise from the same quarter last year [2] Earnings Estimate Trends - The consensus EPS estimate for AppLovin has remained stable over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without changes in earnings estimate revisions. Monitoring AppLovin's performance will be crucial to determine if the recent price increase can lead to further strength [3] Industry Ranking - AppLovin holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) within the Zacks Technology Services industry, while CoreCard Corporation (CCRD), another company in the same sector, has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and experienced a 2.2% decline in the last trading session [4][5]

Core Insights - Alibaba's cloud computing unit experienced a significant growth of 26% year-over-year in Q1 of fiscal 2026, reflecting strong enterprise adoption of its AI models [1][9] - The company is making substantial investments in AI infrastructure, which has led to increased capital expenditures and cash outflows, positioning it to benefit from the growing AI market [2][9] - Recent innovations in Alibaba's AI model portfolio, including the open-sourcing of Wan2.2-Animate and the release of Tongyi DeepResearch, are enhancing its AI ecosystem [3][4] Financial Performance - The cloud division's growth is attributed to technological advancements and strategic partnerships, such as collaboration with S&P Global to provide AI-ready datasets [4] - Despite the strong growth, the company faces challenges in maintaining profitability due to price reductions in AI infrastructure aimed at user acquisition [5] - Alibaba's shares have gained 94.2% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Internet-Commerce industry, which grew by 14.9% [9][10] Competitive Landscape - While Alibaba's cloud growth is notable, global competitors like Microsoft and Amazon have significant advantages, with Microsoft Azure achieving 39% growth and Amazon Web Services at 17.5% [7] - Microsoft and Amazon have deeper capital resources and established enterprise relationships, which pose challenges for Alibaba's international expansion efforts [7] Valuation and Estimates - Alibaba's stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Earnings ratio of 17.41X, compared to the industry's 25.33X, indicating a potential undervaluation [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $8.09 per share, reflecting a 10.21% year-over-year decline [16]

Core Insights - Owens Corning (OC) is set to build a new shingle manufacturing facility in Prattville, AZ, reflecting its strategic commitment to expanding its roofing production network and enhancing its presence in the Southeast U.S. market [1][4] Group 1: Facility Details - The Prattville plant will cover 250,000 square feet, with construction starting in early 2026 and production expected to begin in 2027 [2][8] - The facility will have the capacity to produce approximately six million square feet of laminate shingles annually, primarily focusing on the premium Duration shingles utilizing SureNail technology for added strength and durability [2][8] - The new facility is projected to create nearly 100 skilled manufacturing jobs and will leverage advanced automation and modern technology to enhance efficiency [3][8] Group 2: Business Growth and Performance - Owens Corning is expanding its roofing production network, which is part of a broader strategy that includes capacity expansion, strategic acquisitions, and product innovation [4][5] - The company has achieved adjusted EBITDA margins of 20% or more for 20 consecutive quarters, with roofing sales increasing by 4% year over year [5] - Owens Corning operates 16 asphalt roofing and component plants nationwide, and the new facility will bring the total to 17, reinforcing its strong presence in the U.S. building materials industry [4][5] Group 3: Stock Performance and Financial Metrics - Over the past three months, OC shares have increased by 7.4%, while the Zacks Building Products - Miscellaneous industry has seen a growth of 12% [6] - The trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) for Owens Corning stands at 24.5%, significantly higher than the industry average of 13.1%, indicating efficient use of shareholders' funds [7]

Key Takeaways FN anticipates Q1 fiscal 2026 revenues of $910 million to $950 million, a 24% increase year over year.Shortages of 200-gigabit-per-lane lasers may limit datacom growth despite strong end-market demand.Earnings guidance of $2.75-$2.90 per share factors in margin headwinds.Fabrinet (FN) shares have appreciated 74.3% year to date (YTD), outpacing the Zacks Electronics – Miscellaneous Components industry’s advance of 38.9% and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 19.8%. The surge h ...