Ariel Investments, an investment management company, released its "Small Cap Value Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Ariel Investments said its Small Cap Value Tax-Exempt Composite gained 17.19% gross and 17.04% net in the second quarter of 2026, matching the Russell 2000 Value Index but trailing the Russell 2000's 21.49% return. The rebound was supported by easing geopolitical tensions, lower oil prices, resilient earnings, and renewed strength in technology and AI-related stocks, with strong stock selection also aiding performance. The fund enters the second half with a measured outlook, citing uneven global growth, geopolitical risks, persistent inflation, and elevated borrowing costs as potential sources of volatility. The firm remains focused on long-term value creation through disciplined, bottom-up research and investments in durable businesses with strong balance sheets, capable management, and sustainable competitive advantages. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Ariel Small Cap Value Fund highlighted stocks like Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN). Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN) is an electronic components company providing advanced audio, communications, and connectivity solutions for consumer and industrial applications. The one-month return of Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN) was -0.49% while its shares traded between $19.29 and $42.93 over the last 52 weeks. On July 31, 2026, Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN) stock closed at approximately $36.08 per share, with a market capitalization of about $3.125 billion.
Ariel Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Leading provider of audio components and precision electronic devices, Knowles Corporation (NYSE:KN) also advanced following a strong earnings report that exceeded revenue and profit expectations. Performance was propelled by solid execution across segments, with Precision Devices benefiting from robust demand across diverse applications and its positioning for accelerated growth. MedTech & Specialty Audio also delivered steady results with attractive margins, underscoring the resilience and quality of the business. Meanwhile, KN continued to return capital to shareholders through share repurchases. We believe the company remains well positioned due to its focus on high-value, niche markets where it holds leading positions, supported by favorable end-market dynamics and improving operational execution that provide a compelling path for sustained growth.

#fund

Ariel Investments, an investment management company, released its "Small Cap Value Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Ariel Investments said its Small Cap Value Tax-Exempt Composite gained 17.19% gross and 17.04% net in the second quarter of 2026, matching the Russell 2000 Value Index but trailing the Russell 2000's 21.49% return. The rebound was supported by easing geopolitical tensions, lower oil prices, resilient earnings, and renewed strength in technology and AI-related stocks, with strong stock selection also aiding performance. The fund enters the second half with a measured outlook, citing uneven global growth, geopolitical risks, persistent inflation, and elevated borrowing costs as potential sources of volatility. The firm remains focused on long-term value creation through disciplined, bottom-up research and investments in durable businesses with strong balance sheets, capable management, and sustainable competitive advantages. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Ariel Small Cap Value Fund highlighted stocks like Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS). Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) manufactures branded home improvement and building products, including plumbing, decorative architectural, and other residential products. The one-month return of Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) was -11.80% while its shares traded between $58.16 and $83.64 over the last 52 weeks. On July 31, 2026, Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) stock closed at approximately $72.11 per share, with a market capitalization of about $14.095 billion.
Ariel Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
We added Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS), the world's largest manufacturer of plumbing fixtures and a leading provider of paint in the United States. The company benefits from a portfolio of differentiated brands, including well-recognized leaders such as Behr paint, Delta faucets and Hansgrohe shower systems, alongside complementary offerings like AXOR premium faucets and KILZ primer. Following the divestiture of its more cyclical windows and cabinets businesses, Masco has sharpened its focus on higher-quality segments where it enjoys meaningful scale, strong brand equity and operational advantages. We expect these attributes combined with deep technical expertise and a well-established supply chain to support continued margin expansion in its core paint and plumbing businesses. In addition, Masco's longstanding relationship with Home Depot is likely to further strengthen its professional paint segment, while its broad distribution and channel penetration should drive sustained growth within plumbing.

#ariel #small #fund

Newsmax (NMAX) is a Boca Raton, Florida-headquartered multi-platform media and entertainment company founded in 1998 by CEO Chris Ruddy. The company operates through two segments: Broadcasting, which powers its flagship Newsmax TV cable news channel distributed to over 100 million U.S. homes and a growing OTT streaming platform; and Digital, encompassing its website, social media channels, Newsmax+ streaming service, and digital publishing properties.
With 30.4 million total quarterly viewers, 25.4 million social media followers (up 25% year-over-year), and rapidly expanding international licensing and affiliate fee revenues, Newsmax has positioned itself as the fastest-growing conservative news and media brand in the United States.
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#doubles #digital

Newsmax (NMAX) is a Boca Raton, Florida-headquartered multi-platform media and entertainment company founded in 1998 by CEO Chris Ruddy. The company operates through two segments: Broadcasting, which powers its flagship Newsmax TV cable news channel distributed to over 100 million U.S. homes and a growing OTT streaming platform; and Digital, encompassing its website, social media channels, Newsmax+ streaming service, and digital publishing properties.
With 30.4 million total quarterly viewers, 25.4 million social media followers (up 25% year-over-year), and rapidly expanding international licensing and affiliate fee revenues, Newsmax has positioned itself as the fastest-growing conservative news and media brand in the United States.
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#newsmax #Media #million #Social

On April 2, 2024, General Electric (NYSE: GE) spun off its energy division as GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV). It started trading at $143 per share on that first day, but eventually dropped to its all-time low of $122.46 on April 5. If you had invested $5,000 in GE Vernova's stock at that price, your investment would be worth more than $40,400 today.
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GE Vernova operates three core businesses: Power (55% of its 2025 orders), Electrification (33%), and Wind (13%). Since its market debut, the Power and Electrification segments have grown rapidly to meet the demands of the power-hungry cloud, data center, and AI markets. That growth offset the softness of its Wind segment, which grappled with supply chain issues.
GE Vernova's orders rose 7% organically in 2024, then accelerated to 34% growth in 2025. From 2025 to 2028, ***** ysts expect its revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to grow at CAGRs of 17% and 60%, respectively.
Therefore, GE Vernova's stock soared because it was a well-balanced play on the expanding AI market. With an enterprise value of $252 billion, it isn't cheap at 40 times this year's adjusted EBITDA -- but its robust growth rates could support that premium valuation.

#NVIDIA #april

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Record performance was driven by exceptional operational reliability and commercial execution across all three segments amid significant geopolitical volatility.
Refining margins benefited from a constructive environment characterized by low global product inventories and limited excess refining capacity.
The U.S. Gulf Coast remains a primary strategic advantage due to abundant domestic production and access to diverse feedstocks, including Canadian and Venezuelan crudes.
Renewable Diesel and Ethanol segments saw structural tailwinds as the RVO and D4 RIN values increased at a rate faster than feedstock fat prices.

#segments #tell

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Management attributed the 10% adjusted EPS growth to the resilience of a diversified model, where high-growth digital accelerators offset softness in legacy segments.
Digital accelerator revenue grew 31% in the quarter, significantly exceeding the 23% long-term framework established at Investor Day, driven by Ria Digital, Issuing, and Merchant Services.
Cross-border payments faced a 'market-wide dynamic' where U.S. immigration enforcement led to the first annual decline in the outbound remittance market in over a decade.
ATM transaction softness was linked to U.S.-to-Europe airline bookings being 5%-8% below 2025 peaks and European travelers becoming more selective with discretionary spending.

#Growth #NVIDIA #management

Intel (INTC) is a semiconductor company operating as one of the world's largest chip designers and manufacturers. Founded in 1968 and based in Santa Clara, California, Intel has restructured around three core segments: Client Computing and Physical AI, which encompasses PC processors and edge AI chips; Data Center and AI (DCAI), delivering Xeon server CPUs and AI accelerators; and Intel Foundry, which manufactures chips for external customers using advanced process nodes including 18A and 14A.
INTC stock has delivered a more than 350% return over the past 12 months, with a 52-week range of $18.97 to $142.35. Shares have seen tremendous growth this year, with the stock climbing 151% year-to-date (YTD) and roughly 100% over the last six months. However, INTC stock is under some pressure in the near term as it has slipped more than 7% in the past five days and 33% over the past month.
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#santa

The AI boom is transforming the memory industry into one of the fastest-growing segments of the semiconductor sector.
Demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and conventional DRAM, along with NAND chips used in AI servers has skyrocketed and pushed memory prices sharply higher. Market intelligence provider TrendForce estimates that conventional DRAM contract prices climbed roughly 93%–98% in Q1 2026 and projects a 58%–63% increase in Q2. NAND flash prices are also expected to remain strong.
The price surges come as the global memory supply struggles to keep pace with demand. Some industry experts expect the memory shortage to last beyond 2030.
Source: Micron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) and SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) have emerged as two of the biggest beneficiaries of the memory shortage.

#prices #dram #NASDAQ

Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ:HON) used to be one giant company that made everything from thermostats to jet engines. Not anymore. Over the past year, it split into three separate public companies: Solstice Advanced Materials, spun off last October; Honeywell Aerospace, spun off just last month; and Honeywell Technologies, the automation business that's left, which is what CEO Vimal Kapur now runs. This week's earnings report was the first one for Honeywell Technologies as its own standalone firm, and the stock jumped more than 5% on the news.
Since the aerospace spinoff only finished right at the end of the quarter, this report still includes some of Honeywell Aerospace's results mixed in, which makes straight comparisons tricky. Total revenue, including that leftover aerospace piece, came in at $9.72 billion, up 4% from a year ago and beating the roughly $9.5 billion **** ysts expected. Strip aerospace back out, and revenue for just the automation business was $5.19 billion, up 3%, beating the $5.02 billion Wall Street had modeled specifically for the smaller, standalone company.
On profit, adjusted earnings per share, including the leftover aerospace results came in at $4.52, actually down 4% from $4.72 a year earlier. On a standalone basis without aerospace, adjusted earnings were $1.95 a share, up 10% from $1.77 a year ago and beating the $1.82 **** ysts expected for the new, smaller Honeywell Technologies. There was also a one-time boost: net profit under standard accounting rules hit $5.68 billion, largely because of a $6.63 billion one-time accounting gain tied to deconsolidating Quantinuum, Honeywell's quantum computing venture, a separate transaction from the aerospace spin-off, not from the actual operating business doing better.
That raises a real question. Is this a genuinely strong first quarter as a standalone firm, or does the messy, one-time nature of a spinoff quarter make it hard to tell what Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ:HON) actually looks like going forward?
All three of Honeywell's remaining automation segments grew organically, and orders for the standalone business overall grew 16%, with backlog reaching about $20 billion. Building Automation was the standout, with organic sales up 9% and orders up 13%, driven by strong demand from data centers and hotels. Industrial Automation grew sales 4% organically on strong demand for sensing and measurement equipment. Process Automation, the one segment with sales down slightly this quarter, actually saw orders surge 24%, with Middle East orders alone up more than 50% on refurbishment projects, and management expects a "sharp inflection" in that segment's growth starting in the third quarter. Kapur said the results reflect a "year-plus long process to simplify our business," and that the benefits are already showing up.

#automation #technologies #year #business

With a market cap of $201.2 billion, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is a leading global provider of communications, technology, and entertainment products and services through its Consumer and Business segments. Based in New York, the company offers wireless, broadband, and fiber-optic solutions, and has strengthened its position through strategic mergers, technological innovation, and service diversification.
Shares of the New York-based company have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. VZ stock has risen 12.9% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 16.3%. However, shares of the company are up 18.4% on a YTD basis, outpacing SPX's 8.5% rise.
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#communications

Corona, California-based Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) engages in the development, marketing, sale, and distribution of energy drink beverages and concentrates in the United States and internationally. Valued at a market cap of $95.6 billion, the company operates through four segments: Monster Energy Drinks, Strategic Brands, Alcohol Brands, and Other.
MNST shares have rallied the broader market over the past year, surging 62.3% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 16.3% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has grown by nearly 27.5%, outperforming the SPX's 8.5% rise.
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#beverage

ArcBest's second-quarter results showed operational improvements in both of its business segments. It is benefitting from heavier shipment weights on the ***** et-based side of the house while cost initiatives have pushed its logistics offering back into profitability.
ArcBest's (NASDAQ: ARCB) ***** et-based unit, which includes less-than-truckload subsidiary ABF Freight, reported a 10% y/y increase in revenue to $784 million. Tonnage per day was 5% higher as a 3% decline in shipments was more than offset by an 8% increase in weight per shipment.
Tonnage growth on a y/y comparison was fairly steady throughout the quarter—up 6.1% in April, up 4.6% in May and up 4.1% in June. The two-year-stacked comps were up 10%, 11% and 7%, respectively.
Tonnage growth accelerated in July, up 8% y/y (plus-9.3% on a two-year-stacked comp). Management said on a Wednesday call with ***** ysts that tonnage normally declines 4.6% from June to July but is only down 1% this year.
Some freight lost to a depressed truckload market has returned as TL spot rates have climbed. This is driving average shipment weights higher. ArcBest is capturing low-double-digit rate increases on TL shipments.

#tonnage #freight #quarter #based

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Management attributed solid second quarter performance to the breadth of the diversified employee benefits franchise, where strong results in Group Life and Colonial Life balanced elevated claims in specific disability segments.
The company reported underlying premium growth of approximately 5%, supported by stable persistency and successful digital connectivity investments like HR Connect and Total Leave.
U.S. Group Disability results were pressured by elevated short-term disability experience, primarily driven by higher claims activity in newer Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) markets.
Management characterized PFML as a developing market where they chose to participate early to support broader leave management capabilities, despite maturing claim data.

#results #claims

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Management attributed the 25% adjusted EBITDA growth and 260 basis point margin expansion to structural improvements rather than cyclical market recovery, which remains uneven.
The company achieved its $90 million run rate cost optimization milestone ahead of schedule by simplifying the organization and optimizing the manufacturing network.
Performance in Polymer Solutions was driven by IBC and large container strength, while Closures benefited from high single-digit volume growth through new business wins.
Management highlighted a strategic shift in the sales force from 'farmers' to 'hunters,' focusing on solution-based selling and new logo acquisition in high-value segments like pharma and fragrances.

#high #NVIDIA #polymer

BERLIN, July 29 (Reuters) - German defence contractor Rheinmetall reported a stronger-than-expected ‌second-quarter operating profit on Wednesday ‌as booming demand for military equipment helped drive a sharp increase in revenue across all business segments.
Operating profit climbed to €562 million ($640 million), beating market expectations of ‌about €470 million, ⁠while revenue rose nearly 70% from a year earlier to ⁠about €3.3 billion.
Rheinmetall had already said on July 2 that it expected revenue growth of more than 60% for the ‌reporting period.
The company cautioned, however, that operating free cash flow is expected to be significantly negative in the quarter because advance payments were shifted ‌into later periods.
The company's order backlog exceeded €80 billion in the quarter after it recorded €11.37 ‌billion in new contract awards and programmes, including one from the German military for loitering munitions.

#operating #million #billion #profit

Houston, Texas-based Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) is an energy infrastructure company primarily operating in North America. The company has a market cap of $70.6 billion and operates through Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, Terminals, and CO2 segments. KMI owns and operates interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines and storage systems, natural gas gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities, among others.
KMI shares have lagged behind the broader market slightly over the past year, growing 16.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 16.3% surge. However, in 2026, the stock has risen nearly 15%, outperforming the SPX's 8.5% gain.
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#Stock

Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) generates, stores, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company has a market cap of $185.2 billion and operates through Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and NEER segments. NextEra generates electricity from wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, and other clean energy ***** ets.
The electricity supplier's shares have rallied the broader market over the past year, growing 25.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 16.3% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen nearly 11.2%, outperforming the SPX's 8.5% rise as well.
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#energy #company #Stock #electricity

Eni raised its 2026 oil and gas production outlook and expanded its share buyback program after reporting significantly stronger second-quarter results, supported by double-digit production growth, higher commodity prices and improved performance across several business segments.
The Italian energy company now expects underlying full-year hydrocarbon production growth of around 5%, up from its previous guidance of 3% to 4%, following 11% year-over-year underlying production growth in the second quarter to 1.79 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, excluding price effects.
The improved outlook prompted Eni to increase its planned 2026 share repurchase program to €3.4 billion, up from the previously revised €2.8 billion, while reaffirming its planned dividend of €1.10 per share. The company also said an extraordinary dividend could be considered later this year if refining margins remain well above budget ****** umptions.
Second-quarter adjusted EBIT more than doubled year over year to €5.38 billion, while adjusted net profit rose to €2.3 billion. The upstream business generated €4.77 billion in adjusted EBIT, benefiting from higher production, favorable oil realizations and continued cost discipline. Cash flow before working capital reached €4.47 billion, comfortably covering €1.84 billion in capital spending and €1.35 billion returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks during the quarter.
Strategically, Eni continued expanding its upstream portfolio and transition businesses. During the quarter it established the Searah joint venture with Petronas, creating a regional platform spanning Indonesia and Malaysia that will develop major gas discoveries in the Kutei Basin. The company also approved final investment decisions for the Baleine Phase 3 development offshore Côte d'Ivoire, the Greater PAJ project offshore Angola, and the Cronos gas project offshore Cyprus.

#production #second

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Top-line acceleration was propelled by a significant surge in CapEx-related segments, specifically Welding and Test & Measurement and Electronics, which grew 14% and 10% respectively.
Customer-Back Innovation (CBI) contributed 3% to first-half revenue growth, exceeding the 2.4% contribution seen in 2025 and serving as the primary catalyst for sustained 4% enterprise organic growth.
Operating margins reached 26.7% despite a 40-basis-point temporary dilution caused by timing lags between raw material inflation and price adjustments.
Enterprise initiatives remained a core driver of profitability, contributing 120 basis points to operating margin expansion during the quarter.

#basis #capex #test

O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During Q2 2026, the market experienced notable dispersion between perceived AI losers and winners. The firm has made investments early in AI infrastructure companies, which yielded gains during market repricing. The second quarter experienced strong equity rallies, with the S&P 500 gaining 15.2% and the Nasdaq 21.4%, marking the best quarter since Q2 2020. While the software sector faced challenges, with the iShares Software ETF dropping ~27% before a rally, reflecting high volatility. This volatility is seen as an opportunity, despite the potential for 'dead money' in underperforming stocks. The firm remains cautious, focuses on owning durable businesses at reasonable prices, holding cash, and hedging risks to navigate unpredictability. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory highlighted Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW). Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is a technology company that operates through its Optical Communication, Display Technologies, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials, and Life Sciences business segments. On July 27, 2026, Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) closed at $143.36 per share. One-month return of Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) was -43.88%, and its shares gained 131.30% over the past 52 weeks. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) has a market capitalization of $123.38 billion.
O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory stated the following regarding Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Qualcomm and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) both appreciated materially in Q2. We trimmed both positions using a combination of options and stock sales.
Corning appreciated over 20% in Q2. Corning spent the second quarter signing up the biggest names in AI as customers and partners. In May, Nvidia and Corning announced a multiyear commercial and technology partnership under which Corning will increase its U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing capacity tenfold and expand U.S. Fiber production by more than 50%, including three new plants in North Carolina and Texas. Nvidia paid $500 million for rights to Corning shares, including warrants on up to 15 million shares at a $180 exercise price; if exercised in full, Nvidia's total equity investment could reach $3.2 billion. In June, Amazon signed a multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement for Corning to supply the optical Fiber, cable, and connectivity for its expanding U.S. data centers. These follow the up to $6 billion supply agreement Meta signed in January. Historically, data centers used copper cables to connect their technology, some of which is switching to Fiber. Corning's Fiber may be a future bottleneck. As legacy data centers convert to newer, Fiber-connected racks, Corning contends with new data centers demand

By most financial measures, the second quarter at TFI International was strong.
Second quarter diluted earnings per share were up 41% to $1.65 from the corresponding quarter a year ago. EBITDA was up more than 11%.
But underneath that, and what came through in Monday evening's conference call with ****** ysts, is that the rise in profitability came from the Truckload operations at TFI, as well as its Logistics segment, while LTL, which provided 41% of the revenue, improved but not as much as Truckload.
The difference between the two at TFI (NYSE: TFII) was most stark in their respective EBITDA margins. It was 18% for LTL, and 24.1% for Truckload. (Logistics had a 16.3% EBITDA margin). In the first quarter, the respective numbers were 12.1% and 19.5%. While the percentage gain was more for LTL in the quarter, that measure of profitability continues to lag Truckload.
In one notable part of the conference call, CEO Alain Bedard and CFO David Saperstein talked about the differences in the markets for the two largest segments.

#profitability

Brandes Investment Partners, an ***** et management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Brandes Small Cap Value Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. In Q2 2026, the Fund underperformed the Russell 2000 Index's 21.49% gain and the Russell 2000 Value Index's 17.19% rise. However, year-to-date, the fund (Class I Shares) increased by 23.17%, surpassing the 22.57% and 22.99% returns of the indexes, respectively. The second quarter's performance was mainly driven by holdings in the industrial sector, particularly aerospace and defense, as well as energy. Its underperformance was due to holdings and an underweight position in the information technology sector. The Firm remains optimistic about value stocks, citing their attractive valuations and strong free cash flow generation. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Brandes Small Cap Value Fund highlighted its new purchase, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB). The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) is a leading US-based packaged food company. On July 24, 2026, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) closed at $21.84 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $6.51 billion. The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) posted a one-month return of -5.08%, while its shares lost 32.26% over the past 52 weeks.
Brandes Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) is a North America-focused, branded packaged food company operating primarily in two segments: Meals & Beverages and Snacks. Meals & Beverages includes Campbell's condensed and ready-to-serve soups, Chunky, Swanson broths, Pacific Foods, Prego, Rao's and V8. The Snacks segment includes Goldfish, Pepperidge Farm, Snyder's of Hanover, Lance, Late July, Kettle Brand and Cape Cod. The company holds number one or number two market positions in most of its categories, and its portfolio has evolved well beyond its legacy soup identity through such acquisitions as Snyder's-Lance and Sovos Brands.
While its core categories are mature, they remain relatively defensive, with below-average and broadly stable private-label penetration, strong brand recognition and exposure to at home eating occasions where convenience, value and perceived health remain relevant…" (Click here to read the full text)

#company #investor #letter

With a market cap of $55.3 billion, Ciena Corporation (CIEN) is a global network technology company that provides hardware, software, and services to telecom operators, cloud providers, enterprises, and government organizations across multiple regions worldwide. It specializes in optical networking, routing and switching platforms, automation software, and network support services through segments such as Networking Platforms, Blue Planet Automation, and Global Services.
The Hanover, Maryland-based company is slated to announce its fiscal Q3 2026 results soon. Ahead of the release, **** ysts predict CIEN to report EPS of $1.45, a surge of 253.7% from $0.41 in the year-ago quarter. It has exceeded Wall Street's earnings expectations in each of the past four quarters.
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#ahead

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) beat quarterly expectations, secured $20 billion in net awards, reported record backlog, and raised its 2026 sales and MTM-adjusted earnings forecasts. Yet the shares closed 2.23% lower at $512.29 on July 21.
The contradiction becomes clearer when the quality of the earnings beat is separated from the size of the order book. ***** ysts said a substantially lower tax rate drove much of the upside, while operating income declined in two of Northrop's four segments. The company also left its segment operating-income and adjusted free-cash-flow forecasts unchanged.
JPMorgan ***** yst Seth Seifman pointed to the market's "tendency to punish execution challenges." That appears to capture the reaction. Investors did not question whether Northrop can win more work. They questioned how much profit it can retain while delivering that work and expanding production.
Are the latest program charges temporary costs of meeting surging defense demand, or evidence that Northrop's backlog is growing faster than its ability to execute profitably?
The bull case is that Northrop's execution problems remain concentrated in a few programs, while the broader demand environment is becoming stronger.

#adjusted #forecasts #much

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Delivered strong first-half momentum by balancing volume growth and price/mix, achieving organic revenue growth at the high end of the long-term algorithm.
Leveraged the FIFA World Cup activation to drive record beverage incidence of over 80% at venues, utilizing integrated marketing to engage consumers across 180 markets.
Navigated an uneven global consumer environment by sharpening Revenue Growth Management (RGM) toolkits, balancing affordability for pressured consumers with premiumization for resilient segments.
Achieved broad-based volume growth across all operating units, supported by the relaunch of Mr. Pibb and continued expansion of Coca-Cola Zero Zero into evening consumption occasions.

#balancing #NVIDIA

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Performance was driven by strong execution in a 'flattish' market environment, utilizing Mineral Fiber AUV growth and Architectural Specialties (AS) portfolio expansion as primary value creation blocks.
Mineral Fiber AUV growth of 6% was fueled by a 'flight to quality' trend, with the 13th consecutive quarter of high-end smooth white acoustical tiles (SWAT) outperforming the broader portfolio.
Management attributes volume growth to consistent commercial execution and incremental benefits from digital initiatives like Kanopi and PROJECTWORKS, which address underserved market segments and design complexity.
The Architectural Specialties segment achieved 9% organic growth through broad-based demand across categories, particularly in transportation and education verticals.

#fiber #market #tell

Tesla (TSLA) is an electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy company led by CEO Elon Musk. Founded in 2003 and based in Austin, Texas, the company designs, manufactures, and sells EVs alongside energy storage and generation products, including Megapack and solar solutions. Tesla operates across two core segments: Automotive — which includes vehicle sales, regulatory credits, and Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions — and Energy Generation and Storage.
Rapidly emerging businesses including Tesla's robotaxi service, Optimus humanoid robots, and artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure are increasingly shaping the company's long-term valuation narrative. That's positioning Tesla as a full-stack autonomous technology and energy platform. Let's take a closer look.
What Do Monday Morning's Markets Bring to Mind?
Dear Bloom Energy Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 28
Crude Oil Prices Plunge as Supply Threats Ease

#energy #full #vehicle

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Management is executing a deliberate rotation out of lower-yielding securities into floating-rate first mortgages, capturing an approximate 200 basis point pickup in income per dollar redeployed.
The loan portfolio has grown 75% over the trailing 12 months, with 85% of the book originated in the last two years at conservative loan-to-values on reset bases to avoid legacy peak-cycle valuations.
A 'multi-cylinder' strategy utilizing securities, real estate, and conduit segments is designed to provide consistent, albeit lumpy, gains that supplement core interest income.
Management attributes their stable book value and low charge-offs to a disciplined middle-market lending focus and a conservative approach to the office sector, favoring cities with high return-to-office rates.

#management #securities #office

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Achieved 19% year-over-year service revenue growth by successfully replacing lost Rithm-related business with new customer wins across both segments.
Reached a historical milestone with 65% of total service revenue now coming from non-Onity/Rithm customers, the highest diversification since the 2009 IPO.
Attributed the decline in adjusted EBITDA margins to the absence of a prior-year non-recurring benefit and increased investments in leadership and staff to support growth.
Deployed a centralized AI enablement model to accelerate software development and improve operating efficiency, specifically targeting the modernization of the Equator and Hubzu platforms.

#revenue #Growth #reached #onity