Nucor Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. It operates in three segments: steel mills, steel products, and raw materials. The Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling structural steel products; bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and engineered special bar quality products; and engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses. This segment sells its products to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Steel Products segment offers steel joists and joist girders, steel decks, and galvanized torque tubes for used in solar arrays, hollow structural section steel tubing, electrical conduit, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel, cold finished steel, steel fasteners, steel grating and expanded metal, wire and wire mesh, metal building systems, insulated metal panels, steel racking, overhead doors, and utility towers and structures for communications and energy transmission. This segment is also involved in the piling distribution business. The Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal; and engages in the natural gas production and industrial gas business. This segment sells its ferrous scrap to electric arc furnace steel mills and foundries for manufacturing process; and nonferrous scrap metal to aluminum can producers, secondary aluminum smelters, steel mills and other processors, and consumers of various nonferrous metals. It markets its products through in-house sales force; and internal distribution and trading companies. Nucor Corporation was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nucor выглядит финансово устойчивой, но по рентабельности и оценке рынок уже закладывает немало оптимизма. Ликвидность сильная: current ratio 2.94 и quick ratio 1.55 заметно выше отраслевых медиан, а debt/equity 0.31 указывает на умеренную долговую нагрузку и комфортный баланс. При этом долгосрочный долг вырос относительно прошлых периодов, поэтому кредитный профиль не идеален, хотя пока не выглядит напряжённым. Выручка и операционная прибыль остаются крупными и в целом поддерживают инвестиционный кейс, но маржинальность слабее отрасли: gross margin 11.93%, operating margin 8.18% и net margin 6.81% находятся ниже медианы, что ограничивает потенциал переоценки. ROE 10.56%, ROA 5.01% и ROI 6.12% также ниже отраслевых ориентиров, а динамика по годам показывает улучшение, но пока без выхода на действительно сильный уровень эффективности. P/E 22.31 немного ниже медианы, что не выглядит дорогим, однако P/S 1.52 выше медианы, а P/B 1.85 около нормы, то есть оценка не даёт явного дисконта. Особенно поддерживает картину очень низкий P/FCF, который формально сигнализирует о сильной генерации денежного потока, но этот показатель стоит трактовать осторожно из-за возможных особенностей расчёта и цикличности бизнеса. Дивидендная доходность снизилась до нуля, поэтому дивидендный аргумент сейчас не поддерживает акцию. В сумме это профиль качественного, ликвидного и умеренно закредитованного бизнеса, но с неидеальной доходностью капитала и маржами ниже отрасли. Для инвестора это означает скорее справедливую, чем явно недооценённую оценку, с ограниченным апсайдом без улучшения операционной эффективности. Поэтому целевой прогноз логично слегка снизить, сохранив консервативный взгляд на цикличный металлургический бизнес.

Nucor Corporation

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Medium index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly up. The inflow of funds into longs has increased and is at a high level.

Сильный баланс и ликвидность Nucor сочетаются с более слабыми маржами и доходностью капитала; оценка выглядит скорее справедливой, чем дешёвой.

NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. NWPX has announced the successful completion of the first field installation of its patent-pending Permalok Radial Bending Joint (RBJ) technology, marking a significant breakthrough in trenchless infrastructure construction. The technology establishes the world's first intentionally curved steel microtunnel installation, demonstrating a new capability for underground utility construction that could reshape future water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
The installation was completed beneath Pleasure Bay in New Jersey, as part of an emergency wastewater infrastructure project for the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority. The project involved approximately 1,290 linear feet of 72-inch steel casing pipe installed along a 5,500-foot-radius curved alignment, enabling crews to navigate a constrained underground environment and connect with an abandoned tunnel that had become critical to the project's completion. The project was designed by Hazen and Sawyer and executed by Northeast Remsco Construction.
Traditionally, steel casing pipes used in microtunneling were limited to straight-line installations, making it difficult to navigate existing utilities, waterways and other underground obstacles. NWPX's new RBJ technology enables controlled curved pipe installations while maintaining structural integrity.
The technology also retains the benefits of the company's Permalok press-fit connection technology, including weld-free installation, lower labor requirements and compatibility with existing microtunneling equipment.
Per NWPX, the achievement is one of the most important advancements in steel microtunneling in decades. The successful deployment validates a technology that can potentially reduce project costs, minimize construction disruption, shrink jobsite footprints and enable infrastructure projects that were previously considered too complex or expensive to build.
Shares of NWPX are up 211.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s 99.4% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NWPX’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NWPX carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold)
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB. NUE, FSTR and ALB carry a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying a 92.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 8.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed thrice, with the average surprise being 3.62%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 74.5%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NWPX's RBJ Technology Enables First Curved Steel Microtunnel

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD is benefiting from investments in high-return projects, new business deals, acquisitions and productivity initiatives.
We are positive about APD’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio, as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let's see what makes APD stock an attractive investment option at the moment.
Positive Analyst Sentiment for APD Stock
Earnings estimates for APD have been going up over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 has increased by 1.5%. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 has also been revised 1.2% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.2, suggesting a 9.7% increase from the previous year’s tally. Earnings are projected to increase by 7.3% in fiscal 2027.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
APD’s Positive Earnings Surprise History
Air Products has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 3%, on average.
APD’s Superior Return on Equity (ROE)
ROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Air Products is 16.1%, above the industry’s level of 2.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Upbeat Outlook
Air Products raised its full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $13-$13.25 per share, supported by its strong first-half performance and expectations for continued execution on pricing and productivity. Management said new asset contributions are expected to build through the second half, adding to the underlying earnings profile.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Air Products expects adjusted earnings of $3.25-$3.35 per share, implying 5-8% growth from the prior-year period. The company maintained its fiscal 2026 capital expenditures outlook of approximately $4 billion.
High-Return Projects & Productivity Actions Aid Air Products
Air Products is well-placed to gain from its investments in high-return industrial gas projects and productivity measures. It remains focused on its gasification strategy and is executing its key growth projects. These projects are expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flows.
Currently, APD is making progress with its two major projects — the NEOM green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia and the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex. The Louisiana project is expected to produce more than 750 million standard cubic feet per day of blue hydrogen for local and global markets. The NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia is expected to supply up to 1.2 million tons per year of renewable ammonia. Air Products and Yara International are in advanced negotiations to partner on these large-scale, low-emission ammonia projects.
Air Products is also driving productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing the positive impacts of its productivity actions. Benefits from additional productivity and cost improvement programs are likely to support its margins moving ahead. The company also remains focused on improving pricing amid an inflationary environment. Air Products is also taking action to right-size the organization through headcount reductions and expects these reductions to result in $250 million in annual cost savings once completed. It has already realized roughly $50 million in savings from headcount reduction, as divulged in its fiscal second quarter earnings call.
Air Products remains committed to maximizing returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows. Its board, in January 2026, increased its quarterly dividend to $1.81 per share. This marked the 44th straight year of dividend increase. The company returned roughly $1.6 billion to shareholders through dividends in 2025.
APD generated an operating cash flow of around $3.3 billion in fiscal 2025 and $2 billion in the first six months ended March 31, 2026. The company also returned $800 million to shareholders in the first half of fiscal 2026. Strong cash flow enables the company to boost shareholders’ value by increasing dividends and capital deployment.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
APD’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
APD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB, each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nucor’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying an 92.5% year-over-year increase. NUE’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 54.1%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why You Should Add Air Products Stock to Your Portfolio Now

BASF SE BASFY recently announced the closure of its expandable polystyrene (EPS) production assets at the Ulsan Plastics site in South Korea, with production scheduled to cease by mid-June 2026.
The move is part of the company’s ongoing strategic review aimed at optimizing its global styrenics production network and improving competitiveness amid evolving market conditions. BASFY said it will continue supporting customers during the transition and ensure an uninterrupted product supply.
The latest closure continues BASFY’s broader restructuring efforts in its styrenics and petrochemicals businesses. Over the years, the company has streamlined several styrenics assets globally, including divestments and plant closures in Europe and Asia, as it adapts to changing market dynamics and overcapacity concerns. BASFY emphasized that its European styrenics operations remain unaffected and will continue to serve as a key pillar of its global EPS business.
Shares of BASFY are up 13.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 2.2% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BASFY’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
BASFY carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB. NUE, FSTR and ALB carry a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying a 92.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 8.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed thrice, with the average surprise being 3.62%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 74.5%.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
BASF SE (BASFY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

BASFY Closes Expandable Polystyrene Assets in South Korea's Ulsan

The Board of Directors of Nucor declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share on Nucor's common stock. This cash dividend is payable on August 11, 2026 to stockholders of record on June 30, 2026 and is Nucor's 213th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.
Agree Realty today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized, and the Company has declared, a monthly cash dividend of $0.267 per common share. The monthly dividend reflects an annualized dividend amount of $3.204 per common share, representing a 4.3% increase over the annualized dividend amount of $3.072 per common share from the second quarter of 2025. The dividend is payable July 15, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2026.
Applied Materials today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.53 per share payable on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on Sept. 10, 2026 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 20, 2026. The cash dividend is a key component of Applied's capital allocation strategy. In March 2026, Applied announced a 15-percent increase in the quarterly dividend per share, from $0.46 to $0.53, which more than doubled the dividend per share from four years ago and marked nine consecutive years of dividend increases. With the increase announced in March 2026, Applied has grown its dividend per share at a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent over the past decade. Over the past 10 fiscal years, the company has distributed nearly 90 percent of free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
The Board of Directors of FedEx today approved a 5% increase in the annual dividend rate on FedEx common stock, after a one-time annual rate adjustment in connection with the spin-off of FedEx Freight. The dividend increase and spin-off adjustment result in an annualized dividend rate of $4.88 for the transition period covering June 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026. Consistent with this update, the Board today also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.22 per share on FedEx Corp. common stock. The dividend is payable July 7, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 22, 2026.
Benchmark Electronics today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share, payable on July 10, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2026.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Daily Dividend Report: NUE,ADC,AMAT,FDX,BHE

BASF SE BASFY has introduced Oppanol N PLUS, a new high-performance binder designed for the next generation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, particularly emerging solid-state battery (SSB) technologies. The launch underscores BASFY’s continued push into advanced battery materials as automakers seek longer driving ranges, faster charging capabilities and improved battery safety. The company will showcase the new product at The Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, from June 9 to 11.
Oppanol N PLUS is built on BASFY’s long-established polyisobutene (PIB) technology and is engineered to serve as a binder in battery cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. The material helps hold battery components together while maintaining separation where required.
Its high elasticity and extensibility enable it to absorb the mechanical stress generated during repeated charging and discharging cycles, helping improve battery durability, stability and overall lifespan. In addition, its chemical inertness reduces the risk of unwanted side reactions in battery cells.
A key differentiator of Oppanol N PLUS is its exceptionally narrow and consistent product specifications. Per BASFY, this high level of quality consistency can reduce production variability, lower the need for customer reformulation, decrease quality-control requirements and enable faster and stable manufacturing process adjustments. These benefits are aimed at helping battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs improve production efficiency while accelerating the commercialization of advanced battery technologies.
The company is also enhancing customer support around the product by offering fresh material directly from inventory and introducing more flexible delivery options, including packaging sizes starting at 20 kilograms.
The launch marks the 95th anniversary of BASFY’s polyisobutene technology. Developed in 1931 and produced at an industrial scale since 1938, Oppanol polyisobutene materials are now used across applications ranging from adhesives and insulation to pipeline coatings and advanced battery technologies, highlighting nearly a century of polymer innovation.
Shares of BASFY are up 13.9% over the past year compared with the industry’s 3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BASFY’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
BASFY currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materialsnspace are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR, and Albemarle Corporation ALB. NUE, FSTR and ALB sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying a 92.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the consensus estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the consensus estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed thrice, with an average surprise of 3.62%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the consensus estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
BASF SE (BASFY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

BASFY Unveils Oppanol N PLUS for Next-Generation EV Batteries

Air Liquide S.A. AIQUY recently announced a major strategic investment in South Korea to support the advanced AI memory chip expansion plans of SK hynix. The French industrial gases leader signed a long-term contract with SK hynix and will invest nearly €200 million (roughly $233 million) in infrastructure supporting the production of next-generation High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips, a critical component used in Artificial Intelligence servers and accelerators.
Air Liquide will build and operate a state-of-the-art nitrogen production unit to supply SK hynix’s new P&T7 packaging and testing facility in Cheongju, South Korea. The facility is dedicated to advanced packaging of HBM chips and is expected to begin operations in late 2027.
Air Liquide will provide high-purity nitrogen, compressed air and other specialty gases required for semiconductor manufacturing, where even microscopic contamination can affect chip performance.
The project is particularly significant because HBM chips have become the backbone of AI infrastructure. Demand for these memory products has surged as companies expand production of AI accelerators used in data centers worldwide. SK hynix is currently one of the world's leading HBM suppliers and has been aggressively expanding capacity to meet AI-driven demand.
The investment also highlights the strategic importance of Air Liquide's recent acquisition of South Korean industrial gas company DIG Airgas. The SK hynix contract was one of the first major successes resulting from the acquisition. By combining Air Liquide's expertise in ultra-high-purity gases with DIG Airgas' local infrastructure and customer relationships, the company has strengthened its position in South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem.
Shares of AIQUY are down 1.7% over the past year against the industry’s 3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AIQUY’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
AIQUY carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR, and Albemarle Corporation ALB. NUE, FSTR and ALB currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying a 92.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the consensus estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed thrice, with an average surprise of 3.62%.
The consensus estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Air Liquide Invests EUR 200M to Support SK hynix AI Memory Expansion

Dow Inc.’s DOW shares have popped 39.1% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s rise of 22.9%. It has been benefiting from its cost and productivity initiatives, growth actions in attractive markets and advantaged feedstock positions amid a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.
We are positive about DOW’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio, as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let's see what makes DOW stock an attractive investment option at the moment.
Positive Analyst Sentiment for DOW Stock
Earnings estimates for DOW have been going up over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 has increased by 693.8%. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has also been revised 844.4% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.
DOW’s Strong Growth Prospects
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOW’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.54, suggesting a 370.2% increase from the previous year’s tally. Earnings are projected to increase by 302.4% in second-quarter 2026.
DOW’s Valuation Looks Attractive
DOW’s shares are currently trading at a level that is lower than the industry average, suggesting that the stock still has upside potential. Going by the EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) multiple, which is often used to value chemical stocks, DOW is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.38, cheaper compared with the industry average of 14.48. DOW also has a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Strategic Growth & Self-help Actions Aid Dow
DOW benefits from its differentiated portfolio and feedstock advantage in the Americas. It remains focused on investing in attractive areas. Its broad portfolio, significant low-cost feedstock positions, global footprint and market reach place it in an advantageous position against competitors. While Dow faces headwinds from heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, it remains focused on growth actions in attractive end markets and executing high-return incremental growth projects in cost-advantaged regions.
Dow is taking action to cut costs by $1 billion to drive margins. It expects to achieve the majority of the cost savings through reductions in direct and labor costs. Dow realized more than $400 million of benefits from these actions in 2025, with the remaining benefits expected by 2026.
DOW has launched the “Transform to Outperform” initiative to improve productivity, reduce complexity, streamline its end-to-end processes and enable improved returns. The plan targets at least $2 billion near-term operating EBITDA improvement, with two-thirds of the benefits expected to be realized from productivity improvements. The company expects EBITDA benefits of roughly $500 million from this program in 2026. It expects to deliver roughly $1.1 billion in benefits from self-help actions this year.
Dow, on its first-quarter call, stated that it is already witnessing strong positive momentum from its recently implemented pricing actions across all businesses and regions, along with supportive improvements in operating rates. The company added that it is leveraging its purpose-built asset base, established supply chain networks and strong operational reliability to continue prioritizing customers while navigating challenges related to the Middle East conflict.
DOW’s Solid Financial Health Supports Capital Allocation
DOW has a strong balance sheet and generates substantial cash flows, which enable it to finance its growth investments in higher-value businesses and regions, and drive shareholder value. It ended the first quarter with solid liquidity of around $14 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of roughly $4.1 billion. It generated solid cash flow from operating activities of roughly $1.1 billion in the first quarter.
DOW returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends in 2025. Dow has a policy of returning roughly 45% of its operating net income through dividends. It paid $252 million in dividends in the first quarter. It has no substantial long-term debt maturities until 2029.
DOW’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
DOW currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB, each carrying a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nucor’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying an 92.5% year-over-year increase. NUE’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 54.1%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here's What Makes DOW Stock a Solid Investment Option Now

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLB) where we have detected an approximate $508.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 7.0% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 142,697,450 to 152,747,450). Among the largest underlying components of XLB, in trading today Nucor Corp. (Symbol: NUE) is off about 0.3%, Vulcan Materials Co (Symbol: VMC) is down about 2.6%, and Steel Dynamics Inc. (Symbol: STLD) is lower by about 0.2%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLB Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLB, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLB's low point in its 52 week range is $42.035 per share, with $54.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $50.34. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLB Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLB, NUE, VMC, STLD: ETF Inflow Alert

Nutrien Ltd.’s NTR shares have gained 16.7% over the past six months. The company has also outperformed the Zacks Fertilizers industry’s 40.5% decline over the same time frame. NTR has also topped the S&P 500’s roughly 10.3% increase over the same period.
NTR is benefiting from healthy demand for crop nutrients, its actions to reduce costs and higher fertilizer prices. The company delivered better-than-expected earnings performance in the first quarter, thanks to these drivers. A key operating highlight was record first-quarter potash sales volumes.
NTR’s 6-month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at the factors that are driving this fertilizer maker.
NTR Gains on Healthy Demand, Higher Prices & Cost Cuts
Nutrien is well-placed to benefit from higher demand for fertilizers, backed by the strength in global agriculture markets. It is seeing healthy fertilizer demand in its major markets. Tight inventories are expected to support crop commodity prices.
Favorable farmer economics, improved affordability and low inventory levels are expected to drive potash demand globally. The phosphate market is also supported by low producer and channel inventories. Restricted exports from China have also led to supply tightness in this market. Demand for nitrogen fertilizer also remains healthy in major markets. Global nitrogen requirement is driven by demand in North America, India and Brazil. A resurgence in industrial nitrogen demand also bodes well. Expectations of high levels of planted corn and soybean acres globally also suggest a pickup in fertilizer demand in 2026.
NTR saw record potash sales volumes of 3.51 million tons in the first quarter, driven by low inventory levels and favorable potash affordability, especially in key offshore markets. The company maintained its global potash shipment forecast of 74-77 million tons for 2026 and sees relatively tight potash fundamentals through the year. It is also increasing production from its low-cost North American operations to meet rising demand.
Strong demand and supply tightness have led to an uptick in fertilizer prices, with phosphate prices seeing a notable increase. Prices are driven by solid agricultural demand in major markets, China’s export restrictions, U.S. tariffs and higher costs of inputs. Higher prices are expected to drive top-line and margin expansion for NTR over the near term.
Cost and operational efficiency initiatives are also expected to aid the company’s performance. NTR remains focused on lowering the cost of production in the potash business. It has announced several strategic actions to reduce its controllable costs and boost free cash flow. It surpassed the $200 million annual cost savings target for 2025, achieving it a year earlier than its initial target. It expects sustained cost-reduction efforts across all geographies to aid margin improvement in 2026.
Nutrien Ltd. Price and Consensus
NTR’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
NTR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB, each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nucor’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying an 92.5% year-over-year increase. NUE’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NTR's Shares Rise 17% in 6 Months: What's Driving the Upside?

It doesn't matter if you're a growth, value, income, or momentum-focused investor -- building a successful investment portfolio takes skill, research, and a little bit of luck.
How do you find the right combination of stocks that will generate returns that could fund your retirement, or your kids' college tuition, or your short- and long-term savings goals?
Enter the Zacks Rank.
What is the Zacks Rank?
The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, that makes building a winning portfolio easier.
There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise.
Agreement is the extent to which all brokerage analysts are revising their earnings estimates in the same direction. The greater the percentage of analysts revising their estimates higher, the better chance the stock will outperform.
Magnitude is the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate for the current and next fiscal years.
Upside is the difference between the most accurate estimate, which is calculated by Zacks, and the consensus estimate.
Surprise is made up of a company's last few quarters' earnings per share surprises; companies with a positive earnings surprise are more likely to beat expectations in the future.
These four factors are assigned a raw score that's recalculated every night, which is then compiled into the ranking system. Stocks are classified into five groups using this data, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."
The Power of Institutional Investors
The Zacks Rank also allows individual investors, or retail investors, to benefit from the power of institutional investors.
These professionals manage the trillions of dollars invested in hedge funds, mutual funds, and investment banks, and studies have shown that they can and do move the market because of the large amounts of money they invest with. Thus, the market tends to move in the same direction as institutional investors.
In order to determine the fair value of a company and its shares, institutional investors design valuation models that focus on earnings and earnings estimates. Because if you raise earnings estimates, it then creates a higher fair value for a company and its stock price.
With these changes, institutional investors will act, usually buying stocks with rising estimates and selling those with falling estimates. An increase in earnings expectations can potentially lead to higher stock prices and bigger gains for the investor.
Retail investors who get in at the first sign of upward revisions have a distinct advantage over larger investors since it can often take weeks, if not months, for an institutional investor to build a position. They'll also benefit from the expected institutional buying that could follow.
Not only can the Zacks Rank help you take advantage of trends in earnings estimate revisions, but it can also provide a way to get into stocks that are highly sought after by professionals.
How to Invest with the Zacks Rank
The Zacks Rank is known for transforming investment portfolios. In fact, a portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks has beaten the market in 26 of the last 32 years, with an average annual return of +23.7%.
Moreover, stocks with a new #1 (Strong Buy) ranking have some of the biggest profit potential, while those that fell to a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) have some of the worst.
Let's take a look at Nucor (NUE), which was added to the Zacks Rank #1 list on May 13, 2026. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Nucor Corporation is a leading producer of structural steel, steel bars, steel joists, steel deck and cold finished bars in the United States. It also produces direct reduced iron (“DRI”) that is used in its steel mills. The company has 123 operating facilities, primarily in the United States and Canada. Also, most of its operating facilities and customers are located in North America.
Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.08 to $14.84 per share. NUE also boasts an average earnings surprise of 8.1%.
Earnings are expected to grow 92.5% for the current fiscal year, while revenue is projected to increase 14%.
Even more impressive, NUE has gained in value over the past four weeks, up 11.4% compared to the S&P 500's gain of 5.4%.
Bottom Line
With a #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, positive trend in earnings estimate revisions, and strong market momentum, Nucor should be on investors' shortlist.
If you want even more information on the Zacks Ranks, or one of our many other investing strategies, check out the Zacks Education home page.
Discover Today's Top Stocks
Our private Zacks #1 Rank List, based on our quantitative Zacks Rank stock-rating system, has more than doubled the S&P 500 since 1988. Applying the Zacks Rank in your own trading can boost your investing returns on your very next trade. See Today's Zacks #1 Rank List >>
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.