Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. The company also offers cloud-based industry solutions for various industries; Oracle application licenses; and Oracle license support services. In addition, it provides cloud and license business' infrastructure technologies, such as the Oracle Database and MySQL Database; Java, a software development language; and middleware, including development tools and others. The company's cloud and license business' infrastructure technologies also comprise cloud-based compute, storage, and networking capabilities; and Oracle autonomous database and MySQL HeatWave, as well as Internet-of-Things, digital assistant, and blockchain. Further, it provides hardware products and other hardware-related software offerings, including Oracle engineered systems, enterprise servers, storage solutions, industry-specific hardware, virtualization software, operating systems, management software, and related hardware services, as well as hardware support products; and consulting and customer services. The company markets and sells its cloud, license, hardware, support, and services offerings directly to businesses in various industries, government agencies, and educational institutions, as well as through indirect channels. Oracle Corporation was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Oracle Corporation демонстрирует смешанную фундаментальную картину. С одной стороны, компания имеет высокий P/E (51.38), что указывает на возможную переоцененность по сравнению с отраслью, особенно учитывая, что он выше медианы на 53.7%. С другой стороны, показатели ROE (78.09) и ROA (8.00) существенно превышают отралевые медианные значения, что свидетельствует о высокой эффективности использования капитала. Долговая нагрузка по отношению к собственному капиталу (3.33) также вызывает опасения, так как это значительно выше медианы, что может представлять риск в условиях экономической нестабильности. Тем не менее, выручка и чистая прибыль продолжают расти, что является позитивным сигналом для инвесторов. Дивидендная доходность на уровне 0.25% указывает на стабильность выплат, однако она остается невысокой. В целом, несмотря на ряд сильных показателей, высокая переоцененность по мультипликаторам и значительная долговая нагрузка могут ограничивать рост акций в будущем.

Oracle Corporation

Key Points
Oracle's Remaining Performance Obligations reached $553 billion in its latest quarter.
JPMorgan raised its price target for Oracle to $210.
What's going on with Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) this year? The stock has struggled through the first few months of 2026 and is down more than 18% after skyrocketing in the third quarter of 2025. The worst may be over now, according to JPMorgan's latest analysis.
A record quarter lifts the mood
Oracle just delivered a record quarter, with earnings per share and total revenue both up by more than 20% year over year. Management said this was the first time in over 15 years that Oracle experienced 20% growth in both metrics in the same period.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
JPMorgan quickly upgraded Oracle to Overweight from Neutral following the earnings report. The recent sell-off improved the company's risk-reward profile, according to JPMorgan analyst Mark Murphy. The bank set a $210 price target for Oracle. Barclays also increased its price target for Oracle to $240 following the earnings release. The stock closed still well below targets at $159 on March 12.
Analysts are bullish on Oracle because many believe the recent sell-off was overblown and that the company now offers a more attractive entry point and fairer valuation. Oracle also successfully secured $25 billion in debt, which eases concerns about its debt rating and the need to raise incremental funds throughout 2026.
There were many concerns about Oracle at the start of the year, which contributed to its stock's decline. From over-concentration in OpenAI to fears about the high cost of AI-related capital expenditures, and more debt financing to meet build-out demand, the extraordinarily high valuation no longer seemed justified.
Since September 2025, Oracle has declined by more than 50% from its 52-week high of $345.
The massive build-out continues
The short-term headwinds don't negate the fact that Oracle's Remaining Performance Obligations (RPOs) reached $553 billion in the third-quarter 2026 report, a 325% increase compared to the year prior. RPOs represent non-cancelable future revenue, including invoiced and backlogged contracts. Growing RPOs are a strong signal of continued momentum.
There's no doubt that Oracle's most recent quarter has shifted the narrative among investors and analysts. The company also recently announced it will layoff 12% to 18% of its workforce, between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs, in an effort to improve its cash position.
For long-term investors who can tolerate Oracle's high debt load and its need to spend exorbitant amounts building out AI data centers, the stock is far more attractively priced now than it was through much of 2025.
Oracle's huge backlog is promising, and the company is cutting expenses while investing in its future. Oracle should continue to deliver significant growth for investors for quite some time. Hitting JPMorgan's raised price target of $210 doesn't seem so far off now.
Should you buy stock in Oracle right now?
Before you buy stock in Oracle, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oracle wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Catie Hogan has positions in Oracle. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Oracle Has Fallen 18% in 2026. Wall Street's Top Pick Just Set a $210 Price Target.

Key Points
Oklo's stock has been highly volatile.
The company is awaiting approval for a key nuclear project.
The increasing prices of oil and natural gas help Oklo's business model.
Nuclear power plant upstart Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) is off to a slow start in 2026. Its shares are down more than 18% year to date compared to a decline of about 3% for the S&P 500. There are several scenarios, however, in which Oklo's shares could outperform the S&P 500 this year.
Oklo's Aurora powerhouses are small modular reactors (SMRs) that use recycled nuclear fuel and are designed to operate for up to 10 years before needing refueling. Demand for nuclear power is growing, thanks both to President Donald Trump's emphasis on the technology and the nation's rising power needs, which are largely being driven by the rapid buildout of electricity-hungry artificial intelligence data centers.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
There are good reasons why investors may be wary about the stock. Oklo is a pre-revenue company, and as such, its volatility is through the roof. Its shares have ranged over the past two years between $17.42 and $193.84. However, here are four reasons why Oklo should outperform the S&P 500 this year.
It should add more contracts to its deal with Meta
On Jan. 9, Meta Platforms signed a deal with Oklo under which the tech giant will support the smaller company's effort to deploy a 1.2 gigawatt (GW) power campus in Pike County, Ohio. That campus will generate power for Meta's data centers in the region. By prepaying for that power, Meta will fund the project's progress. The day the deal was announced, Oklo's shares jumped by nearly $8 to close at $105.31.
Oklo has an 18 GW pipeline. If it can sign additional deals with hyperscalers or similar partners, analysts' and investors' opinions of the stock would rise considerably.
One possible customer is Oracle, which has stated its desire to build data center campuses with space for small nuclear reactors on site. Oracle's Stargate collaboration with OpenAI in Texas will require ample gigawatts, and Oklo's Aurora powerhouse would be a logical choice for the behind-the-meter SMR deployment Oracle would prefer. Oracle recently disputed reports that the project was stalled, but even if it is, Meta has shown an interest in stepping in and using the data center, and it already has a relationship with Oklo.
It is in a strong financial position
Oklo's war chest is quite impressive for a company that is currently pre-revenue. Its financial strategy has shifted from a lean start-up to a well-capitalized industrial player, largely thanks to successful capital raises throughout 2025, with a secondary public offering in June and an ATM equity program it rolled out in December.
The company ended the third quarter with $1.2 billion in cash and marketable securities on its books. It also has little long-term debt, which gives it a big advantage over its competitors in the current higher-interest-rate environment.
Based on management's guidance for an annual operating cash burn of $65 million to $80 million, the company has more than 10 years of runway if its spending remains stable. Now, Oklo will likely start to spend more money when it begins construction on its 1.2 GW power campus, but that will also be its first step toward developing long-term revenue streams. The company lost $29.7 million in the third quarter.
Oklo will deliver its fourth-quarter results on March 17, and any good news that report brings could help the stock as well.
The Aurora powerhouse could receive accelerated approval
In November, the Department of Energy approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for Oklo's Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at Idaho National Laboratory. That's a big step, and if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission grants accelerated approval for the Aurora powerhouse at the laboratory, it would signal to the markets that the company's technology is valid.
It has already broken ground on the Idaho site. Now, Oklo must wade through the regulatory process, including regulatory pre-application and licensing submissions.
The price of oil will likely remain high
Higher oil prices will only accelerate the trend toward greater use of nuclear power. The volatility of fossil fuel prices helps support the business case for next-generation nuclear providers.
With Brent crude crossing the $100-per-barrel mark and West Texas Intermediate crude up by more than 80% since the start of 2026 due to the Iran war, the narrative around nuclear has shifted from green energy to energy stability. Hyperscalers that are relying heavily on natural gas generation to meet their electricity needs face financial risks.
Oklo's model is to own its reactors and sell the electricity they generate through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). That strategy gives their customers a fixed price for 20 years. It's a model that's looking increasingly attractive to clients as oil and natural gas prices rise.
Hyperscalers aren't the only potential clients for Oklo. Industrial companies that use oil or natural gas for "process heat" (such as chemical plants or refineries) are more likely to see the appeal in switching to Oklo's high-temperature fast reactors when their current fuel bills double.
Should you buy stock in Oklo right now?
Before you buy stock in Oklo, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oklo wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 15, 2026.
James Halley has positions in Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: This $60 Nuclear Stock Will Outperform the S&P 500 This Year

Key Points
AMD is the second-largest data center GPU company by market share.
Late last year, it locked in a potential $100 billion deal with OpenAI, with Microsoft, Meta, and Oracle also announcing they would buy AMD chips.
The company is not growing as quickly as Nvidia, but it could emerge as a serious rival to it in the near future.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) leads the pack in terms of data center computing hardware. Per IOT Analytics' estimates, Nvidia controls a 92% share of the market. That makes all the major artificial intelligence (AI) models dependent upon Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) to a high degree.
OpenAI, Anthropic, and more all need the company's products, and Nvidia has profited handsomely from it. Today, it's the world's most valuable company by market cap.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
But, as the saying goes, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Nvidia has competitors like Alphabet with its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) or the subject of this article, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), better known by its initials and symbol, AMD.
Not looking to be an also-ran
At present, AMD has a 4% share of the data center GPU market. That's not much, but it's double the next-largest company, which is Huawei, at 2%.
It's second only to Nvidia in the market, which means it's in arguably the best position to chip away at Nvidia's lead. And that seems to be exactly what AMD is trying to do.
Late last year, AMD signed an agreement with OpenAI that will see it supply the AI start-up with hundreds of thousands of chips and allow OpenAI to buy up to a 10% stake in AMD. AMD expects the agreement to generate more than $100 billion in revenue from OpenAI alone.
But the deals didn't stop there. In February of this year, AMD signed another agreement with Meta Platforms to provide it with 6 gigawatts of its Instinct GPUs.
Along with those two, Microsoft and Oracle have both announced that they will purchase AMD's hardware. It's far from exclusive, and both companies are likely to continue buying plenty from Nvidia, but it will help AMD gain market share.
All signs point to AMD gaining traction in the industry. It will likely be some time before AMD threatens Nvidia's dominance, if it can manage to do so in the first place. But an investment in AMD can help diversify your GPU investment portfolio, and with the company's latest results, it's looking like a serious growth prospect.
For 2025, AMD brought in $34.6 billion, up 34% over 2024, and its diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew 26% over the same period. While AMD's net margin is lower than Nvidia's at 12.3% and 55.6%, respectively, AMD's is still solid, which likely has a lot to do with pricing.
The reason AMD is shaping up to be a competitor to Nvidia is that, at least on the consumer side, its GPUs offer comparable performance to their Nvidia counterparts while costing considerably less.
All other things being equal, lower prices generally equal lower margins. But if AMD's hardware is good enough, it can snatch some market share away from Nvidia even if Nvidia's hardware is superior in some ways.
That's AMD's avenue of attack to gain market share over Nvidia, and it seems to be working based on the deals the company is locking in. It could pay to have shares of both companies in your portfolio to hedge your AI hardware bet.
Should you buy stock in Advanced Micro Devices right now?
Before you buy stock in Advanced Micro Devices, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Advanced Micro Devices wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 15, 2026.
James Hires has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Just Landed a Deal Worth Over $100 Billion. Is It a Buy?

Key Points
Investors are increasingly concerned about how much large tech companies are spending to build out AI-related infrastructure.
Wall Street analysts believe the sell-off is overblown and see stocks on sale with significant upside potential.
It's been a wild year for artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. The technology continues to advance and demonstrate just how impactful it could be. Yet investors are a bit concerned about the significant capital expenditures these companies have committed to building out AI infrastructure. AI companies, even large ones in the "Magnificent Seven," took on debt to fund the buildouts, and investors are unclear whether the returns will justify the expense.
That said, most Wall Street analysts believe much of the sell-off is overblown and do see opportunities. Here are two AI stocks that Wall Street analysts think could surge 47% and 54%, based on consensus estimates.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Microsoft
It's hard to imagine that a company like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), with everything it has going for it, could see such a big sell-off in recent months. Not only does the company operate a strong, diverse tech conglomerate without AI, but Microsoft is expected to be one of the largest beneficiaries of what some are calling the fourth industrial revolution.
However, the stock has stalled as Microsoft has already spent over $72 billion in capital expenditures (capex) through the first half of its fiscal year 2026, which ends in June. Capex has come in higher than expected, and most of it has been spent on AI infrastructure, such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and data centers.
Furthermore, investors seem somewhat disappointed in Microsoft Copilot, the company's AI chatbot and assistant that is a big part of its AI strategy. The company revealed on its most recentearnings callthat Copilot has 15 million paid members. That's a small percentage of its total Microsoft 365 subscribers and a far cry from what the big AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude have, although Microsoft may not see Copilot as a direct competitor.
Despite the struggles, Wall Street analysts see the stock as a strong buy. Of the 33 Wall Street analysts who have issued research reports on the company in the past three months, 30 have a buy rating, while three have a hold rating, according to TipRanks. The average price target implies roughly 47% upside from current levels.
Jefferies analyst Brent Thill recently reiterated a buy rating on the stock with a $675 price target, implying 66% upside. Thill sees Microsoft's end-to-end platform, encompassing its 450 million Microsoft 365 subscribers and Azure cloud, as a key advantage. The analyst also has the stock trading at about 21 times his projected fiscal year 2027 earnings per share, which isn't an expensive valuation historically.
Ultimately, while Microsoft's Copilot growth has been somewhat disappointing so far, it could also be a source of future upside if it begins to ramp up. I also believe the company's well-diversified businesses somewhat insulate it from being a pure bet on AI.
Oracle
The cloud provider Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) has seen its stock swing wildly over the past six months. After a blockbuster earnings report in September in which the company reported over $450 billion in remaining performance obligations, which is contracted revenue that is expected to be collected in future periods, the company's stock exploded higher.
Oracle had burst onto the scene as an AI data center player in a major way. However, the rally was short-lived when it became clear that a major part of the RPOs came from OpenAI, which seemed to be striking AI data center deals with anyone and everyone. Oracle also needed to take on significant debt to fund the build-out of these data centers, and investors had concerns about margins in this business.
In Oracle's most recent earnings report, the company beat Wall Street's consensus estimates and raised its fiscal year 2027 revenue guidance by $1 billion. Oracle also reported strong cloud revenue and a strong backlog, somewhat assuaging investor concerns.
Of the 32 analysts who have issued a research report over the past three months, 28 have buy ratings, and four say "hold." The average price target implies 54% upside, according to TipRanks.
Deutsche Bank analyst Brad Zelnick recently reiterated a buy rating on the stock, while lowering his price target from $375 to $300 per share. However, that still implies significant upside, with the stock trading around $166 per share as of this writing. Zelnick is encouraged by the company's unsecured bond offering in February, which received an investment-grade rating, as well as by OpenAI's recent $110 billion private financing round.
I think it's hard to say what will happen with AI right now. Will it keep accelerating as it has, or is some kind of pause inevitable? Obviously, if OpenAI can fulfill its contract with Oracle, the stock should zip higher. With Oracle's stock down 46% in the past six months and the stock now trading at about 22 times forward earnings, the risk-reward proposition has improved significantly.
I think investors can at least take a smaller position, as the upside could be immense.
Should you buy stock in Oracle right now?
Before you buy stock in Oracle, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oracle wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2026.
Bram Berkowitz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks With Average Upside of 47% and 54%, According to Wall Street

Key Points
Oracle operates some of the world's fastest and most cost-effective data centers for processing artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
The company has a staggering $553 billion order backlog for computing capacity, but there are concerns about the makeup of that figure.
Oracle stock looks attractive at the current level, but if a trip to the $1 trillion club is in the cards, it could take a few years.
As I write this, nine American companies have a market capitalization of $1 trillion or more. Most of them are from the technology and technology-adjacent sectors, which are generating phenomenal growth thanks to emerging industries like artificial intelligence (AI).
Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) came within a whisker of joining the exclusive $1 trillion club last year when its market cap briefly topped $940 billion, but its valuation has since tumbled to around $480 billion following a 49% collapse in its stock price.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Oracle is building some of the best AI data center infrastructure in the world, but there have been concerns about its growing debt, and also that some of its biggest customers won't be able to fulfill their massive orders for computing capacity. Fortunately, the company's operating results for its recent fiscal 2026 third quarter (ended Feb. 28) put some of those worries on the back burner.
Can Oracle stock turn around from here and stage another run to the $1 trillion club?
Industry-leading AI infrastructure
AI development requires a substantial amount of computing power, which is why most of it happens inside large, centralized data centers. They house thousands of specialized chips called graphics processing units (GPUs), which are primarily supplied by Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. Most businesses can't afford to build this infrastructure in-house because it costs billions of dollars, so they choose to rent it from cloud providers like Oracle instead.
Oracle's data centers are among the best in the world. They use the company's proprietary remote direct memory access (RDMA) networking technology, which moves data between chips and devices more quickly than traditional Ethernet networks. Most AI developers pay for cloud computing capacity by the minute, so faster processing speeds can result in substantial cost savings over the long term.
Oracle's infrastructure also offers tremendous scale, allowing developers to activate over 100,000 of Nvidia's GPUs to run the most powerful AI models. As a result, some of the AI industry's top players are lining up to access Oracle's data centers, including OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and Elon Musk's xAI.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure revenue growth is accelerating
Oracle generated $17.2 billion in total revenue during its fiscal 2026 third quarter, which was a 17% increase from the year-ago period. But revenue from the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) segment, specifically, rocketed higher by 84% to a record $4.9 billion.
The OCI segment could be growing even faster, but Oracle can't build data centers fast enough to meet demand from AI developers. In fact, it ended the third quarter with a whopping $553 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPO), which more than quadrupled year over year. RPO is like an order backlog, reflecting the value of signed contracts for services that haven't been delivered yet. Therefore, it's a good indicator of future potential revenue.
But there are concerns about the composition of Oracle's RPO. Last September, The Wall Street Journal reported that $300 billion of the company's backlog was attributable to ChatGPT creator OpenAI alone, which is effectively a start-up. OpenAI only has $25 billion in annualized revenue, and it's losing truckloads of money, so there are valid questions as to whether it can actually fulfill its commitment to rent $300 billion worth of computing capacity.
These concerns are amplified by the fact that Oracle is financing the construction of some of its data centers using debt, so there could be serious consequences if its customers fail to come through. These are the main reasons its stock has plummeted from last year's peak.
Will Oracle be the next trillion-dollar tech stock?
Oracle generated earnings of $5.57 per share over the last four quarters on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, placing its stock at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29.5 as I write this. That's a slight discount to the Nasdaq-100 index, which trades at a P/E ratio of 30.9, suggesting Oracle might be undervalued relative to its peers in the technology space.
If we assume Oracle's P/E ratio remains constant, the company will have to grow its annual earnings by 108% in order for its market capitalization to move from $480 billion to $1 trillion. For some perspective, Oracle's earnings grew by 17% during fiscal 2025, and they are on track to grow by a further 32% in fiscal 2026. That means even at the current pace of 32%, it would take around three years to generate enough earnings growth to justify a trip to the $1 trillion club.
However, Oracle might be in the best position to achieve a trillion-dollar valuation before any other American tech stock currently in the running. Micron Technology is the next-largest technology company in line, but it has a ways to go given its current valuation of $450 billion. Even Palantir Technologies, which is a growth powerhouse, is way down the ranks with a current market cap of $360 billion.
There are some non-technology companies likely to get there before Oracle, though. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is valued at $900 billion right now, and investment bank JP Morgan Chase is worth $775 billion.
Should you buy stock in Oracle right now?
Before you buy stock in Oracle, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oracle wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $508,607!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,122,746!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 933% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 188% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2026.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, JPMorgan Chase, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Nvidia, Oracle, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Could Oracle Become America's Next $1 Trillion Technology Stock?

Key Points
Oracle saw strong growth in fiscal Q3.
More importantly, the company showed it can get a good return on its cloud computing investments.
Once a pretty sleepy stock, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) has become a lightning rod in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). This stems from both the company's aggressive spending on cloud computing, as well as it being a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions.
While the stock has been on a roller coaster ride over the past year, particularly around its earnings announcements, it got a nice lift last week when the company reported strong fiscal 2026 third-quarter results. The stock is now trading up around 15% over the past year, as of this writing, but down 15% in 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Let's take a closer look at Oracle's results to see if it is a good time to buy the stock.
Margins are key for Oracle
With a huge cloud computing backlog, there was never much of a question whether Oracle could accelerate its revenue growth. The biggest question was what type of return the company could get on its data center spending. It helped answer that question with its fiscal Q3 results.
For the quarter, Oracle's revenue jumped by 22% year over year to $17.19 billion, which easily topped the $16.91 billion analyst consensus, as compiled by LSEG. Cloud revenue soared 44% to $8.9 billion. Within the cloud segment, cloud infrastructure revenue surged by 84% to $4.9 billion, while cloud application revenue rose by 13% to $4 billion. Software segment revenue edged up 3% to $6.1 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed 21% year over year to $1.79. That came in above the $1.70 analyst consensus.
While its cloud computing gross margins are much lower than those for software, the company said the additional capacity it added in fiscal Q3 had gross margins above its 30% to 32% guidance range. That's important, as it shows Oracle can get a nice return on its AI infrastructure spending. With a massive $553 billion in cloud computing signed contracts, up 325% year over year, getting a good return on its AI data center investments is a very important part of Oracle's growth story.
Looking ahead, management kept its fiscal-year forecast for revenue of $67 billion. For its fiscal Q4, it guided for revenue to increase by 19% to 21% and for cloud revenue to jump by 46% to 50%. It anticipates its adjusted earnings per share will climb by 15% to 17% to a range of $1.96 to $2.00. Meanwhile, it now expects fiscal 2027 revenue of $90 billion.
Is Oracle stock a buy?
Oracle has a massive cloud computing backlog and just showed it can get a good return on its investments. That's hugely important. Meanwhile, it defended the impact of AI on SaaS, saying SaaS companies that adopt AI will lead the charge and be the disruptors. This happens to be my general belief as well.
With the stock trading down more than half from its September 2025 highs, this looks like a good entry point for a company that is a more leveraged way to play the cloud computing boom.
Should you buy stock in Oracle right now?
Before you buy stock in Oracle, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oracle wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $508,607!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,122,746!*
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Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends London Stock Exchange Group Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Oracle Shares Jump on Strong Outlook. Is It Time to Buy the Stock?

Between spring and summer of last year, Oracle (ORCL) stock nearly tripled as maverick founder and CEO Larry Ellison laid everything on the line to join the AI race. The stock surged from under $130 to $346 on a wave of Stargate announcements, hyperscaler partnerships, and Ellison’s unmistakable conviction that this was the moment to go all-in. Yet in the months since last fall shares have collapsed more than 50%.
Was this just a flash in the pan, an aging tech giant’s last-ditch effort to ride the AI wave before it crested? Or is the market misunderstanding Oracle’s genuinely advantaged position in the most important infrastructure buildout of a generation? I believe it’s the latter. And if that’s correct, Oracle may be one of the best asymmetric opportunities in the equity market today.
Image Source: TradingView
A Strong Earnings Report Gives ORCL Stock a Boost
Earlier this week, Oracle reported fiscal Q3 2026 results that were, by any measure, exceptional. Total revenue rose 22% year-over-year to $17.2 billion, with cloud revenue surging 44% to $8.9 billion. Cloud infrastructure revenue, the segment most directly tied to the AI buildout, grew 84% to $4.9 billion, accelerating from the 68% growth posted the prior quarter. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.79, up 21%, beating consensus estimates. Management noted this was the first quarter in over fifteen years where both organic total revenue and non-GAAP EPS each grew 20% or more.
Perhaps the most staggering figure was remaining performance obligations (RPO), essentially contracted but not yet recognized revenue, exploded to $553 billion, up 325% from a year ago and $29 billion sequentially. This is a backlog that dwarfs the company’s $67 billion in expected FY2026 revenue by a factor of more than eight. Management also raised FY2027 revenue guidance to $90 billion, implying roughly 34% growth, pace that would have been unthinkable for Oracle even two years ago.
Leading AI Stocks Have Received No Love for Months
In recent months, investors have broadly punished the companies pouring tens of billions into AI infrastructure. The Magnificent Seven stocks have faced headwinds from AI capex skepticism, and Oracle has been beaten down even worse.
But the comparison to the Magnificent Seven obscures a critical distinction. Companies like Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta Platforms (META) have somewhat delicately managed their AI spending to protect margins and quarterly earnings trajectories. They are investing, but they are doing so in a way that keeps Wall Street a bit more comfortable, as capex is rising, but profitability is being maintained.
Oracle has taken the opposite approach. Under Ellison’s direction, the company has been unconcerned with deftness, pouring capital into data center buildouts at a pace that exceeds its own operating cash flow. In the first nine months of FY2026, Oracle spent $39.2 billion in capex against $17.4 billion in operating cash flow. On a trailing four-quarter basis, free cash flow has plunged to negative $24.7 billion. The company raised $30 billion in debt and equity financing in February alone, and total debt now exceeds $134 billion.
Wall Street hates this negative free cash flow, rising leverage and margin compression as it appears reckless. But context matters enormously here. Ellison is executing what may be a calculated land grab, investing in physical AI infrastructure with the conviction that first-mover scale will generate durable competitive advantages and possibly extraordinary future cash flows. This is the kind of move that looks terrible on a trailing basis and potentially brilliant on a forward one.
Ellison also has a special advantage (or disadvantage depending on how you think). At 40% of shares outstanding, he has the most skin in the game compared to the other tech founders. Meta Platforms owner Zuckerberg holds 15%, Musk owns less than 20% of Tesla and Bezos is down to just 8% of Amazon. Ellison has been taking large and contrarian bets for almost 50 years with his company, so his big moves aren’t unprecedented. He has experience in this game of epically high stakes.
Oracle Stock Caught in Multiple Weak Themes
Part of why Oracle stock has been dragged down so far is its exposure to two key themes that have suffered significant drawdowns in recent months. As we noted, former leaders in the AI infrastructure trade have been hit hard as investors question the returns on massive capital spending programs. More recently, software stocks have also come under severe pressure as worries about AI disruption shook investor confidence across the sector. That said, Oracle's growing debt load, speculative investments in AI infrastructure, and occasionally dubious business partnerships haven't helped either.
The selloff in these themes appears to have reached the point of being indiscriminate, however, and in software especially, the selling looks like it may be nearing exhaustion. Select names in the sector, as well as Magnificent Seven leaders like Amazon and Meta Platforms, are trading at some of their most appealing levels in years.
Among large-cap, AI-adjacent stocks, Oracle stands out as one of the most attractive at current levels. At roughly 21x forward earnings, with long-term EPS growth above 19%, sales projected to grow nearly 17% this year and 32% next year, and $553 billion in contracted future revenue, the fundamental setup is compelling to say the least.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Should Investors Buy Shares in ORCL?
The opportunity is not without risk. The quality of that half-trillion-dollar backlog of contracted future revenue remains to be seen, the considerable debt taken on adds a degree of uncertainty, and of course, the enormous projections for AI industry growth are still very much up in the air, though all available data continues to point to demand outstripping capacity.
That said, Oracle at current levels offers a rare combination: a company growing revenue north of 20%, an infrastructure business scaling at hyper-growth rates, a half-trillion-dollar contracted backlog, and a controlling shareholder with more skin in the game than arguably anyone in the market, all trading at a discount to the software sector it's being lumped in with. The market is pricing Oracle as a software company being disrupted by AI but it is actually the company building the infrastructure for it. That disconnect could be the opportunity.
Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026
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Oracle: The AI Darkhorse?

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 13, 2026 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Oracle ORCL and Nvidia NVDA.
Spring Rally Looms as Tech Retakes Baton: Stocks to Watch
Seasonal patterns can often create powerful turning points.
The early part of this year has felt like one of those moments. After a strong finish to 2025, the market began the year with a classic risk-off rotation: capital flowed out of high-growth technology names into more defensive sectors such as consumer staples and utilities.
The Nasdaq has lagged the S&P 500 year-to-date, and many investors have questioned whether the AI-driven rally had run its course. Yet as we move deeper into March—the historical sweet spot for midterm-election years—there’s reason to believe the pause is temporary. A spring rally appears increasingly likely, with technology poised to retake the lead once again.
Positive Seasonality Sets the Stage for Upside
The historical case for seasonal strength is compelling, particularly in midterm years. According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, March ranks as the 4th-best performing month for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 in midterm election years, and the 3rd-best for the Nasdaq. Adding to the bullish case, over the past seven such instances, the Dow and S&P 500 have posted gains in six of them, while the Nasdaq has been positive in five.
The Almanac also notes that strength in March often persists through April in these years, as the “Best Six Months” period (November through April) historically accounts for the bulk of annual market gains.
In our experience, these patterns are not bulletproof, but they reflect a natural rhythm: tax refunds begin flowing, corporate guidance improves, and investor sentiment often brightens after the winter doldrums.
This year’s setup aligns particularly well with that historical template. Early 2026 tax refunds are running significantly higher than last year—averaging around 10-11% larger in the initial waves—putting meaningful extra cash into consumer pockets at a time when many households have been cautious.
This liquidity tends to find its way into discretionary spending, retail, and technology purchases, often accelerating in March and April. When combined with the Almanac’s documented midterm-March strength, the seasonal tailwind feels tangible rather than theoretical.
Q1 Earnings Evolution Supports Rally
Earnings provide another supportive pillar. Estimates for the current period (Q1 2026) have remained largely stable and are showing a slight uptick in recent weeks.
Earnings growth for the S&P 500 is tracking around 11.4% year-over-year in Q1, with the Technology sector expected to contribute the lion’s share. Full-year 2026 S&P 500 earnings growth estimates sit near 13%, and analysts have been modestly revising these figures higher in recent weeks. Technology remains the primary driver, fueled by AI adoption across enterprises, productivity gains, and continued data-center investment.
The market’s early-year caution around AI spending has created an attractive entry point; once Q1 results confirm that demand remains robust, the narrative should shift back toward growth.
Lower interest rates are also beginning to work in the market’s favor. The Federal Reserve has held the federal funds rate steady in recent meetings after a series of cuts in late 2025, but the trajectory remains toward modest easing. Mortgage rates have already eased into the low-6% range and are projected to drift even lower later in 2026.
This gradual improvement in borrowing costs supports housing activity, consumer confidence, and corporate capital spending—areas that ultimately benefit technology through higher IT budgets and device upgrades.
Beyond these core drivers, several additional factors are worth noting. Corporate balance sheets are healthy, and many companies have already begun guiding for solid 2026 results. In the background, artificial intelligence is transitioning from hype to tangible productivity gains, a shift that historically rewards patient investors in the leading technology names.
Stocks to Watch
Enterprise software giant Oracle reported its fiscal Q1 earnings earlier in the week, beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Earnings of $1.79 per share came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.2%. Revenues of $17.19 billion also represented a 1.8% beat. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $90 billion, helping quell spending worries.
Oracle stock remains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) following the latest results. Shares have been cut in half from their peak last September after AI disruption fears put a dent in software stocks. But the group as a whole appears to be bottoming out as buying pressure reemerges.
Meanwhile, leading chipmaker Nvidia made headlines again this week after announcing another round of investments, including a partnership with Thinking Machines Lab that will deploy at least one gigawatt of Nvidia’s Vera Rubin systems. Thinking Machines Lab is an AI startup founded by Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI.
Nvidia also announced a $2 billion investment in AI cloud company Nebius Group. The companies plan to collaborate on AI infrastructure deployment, fleet management, inference and AI factory design. This comes just a week after Nvidia revealed strategic partnerships with optical and photonic technology companies Lumentum and Coherent.
Nvidia is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shares have been stuck in a consolidation pattern for the better part of the past six months, but that could be changing soon as several tailwinds look to propel shares higher.
Bottom Line
After a subpar start to the year marked by rotation and valuation concerns, technology is well-positioned to retake the lead as the calendar turns to the historically favorable spring months.
The combination of strong seasonal patterns in midterm years, accelerating earnings visibility, and a supportive interest-rate backdrop creates a constructive setup. The early-year period of rotation will likely serve as healthy breather that allows the strongest secular themes—such as AI infrastructure and digital transformation—to reassert themselves with renewed momentum.
For investors who may have stepped back during the recent caution, the coming weeks could offer an opportunity to re-engage thoughtfully. Markets rarely move in straight lines, but the fundamental and seasonal ingredients for a spring rally appear to be aligning.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026
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From inception in 2012 through November, 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,530.8%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +570.3%.
Sheraz has combed through 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and handpicked the best 10 to buy and hold in 2026. You can still be among the first to see these just-released stocks with enormous potential.
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Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Oracle and Nvidia

For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – March 13, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Oracle Corp. ORCL, T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS, Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD, National Research Corp. NRC and C&F Financial Corp. CFFI.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Stock Reports for Oracle, T-Mobile and Gilead
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Oracle Corp., T-Mobile US, Inc. and Gilead Sciences, Inc., as well as two micro-cap stocks National Research Corp. and C&F Financial Corp.The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Jobless Claims, Housing Starts Improve. Pre-Markets Still Down
Today's Featured Research Reports
Oracle’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past year (+11.6% vs. +2.7%). The company reported solid fiscal 3Q’26 results, wherein earnings and revenues beat estimates. Oracle’s cloud infrastructure revenues surged 84% fueled by strong AI workload and multicloud demand, supported by strategic partnerships and competitive pricing that attract enterprise workload migrations.
Free cash flow for the trailing 12 months was negative $13.2 billion as Oracle continues aggressive investments in data center build-outs to support accelerating cloud and AI demand.
However, competition from hyperscalers remains intense, potentially pressuring margins. The ongoing transition from license revenue to subscription models creates near-term earnings volatility. Fiscal 2026 guidance indicates continued cloud acceleration, but execution risks around data center capacity expansion warrant monitoring.
(You can read the full research report on Oracle here >>>)
Shares of T-Mobile have underperformed the Zacks Wireless National industry over the past six months (-10.1% vs. -1.6%). Owing to the company’s premium valuation, the Zacks analyst believes investors should remain cautious as macroeconomic factors, market saturation, or economic downturns can significantly impact overvalued stocks like TMUS. Fierce competition in the U.S. wireless market is straining profitability. The high debt burden remains a major concern.
Nevertheless, T-Mobile is benefiting from industry-leading postpaid customer growth with a record-low churn rate. Its acquisition strategy has significantly strengthened its position in the wireless industry over the past few years.
TMUS’ 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum delivers superfast speeds and extensive coverage with signals that go through walls and trees. This boosts its competitive edge against companies that provide 5G networks controlled by the mmWave spectrum. Its focus on efficient capital management is a positive.
(You can read the full research report on T-Mobile here >>>)
Gilead’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry over the past six months (+30.6% vs. +19.5%). The company’s fourth-quarter results were better than expected. Gilead boasts a market-leading HIV franchise. Biktarvy for treatment and Descovy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have fueled GILD’s top-line growth over the past several quarters.
Gilead now expects HIV sales to grow approximately 6% in 2026. The Zacks analyst sales estimates for Biktarvy indicate a CAGR of around 6% over the next three years. Gilead's HIV portfolio received a boost with the approval of its twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir, for PrEP.
Gilead is also developing additional HIV treatments, which, if approved, should strengthen the franchise. Gilead's efforts to bolster its oncology and virology franchises through collaborations are impressive. However, the Cell therapy franchise is facing challenges.
(You can read the full research report on Gilead here >>>)
Shares of National Research have outperformed the Zacks Business - Information Services industry over the past six months (+0.5% vs. -15.2%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $362.74 million has seen its Total Recurring Contract Value (TRCV), the key leading metric, have risen for five consecutive quarters, reaching a record ~$152 by March 2026, signaling potential revenue conversion in upcoming periods.
Commercial execution also appears to be improving, with new sales up ~86% in 2025 following a sales reorganization and retention reaching its highest level in more than seven years. NRC’s large installed base — serving over 250 of the top 400 U.S. healthcare systems — supports cross-sell opportunities across its expanding platform.
However, revenues have declined for three consecutive years and margins compressed in 2025, creating execution risk if TRCV fails to translate into growth. Additional risks include customer concentration, healthcare spending cycles and competition from larger analytics providers. The stock trades below industry valuation benchmarks.
(You can read the full research report on National Research here >>>)
C&F Financial’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past six months (+1.5% vs. -5.3%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $232.33 million, benefits from a diversified three-segment model that supports more stable earnings through cycles and reduces reliance on any single revenue stream. Core banking expansion continues to drive recurring income as loan and deposit growth strengthen the balance sheet and support interest income generation.
Mortgage banking performance is improving as originations recover and fee-based servicing activity expands, helping diversify revenue beyond traditional gain-on-sale dynamics. Consumer finance remains profitable while shifting toward higher-yielding, core auto lending with disciplined underwriting.
Strong internal capital generation supports steady book value growth, dividends, and share repurchase flexibility. Key risks include margin pressure from interest-rate shifts, rising operating expenses and uncertainty around the durability of certain deposit inflows.
(You can read the full research report on C&F Financial here >>>)
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026
Hurry – you can still get in early on our 10 top tickers for 2026. Handpicked by Zacks Director of Research Sheraz Mian, this portfolio has been stunningly and consistently successful.
From inception in 2012 through November, 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,530.8%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +570.3%.
Sheraz has combed through 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and handpicked the best 10 to buy and hold in 2026. You can still be among the first to see these just-released stocks with enormous potential.
See New Top 10 Stocks >>
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.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Oracle, T-Mobile, Gilead, and C&F Financial

Thursday, March 12, 2026
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Oracle Corp. (ORCL), T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), as well as two micro-cap stocks National Research Corp. (NRC) and C&F Financial Corp. (CFFI). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Jobless Claims, Housing Starts Improve. Pre-Markets Still Down
Today's Featured Research Reports
Oracle’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the past year (+11.6% vs. +2.7%). The company reported solid fiscal 3Q’26 results, wherein earnings and revenues beat estimates. Oracle’s cloud infrastructure revenues surged 84% fueled by strong AI workload and multicloud demand, supported by strategic partnerships and competitive pricing that attract enterprise workload migrations.
Free cash flow for the trailing 12 months was negative $13.2 billion as Oracle continues aggressive investments in data center build-outs to support accelerating cloud and AI demand.
However, competition from hyperscalers remains intense, potentially pressuring margins. The ongoing transition from license revenue to subscription models creates near-term earnings volatility. Fiscal 2026 guidance indicates continued cloud acceleration, but execution risks around data center capacity expansion warrant monitoring.
(You can read the full research report on Oracle here >>>)
Shares of T-Mobile have underperformed the Zacks Wireless National industry over the past six months (-10.1% vs. -1.6%). Owing to the company’s premium valuation, the Zacks analyst believes investors should remain cautious as macroeconomic factors, market saturation, or economic downturns can significantly impact overvalued stocks like TMUS. Fierce competition in the U.S. wireless market is straining profitability. The high debt burden remains a major concern.
Nevertheless, T-Mobile is benefiting from industry-leading postpaid customer growth with a record-low churn rate. Its acquisition strategy has significantly strengthened its position in the wireless industry over the past few years.
TMUS’ 2.5 GHz 5G spectrum delivers superfast speeds and extensive coverage with signals that go through walls and trees. This boosts its competitive edge against companies that provide 5G networks controlled by the mmWave spectrum. Its focus on efficient capital management is a positive.
(You can read the full research report on T-Mobile here >>>)
Gilead’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry over the past six months (+30.6% vs. +19.5%). The company’s fourth-quarter results were better than expected. Gilead boasts a market-leading HIV franchise. Biktarvy for treatment and Descovy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have fueled GILD’s top-line growth over the past several quarters.
Gilead now expects HIV sales to grow approximately 6% in 2026. The Zacks analyst sales estimates for Biktarvy indicate a CAGR of around 6% over the next three years. Gilead's HIV portfolio received a boost with the approval of its twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir, for PrEP.
Gilead is also developing additional HIV treatments, which, if approved, should strengthen the franchise. Gilead's efforts to bolster its oncology and virology franchises through collaborations are impressive. However, the Cell therapy franchise is facing challenges.
(You can read the full research report on Gilead here >>>)
Shares of National Research have outperformed the Zacks Business - Information Services industry over the past six months (+0.5% vs. -15.2%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $362.74 million has seen its Total Recurring Contract Value (TRCV), the key leading metric, have risen for five consecutive quarters, reaching a record ~$152 by March 2026, signaling potential revenue conversion in upcoming periods.
Commercial execution also appears to be improving, with new sales up ~86% in 2025 following a sales reorganization and retention reaching its highest level in more than seven years. NRC’s large installed base — serving over 250 of the top 400 U.S. healthcare systems — supports cross-sell opportunities across its expanding platform.
However, revenues have declined for three consecutive years and margins compressed in 2025, creating execution risk if TRCV fails to translate into growth. Additional risks include customer concentration, healthcare spending cycles and competition from larger analytics providers. The stock trades below industry valuation benchmarks.
(You can read the full research report on National Research here >>>)
C&F Financial’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past six months (+1.5% vs. -5.3%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $232.33 million, benefits from a diversified three-segment model that supports more stable earnings through cycles and reduces reliance on any single revenue stream. Core banking expansion continues to drive recurring income as loan and deposit growth strengthen the balance sheet and support interest income generation.
Mortgage banking performance is improving as originations recover and fee-based servicing activity expands, helping diversify revenue beyond traditional gain-on-sale dynamics. Consumer finance remains profitable while shifting toward higher-yielding, core auto lending with disciplined underwriting.
Strong internal capital generation supports steady book value growth, dividends, and share repurchase flexibility. Key risks include margin pressure from interest-rate shifts, rising operating expenses and uncertainty around the durability of certain deposit inflows.
(You can read the full research report on C&F Financial here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) and Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
Featured Reports
EOG Resources (EOG) Poised for Growth on Premium Shale Assets
The Zacks analyst believes EOG is well positioned for strong production growth and consistent returns with more than 12 billion boe in multi-basin resources and highly productive shale acreage.
Fidelity National (FIS) Solid on Top-Line Growth, Buyouts
Per the Zacks analyst, strong performance of the company's Banking Solutions segment is driving revenues. Acquisitions continue to boost its presence across several regions.
Clean Harbors (CLH) Gains From Recurring Revenues Amid High Completion
Per the Zacks Analyst, Clean Harbors' expertise in hazardous waste disposal and long-term service contracts ensures recurring revenues. Rising competition from other players is an overhang.
Strength in Industrial Segment Aids Graco (GGG), Costs Hurt
Per the Zacks analyst, solid traction of Graco's Industrial segment, led by solid demand for liquid finishing systems should drive its growth. However, high operating costs remain concerning.
Regency (REG) to Grow on Buyouts and Strong Tenant Roster Amid High De
Per the Zacks Analyst, Regency's recent buyouts will aid long-term growth. Strong tenant roster drives dependable traffic and generates steady revenues. Yet, e-commerce adoption and debt burden ails.
Investments Aid OGE Energy (OGR) Amid Supply Chain Issues
Per the Zacks analyst, OGE Energy makes systematic investments to maintain and upgrade the reliability of its infrastructure. Yet supply chain issues result in delays and increase costs.
Bath and Body Works (BBWI) Gains on Digital Strength and Loyalty
Per the Zacks analyst, Bath and Body Works benefits from digital enhancements, strong loyalty engagement and higher average order values, boosting customer spending and omnichannel performance.
New Upgrades
Analog Devices (ADI) Rides on Traction in BMS Solutions
Per the Zacks analyst, Analog Devices is benefiting from a strong momentum in the electric vehicle space on the back of its robust Battery Management System solutions.
MKS (MKSI) Rides on AI-related Semiconductor Demand and NAND Upgrades
Per the Zacks analyst, MKS is benefiting from the growing demand in the Semiconductor and Electronics and Packaging markets, particularly in AI-related applications and NAND upgrades.
Animal Health and Vaccines Growth Lift Phibro (PAHC) Outlook
Per the Zacks analyst, strong demand for animal health products and vaccines, expansion of the MFA line and rising traction in nutritional specialties are expected to support Phibro's growth outlook.
New Downgrades
Elevated Costs, Capital Markets Dependence to Hurt Jefferies (JEF)
Per the Zacks analyst, rising costs due to technology-related spend will hurt Jefferies' profits. The volatile nature of the capital markets business might make growth in trading revenues difficult.
Housing Weakness and Macro Risks are Hurting Vulcan's (VMC) Growth
Per the Zacks analyst, Vulcan's prospects are pulling back due to a weak residential market because of affordability challenges. Also, macro and weather-related risks add to the headwinds.
Yield Pressure and Macro Woes Hurt Norwegian Cruise's (NCLH) Prospects
Per the Zacks analyst, Norwegian Cruise faces yield pressure from Caribbean deployment missteps and softer booking trends. Macro uncertainty and high costs remain concerns.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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