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Globe and Mail
17 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Will Strong Credit Trading Volume Aid MarketAxess in Q2 Earnings?
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. MKTX is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 6, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.94 per share, which indicates an improvement of 12.8% from the prior-year quarter's number. The second-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed four upward estimate revisions against three downward movements over the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $218 million, implying 10.1% growth from the year-ago quarter's figure. MKTX's Earnings Surprise History MarketAxess' bottom line beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 2.67%. This is depicted in the chart below: MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Price and EPS Surprise MarketAxess Holdings Inc. price-eps-surprise | MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Quote What Our Quantitative Model Unveils for MarketAxess Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for MarketAxess this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here. Earnings ESP: MarketAxess has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% because the Most Accurate Estimate of $1.96 per share is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.94. You can uncover the best stocks before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: MKTX currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. Factors Likely to Shape MKTX's Q2 Results Higher trading volumes and robust market share gains across most of MKTX's credit product lines are expected to have driven credit commission revenues for the second quarter. However, the upside is likely to have been partially offset by a reduction in average variable transaction fees. We expect credit commission revenues to be $138.4 million in the to-be-reported quarter, which indicates an improvement of 8.4% year over year. Our estimate for the total credit volume indicates a 10% year-over-year increase. Solid trading volumes in the international business, coupled with higher revenues from MarketAxess' new product areas like emerging markets, municipals and U.S. government bonds, are expected to have contributed to its overall commission growth in the second quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for commissions is pegged at $189 million, indicating 9.9% growth from the prior-year quarter's reported number. We expect it to grow 7.6% year over year. The consensus estimate for second-quarter total trading volume is pegged at 2.9 million, indicating 33.3% growth from the prior-year quarter's reported figure. Our estimate is 2.5 million . Increased utilization of its data product suite and new contracts is likely to have provided an impetus for information services revenues, one of MKTX's revenue components, in the to-be-reported quarter. The consensus mark for information services revenues is pinned at $13.4 million, which implies a 6.5% rise from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. We project it to be $13 million, up 3.5% year over year. However, MKTX's margins are likely to have been hurt by an increase in operating expenses, resulting from continuous investments to upgrade trading and data capabilities. We forecast total expenses to be $125.7 million in the second quarter, indicating an increase of 8.1% year over year. Other Stocks to Consider Here are some other companies from the Finance space, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around: Pagaya Technologies Ltd. PGY has an Earnings ESP of +2.19% and a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PGY's second-quarter earnings is pegged at 69 cents per share, which indicates a nearly seven-fold increase from the prior-year quarter. Pagaya Technologies' earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark twice, the average surprise being 12.91%. StepStone Group Inc. STEP currently has an Earnings ESP of +7.63% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STEP's second-quarter earnings is pegged at 44 cents per share, which implies a 8.3% decline from the year-ago quarter's figure. StepStone's earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and matched the mark once, the average surprise being 20.86%. Americold Realty Trust, Inc. COLD has an Earnings ESP of +0.74% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLD's second-quarter earnings is pegged at 34 cents per share, which implies a 10.5% decrease from the year-ago quarter's figure. Americold Realty's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, matched the mark once and missed the same in the remaining one occasion, the average surprise being 3.79% 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. See This Stock Now for Free >> 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 MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX): Free Stock Analysis Report Americold Realty Trust Inc. (COLD): Free Stock Analysis Report StepStone Group Inc. (STEP): Free Stock Analysis Report Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
17 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
META: Liquidity, Growth, and AI Fuel Institutional Appetite
Meta Platforms Company Overview Zacks Ranks #3 (Hold) stock Meta Platforms ( META ) is the world's largest social media social media powerhouses like Instagram and Facebook under its umbrella, the company is benefiting from increasing ad revenue. Additionally, Meta is working on growing and monetizing WhatsApp, the world's largest messaging app. More than 3 billion people use Meta's family of products on a daily basis. Though Meta faces intense competition from Alphabet (GOOGL), Twitter, Amazon ( AMZN ), and Snap ( SNAP ), the company continues to gain market share. Meta: Liquidity + Fast, Consistent Growth = Institutional Appetite With double-digit EPS and revenue growth, it's difficult for investors to find a company growing as fast, consistently, and with such liquidity as Meta. Because META enjoys this rare trifecta, institutional investors are likely to remain attracted to this 'hedge fund hotel.' Meta Benefits from AI Now and into the Future Meta Platforms is expected to spend roughly $70 billion in CAPEX in 2025 to boost its AI ambitions. While the spending may seem reckless to Wall Street due to the sheer size, META is already enjoying significant returns on its AI investments, unlike most AI companies. In Meta's recent earnings conference call, visionary CEO Mark Zuckerberg featured five ways AI will drive META, including: 'Improved advertising, more engaging experiences, business messaging, Meta AI, and AI devices.' AI is driving increased time spent on its core social media offerings. AI optimization has led to a 5% increase in time spent on Facebook and a 6% increase on Instagram – leading to better returns for Meta's ad business (which makes up ~97% of revenue). Meanwhile, Zuckerberg made a shocking forward-looking statement that suggests that his company's AI is the best or near the best, saying: 'Developing superintelligence – which we define as AI that surpasses human intelligence in every way – we think is now in sight.' META: Post Earnings Drift Set-up Last week, META blew away Wall Street EPS expectations, marking the company's eleventh consecutive earnings beat. Following its earnings beat last week, META shares bolted more than 11% as volume swelled to 220% above the norm. Heavy volume and robust price action of this magnitude signal heavy institutional accumulation among investors. Additionally, because these institutional investors usually buy for weeks and months at a time, I expect META to benefit from being a classic 'post-earnings drift' play. Bottom Line Meta is one of the rare companies already benefiting from its AI investments. The company is being driven by strong performance across its social media platforms, with consistent growth in both revenue and earnings per share. 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. See This Stock Now for Free >> 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 Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report Snap Inc. (SNAP): Free Stock Analysis Report Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): Free Stock Analysis Report
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Disgusting act of hate': Victoria synagogue vandalized with antisemitic statements
The entrance of Congregation Emanu-el Synagogue in Victoria, B.C., was vandalized on Aug. 2, 2025. (Image credit: B.C.'s premier and public safety minister are condemning the vandalism of Canada's oldest surviving synagogue and pledging to support police and the community while an investigation is underway. The Victoria Police Department was called to the Congregation Emanu-el Synagogue on Saturday around 8 p.m. 'Officers documented the graffiti, and collected evidence, and then worked with City of Victoria to have it removed,' a spokesperson said in a statement. The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver was among the groups who shared an image of the statements scrawled on one of the columns flacking the building's front entrance on social media, along with a statement. 'We absolutely denounce this act of hate and stand in unwavering solidarity with the Victoria Jewish community. No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship,' a statement posted to X said. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger, whose constituency is in Victoria, also decried the vandalism. 'Hate has no place in our province,' she wrote. 'Antisemitism has no place in British Columbia. Hate vandalism, speech and intimidation are not protected expressions — they are crimes and will be treated as such. The province of B.C. stands with our Jewish community, and with all people vulnerable to hate and violence.' Premier David Eby echoed the sentiment. 'Antisemitism has no place in our communities – not now, not ever,' he wrote. 'The Jewish community and police have our full support as they investigate this disgusting act of hate.' The investigation is ongoing, according to police, who said they have no further information to share about the incident. First built in 1863, the synagogue is a national historic site of Canada.
