SPGI

Zacks equity research analysts published reports on five stocks on October 22, 2026. Salesforce faces macroeconomic sensitivity and competition but is extending its CRM franchise through new products.

S&P Global underperformed its industry with elevated costs and debt but maintains durable franchises. Intuit significantly underperformed the software industry amid a deliberate reset toward customer acquisition and tax pricing changes. Microcap stocks Kewaunee Scientific and Key Tronic both underperformed their respective industries, facing profitability and financial challenges but supported by strategic positioning and new market opportunities.

Zacks analysts published research on 12 major stocks on October 21, 2026. Salesforce maintains a balanced risk-reward profile with growth drivers from Agentforce and Data 360 offsetting macroeconomic sensitivity.

S&P Global faces elevated costs and debt but benefits from recurring revenues and AI adoption. Intuit shows underperformance due to fiscal 2027 reset toward customer acquisition, though long-term growth levers remain. Microcap stocks Kewaunee Scientific and Key Tronic face profitability challenges but benefit from portfolio expansion and supply chain repositioning respectively.

S&P Global is expected to report a year-over-year decline in earnings and revenues for Q3 2026, with consensus EPS estimates of $4.43 (down 6.3%) and revenues of $3.64 billion (down 6.5%). With a negative Earnings ESP of -0.56% and Zacks Rank #3, the stock is not considered a compelling earnings-beat candidate. In contrast, Nasdaq is expected to report earnings growth of 15.9% and has a positive Earnings ESP of +0.14%, making it more likely to beat consensus estimates.

S&P Global reported Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $4.83, up 23% YoY and beating consensus by 7.6%, with pro-forma revenues rising 11% to $3.68B. The company raised its 2026 share buyback target to over $7B and achieved nearly 60% of its $100M AI-driven cost savings target. However, rising competition, AI-driven shifts in customer demand, and potential pricing pressure in credit ratings and market data could challenge future growth and margins.

Zacks analyzes five securities exchange stocks amid industry headwinds. While diversified revenue streams, higher trading volumes, and technology investments support growth, the Securities and Exchanges industry faces challenges from regulatory changes, cybersecurity threats, and competition.

The industry ranks #166 out of 247 Zacks industries with negative earnings outlook, having underperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date. Five Hold-rated stocks are highlighted for consideration.

Moody's reported Q3 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.14 per share, missing the consensus estimate of $4.25, though earnings grew 6% year-over-year. Revenues rose 1% to $2.02B but fell short of expectations.

The results were pressured by increased operating expenses and a 1% decline in Moody's Investors Service revenues due to lower leveraged finance issuance, partially offset by 3% growth in Moody's Analytics. The company reaffirmed its 2026 guidance.

Tesla's new Roadster with advanced features generates buzz but won't significantly impact revenue. While the company shows innovation, its P/E ratio of 352 is extremely expensive compared to the S&P 500's average of 24.

Tesla faces margin pressures from price cuts and heavy R&D spending, with operating income down 57% in Q2. The stock is in limbo—valuation is too high for meaningful growth, but future projects like robotaxi services may sustain investor optimism for a few more years.

CME Group and Coinbase Global represent two different approaches to financial infrastructure. CME operates a high-margin derivatives marketplace with a 62% net margin and strong cash generation, while Coinbase scales rapidly in crypto trading but faces regulatory uncertainty. The author recommends CME due to its superior profitability, lower valuation multiple, dividend payment, and skepticism about crypto's fundamental value.

Copper demand is projected to exceed supply with a widening gap after 2030, driven by increasing costs, declining ore grades in mature mines, and permitting challenges. Over 60% of incremental copper demand through 2040 will come from AI data centers and energy transition initiatives. While technological improvements and substitution effects may provide some mitigation, the structural supply constraints suggest long-term bullish prospects for copper and copper-related investments.

The Securities and Exchanges industry faces mixed prospects with a Zacks Industry Rank #166 (bottom 33%). While growth drivers include higher trading volumes, cryptocurrency adoption, AI investments, and diversification into recurring revenue streams, challenges include intense competition, regulatory pressures, and cybersecurity threats. The industry has underperformed year-to-date, trading at 20.27X P/E versus the S&P 500's 18X, with analyst confidence declining as 2026 earnings estimates decreased 3% since June.

Sandisk stock surged over 11% in September 2026 due to optimistic forecasts about persistent memory shortages driven by AI demand. Intel's CEO warned of memory scarcity extending to 2028, while Citigroup predicted shortages lasting until 2031.

Analyst upgrades from Rosenblatt (buy rating, $2,400 target) and Mizuho, plus Sandisk's addition to the S&P 100 index, further boosted the stock. The company is well-positioned as a trusted flash memory manufacturer to benefit from the AI infrastructure build-out.

CBOE Global (CBOE) shares rose 3.4% to close at $261.75 on solid volume, though the stock is down 15.6% over the past four weeks. The company expects quarterly earnings of $3.40 per share (+27.3% YoY) and revenues of $697.52 million (+15.2% YoY).

However, consensus EPS estimates have remained unchanged over the last 30 days, which may limit further upside momentum. CBOE carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating.