♟️ Wednesday 4 November 2026 Wed, 4 Nov 2026

FIS delivered a sharp third-quarter revenue increase and lifted adjusted EBITDA, but its next phase is centred on deleveraging rather than aggressive capital returns. The fintech has paused meaningful buybacks and tuck-in acquisitions while it works towards a gross leverage target of about 2.8 times.

Datadog delivered another strong quarter, with revenue up 35% and large-customer growth supporting its push into AI-powered observability. The company also issued fourth-quarter and full-year guidance while launching Scout 1.0, its first specialised AI model.

CDW delivered a sharp third-quarter sales increase and lifted its quarterly dividend by about 8%, helped by demand for servers, storage, mobile devices and software. The stronger earnings picture came with lower gross margins, higher debt and weaker operating cash flow than a year earlier.

Charles River Laboratories delivered a second consecutive quarter of organic revenue growth and raised its 2026 outlook, despite reported revenue falling after divestitures. The quarter’s sharp GAAP earnings increase was heavily amplified by a US$245.6 million tax reserve reversal.

Trimble delivered record annualized recurring revenue and a stronger-than-expected third quarter, while a US$562 million goodwill impairment keeps the headline GAAP picture complicated. The company raised no quantified comparison to its previous outlook, but issued full-year revenue and earnings ranges for 2026.

McDonald’s delivered higher profit and systemwide sales in the third quarter, helped by international markets, franchise margins and other operating income. The slight decline in US comparable sales remains the clearest test of whether its value push can restore guest traffic.

Insulet delivered a stronger-than-expected third quarter, with revenue up 19.2% and adjusted earnings per share rising nearly 60%. The diabetes-device maker also raised its operating-margin outlook and authorised a US$1 billion share repurchase programme.

Martin Marietta delivered record third-quarter revenue and adjusted EBITDA after completing its US$12.9 billion Lhoist North America combination. But GAAP earnings fell sharply, while higher debt and softer heritage operations leave the acquisition’s next phase to prove its value.

Kraft Heinz reported falling third-quarter sales, profit and volumes, but raised the low end of its full-year organic sales outlook. The company also lifted its adjusted EPS range while leaving its sharply lower adjusted operating income forecast unchanged.

Uber posted another quarter of 20% Gross Bookings growth, lifted non-GAAP earnings sharply and forecast continued momentum into the final quarter of 2026. The company also announced the departure of senior executive Jill Hazelbaker as it prepares to expand its driverless vehicle operations.

Emerson delivered a stronger fiscal 2026 finish, with fourth-quarter sales up 7%, GAAP earnings per share up 24% and free cash flow up 9%. The industrial automation group also raised its dividend and outlined roughly 5% growth for fiscal 2027.

Cencora delivered a stronger fiscal 2026, with adjusted earnings per share rising 12.3% and quarterly profit benefiting from the OneOncology acquisition. The healthcare distributor expects another 8% to 10% increase in adjusted EPS in fiscal 2027, while reshaping its reporting structure and lifting its dividend.

CVS Health plans to separate its healthcare solutions and retail pharmacy businesses by the first half of 2028, while raising its 2026 earnings and cash-flow targets. The announcement came alongside stronger third-quarter results, though management flagged elevated cost trends and potential macroeconomic pressure.

Zimmer Biomet lifted its full-year 2026 sales and adjusted earnings guidance after third-quarter constant-currency growth accelerated to 3.7%. The result was supported by strong hips, sports medicine and technology sales, although GAAP earnings fell and knees remained a weak spot.

Estée Lauder has set a fiscal 2030 ambition of mid-single-digit organic sales growth, an adjusted operating margin of 16.5% to 18.5%, and double-digit adjusted EPS growth. The company also raised its fiscal 2027 outlook after a strong first quarter, while flagging the execution and adjustment risks behind its long-range targets.

Stanley Black & Decker raised its 2026 earnings and free cash flow guidance after tariff refunds helped drive a sharp third-quarter profit recovery. Underlying organic growth improved, but the refund accounted for a substantial portion of the quarter’s earnings lift.

Qnity delivered 22% year-on-year growth in third-quarter sales and adjusted EPS, then raised its full-year 2026 targets. The result was strong operationally, although GAAP profit and reported EPS fell as transformation and IT independence costs weighed on the quarter.

Helix Resources says it learned of the British Columbia court order setting aside its Gold Basin joint venture on the morning of 14 October, after Canex had published the ruling. The company told ASX it considers the disclosure timely and remains compliant with Listing Rule 3.1.

COG Financial Services has opened FY2027 with a sharp earnings increase, driven by a major acceleration in salary packaging and novated leasing. The company is targeting EBITDA to shareholders growth of 10% or better for the full year, although the quarterly figures remain unaudited and acquisition effects complicate comparisons.

Axtec has proposed fintech founder Andy Taylor as its next Managing Director and CEO, pairing the appointment with a A$1 million share placement and a plan to expand beyond real estate payments. The leadership change remains conditional on Taylor completing his cornerstone investment and finalising employment terms.

Torque Metals has extended high-grade mineralisation beyond the current resource at HHH, including a 1.1-metre interval grading 89.64 g/t gold. The ASX-listed explorer is now preparing to add a third rig after completing a $25 million capital raising.

CSIRO detected hydrogen in every successfully analysed rock sample from Prominence Energy’s Eyre Peninsula project, while identifying two possible geological generation mechanisms and an early seal candidate. The findings sharpen the company’s target-selection work, but stop well short of proving a recoverable accumulation.

Arbitr Group has proposed a A$4.86 million capital raising to fund an organisational reset and push into enterprise AI, while warning that non-participating shareholders could face about 43% dilution. The plan also targets A$2 million in recurring annual cost savings and a calendar 2026 release for its Enterprise AI Context Engine.

Embelton is seeking shareholder approval to leave the ASX, arguing that thin trading and annual listing costs of about $160,000 no longer justify the quotation. The company also proposes an $11 per share buy-back for other shareholders, subject to approval.