Mega Deals, Earnings Beats and IPOs Drive US Markets as Paramount Wins UK Approval and Parker Hannifin Delivers Record Results 

Mumbai, Aug 7: Today’s trading session witnessed a flurry of company-specific developments that materially impacted US-listed stocks, ranging from mega-merger regulatory approvals and blockbuster earnings beats to strategic investments and high-profile initial public offerings. Investors navigated a complex landscape of deal-making, operational performances, and capital-raising activities across multiple sectors. 

Restaurant Brands International Reports 6.4% System-Wide Sales Growth and $435 Million Shareholder Return  

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE: QSR) reported second-quarter 2026 system-wide sales growth of 6.4%, including 10.7% growth in International markets. Comparable sales increased 3.8%, led by 8.5% growth at Burger King US and 5.5% internationally. Total revenue rose to $2.52 billion from $2.41 billion a year earlier, while operating income surged 48.4% to $716 million.  

Adjusted operating income increased 6.7% organically to $715 million, and adjusted diluted EPS climbed 12.9% to $1.07. Burger King US adjusted operating income improved to $137 million from $121 million. The company returned $435 million through dividends and buybacks, declared a $0.65-per-share dividend, and its shares fell 2.24% to $72.82. 

Ralph Lauren Revenue Rises 14% to $1.96 Billion, Raises Full-Year Outlook  

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $1.96 billion, up 14% year-over-year, or 13% in constant currency, exceeding analysts’ expectations. North America revenue increased 13% to $740 million, Asia surged 24% to $589 million, and Europe grew 7% to $594 million. Gross profit rose to $1.44 billion, with gross margin expanding to 73.7%, while operating income reached $342 million, representing a 17.5% operating margin.  

Operating expenses increased 14% to $1.1 billion. The company reported low double-digit global comparable store sales growth, returned over $300 million through dividends and share repurchases, raised its fiscal 2027 revenue and adjusted operating margin outlook, and saw shares climb 4.9%. 

ORIX Posts Record Q1 Profit of JPY 280.8 Billion, Shares Rise 4.58% in Premarket 

ORIX Corporation reported record first-quarter profit for fiscal 2027, with net income rising to JPY 280.8 billion from JPY 107.3 billion a year earlier, the highest quarterly profit in the company’s history. Kioxia-related gains amounted to JPY 121.7 billion, while adjusted profit, excluding these gains, was JPY 159.1 billion. The Japan and APAC segment posted JPY 289.8 billion in profit, supported by Kioxia gains and the sale of SUGIKO.  

The company kept its full-year net income forecast at JPY 530 billion and changed its dividend policy to use adjusted profits rather than total net income. ORIX completed JPY 78.4 billion in share buybacks out of JPY 250 billion announced. The stock climbed 4.58% in premarket trading to $43.2, above the previous close of $41.31 and beyond its 52-week range. Shares traded at $41.64, up 0.80%. 

Warner Bros Discovery Posts $8.72 Billion Revenue, Falls Short of $9.29 Billion Forecast 

Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) reported second-quarter revenue below analysts’ expectations at $8.72 billion, falling short of the $9.29 billion forecast by analysts surveyed by LSEG. Studio revenue plunged 39%, with films including Mortal Kombat II and Supergirl failing to match the commercial success of last year’s blockbuster releases. Advertising revenue fell 22% during the quarter due to the absence of National Basketball Association game broadcasts and continued declines in audiences for traditional linear television.  

Revenue from the company’s networks division, which includes CNN, declined 17%. Despite the weaker revenue, Warner Bros Discovery reported a surprise quarterly profit of $0.06 per share, outperforming analysts’ expectations of a $0.13 loss.  

The stronger-than-expected earnings were driven by a 23% reduction in operating expenses, reflecting lower content spending and the absence of costs associated with NBA broadcasting rights. Streaming revenue rose 10% as HBO Max’s international expansion and original programming attracted more subscribers. Shares traded at $26.46, up 1.87%. 

Cheniere Raises Full-Year Guidance on Strong Q2 Performance 

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE: LNG) reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of approximately $5.7 billion, with net income of $3.1 billion, consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 billion, and distributable cash flow of $1.2 billion. For the first six months, revenue totalled $11.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow reached $4.1 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively.  

The company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $7.90-$8.40 billion from $7.25-$7.75 billion, and distributable cash flow guidance to $5.30-$5.80 billion from $4.75-$5.25 billion. Cheniere repurchased 2.2 million shares for approximately $550 million, declared a $0.555-per-share dividend, tightened its production forecast to 53-54 million tonnes, completed Train 6 of the CCL Stage 3 Project, and saw its shares rise 3.46% to $263.74. 

Datadog Revenue Jumps 36%; Constellation Beats EPS; Canadian Natural Sets Q2 Earnings Record 

Datadog, Inc. (NASDAQ: DDOG) reported second-quarter revenue of $1.12 billion, up 36% year-over-year, with non-GAAP operating income of $257 million, non-GAAP EPS of $0.65, operating cash flow of $316 million, and $279 million in free cash flow.  

The company launched its AI-powered Bits platform, guided for full-year revenue of $4.45-$4.47 billion, and its shares traded at $236.04. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) reported second-quarter EPS of $2.55, beating estimates by $0.14, although revenue of $7.5 billion missed the $7.94 billion consensus estimate.  

Shares fell 0.77% to $263.09. Canadian Natural Resources posted record adjusted net earnings of CAD 4.6 billion, or CAD 2.20 per share, with adjusted funds flow of CAD 6.9 billion and record production of 1.677 million BOE/day. The company raised production guidance, declared a CAD 0.525-per-share dividend, returned CAD 4 billion to shareholders, and its shares gained 1.51% to $63.80. 

Also Read: How to Invest in the US Stocks From India

Fiserv Cuts Outlook; ConocoPhillips Profit Jumps 95%; Parker Hannifin Hits Record Revenue 

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) reported second-quarter GAAP revenue of $5.29 billion, down 4% year-over-year, while adjusted EPS fell 26% to $1.84. The company lowered its 2026 outlook, forecasting organic revenue growth of (1%) to 0% and adjusted EPS of $7.20-$7.40. Shares declined 2.70% to $52.65.  

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) posted second-quarter earnings of $3.9 billion, or $3.23 per share, up from $2.0 billion a year earlier, with operating cash flow of $7.4 billion.  The energy producer doubled quarterly share buybacks to $2.0 billion, raised total shareholder distributions to $3.0 billion, maintained full-year guidance, and saw shares rise 0.89% to $116.06.  

Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH) reported record fourth-quarter sales of $5.8 billion, up 9.8%, while fiscal 2026 revenue reached a record $21.5 billion. Adjusted EPS increased 18% to $32.31, the company raised its long-term adjusted operating margin target to 30% by fiscal 2031, projected fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS of $34.25-$35.25, and its shares surged 7.47% to $1,071.40. 

BD Raises FY EPS Guidance; Keurig Dr Pepper Beats Estimates; Howmet Aerospace Reports 24% Revenue Growth, Lifts Outlook 

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $5.0 billion, up 5.4%, with adjusted EPS of $3.23, while raising its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $12.62-$12.72. Year-to-date operating cash flow increased 33.3% to $2.1 billion, and free cash flow rose 44.6% to $1.7 billion. Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) posted quarterly EPS of $0.57, beating estimates of $0.55, while revenue surged to $7.31 billion, exceeding expectations and marking its fourth consecutive quarterly revenue beat.  

Meanwhile, Howmet Aerospace (NYSE: HWM) reported 24% revenue growth to $2.55 billion, with adjusted EPS rising 46% to $1.33 and adjusted EBITDA increasing 39% to $817 million. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $10.0-$10.1 billion and adjusted EPS outlook to $5.23-$5.31, increased its quarterly dividend by 17% to $0.14 per share, and continued share repurchases. BD shares gained 4.45%, Howmet rose 0.99%, while Keurig Dr Pepper slipped 1.59%. 

UK Authorities Clear Paramount’s $111 Billion Acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery 

UK authorities cleared Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, removing one of the final major regulatory hurdles. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the government would not intervene, while the Competition and Markets Authority approved the deal without a deeper investigation.  

To secure approval, Paramount agreed to maintain the editorial independence of its news and children’s networks and not combine its linear TV channels with streaming services for five years. Following the decision, Paramount shares rose 4.39% to $9.14, while Warner Bros Discovery gained 1.87% to $26.46. 

Santander Receives Federal Reserve Approval for Webster Acquisition 

Banco Santander received Federal Reserve approval for its acquisition of Webster Financial Corporation, with the transaction expected to close on August 20, 2026. The approval follows clearance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the European Central Bank. Webster, which has over $80 billion in total assets, will largely be integrated into Santander’s US banking operations.  

Santander expects the deal to deliver 7-8% earnings-per-share accretion and an estimated 15% return on invested capital by 2028. Banco Santander shares gained 1.11% to $12.891, while Webster Financial rose 0.30%. 

Argenx Launches Cash Tender Offer for Forte Biosciences at $77.00 Per Share 

argenx (NASDAQ: ARGX) launched a tender offer to acquire Forte Biosciences (NASDAQ: FBRX) for $77.00 per share in cash, following the merger agreement signed on July 26, 2026. The offer, which expires on August 26, 2026, requires more than 50% of outstanding shares to be tendered and is not subject to financing.  

Forte’s board unanimously recommended shareholders accept the offer, after which the company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of argenx. argenx shares slipped 0.17% to $866.50, while Forte Biosciences gained 0.22% to $76.78, close to the offer price. 

ABB Makes Minority Investment in LevelTen Energy to Advance Clean Energy Procurement 

ABB formed a strategic partnership and made a minority investment in LevelTen Energy, the world’s largest marketplace for clean energy transactions and power purchase agreements. LevelTen has facilitated more than 20 GW of clean energy transactions across 35+ markets in North America and Europe. The partnership combines ABB’s electrification and energy management expertise with LevelTen’s marketplace to strengthen energy and carbon advisory services.  

Financial terms were not disclosed. ABB Electrification Ventures has invested over $110 million in 18 startups since 2021, supporting the growing demand for advanced clean energy procurement solutions amid evolving regulatory requirements. 

Starwood REIT Sells 41.5% Stake in $1.02 Billion Affordable Housing Portfolio to Apollo 

Starwood Real Estate Income Trust sold a 41.5% interest in a 120-property affordable housing portfolio to Apollo Global Management affiliates for $1.02 billion. SREIT retains a 58.5% equity stake and full operational and asset management control.  

The joint venture includes structured finance provisions where SREIT guarantees Apollo an increasing minimum yield on its investment and holds an option to repurchase Apollo’s stake between years five and ten, with the purchase price delivering Apollo a capped 7% internal rate of return.  

SREIT will use most proceeds to reduce its credit facility and strengthen its balance sheet. Apollo Global Management shares traded at $128.46, down 0.99%. 

Premier Graphene Affiliate Forms Joint Venture for Ballistic Protection Systems 

Premier Graphene Inc. (OTC:BIEI) announced that its affiliate HGI Industrial Technologies has entered into a joint venture with Nova Graphene Corp. to develop, manufacture, market and commercialise ballistic protection systems and graphene-enabled products for the North American market. Initial product development initiatives include advanced personal ballistic protection systems, vehicle and marine ballistic protection solutions, and architectural ballistic protection applications.  

Nova Graphene has received five research and development contracts from Defence Research & Development Canada, including a $1,000,000 phase II project for 3D-printed body armor. Premier Graphene shares traded at $0.00065, down 5.80%. 

Braveheart Bio Raises $382.5 Million in Upsized IPO, Priced Above Marketing Range 

Braveheart Bio, Inc. began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker BRVE with an upsized initial public offering expected to be worth $382.5 million. The California-based cardiovascular-focused biotech’s IPO encompasses 21.25 million shares at $18.00 apiece, topping previous projections of a $15 to $17 price point for 17.5 million shares. The offering was priced above the original marketing range, signalling strong investor demand for cardiovascular therapeutics. The biotech will use the proceeds to fuel lead asset BHB-1893, an oral small molecule designed to inhibit cardiac myosin, which is a protein that drives heart contractions. The company is developing the therapy for subtypes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and is gearing up for late-stage testing. Lead underwriters include Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, TD Cowen, Stifel, and Cantor. 

River City Bank Prices IPO at $45 Per Share, Shares Decline on Debut 

River City Bank priced its initial public offering of 2,700,000 shares of common stock at $45.00 per share, with shares beginning trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker RCBC on August 6, 2026. The offering consists entirely of existing shares held by two longtime shareholders associated with the family of the bank’s founder, making it a 100% secondary offering.  

No new shares are being issued by the bank. As of June 30, 2026, River City Bank reported approximately $6.0 billion in total assets, $4.7 billion in gross loans, and $5.4 billion in deposits. The bank operates across commercial banking, commercial real estate, clean energy, and public sector banking. Shares traded at $45.70, down 7.78% on the session. 

OceanLight Acquisition Corp Files for $115 Million SPAC IPO 

OceanLight Acquisition Corp filed for an initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares at $10.00 per share on the Nasdaq Global Market, with an offer amount of $115,000,000 and an over-allotment option of 1,500,000 shares.  

The Cayman Islands exempted company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalisation, reorganisation or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company does not have any specific business combination under consideration. 

Also Read : US Stock Market Timings

Alphabet Looks to Raise Up to $25 Billion from Latest US Bond Offering 

Alphabet is looking to raise between $20 billion and $25 billion from its latest US bond offering, a source familiar with the matter said. The company is offering notes in as many as 10 parts, with maturities ranging from two to 40 years. The debt raise is the latest in a series of moves by tech giants looking to fund their costly AI spending, a shift in strategy for these companies that have typically relied on their large cash reserves.  

Hyperscalers Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Oracle issued about $194 billion worth of bonds in 2026 through July 7, up 79% from roughly $108 billion in 2025. Big Tech is expected to spend more than $730 billion this year primarily on AI. Alphabet in June announced an $80 billion raise through equity offerings, including an investment from Berkshire Hathaway, and later increased the offering size to nearly $85 billion. 

Tarsus Secures $125 Million PIPE; Red Violet Raises $100 Million; E-Power and iSpecimen Complete Capital Raises 

Several companies announced significant fundraising transactions to support acquisitions, growth initiatives and working capital. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TARS) agreed to a $125 million private investment in public equity (PIPE), issuing 2.10 million shares at $56.00 per share and pre-funded warrants for 133,625 shares. The financing, backed by investors including TCGX, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and Wellington Management, is expected to close on August 7, 2026, alongside Tarsus’ pending acquisition of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals.  

Red Violet (NASDAQ: RDVT) priced a $100 million underwritten public offering of 1.67 million shares at $60.00 each, with proceeds earmarked for working capital and potential acquisitions. Its shares fell 6.37% to $63.93. E-Power (NASDAQ: EPOW) completed a $16 million private placement by issuing 15.84 million Class A shares at $1.01 apiece to a non-US investor, with funds supporting its AI data centre microgrid projects and battery materials programmes.  

Shares declined 2.90% to $0.409. Meanwhile, iSpecimen (NASDAQ: ISPC) priced a $5 million public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants at $1.30 per share. The proceeds will be used to repay liabilities, pursue acquisitions and expand marketing activities. Shares gained 7.81% to $2.07. 

ConocoPhillips Declares $0.84 Dividend; Parker Hannifin Raises Payout 11%; Howmet Boosts Dividend 17%; RBI Declares $0.65 Dividend 

ConocoPhillips declared a third-quarter ordinary dividend of $0.84 per share, payable September 1, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 17, 2026. The company doubled its quarterly share repurchases to $2.0 billion, increasing total shareholder distributions to $3.0 billion, and remains on track for a 45% return of cash from operations in 2026. 

Parker Hannifin increased its annual dividend 11%, marking 70 consecutive fiscal years of increasing annual dividends per share paid. The company returned nearly $2 billion to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividends. 

Howmet Aerospace increased its third-quarter common stock dividend by 17% to $0.14 per share. The company repurchased $300 million of common stock in the second quarter and an additional $200 million in July, bringing year-to-date share repurchases through July to $800 million, exceeding the $700 million of shares repurchased in all of 2025. 

Restaurant Brands International declared a dividend of $0.65 per common share for the third quarter of 2026, payable on October 2, 2026. The company repurchased 1,821,167 shares for $137 million in the second quarter, with $829 million remaining under the share repurchase authorisation as of June 30, 2026. 

ORIX Corporation changed its dividend policy to use adjusted profits rather than total net income. The company announced an interim dividend of JPY 107.27 per share and a full-year dividend forecast of JPY 187.36 per share. ORIX completed JPY 78.4 billion in share buybacks out of JPY 250 billion announced. 

United Launch Alliance Plans $500 Million Private Bond Placement to Refinance Debt 

United Launch Alliance, the rocket joint venture owned by Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., plans to raise approximately $500 million through a private bond placement to refinance existing debt. US Bancorp, Mizuho Financial Group Inc., and Wells Fargo & Co. are reportedly arranging the transaction. The bonds will be structured as a true private placement, meaning they will not be registered or offered in public markets and will be sold directly to institutional investors. Boeing shares traded at $234.35, down 2.43%, while Lockheed Martin shares traded at $583.54, up 1.03%. 

The session’s company-specific developments highlighted the importance of earnings quality, with Parker Hannifin and Datadog delivering significant beats and raising guidance, while Fiserv’s revenue decline and lowered outlook weighed on sentiment. Regulatory approvals for major mergers, including Paramount-Warner Bros and Santander-Webster, removed key overhangs for these transactions. The successful IPOs of Braveheart Bio and River City Bank, along with substantial capital-raising activities across technology and healthcare sectors, demonstrated continued investor appetite for new issues and strategic financings. Corporate actions, including dividend increases and share repurchases, underscored management confidence in cash flow generation across multiple industries. 

Source 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/ 

• spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/ 

• https://www.dowjones.com/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-industrial-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/ 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/index/comp 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/quotes/nasdaq-ndx-index 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-100/ 

• https://www.lseg.com/en/ftse-russell/indices/russell-us 

• https://www.nyse.com/index 

• https://www.nyse.com/index 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-transportation-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-utility-average/ 

• https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/dow-jones-composite-average/ 

• https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/index/sox 
• https://www.cboe.com/tradable_products/vix/