Clear market notes built around the JSE, the rand, and what matters locally.

2026-08-04 16:20 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

UPS trades at 14x forward earnings with a 6.4% dividend yield, down 44% from its 2022 all-time high. After facing pandemic-related volume declines, margin compression, and labor challenges, the company has stabilized by focusing on higher-margin business customers and healthcare. UPS expects 3% revenue growth and 1% EPS growth in 2026, with stronger 4% revenue and 12% EPS growth projected for 2027, suggesting it could become an attractive dividend play in the industrial sector.

Axe note: Trading well below its peak with a 6.4% yield, UPS is quietly stabilizing and aiming for steady growth by 2026.

2026-08-04 16:15 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective

Apple stock fell 10% after reporting record earnings but disappointing guidance. Services revenue missed expectations at $30.7B, and management cited serious DRAM and NAND memory shortages driving up costs. Q4 guidance of 9-11% revenue growth fell short of analyst expectations of 12%. Despite the decline, the company maintains strong product demand with 16% YoY revenue growth, and the memory shortage is industry-wide rather than Apple-specific.

Axe note: Apple’s earnings beat expectations but cautious guidance and rising memory costs spooked investors.

2026-08-04 16:04 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

Gartner Inc. stock surged 17.90% after reporting Q2 2026 earnings that beat EPS expectations with $4.37 vs. $3.73 anticipated, despite revenue of $1.68B slightly missing the $1.65B forecast. The company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $14 from $13.25 and increased free cash flow guidance to $1.19B. Analysts note the stock is trading at a significant discount to its historical valuation multiple.

Axe note: Gartner’s strong earnings and guidance raise spotlight global tech, but local currency weakness tempers enthusiasm for SA investors.