Conversions Assembler 1

Jabil reported Q2 revenues of $8.75 billion, up 11.8% year on year, exceeding analyst expectations by 2.3%. The electronic components and manufacturing company also beat earnings per share guidance and revenue guidance for next quarter. Despite the strong results, Jabil's stock has fallen 17.6% since reporting, currently trading at $309.38. The decline suggests investor expectations may have been higher than Wall Street's published projections. The electronic components and manufacturing sector as a whole performed well in Q2. The 10 companies tracked reported revenues that beat consensus estimates by 4%, whilst next quarter's revenue guidance exceeded expectations by 6%. The sector faces mixed prospects. Demand could rise from advanced electronics in automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and computing industries. However, headwinds include US-China trade tensions and environmental regulations.

How AI is changing business. Iowa State alumnus Tom Hall will share lessons from startups, manufacturing and defense. September 21, 2026 AMES, Iowa - Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organizations operate and make decisions. Iowa State University alumnus Tom Hall will explore those changes during a public lecture, "How AI Is Changing Business: Lessons from Startups, Manufacturing and Defense," at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. AI's greatest value is not replacing workers, according to Hall. Hall is now director of defense at Jabil, one of the world's largest manufacturing solutions providers, where he focuses on emerging technologies and next-generation defense products. Prior to his current role, Hall served as Jabil's director of AI and previously worked with startups before leading applied AI initiatives at Cisco and helping build the program management organization at Veritas. "As the director of AI, I didn't replace a single employee," he said. "Instead, we used AI to reduce up to 80% of time-consuming tasks in some cases, freeing up time and money for issues that matter most." A former U.S. Army Ranger, Hall will discuss how AI is transforming defense and aerospace industries, from improving data governance and decision-making to accelerating innovation and supply-chain processes. Drawing on his experience leading AI programs, he'll share insights into how emerging technologies are reshaping both the battlefield and the industries that support it. For example, Hall said a backlog of about 18,000 planes are waiting to be built in the U.S. due to supply-chain and manufacturing challenges. "With AI, we can rapidly speed up operations. We have decades of historical information on lead times and materials costs, which gives us options to ramp up production and enhance operational efficiencies," he said. Hall believes students entering today's workforce should view AI as a tool for adaptation and growth rather than a threat to future careers. "It's a dynamic work environment," he said. "You have to be prepared for shifts in what you're working on, be willing to keep learning and do your best. Resiliency is incredibly important." A 2015 Iowa State political science graduate, Hall was also a member of the Cyclones football team. The Waverly native currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida, earned a master's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a doctorate from South Florida. During his campus visit, Hall will meet with business and entrepreneurship students, faculty and ROTC members. He said Iowa State's combination of hands-on student experiences, interdisciplinary collaboration and strong faculty expertise makes it especially relevant to industries navigating rapid technological change. "Iowa State has an exceptional student and faculty base that's highly applicable to my industry," Hall said. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Ivy College of Business and the ISU Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government). A recording of the lecture will be available on the lecture program website approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.

Jabil (JBL) edges out AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) as the smarter connectivity buy right now. Jabil Inc. (JBL) and AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS) are both significant players in the communications-technology ecosystem, each with exposure to next-generation infrastructure. AST SpaceMobile is building what it calls the world's first and only global cellular broadband network in space, accessible directly by standard 4G-LTE and 5G smartphones. The SpaceMobile service operates through a constellation of high-powered, large phased-array satellites in low Earth orbit, using spectrum controlled by Mobile Network Operators in areas lacking terrestrial coverage. Jabil, one of the largest global suppliers of electronics manufacturing services, offers advanced manufacturing capabilities for networking, communications, and space systems across 100 locations in 30 countries. AST SpaceMobile is reportedly on track to deploy approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027, with 13 commercial satellites already deployed in low Earth orbit. The company's technology relies on large phased array antennas measuring approximately 2,400 square feet and is backed by more than 3,800 patents and patent-pending claims. ASTS has secured partnerships with major carriers including AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), helping to fund its worldwide satellite network and expand cellular coverage across the United States. Despite these milestones, elevated spending, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and stiff competition from SpaceX's Starlink and Globalstar continue to weigh heavily on AST SpaceMobile's financial performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AST SpaceMobile's 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 129.2%, while EPS estimates suggest a decline of 69.4%, with estimates lowered 53.4% over the past 60 days. On the other side of the ledger, Jabil's management is focused on improving working capital management and integrating sophisticated AI and ML capabilities to enhance the efficiency of its internal processes. Jabil's top line is expected to benefit from strength in AI data center infrastructure, capital equipment, and warehouse automation markets, with 5G wireless and cloud computing adoption providing long-term tailwinds. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBL's 2026 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 17.3%, while EPS is expected to improve 30.7%, with estimates holding steady at $12.74 over the past 60 days. Jabil does face competitive pressure from domestic and international rivals including Sanmina Corporation (SANM), alongside headwinds from geopolitical tensions and weak demand in some consumer-centric markets. Over the past year, ASTS has gained 54.7% compared with the industry's growth of 21.8%, while JBL has surged 41.4% over the same period, reflecting strong momentum for both names. From a valuation standpoint, JBL trades at just 0.75 forward price-to-sales, a fraction of ASTS's lofty 44.49 forward multiple, making Jabil significantly more attractive on that basis. Both ASTS and JBL currently carry a Zacks Rank of 3, or Hold, but JBL's stable estimate revisions and improving bottom line give it a clear edge over AST SpaceMobile as an investment option right now.