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ku_qm_huko7
12 days ago
On September 11, Elastic (NYSE:ESTC) rolled out Elasticsearch Vector Database, a new serverless offering the company says lets developers ship large-scale vector search and AI applications without stitching together the usual pile of infrastructure themselves. The launch landed less than three weeks after Elastic posted first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on August 27, for the period ended July 31, giving investors a fresh product story to weigh against a quarter that already showed accelerating growth.
The new database automates what used to require manual **** embly: chunking documents, hosting embedding and reranking models, configuring indexes, and wiring query-time retrieval. Elastic built in expert-tuned defaults, a single field type that handles indexing, embeddings, and chunking together, and hybrid search that combines full-text and vector retrieval in one query. The system scales to hundreds of billions of vectors using Elastic's Better Binary Quantization, which the company says shrinks vector memory by up to 32 times while keeping recall high, and pricing is based on data and search capacity rather than the opaque compute units the company says define most pure-play vector database pricing.
That product push follows a quarter that was already running hot. Total revenue reached $478 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, up 15% year over year, while current remaining performance obligations grew 21% and remaining performance obligations grew 27%. Sales-led subscription revenue, which strips out Monthly Elastic Cloud, grew 18% year over year to $399 million, outpacing the company's overall subscription growth.
Elastic added more customers with annual contract value above $100,000 than in any prior quarter, pushing that cohort past 1,800 from over 1,720 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and over 1,550 a year earlier. Net expansion rate held around 111%, and the company generated $143 million in adjusted free cash flow during the quarter. Guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2027, ending October 31, calls for revenue of $486 million to $487 million and a swing to positive GAAP operating margin, with full fiscal 2027 non-GAAP operating margin guided to roughly 19.4%, up from 16.2% in the quarter just reported.
Growth came with a reminder that Elastic has not fully crossed into GAAP profitability. The company posted a GAAP operating loss of $24 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, a -5% operating margin, and a GAAP net loss per share of $0.16. Non-GAAP figures told a healthier story, with $77 million in non-GAAP operating income and $0.70 in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, but the gap between the two measures shows how much of Elastic's reported profitability still depends on excluding real costs like stock-based compensation.

#elastic #vector #company
ku_qm_huko7
13 days ago
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd (TSX:HIVE, NASDAQ:HIVE, FRA:YO0, BVC:HIVECO) announced is has appointed Canadian capital-markets veteran Hubert Marleau as an independent director of BUZZ HPC's board.
Marleau brings more than five decades of cross-border capital-markets and governance experience to the role, strengthening independent oversight as the company scales its sovereign AI infrastructure platform across Canada.
A co-founder of Palos Capital and Palos Management, Marleau has served as Governor of the Montreal and Vancouver stock exchanges and Chairman of the Toronto Stock Exchange Listing Committee, and has been a director of more than 50 publicly traded companies in Canada and the United States. He currently serves as CEO of Nio Strategic Metals and as Market Economist at Palos.
Frank Holmes, executive chairman of HIVE Digital Technologies and BUZZ HPC, said he has known Marleau for 40 years and values his candor and independent judgment as BUZZ scales sovereign AI infrastructure in Canada with Bell.
Aydin Kilic, CEO of HIVE Digital Technologies, said Marleau's experience and independent judgment strengthen the BUZZ HPC board as it enters its next stage of growth.

#canada
ku_qm_huko7
14 days ago
Tech stocks rose in pre-market trading on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq climbing 0.5%.
SK Hynix (SKHY) released a statement Wednesday saying that it is "exploring various options" following a Reuters report that the company is seeking to manufacture its memory chips in the US for the first time at Intel's (INTC) planned fabrication facility in Ohio.
A separate plan would see SK Hynix create a venture with Intel and cloud giants to build the chips.
Shares of both Intel and SK Hynix rose more than 3%.
OpenAI (OPAI.PVT), meanwhile, is reportedly planning another funding round that would value the AI startup at $1.2 trillion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

#wednesday #reuters
ku_qm_huko7
17 days ago
ku_qm_huko7
25 days ago
On Aug. 30, Elon Musk tweeted that ***** eX (SPCX) will start casting its own gas turbine blades and vanes at a foundry in Texas. And when the richest man in the world makes a statement, the world takes notice. The market worried about the impact this could have on Howmet Aerospace (HWM), and its stock fell roughly 8% in a single trading session. The blades Musk wrote about sit in the hottest part of a turbine, and they are one of the main bottlenecks slowing down new power plants. Musk said building them in-house could bring turbines online up to 18 months sooner, feeding the power needs of ***** eX's AI data centers. Investors heard "new competitor" and sold. In my opinion, that may have been an overreaction.
The only reason ***** eX has to build its own foundry is that Howmet and the firms like it are sold out. Just four companies in the world cast these blades at scale, and together they control around 70% to 80% of the market. So several ***** ysts read the news as a sign of strength. Bernstein, which had lifted its price target to $328 just days earlier, called the selloff a buying opportunity. Citi and Jefferies pushed back too.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says His $3.5 Billion MediaTek Deal Is 'Not Circular' Because 'They Do Their Own Business'
Strategy's Strategy Appears to Have Failed, and the Outlook of MSTR Stock Is Unfavorable
A Potential ***** eX Deal Could Meaningfully Accelerate Growth for Technip Stock

#deal
ku_qm_huko7
26 days ago
Updated Sept 02, 2026, 1:02 pm EDT / Original Sept 02, 2026, 11:32 am EDT
The artificial-intelligence buildout is driving earnings growth for the entire S&P 500
SPX
+1.06%
, so projecting the pace of
AIExternal link
expansion has become a top priority for nervous investors.
SPX
+1.06%
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

#original #company #rights
ku_qm_huko7
27 days ago
Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a heavy-hitter rewards earner and has a generous intro APR, all with no annual cost. Even better, you have flexibility with your redemption options, with complete control over redeeming your rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.
Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best cards for travelers because it earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and has a low annual fee. You also have flexibility with your redemption options, including redeeming points for airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, transfer partners, and more.
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Why we like it: The Capital One Savor has an excellent 0% intro APR offer for new cardmembers, and it also checks multiple other boxes to ensure it provides lasting value. It has no foreign transaction fees, no annual fee, and one of the best rewards rates available for earning unlimited cash back on everyday purchases.

#annual #capital #intro #flexibility
ku_qm_huko7
29 days ago
Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN). The Fund added Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) which engages in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in interstate and intrastate commerce, to its portfolio during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) closed at $39.18 per share. The one-month return of Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) was 2.27% and its shares gained 37.43% over the past 52 weeks. Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) has a market capitalization of $2.35 billion with a 52-week trading range between $23.06 to $47.49.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Late in the quarter we initiated Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WERN), one of the largest truckload carriers. A landmark liability ruling now places responsibility for driver safety squarely on carriers with the balance sheets to insure it, a change we believe will force as much as a third of industry capacity, concentrated among small and marginal operators, to consolidate or exit. Large, well-capitalized carriers such as Werner should be the direct beneficiaries through pricing power and share gains. Only two of fifteen covering ******* ysts rated the stock a buy when we purchased it, which is precisely the setup we look for: identifying the inflection before the upgrade cycle begins."

#partners
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) delivered an earnings beat alongside weak organic growth and a reduced outlook. Second-quarter total sales increased approximately 8.3% to $25.96 billion, supported by acquisitions, but organic comparable sales rose just 0.2%, below the 0.8% expected. Diluted earnings were $4.27 per share. Company-defined adjusted diluted earnings, a non-GAAP measure, reached $4.40 per share and exceeded the $4.22 FactSet consensus estimate. Results also included a $0.11-per-share benefit from tariff refunds. Management reduced its full-year sales forecast to $92 billion and now expects comparable sales to be approximately flat. Still, the shares reversed a premarket decline and closed 2.0% higher at $220 on August 19. For Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), the question is whether contractor demand can cushion the combined pressure from weak DIY spending and subdued housing activity.
The operating split was clear. Pro, online, and home services growth helped Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) produce a fifth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. Online sales increased nearly 16%, while contractors and repair-and-maintenance projects supported demand. Acquisitions expanded the reported revenue base but are excluded from the comparable-sales calculation, making the 0.2% organic increase the better measure of underlying momentum.
The weaker side extends beyond the consumer. Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) said persistent pressure on discretionary DIY spending partly offset its stronger categories. The revised outlook also incorporated softer housing trends affecting Foundation Building Materials and Artisan Design Group, particularly their residential-construction exposure. Consumers continue prioritizing necessary repairs while postponing larger projects, and weak housing turnover is also limiting construction and renovation activity.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is getting support from customers whose spending is less discretionary than a kitchen remodel or major outdoor project. Pro demand, home services, and online growth provide several ways to capture repair, maintenance, and contractor spending while DIY customers remain cautious. The adjusted earnings beat shows that profitability held up better than organic sales, even after accounting for the tariff-refund benefit. If lower mortgage rates eventually revive housing turnover, these businesses could provide a stronger base for renewed DIY and construction demand.

#Companies #NYSE #housing #online
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.
S&P 500 companies that maintained their diversity, equity and inclusion commitments performed as well as or better than their peers that rolled back DEI commitments in the face of political pressure, University of California, Berkeley public policy scholar Jacob Grumbach posited in a recently published report.
Grumbach determined the health of the companies by looking at both company revenue and abnormal stock returns to measure company performance relative to the broader market trends. Both metrics indicated that organizations that retained DEI programs performed as well as or better than their competitors.
These findings come contrary to the current corporate logic du jour, which maintains that DEI programming presents a legal risk under the current presidential administration.
"Markets Do Not Punish Firms for Maintaining DEI," published on Aug. 14, highlighted the performance of companies such as Apple, Cisco, Costco, Delta Airlines, Dollar Tree, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and Pfizer, which maintained their DEI commitments — compared to companies such as Citigroup, Dollar General, IBM, Target and Walmart, which all scaled back.

#dollar
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
After a long dry spell, retailer Target (NYSE: TGT) is back on track.
That's the quick takeaway from last quarter's earnings report anyway. The company's same-store sales grew 3.8% year-over-year on a 3.6% improvement in foot traffic for the three months ending in early August, driving total top-line growth of 5.3%, and marking the second strong quarter in a row following yet-another disappointing year ending in early February.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
It's arguably not mere temporary luck either. The strategic turnaround plan unveiled in March has much of what previous plans were missing. That's effective investments in the right opportunities for improvement like more store personnel and smarter merchandise ****** ortment (assisted by artificial intelligence).
Guidance suggests more of the same is in the cards too. Here's what this could mean for investors.

#signal
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
With a market cap of $27.3 billion, Dover Corporation (DOV) is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider, delivering innovative equipment, components, consumables, aftermarket solutions, software, and digital services across five operating segments. With approximately 24,000 employees and more than 70 years of entrepreneurial expertise, Dover combines global scale with operational agility to drive innovation and create value for customers worldwide.
Shares of the Downers Grove, Illinois-based company have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. DOV stock has increased 14.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 19.3%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 4% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 12.4% gain.
Barron Trump, 20, Now Worth $150 Million — More Than Mom, Melania — From Crypto And $39 Energy Drink
Billionaire Michael Saylor Warns Against Buying a House Because 'Every 36 Years You Actually Pay the Cost of the House in Tax to the Government'
QQQ Just 'Gamma Flipped' as Market Makers Were Forced to Sell. Here's What Our Top Chart Expert is Tracking Next.

#shares
ku_qm_huko7
1 month ago
IBD Composite Rating
Industry Group Ranking
Emerging Pattern

#composite #group #pattern
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record revenue and EBITDA by leveraging a business model where profitability increases as programs mature and upfront onboarding costs are spread across a larger recurring revenue base.
Operational efficiency improved through the consolidation of European logistics into a Romanian hub and bringing IT and customer support responsibilities in-house from subcontractors.
The U.S. market is delivering higher margins due to a centralized cloud-based infrastructure and a standardized operating model compared to more complex, decentralized European national programs.
Success in displacing long-term incumbents of 20 to 25 years in Nordic markets validates the technical superiority and reliability of the proprietary Pure Security platform.

#ebitda #operational
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, global equities rebounded sharply, with the MSCI ACWI posting its strongest quarterly gain since 2020, supported by broad market strength, easing geopolitical tensions, and continued enthusiasm for AI infrastructure. Information technology led the advance, with semiconductor and hardware companies accounting for most of the index's rise. The fund returned 26.9% (net) in the second quarter of 2026. The portfolio benefited from strong gains across memory, software infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other AI-related holdings, although its concentrated exposure to mega-cap chip designers and manufacturers weighed on relative performance as leadership broadened into CPUs, networking, and memory. Vertical software, internet, and financial holdings were modest detractors amid macro concerns and uncertainty over AI disruption. The fund remains focused on critical AI bottlenecks, including compute, memory, manufacturing, networking, and power, while retaining selected businesses that may use AI to strengthen their competitive positions. You can check the fund's top five holdings to learn more about its leading investment ideas for the year.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) as a newly added position. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is a leading semiconductor company that designs and manufactures AI accelerators, microprocessors, and graphics processing units, which contributed to the fund's performance in the quarter. On August 7, 2026, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) closed at $483.36 per share. One-month return of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) was -14.80% and its shares gained 178.94% over the past 52 weeks. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) has a market capitalization of about $789.07 billion.
Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), Arm Holdings, and Intel increased the portfolio's exposure to rising CPU demand driven by agentic AI. While GPUs remain central to training and token generation, CPUs are increasingly important for scheduling, memory management, tool execution, and the orchestration of agentic workflows. As AI workloads evolve toward inference, agentic workflows, and more complex data center architectures, we believe the need to coordinate, feed, and manage accelerated compute could drive stronger CPU demand than investors previously expected. AMD and Arm provide exposure to supplier diversity, open standards, and more efficient compute architectures, while Intel adds exposure to server CPUs and potential foundry optionality as customers seek additional sources
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
You were reminded of an important investing lesson this week.
But I can't fault you if you missed it, even if it was right under your nose.
Meta (META) being coy about future AI spending isn't what the market wants to hear as overspending fears rattle tech stocks.
Yet that's what the market got — and Meta received another earnings day stock plunge in return. The move is likely to keep dark clouds over the stock through the summer.
"We aren't providing a specific outlook for 2027 capex at this time," Meta CFO Susan Li told ***** ysts on a late-Wednesday earnings call.

#earnings #Stock #reminded
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
SummaryView Transcript
The logistics industry has a dirty little secret: trailers sit idle for 30-40% of their lifespan, costing carriers and shippers millions. Chris Hines, CEO of REPOWR, reveals how their new Trailer Optimization Platform (TOP) is transforming this inefficiency into opportunity. Discover how advanced data feeds and an execution layer can automate repositioning, boost utilization, and reduce operational costs. Learn why optimizing your "dumb boxes" is the next frontier in supply chain efficiency.
Trailers sit empty 30% to 40% of their working lives — and sometimes more — while every other link in the freight chain has been optimized. That is the core problem Repower is targeting with its new Trailer Optimization Platform, known as TOP, which automates the repositioning of trailer **** ets from surplus markets to deficit ones. CEO Chris Hines, a 44-year industry veteran, joined the Chattanooga-based startup to push it beyond its origins as a trailer marketplace and into an execution layer that carriers have long lacked.
The stakes are significant. A dry van trailer that cost $10,000 at the dawn of drop-and-hook operations now runs $50,000 depending on tariff conditions, Hines noted. Large carriers routinely run trailer-to-truck ratios of 2.5 to 3 to 1, meaning a fleet of 1,000 trucks could be managing 2,500 or more trailers — often tracked across a patchwork of TMS records, spreadsheets, and whiteboards. "Everything else is optimized in our chain," Hines said. "The gates are optimized, the dock's optimized, the truck's optimized, loads, fuel, but the trailers just lag behind."
"Visibility of the **** et is not enough. You need the execution layer and the automation to move the **** et to its next location." — Chris Hines, CEO, Repower

#optimized #chris #carriers #execution
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Chesapeake, Virginia-based Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) operates retail discount stores under the Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada brands. With a market cap of $23.1 billion, the company sells an **** ortment of everyday general merchandise, as well as offers kitchen and dining, toys, books, crafts, cleaning, personal care, glasses, food carriers, gifts, and other household products. The discount retail giant is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2026 in the near term.
Ahead of the event, **** ysts expect Dollar Tree to report a profit of $1.11 per share on a diluted basis, up 44.2% from $0.77 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has consistently surpassed Wall Street's EPS estimates in its last four quarterly reports.
Dear **** eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 6
Amazon Stock Just Hit a Major Hurdle Ahead of Earnings
Elon Musk Just Revealed a Quiet Win for Tesla's AI Ambitions

#earnings #discount
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Interested in Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Record Q2 results: Dime Community Bancshares posted record second-quarter revenue of $126 million, with core EPS up 23% year over year to $0.79. Net interest margin expanded to 3.28%, marking the bank's ninth straight quarter of margin growth.
Business lending is driving growth: Business loans grew 26% year over year, and management said the pipeline remains strong at about $1.4 billion. The bank expects low- to mid-single-digit loan growth in the second half while continuing to diversify away from multifamily exposure.
Credit, capital and buybacks: Credit trends were mixed but manageable, with nonperforming **** ets down 28% sequentially and the allowance to loans rising to 98 basis points. Capital levels improved, and management said it expects to resume share repurchases in the third quarter.
Time To Buy Regional Banks? Insider Buying Says Yes

#credit
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
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ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
The UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has released its Annual Review of Audit Quality (ARAQ) 2026, offering a market-wide ***** sment of audit performance.
The review is aimed at enabling better decision-making at audit firms, audit committees and other users of audit, combining inspections of audit files with evaluations of companies' Systems of Quality Management (SoQM).
The FRC report said that SoQMs are the "foundation" of audit quality, supporting consistent audit delivery and enabling long-term improvements.
Audit quality is said to be improving overall, but the report underlines that performance remains uneven. A clear divide persists between the largest and smallest companies, particularly in the development of and investment in SoQMs.
The FRC stresses that reinforcing company-wide systems and capabilities is essential for sustained enhancements in audit quality.

#quality #Companies
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Listen
(2 min)
Good morning. We now have a price tag for the U.S.-Iran war: $37.5 billion. Pete Hegseth shared the updated estimate yesterday—some $9 billion higher than earlier projections. The rising bill comes as fighting intensifies. Our latest reporting shows Iran’s ballistic missiles remain a deadly threat to U.S. forces and regional allies. Yet Israel is staying out of the fight—for now—at Washington’s request, to preserve room for diplomacy. Meanwhile, President Trump has approved a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could bring large profits for American companies, but could also raise concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
This is an edition of The 10-Point newsletter, a guided tour to the best coverage in The Wall Street Journal. If you’re not subscribed, sign up here. If you’re reading this in your inbox, tap the headline above for online and audio versions of this newsletter.

#Iran #newsletter #Israel
ku_qm_huko7
2 months ago
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett is no longer the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, but remains active as Executive Chairman at providing investment ideas for the conglomerate and new CEO Greg Abel. These days, Buffett says its tough to find value in the stock market.
Berkshire Hathaway underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&P 500, in 2025. The underperformance could continue in 2026 with Berkshire Hathaway sitting on a cash and short-term investment holding balance nearing $400 billion.
Don't Miss:
A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and why
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
Heartland Advisors, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for "Heartland Value Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The AI trend continues to drive the market in the quarter. Small-cap stocks continue to outperform, with the Russell 2000® Index rising 21.49% in the quarter. The Heartland Value Fund gained 17.05% in the quarter, compared with the 17.19% return for the Russell 2000® Value Index. In addition, you can check the Fund's top 5 holdings to determine its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Heartland Value Fund highlighted Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH). Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) is a leading US-based automotive retailer. On July 14, 2026, Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) closed at $92.38 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.92 billion. Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) posted a one-month return of 20.54%, while its shares gained 10.57% over the past 52 weeks.
Heartland Value Fund stated the following regarding Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"UTL demonstrates that there are plenty of attractively priced, small-cap companies outside of Technology. So does Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH), one of the largest auto dealership groups with locations in major markets in the West, Southwest, and Southeast.
We first purchased SAH for the Strategy in 2014. But we exited the position two years later due to extraordinary costs Sonic was incurring to launch a used car business. Still, we continued to monitor their progress for the subsequent 9 years and repurchased shares earlier this year.
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
By Laura Matthews and Samuel Indyk
NEW YORK/LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - The dollar slipped against major currencies on Wednesday after softer-than-expected U.S. producer prices reinforced signs of easing inflation, bolstering the view that the Federal Reserve can remain patient on interest ‌rates even as investors weighed renewed strikes on Iran.
The Producer Price Index for final demand dropped 0.3% in June after ‌a downwardly revised 0.6% increase in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PPI unchanged after a previously reported 1.1% advance in May.
The dollar was flat against the yen at 162.19 yen. The euro steadied at $1.1433, while sterling rose 0.44% to $1.3447.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the currency against six major peers, softened 0.09% to 100.79. It fell 0.4% in the previous session, its biggest decline in nearly two weeks, after touching its highest level since July 2.
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Can you get a mortgage and buy a house at the age of 18? What about 68? Does age matter when getting a mortgage? The simple answer is that age discrimination in lending is prohibited. However, real life is a bit more nuanced.
If you're of legal age in your state, you can sign a contract and apply for a mortgage. In most states, the "age of majority" is 18. It's 21 in Mississippi and 19 in Alabama and Nebraska.
There are exceptions. A minor may buy a house if:
The minor is legally emancipated, which is a court-ordered process that enables a minor to sign ownership and mortgage agreements. Of course, lender approval would be required.
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) market is a tough one to invest in because it's in such an early stage. While there are multiple companies involved in the ***** e and trying to convince investors they're the real deals, it's difficult, if not impossible, to predict which, if any, will lead the market in the next five to 10 years.
Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) is one of the promising players in the industry, and that's evident with its sizable valuation. Its market cap is nearly $9 billion -- more than double that of rival Archer Aviation. But investors have grown bearish about Joby's stock of late, as it's down more than 30% since the beginning of the year. Trading at around $9, investors may be torn about where the eVTOL stock will be headed from here on out: is it more likely to get to $15 or $5 this year?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Joby's stock had been rising prior to the start of this year on the hope that its air taxis would soon commence operating activities. While that's still a possibility, it's notable that the stock began to go into a free fall in late January after Joby announced it was raising about $1.2 billion from the issue of common stock and convertible notes, raising flags over the unprofitable company's need to raise cash -- an issue that's likely to persist over the long haul.
While Joby has been showcasing its air taxi with test flights in New York City and Dubai, investors are still left waiting for approval from regulators, which would surely be the catalyst that lifts the stock higher. Joby has previously stated it expects to commence U.S. operations at some point this year. If that ends up happening, that could be what's needed for the stock to rally once more.
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
Artisan Partners, an investment management firm, issued its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund". A copy of this letter is available for download here. In Q1 2026, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark Russell Midcap Value Index as the market favored momentum-driven stocks over quality factors. Some holdings faced company-specific setbacks and negative sentiment. The Fund's Investor Class: ARTQX returned -4.93%, Advisor Class: APDQX declined by -4.90%, and Institutional Class: APHQX fell by -4.97%, all trailing the Index's 3.68% gain. The equity market in the quarter was mixed, with mid- and small-cap indices showing resilience despite lagging large-cap growth stocks. Volatility increased, initially fueled by interest in AI and private credit, but escalated after the outbreak of war in Iran, leading to rising oil prices. Sector performance varied, with energy leading the gains. The Fund continues to seek companies capable of value growth during market dislocations at attractive entry points. Also, review the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund highlighted ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization that provides outsourced development and commercialization services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. On July 7, 2026, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $168.72 per share. One-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 16.69%, and its shares gained 12.08% over the past 52 weeks. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) has a market capitalization of about $12.92 billion.
Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"Among the biggest decliners were ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR), Humana, Gartner and Pinterest, each of which dropped by 30% or more during the quarter. ICON, a leading provider of outsourced clinical development services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, was the largest detractor. The stock fell sharply—nearly 49% in a single day—after the company announced it would delay its financial results due to an internal review of its accounting, specifically related to revenue recognition in recent years. While ICON indicated its cash position remains intact, the situation raises uncertainty around reported earnings and has pressured investor confidence in the near term. This development comes at a challenging time for the broader contract research industry, where funding constraints and cautious spending by biotech and pharmaceutical companies have already weighed on demand. Although the lack of updated financials limits near term visibility, we believe the stock reflects a more attractive valuation based on conservative ******* umptions for free cash f
ku_qm_huko7
3 months ago
With the cost of living rising, more investors are recognizing the importance of generating income through dividend stocks. After all, those income payments can provide an extra cushion in retirement.
That's why Nike (NYSE: NKE) is receiving increased attention. With a yield of 4% as of this writing, it's paying out more than Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), a long-term holding for many dividend investors. The beverage maker is a Dividend King, earning that ******* le by increasing its dividend payout for more than 50 consecutive years.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But as you'll see in a minute, there's a reason to look at more than just Nike's yield when making an investment decision.
When the Air Jordan was launched in 1985, it turned owning a pair of Nike shoes into a status symbol. In recent years, however, the cool factor around Nike has started to disappear.