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orBit1
13 days ago
On August 20, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) said it had completed a sale of $1.25 billion of notes that carry a 5.55% coupon and come due on January 20, 2034. The money is earmarked first for floating-rate term loans, with anything left over used to repay or refinance other debt, and the offering rode on a shelf registration filed on February 29, 2024. That sounds like routine upkeep. But next to an earnings beat and a flat third-quarter pricing outlook, the deal gives you a handy lens on where the company stands.
Start with the debt itself. Swapping floating-rate borrowings for notes with a stated 5.550% coupon takes some interest-rate guesswork out of the picture, and the notes don't mature until January 20, 2034. That matters because $2.7 billion comes due in 2027 and $3.4 billion in 2028. Against those bills, the company held $6.9 billion of liquidity as of June 30, and it added $250 million to its revolving credit line in July.
The business generating the cash is running well. On July 28, Royal Caribbean reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.21 per share, ahead of its own guidance on stronger last-minute demand, lower costs, and better results from joint ventures. Management then raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $17.73 to $17.87, which implies 14% growth. It also kept returning cash to shareholders in the second quarter, through $404 million of dividends and $199 million of buybacks. Booking volumes are running above last year, and 2027 bookings are tracking ahead of past years, even on routes that geopolitical events hit in 2026.
Beat or not, that $4.21 is still below the $4.38 from the same quarter in 2025. Costs excluding fuel per passenger cruise day rose 4.4%, and the cost beat came largely from the timing of expenses. Then there is pricing, where the story gets less rosy. Third-quarter net yields are guided to roughly flat against 2025 while capacity grows 8.5%, so the expected 8% revenue growth comes from more capacity, not from better yields. Management also says prolonged geopolitical activity has dented bookings on select itineraries. It calls the hit modest, but it is now built into guidance.
The refinancing also doesn't shrink the debt pile. New notes pay off old borrowings, so the total owed stays roughly where it was, and the company still expects net interest of $980 million to $990 million this year. Add roughly $4.7 billion of capital spending in 2026, mostly for new ships and destination projects, and it is clear this business needs a steady supply of capital. The April ship orders, Icon VI and Icon VII, extend that appetite, though their financing is already committed.

#billion #quarter #company #year
orBit1
16 days ago
I last wrote about the dollar index on Barchart on July 23, 2026, when I asked if the index that measures the U.S. currency against the world's other leading convertible reserve currencies. I concluded the article with the following:
A weaker dollar, even if the dollar index moves higher, could fuel inflation, pushing prices of all ***** ets higher, including commodities, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and even bonds if central banks turn on liquidity faucets during a crisis as they did in 2020. Higher ***** et prices may only reflect the declining purchasing power of the world's reserve currency.
Dollar Rises on Surging Crude Prices and T-Note Yields
Dollar Edges Higher as Stocks Fall and Crude Oil Rallies
Dollar Supported by Higher Crude Prices and T-Note Yields

#index #yields
orBit1
17 days ago
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs shed $450.4 million on Tuesday, their largest single-day outflow since June 24, according to Decrypt's Bitcoin ETF tracker.
ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are products that let ordinary investors buy exposure to an ***** et, such as Bitcoin, through a regular brokerage account, without ever touching a crypto wallet. They've been extremely popular since first launching two years ago and have become a proxy for overall market sentiment as money flows in and out of them daily.
Fidelity's FBTC led the exodus Tuesday with $214.8 million pulled out. BlackRock's IBIT lost $161.7 million, Grayscale's GBTC shed $44.1 million, and ARK 21Shares and Bitwise's funds saw smaller withdrawals.
Ethereum ETFs bled another $142.3 million the same day, and XRP funds, smaller and newer, held flat after pulling in $11.3 million the day prior.
Combined, the three ***** et funds lost close to $593 million in a single session—the sharpest one-day pullback crypto ETFs have seen since June, when Bitcoin funds posted their worst month on record.

#million #etfs #since #tuesday
orBit1
19 days ago
Sept 14 (Reuters) - DeepSeek plans to hire Yan Wentao, a partner at venture-capital firm GL Ventures, as its first chief financial officer, two people with ‌knowledge of the matter said, as the Chinese AI startup prepares for a ‌potential initial public offering.
Reuters reported last week that Hangzhou-based DeepSeek had hired Chinese brokerage CITIC Securities to prepare for a possible listing on Shanghai's technology-focused STAR Market.
A CFO typically plays a central role in managing investor communications, financial controls, capital allocation and disclosure processes required for a listing.
The appointment of Yan, who has dealmaking experience, to the role would be a significant step ‌in DeepSeek's transformation from a ⁠research-focused lab bankrolled by its founder's hedge fund into a more conventional corporate structure.
The sources on his planned appointment could not be named ⁠because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.

#reuters #capital #role #sept
orBit1
28 days ago
99% of auto-enrollment plans default workers into target-date funds that often carry higher fees and unnecessary bond exposure for 25-year-olds.
VTI, DGRO, and BND together deliver total-market growth, a dividend-quality tilt, and controllable bond stability at costs most 401(k) menus cannot match.
The three-fund portfolio requires annual rebalancing, which means investors who will never log in again are actually better served by the default fund.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
You were auto-enrolled in your 401(k) at 25, checked a box, and moved on. Five years later, you still own whatever target-date fund the plan defaulted you into, and you have never once opened the prospectus. You are not alone. By year-end 2025, 61% of Vanguard defined contribution plans had adopted automatic enrollment, and 99% of automatic enrollment plans used a target-date or other balanced investment strategy as the default fund, with 98% choosing a target-date fund. That default is fine, but it is not optimized. If you want to graduate from "whatever they picked" to a portfolio a grown-up would actually build, three ETFs do the job: Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEARCA:VTI), iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO), and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ:BND).

#vanguard #total #market #plans
orBit1
30 days ago
As AI and automation reshape workers' daily lives, they are also reshaping which jobs can expect major gains and losses over the next decade, according to new projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The U.S. economy is expected to add 5.9 million jobs, an increase of 3.5%, between 2025 and 2035, but growth will be slower than it was in the previous decade, according to data released Aug. 27. Total employment is projected to increase from 170.3 million to 176.2 million, with healthcare, technology and renewable energy expected to lead those gains.
Artificial intelligence, a major player in who sees gains and losses, is also driving demand for workers in fields such as data ***** ysis, cybersecurity and software development. But federal data predicts that increased automation will reduce demand for many office support, sales and production jobs.
Administrative jobs, such as clerks, typists and data entry specialists, are expected to take an especially hard hit with a 4% drop in employment, the largest projected in any category, thanks to what the Labor Department called "continued integration of automation tools, including those powered by AI."
Sales, along with the farming, fishing and forestry industries, are also expected to see losses.

#data #gains #losses
orBit1
1 month ago
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh delivered exactly what Wall Street was clamoring for this week: drawing a line in the sand against inflation while offering clarity on how the central bank would respond to rising prices.
Harvard professor and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, Ken Rogoff, said Warsh made it clear that if the inflation data didn't improve, he's going to hike interest rates.
"That surprised me because my layman political economic view of the situation was that if the Fed could possibly put that off until after the midterms, it would be good for the Fed as an institution," Rogoff said in an interview.
"By hiking, they demonstrate independence. On the other hand, democracy is under ******* ault, and if he hikes rates, you just don't know what the consequences are going to be."
Rogoff predicts that if the Fed raises rates at its September policy meeting, the central bank will face fierce backlash from President Trump. Following Warsh's speech, market odds for a September rate hike surged to 60%, up from 35% the previous day.

#warsh #september #bank
orBit1
1 month ago
Investors just moved a record $7 billion into gold and Bitcoin (BTC) funds in five days. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan blames a flaw in the 60/40 portfolio, which is 100% exposed to fiat currency.
Bloomberg senior ETF ******* yst Eric Balchunas calls it the debasement trade, a bet on ******* ets no government can print. This week, that bet pushed AI funds out of the headlines.
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) took in $3.4 billion in the week through August 21. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) added just over $1 billion, data shows.
Meanwhile, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) bled $1.7 billion, more than any other fund. Money did not leave the market. It switched sides.
"DEBASER: Gold and Bitcoin ETFs have combined for +$7b in flows in past week, by far a record for a 5-day period as debasement trade steals spotlight from AI. GLD, IBIT leading, in Top 10 for week. Also notable $IBIT YTD flows are now positive, completely dug out of sizable hole," Balchunas shared.

#trade
orBit1
1 month ago
Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Global Growth Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. The SGA Global Growth Portfolio returned 7.4% gross and 7.2% net, compared with 14.9% for the MSCI ACWI and 19.8% for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. Momentum leadership and enthusiasm around AI infrastructure drove markets, with semiconductor, memory, and hardware stocks accounting for much of the gain. Although the portfolio owned AI beneficiaries, broader holdings lagged despite fundamentals, as median revenue and EPS growth reached 12% and 14% and more than 60% of the holdings beat expectations. SGA believes valuation compression reflects sentiment rather than weaker business quality, leaving the portfolio near its widest discount to the market since inception. The firm continues to favor durable compounders and expects 16% revenue growth and 20% earnings growth over three years. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU). Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) provides financial management, payments and capital, compliance, and marketing products and services. On August 21, 2026, Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) closed at $367.00 per share. The one-month return of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) was 20.76%, and its shares lost 44.14% over the past 52 weeks. Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) has a market capitalization of $100.4 billion.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We liquidated our position in Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) during the quarter. Following the company's fiscal third quarter results, we became increasingly concerned with the DIY Tax weakness, continued deterioration in Mailchimp, and reduced visibility on the timing of any growth reacceleration, as well as management's ability to execute in a challenging environment. As a result, we exited the position and reallocated the capital to a new position in Arista Networks.
Intuit was a detractor from performance during the quarter. The company reported fiscal third quarter results that included a modest revenue beat and a full-year guidance increase, though results were overshadowed by weaker than expected Consumer Tax performance. TurboTax revenue grew 7%, below guidance, with notable weakness in the DIY segment. Management cited pressure among lower income, price sensitive filers and a contraction in total IRS filers of roughly 30 basis points. Despite double-digit revenue growth and ongoing margin expansion above 40%, we became increasingly concerned with the DIY Tax weakness, continued deterioration in Mailchimp, and reduced visibility on the timing of any growth reacceleration, as well as management's ability to execute in a challenging environment. Given these factors, we chose to exit the position and
orBit1
1 month ago
Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS) enters its second-quarter report with a tougher problem than weak demand: clearing a bar it raised itself. First-quarter revenue climbed 32% to $1.945 billion, while Technical Apparel grew 33% and Outdoor Performance surged 42%. The strength prompted management to lift its 2026 revenue-growth outlook to 20% to 22% and adjusted EPS guidance to $1.18 to $1.23. For the second quarter, consensus estimates call for roughly $1.54 billion in revenue and adjusted EPS of $0.11. For Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS), simply delivering another solid quarter may not be enough. The report will test whether Arc'teryx and Salomon can maintain premium growth and support another guidance increase.
Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS) delivered more than headline growth in the first quarter. Direct-to-consumer revenue rose nearly 45% and represented about half of total sales. Adjusted gross margin expanded 200 basis points to 60%, while adjusted operating margin improved 160 basis points to 17.4%. Technical Apparel's adjusted operating margin reached 26.4%, and Outdoor Performance's margin climbed to 20.4%.
The breadth also helped Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS) make a stronger case that its momentum is durable. Revenue increased 44.5% in Greater China, 26.6% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and 18.1% in the Americas. That mix shows the story is broader than one geography, even though China remains a major growth engine.
The bull case for Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS) rests on premium brands growing through several channels at once. Technical Apparel direct-to-consumer revenue, led by Arc'teryx, rose 40.8%, while Outdoor Performance direct-to-consumer revenue, led by Salomon, increased 56.9%. Technical Apparel omni-comp rose 18.5%, while Outdoor Performance omni-comp increased 28.8%, suggesting growth was not purely driven by new-store expansion.
Arc'teryx owned retail stores increased from 176 to 257, with the increase including 46 acquired stores in Korea. Salomon's owned retail store count rose 40.2% from 241 to 338. More stores, strong digital demand and premium pricing can continue lifting sales while supporting margins, particularly if footwear and apparel become larger parts of the mix.

#revenue #quarter #apparel #Growth
orBit1
1 month ago
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh effectively cut the rope connecting Treasury yields to central bank policy in June, and markets are starting to realize the gravity of that decision.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Fewer Fed meetings could be on the horizon, too.

#federal #reserve #kevin #warsh
orBit1
2 months ago
With a market cap of $73.6 billion, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) is one of the world's largest hospitality companies, operating and franchising a broad portfolio of hotel and resort brands across luxury, lifestyle, full-service, and focused-service segments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Hilton manages thousands of properties in more than 120 countries, including well-known brands such as Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, and Hampton.
The hospitality ****** an Hilton has outperformed the broader market over the past year and is maintaining that momentum in 2026. HLT stock prices have gained 21% over the past 52 weeks, compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 20.4% returns. In 2026, the stock is up 13.9%, surpassing the index's 13.7% rise.
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#hilton #Companies