26 mins. ago
The biggest return in the U.S. market this year came from the cost of moving oil across the ocean.
The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) has climbed about 3,600% since the start of the year. That makes it the top-performing non-leveraged fund in the country, ahead of every AI and energy trade that grabbed headlines.
BWET now trades near $726 a share, up from under $20 in January. The huge increase traces back to one event that reshaped global shipping, and it carries a warning for anyone tempted to buy in now.
BWET tracks the price of moving oil by sea. It does that by holding short-dated freight futures, which are contracts that lock in the future cost of renting an oil tanker.
About 90% of the fund follows shipping agreements with the biggest tankers on the route from the Middle East to China. Those agreements lift BWET whenever hiring rates increase.
#cost #agreements
The Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) has climbed about 3,600% since the start of the year. That makes it the top-performing non-leveraged fund in the country, ahead of every AI and energy trade that grabbed headlines.
BWET now trades near $726 a share, up from under $20 in January. The huge increase traces back to one event that reshaped global shipping, and it carries a warning for anyone tempted to buy in now.
BWET tracks the price of moving oil by sea. It does that by holding short-dated freight futures, which are contracts that lock in the future cost of renting an oil tanker.
About 90% of the fund follows shipping agreements with the biggest tankers on the route from the Middle East to China. Those agreements lift BWET whenever hiring rates increase.
#cost #agreements
53 mins. ago
A UTMA custodial account requires no attorney, costs nothing to open, and lets married couples contribute $38,000 annually per grandchild without triggering gift-tax reporting.
VOO anchors the portfolio at 60-70% with a 0.03% expense ratio, while SCHG's 447% 10-year return earns it a 20-25% growth slice.
Custodial account funds legally become the grandchild's property at 18 or 21, so grandparents who want spending control should use a 529 instead.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
You want to hand each grandchild a serious head start without the complicated legal setup. Skip the trust attorney. A custodial account under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) can be opened in an afternoon at any major brokerage, and three low-cost ETFs can do the work for the next 15 to 20 years: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHG), and the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG). Three tickers, one account per grandchild, and time on your side.
#custodial #three
VOO anchors the portfolio at 60-70% with a 0.03% expense ratio, while SCHG's 447% 10-year return earns it a 20-25% growth slice.
Custodial account funds legally become the grandchild's property at 18 or 21, so grandparents who want spending control should use a 529 instead.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
You want to hand each grandchild a serious head start without the complicated legal setup. Skip the trust attorney. A custodial account under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) can be opened in an afternoon at any major brokerage, and three low-cost ETFs can do the work for the next 15 to 20 years: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHG), and the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG). Three tickers, one account per grandchild, and time on your side.
#custodial #three
56 mins. ago
Grab Holdings (NASDAQ:GRAB), a super-app for ride-hailing, deliveries, and digital financial services, closed at $2.87, down 1.37%. The stock moved after Grab announced a $1.49 billion cash deal for a 60% stake in Atome Financial. Investors are watching the financial services expansion and consumer lending reach looking ahead. Trading volume reached 82.1M shares, coming in about 72% above its three-month average of 47.6M shares. Grab Holdings IPO'd in 2020 and has fallen 76% since going public.
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 0.43% to 7,553, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) slipped 0.01% to 25,978. Among ride-hailing, delivery, and consumer fintech platforms, Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) closed at $71.01, down 0.59%, while Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) finished at $15.69, unchanged, as mobility peers remained in focus.
Grab, the Southeast Asian delivery, mobility, and financial services upstart, continues to show it intends to become the leading "superapp" in its niche after acquiring 60% of Atome Financial for $1.49 billion today. Prior to the deal, Grab held over $6 billion in cash versus minimal debt, so the deal shouldn't be a funding problem by any means.
Atome Financial operates in five of Grab's six markets and brings over 25 million unique transacting users, helping to beef up the latter's fintech offerings. Atome has seen its gross merchandise volume grow ninefold over the last six years and is profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis.
As of 2024, merely 5% of Southeast Asian adults owned a credit card and only 14% had borrowed from a financial institution, so the potential here for Grab could be massive if they execute successfully upon this opportunity.
#billion #deal #lyft
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 0.43% to 7,553, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) slipped 0.01% to 25,978. Among ride-hailing, delivery, and consumer fintech platforms, Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) closed at $71.01, down 0.59%, while Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) finished at $15.69, unchanged, as mobility peers remained in focus.
Grab, the Southeast Asian delivery, mobility, and financial services upstart, continues to show it intends to become the leading "superapp" in its niche after acquiring 60% of Atome Financial for $1.49 billion today. Prior to the deal, Grab held over $6 billion in cash versus minimal debt, so the deal shouldn't be a funding problem by any means.
Atome Financial operates in five of Grab's six markets and brings over 25 million unique transacting users, helping to beef up the latter's fintech offerings. Atome has seen its gross merchandise volume grow ninefold over the last six years and is profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis.
As of 2024, merely 5% of Southeast Asian adults owned a credit card and only 14% had borrowed from a financial institution, so the potential here for Grab could be massive if they execute successfully upon this opportunity.
#billion #deal #lyft
2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over the flow of information to lawmakers about the U.S. military's priorities, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing a Defense Department leader of being frustratingly opaque.
Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon's top policy adviser, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, failed to provide an expected update on the Trump administration's National Defense Strategy at a classified briefing.
The lawmakers also say they were unsatisfied with Colby's answers to questions ranging from inquiries about the Iran war to growing concerns that President Donald Trump could deploy troops to polling places during November's midterm congressional elections. Colby acknowledged that discussions about deploying the National Guard were taking place.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Colby "was not forthcoming" and "did not really address our concerns or issues."
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican also on the committee, described the classified briefing as "just sort of dodge and punt."
#national #committee #lawmakers #concerns
Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon's top policy adviser, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, failed to provide an expected update on the Trump administration's National Defense Strategy at a classified briefing.
The lawmakers also say they were unsatisfied with Colby's answers to questions ranging from inquiries about the Iran war to growing concerns that President Donald Trump could deploy troops to polling places during November's midterm congressional elections. Colby acknowledged that discussions about deploying the National Guard were taking place.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Colby "was not forthcoming" and "did not really address our concerns or issues."
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican also on the committee, described the classified briefing as "just sort of dodge and punt."
#national #committee #lawmakers #concerns
2 hours ago
When planning for retirement, most people account for housing, travel, daily living expenses and general healthcare costs. However, it's easy to overlook one retirement expense: the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, commonly known as IRMAA.
If you have a large pension, substantial tax-deferred retirement accounts, or other variables that may elevate your retirement income, IRMAA is a factor you may encounter starting in your mid-60s. While it is unlikely to derail a well-constructed financial plan, failing to understand IRMAA and how to plan ahead for it can lead to frustrating annual surprises.
In the United States, most adults become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Medicare is divided into several parts, but IRMAA specifically applies to two of them: Part B (which covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive services) and Part D (prescription drug coverage).
For the average retiree, Medicare Part B carries a standard monthly base premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). Part D coverage varies depending on the specific private plan selected, but carries a national average base premium of roughly $38.99 per month. Combined, a standard retiree pays roughly $242 per month for basic Part B and Part D coverage, per Medicare.
However, Medicare premiums are not one-size-fits-all. If your income exceeds specific threshold limits set by the federal government, you will be required to pay an additional surcharge on top of your base monthly premiums. That additional surcharge is IRMAA.
#income #base
If you have a large pension, substantial tax-deferred retirement accounts, or other variables that may elevate your retirement income, IRMAA is a factor you may encounter starting in your mid-60s. While it is unlikely to derail a well-constructed financial plan, failing to understand IRMAA and how to plan ahead for it can lead to frustrating annual surprises.
In the United States, most adults become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Medicare is divided into several parts, but IRMAA specifically applies to two of them: Part B (which covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive services) and Part D (prescription drug coverage).
For the average retiree, Medicare Part B carries a standard monthly base premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). Part D coverage varies depending on the specific private plan selected, but carries a national average base premium of roughly $38.99 per month. Combined, a standard retiree pays roughly $242 per month for basic Part B and Part D coverage, per Medicare.
However, Medicare premiums are not one-size-fits-all. If your income exceeds specific threshold limits set by the federal government, you will be required to pay an additional surcharge on top of your base monthly premiums. That additional surcharge is IRMAA.
#income #base
2 hours ago
Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL), issuer of the dollar-backed USDC stablecoin, announced on September 8 an agreement to acquire Singapore-based Tazapay, which serves payment providers and financial institutions.
Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL) agreed to pay approximately $400 million in Class A common stock, subject to adjustments for debt, cash, and transaction expenses. Separately, the agreement provides for $25 million of post-closing employee restricted stock unit awards.
As of July 31, 2026, Tazapay had more than $25 billion of annualized payment volume, over 60 banking and fintech partners, and payout capabilities across more than 100 markets. Approximately 60% of transaction volume involves stablecoins; USDC's share was not specified. Payment volume represents funds processed, not revenue.
Closing is expected in 2027, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals, including approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Tazapay would strengthen the connections between digital dollars and local bank payments. Within the Circle Payments Network, originating institutions can convert funds into stablecoins for settlement, while receiving institutions convert them into local currency and pay recipients. Merchants can benefit without requiring every customer or supplier to hold tokens.
#tazapay
Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL) agreed to pay approximately $400 million in Class A common stock, subject to adjustments for debt, cash, and transaction expenses. Separately, the agreement provides for $25 million of post-closing employee restricted stock unit awards.
As of July 31, 2026, Tazapay had more than $25 billion of annualized payment volume, over 60 banking and fintech partners, and payout capabilities across more than 100 markets. Approximately 60% of transaction volume involves stablecoins; USDC's share was not specified. Payment volume represents funds processed, not revenue.
Closing is expected in 2027, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals, including approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Tazapay would strengthen the connections between digital dollars and local bank payments. Within the Circle Payments Network, originating institutions can convert funds into stablecoins for settlement, while receiving institutions convert them into local currency and pay recipients. Merchants can benefit without requiring every customer or supplier to hold tokens.
#tazapay
3 hours ago
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has been a rewarding stock to hold, up about 53% over the past year against about 17% for the S&P 500. The change worth noticing over that stretch is quieter than the price. Management said sales still rose 5.6% despite a STELARA drag of about 460 basis points. Management is encouraging investors to evaluate the company's underlying momentum by presenting growth rates that exclude STELARA alongside its reported figures.
A year and a half ago, that drag was the headline. Management's own framing of the first quarter of 2025 noted an approximate 810 basis point headwind on Innovative Medicine sales.
By the second quarter of 2026, that segment-level drag remained heavy at roughly 760 basis points (or about 460 basis points across the total enterprise), yet management's emphasis shifted to highlighting double-digit operational growth excluding STELARA
The exclusion is not a rounding adjustment. STELARA sales fell 55.7% in the second quarter of 2026, and management put that drag at about 460 basis points of the whole company's 5.6% operational sales growth.
Two products show what the replacement looks like. TREMFYA booked $2 billion of sales in the second quarter of 2026, up over 70%, and management says ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the major drivers of that growth. ICOTYDE, a recently launched once-daily pill for psoriasis, is the second, which leadership has highlighted as a key pipeline priority for the immunology business.
#sales #basis #drag #quarter
A year and a half ago, that drag was the headline. Management's own framing of the first quarter of 2025 noted an approximate 810 basis point headwind on Innovative Medicine sales.
By the second quarter of 2026, that segment-level drag remained heavy at roughly 760 basis points (or about 460 basis points across the total enterprise), yet management's emphasis shifted to highlighting double-digit operational growth excluding STELARA
The exclusion is not a rounding adjustment. STELARA sales fell 55.7% in the second quarter of 2026, and management put that drag at about 460 basis points of the whole company's 5.6% operational sales growth.
Two products show what the replacement looks like. TREMFYA booked $2 billion of sales in the second quarter of 2026, up over 70%, and management says ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the major drivers of that growth. ICOTYDE, a recently launched once-daily pill for psoriasis, is the second, which leadership has highlighted as a key pipeline priority for the immunology business.
#sales #basis #drag #quarter
3 hours ago
Amazon Business is now a $60B operation serving 11 million customers worldwide. In this FreightWaves Today interview, Amazon Business exec Daniel Silverfield breaks down what that scale means for procurement, supplier consolidation, same-day grocery delivery and AI-driven savings.The big takeaway: business buyers want fewer suppliers, better visibility and less waste in purchasing. Silverfield explains how Amazon Business is pitching exactly that to everyone from small companies to Fortune 100s.
Amazon Business has hit $60 billion in annualized gross sales and now serves 11 million customers worldwide, with 1.8 million organizations added this year alone — a growth rate that puts it on par with a Fortune 100 company if it were standalone. The platform, which launched roughly a decade ago after Amazon noticed businesses already shopping on amazon.com, is increasingly central to how companies across sectors manage procurement, from office supplies to same-day groceries.
The scale matters to shippers, carriers, and brokers because Amazon Business is driving a fundamental shift in B2B purchasing behavior — consolidating supplier pools, centralizing data, and moving procurement from quarterly reporting cycles to an always-on, AI-powered model. Every order that migrates to the platform is one fewer touchpoint for traditional distributors and one more shipment flowing through Amazon's own logistics network.
Daniel Silverfield, head of value and selection for Amazon Business, said the platform saved customers $880 million on Prime free shipping last year and $1 billion through business-specific discounts. The company added 30% new items year over year and recently launched same-day grocery delivery across 2,300 U.S. cities in the first half of this year, a capability customers had been requesting for some time.
"The big shift that we're seeing is that people are moving to a continuous, always-on, conversational-powered procurement journey where agents may be looking for the best price while they're asleep, maybe negotiating on their behalf while they're asleep, and then surfacing to them the best product to buy," said Silverfield.
#customers
Amazon Business has hit $60 billion in annualized gross sales and now serves 11 million customers worldwide, with 1.8 million organizations added this year alone — a growth rate that puts it on par with a Fortune 100 company if it were standalone. The platform, which launched roughly a decade ago after Amazon noticed businesses already shopping on amazon.com, is increasingly central to how companies across sectors manage procurement, from office supplies to same-day groceries.
The scale matters to shippers, carriers, and brokers because Amazon Business is driving a fundamental shift in B2B purchasing behavior — consolidating supplier pools, centralizing data, and moving procurement from quarterly reporting cycles to an always-on, AI-powered model. Every order that migrates to the platform is one fewer touchpoint for traditional distributors and one more shipment flowing through Amazon's own logistics network.
Daniel Silverfield, head of value and selection for Amazon Business, said the platform saved customers $880 million on Prime free shipping last year and $1 billion through business-specific discounts. The company added 30% new items year over year and recently launched same-day grocery delivery across 2,300 U.S. cities in the first half of this year, a capability customers had been requesting for some time.
"The big shift that we're seeing is that people are moving to a continuous, always-on, conversational-powered procurement journey where agents may be looking for the best price while they're asleep, maybe negotiating on their behalf while they're asleep, and then surfacing to them the best product to buy," said Silverfield.
#customers
3 hours ago
Lululemon fell 18% after Meghan Frank delivered a second guidance cut, dropping the full-year EPS outlook to roughly $9.60 from last year's $13.26.
Nike fell 10% and On Holding dropped 14% over the same month, suggesting athletic-apparel sector headwinds extend well beyond Lululemon alone.
An 86-cent tariff refund inflated Q2 EPS but won't recur, making Lululemon's reported profit look cleaner than the challenge facing incoming CEO Heidi O'Neill.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Lululemon didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat LULU. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) stock is under sustained pressure after a September earnings update that lowered management's outlook for the year. Retail broadly softened alongside it, and the broad market held up better, which frames the question of how much of the damage is company-specific and how much is sector-wide. Peer moves are part of that same picture, since athletic-apparel names moved lower together across the past month.
#lululemon #enter #outlook
Nike fell 10% and On Holding dropped 14% over the same month, suggesting athletic-apparel sector headwinds extend well beyond Lululemon alone.
An 86-cent tariff refund inflated Q2 EPS but won't recur, making Lululemon's reported profit look cleaner than the challenge facing incoming CEO Heidi O'Neill.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Lululemon didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat LULU. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) stock is under sustained pressure after a September earnings update that lowered management's outlook for the year. Retail broadly softened alongside it, and the broad market held up better, which frames the question of how much of the damage is company-specific and how much is sector-wide. Peer moves are part of that same picture, since athletic-apparel names moved lower together across the past month.
#lululemon #enter #outlook
3 hours ago
October Nymex natural gas (NGV26) on Wednesday closed down -0.028 (-0.96%).
Nat-gas prices retreated from a 1-week high on Wednesday and settled lower as a decline in European nat-gas prices to a 1-week low sparked long liquidation in US nat-gas futures. Nat-gas prices initially rose on Wednesday on the outlook for above-average US temperatures, which should boost nat-gas demand from electricity providers as air conditioning use is expected to increase. The Commodity Weather Group said Wednesday that above-average temperatures are expected across the South and Southeast through September 25.
Crude Oil Prices Sharply Lower as Middle East Disruptions Ease
Crude Oil Prices Retreat as Supply Fears Ease
Why UBS Just Turned Bearish on NuScale Power Stock
#prices #lower #average #expected
Nat-gas prices retreated from a 1-week high on Wednesday and settled lower as a decline in European nat-gas prices to a 1-week low sparked long liquidation in US nat-gas futures. Nat-gas prices initially rose on Wednesday on the outlook for above-average US temperatures, which should boost nat-gas demand from electricity providers as air conditioning use is expected to increase. The Commodity Weather Group said Wednesday that above-average temperatures are expected across the South and Southeast through September 25.
Crude Oil Prices Sharply Lower as Middle East Disruptions Ease
Crude Oil Prices Retreat as Supply Fears Ease
Why UBS Just Turned Bearish on NuScale Power Stock
#prices #lower #average #expected
3 hours ago
Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TECK) stock's pullback from its Sept. 8 record high of $72.56 has found support at the 60-, 80-, and 100-day moving averages. The 100-day trendline in particular is a historically bullish signal that presents an intriguing 'buy the dip' angle.
Per Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative ******* yst Rocky White, TECK has traded within 0.75 times the 100-day moving average's 20-day average true range (ATR) after spending at least 80% of the previous two weeks and 80% of the prior 42 trading sessions above the trendline. This setup has occurred eight other times over the last decade, after which the stock was higher one month later 75% of the time, averaging a large 13.8% gain.
Short interest accounts for a healthy 7.5% of the stock's available float, leaving ample sideline buying power should some of these bearish bets begin to unwind. TECK's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 28.4 also sits in "oversold" territory, which often precedes a short-term bounce.
Plus, TECK's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at 81 out of 100, suggesting the shares have tended to outperform options traders' volatility expectations during the past year.
#resources
Per Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative ******* yst Rocky White, TECK has traded within 0.75 times the 100-day moving average's 20-day average true range (ATR) after spending at least 80% of the previous two weeks and 80% of the prior 42 trading sessions above the trendline. This setup has occurred eight other times over the last decade, after which the stock was higher one month later 75% of the time, averaging a large 13.8% gain.
Short interest accounts for a healthy 7.5% of the stock's available float, leaving ample sideline buying power should some of these bearish bets begin to unwind. TECK's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 28.4 also sits in "oversold" territory, which often precedes a short-term bounce.
Plus, TECK's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at 81 out of 100, suggesting the shares have tended to outperform options traders' volatility expectations during the past year.
#resources
3 hours ago
Crypto volatility is likely to remain elevated as investors weigh the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision and the CLARITY Act's failure to advance in a key Senate procedural vote, according to Simon-Peter Massabni, head of business development at XS.com.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) fell more than 2.5% to around $75,600 on Tuesday, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: $SOL), Cardano (CRYPTO: $ADA) and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: $DOGE) also traded lower.
The Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act was a major source of market uncertainty. Senators voted 49-50 on Tuesday, falling well short of the 60 votes required to move the legislation forward. The bill aims to establish a federal framework for digital ****** ets and clarify the regulatory roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster
#commission #failure #advance #senate
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) fell more than 2.5% to around $75,600 on Tuesday, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: $SOL), Cardano (CRYPTO: $ADA) and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: $DOGE) also traded lower.
The Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act was a major source of market uncertainty. Senators voted 49-50 on Tuesday, falling well short of the 60 votes required to move the legislation forward. The bill aims to establish a federal framework for digital ****** ets and clarify the regulatory roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster
#commission #failure #advance #senate
3 hours ago
The broader benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) has seemingly hit a wall over the past month, down about 2.3%.
On the whole, the S&P 500 is still having a decent year, but considering the Iran war and high inflation expectations, among other concerns, it's not hard to see why investors and market strategists have grown concerned.
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 »
Recently, one of Wall Street's most bullish strategists trimmed his S&P 500 price target for the year.
Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research recently slashed his forecast from 8,400 to 7,900, which suggests minimal upside in the final 3.5 months of the year, with the index already around 7,600. 8,400 had been the highest price target on the Street.
#yardeni #recently #price
On the whole, the S&P 500 is still having a decent year, but considering the Iran war and high inflation expectations, among other concerns, it's not hard to see why investors and market strategists have grown concerned.
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 »
Recently, one of Wall Street's most bullish strategists trimmed his S&P 500 price target for the year.
Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research recently slashed his forecast from 8,400 to 7,900, which suggests minimal upside in the final 3.5 months of the year, with the index already around 7,600. 8,400 had been the highest price target on the Street.
#yardeni #recently #price
3 hours ago
By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rebounded sharply in August as households boosted purchases of a range of goods while also spending more at restaurants and bars, reinforcing the economy's resilience even as consumers grow more anxious about high inflation.
The stronger-than-expected report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday prompted economists to upgrade their gross domestic product growth estimates for the third quarter. Inflation jitters were underscored by news of a surge in import prices last month amid strong increases in the costs of capital and consumer goods.
The reports followed data this month showing producer and consumer prices accelerated in August, while the labor market regained its poise after wobbling through much of summer.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark overnight interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to the 3.75%-4.00% range and flagged further increases in borrowing costs in the months ahead.
#inflation #quarter
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rebounded sharply in August as households boosted purchases of a range of goods while also spending more at restaurants and bars, reinforcing the economy's resilience even as consumers grow more anxious about high inflation.
The stronger-than-expected report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday prompted economists to upgrade their gross domestic product growth estimates for the third quarter. Inflation jitters were underscored by news of a surge in import prices last month amid strong increases in the costs of capital and consumer goods.
The reports followed data this month showing producer and consumer prices accelerated in August, while the labor market regained its poise after wobbling through much of summer.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark overnight interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to the 3.75%-4.00% range and flagged further increases in borrowing costs in the months ahead.
#inflation #quarter
3 hours ago
Semiconductor rivalries rarely move stock prices the way headlines suggest they should. MediaTek unveiled a new flagship smartphone processor on Tuesday, Sept. 15, built to challenge Qualcomm directly in the premium handset market.
Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)'s stock rose anyway, closing up 4.25% at $187.80.
That is not a new pattern. MediaTek's market value first surpassed Qualcomm's earlier this year, according to Reuters. The new chip was meant to widen that lead, not just defend it.
The gap is real money. MediaTek's market capitalization stood near $223 billion on Sept. 15, PitchBook noted. Even after Qualcomm's 4.25% rally that same day, its market cap reached $200.6 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap, leaving it about $22 billion behind MediaTek.
MediaTek said the Dimensity 9600 Pro is its first mobile processor built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. Its neural processing unit delivers 51% faster prompt handling for on-device AI models than the prior generation. That lets phones run generative AI tasks without sending data to the cloud.
#market #qualcomm #built #according
Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)'s stock rose anyway, closing up 4.25% at $187.80.
That is not a new pattern. MediaTek's market value first surpassed Qualcomm's earlier this year, according to Reuters. The new chip was meant to widen that lead, not just defend it.
The gap is real money. MediaTek's market capitalization stood near $223 billion on Sept. 15, PitchBook noted. Even after Qualcomm's 4.25% rally that same day, its market cap reached $200.6 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap, leaving it about $22 billion behind MediaTek.
MediaTek said the Dimensity 9600 Pro is its first mobile processor built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. Its neural processing unit delivers 51% faster prompt handling for on-device AI models than the prior generation. That lets phones run generative AI tasks without sending data to the cloud.
#market #qualcomm #built #according
3 hours ago
Most Federal Open Market Committee members see the need for at least one more 25 basis point rate hike this year, as 12 out of 18 members that submitted projections pegged their view of appropriate monetary policy in 2026 at an average of 4.125%.
That rate implies one more 25 basis point hike to come by year-end.
Read more: The Fed's dot plot explained
Four committee members see 50 more basis points' worth of rate hikes in 2026 as appropriate, while only two members see no more hikes this year — suggesting that the new effective target rate of 3.75% to 4% is adequate.
The Summary of Economic Projections, also known as the "dot plot," does not label projections with the names of the Federal Reserve members who made them.
#basis #year #committee
That rate implies one more 25 basis point hike to come by year-end.
Read more: The Fed's dot plot explained
Four committee members see 50 more basis points' worth of rate hikes in 2026 as appropriate, while only two members see no more hikes this year — suggesting that the new effective target rate of 3.75% to 4% is adequate.
The Summary of Economic Projections, also known as the "dot plot," does not label projections with the names of the Federal Reserve members who made them.
#basis #year #committee
4 hours ago
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, the first increase since July 2023, with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh saying inflation has been "too high ... for too long."
The decision, reached by a unanimous 12-0 vote of the Federal Open Market Committee, brings the federal funds rate to a new target range of 3.75%–4%. The Fed's post-meeting statement pointed to persistent price pressures and a durable economy, declaring: "Inflation remains elevated. Today's policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee's 2 percent goal. The Committee will deliver price stability."
At a news conference following the decision, Warsh said the Fed needed to be confident "that underlying inflation is moving to our objective clearly and at sufficient speed," adding that the FOMC had determined "this standard has not been satisfied." He pointed to three converging factors — a robust labor market, inflation still running above target, and ongoing conflict in the Middle East — as driving the committee's unanimous vote.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed more than 400 points in afternoon trading following the Fed's move. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also slumped.
Updated economic projections released Wednesday showed FOMC participants nudged their inflation forecasts higher. The median projection for headline PCE inflation this year rose to 3.7% and core PCE to 3.4%, each up 0.1 percentage point from the June forecast, the Fed said. Officials do not expect inflation to return to the 2% target until 2029. The median unemployment rate projection for 2026 fell to 4.1%, down from 4.3% in June, while the GDP growth outlook rose to 2.3% from 2.2%.
#federal #rate #committee
The decision, reached by a unanimous 12-0 vote of the Federal Open Market Committee, brings the federal funds rate to a new target range of 3.75%–4%. The Fed's post-meeting statement pointed to persistent price pressures and a durable economy, declaring: "Inflation remains elevated. Today's policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee's 2 percent goal. The Committee will deliver price stability."
At a news conference following the decision, Warsh said the Fed needed to be confident "that underlying inflation is moving to our objective clearly and at sufficient speed," adding that the FOMC had determined "this standard has not been satisfied." He pointed to three converging factors — a robust labor market, inflation still running above target, and ongoing conflict in the Middle East — as driving the committee's unanimous vote.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed more than 400 points in afternoon trading following the Fed's move. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also slumped.
Updated economic projections released Wednesday showed FOMC participants nudged their inflation forecasts higher. The median projection for headline PCE inflation this year rose to 3.7% and core PCE to 3.4%, each up 0.1 percentage point from the June forecast, the Fed said. Officials do not expect inflation to return to the 2% target until 2029. The median unemployment rate projection for 2026 fell to 4.1%, down from 4.3% in June, while the GDP growth outlook rose to 2.3% from 2.2%.
#federal #rate #committee
4 hours ago
KO beat the S&P 500 over one and five years, returning 37% and 85% respectively, backed by 63 straight years of dividend raises.
At a P/E of 29 and P/FCF of 72 with shares near their $91.94 52-week high, Coca-Cola's valuation leaves little room for error.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
If you bought Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) a decade ago, you bought a business that has spent the intervening years quietly reinventing its balance sheet while doing what it always does: raising the dividend. 2025 marked the 63rd consecutive year of dividend increases, cementing Coca-Cola's status as a dividend king.
The past two years have been eventful. CEO James Quincey handed the reins to Henrique Braun in 2026, and the company has pushed hard on refranchising bottlers, including a pending sale of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. Q4 2025 absorbed a $960M BODYARMOR impairment, but 2026 has been a different story. Q2 delivered EPS of $0.97, revenue of $13.38B (+6.7% YoY), and 5% unit case volume growth, aided by the FIFA World Cup marketing push. Management now guides to comparable EPS growth of 9% to 10% for the year.
#Dividend #cola #year
At a P/E of 29 and P/FCF of 72 with shares near their $91.94 52-week high, Coca-Cola's valuation leaves little room for error.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
If you bought Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) a decade ago, you bought a business that has spent the intervening years quietly reinventing its balance sheet while doing what it always does: raising the dividend. 2025 marked the 63rd consecutive year of dividend increases, cementing Coca-Cola's status as a dividend king.
The past two years have been eventful. CEO James Quincey handed the reins to Henrique Braun in 2026, and the company has pushed hard on refranchising bottlers, including a pending sale of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. Q4 2025 absorbed a $960M BODYARMOR impairment, but 2026 has been a different story. Q2 delivered EPS of $0.97, revenue of $13.38B (+6.7% YoY), and 5% unit case volume growth, aided by the FIFA World Cup marketing push. Management now guides to comparable EPS growth of 9% to 10% for the year.
#Dividend #cola #year
4 hours ago
For much of 2025, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) looked like a company under siege as higher medical costs and weaker margins rattled investors. UNH stock sold off sharply, and questions emerged around the company's earnings outlook as well as the health of its long-standing growth story.
That picture is starting to improve in 2026. UnitedHealth's latest results showed a clear turnaround in profitability as it generated $112 billion in revenue and $8 billion in earnings from operations. Management also raised the company's full-year adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $19.50 to $20 and increased its operating cash flow forecast to about $24 billion. Those moves suggest UnitedHealth sees its recovery as more than a short-term earnings rebound.
This High-Yield Construction Stock Just Raised Its Dividend by 40%
Dear Intuit Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 17
This Dividend Stock Is Beating the Market in 2026 and Yields 2.36%
#Stock #billion #Dividend #management
That picture is starting to improve in 2026. UnitedHealth's latest results showed a clear turnaround in profitability as it generated $112 billion in revenue and $8 billion in earnings from operations. Management also raised the company's full-year adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $19.50 to $20 and increased its operating cash flow forecast to about $24 billion. Those moves suggest UnitedHealth sees its recovery as more than a short-term earnings rebound.
This High-Yield Construction Stock Just Raised Its Dividend by 40%
Dear Intuit Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 17
This Dividend Stock Is Beating the Market in 2026 and Yields 2.36%
#Stock #billion #Dividend #management
4 hours ago
BTI yields 5.83% and beats MO on growth, trading at a cheaper forward P/E of 11 with EPS guidance of 5 to 8% versus Altria's 2.5 to 5.5%.
Altria wins on income reliability, having raised its dividend 60 times in 56 years with a 6.10% yield paid in dollars with zero currency risk.
BTI's Modern Oral segment surged 47% while Altria's nicotine pouch share fell 4 points and cigarette volumes dropped 10% in 2025.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
For a retirement-focused investor weighing high-yield tobacco names, the question is direct: British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) or Altria Group (NYSE:MO), which screens better for income investors right now? Both throw off cash, both trade at single-digit-to-low-teens forward earnings, and both are racing to replace shrinking combustible volumes with nicotine pouches, vapor, and heated tobacco. But when you line them up on the metrics that actually matter for a retiree cashing checks, one name comes out ahead.
#tobacco
Altria wins on income reliability, having raised its dividend 60 times in 56 years with a 6.10% yield paid in dollars with zero currency risk.
BTI's Modern Oral segment surged 47% while Altria's nicotine pouch share fell 4 points and cigarette volumes dropped 10% in 2025.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
For a retirement-focused investor weighing high-yield tobacco names, the question is direct: British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) or Altria Group (NYSE:MO), which screens better for income investors right now? Both throw off cash, both trade at single-digit-to-low-teens forward earnings, and both are racing to replace shrinking combustible volumes with nicotine pouches, vapor, and heated tobacco. But when you line them up on the metrics that actually matter for a retiree cashing checks, one name comes out ahead.
#tobacco
5 hours ago
GE Aerospace (GE) has more engine work booked than it can currently perform, and that visibility is much of why people own the shares. The option chain does not treat the stock as settled. At about $307, contracts running twelve months out carry a band from near $216.93 to near $434.6, with roughly a two-in-three chance the stock finishes inside it.
Read that band as money. The ceiling near $434.6 sits about 41.5% above today's price, and the floor near $216.93 sits about 29.4% below it. Whatever money you have in GE, the options market prices about $90 of every $307 coming off, or about $128 going on, inside twelve months.
The two distances are not equal. A share price cannot fall below zero while nothing caps the upside, so the ceiling always sits further out than the floor. That is arithmetic rather than a view on GE.
The floor is the half worth sitting with. Near $216.93, it is well below $272.91, the lowest GE has traded in the past 52 weeks. The chain is not forecasting that price. It prices twelve months as long enough to reach it.
A range is only wide relative to something. The stock's realized volatility over the trailing year, meaning how far it has actually moved, was 33.2%, and the options quote 34.6%. The market is charging about what this stock already delivers.
#near #sits #floor #band
Read that band as money. The ceiling near $434.6 sits about 41.5% above today's price, and the floor near $216.93 sits about 29.4% below it. Whatever money you have in GE, the options market prices about $90 of every $307 coming off, or about $128 going on, inside twelve months.
The two distances are not equal. A share price cannot fall below zero while nothing caps the upside, so the ceiling always sits further out than the floor. That is arithmetic rather than a view on GE.
The floor is the half worth sitting with. Near $216.93, it is well below $272.91, the lowest GE has traded in the past 52 weeks. The chain is not forecasting that price. It prices twelve months as long enough to reach it.
A range is only wide relative to something. The stock's realized volatility over the trailing year, meaning how far it has actually moved, was 33.2%, and the options quote 34.6%. The market is charging about what this stock already delivers.
#near #sits #floor #band
5 hours ago
At 60, Stephen has $40,000 saved against a $680,000 benchmark, plus $32,000 in debt draining his recovery runway.
Rachel Cruze and George Kamel told Stephen to stop funding his daughter and eliminate debt before rebuilding retirement savings.
Workers aged 60 to 63 can contribute up to $35,750 annually to a 401(k), a catch-up window that Stephen must use before it closes at age 64.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
A 60-year-old caller named Stephen phoned The Ramsey Show from Portland and laid out a balance sheet that would make anyone flinch: $40,000 left in retirement, no liquid savings, a $27,000 loan on a 4Runner worth about what he owes, $5,000 in credit card debt, and an $85,000 salary he took after quitting a more stressful job. He said he had drained the retirement account to put his daughter through school and pay off a $25,000 IRS bill he insists "wasn't mine."
#stephen #Retirement #workers
Rachel Cruze and George Kamel told Stephen to stop funding his daughter and eliminate debt before rebuilding retirement savings.
Workers aged 60 to 63 can contribute up to $35,750 annually to a 401(k), a catch-up window that Stephen must use before it closes at age 64.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
A 60-year-old caller named Stephen phoned The Ramsey Show from Portland and laid out a balance sheet that would make anyone flinch: $40,000 left in retirement, no liquid savings, a $27,000 loan on a 4Runner worth about what he owes, $5,000 in credit card debt, and an $85,000 salary he took after quitting a more stressful job. He said he had drained the retirement account to put his daughter through school and pay off a $25,000 IRS bill he insists "wasn't mine."
#stephen #Retirement #workers
5 hours ago
This story was originally published on CRE Daily. Join 70,000+ commercial real estate professionals getting daily news, market insights, and industry ***** ysis delivered straight to their inbox with the free CRE Daily newsletter.
Tech leased 1.1 million square feet of New York office ***** e in Q3 so far, surpassing legal to become the market's second-largest leasing sector behind finance.
AI companies are driving roughly 60% of tech leasing this quarter, competing for ***** e as Manhattan office supply hits its lowest point since 2020.
Flatiron remains the top tech submarket, while Hudson Square, the Penn District and Downtown are emerging as alternatives for ***** e-constrained tenants.
New York's tech sector has overtaken legal to become the city's second-largest office sector, trailing only finance, according to a September JLL report cited by GlobeSt.com. Tech tenants have leased 1.1 million square feet across the metro so far in the third quarter, a pace JLL Managing Director Joe Sipala called one of the "busiest summers" for office leasing the brokerage has seen in some time.
#daily #square #sector
Tech leased 1.1 million square feet of New York office ***** e in Q3 so far, surpassing legal to become the market's second-largest leasing sector behind finance.
AI companies are driving roughly 60% of tech leasing this quarter, competing for ***** e as Manhattan office supply hits its lowest point since 2020.
Flatiron remains the top tech submarket, while Hudson Square, the Penn District and Downtown are emerging as alternatives for ***** e-constrained tenants.
New York's tech sector has overtaken legal to become the city's second-largest office sector, trailing only finance, according to a September JLL report cited by GlobeSt.com. Tech tenants have leased 1.1 million square feet across the metro so far in the third quarter, a pace JLL Managing Director Joe Sipala called one of the "busiest summers" for office leasing the brokerage has seen in some time.
#daily #square #sector
6 hours 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 group-adjusted EBITDA break-even just 15 months post-acquisition by applying Mytheresa's 'secret sauce'—focusing on top-tier customers, full-price selling, and rigorous cost discipline—to the distressed YNAP business.
Mytheresa reached a EUR 1 billion milestone in FY 2026, outperforming the industry through superior customer economics where top customers (4.8% of base) generated 48.4% of total GMV.
NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER reached a strategic inflection point, returning to top-line growth and positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4 by pivoting from promotional discounting to editorial-led luxury discovery.
YOOX's turnaround is being driven by a deliberate retreat from high-cost overseas markets to focus on a 'healthy core' in Europe, resulting in losses being cut nearly in half compared to the prior year.
#porter #customers #cost #reached
Achieved group-adjusted EBITDA break-even just 15 months post-acquisition by applying Mytheresa's 'secret sauce'—focusing on top-tier customers, full-price selling, and rigorous cost discipline—to the distressed YNAP business.
Mytheresa reached a EUR 1 billion milestone in FY 2026, outperforming the industry through superior customer economics where top customers (4.8% of base) generated 48.4% of total GMV.
NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER reached a strategic inflection point, returning to top-line growth and positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4 by pivoting from promotional discounting to editorial-led luxury discovery.
YOOX's turnaround is being driven by a deliberate retreat from high-cost overseas markets to focus on a 'healthy core' in Europe, resulting in losses being cut nearly in half compared to the prior year.
#porter #customers #cost #reached
6 hours ago
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter.
Business executives consider artificial intelligence a leading tool for decision-making, with 61% citing large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot among the sources that most influence their strategic decisions, AI enterprise planning platform Board said in a report released Wednesday.
The finding was most ***** ounced among CFOs, with 69% citing LLMs among the resources that inform their decisions, compared with 58% of chief operating officers and 56% of chief information officers.
"CFOs, by nature, are typically a little bit more conservative and skeptical, so I think what this shows is that the AI wave is so strong that it can't be ignored," Board CFO Gordon Pothier said in an interview.
The findings come just a few years after ChatGPT burst onto the market, highlighting how quickly advanced AI tools have reshaped the way businesses operate and make decisions.
#decisions #daily #officers #business
Business executives consider artificial intelligence a leading tool for decision-making, with 61% citing large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot among the sources that most influence their strategic decisions, AI enterprise planning platform Board said in a report released Wednesday.
The finding was most ***** ounced among CFOs, with 69% citing LLMs among the resources that inform their decisions, compared with 58% of chief operating officers and 56% of chief information officers.
"CFOs, by nature, are typically a little bit more conservative and skeptical, so I think what this shows is that the AI wave is so strong that it can't be ignored," Board CFO Gordon Pothier said in an interview.
The findings come just a few years after ChatGPT burst onto the market, highlighting how quickly advanced AI tools have reshaped the way businesses operate and make decisions.
#decisions #daily #officers #business
6 hours ago
On September 15, CareTrust REIT (NYSE:CTRE) announced it had closed on a $400 million skilled nursing portfolio in the Southwest, effective September 1, and unveiled a reloaded $600 million investment pipeline behind it. The deal covers 2,622 licensed beds triple net leased back to the existing operator, sourced off-market and structured through a joint venture that put roughly $380 million of CareTrust's own capital to work. It is the latest entry in a buying spree that has now pushed the company's 2026 investment total past $1.9 billion.
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#still
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#still
6 hours ago
U.S. median household income hit a record $87,460 in 2025, but lower-income earners saw no meaningful gains while top earners' income has surged 121% over 58 years.
Gasoline prices surged 27%, shelter rose 3%, and hospital services climbed 5% year-over-year, eroding purchasing power for households already spending most income on essentials.
Investors should favor companies with durable pricing power in essential categories and businesses built to serve cost-conscious consumers trading down on discretionary spending.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
The latest Census Bureau data delivers a headline that sounds almost too good to be true: American households earned more in 2025 than ever before. But the numbers also explain why a record income figure can coexist with a persistent sense that the household budget is under pressure.
#earners #households
Gasoline prices surged 27%, shelter rose 3%, and hospital services climbed 5% year-over-year, eroding purchasing power for households already spending most income on essentials.
Investors should favor companies with durable pricing power in essential categories and businesses built to serve cost-conscious consumers trading down on discretionary spending.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
The latest Census Bureau data delivers a headline that sounds almost too good to be true: American households earned more in 2025 than ever before. But the numbers also explain why a record income figure can coexist with a persistent sense that the household budget is under pressure.
#earners #households
