2 days ago
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When you think about what it means to be rich, specific images may come to mind. Perhaps you imagine someone on a yacht wearing a Rolex while enjoying champagne and caviar.
But when you try to define what it means to be "rich," the concept becomes more abstract; there's no set dollar amount or single physical ******* et that definitively makes you rich.
In fact, whether or not you're considered rich is largely relative to the value of your income and ******* ets when compared to the wealth of other people around you. For example, when determining if your salary qualifies as lower or upper income, The Pew Research Center considers how much you earn in comparison to people living in your area with the same family size.
Read more: These are the 10 wealthiest states in the U.S. by income
#disclosure #rolex #Research #center
When you think about what it means to be rich, specific images may come to mind. Perhaps you imagine someone on a yacht wearing a Rolex while enjoying champagne and caviar.
But when you try to define what it means to be "rich," the concept becomes more abstract; there's no set dollar amount or single physical ******* et that definitively makes you rich.
In fact, whether or not you're considered rich is largely relative to the value of your income and ******* ets when compared to the wealth of other people around you. For example, when determining if your salary qualifies as lower or upper income, The Pew Research Center considers how much you earn in comparison to people living in your area with the same family size.
Read more: These are the 10 wealthiest states in the U.S. by income
#disclosure #rolex #Research #center
2 days ago
PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump intensified his anti-Muslim rhetoric against Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, portraying him as a threat to national security and questioning his loyalty to the United States in remarks that drew a sharp rebuke from a former top Arab American ally.
Trump called El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, a "jihadist" who was "on the side of the terrorists" and would "have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate." He also repeatedly invoked the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between stopping El-Sayed from entering the Senate chamber and the passengers who fought back against the hijackers aboard United Flight 93.
El-Sayed, who would become the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, has called attacks on his loyalty to the country "shameful" and repeatedly denied any ties to extremist groups. The Republican president's remarks were condemned by Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, the group that helped lead the president's outreach to Arab American voters in 2024.
"The president's statements are out of line," he said in a phone interview. "They are crossing a red line. They are racist."
With Republicans on the defensive over inflation, soaring fuel prices and the Iran war, the president has been trying to generate turnout by claiming that El-Sayed and other Democrats are existential threats to America, instead of electoral rivals. Michigan's Senate race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers is among a handful of contests that could determine control of the chamber.
#senate #Trump #muslim #united
Trump called El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, a "jihadist" who was "on the side of the terrorists" and would "have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate." He also repeatedly invoked the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between stopping El-Sayed from entering the Senate chamber and the passengers who fought back against the hijackers aboard United Flight 93.
El-Sayed, who would become the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, has called attacks on his loyalty to the country "shameful" and repeatedly denied any ties to extremist groups. The Republican president's remarks were condemned by Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, the group that helped lead the president's outreach to Arab American voters in 2024.
"The president's statements are out of line," he said in a phone interview. "They are crossing a red line. They are racist."
With Republicans on the defensive over inflation, soaring fuel prices and the Iran war, the president has been trying to generate turnout by claiming that El-Sayed and other Democrats are existential threats to America, instead of electoral rivals. Michigan's Senate race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers is among a handful of contests that could determine control of the chamber.
#senate #Trump #muslim #united
19 days ago
Daniel Franzese has revealed a striking change in his appearance, sharing shirtless photographs after losing 135lb over three years.
The Mean Girls star, who played Damian Leigh in the much-loved 2004 comedy, posted comparison pictures on Threads alongside a brief explanation of the changes he has made.
The actor, 48, shared the images responding to a conversation inviting people to celebrate their progress and encourage others. His reported weight loss amounts to approximately 61kg, or nine stone and nine pounds.
Daniel Franzese in 2024 (@ Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)
Daniel's post paired an earlier shirtless photograph with a more recent mirror selfie, showing the difference over the three-year period.
#daniel #franzese #girls #damian
The Mean Girls star, who played Damian Leigh in the much-loved 2004 comedy, posted comparison pictures on Threads alongside a brief explanation of the changes he has made.
The actor, 48, shared the images responding to a conversation inviting people to celebrate their progress and encourage others. His reported weight loss amounts to approximately 61kg, or nine stone and nine pounds.
Daniel Franzese in 2024 (@ Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)
Daniel's post paired an earlier shirtless photograph with a more recent mirror selfie, showing the difference over the three-year period.
#daniel #franzese #girls #damian
19 days ago
Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen's story reveals how colorism, comparison, and beauty standards can shape Black women's self-image from childhood into adulthood.
For generations of Black communities, actress Phylicia Rashad has been seen as one of the beacons of grace and beauty. However, in a recent conversation on the "IMO Podcast" hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Rashad revealed that she once did not see herself as beautiful in comparison to her sister Debbie Allen.
"I think if there was competition that I felt, I always felt that Debbie was beautiful and that I was not," Rashad shared. "I don't remember what led to the conversation, but I said to Deborah that I had always wanted to be beautiful, like her, and she looked at me, she said, 'But you're the beautiful one, you're the one. I was always trying to be beautiful like you,' and then we broke down and started crying."
"We grew up with that foolishness, that colorism, foolishness that brown paper bag [test] foolishness," Allen interjected. "I remember one time Phylicia loved chocolate milk, and we were drinking chocolate milk, and my uncle said to her, 'Girl, you better drink all the white milk you can.' That was so ugly."
"I think that's why Phylicia felt, but Phylicia looked more like Mama than me. And I always wished that I was pretty like her," Allen added.
#allen
For generations of Black communities, actress Phylicia Rashad has been seen as one of the beacons of grace and beauty. However, in a recent conversation on the "IMO Podcast" hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Rashad revealed that she once did not see herself as beautiful in comparison to her sister Debbie Allen.
"I think if there was competition that I felt, I always felt that Debbie was beautiful and that I was not," Rashad shared. "I don't remember what led to the conversation, but I said to Deborah that I had always wanted to be beautiful, like her, and she looked at me, she said, 'But you're the beautiful one, you're the one. I was always trying to be beautiful like you,' and then we broke down and started crying."
"We grew up with that foolishness, that colorism, foolishness that brown paper bag [test] foolishness," Allen interjected. "I remember one time Phylicia loved chocolate milk, and we were drinking chocolate milk, and my uncle said to her, 'Girl, you better drink all the white milk you can.' That was so ugly."
"I think that's why Phylicia felt, but Phylicia looked more like Mama than me. And I always wished that I was pretty like her," Allen added.
#allen
20 days ago
Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos. Ginger McKenna in Casino. Sofía Vergara's Griselda Blanco. For decades, the mob wife has been the archetypal anti-heroine – all fur, animal print and knee-high boots. Now Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined the ranks.
Shedding the gothic lace and American drawl of Morticia Addams in Netflix's Wednesday, Swansea-born Zeta-Jones is using her real Welsh accent on screen for the first time in Prime Video's revenge thriller Kill Jackie. She plays Jackie Price, an ex-cocaine dealer whose quiet life unravels when one routine decision ends with an elite squad of ******* assins hired to kill her.
Unsurprisingly, the series is already drawing comparisons with the BBC's Killing Eve. The series shares a director (Damon Thomas), a dark, twisted humour and puts a fierce, quirky woman at its centre. But the strongest link may be the wardrobe.
Just as Villanelle's Molly Goddard tulle dress became a character in its own right, Jackie's wardrobe – built on an enticing mix of British designers, vintage and second-hand – is every bit as scene-stealing, and serves as inspiration for how we'll want to dress this autumn.
Jodie Comer as Villanelle wearing the memorable Molly Goddard tulle dress - Robert Viglasky/BBC
#goddard #kill #series
Shedding the gothic lace and American drawl of Morticia Addams in Netflix's Wednesday, Swansea-born Zeta-Jones is using her real Welsh accent on screen for the first time in Prime Video's revenge thriller Kill Jackie. She plays Jackie Price, an ex-cocaine dealer whose quiet life unravels when one routine decision ends with an elite squad of ******* assins hired to kill her.
Unsurprisingly, the series is already drawing comparisons with the BBC's Killing Eve. The series shares a director (Damon Thomas), a dark, twisted humour and puts a fierce, quirky woman at its centre. But the strongest link may be the wardrobe.
Just as Villanelle's Molly Goddard tulle dress became a character in its own right, Jackie's wardrobe – built on an enticing mix of British designers, vintage and second-hand – is every bit as scene-stealing, and serves as inspiration for how we'll want to dress this autumn.
Jodie Comer as Villanelle wearing the memorable Molly Goddard tulle dress - Robert Viglasky/BBC
#goddard #kill #series
20 days ago
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has spent most of 2026 at or near record highs. While that's been good news for anyone invested in the index, a problem is developing beneath the surface.
As of Oct. 5, the S&P 500 was trading at less than 1% below its all-time high, yet only 42% of its components were trading above their 200-day moving average. According to Dow Jones Market Data, the last time the S&P 500 was within 1% of a record high while more than half of its stocks traded below their 200-day moving averages was March 2000.
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 »
Clearly, no one likes to see comparisons to the peak of the tech bubble. But this isn't a signal to sell stocks. Rather, it's time to rethink what you're actually owning when you buy the S&P 500.
Obviously, the S&P 500 is historically top-heavy right now. Tech stocks account for roughly 38% of the index, while the top 10 holdings also account for approximately 38%.
#time #Tech #record
As of Oct. 5, the S&P 500 was trading at less than 1% below its all-time high, yet only 42% of its components were trading above their 200-day moving average. According to Dow Jones Market Data, the last time the S&P 500 was within 1% of a record high while more than half of its stocks traded below their 200-day moving averages was March 2000.
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 »
Clearly, no one likes to see comparisons to the peak of the tech bubble. But this isn't a signal to sell stocks. Rather, it's time to rethink what you're actually owning when you buy the S&P 500.
Obviously, the S&P 500 is historically top-heavy right now. Tech stocks account for roughly 38% of the index, while the top 10 holdings also account for approximately 38%.
#time #Tech #record
21 days ago
The "American Dream" costs about $5.3 million over a lifetime, up 4.1% from last year's updated total and faster than wages grew.
The costs of owning a house, paying for new cars and retirement expenses make up nearly 70% of the overall total.
Healthcare and car ownership prices were little changed from last year, but up substantially from five years ago.
The cost of the American Dream is rising faster than our paychecks can cover it.
That's according to an Investopedia ***** ysis of eight classic milestones: owning a home, buying new cars, raising two children and sending them to college, retiring, paying for healthcare, having a wedding, owning pets, and taking a yearly vacation. The lifetime tab, $5.3 million, is up 4.1% from a year ago. By comparison, private-sector wages and salaries in the 12 months through June rose 3.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Cost Index.
#dream #last #total
The costs of owning a house, paying for new cars and retirement expenses make up nearly 70% of the overall total.
Healthcare and car ownership prices were little changed from last year, but up substantially from five years ago.
The cost of the American Dream is rising faster than our paychecks can cover it.
That's according to an Investopedia ***** ysis of eight classic milestones: owning a home, buying new cars, raising two children and sending them to college, retiring, paying for healthcare, having a wedding, owning pets, and taking a yearly vacation. The lifetime tab, $5.3 million, is up 4.1% from a year ago. By comparison, private-sector wages and salaries in the 12 months through June rose 3.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Cost Index.
#dream #last #total
21 days ago
A joke about an old romance has put Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson back in the headlines. The comedian is looking back on it with humor, while she, according to a source, is still sensitive about the subject. The source also says she has taken a firm stance on how she deals with Davidson, and it is not a "chapter of her life she's willing to discuss."
Pete Davidson, 32, recently spoke about his past with Kim Kardashian, calling himself "one of the survivors — the few and the proud." He went on to add, "We're like the Marines." The comedian also maintained that he still has "a lot of love" for the Skims founder, 45. Davidson also added that Kardashian respected his privacy, but the constant cameras were still too much for him. "I knew what I was getting into," he said.
Following his remarks on their brief relationship, a source close to Kardashian spoke to In Touch. The source said Kim remains "hyper sensitive" about Davidson. She has reportedly told people she won't discuss that chapter of her life and "would prefer if they didn't bring it up." The source drew a contrast with her marriage to Kanye West. Leaving West brought relief and freedom, the source said. Davidson ending their relationship, by comparison, brought "rejection and devastation."
According to the source, Davidson knows he hurt Kardashian and feels terrible about it. The source also claimed he is "genuinely happy" that she has moved on with someone else. He would nonetheless "love to build a friendship" with his ex, the source said. Kardashian, however, sees things differently. The source said she has chosen to "draw a firm line under the past" and has essentially banished Pete Davidson from her personal universe. "She wishes him the best," adds the source, "but doesn't need his apologies or friendship."
The source also described how deeply the breakup affected her. It reportedly "crushed her ego" and took a long time to process. The 45-year-old was said to be "madly in love" and convinced they had a future, even if the relationship was short.
#davidson #pete #relationship
Pete Davidson, 32, recently spoke about his past with Kim Kardashian, calling himself "one of the survivors — the few and the proud." He went on to add, "We're like the Marines." The comedian also maintained that he still has "a lot of love" for the Skims founder, 45. Davidson also added that Kardashian respected his privacy, but the constant cameras were still too much for him. "I knew what I was getting into," he said.
Following his remarks on their brief relationship, a source close to Kardashian spoke to In Touch. The source said Kim remains "hyper sensitive" about Davidson. She has reportedly told people she won't discuss that chapter of her life and "would prefer if they didn't bring it up." The source drew a contrast with her marriage to Kanye West. Leaving West brought relief and freedom, the source said. Davidson ending their relationship, by comparison, brought "rejection and devastation."
According to the source, Davidson knows he hurt Kardashian and feels terrible about it. The source also claimed he is "genuinely happy" that she has moved on with someone else. He would nonetheless "love to build a friendship" with his ex, the source said. Kardashian, however, sees things differently. The source said she has chosen to "draw a firm line under the past" and has essentially banished Pete Davidson from her personal universe. "She wishes him the best," adds the source, "but doesn't need his apologies or friendship."
The source also described how deeply the breakup affected her. It reportedly "crushed her ego" and took a long time to process. The 45-year-old was said to be "madly in love" and convinced they had a future, even if the relationship was short.
#davidson #pete #relationship
21 days ago
Meghan Markle is reportedly finding it difficult to watch Kate Middleton and Prince William emerge as Hollywood's latest favorites. According to a source, the ****** ss of Sussex feels the royal couple has stepped into what she considers her territory. The insider also shared details about how Meghan is reportedly handling the shift in the spotlight.
Meghan Markle is reportedly envious of Prince William and Kate Middleton's warm Hollywood welcome, according to a source. An insider told Closer that the shift has reportedly struck a nerve with Meghan. "For her, it's especially hard to take because Hollywood is her world," the insider said. According to the outlet, the source added that the ****** ss still has plenty of career ambitions she hopes to pursue.
The insider also pointed to the longstanding comparisons between Meghan and Kate, which date back to the ****** ss' entry into the royal family. Seeing the Princess of Wales walk the red carpet alongside Tom Cruise during the recent premiere of "Digger" has reportedly been "triggering a lot of jealousy" for Meghan.
The ****** ss grew up in Hollywood and spent years as an actress on the US legal drama "Suits," where she played Rachel Zane for seven seasons. She left the series in 2018 ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.
After the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020, they settled in Montecito, California, and signed a production deal with Netflix. They went on to release the docuseries "Harry & Meghan," while Meghan also fronted the lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan."
#prince #according
Meghan Markle is reportedly envious of Prince William and Kate Middleton's warm Hollywood welcome, according to a source. An insider told Closer that the shift has reportedly struck a nerve with Meghan. "For her, it's especially hard to take because Hollywood is her world," the insider said. According to the outlet, the source added that the ****** ss still has plenty of career ambitions she hopes to pursue.
The insider also pointed to the longstanding comparisons between Meghan and Kate, which date back to the ****** ss' entry into the royal family. Seeing the Princess of Wales walk the red carpet alongside Tom Cruise during the recent premiere of "Digger" has reportedly been "triggering a lot of jealousy" for Meghan.
The ****** ss grew up in Hollywood and spent years as an actress on the US legal drama "Suits," where she played Rachel Zane for seven seasons. She left the series in 2018 ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.
After the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020, they settled in Montecito, California, and signed a production deal with Netflix. They went on to release the docuseries "Harry & Meghan," while Meghan also fronted the lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan."
#prince #according
21 days ago
Exchanges liquidated $403.58 million in leveraged crypto longs within one hour as Bitcoin (BTC) slid to about $83,800. That equals about 0.27% of open interest, the total value of unsettled futures contracts.
Longs made up 97% of the $415.33 million total, so the flush hit one side of the market. However, it cleared only a small fraction of the leverage still outstanding.
The selling arrived in one burst. CoinGlass, a derivatives data tracker, logged 98% of the $412.99 million in four-hour long liquidations inside the final hour.
Over 24 hours, longs made up $487.02 million of $554.76 million in liquidations. That hour alone holds about 83% of the day's long total.
By comparison, the 10th-largest event on CoinGlass's all-time list reached $2.77 billion, about five times the 24-hour total.
#however
Longs made up 97% of the $415.33 million total, so the flush hit one side of the market. However, it cleared only a small fraction of the leverage still outstanding.
The selling arrived in one burst. CoinGlass, a derivatives data tracker, logged 98% of the $412.99 million in four-hour long liquidations inside the final hour.
Over 24 hours, longs made up $487.02 million of $554.76 million in liquidations. That hour alone holds about 83% of the day's long total.
By comparison, the 10th-largest event on CoinGlass's all-time list reached $2.77 billion, about five times the 24-hour total.
#however
22 days ago
The US economy is stacking up wins, even if it doesn't feel that way for many households because of the resurgence in inflation.
The economy has now posted 78 consecutive months of expansion, the sixth-longest business cycle since 1854, per new ***** ysis from The Kobeissi Letter. This is well above the long-term average of 49 months and the median of 38 months.
By comparison, the longest period for the US economy without a recession was between 2009 and 2020, at 128 months. The record of course was broken by the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ground the economy to a halt.
Read more: Scaramucci: Lots of Americans 'feel left out of the system'
"Unconventional monetary policy, historically large budget deficits, alongside the AI investment boom, appear to be extending the duration of business cycles. The data says the US economy is remarkably strong," The Kobeissi Letter team said.
Meanwhile, the US economy is nearing an impressive achievement on the unemployment front.
The US unemployment rate is nearing a record number of consecutive months below 5%, Truist chief strategist Keith Lerner said in a note on Monday. The longtime record dates back to the mid-1960s.
#letter #consecutive
The economy has now posted 78 consecutive months of expansion, the sixth-longest business cycle since 1854, per new ***** ysis from The Kobeissi Letter. This is well above the long-term average of 49 months and the median of 38 months.
By comparison, the longest period for the US economy without a recession was between 2009 and 2020, at 128 months. The record of course was broken by the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ground the economy to a halt.
Read more: Scaramucci: Lots of Americans 'feel left out of the system'
"Unconventional monetary policy, historically large budget deficits, alongside the AI investment boom, appear to be extending the duration of business cycles. The data says the US economy is remarkably strong," The Kobeissi Letter team said.
Meanwhile, the US economy is nearing an impressive achievement on the unemployment front.
The US unemployment rate is nearing a record number of consecutive months below 5%, Truist chief strategist Keith Lerner said in a note on Monday. The longtime record dates back to the mid-1960s.
#letter #consecutive
22 days ago
Republicans are swamping House and Senate races with an unprecedented flood of late ad spending as the party tests whether hundreds of millions of dollars can buy it some reprieve from the eroding political environment that’s threatening longtime Republican states and districts.
Since the start of September, Republicans have made more than $700 million worth of new advertising bookings in congressional races alone, according to an NBC News ******* ysis of data from AdImpact, a political ad-tracking firm. That’s new money on top of what had already been committed to those races in ad reservations made over the summer.
By comparison, Democrats booked more than $430 million in new ad reservations across those races last month.
The disparity is greatest in the battle for the Senate majority, where almost 7 of every 10 newly booked advertising dollars are coming from Republicans. That’s led by a massive, late investment in the Senate race in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico is threatening a longtime Republican seat and the GOP has poured in almost $150 million in new ad dollars to back up its nominee, Ken Paxton.
The gap is smaller in the House, where a bit less than 6 in 10 of those new ad dollars are coming from the GOP.
#senate #dollars #House #republican
Since the start of September, Republicans have made more than $700 million worth of new advertising bookings in congressional races alone, according to an NBC News ******* ysis of data from AdImpact, a political ad-tracking firm. That’s new money on top of what had already been committed to those races in ad reservations made over the summer.
By comparison, Democrats booked more than $430 million in new ad reservations across those races last month.
The disparity is greatest in the battle for the Senate majority, where almost 7 of every 10 newly booked advertising dollars are coming from Republicans. That’s led by a massive, late investment in the Senate race in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico is threatening a longtime Republican seat and the GOP has poured in almost $150 million in new ad dollars to back up its nominee, Ken Paxton.
The gap is smaller in the House, where a bit less than 6 in 10 of those new ad dollars are coming from the GOP.
#senate #dollars #House #republican
22 days ago
Any semblance of sizzle has been pounded out of McDonald's (MCD) stock.
Shares of the high-calorie fast food seller dropped below $230 for the first time in more than four years on Monday.
Today's move is being driven by a relatively bearish note from Guggenheim ******* yst Gregory Francfort.
"It seems difficult to get positive on shares now without better evidence of a catalyst path over the next 12 months," Francfort said. "1Q27 comparisons do seem to get a lot easier than the Street models, which could be a catalyst, but we would like to see fundamental reasons that MCD's franchisees are buying into entry level value menu efforts or ops improvements than can drive traffic."
Francfort maintained a Neutral rating on McDonald's stock.
#guggenheim
Shares of the high-calorie fast food seller dropped below $230 for the first time in more than four years on Monday.
Today's move is being driven by a relatively bearish note from Guggenheim ******* yst Gregory Francfort.
"It seems difficult to get positive on shares now without better evidence of a catalyst path over the next 12 months," Francfort said. "1Q27 comparisons do seem to get a lot easier than the Street models, which could be a catalyst, but we would like to see fundamental reasons that MCD's franchisees are buying into entry level value menu efforts or ops improvements than can drive traffic."
Francfort maintained a Neutral rating on McDonald's stock.
#guggenheim
22 days ago
Meghan Markle's new promo photoshoot for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is drawing unflattering comparisons to Kate Middleton. The **** ss of Sussex shared a series of photos and videos for her brand's latest, limited-edition Christmas Advent Calendar. It seemed normal on the surface. But eagle-eyed fans noticed an interesting detail that reminded them of the Princess of Wales.
Meghan Markle's new promo photoshoot for As Ever has fans wondering whether the Kate Middleton connection is deliberate or not (via The Royal Observer).
For those unversed, the Suits star launched a collection of photos and videos to promote her latest Christmas products. Notably, it is called the Christmas Advent Calendar and features wholesome, handmade goodies from Los Angeles chocolatier Compartes.
It is available exclusively to U.S. residents. The calendar features 24 handmade chocolates inspired by Markle's Montecito home and personal life. However, sharp-eyed fans noticed a subtle connection to the future queen. Upon zooming in on the promotional photo, several fans accused the former actress of using AI. They spotted what appeared to be six fingers on her hand.
User TribesBritannia commented, "Meghan Markle using AI for **** Never. Six fingers is a classic example of AI. She can't even be bothered to take a simple photo, are the media and GettyImages going to go mad about this, like they did about a simple Mother's Day photo?"
#meghan
Meghan Markle's new promo photoshoot for As Ever has fans wondering whether the Kate Middleton connection is deliberate or not (via The Royal Observer).
For those unversed, the Suits star launched a collection of photos and videos to promote her latest Christmas products. Notably, it is called the Christmas Advent Calendar and features wholesome, handmade goodies from Los Angeles chocolatier Compartes.
It is available exclusively to U.S. residents. The calendar features 24 handmade chocolates inspired by Markle's Montecito home and personal life. However, sharp-eyed fans noticed a subtle connection to the future queen. Upon zooming in on the promotional photo, several fans accused the former actress of using AI. They spotted what appeared to be six fingers on her hand.
User TribesBritannia commented, "Meghan Markle using AI for **** Never. Six fingers is a classic example of AI. She can't even be bothered to take a simple photo, are the media and GettyImages going to go mad about this, like they did about a simple Mother's Day photo?"
#meghan
22 days ago
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly at odds over work, according to a royal insider. One of them has been busy on the charity circuit and engagements in London and New York, while the other has been enjoying a slower pace. Now, a royal insider says the contrast has become a sore point, and money could be the factor.
Since returning to the UK, Prince Harry has been out and about. Meghan Markle's schedule, by comparison, sounds far gentler. New Idea reports that Markle's days are a mix of business calls for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, going to Pilates or yoga with friends, and school runs for Archie and Lilibet.
A royal insider speaking to the outlet claims Harry would like that to change. "Harry wants Meghan to work," the source says. They add that "while he was at that WellChild event and being offered radio gigs for Meghan, she was having a jolly in a pub with Ellen and Portia."
Money appears to be at the heart of it, as the insider says the couple's funds are shrinking. Keeping their Montecito home is estimated to cost about $1 million. Meghan is said to want it as a safety net if life in the UK does not work out.
Meanwhile, her acting plans have hit obstacles too. In August, a rumor spread that she was in talks with Guy Ritchie's team regarding a role in "The Gentlemen," which streams on Netflix. Series star Theo James dismissed these rumors soon after.
#prince #london
Since returning to the UK, Prince Harry has been out and about. Meghan Markle's schedule, by comparison, sounds far gentler. New Idea reports that Markle's days are a mix of business calls for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, going to Pilates or yoga with friends, and school runs for Archie and Lilibet.
A royal insider speaking to the outlet claims Harry would like that to change. "Harry wants Meghan to work," the source says. They add that "while he was at that WellChild event and being offered radio gigs for Meghan, she was having a jolly in a pub with Ellen and Portia."
Money appears to be at the heart of it, as the insider says the couple's funds are shrinking. Keeping their Montecito home is estimated to cost about $1 million. Meghan is said to want it as a safety net if life in the UK does not work out.
Meanwhile, her acting plans have hit obstacles too. In August, a rumor spread that she was in talks with Guy Ritchie's team regarding a role in "The Gentlemen," which streams on Netflix. Series star Theo James dismissed these rumors soon after.
#prince #london
22 days ago
Toto, we're not in Muskoka anymore.
"Sterling Point" star Ella Rubin has officially landed at Paris Fashion Week, and at the Chanel spring 2027 presentation, no less. Surrounded by Nicole Kidman, Alexa Demie, Dua Lipa and more, the 25-year-old actress — who, since the release of Amazon Prime's YA series this past summer, has earned comparisons to Hollywood royalty such as Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway — made her much-anticipated front row debut with the kind of quiet glam that screamed "It" girl.
More from WWD
Dua Lipa Slips Into Chanel Mushroom Slingbacks That Continue the Brand's Garden Details Trend
Getting Ready for Valentino Spring 2027 With Colman Domingo
#toto #sterling
"Sterling Point" star Ella Rubin has officially landed at Paris Fashion Week, and at the Chanel spring 2027 presentation, no less. Surrounded by Nicole Kidman, Alexa Demie, Dua Lipa and more, the 25-year-old actress — who, since the release of Amazon Prime's YA series this past summer, has earned comparisons to Hollywood royalty such as Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway — made her much-anticipated front row debut with the kind of quiet glam that screamed "It" girl.
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Dua Lipa Slips Into Chanel Mushroom Slingbacks That Continue the Brand's Garden Details Trend
Getting Ready for Valentino Spring 2027 With Colman Domingo
#toto #sterling
24 days ago
Saturday Night Live host Dakota Johnson linked up with Taylor Swift on stage Saturday, where they joked about dating musicians.
In her monologue, Johnson, who split up with Coldplay singer Chris Martin and singer-songwriter Role Model since her last time hosting the show, makes a comparison to her newest film, Verity.
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Paul McCartney Reveals Why He Performed at Taylor Swift's Wedding: 'She Asked Me to Do It'
#night #live #dakota
In her monologue, Johnson, who split up with Coldplay singer Chris Martin and singer-songwriter Role Model since her last time hosting the show, makes a comparison to her newest film, Verity.
More from Rolling Stone
'SNL' Cold Open: Trump's Midterms Pitch Dooms Desperate GOP
Paul McCartney Reveals Why He Performed at Taylor Swift's Wedding: 'She Asked Me to Do It'
#night #live #dakota
26 days ago
Actor Oliver Hudson referenced his famous family during his first two episodes on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
His family includes Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, and Wyatt Russell.
Hudson's own children have also taken an interest in show business.
During the premiere of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 5, contestant Oliver Hudson got real about the "pressure" of growing up in one of Hollywood's most famous families.
"Coming from a successful family, I wrestle with comparison. I wrestle with insecurity," he said during a confessional. "My mother's an icon, so a part of me feels like I have to accomplish something greater for them to be truly proud of me."
#family #famous #wrestle
His family includes Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, and Wyatt Russell.
Hudson's own children have also taken an interest in show business.
During the premiere of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 5, contestant Oliver Hudson got real about the "pressure" of growing up in one of Hollywood's most famous families.
"Coming from a successful family, I wrestle with comparison. I wrestle with insecurity," he said during a confessional. "My mother's an icon, so a part of me feels like I have to accomplish something greater for them to be truly proud of me."
#family #famous #wrestle
30 days ago
Intel sold control of Altera last year. Now the programmable-chip company is heading back toward the public market just as AI gives investors a new reason to care about FPGAs.
Altera said on September 15 that it confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO. Reuters previously reported that the offering could raise more than $2 billion. Silver Lake owns 51% after investing $4.46 billion for control, while Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) retains 49%.
Intel Corp.'s headquarters, the Robert Noyce Building in Santa Clara, California. Photo from Intel Corp website
The most useful strategic comparison is Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), which bought FPGA leader Xilinx in 2022 and integrated programmable silicon into a much broader data-center portfolio.
Intel bought Altera for $16.7 billion in 2015 before separating the business and selling control to Silver Lake. An IPO would create a new market valuation for Intel Corporation's (NASDAQ:INTC) remaining interest.
#corp
Altera said on September 15 that it confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO. Reuters previously reported that the offering could raise more than $2 billion. Silver Lake owns 51% after investing $4.46 billion for control, while Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) retains 49%.
Intel Corp.'s headquarters, the Robert Noyce Building in Santa Clara, California. Photo from Intel Corp website
The most useful strategic comparison is Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), which bought FPGA leader Xilinx in 2022 and integrated programmable silicon into a much broader data-center portfolio.
Intel bought Altera for $16.7 billion in 2015 before separating the business and selling control to Silver Lake. An IPO would create a new market valuation for Intel Corporation's (NASDAQ:INTC) remaining interest.
#corp
1 month ago
On August 6, Aflac (NYSE:AFL) reported second-quarter numbers that point in opposite directions. Net earnings climbed to $825 million, helped along by investment losses that shrank to $153 million from $421 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings, though, fell 7.7% to $883 million. Both numbers are real, but they answer different questions. Which measure you trust changes the story, so here is what sits underneath.
Start with the yen, because it is muddying the picture. The average rate was 159.45 to the dollar, 9.3% weaker than a year earlier, and that cost adjusted earnings $0.05 a share. Take the currency out of the first half and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.1% to $3.57. ******* an is also running more profitably. Its pretax adjusted margin widened to 34.3% from 32.0% as claims took a smaller bite out of premiums, and yen-based pretax adjusted earnings rose 3.4%. So part of the decline in ******* an's dollar-reported profit is currency, not operations.
The US business is still growing at the top line. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion, and sales climbed 2.6% to $349 million, led by group voluntary benefits along with dental and vision plans. In ******* an, the refreshed Tsumitasu life policy and the new Anshin Palette medical product grew strongly in the quarter, and first-half sales rose 7.0% to ¥37.3 billion. Then there is the cash. Aflac returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter, $983 million of it through buybacks, and declared a $0.61 third-quarter dividend, payable September 1 to holders of record on August 19, 2026. Management notes 43 straight years of dividend increases through 2025 and says the board is on a path to extend that in 2026.
The catch is that ******* an's profit gains came from lower claims, not a bigger business. Net earned premiums in yen fell 3.7%, mainly because of a new external reinsurance deal and older limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status. Premium persistency, the share of policies customers keep, slipped to 92.7% from 93.7%. ******* an's pretax adjusted earnings still fell 2.1% once currency is stripped out, and new sales dipped 5.6% in the quarter against a tough comparison for the Miraito cancer product, which launched in March 2025.
The US segment has its own soft spot. Pretax adjusted earnings fell 4.6% to $370 million, and the margin narrowed to 20.9% from 22.5% as claims and benefits took a bigger share of premiums. Corporate and Other swung to a $10 million pretax adjusted loss from a $20 million gain a year earlier, with interest expense up 21.6% to $62 million. And adjusted book value per share, excluding foreign currency remeasurement, slid to $41.22 at June 30 from $42.97 a year earlier.
#earnings #fell
Start with the yen, because it is muddying the picture. The average rate was 159.45 to the dollar, 9.3% weaker than a year earlier, and that cost adjusted earnings $0.05 a share. Take the currency out of the first half and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.1% to $3.57. ******* an is also running more profitably. Its pretax adjusted margin widened to 34.3% from 32.0% as claims took a smaller bite out of premiums, and yen-based pretax adjusted earnings rose 3.4%. So part of the decline in ******* an's dollar-reported profit is currency, not operations.
The US business is still growing at the top line. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion, and sales climbed 2.6% to $349 million, led by group voluntary benefits along with dental and vision plans. In ******* an, the refreshed Tsumitasu life policy and the new Anshin Palette medical product grew strongly in the quarter, and first-half sales rose 7.0% to ¥37.3 billion. Then there is the cash. Aflac returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter, $983 million of it through buybacks, and declared a $0.61 third-quarter dividend, payable September 1 to holders of record on August 19, 2026. Management notes 43 straight years of dividend increases through 2025 and says the board is on a path to extend that in 2026.
The catch is that ******* an's profit gains came from lower claims, not a bigger business. Net earned premiums in yen fell 3.7%, mainly because of a new external reinsurance deal and older limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status. Premium persistency, the share of policies customers keep, slipped to 92.7% from 93.7%. ******* an's pretax adjusted earnings still fell 2.1% once currency is stripped out, and new sales dipped 5.6% in the quarter against a tough comparison for the Miraito cancer product, which launched in March 2025.
The US segment has its own soft spot. Pretax adjusted earnings fell 4.6% to $370 million, and the margin narrowed to 20.9% from 22.5% as claims and benefits took a bigger share of premiums. Corporate and Other swung to a $10 million pretax adjusted loss from a $20 million gain a year earlier, with interest expense up 21.6% to $62 million. And adjusted book value per share, excluding foreign currency remeasurement, slid to $41.22 at June 30 from $42.97 a year earlier.
#earnings #fell
1 month ago
On August 10, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) reported results for the three months through June 30 and raised its full-year profit outlook once again. Real estate funds from operations (FFO), a cash-flow measure suited to landlords, hit $3.29 per share. Tenants are earning more from their stores, and management is confident enough to lift its guidance again. Yet the professionals who own the stock are heading the other way.
Start with the tenants, because they pay the rent. Reported retailer sales reached $838 per square foot over the year through June 30, up from $736 a year earlier, on June 30, 2025. Stronger sales tend to make higher rent easier to swallow, and base minimum rent per square foot did climb to $62.42 from $58.70.
That demand flowed through to profit. Real estate FFO rose to $3.29 per diluted share from $3.05, and net operating income at Simon's domestic properties grew 8.5%. Management responded by lifting its full-year real estate FFO range to $13.20 to $13.30 per share, moving the midpoint up by $0.08.
Shareholders get paid while they wait. The board declared a third-quarter dividend of $2.25 per share, $0.10 more than a year ago, to be paid on September 30 to anyone on the books by September 9. Simon also put $211.4 million into buying back stock at an average of $205.10 per share, and it finished June with about $9.3 billion of liquidity.
Now the less flattering side. Net income for common stockholders was $483.1 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, versus $1.70 a year earlier. The 2025 quarter included a non-cash gain of $0.21 per share from investment activity, which flatters that comparison. Still, plain FFO followed the same path, slipping to $3.12 from $3.15.
#Share #year #june #estate
Start with the tenants, because they pay the rent. Reported retailer sales reached $838 per square foot over the year through June 30, up from $736 a year earlier, on June 30, 2025. Stronger sales tend to make higher rent easier to swallow, and base minimum rent per square foot did climb to $62.42 from $58.70.
That demand flowed through to profit. Real estate FFO rose to $3.29 per diluted share from $3.05, and net operating income at Simon's domestic properties grew 8.5%. Management responded by lifting its full-year real estate FFO range to $13.20 to $13.30 per share, moving the midpoint up by $0.08.
Shareholders get paid while they wait. The board declared a third-quarter dividend of $2.25 per share, $0.10 more than a year ago, to be paid on September 30 to anyone on the books by September 9. Simon also put $211.4 million into buying back stock at an average of $205.10 per share, and it finished June with about $9.3 billion of liquidity.
Now the less flattering side. Net income for common stockholders was $483.1 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, versus $1.70 a year earlier. The 2025 quarter included a non-cash gain of $0.21 per share from investment activity, which flatters that comparison. Still, plain FFO followed the same path, slipping to $3.12 from $3.15.
#Share #year #june #estate
1 month ago
On Sept. 15, 2016, Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP) stock closed at a split-adjusted $4.18 per share. As of this writing, shares trade around $130. That comes out to about 31 times the initial investment -- enough to make a $10,000 stake bought that day worth about $311,000 today.
And because Shopify does not pay a dividend, the share price did all the work.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our **** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
For comparison, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) had an outstanding decade of its own. The same $10,000 in an index fund that tracks the benchmark, with dividends reinvested, would have become about $41,000 during that period.
Most investors would be delighted with that outcome. Shopify's was more than seven times better.
#sept
And because Shopify does not pay a dividend, the share price did all the work.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our **** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
For comparison, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) had an outstanding decade of its own. The same $10,000 in an index fund that tracks the benchmark, with dividends reinvested, would have become about $41,000 during that period.
Most investors would be delighted with that outcome. Shopify's was more than seven times better.
#sept
1 month ago
GDEV Inc. (NASDAQ:GDEV) saw a year-on-year drop in bookings from both its in-app purchases and advertising, during the second quarter fiscal 2026. Consequently, the quarterly revenue figure of $94 million was down 22% compared to Q2 FY25. On the flip side, SG&A expenses and costs related to platform commissions were lower relative to the corresponding period last year. Along with other factors, the lower cost base helped GDEV report $20 million in net profit, up from $17 million in the second quarter of 2025.
Copyright: artush / 123RF Stock Photo
Breaking down the expenses, selling and marketing costs came down by 38% compared to the same quarter last year, clocking in at $33 million. It reflects on management's continued focus on deploying an efficient approach for its user acquisition initiatives. The approach is based on a more targeted performance marketing across certain channels that lead to durable high-value users, instead of broader campaigns for near-term benefits.
The reported quarter marked a turnaround related to the equity accounted ******* ociates. These contributed a $2 million profit share, which was a reversal from a $2 million loss share in Q2 FY25. Most notably, cash flows from operating activities turned from negative $10 million in Q2 FY25 to positive $10 million in the reported period.
Several operating metrics weakened during the reported quarter. Monthly paying users dropped by 23% year-over-year, along with a 15% decline for the entire first half. This was the major underlying reason for a sluggish performance in bookings, which stood at $73 million and $156 million for the second quarter and first half of the year, respectively. These fell short in comparison to $92 million and $173 million recorded in the corresponding periods last year. GDEV also said the decline in first-half platform commissions was driven by lower revenues recognized from PC platforms, while PC's share of bookings fell to 36% from 39%.
#million #lower
Copyright: artush / 123RF Stock Photo
Breaking down the expenses, selling and marketing costs came down by 38% compared to the same quarter last year, clocking in at $33 million. It reflects on management's continued focus on deploying an efficient approach for its user acquisition initiatives. The approach is based on a more targeted performance marketing across certain channels that lead to durable high-value users, instead of broader campaigns for near-term benefits.
The reported quarter marked a turnaround related to the equity accounted ******* ociates. These contributed a $2 million profit share, which was a reversal from a $2 million loss share in Q2 FY25. Most notably, cash flows from operating activities turned from negative $10 million in Q2 FY25 to positive $10 million in the reported period.
Several operating metrics weakened during the reported quarter. Monthly paying users dropped by 23% year-over-year, along with a 15% decline for the entire first half. This was the major underlying reason for a sluggish performance in bookings, which stood at $73 million and $156 million for the second quarter and first half of the year, respectively. These fell short in comparison to $92 million and $173 million recorded in the corresponding periods last year. GDEV also said the decline in first-half platform commissions was driven by lower revenues recognized from PC platforms, while PC's share of bookings fell to 36% from 39%.
#million #lower
1 month ago
On August 19, Ferrovial (NASDAQ:FER) announced it had been selected to deliver the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes, a 26-mile project running between Nashville and Murfreesboro. It is the largest single capital investment in Tennessee's history and the state's first public-private partnership. The price tag is $9.2 billion, though Ferrovial isn't carrying it alone, since its DriveTN consortium also counts Transurban and Tikehau Star Infra as partners.
Choice lanes are familiar ground for Ferrovial, which has replicated the model in Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. On Virginia's 66 Express corridor, similar lanes shaved up to 50% off peak-hour travel times. That is the pitch for I-24, a stretch of highway that already ranks among the region's most jammed: drivers who opt in get steadier speeds, and those in the free lanes should see less traffic too.
The business behind the bid looks healthy, too. Ferrovial's July 28 results showed adjusted EBITDA up 21.6% on a like-for-like basis to €746 million over the first six months of the year, with U.S. highways doing most of the lifting. Those roads are sending cash home as well, since Ferrovial received €357 million in dividends from North America. And the construction order book reached an all-time high of €18 billion, so plenty of work is already in hand. The pipeline keeps filling: Ferrovial bid on I-285 East in Georgia in July, and its D35 Highway bid in the Czech Republic was the most cost-effective submitted, with technical evaluation still underway.
Beyond the roads, the balance sheet looks sturdy. Ferrovial ended the first half with €1.3 billion in net cash, excluding infrastructure projects, meaning cash outweighs debt outside those projects. The airport arm is progressing too: Ferrovial has finished funding the $1.1 billion in equity it pledged for New Terminal One at JFK, and construction there is 92% complete.
Start with the line that looks worst on the page. Net profit for the first half of 2026 came in at €258 million, versus €540 million for the same period of 2025. That earlier figure included capital gains from ******* et rotation, which makes the comparison harsh, but the mismatch is still there: EBITDA climbed while reported profit fell.
#first #million #choice
Choice lanes are familiar ground for Ferrovial, which has replicated the model in Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. On Virginia's 66 Express corridor, similar lanes shaved up to 50% off peak-hour travel times. That is the pitch for I-24, a stretch of highway that already ranks among the region's most jammed: drivers who opt in get steadier speeds, and those in the free lanes should see less traffic too.
The business behind the bid looks healthy, too. Ferrovial's July 28 results showed adjusted EBITDA up 21.6% on a like-for-like basis to €746 million over the first six months of the year, with U.S. highways doing most of the lifting. Those roads are sending cash home as well, since Ferrovial received €357 million in dividends from North America. And the construction order book reached an all-time high of €18 billion, so plenty of work is already in hand. The pipeline keeps filling: Ferrovial bid on I-285 East in Georgia in July, and its D35 Highway bid in the Czech Republic was the most cost-effective submitted, with technical evaluation still underway.
Beyond the roads, the balance sheet looks sturdy. Ferrovial ended the first half with €1.3 billion in net cash, excluding infrastructure projects, meaning cash outweighs debt outside those projects. The airport arm is progressing too: Ferrovial has finished funding the $1.1 billion in equity it pledged for New Terminal One at JFK, and construction there is 92% complete.
Start with the line that looks worst on the page. Net profit for the first half of 2026 came in at €258 million, versus €540 million for the same period of 2025. That earlier figure included capital gains from ******* et rotation, which makes the comparison harsh, but the mismatch is still there: EBITDA climbed while reported profit fell.
#first #million #choice
1 month ago
Margin debt hit $1.45 trillion in August, up 140% since 2022 and outpacing the S&P 500's 98% gain, which leaves the market carrying far more forced-selling risk.
At roughly 4.5% of GDP, margin debt now exceeds the dot-com bubble's peak, meaning a routine correction could cascade into broker-forced liquidations across the market.
The real danger isn't high leverage itself but the simultaneous forced selling that erupts when overleveraged investors all need cash at once.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
The longer-term comparison is even more striking. Since the end of 2022 -- and the start of the current AI-dominated era -- investor borrowing has increased by $847 billion, or 140%, versus a 98% gain for the S&P 500 over the same period. That means leverage has grown faster than the market value investors have accumulated, presumably as they took on debt to buy into the AI boom.
#market #leverage #investors
At roughly 4.5% of GDP, margin debt now exceeds the dot-com bubble's peak, meaning a routine correction could cascade into broker-forced liquidations across the market.
The real danger isn't high leverage itself but the simultaneous forced selling that erupts when overleveraged investors all need cash at once.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
The longer-term comparison is even more striking. Since the end of 2022 -- and the start of the current AI-dominated era -- investor borrowing has increased by $847 billion, or 140%, versus a 98% gain for the S&P 500 over the same period. That means leverage has grown faster than the market value investors have accumulated, presumably as they took on debt to buy into the AI boom.
#market #leverage #investors
1 month ago
Owning a $400,000 Villages home costs owners roughly 4.5% annually in forgone investment income alone, before taxes, insurance, or CDD bond payments.
Annual rentals run between $2,200 and $3,000 a month, but renting beats owning only for stays under eight years once all costs are counted.
A 75-year-old facing a forced sale in a narrow buyer pool at 3.98 million existing home sales risks losing the flexibility a lease ending provides.
Two retirees, same $1 million, same 4% rule, buy one finished with $1.4 million, the other hit $0 in 12 years. Our free reader guide explains the flaw that separated them, and the income-first method built to avoid it.
At the end of the day, renting versus buying in The Villages comes down to one thing: math. More owners are running the numbers and finding that renting wins on the spreadsheet, so here is what the comparison actually looks like when every line is filled in.
#income
Annual rentals run between $2,200 and $3,000 a month, but renting beats owning only for stays under eight years once all costs are counted.
A 75-year-old facing a forced sale in a narrow buyer pool at 3.98 million existing home sales risks losing the flexibility a lease ending provides.
Two retirees, same $1 million, same 4% rule, buy one finished with $1.4 million, the other hit $0 in 12 years. Our free reader guide explains the flaw that separated them, and the income-first method built to avoid it.
At the end of the day, renting versus buying in The Villages comes down to one thing: math. More owners are running the numbers and finding that renting wins on the spreadsheet, so here is what the comparison actually looks like when every line is filled in.
#income
1 month ago
On August 6, Aflac (NYSE:AFL) reported second-quarter numbers that point in opposite directions. Net earnings climbed to $825 million, helped along by investment losses that shrank to $153 million from $421 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings, though, fell 7.7% to $883 million. Both numbers are real, but they answer different questions. Which measure you trust changes the story, so here is what sits underneath.
Start with the yen, because it is muddying the picture. The average rate was 159.45 to the dollar, 9.3% weaker than a year earlier, and that cost adjusted earnings $0.05 a share. Take the currency out of the first half and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.1% to $3.57. **** an is also running more profitably. Its pretax adjusted margin widened to 34.3% from 32.0% as claims took a smaller bite out of premiums, and yen-based pretax adjusted earnings rose 3.4%. So part of the decline in **** an's dollar-reported profit is currency, not operations.
The US business is still growing at the top line. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion, and sales climbed 2.6% to $349 million, led by group voluntary benefits along with dental and vision plans. In **** an, the refreshed Tsumitasu life policy and the new Anshin Palette medical product grew strongly in the quarter, and first-half sales rose 7.0% to ¥37.3 billion. Then there is the cash. Aflac returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter, $983 million of it through buybacks, and declared a $0.61 third-quarter dividend, payable September 1 to holders of record on August 19, 2026. Management notes 43 straight years of dividend increases through 2025 and says the board is on a path to extend that in 2026.
The catch is that **** an's profit gains came from lower claims, not a bigger business. Net earned premiums in yen fell 3.7%, mainly because of a new external reinsurance deal and older limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status. Premium persistency, the share of policies customers keep, slipped to 92.7% from 93.7%. **** an's pretax adjusted earnings still fell 2.1% once currency is stripped out, and new sales dipped 5.6% in the quarter against a tough comparison for the Miraito cancer product, which launched in March 2025.
The US segment has its own soft spot. Pretax adjusted earnings fell 4.6% to $370 million, and the margin narrowed to 20.9% from 22.5% as claims and benefits took a bigger share of premiums. Corporate and Other swung to a $10 million pretax adjusted loss from a $20 million gain a year earlier, with interest expense up 21.6% to $62 million. And adjusted book value per share, excluding foreign currency remeasurement, slid to $41.22 at June 30 from $42.97 a year earlier.
#adjusted #pretax
Start with the yen, because it is muddying the picture. The average rate was 159.45 to the dollar, 9.3% weaker than a year earlier, and that cost adjusted earnings $0.05 a share. Take the currency out of the first half and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.1% to $3.57. **** an is also running more profitably. Its pretax adjusted margin widened to 34.3% from 32.0% as claims took a smaller bite out of premiums, and yen-based pretax adjusted earnings rose 3.4%. So part of the decline in **** an's dollar-reported profit is currency, not operations.
The US business is still growing at the top line. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion, and sales climbed 2.6% to $349 million, led by group voluntary benefits along with dental and vision plans. In **** an, the refreshed Tsumitasu life policy and the new Anshin Palette medical product grew strongly in the quarter, and first-half sales rose 7.0% to ¥37.3 billion. Then there is the cash. Aflac returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter, $983 million of it through buybacks, and declared a $0.61 third-quarter dividend, payable September 1 to holders of record on August 19, 2026. Management notes 43 straight years of dividend increases through 2025 and says the board is on a path to extend that in 2026.
The catch is that **** an's profit gains came from lower claims, not a bigger business. Net earned premiums in yen fell 3.7%, mainly because of a new external reinsurance deal and older limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status. Premium persistency, the share of policies customers keep, slipped to 92.7% from 93.7%. **** an's pretax adjusted earnings still fell 2.1% once currency is stripped out, and new sales dipped 5.6% in the quarter against a tough comparison for the Miraito cancer product, which launched in March 2025.
The US segment has its own soft spot. Pretax adjusted earnings fell 4.6% to $370 million, and the margin narrowed to 20.9% from 22.5% as claims and benefits took a bigger share of premiums. Corporate and Other swung to a $10 million pretax adjusted loss from a $20 million gain a year earlier, with interest expense up 21.6% to $62 million. And adjusted book value per share, excluding foreign currency remeasurement, slid to $41.22 at June 30 from $42.97 a year earlier.
#adjusted #pretax
1 month ago
George Kamel argues paying $115,000 into Social Security over a career costs workers roughly $2 million in foregone investment returns at a 10% return.
The 2026 Trustees Report moved Social Security's projected depletion date to 2032, forecasting a 22% benefit cut averaging $500 per month for retirees.
Kamel's comparison ignores that Social Security includes inflation adjustments, disability coverage, and lifetime income that a brokerage account cannot replicate.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
Personal finance personality George Kamel recently ran the numbers on Social Security and reached a conclusion designed to grab attention: "all those years of paying into Social Security cost you about $2 million". If you are at or near retirement, that framing is either clarifying or terrifying. The stakes are real. Millions of households will lean on this program for most of their retirement income, and the 2026 Trustees Reports have changed the timeline everyone is working with.
#Social #trustees #million
The 2026 Trustees Report moved Social Security's projected depletion date to 2032, forecasting a 22% benefit cut averaging $500 per month for retirees.
Kamel's comparison ignores that Social Security includes inflation adjustments, disability coverage, and lifetime income that a brokerage account cannot replicate.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
Personal finance personality George Kamel recently ran the numbers on Social Security and reached a conclusion designed to grab attention: "all those years of paying into Social Security cost you about $2 million". If you are at or near retirement, that framing is either clarifying or terrifying. The stakes are real. Millions of households will lean on this program for most of their retirement income, and the 2026 Trustees Reports have changed the timeline everyone is working with.
#Social #trustees #million
1 month ago
On August 6, James Hardie Industries (NYSE:JHX) reported results for the quarter ended June 30 and beat its own numbers by enough to raise guidance just three months into the fiscal year. Net sales jumped 64% year over year to $1.475 billion, adjusted EBITDA climbed 79% to $422.1 million, and both figures came in ahead of what management had originally guided investors to expect. For a company that closed a transformative acquisition less than a year earlier, that kind of overshoot forces a reassessment of the growth story ahead.
The headline growth number is inflated by the AZEK Exteriors deal folded into the base, so the more telling figure is the 12% pro forma net sales growth, which also beat original guidance. Siding & Trim, the core fiber cement business, posted organic net sales growth of 20% as North American fiber cement volumes returned to growth for the first time in several quarters. CEO Aaron Erter tied that to share gains against vinyl and other competing materials, along with programs like ColorPlus and Expanded Statement drawing more of the higher-end repair and remodel market. Adjusted EBITDA margin in that segment expanded 140 basis points to 33.5%, powered by favorable pricing, cheaper raw materials, and continued savings from the company's Hardie Manufacturing Operating System even as freight costs rose.
Management also said cost synergies from the AZEK integration are running ahead of schedule and revenue synergies are on track, evidenced by newly expanded nationwide distribution partnerships with Boise Cascade and other regional distributors. In Deck, Rail & Accessories, sell-through accelerated every month of the quarter and outpaced shipments, pulling channel inventory back to normal levels and setting up a cleaner back half of the year. Free cash flow more than doubled to $254.2 million, and the company used the cash to pay down $400 million of senior unsecured notes.
Erter was careful to frame the beat as execution rather than a healthier market, telling investors the company is "not ***** uming a housing market improvement" for the rest of fiscal 2027. Part of the quarter's strength came from an easy comparison, since channel inventory was deliberately reduced a year earlier, and management said that benefit is expected to moderate as the year goes on. Deck, Rail & Accessories net sales actually fell 5% on a pro forma basis because the company intentionally cut production to work down channel inventory, leaving the segment with an operating loss of $3.3 million for the quarter.
#Growth #sales #management
The headline growth number is inflated by the AZEK Exteriors deal folded into the base, so the more telling figure is the 12% pro forma net sales growth, which also beat original guidance. Siding & Trim, the core fiber cement business, posted organic net sales growth of 20% as North American fiber cement volumes returned to growth for the first time in several quarters. CEO Aaron Erter tied that to share gains against vinyl and other competing materials, along with programs like ColorPlus and Expanded Statement drawing more of the higher-end repair and remodel market. Adjusted EBITDA margin in that segment expanded 140 basis points to 33.5%, powered by favorable pricing, cheaper raw materials, and continued savings from the company's Hardie Manufacturing Operating System even as freight costs rose.
Management also said cost synergies from the AZEK integration are running ahead of schedule and revenue synergies are on track, evidenced by newly expanded nationwide distribution partnerships with Boise Cascade and other regional distributors. In Deck, Rail & Accessories, sell-through accelerated every month of the quarter and outpaced shipments, pulling channel inventory back to normal levels and setting up a cleaner back half of the year. Free cash flow more than doubled to $254.2 million, and the company used the cash to pay down $400 million of senior unsecured notes.
Erter was careful to frame the beat as execution rather than a healthier market, telling investors the company is "not ***** uming a housing market improvement" for the rest of fiscal 2027. Part of the quarter's strength came from an easy comparison, since channel inventory was deliberately reduced a year earlier, and management said that benefit is expected to moderate as the year goes on. Deck, Rail & Accessories net sales actually fell 5% on a pro forma basis because the company intentionally cut production to work down channel inventory, leaving the segment with an operating loss of $3.3 million for the quarter.
#Growth #sales #management
1 month ago
Property and casualty insurer Progressive (NYSE: PGR) is probably best known for selling auto insurance. That's a highly competitive segment of the industry, but the company has proven its chops, reporting a strong combined ratio of 87.3% in the second quarter of 2026. Is the roughly 10% pullback from the 52-week high, and about 25% drawdown from 2025's peak, as of this writing, enough to make the stock a buy? Probably not if you are a value investor.
The combined ratio is a measure of profitability in the insurance sector, with numbers below 100% indicating that a company is earning more from premiums than it costs to support those premiums and cover claims. Progressive has a strong history of running its business well on this front. Basically, it is a good business. But paying too much for a good business can turn it into a bad investment, as Benjamin Graham was fond of saying (Graham notably helped train Warren Buffett).
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So the real question here is whether the drawdowns noted above were sufficient to make Progressive's valuation attractive. The answer there isn't clean cut. For example, the price-to-sales ratio of 1.4x is in the middle of the historical range of roughly 0.5x to 2.2x. If anything, the P/S ratio is kind of toward the high side. The same general story holds with the price-to-book ratio. So these two metrics hint at a stock that isn't expensive, but it also isn't trading at bargain-basement prices.
The price-to-earnings ratio is a bit more positive, with the 11.1x P/E toward the lower end of its historical range. And the average insurance company has a P/E ratio of around 11.8x, so this makes Progressive look reasonably priced. Only Progressive's P/B ratio is 3.7x compared to the industry average of 1.7x, so the broader industry comparison still isn't a clear-cut win.
#ratio #progressive
The combined ratio is a measure of profitability in the insurance sector, with numbers below 100% indicating that a company is earning more from premiums than it costs to support those premiums and cover claims. Progressive has a strong history of running its business well on this front. Basically, it is a good business. But paying too much for a good business can turn it into a bad investment, as Benjamin Graham was fond of saying (Graham notably helped train Warren Buffett).
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 »
So the real question here is whether the drawdowns noted above were sufficient to make Progressive's valuation attractive. The answer there isn't clean cut. For example, the price-to-sales ratio of 1.4x is in the middle of the historical range of roughly 0.5x to 2.2x. If anything, the P/S ratio is kind of toward the high side. The same general story holds with the price-to-book ratio. So these two metrics hint at a stock that isn't expensive, but it also isn't trading at bargain-basement prices.
The price-to-earnings ratio is a bit more positive, with the 11.1x P/E toward the lower end of its historical range. And the average insurance company has a P/E ratio of around 11.8x, so this makes Progressive look reasonably priced. Only Progressive's P/B ratio is 3.7x compared to the industry average of 1.7x, so the broader industry comparison still isn't a clear-cut win.
#ratio #progressive
