Shams Charania: BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN.
x.com
Chris Haynes: Dallas Mavericks announce they have reached a buyout agreement with sharpshooter Klay Thompson, making him an unrestricted free agent. — 8/21/2026 x.com
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that the team has reached a buyout agreement with guard/forward Klay Thompson. Thompson (6-6, 220) appeared in 141 games (80 starts) in his two seasons with Dallas and averaged 12.9 points on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three. "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization," said Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri. "We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward." — 8/21/2026 NBA.com

#dallas #charania

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that the team has reached a buyout agreement with guard/forward Klay Thompson. Thompson (6-6, 220) appeared in 141 games (80 starts) in his two seasons with Dallas and averaged 12.9 points on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three. "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization," said Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri. "We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of …

#mavericks #dallas #appeared #competitors

Runners will race through forest trails and behind waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park during an annual trail running event from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18.
Silver Falls Trail Runs will host five races for the 16th annual Silver Falls Trail Runs, which boast thousands of competitors each year. Registration is now open and anyone who wants to race should sign up quickly.
"This race has become a destination trail run with over 2,500 participants coming from over 30 states annually," Friends of Silver Falls, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the park, said in a statement.
Races take runners on different trails around the park, such as the Trail of Ten Falls and Canyon Trail. The races start at the South Falls Day Use Area located 16 miles southeast of Silverton. Entry for the races costs between $80 and $120.
The first event on Oct. 16 is a 5K race at 4:30 p.m. On Oct. 17, events include a 50K race at 7:30 a.m., a marathon at 8 a.m., and two waves of a 7 mile race at 9 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Two half marathon waves will take off at 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 18.

#races #runners

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.
Delivered positive comparable sales of 0.2% as growth in Pro, Online, and Home Services offset macro-driven softness in discretionary DIY spending.
Attributed late-quarter sales pressure to heightened competitive pricing in seasonal categories, which management believes was fueled by competitors utilizing tariff refunds.
Achieved 15.7% online sales growth driven by enhanced visualization tools, expanded marketplace offerings, and the successful rollout of the Mylow AI agent.
Maintained operational discipline through Perpetual Productivity Improvement (PPI) initiatives, enabling the company to absorb elevated fuel and transportation costs.

#driven #delivered

Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2% on Wednesday after the company reported an earnings beat but gave a more cautious outlook, citing "pressure" in do-it-yourself (DIY) consumer spending.
In the second quarter, Lowe's revenue came in at $26 billion, just below the $26.1 billion the Street expected. Adjusted earnings per share, which included a $0.11 benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds, came in at $4.27, above the $4.22 the Street predicted based on Bloomberg estimates.
"Our total home strategy is working," Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison told Yahoo Finance. "This strategic framework has enabled us to drive five consecutive quarters of positive comps. … With the DIY under pressure, we still have been able to deliver."
Poor weather during the Memorial Day weekend weighed on weather-sensitive outdoor and seasonal categories, as did competitors' use of tariff refunds to put up promotions on items like grills, patio, and live goods.
Amid a tough housing backdrop that disproportionately affects DIY customers, Lowe's same-store sales grew 0.2%, below the 0.7% expected.

#refunds

China flooded the world with cheap solar panels a decade ago, driving Western competitors out of business. It did the same with electric vehicles, prompting tariffs from Washington and Brussels. In 2025, the pattern repeated with batteries. Chinese manufacturers who had built twice as many factories as the world needed slashed prices to keep them running, pushing stationary storage packs down to $70 per kilowatt-hour, 45% cheaper than the year before. The decline was steep enough to reshape what power companies pay for electricity during the most expensive hours of the day.
Chinese overbuilding was the biggest single force behind the price collapse, but it wasn't the only one. A shift toward cheaper battery chemistry, a crash in lithium prices, and a decades-long accumulation of manufacturing improvements all hit at the same time, each amplifying the others. On its own, any one of those forces would have pushed prices down gradually. Their convergence is what turned a steady decline into a collapse.
Cheaper batteries are good news for electricity costs and for the climate. But the conditions that made them possible are unwinding. Lithium prices have already rebounded, and the tariffs designed to counter China's trade practices are adding new costs of their own.
Chinese battery manufacturers spent the early 2020s building factories at a pace that ***** umed electric vehicle demand would keep surging. It worked for a while. By 2024, China produced enough battery cells — the basic units that store electricity and power electric vehicles — for every car sold on the planet that year. But global manufacturing capacity far outstripped what anyone needed. At roughly 2,600 gigawatt-hours, the world's factories could supply every battery the market demanded and still have enough idle capacity to outfit nearly every home in America with its own storage system.
Even as the surplus became apparent, manufacturers kept adding capacity through 2025. The world's battery factories nearly doubled their capacity to more than 4,000 gigawatt-hours of cells a year — more than four times what the market actually bought — with China accounting for more than 80% of the total.

#battery #capacity #manufacturers

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: $HOOD) CEO Vlad Tenev is calling on U.S. regulators to approve tokenized stocks.
In a social media post, Tenev argues that the U.S. is at risk of ceding the next generation of financial-market infrastructure to overseas competitors.
The Robinhood CEO also said that the global financial system is in the early stages of a "tokenization super cycle" that has the potential to reshape traditional finance.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC July TradFi Trading Shifts Toward AI Storage as SNDK Futures Volume Surges More Than 15x Times

#tenev #markets #NASDAQ

ST. LOUIS — Gary Woodland doesn't need any reminders about the challenges he has encountered over the last three years, the surgery he underwent in 2023 to remove a lesion from his brain and his subsequent battle with post-traumatic stress disorder that forces him to keep constant anxiety in check while competing at the highest level of professional golf.
But there he was last week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis meeting with an 11-year-old boy from New Zealand after the youngster followed the former U.S. Open champion around TPC Southwind. The boy has an inoperable brain tumor.
Woodland shared this anecdote on Thursday after the first round of the BMW Championship. And just seeing the look in his eyes relaying that moment in Memphis said so much about how he ***** ses what his career has come to mean to others and not just himself.
"I think I got a lot of perspective over the last couple years. I know I'm fighting for a lot more than playing golf," he said. "I'm hopefully having a positive impact on a lot of people's lives just showing up and fighting. Knowing that I'm struggling every day, and hopefully … I'm having a bigger impact than just showing up and showing that I can still compete and play out here and live my dreams. That's the big deal is I'm struggling and I'm still living my dreams. I hope people see that and try to do the same thing."
Woodland's dream took a fairytale turn in late March when he won the Texas Children's Houston Open less than a month after revealing that he suffers from PTSD. That victory, his fifth career ***** le on the PGA Tour and first in almost seven years, is easily the most inspirational story of the year, one that was a triumph of the spirit more than a conquering of a golf course and a field of talented competitors.

#last #woodland #memphis #brain

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: $HOOD) CEO Vlad Tenev is calling on U.S. regulators to approve tokenized stocks.
In a social media post, Tenev argues that the U.S. is at risk of ceding the next generation of financial-market infrastructure to overseas competitors.
The Robinhood CEO also said that the global financial system is in the early stages of a "tokenization super cycle" that has the potential to reshape traditional finance.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC July TradFi Trading Shifts Toward AI Storage as SNDK Futures Volume Surges More Than 15x Times

#robinhood #july

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) received a major vote of confidence from Rothschild Redburn today, with the firm upgrading the stock from Neutral to "Buy" and raising its price target to $400 from $260. The upgrade rests on two major catalysts for Apple: its entry into premium foldables and a strategic reset to the Apple Intelligence platform.
Apple's bull case lies within its tight integration of premium hardware, proprietary silicon, and its rapidly expanding services layer. For the near future, **** yst James Cordwell anticipates iPhone sales to grow at a 12% five-year annual compound rate, roughly 3-14% above consensus expectations between fiscal 2026 and 2030.
This anticipated increase is backed by Apple's potential entry into the premium foldables market, particularly with the launch of iPhone Ultra. Not only will Apple gain a new product category with the launch, but will also be able to lift its average selling prices for the broader iPhone lineup.
This thesis is backed by numbers. The **** yst firm noted how Apple already boasts a base of 2.55 billion devices, supported by a degree of customer retention only few competitors can rival.
The second part of Apple's bull thesis, according to the firm, is its Services business. The firm believes that it is the most valuable part of Apple's franchise, growing at roughly three times the rate of Products. The business generates gross margins of roughly 75%, more than double of that earned on Product sales.

#firm #product #entry

The Valor Games Midwest kicked off in Chicago, bringing veterans together for three days of adaptive sports, competition and camaraderie.
The 14th annual games give veterans an opportunity to support one another while testing themselves in a variety of events. The games emphasize inclusion, with events designed for veterans with disabilities.
"Tons of veterans come out from all over the country, and this is the time they get to see their friends. So we're always excited for that," said Ricardo Lara of the Chicago Park District.
Among the competitors was Janice Copeland, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm who traveled from Atlanta for the games. Copeland competed in the biathlon and won a medal. She said the support of fellow veterans was a meaningful part of the experience.
"For me, just completing the task was enough and just to hear other veterans telling you, 'you got it. You can do it.' It really boosts my spirit," Copeland said.

#copeland #Events

Bank of America on Tuesday hiked its price targets on cybersecurity stocks on views that a worsening artificial intelligence-based threat landscape supports higher valuations. Cybersecurity stocks have rebounded from worries that AI model builders will emerge as competitors.
Bank of America raised its price targets for SentinelOne (S), SailPoint (SAIL) and Zscaler (ZS). Other cybersecurity stocks may be extended amid a big rally in 2026, BofA said.
"Over the past several months, cybersecurity stocks have benefited from improving software sector sentiment and increasing investor focus on the security implications of AI," said BofA ****** yst Tal Liani in a report.
"While the market initially viewed AI as a potentially disruptive force that could compress the value of incumbent security platforms, recent developments have shifted the conversation toward the expanding threat landscape created by AI," he added. "We believe investors are increasingly viewing cybersecurity as a critical enabler of enterprise AI adoption, supporting both durable demand and a more constructive valuation framework across the sector."
AI is changing the cybersecurity industry as companies race to build cloud computing-based platforms. Cybersecurity firms are rapidly embedding AI into nearly every stage of threat detection, investigation and response. But hackers are using AI tools as well. Recent incidents have reinforced concerns that increasingly capable AI models could be used for cyberattacks in the wrong hands.

#stocks #recent #based

Running the course in reverse this year added a new element to the iconic Nevada race.
Begin Press Release:
Hero Racing Ducati earns Vegas to Reno victory as Pirelli-equipped teams deliver strong results across the Nevada desert
ATLANTA (August 15, 2026) – Pirelli celebrated another standout performance at the legendary Casey Folks Vegas to Reno off-road race, with Hero Racing Ducati claiming the overall motorcycle victory for the second consecutive year. Pirelli-equipped Johnny Campbell Racing Honda secured a hard-fought second place overall, while the FOHSE LED Ducati team added to the brand's impressive results by capturing the Over 30 Pro class win at the iconic event.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno featured a historic change to one of America's most iconic off-road races. For the first time, competitors tackled the course in reverse, racing nearly 500 miles south from Reno to Las Vegas through Nevada's rugged high desert. The new direction presented teams with an unfamiliar challenge across rocky canyons, mountain ranges, dry lake beds, and fast desert valleys.

#ducati

In his memoir of life in the tech industry, "Chaos Monkeys," Antonio Garcia Martinez wrote that it's not the rats who first abandon a sinking ship but rather the crew members who know how to swim.
By that measure, Brooks Koepka made like Michael Phelps, presciently jumping overboard early from LIV Golf and stroking his way to safe harbor. Now that the Good Ship Yasir seems doomed for the sea floor — the bullshit that long acted as ballast having shifted to expose the dead weight of washed-up hangers-on — those who remained are left eyeing leaky life rafts.
Just two members of LIV's roster matter, no matter how much its CEO, Scott O'Neil, blathered about the importance of Dean Burmester on the South African stop. They are Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. The former because every carnival needs a barker, the latter because leagues need credible competitors. While DeChambeau remains welded to LIV, Rahm's tone has been lukewarm and several sources in his orbit are convinced he'll exit soon. He has alternatives, but they're not painless and require accepting conditions that the prideful Spaniard might balk at.
Rahm's obvious first choice for life after LIV would be returning to compete on the PGA Tour. He lives in the U.S., and it's the most lucrative, competitively demanding and commercially relevant circuit. But no one around the Tour thinks Rahm will be offered the terms Koepka accepted, and many believe he'd be asked to pay stiffer financial penalties, accept restricted playing privileges and perhaps even apologize (for what, and to whom, is unclear). How would that sit with a man who went to war with the DP World Tour in Europe over comparatively modest fines?
Koepka chose to leave LIV with time remaining on his contract. Rahm would be leaving by necessity, knowing he won't see all of the cash promised and that the league, if it survives, would do so only because someone wanted to leverage its losses to dodge taxes elsewhere in their investment portfolio. His former peers haven't forgotten that he went to LIV months after the Framework Agreement was announced, willingly becoming leverage for the Saudis, and that he later said (with amusing self-regard) that he felt his leaving would be the catalyst to uniting the game. Rahm thought he could take the bag and return as a hero. No one did more to ensure there'd be no deal between the Tour and the Saudis (with the possible exception of Patrick Cantlay in the boardroom). He chose his side and the guys he left behind were determined to make him live with the decision. Plenty remain so, and are disinclined to roll out the welcome mat too quickly.

#first

Bayern Munich is not perfect when it comes to financial decision-making. The club has made expensive transfers, handed out massive contract extensions and, at times, allowed its fixed-term deposit reserves to shrink considerably per Tz journalists Philipp Kessler and Mano Bonk (as captured by iMiaSanMia_GER).
What might separate Bayern Munich from many of its European competitors, however, is what happens when the club recognizes that its spending trajectory could become a problem. Simply put, Bayern Munich does not double-down — it changes course.
According to Tz, that is exactly what happened after several expensive transfers and contract extensions significantly reduced Bayern Munich's fixed-term deposit account. Rather than continuing to spend at the same pace, the club's decision-makers embarked on a strict austerity course.
It is debatable on just how much the reserves were hurting (also, do not forget that Bayern Munich is rumored to have another reserve it can call upon as well), but certainly it is possible that some deals strained the club financially.
That is an important part to all of this, though, is understanding how Bayern Munich operates financially. The club is willing to spend when it believes an investment makes sense, but it is also willing to alter plans when the numbers start pointing in the wrong direction. That discipline is particularly important now because Bayern Munich is entering a period of significant investment.

#extensions

Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) is a website and mobile application design products and services provider. It is one of the weakest-performing stocks on the market as the shares are down by 68% over the past year and by 32% year-to-date. On the 6th, the day that Cramer discussed the stock, Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) closed a whopping 14.9% lower. The dip came after Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) had reported its second quarter earnings after market close on the 5th. The CNBC TV host didn't believe the post-earnings reaction was completely justified:
"Okay so Figma's another one. I looked it over. It wasn't that great, it wasn't that bad, and people decided to just trash it. They just trashed it."
Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG)'s earnings were a mixed bag of results. The firm's $370 million revenue, which marked a 48% growth, beat ****** yst estimates of $351 million. Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) also ****** ped its full year revenue guidance to $1.463 billion and $1.467 billion from the earlier $1.422 billion to $1.428 billion. Yet, at the same time, the software company had to launch an artificial intelligence agent to fuel its revenue growth. The launch pushed its research and development costs to $167 million for a strong 101% annual jump. Additionally, Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG)'s operating margin also dropped to 10% from 16%. However, on a non-GAAP basis, the R&D jump was a milder 34%.
On the bearish front, Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) might be ****** e to a slowdown which often rings the death knell in software valuation. The firm's third quarter revenue guide ranged between $373 million to $375 million and implied a modest growth of roughly 1% at the midpoint sequentially and 36% annually. Additionally, Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) might also experience increased competition should AI enable competitors to create similar products.
Hedge fund sentiment in the firm appears to be static. During Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, 51 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had held a stake in Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG). As for valuation, the firm is very richly valued compared to its peers. Its forward P/E ratio of 87.72 is significantly higher than Adobe's 9.95, while short interest as a percentage of float of 30% is also nearly six times Adobe's 5.45%.

#figma #NYSE #year #Growth

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI) just crossed $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, yet the stock sits roughly 30% below its high. That gap between a record top line and a beaten-down share price is the whole story here. On the call covering the quarter ended June 30, held August 5, management laid out exactly why it is choosing growth over profit right now, and investors are still deciding whether to believe them.
Net revenue grew 50% year-over-year in the second quarter, powered by a 44% jump in gross merchandise volume and a 56% rise in total payment volume. The more interesting number sits underneath that headline. A year after MercadoLibre lowered its free shipping threshold in Brazil, items per buyer there climbed 19% year-over-year and conversion rose 1.1 percentage points, even as the company kept adding new buyers who typically spend less at first.
Management framed this as proof that existing shoppers are engaging more deeply, not just a bigger crowd showing up. That matters most for what the company calls ecosystemic users, people who use both the marketplace and Mercado Pago. Those users generated 70% more GMV and 55% more items sold per user than marketplace-only shoppers, and contribution profit per ecosystemic user runs multiples above a marketplace or fintech user alone. The credit book backs this up. It reached $16.4 billion, up 75% year-over-year, while delinquency rates sat near historical lows and net interest margin after losses improved from 18% to 21% between the first and second quarters.
That growth came at a real cost. Operating income fell from $825 million to $683 million, and operating margin narrowed from 12.2% to 6.7%, a 550 basis point drop from a year earlier. Management did not suggest relief is coming soon, calling the trade-off a deliberate choice to keep prioritizing long-term engagement and scale over near-term profitability. Net income for the first half of 2026 fell 13% year-over-year to $883 million even as revenue climbed 50% to $19 billion, a gap that shows growth and profit are currently moving in opposite directions.
Competitors including Amazon have pushed MercadoLibre to compete harder on price, and the company's expansion into consumer lending has meant absorbing more loan losses along the way. The quarter also demanded serious capital, with $441 million in capital expenditures and $2.1 billion funneled into growing the credit portfolio, leaving adjusted free cash flow at $214 million.

#mercadolibre #billion #quarter

ARDMORE, PA — The first tee shot at Merion Golf Club is one of golf's most intimidating. Forget the narrow fairway with wispy rough and bunkers staring at players on the box, but it's also claustrophobic.
On the left side is the famous Merion clubhouse, with its green awning shading tables underneath for members and spectators who gather to watch golfers begin their rounds. Behind and on the right side is fans, lined up and squeezing their way in for a look at the competitors. It makes players feel cornered, surrounded and uncomfortable.
In Carter Loflin's case, he said he was shell shocked.
More: For U.S. Amateur final four, Saturday could change everything. Here's why
"I've played in front of people before but not like that," said Loflin, the University of Georgia gradate who's set to begin his pro career after this week's 126th U.S. Amateur. "Honestly, it took me a minute to get used the gallery and everything. I looked at Brandon (Knight) on the first tee and I was like, 'dude, I've never seen people four deep like this before.' So that was really cool, but it was a little bit nerve-racking trying to get into a rhythm."

#first

The Chicago White Sox are making a significant pitching change at an important point of the 2026 MLB season, bringing a familiar postseason name back to the major leagues.
Chicago announced that right-hander José Urquidy has been recalled, giving the White Sox a veteran pitcher with plenty of postseason experience. The timing couldn't be better, as Chicago is preparing to open a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers, one of its biggest competitors in the American League Central.
MORE: MLB awards predictions for the 2026 season
Oct 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) throws during the seventh inning of game seven in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Urquidy is best known for his time with the Houston Astros, where he emerged as a reliable postseason pitcher and helped the organization during its championship runs.

#season #detroit

From the FIA easing restrictions to allow Russian and Belarusian drivers and teams to compete under their national flags again to Lightning McQueen being set for an official Formula 1 appearance, here are the biggest stories from August 14.
The FIA has lifted the restrictions previously imposed on Russian and Belarusian participants in international motorsport, following a decision approved by the World Motor Sport Council. Drivers, teams, individual competitors and officials from both countries can now take part without having to compete under neutral status or sign a neutrality commitment.
The change also means Russian and Belarusian national symbols can once again be displayed at international and zone competitions. National flags, colours and symbols are permitted on cars, equipment and uniforms, while the respective national anthems can also be played. However, the FIA continues to prohibit international and zone events from being held in Russia or Belarus until further notice.
Participation will still depend on the laws and regulations applicable in the country hosting each event. The governing body will also continue to follow developments in Ukraine and retains the ability to introduce further measures if circumstances change, including action required to comply with sanctions regimes or its contractual obligations.
Photo: GPblog

#compete #flags

Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares made headlines recently after the company's AI division saw a series of high-profile departures.
Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater ****** et Management, recently said on CNBC that the brain drain at Google should not be ignored, arguing that the departures of key AI researchers could have implications beyond the headlines. Munster said Google has seen about six major departures over the past three months and that the loss of talent could affect the company's culture of innovation and its ability to develop future AI models. He also pointed to signs that Gemini has started to slip in AI model rankings relative to competitors. He thinks these developments are not a positive trend.
At the same time, Munster highlighted significant improvements from Grok, saying he expects the AI model to potentially break into the top three models as new versions are released. Grok was developed by xAI and is integrated into X, while xAI is now part of ****** eX following ****** eX's acquisition of the AI company.
The market is figuring out ****** eX isn't just a ****** e company. The ****** e business contributed just 12% of Q2 revenue and ****** ysts think the contribution of ****** e may keep shrinking as other streams kick in. Connectivity (Starlink) brought in $4.29 billion, up 66% year over year, with 12 million subscribers, double last year's count. AI brought in $2.56 billion, up 247% year over year, boosted by a big Anthropic deal.
Musk guided to a $100 billion annualized revenue run rate by December, up from a Q2 run rate near $31 billion. If ****** eX hits it, the stock trades at 14x that figure and looks reasonable. Bulls also point to Musk's math on AI: if ****** eX can push AI compute capacity from 1.4 GW today to 15 GW by end of 2027 at $50 million per megawatt, that's $750 billion in annual AI revenue potential.

#grok

Long Cast Advisers, an independent registered investment adviser, released its Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy can be downloaded here. The firm reported strong earnings in the second quarter, with results improving 20%, bringing year-to-date returns to +19%. While performance trailed the Russell 2000 and iShares US MicroCap ETF, it remained well ahead of the iShares SmallCap EAFE (ex-N. Am) ETF. Since inception in 2015, ****** ulative returns stand at 343% (15% CAGR), reflecting the firm's strategy of concentrated, patient investments in small and micro‑cap companies. The firm remains cautious in this environment, emphasizing patience and endurance while avoiding margin and volatility. In addition, please check the firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Long Cast Advisers highlighted NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC). NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) provides ****** ytics and insights to enhance the patient and employee experience of healthcare organizations in the United States. NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) was formerly known as National Research Corporation and changed its name in April 2026. On August 7, 2026, NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) closed at $20.34 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $449.9 million and a year‑to‑date gain of 9.30%. NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) posted a one‑month return of ‑6.02%, while its shares gained 35.95% over the past 52 weeks.
Long Cast Advisers stated the following regarding NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"On NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC), our newest investment, I discussed the company's evolution from owner / operator to professionally led management team, and the expected benefits from putting a growth focused, incentivized and entrepreneurial executive suite behind this strong and recognizable brand, in a business with strong FCF generation and in a market where the two leading competitors just merged in a PE backed $6.5B deal.
Quantitative evidence that supports our optimism includes the recently announced largest contract in company history, leading to the highest 12-mos backlog in history. Deferred revs are also growing and this typically leads sales. Furthermore, management indicated that the second year of the aforementioned contract is materially larger than the first, which infers that in one year's time, 12-mos backlog could be even larger, and with capacity to do more. We continue to add opportunistically."

#NASDAQ #letter #investment

Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, global equities rebounded sharply, with the MSCI ACWI posting its strongest quarterly gain since 2020, supported by broad market strength, easing geopolitical tensions, and continued enthusiasm for AI infrastructure. Information technology led the advance, with semiconductor and hardware companies accounting for most of the index's rise. The fund returned 26.9% (net) in the second quarter of 2026. The portfolio benefited from strong gains across memory, software infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other AI-related holdings, although its concentrated exposure to mega-cap chip designers and manufacturers weighed on relative performance as leadership broadened into CPUs, networking, and memory. Vertical software, internet, and financial holdings were modest detractors amid macro concerns and uncertainty over AI disruption. The fund remains focused on critical AI bottlenecks, including compute, memory, manufacturing, networking, and power, while retaining selected businesses that may use AI to strengthen their competitive positions. You can check the fund's top five holdings to learn more about its leading investment ideas for the year.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) as a new addition. TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) manufactures and sells mission systems, radio frequency (RF) components, RF microwave/microelectronic ******* emblies, and printed circuit boards (PCBs) and substrates in the United States and internationally. On August 7, 2026, TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) closed at $137.21 per share. One-month return of TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) was -0.64% and its shares gained 207.58% over the past 52 weeks. TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) has a market capitalization of $14.45 billion.
Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI) is a leading Western manufacturer of highly complex printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated electronic subsystems. We believe the company is positioned at the intersection of AI data center growth and defense modernization. TTM is 75 percent sole sourced in U.S. aerospace and defense projects due to lack of domestic competitors and is already booking revenue from Golden Dome. As AI infrastructure evolves to support advanced accelerators, networking equipment, and custom compute architectures, boards require more layers, higher performance, and greater manufacturing precision, creating meaningful pricing uplift versus commoditized PCBs. We believe TTM's exposure to AI accelerator boards, networking, and defense demand can support durable earnings growth and improving qual

Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) reported a difficult start to its fiscal year, with PAT for the quarter falling 34% to €593 million (£503 million) as the price of its 20% unhedged jet fuel spiked and fares fell 6%. Although revenue edged 1% higher to €4.4 billion, the airline was forced to lower ticket prices to stimulate demand amid geopolitical uncertainty. The company also anticipates summer fares to be slightly lower compared to last year, mainly due to "consumer hesitancy" surrounding air travel. The question for investors now is whether Ryanair's (NASDAQ:RYAAY) cost advantages are enough to offset weaker pricing if that trend continues.
At first glance, the quarter looks disappointing. However, the underlying demand picture was stronger than the headline profit decline suggests. Passenger numbers increased 6% during the quarter, allowing revenue to rise 1% to €4.4 billion despite a 6% decline in fares. That suggests consumers are still willing to travel, even if airlines have had to compete more aggressively on price.
The company's biggest advantage, however, may not be demand but costs. Management said Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) remains better positioned than many of its competitors because approximately 80% of its fuel requirements through the end of March 2027 have already been hedged at $67 per barrel. It also hedged another 15% of next year's fuel needs at $85 per barrel during the recent interim ceasefire. By locking in a significant portion of its future fuel costs, Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) has reduced its exposure to one of the airline industry's biggest sources of earnings volatility.
Management also declined to provide a full-year profit forecast, arguing that it is still too early given the importance of close-in bookings over the remainder of the summer. While that creates uncertainty, it also suggests the company believes the rest of the summer season will play a much larger role in determining full-year performance than the first quarter alone.
The biggest concern for Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) following the recent earnings is that stronger passenger demand has not translated into stronger profitability. Despite carrying more passengers, Ryanair reported a 34% decline in profit after reducing fares to stimulate demand. If pricing remains under pressure, volume growth alone may not be enough to drive a meaningful earnings recovery.

#fuel

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Discovery Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. Baron Discovery Fund appreciated by 19.08% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which gained 25.71%. This lag was primarily due to a momentum-driven "AI winners" trade, with these stocks largely contributing to the Benchmark's performance. The Fund experienced a 6.63% underperformance, largely driven by an underweight in strong-performing Momentum and Beta factors. The Fund prioritizes a long-term balanced portfolio over chasing momentum. The letter discussed parallels between the current AI market and the late 1990s dot-com bubble. The firm remains focused on company fundamentals and long-term valuation. Please review the fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Discovery Fund highlighted Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) as a leading contributor to performance. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading industrial company that designs and manufactures electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and energy-intensive industrial facilities. On August 10, 2026, Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) closed at $37.60 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $11.45 billion. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) posted a one-month return of -6.12%.
Baron Discovery Fund stated the following regarding Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and industrial applications. Forgent is a low- and medium voltage equipment specialist focused on custom, "engineered-to order" products (over 90% of revenue) whereas larger competitors in the industry generally focus more on higher voltage and standard products. The stock rose during the quarter as Forgent continued to deliver very strong financial results reflecting improving demand for its products amidst the broader data points on AI infrastructure and grid buildout continuing to point to strong growth for the next several years. Forgent is gaining share with its ability to offer customized products at industry-leading lead times and is still just scratching the surface of its opportunity having sold very little directly to the biggest customers in the market. The company has invested heavily in capacity and people to support future growth, and we see many strong years of growth and margin expansion ahead as it grows from an approximate $1.2 billion revenue run rate currently into its $5 billion manufacturing footprint."

#fund #baron #discovery #Growth

Dean Thompson has a new home for the 2027 NASCAR season. Last weekend, Haas Factory Team announced that Thompson will join the organization full-time for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Series season. The Sam Hunt Racing driver will be one of three full-time competitors, with the organization expanding to a third car.
It is currently unclear if Sheldon Creed or Sam Mayer will return to Haas Factory Team alongside Thompson. As of mid-August, Thompson sits 18th in the point standings with his teammate, Harrison Burton, in 20th place. Thompson has run well in the No. 26 car for Sam Hunt Racing.
However, this will undoubtedly be Thompson's best opportunity in NASCAR. Haas Factory Team is capable of winning races and competing for championships. If Thompson can hit his stride and unleash his full potential, he could become an annual winner in the O'Reilly Series.
NASCAR to further inspect Sheldon Creed's car after Iowa in 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Dean Thompson joins Haas Factory Team for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season

#thompson #haas

Dana White's ***** istant could earn a UFC contract in a few weeks.
Sal Everett, an undefeated fighter and UFC employee who, in recent years, has served as a runner for White, will compete on Dana White's Contender Series. The show, which has been labeled a "UFC job interview" for fighters, brings in competitors with all sorts of interesting stories. However, a UFC employee fighting for a UFC contract is something completely unprecedented – and White can't wait to see what happens.
"Yeah, I'm excited," White told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a media scrum at the Meta APEX. "He is a great kid, and everybody in this company loves him. I feel bad for whoever he's fighting. He's gonna feel like he's coming into enemy territory, when that is not the case.
"These are some of those – you know, it's like Callum Walsh. I was working with Callum early on in his career, and I feel like anybody that comes into Zuffa Boxing feels like they're the odd man out, which is not the case. You come in here and, if Sal's good enough, then he's gonna make it, and he's gonna get a contract. If he's not, then he's gotta figure out what he's gonna do next."
Everett (4-0) will face Ozzy Martin on Oct. 6, which will be the penultimate week of the upcoming season of DWCS. White often speaks about how he enters each week of the show without knowing anything about the fighters he's about to watch compete for a UFC contract, but that will be far from the norm when Everett steps into the cage against another undefeated fighter in Martin (4-0).

#contract #gonna #feel #callum

US President Donald Trump is heading to Ohio to watch high school students compete in the Patriot Games, a sporting event set up by his administration to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's founding.
Two teenagers were picked from every US state to compete in the games, which are taking place in the city of Geneva, about 50 miles (80km) north of Cleveland.
Some military bases, Native American tribes and US territories are also participating.
To qualify, competitors were required to answer questions about American patriotism. The winners, one boy and one girl between the ages of 14 to 17, will each receive $125,000 (£93,000) in scholarship money.
On Tuesday, Trump will attend the final day of the games, to see the top 32 athletes compete in the final round.

#Trump #donald

Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) can be hard to own because the stock is ***** e to deep drawdowns. It is in a drawdown right now, with the stock down roughly 40% from its early 2025 high. Even after that drop, the price-to-earnings ratio remains lofty at 42x. This is not a stock for the faint of heart.
However, if you are a growth-oriented investor, you shouldn't give up on Intuitive Surgical. Historically, the stock has recovered from deep drawdowns and gone on to reach higher highs. There's a difference this time around due to increasing competition from medical device peers such as Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). But that probably shouldn't stop more aggressive investors. Here's why.
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 »
Intuitive Surgical was an early leader in the surgical robotics ***** e. The company's da Vinci system basically helped create the industry niche. So, early on, the question was about medical providers being willing to adopt a new technology. Surgical robotics is now a far more mature and well-accepted technology, generally enabling less invasive surgeries with better outcomes.
In late 2025, Medtronic received approval for its Hugo surgical robotic system in the United States. In mid-2026, J&J received approval for its OTTAVA surgical robot system. Both Medtronic and J&J are well-established competitors with strong industry connections. There is no doubt that they will be fierce competitors to Intuitive Surgical.

#surgical #Stock

PHOENIX — Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera had some ground to make up on the second and final day of the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships after an uncharacteristic fall on uneven bars left her in fourth place.
That's where her experience shined through. Rivera turned in a dazzling performance on Sunday, Aug. 9 to successfully defend her all-around **** le, finishing with a two-day combined score of 111.95, 1.15 points ahead of Claire Pease (110.8). Rivera also won the balance beam **** le and finished second overall on floor.
Charleigh Bullock (110.55) finished in third place, followed by Reese Esponda (108.9) in fourth and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey (108.75) in fifth.
MORE: LA28 tops U.S. gymnastics phenom Hezly Rivera's list of unfinished business
A two-woman race between Rivera and Pease emerged entering the final two rotations on Sunday. And with Rivera and Pease being featured in the same group, both the competitors and fans in attendance at Mortgage Matchup Center could see where they stacked up against each other after each event.

#gymnastics #Gold #second