2 hours ago
By Nora Eckert
DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) - Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in a town hall on Thursday that the company is preparing for the possibility that Chinese automakers could enter the American market in the next five to 10 years, even though the country has erected numerous trade barriers to cars from China, according to three people who viewed the meeting.
Farley has been among the most vocal about how competitive Chinese auto giants like BYD are in the industry. Ford is preparing to roll out a family of affordable electric vehicles that it engineered from the ground up to match the cost and efficiency of the Chinese companies.
The Ford chief, along with other senior leaders, said in a question-and-answer portion of the town hall that it is more likely Chinese companies would enter the market at the latter end of that range. The comments come as the U.S. Senate is pushing to expand a ban on Chinese car sales in the world's second-largest and most lucrative auto market.
A Ford spokesperson declined to comment on discussions that took place during a private meeting with employees.
#employees #town #enter
DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) - Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in a town hall on Thursday that the company is preparing for the possibility that Chinese automakers could enter the American market in the next five to 10 years, even though the country has erected numerous trade barriers to cars from China, according to three people who viewed the meeting.
Farley has been among the most vocal about how competitive Chinese auto giants like BYD are in the industry. Ford is preparing to roll out a family of affordable electric vehicles that it engineered from the ground up to match the cost and efficiency of the Chinese companies.
The Ford chief, along with other senior leaders, said in a question-and-answer portion of the town hall that it is more likely Chinese companies would enter the market at the latter end of that range. The comments come as the U.S. Senate is pushing to expand a ban on Chinese car sales in the world's second-largest and most lucrative auto market.
A Ford spokesperson declined to comment on discussions that took place during a private meeting with employees.
#employees #town #enter
3 hours ago
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) just posted one of its stronger quarters in years. Profit available to shareholders jumped 26% to $1.52 a share, beating estimates that were clustered around $1.33 to $1.35. Total ******* ets under management grew 11% to $1.35 trillion, and revenue jumped 36% to $5.04 billion. Nine of the firm's ten best-performing investments right now are tied to artificial intelligence. Yet Blackstone's stock is down about 20% so far this year as of July 23, roughly in line with its peers.
Part of the answer is that not every number was strong. Base management fees, one of the metrics ******* ysts watch most closely, came in lighter than expected. The private credit business, which lends money to companies rather than owning them outright, had its second straight quarter of falling profit, down 6% to $373 million. That business also saw its flagship retail fund pull in just $1 billion from wealthy individual investors this quarter, down sharply from $1.9 billion last quarter and $3.7 billion a year ago, as some retail investors grew nervous about private credit generally and pulled money out. President Jon Gray of Blackstone said withdrawal requests have "slowed materially" so far in the current quarter, which is a positive sign, but the pullback itself was real.
This makes you wonder: Is Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX)'s AI-driven growth fast enough to keep the whole firm doing well even when other parts are struggling, or is the market right to be cautious?
Blackstone's AI bet goes back to 2021, when it took data center operator QTS private for $10 billion. This quarter, it struck new deals tied to Google's AI chips, Broadcom chip financing, and Anthropic compute, and sold a data center portfolio for $8 billion and a battery storage company for $7 billion. Infrastructure financing is a real fee engine now too, a record $321 million in transaction fees this quarter, nearly double last year. Gray argues Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) deserves a higher valuation than it gets: almost no debt, a dividend yield near 4%, and tech-like growth at a discount to tech multiples. Data center leasing has scaled from 1 gigawatt in 2024 to 2 in 2025 to a pace of at least 7 this year, built on signed contracts with creditworthy clients rather than speculative building. The firm is also expanding abroad, joining a $16 billion Kuwait pipeline deal and planning a new Dubai office.
READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy.
#blackstone #data #private
Part of the answer is that not every number was strong. Base management fees, one of the metrics ******* ysts watch most closely, came in lighter than expected. The private credit business, which lends money to companies rather than owning them outright, had its second straight quarter of falling profit, down 6% to $373 million. That business also saw its flagship retail fund pull in just $1 billion from wealthy individual investors this quarter, down sharply from $1.9 billion last quarter and $3.7 billion a year ago, as some retail investors grew nervous about private credit generally and pulled money out. President Jon Gray of Blackstone said withdrawal requests have "slowed materially" so far in the current quarter, which is a positive sign, but the pullback itself was real.
This makes you wonder: Is Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX)'s AI-driven growth fast enough to keep the whole firm doing well even when other parts are struggling, or is the market right to be cautious?
Blackstone's AI bet goes back to 2021, when it took data center operator QTS private for $10 billion. This quarter, it struck new deals tied to Google's AI chips, Broadcom chip financing, and Anthropic compute, and sold a data center portfolio for $8 billion and a battery storage company for $7 billion. Infrastructure financing is a real fee engine now too, a record $321 million in transaction fees this quarter, nearly double last year. Gray argues Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) deserves a higher valuation than it gets: almost no debt, a dividend yield near 4%, and tech-like growth at a discount to tech multiples. Data center leasing has scaled from 1 gigawatt in 2024 to 2 in 2025 to a pace of at least 7 this year, built on signed contracts with creditworthy clients rather than speculative building. The firm is also expanding abroad, joining a $16 billion Kuwait pipeline deal and planning a new Dubai office.
READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy.
#blackstone #data #private
3 hours ago
Meta's AI capital spending ballooned to $130-145 billion, cratering free cash flow 91% and sending shares down 10%, while social media revenue surged 28%.
META dominates India, a market 4x the size of the US with no rival close, boasting 837 million WhatsApp and 531 million Instagram daily users.
Act now: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Microsoft didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Two things happened to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta (NASDAQ: META) yesterday. Earnings showed how much the company was investing in AI, and data centers particularly. This drove the stock down 10%. At the same time, it became clear that it had become the dominant social media presence in the world's largest nation based on population. Daily active users of its Instagram platform are rising at a level that is hard to imagine. Meta should abandon the AI sector, where it is already a loser, for it, and one where it cannot catch up. It should focus on its core business, which is doing better than expected.
Meta's top line growth rate remains impressive based on its size. In the quarter, revenue rose 28% to $60.8 billion, which keeps it on track to be one of the largest companies in America by that yardstick. Ad impressions were almost as strong and were up 14% year over year. These are the company's revenue engine.
#daily #size
META dominates India, a market 4x the size of the US with no rival close, boasting 837 million WhatsApp and 531 million Instagram daily users.
Act now: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Microsoft didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Two things happened to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta (NASDAQ: META) yesterday. Earnings showed how much the company was investing in AI, and data centers particularly. This drove the stock down 10%. At the same time, it became clear that it had become the dominant social media presence in the world's largest nation based on population. Daily active users of its Instagram platform are rising at a level that is hard to imagine. Meta should abandon the AI sector, where it is already a loser, for it, and one where it cannot catch up. It should focus on its core business, which is doing better than expected.
Meta's top line growth rate remains impressive based on its size. In the quarter, revenue rose 28% to $60.8 billion, which keeps it on track to be one of the largest companies in America by that yardstick. Ad impressions were almost as strong and were up 14% year over year. These are the company's revenue engine.
#daily #size
4 hours ago
L&T Energy CarbonLite Solutions, a division of Indian conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has received a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) from NTPC for work on the main plant package at the 1.6GW Lara Stage-III thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh, India.
The contract covers the construction of two 800MW ultra-supercritical generating units.
The final notice to proceed will be issued once the project receives environmental clearance and the LNTP period is complete.
The company did not disclose the exact contract value but said it falls within the Rs100bn ($1.04bn)–Rs150bn range.
L&T will be responsible for designing, engineering, manufacturing, supplying, installing, testing and commissioning boilers, steam turbines, generators, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and air-cooled condensers (ACC), as well as their auxiliary systems.
#notice #proceed #solutions #larsen
The contract covers the construction of two 800MW ultra-supercritical generating units.
The final notice to proceed will be issued once the project receives environmental clearance and the LNTP period is complete.
The company did not disclose the exact contract value but said it falls within the Rs100bn ($1.04bn)–Rs150bn range.
L&T will be responsible for designing, engineering, manufacturing, supplying, installing, testing and commissioning boilers, steam turbines, generators, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and air-cooled condensers (ACC), as well as their auxiliary systems.
#notice #proceed #solutions #larsen
4 hours ago
Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ:HON) used to be one giant company that made everything from thermostats to jet engines. Not anymore. Over the past year, it split into three separate public companies: Solstice Advanced Materials, spun off last October; Honeywell Aerospace, spun off just last month; and Honeywell Technologies, the automation business that's left, which is what CEO Vimal Kapur now runs. This week's earnings report was the first one for Honeywell Technologies as its own standalone firm, and the stock jumped more than 5% on the news.
Since the aerospace spinoff only finished right at the end of the quarter, this report still includes some of Honeywell Aerospace's results mixed in, which makes straight comparisons tricky. Total revenue, including that leftover aerospace piece, came in at $9.72 billion, up 4% from a year ago and beating the roughly $9.5 billion **** ysts expected. Strip aerospace back out, and revenue for just the automation business was $5.19 billion, up 3%, beating the $5.02 billion Wall Street had modeled specifically for the smaller, standalone company.
On profit, adjusted earnings per share, including the leftover aerospace results came in at $4.52, actually down 4% from $4.72 a year earlier. On a standalone basis without aerospace, adjusted earnings were $1.95 a share, up 10% from $1.77 a year ago and beating the $1.82 **** ysts expected for the new, smaller Honeywell Technologies. There was also a one-time boost: net profit under standard accounting rules hit $5.68 billion, largely because of a $6.63 billion one-time accounting gain tied to deconsolidating Quantinuum, Honeywell's quantum computing venture, a separate transaction from the aerospace spin-off, not from the actual operating business doing better.
That raises a real question. Is this a genuinely strong first quarter as a standalone firm, or does the messy, one-time nature of a spinoff quarter make it hard to tell what Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ:HON) actually looks like going forward?
All three of Honeywell's remaining automation segments grew organically, and orders for the standalone business overall grew 16%, with backlog reaching about $20 billion. Building Automation was the standout, with organic sales up 9% and orders up 13%, driven by strong demand from data centers and hotels. Industrial Automation grew sales 4% organically on strong demand for sensing and measurement equipment. Process Automation, the one segment with sales down slightly this quarter, actually saw orders surge 24%, with Middle East orders alone up more than 50% on refurbishment projects, and management expects a "sharp inflection" in that segment's growth starting in the third quarter. Kapur said the results reflect a "year-plus long process to simplify our business," and that the benefits are already showing up.
#automation #technologies #year #business
Since the aerospace spinoff only finished right at the end of the quarter, this report still includes some of Honeywell Aerospace's results mixed in, which makes straight comparisons tricky. Total revenue, including that leftover aerospace piece, came in at $9.72 billion, up 4% from a year ago and beating the roughly $9.5 billion **** ysts expected. Strip aerospace back out, and revenue for just the automation business was $5.19 billion, up 3%, beating the $5.02 billion Wall Street had modeled specifically for the smaller, standalone company.
On profit, adjusted earnings per share, including the leftover aerospace results came in at $4.52, actually down 4% from $4.72 a year earlier. On a standalone basis without aerospace, adjusted earnings were $1.95 a share, up 10% from $1.77 a year ago and beating the $1.82 **** ysts expected for the new, smaller Honeywell Technologies. There was also a one-time boost: net profit under standard accounting rules hit $5.68 billion, largely because of a $6.63 billion one-time accounting gain tied to deconsolidating Quantinuum, Honeywell's quantum computing venture, a separate transaction from the aerospace spin-off, not from the actual operating business doing better.
That raises a real question. Is this a genuinely strong first quarter as a standalone firm, or does the messy, one-time nature of a spinoff quarter make it hard to tell what Honeywell Technologies (NASDAQ:HON) actually looks like going forward?
All three of Honeywell's remaining automation segments grew organically, and orders for the standalone business overall grew 16%, with backlog reaching about $20 billion. Building Automation was the standout, with organic sales up 9% and orders up 13%, driven by strong demand from data centers and hotels. Industrial Automation grew sales 4% organically on strong demand for sensing and measurement equipment. Process Automation, the one segment with sales down slightly this quarter, actually saw orders surge 24%, with Middle East orders alone up more than 50% on refurbishment projects, and management expects a "sharp inflection" in that segment's growth starting in the third quarter. Kapur said the results reflect a "year-plus long process to simplify our business," and that the benefits are already showing up.
#automation #technologies #year #business
7 hours ago
The Giants said Harrison Bader will miss the remainder of the season after being involved in a late-night scooter accident
Bader was already scheduled to meet with a specialist for his ongoing foot discomfort on Monday, July 27 after sustaining further injuries in the scooter accident
A source told the SFist that Bader crashed into a San Francisco fire engine just before 2 a.m.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader will miss the rest of the season after he suffered a "major injury" in a scooter accident.
The Giants put Bader, 32, on their injury report list on Tuesday, July 28, citing that he "had a scooter accident on Saturday night/early Sunday morning and further injured" his left foot, which he had been seeking special treatment on for left plantar fasciitis prior to the scooter accident.
#scooter
Bader was already scheduled to meet with a specialist for his ongoing foot discomfort on Monday, July 27 after sustaining further injuries in the scooter accident
A source told the SFist that Bader crashed into a San Francisco fire engine just before 2 a.m.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Harrison Bader will miss the rest of the season after he suffered a "major injury" in a scooter accident.
The Giants put Bader, 32, on their injury report list on Tuesday, July 28, citing that he "had a scooter accident on Saturday night/early Sunday morning and further injured" his left foot, which he had been seeking special treatment on for left plantar fasciitis prior to the scooter accident.
#scooter
8 hours ago
The North American automotive industry is facing a dramatic change in the operational environment this year, which is marked by increased financing barriers and ongoing consumer price sensitivity. Since average auto loan interest rates are still more than 8%, consumers are delaying expensive discretionary upgrades, extending payment terms, and challenging aggressive price hikes. Legacy OEMs have been forced to give up unrestricted EV capital expenditure targets because of the sharp slowdown amid an overall shift to electric vehicles. That said, not every auto manufacturer is performing on the same level, with General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) serving as a case study on these dynamics.
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) produced an exceptional second-quarter performance that showed impressive operational discipline in the face of this demanding macroenvironment. Strong pricing power and unit volume across its high-margin full-sized pickup and SUV categories, such as the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Tahoe, drove GM's $48 billion quarterly revenue. Due to this legacy strength, North American operating margins reached 8.6%, which boosted adjusted earnings per share to $3.57 and resulted in a 41% year-over-year increase, significantly above Wall Street estimates.
Importantly, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) showed that its multibillion-dollar effort to streamline its EV division and properly size battery joint ventures is producing immediate financial results, allowing executive leadership to raise full-year adjusted operating income (EBIT) guidance to between $14 billion and $16 billion.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) had a much more divided operating narrative. Despite exceeding consensus estimates with adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 and matching GM on top-line revenue at $48 billion, underlying segment performance revealed ongoing structural friction. Due to enterprise fleet demand and high-margin software subscriptions, Ford Pro, the company's commercial branch, continued to be a high-margin cash engine. However, the company's electric vehicle division, Model e, recorded a sharp $1.26 billion quarterly operational loss, severely undermining these gains.
Based on a comparative valuation ******* ysis, here is a clear disparity between market price and operational execution. General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) carries an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.01x and a discounted forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.96x. In comparison, while experiencing significant margin pressure from its Model E division and ******* embly delays, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) trades at a higher forward P/E of 7.88x and an increased EV/EBITDA multiple of 19.76x.
#NYSE #ford #billion #price
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) produced an exceptional second-quarter performance that showed impressive operational discipline in the face of this demanding macroenvironment. Strong pricing power and unit volume across its high-margin full-sized pickup and SUV categories, such as the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Tahoe, drove GM's $48 billion quarterly revenue. Due to this legacy strength, North American operating margins reached 8.6%, which boosted adjusted earnings per share to $3.57 and resulted in a 41% year-over-year increase, significantly above Wall Street estimates.
Importantly, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) showed that its multibillion-dollar effort to streamline its EV division and properly size battery joint ventures is producing immediate financial results, allowing executive leadership to raise full-year adjusted operating income (EBIT) guidance to between $14 billion and $16 billion.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) had a much more divided operating narrative. Despite exceeding consensus estimates with adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 and matching GM on top-line revenue at $48 billion, underlying segment performance revealed ongoing structural friction. Due to enterprise fleet demand and high-margin software subscriptions, Ford Pro, the company's commercial branch, continued to be a high-margin cash engine. However, the company's electric vehicle division, Model e, recorded a sharp $1.26 billion quarterly operational loss, severely undermining these gains.
Based on a comparative valuation ******* ysis, here is a clear disparity between market price and operational execution. General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) carries an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.01x and a discounted forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.96x. In comparison, while experiencing significant margin pressure from its Model E division and ******* embly delays, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) trades at a higher forward P/E of 7.88x and an increased EV/EBITDA multiple of 19.76x.
#NYSE #ford #billion #price
9 hours ago
Five of Northwestern's seven wins last season came at home, and head coach David Braun thinks that the team might have an even greater advantage at home with the new Ryan Field.
Braun likened his home stadium to a historic venue during Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.
"I think the two things that really stand out when you step into the New Ryan Field, if you're ever fortunate to stand at field level, I mean, you truly feel like you're in a new-age Roman Coliseum. You feel the intimacy. You feel the fans on top of you, the canopy, the acoustics are going to act more like a dome than an outdoor stadium," Braun stated.
Braun continued by talking about the construct of the seats further away from the field.
"Then the reverse engineering of that is try to find a bad seat. Go to the so-called upper deck and go to the back row. I've sat in those seats. The view for the fan is incredible. What I'm most excited about is what this opportunity provides for us to reinvent how we do game day at Northwestern football and ultimately impacts the experience for our players," Braun said.
#home #feel #ryan #like
Braun likened his home stadium to a historic venue during Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.
"I think the two things that really stand out when you step into the New Ryan Field, if you're ever fortunate to stand at field level, I mean, you truly feel like you're in a new-age Roman Coliseum. You feel the intimacy. You feel the fans on top of you, the canopy, the acoustics are going to act more like a dome than an outdoor stadium," Braun stated.
Braun continued by talking about the construct of the seats further away from the field.
"Then the reverse engineering of that is try to find a bad seat. Go to the so-called upper deck and go to the back row. I've sat in those seats. The view for the fan is incredible. What I'm most excited about is what this opportunity provides for us to reinvent how we do game day at Northwestern football and ultimately impacts the experience for our players," Braun said.
#home #feel #ryan #like
15 hours ago
Life comes at you fast in Formula 1, and no team is feeling the whiplash of the 2026 regulations quite like McLaren. Just months after celebrating Lando Norris's maiden World Championship victory, the papaya garage has found itself completely on the back foot.
As McLaren desperately tries to claw back performance against the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, the paddock rumor mill is already spinning. According to former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner, if McLaren cannot fix their underlying issues, their star driver won't hesitate to trigger an exit strategy.
But to understand why Norris might be looking for the door, you have to look at the massive technical overhaul introduced for the 2026 season.
The new regulations fundamentally changed how F1 cars generate power, removing the complex MGU-H and demanding a 50:50 power delivery split between the internal combustion engine and the electric MGU-K. This aggressive shift to electrification has heavily favored factory works teams.
McLaren driver Lando Norris (1) during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
#driver
As McLaren desperately tries to claw back performance against the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, the paddock rumor mill is already spinning. According to former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner, if McLaren cannot fix their underlying issues, their star driver won't hesitate to trigger an exit strategy.
But to understand why Norris might be looking for the door, you have to look at the massive technical overhaul introduced for the 2026 season.
The new regulations fundamentally changed how F1 cars generate power, removing the complex MGU-H and demanding a 50:50 power delivery split between the internal combustion engine and the electric MGU-K. This aggressive shift to electrification has heavily favored factory works teams.
McLaren driver Lando Norris (1) during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
#driver
19 hours ago
Synopsys (SNPS) stock jumped more than 4% on Monday after the company unveiled autonomous AI workflows for chip design at the 2026 DAC Chips to Systems Conference.
The new technology, developed in collaboration with Microsoft (MSFT) and already being evaluated by AMD (AMD), marks another step toward automating complex semiconductor engineering tasks with AI agents. The announcement reinforces Synopsys' leadership in electronic design automation (EDA) software at a time when demand for AI chips continues to accelerate.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 5
Intel Stock Sinks 40%, But Most ****** ysts Still Aren't Bullish on INTC
Ahead of Microsoft Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for MSFT Stock
#msft #conference
The new technology, developed in collaboration with Microsoft (MSFT) and already being evaluated by AMD (AMD), marks another step toward automating complex semiconductor engineering tasks with AI agents. The announcement reinforces Synopsys' leadership in electronic design automation (EDA) software at a time when demand for AI chips continues to accelerate.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 5
Intel Stock Sinks 40%, But Most ****** ysts Still Aren't Bullish on INTC
Ahead of Microsoft Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for MSFT Stock
#msft #conference
20 hours ago
By Nora Eckert
DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) - Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in a town hall on Thursday that the company is preparing for the possibility that Chinese automakers could enter the American market in the next five to 10 years, even though the country has erected numerous trade barriers to cars from China, according to three people who viewed the meeting.
Farley has been among the most vocal about how competitive Chinese auto giants like BYD are in the industry. Ford is preparing to roll out a family of affordable electric vehicles that it engineered from the ground up to match the cost and efficiency of the Chinese companies.
The Ford chief, along with other senior leaders, said in a question-and-answer portion of the town hall that it is more likely Chinese companies would enter the market at the latter end of that range. The comments come as the U.S. Senate is pushing to expand a ban on Chinese car sales in the world's second-largest and most lucrative auto market.
A Ford spokesperson declined to comment on discussions that took place during a private meeting with employees.
#chinese #ford #market
DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) - Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in a town hall on Thursday that the company is preparing for the possibility that Chinese automakers could enter the American market in the next five to 10 years, even though the country has erected numerous trade barriers to cars from China, according to three people who viewed the meeting.
Farley has been among the most vocal about how competitive Chinese auto giants like BYD are in the industry. Ford is preparing to roll out a family of affordable electric vehicles that it engineered from the ground up to match the cost and efficiency of the Chinese companies.
The Ford chief, along with other senior leaders, said in a question-and-answer portion of the town hall that it is more likely Chinese companies would enter the market at the latter end of that range. The comments come as the U.S. Senate is pushing to expand a ban on Chinese car sales in the world's second-largest and most lucrative auto market.
A Ford spokesperson declined to comment on discussions that took place during a private meeting with employees.
#chinese #ford #market
23 hours ago
Wabtec provides locomotives, equipment, systems, and services for the freight rail and passenger transit industries, including locomotives powered by different fuels, engines, electric motors, propulsion systems, marine products, and mining products to customers around the world. WAB's second-quarter fiscal 2026 report showed $3.2 billion in revenue (a 17.5% year-over-year gain), adjusted per-share earnings of $2.76 (up 21.6%), and increased 2026 revenue and EPS guidance to $12.5 billion and $10.90, respectively.
It's no wonder WAB shares are up 43% this year – and they could rise more. MoneyFlows data shows how Big Money investors are betting heavily on the forward picture of the stock.
Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, WAB has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support.
Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in WAB shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher:
Plenty of industrials names are under accumulation right now. But there's a powerful fundamental story happening with Wabtec.
#locomotives
It's no wonder WAB shares are up 43% this year – and they could rise more. MoneyFlows data shows how Big Money investors are betting heavily on the forward picture of the stock.
Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, WAB has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support.
Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in WAB shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher:
Plenty of industrials names are under accumulation right now. But there's a powerful fundamental story happening with Wabtec.
#locomotives
24 hours ago
Jul. 30—Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories that will run each day previewing Washington State's preseason camp before it begins on Aug. 6. This edition covers the Cougars' offensive line.
PULLMAN — Flip back to last fall and check out a few of Washington State's more forgettable losses. You'll find setbacks to North Texas, to Oregon State, to James Madison. The first of those is an exception, but you can draw a through-line through the final two.
The Cougars couldn't sustain any offense.
Which is why as head coach Kirby Moore takes over, WSU is likely prioritizing production from its offensive line more than ever. Last season, the Cougars finished nine spots up from dead last in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grades, then just three spots up from last in run-blocking grades. Injuries besieged a front five that was already shaky at times, and while the Cougs made it work and won a bowl game for the first time in seven years, they could have engineered an even more memorable season with more consistent offensive line play.
That brings us to WSU's current offensive line, which at first glance has the tools to improve on that trend. Headed into next week's fall camp opener, this group will likely take first-team reps, at least to start camp: Left tackle Ashton Tripp, left guard Jonny Lester, center Kyle Martin, right guard Noah Dunham, right tackle Maximus McCree. By the end of WSU's spring practices in April, that's the group that had risen to the top.
#last #camp #left #fall
PULLMAN — Flip back to last fall and check out a few of Washington State's more forgettable losses. You'll find setbacks to North Texas, to Oregon State, to James Madison. The first of those is an exception, but you can draw a through-line through the final two.
The Cougars couldn't sustain any offense.
Which is why as head coach Kirby Moore takes over, WSU is likely prioritizing production from its offensive line more than ever. Last season, the Cougars finished nine spots up from dead last in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grades, then just three spots up from last in run-blocking grades. Injuries besieged a front five that was already shaky at times, and while the Cougs made it work and won a bowl game for the first time in seven years, they could have engineered an even more memorable season with more consistent offensive line play.
That brings us to WSU's current offensive line, which at first glance has the tools to improve on that trend. Headed into next week's fall camp opener, this group will likely take first-team reps, at least to start camp: Left tackle Ashton Tripp, left guard Jonny Lester, center Kyle Martin, right guard Noah Dunham, right tackle Maximus McCree. By the end of WSU's spring practices in April, that's the group that had risen to the top.
#last #camp #left #fall
1 day ago
Platinum ****** et Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Platinum International Brands Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned over 4% in the quarter but lost 14% over the past year, primarily due to the dominance of tech stocks amid an AI investment boom. Consumer-focused sectors underperformed due to weak sentiment and challenges such as high interest rates and rising oil prices, which have contributed to record-low consumer confidence. However, the fund's holdings remain fundamentally strong, with top holdings averaging 13% sales growth and 19% profit growth. The letter noted that positive developments include resumed job growth, reduced oil prices, and easing fiscal policy, which potentially enhance consumer sentiment. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Platinum International Brands Fund highlighted Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as a notable contributor. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. On July 28, 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closed at $840.85 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $387.29 billion. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) posted a one-month return of -15.19%, and its shares gained 93.69% over the past 52 weeks.
Platinum International Brands Fund stated the following regarding Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) (+36%) was another strong performer, shrugging off a 14% fall in profit. Steel is a key input and tariffs hurt; management is working on remedies, but they will take time. Beneath the surface, demand is heating up. Cat's engines and turbines power locomotives, ships, oil rigs, gas pipelines and now datacentres, a source of demand as ferocious as it is price-insensitive. Add a mining and energy complex emerging from a decade of underinvestment and a depressed construction sector turning the corner and the prospects look bright."
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 87 hedge fund portfolios held Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 86 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#NYSE #letter #international #Consumer
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Platinum International Brands Fund highlighted Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as a notable contributor. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. On July 28, 2026, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closed at $840.85 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $387.29 billion. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) posted a one-month return of -15.19%, and its shares gained 93.69% over the past 52 weeks.
Platinum International Brands Fund stated the following regarding Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) (+36%) was another strong performer, shrugging off a 14% fall in profit. Steel is a key input and tariffs hurt; management is working on remedies, but they will take time. Beneath the surface, demand is heating up. Cat's engines and turbines power locomotives, ships, oil rigs, gas pipelines and now datacentres, a source of demand as ferocious as it is price-insensitive. Add a mining and energy complex emerging from a decade of underinvestment and a depressed construction sector turning the corner and the prospects look bright."
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 87 hedge fund portfolios held Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 86 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#NYSE #letter #international #Consumer
1 day ago
San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader is done for the season due to a foot injury that wasn't helped by a late-night scooter accident last weekend.
Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters Thursday that Bader is out for the rest of 2026, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. However, Vitello reportedly said that was already the case due to Bader's pre-existing case of left plantar fasciitis, rather than the scooter accident.
Vitello reportedly said the team was still sorting through the details of that accident.
A report from SFist provided new details earlier Thursday. Bader's accident reportedly occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, when the 32-year-old crashed his scooter into a fire engine in the vicinity of Balboa Cafe, a popular bar in San Francisco's Marina District.
From SFist:
#accident #bader #sfist
Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters Thursday that Bader is out for the rest of 2026, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. However, Vitello reportedly said that was already the case due to Bader's pre-existing case of left plantar fasciitis, rather than the scooter accident.
Vitello reportedly said the team was still sorting through the details of that accident.
A report from SFist provided new details earlier Thursday. Bader's accident reportedly occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, when the 32-year-old crashed his scooter into a fire engine in the vicinity of Balboa Cafe, a popular bar in San Francisco's Marina District.
From SFist:
#accident #bader #sfist
1 day ago
Most Valuable Promotions and Professional Fighters League on Thursday announced a merger "bringing together world-class boxing, MMA, live events, athlete development, and worldwide content distribution under one fighter-first organization, creating a combat sports company for the new era."
The combined company will operate under the MVP banner. It will be led by Co-Founders and Board Members Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with John Martin serving as CEO and Board Member.
""Since launching MVP, our goal has always been bigger than just building a boxing promotion. It has been to build the future of combat sports. In less than five years, MVP has become one of the most influential and culturally relevant brands in the industry, producing some of the biggest events in combat sports history, elevating women's boxing to unprecedented heights, and bringing millions of new fans into the fight game. The success of MVP MMA's first event confirmed our belief that there is enormous demand for a modern, fighter-first approach to MMA. This merger accelerates our MMA ambitions while strengthening our ability to continue investing in boxing and MVPW. By combining MVP's audience-building engine, storytelling capabilities, and brand with PFL's roster, infrastructure, and international footprint, we are creating a new global home for combat sports. Under the leadership of John Martin, a world-class media executive with deep MMA knowledge, and investment from leading financiers 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital, MVP is going to achieve great things for fighters, fans, and partners," said Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founder and Board Member of Most Valuable Promotions.
"Over the past seven years, PFL has built the world's No. 2 global MMA company, **** embling one of the sport's most elite fighter rosters while creating a world-class global business with premier media distribution across 34 broadcast and streaming partners, reaching fans in more than 170 countries. At the same time, MVP has redefined how combat sports connects with a new generation of fans, creating events that become cultural moments and proving that athletes, sports, entertainment and creators can all thrive together. This merger brings scale - in operations, in distribution and media rights, in sponsorship, in fighter development and in fan engagement. We're not just combining companies, we're bringing an entire combat sports community together and creating a more powerful platform to accelerate growth. One company, one global stage, millions of fans and we're only just getting started. I'm excited to work with Jake and Nakisa as we build the future of combat sports together, and I'm deeply grateful for the continued confidence and support of our lead investors, 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management," John Martin, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the new company, said.
"We started MVP to disrupt a broken model. We wanted to give fighters fair pay and a bigger, modernized stage to
The combined company will operate under the MVP banner. It will be led by Co-Founders and Board Members Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with John Martin serving as CEO and Board Member.
""Since launching MVP, our goal has always been bigger than just building a boxing promotion. It has been to build the future of combat sports. In less than five years, MVP has become one of the most influential and culturally relevant brands in the industry, producing some of the biggest events in combat sports history, elevating women's boxing to unprecedented heights, and bringing millions of new fans into the fight game. The success of MVP MMA's first event confirmed our belief that there is enormous demand for a modern, fighter-first approach to MMA. This merger accelerates our MMA ambitions while strengthening our ability to continue investing in boxing and MVPW. By combining MVP's audience-building engine, storytelling capabilities, and brand with PFL's roster, infrastructure, and international footprint, we are creating a new global home for combat sports. Under the leadership of John Martin, a world-class media executive with deep MMA knowledge, and investment from leading financiers 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital, MVP is going to achieve great things for fighters, fans, and partners," said Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founder and Board Member of Most Valuable Promotions.
"Over the past seven years, PFL has built the world's No. 2 global MMA company, **** embling one of the sport's most elite fighter rosters while creating a world-class global business with premier media distribution across 34 broadcast and streaming partners, reaching fans in more than 170 countries. At the same time, MVP has redefined how combat sports connects with a new generation of fans, creating events that become cultural moments and proving that athletes, sports, entertainment and creators can all thrive together. This merger brings scale - in operations, in distribution and media rights, in sponsorship, in fighter development and in fan engagement. We're not just combining companies, we're bringing an entire combat sports community together and creating a more powerful platform to accelerate growth. One company, one global stage, millions of fans and we're only just getting started. I'm excited to work with Jake and Nakisa as we build the future of combat sports together, and I'm deeply grateful for the continued confidence and support of our lead investors, 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management," John Martin, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the new company, said.
"We started MVP to disrupt a broken model. We wanted to give fighters fair pay and a bigger, modernized stage to
1 day ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributed the 18% year-over-year revenue growth to a rapid shift in market conditions favoring transportation providers, marking the first time since 2021 that Q2 volumes outpaced pre-pandemic seasonality.
The heavy haul service offering emerged as a primary growth engine, with revenue increasing 18% driven by robust demand in data center infrastructure, aerospace, and energy sectors.
BCO truck count showed its strongest quarterly improvement since early 2022, which management linked to a compelling variable pay model and structural improvements in the recruiting process.
The company reported a significant tightening in truck capacity, evidenced by a 14.4% sequential increase in truck revenue per load, the largest such jump in 15 years.
#revenue
Management attributed the 18% year-over-year revenue growth to a rapid shift in market conditions favoring transportation providers, marking the first time since 2021 that Q2 volumes outpaced pre-pandemic seasonality.
The heavy haul service offering emerged as a primary growth engine, with revenue increasing 18% driven by robust demand in data center infrastructure, aerospace, and energy sectors.
BCO truck count showed its strongest quarterly improvement since early 2022, which management linked to a compelling variable pay model and structural improvements in the recruiting process.
The company reported a significant tightening in truck capacity, evidenced by a 14.4% sequential increase in truck revenue per load, the largest such jump in 15 years.
#revenue
1 day ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributes solid performance to a fundamental shift in operational discipline and financial execution, moving closer to customers and communities to drive reliability.
Total forecasted data center demand surged 30% since Q1 to approximately 25 gigawatts, representing roughly 70% of the company's July system peak load.
The company is positioning West Virginia as a key growth engine, utilizing its status as a vertically integrated utility to offer 'one-stop shop' generation and transmission solutions.
Operational improvements in New Jersey have resulted in a 38% year-over-year increase in reliability, which management believes provides a constructive foundation for upcoming rate filings.
#management #operational #NVIDIA #total
Management attributes solid performance to a fundamental shift in operational discipline and financial execution, moving closer to customers and communities to drive reliability.
Total forecasted data center demand surged 30% since Q1 to approximately 25 gigawatts, representing roughly 70% of the company's July system peak load.
The company is positioning West Virginia as a key growth engine, utilizing its status as a vertically integrated utility to offer 'one-stop shop' generation and transmission solutions.
Operational improvements in New Jersey have resulted in a 38% year-over-year increase in reliability, which management believes provides a constructive foundation for upcoming rate filings.
#management #operational #NVIDIA #total
1 day ago
AI data centers are putting pressure on the US electrical grid in ways that did not seem possible just a few years ago, and that strain is a direct benefit to heavy equipment manufacturers, not just chipmakers. US data center power consumption is expected to increase by 22% in a single year, with total grid demand nearly tripling to 134.4 GW by 2030 as hyperscale buildouts gain speed.
Considering grid capacity cannot be increased quickly enough to meet that curve, on-site and backup power production has become a significant portion of AI infrastructure spending, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) alone accounting for an estimated 18% of the data center generator market. Notably, the company has come to be one of the Dow's best-performing stocks so far in 2026, with a year-to-date return of 47.81%.
The company's Q1 2026 revenue came in at $17.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $5.54, above expectations. The backlog behind that expansion seems to be the real story, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closing the quarter with a record $63 billion in order backlog, an increase of 79% year-over-year and $11.5 billion sequentially, owing to major project wins like Altus and Chevron, growing rental demand, and strong Mining segment order conversion.
CEO Joe Creed told ****** ysts that the company's massive engine backlog, which directly powers AI data centers, has grown by over 3.5x since Caterpillar first revealed capacity expansion plans back in January 2024.
This backlog progress led Oppenheimer to lift Caterpillar's price target to $1,105 from $980 on July 13, while keeping an Outperform rating, expecting high-margin Power & Energy deliveries to accelerate in the second half of the year. However, underlying margin trends indicate rising friction. Resource Industries segment margins fell by over 700 basis points year on year in Q1, to 10%, owing to roughly $600 million in quarterly tariff charges. With full-year tariff headwinds of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion, Caterpillar's cost structure is under significant pressure even as top-line demand grows.
#caterpillar #power #grid #demand
Considering grid capacity cannot be increased quickly enough to meet that curve, on-site and backup power production has become a significant portion of AI infrastructure spending, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) alone accounting for an estimated 18% of the data center generator market. Notably, the company has come to be one of the Dow's best-performing stocks so far in 2026, with a year-to-date return of 47.81%.
The company's Q1 2026 revenue came in at $17.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $5.54, above expectations. The backlog behind that expansion seems to be the real story, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closing the quarter with a record $63 billion in order backlog, an increase of 79% year-over-year and $11.5 billion sequentially, owing to major project wins like Altus and Chevron, growing rental demand, and strong Mining segment order conversion.
CEO Joe Creed told ****** ysts that the company's massive engine backlog, which directly powers AI data centers, has grown by over 3.5x since Caterpillar first revealed capacity expansion plans back in January 2024.
This backlog progress led Oppenheimer to lift Caterpillar's price target to $1,105 from $980 on July 13, while keeping an Outperform rating, expecting high-margin Power & Energy deliveries to accelerate in the second half of the year. However, underlying margin trends indicate rising friction. Resource Industries segment margins fell by over 700 basis points year on year in Q1, to 10%, owing to roughly $600 million in quarterly tariff charges. With full-year tariff headwinds of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion, Caterpillar's cost structure is under significant pressure even as top-line demand grows.
#caterpillar #power #grid #demand
1 day ago
Last season, the New Orleans Saints were reportedly fielding trade offers for Chris Olave. Now they've made him one of the NFL's highest paid wide receivers.
Olave, headed into the final year of his rookie contract, reportedly signed a four-year extension that will keep him as Tyler Shough's huckleberry through the foreseeable future. At $132 million and $90 million guaranteed, it wasn't able to reset the wideout market but pays him slightly more in annual average salary than former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson. The New York Jets gave Wilson a four-year, $130 million deal last offseason, making him the league's seventh-highest paid WR.
It's a big bet on a player who has emerged as an engine in the Saints offense when available. The Saints are locked in to $90 million for a receiver coming off his finest season. His 100 catches were seventh-best in the NFL en route to second-team All-Pro honors. But he also missed more than half the 2024 season due to concussion concerns and his 2.0 yards per route run (YPRR) were a career low. Will the Saints regret a great commitment for a player who may merely be good?
This offseason has been predicated on bringing weapons into the fold as New Orleans figures out whether Shough's ability to exceed expectations as a rookie was an outlier or a sign of things to come. The Saints signed running back Travis Etienne for $12 million annually and used the eighth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Jordyn Tyson. Keeping Olave fits with that philosophy.
At the same time, it's fair to wonder if Olave can keep up his 2025 pace when he's not the surefire focus of the offense. Last year's New Orleans offense couldn't run the ball (31st in rushing expected points added). Only two other players on the team had more than 40 targets and one, Rashid Shaheed, was traded mid-season. His target share of just under 30 percent was a career high and his 8.7 air yards per catch were a career low, leading to modest impacts despite his prolific nature.
#year #wilson
Olave, headed into the final year of his rookie contract, reportedly signed a four-year extension that will keep him as Tyler Shough's huckleberry through the foreseeable future. At $132 million and $90 million guaranteed, it wasn't able to reset the wideout market but pays him slightly more in annual average salary than former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson. The New York Jets gave Wilson a four-year, $130 million deal last offseason, making him the league's seventh-highest paid WR.
It's a big bet on a player who has emerged as an engine in the Saints offense when available. The Saints are locked in to $90 million for a receiver coming off his finest season. His 100 catches were seventh-best in the NFL en route to second-team All-Pro honors. But he also missed more than half the 2024 season due to concussion concerns and his 2.0 yards per route run (YPRR) were a career low. Will the Saints regret a great commitment for a player who may merely be good?
This offseason has been predicated on bringing weapons into the fold as New Orleans figures out whether Shough's ability to exceed expectations as a rookie was an outlier or a sign of things to come. The Saints signed running back Travis Etienne for $12 million annually and used the eighth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Jordyn Tyson. Keeping Olave fits with that philosophy.
At the same time, it's fair to wonder if Olave can keep up his 2025 pace when he's not the surefire focus of the offense. Last year's New Orleans offense couldn't run the ball (31st in rushing expected points added). Only two other players on the team had more than 40 targets and one, Rashid Shaheed, was traded mid-season. His target share of just under 30 percent was a career high and his 8.7 air yards per catch were a career low, leading to modest impacts despite his prolific nature.
#year #wilson
1 day ago
Speculation surrounding an Aaron Donald NFL comeback is always a hot topic nowadays around the Los Angeles Rams, and former superstar running back Todd Gurley recently weighed in on those rumors during an episode of Uninterrupted.
Gurley and Donald shared a locker room throughout the running back's entire Rams tenure from 2015 to 2019, serving as the dual engines of the franchise's resurgence. Gurley officially retired in 2022, while Donald hung up his cleats two years later in 2024 following a historic 10-year career. Having trained alongside the three-time Defensive Player of the Year during their prime years, Gurley understands Donald's relentless work ethic better than almost anyone.
"One thing about Aaron Donald is, if he's going to do it, he's going to put his all," Gurley said. "You know, most people be like, 'I'll come back for some money.' Because if it was about the money, he would have never retired. I just don't see him half-assing anything."
Gurley also pushed back on the notion that Donald would sign midseason just to boost a playoff push or make a quick guest appearance.
"I feel like he would want to come... he wouldn't even want to come back like, you know how people be like, 'Come back in December' or 'We just need you for a couple of games,'" Gurley explained. "Nah, AD would want to be there from the beginning all the way to the end."
#back
Gurley and Donald shared a locker room throughout the running back's entire Rams tenure from 2015 to 2019, serving as the dual engines of the franchise's resurgence. Gurley officially retired in 2022, while Donald hung up his cleats two years later in 2024 following a historic 10-year career. Having trained alongside the three-time Defensive Player of the Year during their prime years, Gurley understands Donald's relentless work ethic better than almost anyone.
"One thing about Aaron Donald is, if he's going to do it, he's going to put his all," Gurley said. "You know, most people be like, 'I'll come back for some money.' Because if it was about the money, he would have never retired. I just don't see him half-assing anything."
Gurley also pushed back on the notion that Donald would sign midseason just to boost a playoff push or make a quick guest appearance.
"I feel like he would want to come... he wouldn't even want to come back like, you know how people be like, 'Come back in December' or 'We just need you for a couple of games,'" Gurley explained. "Nah, AD would want to be there from the beginning all the way to the end."
#back
1 day ago
Scale AI announced Thursday that its board of directors has appointed Francis deSouza as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 10, 2026. At Google Cloud, deSouza held the roles of chief operating officer and president of security products before taking on the CEO position at Scale.
Before joining Google Cloud, deSouza served as president and CEO of Illumina, a publicly traded genomics company, where the company's revenue grew to more than $4.5 billion and its operations expanded across more than 150 countries, Scale said. His earlier career included a stint as president of products and services at Symantec, and he founded two startups that Microsoft and Symantec each went on to acquire. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
deSouza replaces Jason Droege, who has led Scale as interim CEO since June 2025. Droege will work with deSouza over the coming months to ****** ist with the transition, the company said.
"Scale sits at a rare intersection of frontier model development and real-world deployment, and the opportunity for continued growth and success is enormous," deSouza said in a statement. "My focus will be getting Scale's solutions into more businesses and governments, delivering the best data for AI labs, and showing our value through provable outcomes."
Scale AI founder Alexandr ****** , who now serves as chairman of the board, said in a statement that deSouza "has led and scaled complex, technical businesses, and understands what it takes to serve both enterprises and governments at the highest level of trust and reliability."
#scale
Before joining Google Cloud, deSouza served as president and CEO of Illumina, a publicly traded genomics company, where the company's revenue grew to more than $4.5 billion and its operations expanded across more than 150 countries, Scale said. His earlier career included a stint as president of products and services at Symantec, and he founded two startups that Microsoft and Symantec each went on to acquire. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
deSouza replaces Jason Droege, who has led Scale as interim CEO since June 2025. Droege will work with deSouza over the coming months to ****** ist with the transition, the company said.
"Scale sits at a rare intersection of frontier model development and real-world deployment, and the opportunity for continued growth and success is enormous," deSouza said in a statement. "My focus will be getting Scale's solutions into more businesses and governments, delivering the best data for AI labs, and showing our value through provable outcomes."
Scale AI founder Alexandr ****** , who now serves as chairman of the board, said in a statement that deSouza "has led and scaled complex, technical businesses, and understands what it takes to serve both enterprises and governments at the highest level of trust and reliability."
#scale
2 days ago
SpaceX (SPCX) stock recovered after hitting an all-time low on Monday, days after a successful test of its Starship rocket. The surprising drop indicates persistent investor caution toward the newly public company, despite it hitting an important launch milestone.
SpaceX stock was down 4% in early trade but recovered by midday, closing up 2.6%. The stock hit an all-time low of $109.53 on Monday, before closing down 1.4% at $113.50. Shares have shed nearly 30% from the $150 market debut last month and are down an astounding 50% from their all-time high of $225.64.
Concern seems to be growing ahead of ***** eX's big second quarter earnings report, set for Aug. 4, with a big share unlock happening on Aug. 6. Per ***** eX's lockup period plan, as many as 20% of shares are eligible to be sold.
Read more: ***** eX stock is falling. What investors should do next.
The rising angst among ***** eX investors comes after Starship launched Friday evening from Starbase, Texas, on its 13th test flight, the first since ***** eX's June IPO. Starship deployed all 20 of its next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, relit an engine in ***** e, and made what ***** eX called its softest ocean splashdown yet.
#recovered
SpaceX stock was down 4% in early trade but recovered by midday, closing up 2.6%. The stock hit an all-time low of $109.53 on Monday, before closing down 1.4% at $113.50. Shares have shed nearly 30% from the $150 market debut last month and are down an astounding 50% from their all-time high of $225.64.
Concern seems to be growing ahead of ***** eX's big second quarter earnings report, set for Aug. 4, with a big share unlock happening on Aug. 6. Per ***** eX's lockup period plan, as many as 20% of shares are eligible to be sold.
Read more: ***** eX stock is falling. What investors should do next.
The rising angst among ***** eX investors comes after Starship launched Friday evening from Starbase, Texas, on its 13th test flight, the first since ***** eX's June IPO. Starship deployed all 20 of its next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, relit an engine in ***** e, and made what ***** eX called its softest ocean splashdown yet.
#recovered
2 days ago
Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Performance was driven by a rapid transition to value-based pricing and global energy surcharges, which offset rising commodity costs within a single quarter.
The Global High-Tech platform has emerged as the primary growth engine, scaling from $150 million in 2021 to an annualized run rate of $1.5 billion following the CoolIT acquisition.
Life Sciences performance reached a strategic inflection point with 15% growth, driven by market share gains in bioprocessing and the scaling of commercial manufacturing for customers.
The 'One Ecolab' initiative is successfully driving mid-single-digit growth in core businesses like Food & Beverage through integrated water and food safety cross-selling.
#performance #global #driven #NVIDIA
Performance was driven by a rapid transition to value-based pricing and global energy surcharges, which offset rising commodity costs within a single quarter.
The Global High-Tech platform has emerged as the primary growth engine, scaling from $150 million in 2021 to an annualized run rate of $1.5 billion following the CoolIT acquisition.
Life Sciences performance reached a strategic inflection point with 15% growth, driven by market share gains in bioprocessing and the scaling of commercial manufacturing for customers.
The 'One Ecolab' initiative is successfully driving mid-single-digit growth in core businesses like Food & Beverage through integrated water and food safety cross-selling.
#performance #global #driven #NVIDIA
2 days ago
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) on Thursday lifted its sales and profit outlook for 2026, amid sustained demand for commercial aircraft maintenance and military systems, as airlines continue to rely on older fleets and governments restock weapons.
The aerospace and defense company now projects adjusted sales in the range of $95 billion to $96 billion, up from its earlier estimates of $92.5 billion to $93.5 billion. Wall Street has an average forecast of $94.08 billion. The full-year adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $7.10 to $7.25, up from $6.70 to $6.90, and above ******* ysts' forecast of $6.92 per share.
The forecast lift came during the second quarter earnings call on July 23, where RTX beat Wall Street's estimates for both revenue and profit. Quarterly revenue came in at $24.7 billion, growing 14% year-over-year, while adjusted EPS was logged at $1.89, representing a 21% increase from the prior year's period.
The Pratt & Whitney unit, which manufactures engines for Airbus jets and the F-35, saw a 16% increase in sales to $8.89 billion, while demand for air and missile defense systems drove an 18% sales growth in the company's Raytheon defense business. Collins Aerospace, which delivers advanced aviation systems, saw an 8% increase in sales.
The company said its backlog expanded 22% from the prior year's period to $289 billion, which included $170 billion in commercial aerospace and $119 billion in defense-related orders. Operating cash flow during the quarter came in at $3.5 billion, resulting in free cash flow of $2.9 billion.
#sales #forecast
The aerospace and defense company now projects adjusted sales in the range of $95 billion to $96 billion, up from its earlier estimates of $92.5 billion to $93.5 billion. Wall Street has an average forecast of $94.08 billion. The full-year adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $7.10 to $7.25, up from $6.70 to $6.90, and above ******* ysts' forecast of $6.92 per share.
The forecast lift came during the second quarter earnings call on July 23, where RTX beat Wall Street's estimates for both revenue and profit. Quarterly revenue came in at $24.7 billion, growing 14% year-over-year, while adjusted EPS was logged at $1.89, representing a 21% increase from the prior year's period.
The Pratt & Whitney unit, which manufactures engines for Airbus jets and the F-35, saw a 16% increase in sales to $8.89 billion, while demand for air and missile defense systems drove an 18% sales growth in the company's Raytheon defense business. Collins Aerospace, which delivers advanced aviation systems, saw an 8% increase in sales.
The company said its backlog expanded 22% from the prior year's period to $289 billion, which included $170 billion in commercial aerospace and $119 billion in defense-related orders. Operating cash flow during the quarter came in at $3.5 billion, resulting in free cash flow of $2.9 billion.
#sales #forecast
2 days ago
Night View Capital, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter highlights that AI is a transformative force, comparable to electricity due to its industry-wide impact. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Although fears about the software sector have led to significant declines in stock prices, the letter argues that AI integration will ultimately benefit many companies. They recognize that some software firms may experience temporary slowdowns, but most will adapt and succeed by embracing AI, citing advantages like systems of record, high switching costs, entrenched distribution, and rapid AI adoption. The sharp decline in software valuations appears to be an overreaction rather than a sign of industry failure. Nightview believes the so-called "software panic of 2026" is temporary, and resilient businesses will adapt and flourish in the age of AI. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Night View Capital highlighted Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK). Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is a software company that develops 3D design, engineering, and entertainment technology solutions. On July 27, 2026, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) closed at $225.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $47.67 billion. Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) posted a one-month return of 25.10%, while its shares lost 20.68% over the past 52 weeks.
Night View Capital stated the following regarding Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) makes the tools that architects and engineers use to design the physical world. The buildings, the bridges, the machines. This is a business protected by decades of professional habit, file formats, and training, and by the simple fact that when you are designing something that people will stand inside, you want the trusted tool. We held our position roughly steady."
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 67 hedge fund portfolios held Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 81 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
#adsk #letter #software
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Night View Capital highlighted Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK). Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is a software company that develops 3D design, engineering, and entertainment technology solutions. On July 27, 2026, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) closed at $225.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $47.67 billion. Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) posted a one-month return of 25.10%, while its shares lost 20.68% over the past 52 weeks.
Night View Capital stated the following regarding Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) makes the tools that architects and engineers use to design the physical world. The buildings, the bridges, the machines. This is a business protected by decades of professional habit, file formats, and training, and by the simple fact that when you are designing something that people will stand inside, you want the trusted tool. We held our position roughly steady."
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 67 hedge fund portfolios held Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 81 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
#adsk #letter #software
2 days ago
Columbia Threadneedle Investments, an investment management company, released its "Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund" second quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund's Institutional Class shares returned 50.34%, outperforming the MSCI World Information Technology Index's 33.65% gain. Stock selection in semiconductors, technology hardware and software, together with an off-benchmark electrical equipment allocation, supported relative performance, while exposure to financials, consumer discretionary and healthcare detracted. Technology stocks rallied as concerns over the Iran conflict eased and AI infrastructure spending boosted demand for semiconductors, memory, networking, servers and power solutions. The Fund expects AI and data-centre investment to remain strong, supported by broadening earnings growth and improving software bookings, cloud consumption and customer spending. However, geopolitical uncertainty, higher interest rates and heavy AI investment could pressure valuations and free cash flow. The strategy holds 50–75 technology companies across market capitalisations and uses bottom-up GARP research to identify misunderstood and undervalued businesses in the technology industry. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund highlighted Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT). Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) provides materials engineering solutions, equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor and related industries. On July 27, 2026, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) closed at $516.89 per share. One-month return of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) was -28.51% and its shares gained 174.34% over the past 52 weeks. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) has a market capitalization of about $410.39 billion.
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund stated the following regarding Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The fund also held an overweight position in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), which operates in a similar ******* e as Lam Research. The company's share price rose during the quarter as its investor base grew more confident that AI-driven semiconductor demand would support sustained wafer fabrication equipment spending, specifically in leading-edge logic and advanced packaging."
Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) ranks 39 on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 138 hedge fund portfolios held Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 111 in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) reported record revenue of $7.91 billion, up 13% sequentially and 11% year-over-year. While we acknowledge the potential of Applied Materials
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund highlighted Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT). Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) provides materials engineering solutions, equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor and related industries. On July 27, 2026, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) closed at $516.89 per share. One-month return of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) was -28.51% and its shares gained 174.34% over the past 52 weeks. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) has a market capitalization of about $410.39 billion.
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund stated the following regarding Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The fund also held an overweight position in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), which operates in a similar ******* e as Lam Research. The company's share price rose during the quarter as its investor base grew more confident that AI-driven semiconductor demand would support sustained wafer fabrication equipment spending, specifically in leading-edge logic and advanced packaging."
Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) ranks 39 on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 138 hedge fund portfolios held Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 111 in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) reported record revenue of $7.91 billion, up 13% sequentially and 11% year-over-year. While we acknowledge the potential of Applied Materials
2 days ago
The numbers tell one side of the story for Joel Piroe. 19 goals. Four ***** ists. 45 appearances. Top scorer in the Championship in 2024/25 and the main engine behind getting Leeds United back to the big time. Yet, stroll around West Yorkshire right now, and you quickly realise statistics mean precious little when a manager's mind is made up that he is a low-priority man. Daniel Farke wants a new leading man. Simple as that.
Farke wants a traditional centre-forward to hold up the ball, bully centre-backs, and trigger the team's pressing system off the ball. They have Dominic Calvert-Lewin for that. That leaves Joel Piroe in a tough spot.
Despite doing everything asked of him last season, the 26-year-old Dutchman finds himself pushed right to the edge of the first-team picture. Farke clearly harbours doubts about whether Piroe has the raw pace, athletic engine, and mobility required to lead the line in the top flight.
With just 12 months remaining on his contract at Elland Road, the hierarchy seems open to business. A cut-price departure before deadline day is now a genuine possibility, with Birmingham City already keeping close tabs on the situation.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: Joel Piroe of Leeds United reacts during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Sunderland at Elland Road on March 03, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
#engine
Farke wants a traditional centre-forward to hold up the ball, bully centre-backs, and trigger the team's pressing system off the ball. They have Dominic Calvert-Lewin for that. That leaves Joel Piroe in a tough spot.
Despite doing everything asked of him last season, the 26-year-old Dutchman finds himself pushed right to the edge of the first-team picture. Farke clearly harbours doubts about whether Piroe has the raw pace, athletic engine, and mobility required to lead the line in the top flight.
With just 12 months remaining on his contract at Elland Road, the hierarchy seems open to business. A cut-price departure before deadline day is now a genuine possibility, with Birmingham City already keeping close tabs on the situation.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: Joel Piroe of Leeds United reacts during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Sunderland at Elland Road on March 03, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
#engine
2 days ago
IndyCar has unwrapped its highly anticipated next-generation race car, the Dallara IR-28, with the new car scheduled to make its racing debut at the start of the 2028 season.
The brand-new chassis and aero pack replaces the long-serving Dallara DW12 chassis that has been running around the series since 2012-it's basically vintage at this point.
The redesign focused on reducing weight, increasing driver safety, and fundamentally changing the aerodynamics to maximize wheel-to-wheel overtaking opportunities. IndyCar people openly say that the IR-28 is engineered to eclipse current lap times and actively smash long-standing track records-including Arie Luyendyk's legendary 236.9 mph qualifying average set at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.
Rather than chasing pure downforce at the expense of the chasing pack, the IR-28's aerodynamic furniture has been purpose-built from day one to optimize the vehicle's wake.
Key design and bodywork highlights include:
#dallara
The brand-new chassis and aero pack replaces the long-serving Dallara DW12 chassis that has been running around the series since 2012-it's basically vintage at this point.
The redesign focused on reducing weight, increasing driver safety, and fundamentally changing the aerodynamics to maximize wheel-to-wheel overtaking opportunities. IndyCar people openly say that the IR-28 is engineered to eclipse current lap times and actively smash long-standing track records-including Arie Luyendyk's legendary 236.9 mph qualifying average set at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.
Rather than chasing pure downforce at the expense of the chasing pack, the IR-28's aerodynamic furniture has been purpose-built from day one to optimize the vehicle's wake.
Key design and bodywork highlights include:
#dallara
2 days ago
AI data centers are putting pressure on the US electrical grid in ways that did not seem possible just a few years ago, and that strain is a direct benefit to heavy equipment manufacturers, not just chipmakers. US data center power consumption is expected to increase by 22% in a single year, with total grid demand nearly tripling to 134.4 GW by 2030 as hyperscale buildouts gain speed.
Considering grid capacity cannot be increased quickly enough to meet that curve, on-site and backup power production has become a significant portion of AI infrastructure spending, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) alone accounting for an estimated 18% of the data center generator market. Notably, the company has come to be one of the Dow's best-performing stocks so far in 2026, with a year-to-date return of 47.81%.
The company's Q1 2026 revenue came in at $17.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $5.54, above expectations. The backlog behind that expansion seems to be the real story, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closing the quarter with a record $63 billion in order backlog, an increase of 79% year-over-year and $11.5 billion sequentially, owing to major project wins like Altus and Chevron, growing rental demand, and strong Mining segment order conversion.
CEO Joe Creed told ******* ysts that the company's massive engine backlog, which directly powers AI data centers, has grown by over 3.5x since Caterpillar first revealed capacity expansion plans back in January 2024.
This backlog progress led Oppenheimer to lift Caterpillar's price target to $1,105 from $980 on July 13, while keeping an Outperform rating, expecting high-margin Power & Energy deliveries to accelerate in the second half of the year. However, underlying margin trends indicate rising friction. Resource Industries segment margins fell by over 700 basis points year on year in Q1, to 10%, owing to roughly $600 million in quarterly tariff charges. With full-year tariff headwinds of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion, Caterpillar's cost structure is under significant pressure even as top-line demand grows.
#billion #data #grid #centers
Considering grid capacity cannot be increased quickly enough to meet that curve, on-site and backup power production has become a significant portion of AI infrastructure spending, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) alone accounting for an estimated 18% of the data center generator market. Notably, the company has come to be one of the Dow's best-performing stocks so far in 2026, with a year-to-date return of 47.81%.
The company's Q1 2026 revenue came in at $17.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS of $5.54, above expectations. The backlog behind that expansion seems to be the real story, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) closing the quarter with a record $63 billion in order backlog, an increase of 79% year-over-year and $11.5 billion sequentially, owing to major project wins like Altus and Chevron, growing rental demand, and strong Mining segment order conversion.
CEO Joe Creed told ******* ysts that the company's massive engine backlog, which directly powers AI data centers, has grown by over 3.5x since Caterpillar first revealed capacity expansion plans back in January 2024.
This backlog progress led Oppenheimer to lift Caterpillar's price target to $1,105 from $980 on July 13, while keeping an Outperform rating, expecting high-margin Power & Energy deliveries to accelerate in the second half of the year. However, underlying margin trends indicate rising friction. Resource Industries segment margins fell by over 700 basis points year on year in Q1, to 10%, owing to roughly $600 million in quarterly tariff charges. With full-year tariff headwinds of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion, Caterpillar's cost structure is under significant pressure even as top-line demand grows.
#billion #data #grid #centers
