6 hours ago
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is making its largest acquisition since becoming a standalone publicly traded company. It agreed to acquire Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for around $12 billion.
CPP is one of the world's largest precision castings providers. It's a major GE supplier. Precision castings is a major pressure point for the aerospace engines industry. Acquiring CPP would give GE Aerospace greater control over a critical part of its engine supply chain.
And the deal could strengthen GE's ability to meet demand already sitting in its backlog. But the investment case depends on whether additional production capacity generates enough free cash flow to justify the deal's premium price.
rommma/Shutterstock.com
Engine manufacturers like GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) are struggling to keep pace with surging demand due to supply chain constraints. CPP is a major supplier of precision castings for GE's LEAP and GEnx engines. GE plans to raise CPP's output. It would do that by improving factory yields and machine use. With the CPP deal, GE also sees a path to accelerate production of new engine technologies.
#NYSE #largest #engines #supply
CPP is one of the world's largest precision castings providers. It's a major GE supplier. Precision castings is a major pressure point for the aerospace engines industry. Acquiring CPP would give GE Aerospace greater control over a critical part of its engine supply chain.
And the deal could strengthen GE's ability to meet demand already sitting in its backlog. But the investment case depends on whether additional production capacity generates enough free cash flow to justify the deal's premium price.
rommma/Shutterstock.com
Engine manufacturers like GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) are struggling to keep pace with surging demand due to supply chain constraints. CPP is a major supplier of precision castings for GE's LEAP and GEnx engines. GE plans to raise CPP's output. It would do that by improving factory yields and machine use. With the CPP deal, GE also sees a path to accelerate production of new engine technologies.
#NYSE #largest #engines #supply
2 days ago
On September 8, 2026, GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) agreed to buy Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for $11.75 billion. The acquisition marks the company's largest bet yet on precision engine castings, a constraint that has been capping GE's growth. Trading already at roughly 40x earnings, the company has now attacked one of its genuine bottlenecks through the deal. But has it paid too much to do it?
Castings, including the superalloy and ******* anium hot-section parts inside the jet engines, have constrained GE's engine production, including programs such as LEAP and GEnx, as well as its high-margin aftermarket. Without these castings, the company can neither build nor service its engines. If the acquisition closes, the company will gain access to CPP's 20-plus plants and about 6,600 workers, which are essential for making those components. The deal would therefore enable GE to control the constraint as well as defend its margins. CEO Larry Culp characterized the move as securing manufacturing capacity to meet simultaneous demand across commercial engines, aftermarket services, and defense contracts.
The valuation is where bulls should slow down. GE is paying roughly 18x 2027 EBITDA including synergies (26x without synergies). The sellers are private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners. They have basically offloaded a cyclical business near the peak of the aerospace cycle. This is smart money selling to GE instead of the other way around. The real tell is that GE felt compelled to buy its way past this capacity bottleneck instead of scaling organically, which reveals how tight its prized aftermarket really was. Also, CPP also supplies other major aerospace and defense companies such as Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin, and through the vertical tie-up, the company invites antitrust scrutiny before it closes in late 2027.
GE's 40x multiple rests on its high-margin razor-and-blade business model that services a huge installed base. And the casting supply shortages quietly constrain this aftermarket. Hence, more than merely fixing a supply chain issue, the CPP acquisition defends the company's high margin and multiple. Financially, the transaction is accretive to adjusted EPS and free cash flow in the first year, funded through $7 billion in cash alongside newly issued debt. Insider Monkey data shows 113 hedge funds held GE in Q2 2026, down modestly from 119 in Q1, reflecting firm institutional positioning. Short interest is just 1.3% of float, below peers like Honeywell International (1.6%). Almost no one bets against it.
#aftermarket #acquisition #including
Castings, including the superalloy and ******* anium hot-section parts inside the jet engines, have constrained GE's engine production, including programs such as LEAP and GEnx, as well as its high-margin aftermarket. Without these castings, the company can neither build nor service its engines. If the acquisition closes, the company will gain access to CPP's 20-plus plants and about 6,600 workers, which are essential for making those components. The deal would therefore enable GE to control the constraint as well as defend its margins. CEO Larry Culp characterized the move as securing manufacturing capacity to meet simultaneous demand across commercial engines, aftermarket services, and defense contracts.
The valuation is where bulls should slow down. GE is paying roughly 18x 2027 EBITDA including synergies (26x without synergies). The sellers are private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners. They have basically offloaded a cyclical business near the peak of the aerospace cycle. This is smart money selling to GE instead of the other way around. The real tell is that GE felt compelled to buy its way past this capacity bottleneck instead of scaling organically, which reveals how tight its prized aftermarket really was. Also, CPP also supplies other major aerospace and defense companies such as Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin, and through the vertical tie-up, the company invites antitrust scrutiny before it closes in late 2027.
GE's 40x multiple rests on its high-margin razor-and-blade business model that services a huge installed base. And the casting supply shortages quietly constrain this aftermarket. Hence, more than merely fixing a supply chain issue, the CPP acquisition defends the company's high margin and multiple. Financially, the transaction is accretive to adjusted EPS and free cash flow in the first year, funded through $7 billion in cash alongside newly issued debt. Insider Monkey data shows 113 hedge funds held GE in Q2 2026, down modestly from 119 in Q1, reflecting firm institutional positioning. Short interest is just 1.3% of float, below peers like Honeywell International (1.6%). Almost no one bets against it.
#aftermarket #acquisition #including
2 days ago
During a September 8 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer examined the broader aerospace ecosystem following GE Aerospace's (NYSE:GE) nearly $12 billion agreement to acquire castings specialist Consolidated Precision Products (CPP). Commenting on the strategic importance of supply chain control and the enduring strength of commercial and defense aviation despite rising oil prices, Cramer stated:
I still believe in the data center, but I also want to open your eyes to other opportunities. This morning, for example, GE Aerospace spent nearly $12 billion to buy a castings company called Consolidated Precision Products to integrate this key segment into its supply chain. It's vital for both commercial aircraft and particularly defense, both of which are booming. Now, on a day where oil's up, you might not want to focus on anything airline related, but travel's been booming the whole time, the whole time the Iranian war's been going on. This acquisition will pay off quickly for GE, making it more likely that they can accelerate production. This is also good news, therefore, for Boeing, a huge customer of GE that needs to boost its production speed.
GE is relatively close to its highs, deservedly so. Boeing? Nowhere near its high. Yet the order book is full. Last week, there was this negative article about how Boeing is being hurt by the problem-filled Spirit AeroSystems acquisition. It made that one two years ago. But that actually had to be done because Boeing, like GE Aerospace, needs to get better control of its supply chain. Aha, you say, who needs that kind of problem? Boeing just reported its slowest deliveries in 4 months. I come back and say, wait a second. First, the problems from the Spirit deal are now behind them. You know what? The story is actually old news.
Plus, CEO Kelly Ortberg has made it clear that orders would be lumpy. I knew that. And look, I know the high price of oil, particularly jet fuel, is bad news for the airlines. But the higher price of fuel also makes these new engines and airplanes far more valuable than before. Why? They're way more energy efficient. It's a good situation that has nothing to do with the data center. It does require more, better tech that AI can help with.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) represent two distinct pillars of the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, operating at massive commercial scale. GE Aerospace reported second-quarter revenue of $13.3 billion, up 21% year-over-year, driven by strong commercial engine services and record internal shop visit output. Its total order backlog extends past $210 billion, supported by sustained airline demand for propulsion systems and aftermarket maintenance.
#boeing #chain #consolidated
I still believe in the data center, but I also want to open your eyes to other opportunities. This morning, for example, GE Aerospace spent nearly $12 billion to buy a castings company called Consolidated Precision Products to integrate this key segment into its supply chain. It's vital for both commercial aircraft and particularly defense, both of which are booming. Now, on a day where oil's up, you might not want to focus on anything airline related, but travel's been booming the whole time, the whole time the Iranian war's been going on. This acquisition will pay off quickly for GE, making it more likely that they can accelerate production. This is also good news, therefore, for Boeing, a huge customer of GE that needs to boost its production speed.
GE is relatively close to its highs, deservedly so. Boeing? Nowhere near its high. Yet the order book is full. Last week, there was this negative article about how Boeing is being hurt by the problem-filled Spirit AeroSystems acquisition. It made that one two years ago. But that actually had to be done because Boeing, like GE Aerospace, needs to get better control of its supply chain. Aha, you say, who needs that kind of problem? Boeing just reported its slowest deliveries in 4 months. I come back and say, wait a second. First, the problems from the Spirit deal are now behind them. You know what? The story is actually old news.
Plus, CEO Kelly Ortberg has made it clear that orders would be lumpy. I knew that. And look, I know the high price of oil, particularly jet fuel, is bad news for the airlines. But the higher price of fuel also makes these new engines and airplanes far more valuable than before. Why? They're way more energy efficient. It's a good situation that has nothing to do with the data center. It does require more, better tech that AI can help with.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) represent two distinct pillars of the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, operating at massive commercial scale. GE Aerospace reported second-quarter revenue of $13.3 billion, up 21% year-over-year, driven by strong commercial engine services and record internal shop visit output. Its total order backlog extends past $210 billion, supported by sustained airline demand for propulsion systems and aftermarket maintenance.
#boeing #chain #consolidated
2 days ago
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Edelman Financial Engines is extending its retirement plan advisory and fiduciary capabilities to the small and mid-sized business market. While the firm has long served business owners through its workplace and wealth businesses, this service focuses on helping smaller business owners offer and manage retirement plans for their employees.
The firm has partnered with ADP for payroll, human capital management and retirement services. Edelman's will provide investment management, 3(38) investment management, plan consulting and personalized financial advice to plan participants. That includes providing one-on-one discretionary advisory services for individual employees.
Employees also gain unlimited access to Edelman's phone-based licensed advisors, who average 10 years of industry tenure, along with on-demand digital planning tools.
"EFE financial wellness and advisory services have been available to employees in eligible workplace retirement plans through the ADP platform since 2018," said Chris Magno, senior vice president and general manager of ADP Retirement Services, in a statement. "The new service expands that relationship by delivering a more comprehensive retirement solution purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses, offered in combination with the full-service recordkeeping, payroll integration and plan administration capabilities of ADP."
#Services #management #wealthmanagement
Edelman Financial Engines is extending its retirement plan advisory and fiduciary capabilities to the small and mid-sized business market. While the firm has long served business owners through its workplace and wealth businesses, this service focuses on helping smaller business owners offer and manage retirement plans for their employees.
The firm has partnered with ADP for payroll, human capital management and retirement services. Edelman's will provide investment management, 3(38) investment management, plan consulting and personalized financial advice to plan participants. That includes providing one-on-one discretionary advisory services for individual employees.
Employees also gain unlimited access to Edelman's phone-based licensed advisors, who average 10 years of industry tenure, along with on-demand digital planning tools.
"EFE financial wellness and advisory services have been available to employees in eligible workplace retirement plans through the ADP platform since 2018," said Chris Magno, senior vice president and general manager of ADP Retirement Services, in a statement. "The new service expands that relationship by delivering a more comprehensive retirement solution purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses, offered in combination with the full-service recordkeeping, payroll integration and plan administration capabilities of ADP."
#Services #management #wealthmanagement
4 days ago
On August 6, Nova (NASDAQ:NVMI) reported second-quarter 2026 results for the three months ended June 30, and the numbers marked a new high point for the semiconductor metrology company. Revenue hit $255.0 million, up 8% from the first quarter of 2026 and 16% higher than the second quarter of 2025. GAAP net income reached $75 million, while non-GAAP net income climbed to $86.5 million. For a company built around measuring the tiniest details in chip manufacturing, the quarter itself was anything but small.
The headline figures tell part of the story, but the breakdown underneath is where the quarter gets interesting. GAAP earnings per diluted share reached $2.20 in the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.04 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.14 a year earlier in the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share went further, hitting $2.51 in the second quarter of 2026 compared with $2.33 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.20 in the second quarter of 2025. That is back-to-back sequential growth on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, not just a single strong quarter against an easy comparison.
Two product lines did the heavy lifting. Nova posted record revenue from its advanced logic devices business, which it tied to the industry's shift toward Gate-All-Around transistor architecture and rising demand for advanced process nodes. Advanced packaging solutions also hit a record, supported by capacity additions across both logic and memory manufacturing. Those are two distinct growth engines firing in the same quarter, which matters more than a single hot product line would.
Management is not treating this as a one-off. For the third quarter of 2026, the period ending September 30, Nova guided to revenue of $277 million to $287 million, GAAP diluted EPS of $2.46 to $2.61, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.85. At the midpoint, that outlook points to another double-digit sequential jump in sales. President and CEO Gaby Waisman framed the quarter as validation of the company's long-term plan, citing broad-based customer demand, continued market share gains, and deeper engagement across leading-edge device segments as the drivers behind what he described as increased visibility into coming quarters.
The results were not clean across every line. Gross margin came in at 56.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 57.7% in the first quarter of 2026 and 57.8% in the second quarter of 2025. That is a decline on both a sequential and year-over-year basis even as revenue set records, which means the mix of what Nova sold this quarter carried lower profitability than what it sold a year ago.
#quarter #gaap
The headline figures tell part of the story, but the breakdown underneath is where the quarter gets interesting. GAAP earnings per diluted share reached $2.20 in the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.04 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.14 a year earlier in the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share went further, hitting $2.51 in the second quarter of 2026 compared with $2.33 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.20 in the second quarter of 2025. That is back-to-back sequential growth on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, not just a single strong quarter against an easy comparison.
Two product lines did the heavy lifting. Nova posted record revenue from its advanced logic devices business, which it tied to the industry's shift toward Gate-All-Around transistor architecture and rising demand for advanced process nodes. Advanced packaging solutions also hit a record, supported by capacity additions across both logic and memory manufacturing. Those are two distinct growth engines firing in the same quarter, which matters more than a single hot product line would.
Management is not treating this as a one-off. For the third quarter of 2026, the period ending September 30, Nova guided to revenue of $277 million to $287 million, GAAP diluted EPS of $2.46 to $2.61, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.85. At the midpoint, that outlook points to another double-digit sequential jump in sales. President and CEO Gaby Waisman framed the quarter as validation of the company's long-term plan, citing broad-based customer demand, continued market share gains, and deeper engagement across leading-edge device segments as the drivers behind what he described as increased visibility into coming quarters.
The results were not clean across every line. Gross margin came in at 56.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 57.7% in the first quarter of 2026 and 57.8% in the second quarter of 2025. That is a decline on both a sequential and year-over-year basis even as revenue set records, which means the mix of what Nova sold this quarter carried lower profitability than what it sold a year ago.
#quarter #gaap
5 days ago
CNBC reported that Chris Churchman, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) partner who leads the bank's Marquee digital platform for institutional clients, warned that AI's spread across Wall Street risks eroding the reasoning skills of the next generation of bankers.
Churchman said on Goldman's internal "Exchanges" podcast, "There's a huge danger here that in the era of AI, we outsource our reasoning to these models, and we have cognitive atrophy that stops us being able to reason from first principles ourselves." He compared it to how GPS and search engines eroded navigation skills and said much of banking's knowledge is learned only "by doing." Churchman said the firm has not yet determined how it will manage the transition.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is surfacing this risk proactively, through its own senior AI leadership, rather than being caught off guard by it later. Having the executive who leads Marquee flag the danger publicly signals internal scrutiny that could help Goldman build safeguards into its AI rollout before problems show up in deal execution. It is an advantage over firms deploying AI without asking the same questions.
The near-term efficiency case for AI remains fully intact regardless of the long-term talent question. CNBC itself framed the tradeoff as a "devil's bargain" that could make the industry more profitable today while potentially eroding the talent it needs for tomorrow. It means Goldman still captures AI's productivity benefits now even as it works out the downstream risk.
Marquee itself is a genuine strategic **** et getting AI investment. The platform, through which hedge funds and other large institutional clients access Goldman's market data, research, **** ytics, and execution tools, is being built out with AI features, which positions it as a differentiated offering for Goldman's most valuable client relationships.
#churchman #marquee #cnbc #sachs
Churchman said on Goldman's internal "Exchanges" podcast, "There's a huge danger here that in the era of AI, we outsource our reasoning to these models, and we have cognitive atrophy that stops us being able to reason from first principles ourselves." He compared it to how GPS and search engines eroded navigation skills and said much of banking's knowledge is learned only "by doing." Churchman said the firm has not yet determined how it will manage the transition.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is surfacing this risk proactively, through its own senior AI leadership, rather than being caught off guard by it later. Having the executive who leads Marquee flag the danger publicly signals internal scrutiny that could help Goldman build safeguards into its AI rollout before problems show up in deal execution. It is an advantage over firms deploying AI without asking the same questions.
The near-term efficiency case for AI remains fully intact regardless of the long-term talent question. CNBC itself framed the tradeoff as a "devil's bargain" that could make the industry more profitable today while potentially eroding the talent it needs for tomorrow. It means Goldman still captures AI's productivity benefits now even as it works out the downstream risk.
Marquee itself is a genuine strategic **** et getting AI investment. The platform, through which hedge funds and other large institutional clients access Goldman's market data, research, **** ytics, and execution tools, is being built out with AI features, which positions it as a differentiated offering for Goldman's most valuable client relationships.
#churchman #marquee #cnbc #sachs
6 days ago
Dorian LPG has agreed an order with South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean for the construction of three 90,000m³ dual-fuel Panamax very large gas carriers (VLGCs) for a total price of around $345m (Won463.5bn).
The three ships are scheduled for delivery in June, September and December 2030.
Each VLGC will be fitted with dual-fuel engines capable of burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or conventional low-sulphur fuels. They will also feature a shaft generator system that allows power to be produced on board during sea passages.
Hull forms and main engines have been designed to take larger-diameter propellers and energy-saving devices around the propellers, which the company said improves overall energy efficiency.
Dorian LPG said the Panamax dimensions give its charterers commercial flexibility to transit the old Panama Canal locks.
#three #fuel #south
The three ships are scheduled for delivery in June, September and December 2030.
Each VLGC will be fitted with dual-fuel engines capable of burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or conventional low-sulphur fuels. They will also feature a shaft generator system that allows power to be produced on board during sea passages.
Hull forms and main engines have been designed to take larger-diameter propellers and energy-saving devices around the propellers, which the company said improves overall energy efficiency.
Dorian LPG said the Panamax dimensions give its charterers commercial flexibility to transit the old Panama Canal locks.
#three #fuel #south
6 days ago
On August 6, Nova (NASDAQ:NVMI) reported second-quarter 2026 results for the three months ended June 30, and the numbers marked a new high point for the semiconductor metrology company. Revenue hit $255.0 million, up 8% from the first quarter of 2026 and 16% higher than the second quarter of 2025. GAAP net income reached $75 million, while non-GAAP net income climbed to $86.5 million. For a company built around measuring the tiniest details in chip manufacturing, the quarter itself was anything but small.
The headline figures tell part of the story, but the breakdown underneath is where the quarter gets interesting. GAAP earnings per diluted share reached $2.20 in the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.04 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.14 a year earlier in the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share went further, hitting $2.51 in the second quarter of 2026 compared with $2.33 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.20 in the second quarter of 2025. That is back-to-back sequential growth on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, not just a single strong quarter against an easy comparison.
Two product lines did the heavy lifting. Nova posted record revenue from its advanced logic devices business, which it tied to the industry's shift toward Gate-All-Around transistor architecture and rising demand for advanced process nodes. Advanced packaging solutions also hit a record, supported by capacity additions across both logic and memory manufacturing. Those are two distinct growth engines firing in the same quarter, which matters more than a single hot product line would.
Management is not treating this as a one-off. For the third quarter of 2026, the period ending September 30, Nova guided to revenue of $277 million to $287 million, GAAP diluted EPS of $2.46 to $2.61, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.85. At the midpoint, that outlook points to another double-digit sequential jump in sales. President and CEO Gaby Waisman framed the quarter as validation of the company's long-term plan, citing broad-based customer demand, continued market share gains, and deeper engagement across leading-edge device segments as the drivers behind what he described as increased visibility into coming quarters.
The results were not clean across every line. Gross margin came in at 56.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 57.7% in the first quarter of 2026 and 57.8% in the second quarter of 2025. That is a decline on both a sequential and year-over-year basis even as revenue set records, which means the mix of what Nova sold this quarter carried lower profitability than what it sold a year ago.
#second #diluted #advanced
The headline figures tell part of the story, but the breakdown underneath is where the quarter gets interesting. GAAP earnings per diluted share reached $2.20 in the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.04 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.14 a year earlier in the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share went further, hitting $2.51 in the second quarter of 2026 compared with $2.33 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.20 in the second quarter of 2025. That is back-to-back sequential growth on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, not just a single strong quarter against an easy comparison.
Two product lines did the heavy lifting. Nova posted record revenue from its advanced logic devices business, which it tied to the industry's shift toward Gate-All-Around transistor architecture and rising demand for advanced process nodes. Advanced packaging solutions also hit a record, supported by capacity additions across both logic and memory manufacturing. Those are two distinct growth engines firing in the same quarter, which matters more than a single hot product line would.
Management is not treating this as a one-off. For the third quarter of 2026, the period ending September 30, Nova guided to revenue of $277 million to $287 million, GAAP diluted EPS of $2.46 to $2.61, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.85. At the midpoint, that outlook points to another double-digit sequential jump in sales. President and CEO Gaby Waisman framed the quarter as validation of the company's long-term plan, citing broad-based customer demand, continued market share gains, and deeper engagement across leading-edge device segments as the drivers behind what he described as increased visibility into coming quarters.
The results were not clean across every line. Gross margin came in at 56.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 57.7% in the first quarter of 2026 and 57.8% in the second quarter of 2025. That is a decline on both a sequential and year-over-year basis even as revenue set records, which means the mix of what Nova sold this quarter carried lower profitability than what it sold a year ago.
#second #diluted #advanced
8 days ago
On August 4, Archrock (NYSE:AROC) posted second-quarter results that told two different stories at once. Revenue slipped to $371.2 million from $383.2 million a year earlier, yet net income climbed to $66.7 million, and earnings per share rose to $0.38. That gap between a shrinking top line and a growing bottom line is the puzzle this quarter leaves investors to sort out.
The clearest bull signal came from a new long-term agreement with an existing strategic customer covering roughly 665,000 horsepower, structured with an eight-year base term and a two-year extension option. That kind of commitment locks in cash flow well into the next decade and reinforces management's multi-year growth capital expenditure guidance of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion **** ulatively from 2027 through 2030. The core contract operations segment backed that confidence with real numbers. Revenue there rose 3% to $329.3 million, and adjusted gross margin improved to 71% from 70%, with period-end utilization at 94.4%.
The balance sheet also moved in the right direction. Archrock's leverage ratio fell to 2.6x as of June 30, down from 3.3x a year earlier, even after the company redeemed its entire $800 million of 6.250% senior notes due 2028 on April 1. The board kept rewarding shareholders through it all, declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share, about 10% higher than a year ago, marking the fifth increase in two years, with coverage still comfortable at 3.1x.
The softer parts of this quarter center on aftermarket services and forward guidance. That segment's revenue fell to $42.0 million from $64.8 million, as last year's non-recurring sales of overhauled engines did not repeat and maintenance demand skipped its usual mid-year seasonal **** p. Total operating horsepower also declined to 4.5 million from 4.7 million, partly from the sale of about 165,000 non-strategic units.
On the guidance front, Archrock tightened its full-year adjusted EBITDA range to $865 million to $885 million, down from a prior range of $865 million to $915 million, pointing to lube oil cost pressure, higher make-ready spending to reactivate idle equipment, and increased SG&A tied to stock-based incentive compensation. Adjusted net income actually dipped to $66.5 million and adjusted EPS to $0.38, both slightly below last year's $68.4 million and $0.39. Long-term debt still sits at $2.3 billion, and Archrock did not repurchase any shares during the quarter, leaving $113.2 million of buyback capacity untouched.
#million
The clearest bull signal came from a new long-term agreement with an existing strategic customer covering roughly 665,000 horsepower, structured with an eight-year base term and a two-year extension option. That kind of commitment locks in cash flow well into the next decade and reinforces management's multi-year growth capital expenditure guidance of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion **** ulatively from 2027 through 2030. The core contract operations segment backed that confidence with real numbers. Revenue there rose 3% to $329.3 million, and adjusted gross margin improved to 71% from 70%, with period-end utilization at 94.4%.
The balance sheet also moved in the right direction. Archrock's leverage ratio fell to 2.6x as of June 30, down from 3.3x a year earlier, even after the company redeemed its entire $800 million of 6.250% senior notes due 2028 on April 1. The board kept rewarding shareholders through it all, declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share, about 10% higher than a year ago, marking the fifth increase in two years, with coverage still comfortable at 3.1x.
The softer parts of this quarter center on aftermarket services and forward guidance. That segment's revenue fell to $42.0 million from $64.8 million, as last year's non-recurring sales of overhauled engines did not repeat and maintenance demand skipped its usual mid-year seasonal **** p. Total operating horsepower also declined to 4.5 million from 4.7 million, partly from the sale of about 165,000 non-strategic units.
On the guidance front, Archrock tightened its full-year adjusted EBITDA range to $865 million to $885 million, down from a prior range of $865 million to $915 million, pointing to lube oil cost pressure, higher make-ready spending to reactivate idle equipment, and increased SG&A tied to stock-based incentive compensation. Adjusted net income actually dipped to $66.5 million and adjusted EPS to $0.38, both slightly below last year's $68.4 million and $0.39. Long-term debt still sits at $2.3 billion, and Archrock did not repurchase any shares during the quarter, leaving $113.2 million of buyback capacity untouched.
#million
9 days ago
During the August 31 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer examined the sharp rotation back into enterprise software following the forced unwinding of bearish hedge fund positions. Mentioning Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) and Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) as examples of sector leaders, he commented:
Situational Awareness just despised enterprise software and Veeva Systems, number three, up 40%, is enterprise software writ large for the healthcare industry. I think it's bounced back in conjunction with all the other enterprise software companies that Situational Awareness believed would be destroyed by AI that haven't been. Once that hedge fund blew up, the whole group came roaring back as Situational was no longer there to put pressure on them. Hey, Salesforce had a similar rally, up nearly 40%. Now, here's one that openly took on the short sellers first with rhetoric and then with numbers which have not been hurt at all by… the SaaS-pocalypse. His blowout quarter obliterated the shorts. I don't think they still know what hit them.
For months, bearish macro funds aggressively shorted enterprise software providers, on the belief that emerging artificial intelligence platforms would easily replicate proprietary workflows and trigger severe pricing compression.
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) and Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) proved the exact opposite. Salesforce showed that autonomous enterprise features act as expansion engines. Similarly, Veeva Systems, which powers critical clinical and commercial operations for the heavily regulated life sciences sector, integrated advanced data capabilities directly into its platform. Rather than cannibalizing software licenses, artificial intelligence features reinforced the massive switching costs embedded in both platforms.
Despite solid execution, market skeptics continue to scrutinize the growth limits and valuation multiples of both companies. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) trades at a forward P/E of 19x, showing market hesitation over macroeconomic budget tightening and the necessity for the company to rapidly monetize its heavy artificial intelligence investments.
#salesforce #situational #artificial #intelligence
Situational Awareness just despised enterprise software and Veeva Systems, number three, up 40%, is enterprise software writ large for the healthcare industry. I think it's bounced back in conjunction with all the other enterprise software companies that Situational Awareness believed would be destroyed by AI that haven't been. Once that hedge fund blew up, the whole group came roaring back as Situational was no longer there to put pressure on them. Hey, Salesforce had a similar rally, up nearly 40%. Now, here's one that openly took on the short sellers first with rhetoric and then with numbers which have not been hurt at all by… the SaaS-pocalypse. His blowout quarter obliterated the shorts. I don't think they still know what hit them.
For months, bearish macro funds aggressively shorted enterprise software providers, on the belief that emerging artificial intelligence platforms would easily replicate proprietary workflows and trigger severe pricing compression.
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) and Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) proved the exact opposite. Salesforce showed that autonomous enterprise features act as expansion engines. Similarly, Veeva Systems, which powers critical clinical and commercial operations for the heavily regulated life sciences sector, integrated advanced data capabilities directly into its platform. Rather than cannibalizing software licenses, artificial intelligence features reinforced the massive switching costs embedded in both platforms.
Despite solid execution, market skeptics continue to scrutinize the growth limits and valuation multiples of both companies. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) trades at a forward P/E of 19x, showing market hesitation over macroeconomic budget tightening and the necessity for the company to rapidly monetize its heavy artificial intelligence investments.
#salesforce #situational #artificial #intelligence
9 days ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Global Opportunity Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 26.7% (Institutional Shares), exceeding a 14.9% gain for the MSCI ACWI Index (the Index), and a 19.8% gain for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. YTD, the Fund is up 20.6% compared to gains of 11.3% and 10.6% for the benchmarks, respectively. In mid-2026, market patterns show similarities to the previous year, following three years of over 25% gains driven by a healthy economy and AI investments. Elevated geopolitical risks persisted, with a pullback likely. A tariff-related market dip was followed by a recovery, reflecting a growing market indifference to geopolitical uncertainties. Similarly, airstrikes against Iran and subsequent tension led to an initial market sell-off, yet a lull in hostilities led to a strong market rally. The Fund noted significant outperformance, credited to stock selection and sector allocation, with 1,173bps of overall outperformance relative to the Index. It excelled in developed markets while underperforming in emerging markets, particularly due to a spectacular rise in Korea. The Fund remains optimistic about its investments and seeks attractive opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Global Opportunity Fund highlighted DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) as a new addition. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) manufacturers engine products, including complex precision cast components and nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys for aerospace, industrial gas turbine and transportation industries. On September 1, 2026, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) closed at $41.48 per share. Over the past month, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) declined 20.69%. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion.
Baron Global Opportunity Fund stated the following regarding DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
We also initiated a new position in DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC), a leading manufacturer of precision-cast superalloy components – the turbine blades, vanes, and structural castings that must perform under very harsh operating conditions including very high temperatures (1000c) and high pressure. These parts go into both commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines (IGT) that generate electricity. The company occupies a hard-to-replicate market positioning as a critical supplier of the inner parts of an engine that only a handful of qualified manufacturers in the world are capable of producing.
Since the company began its turnaround in 2020 after over a decade under poor ownership, with the leadership of CEO Mike Quinn, who spent over a decade at Precision Castparts, and Co Chairperson of the Board Dirkson Charles, who built and currently is CEO of aerospace and defense proprietary parts provider
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Global Opportunity Fund highlighted DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) as a new addition. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) manufacturers engine products, including complex precision cast components and nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys for aerospace, industrial gas turbine and transportation industries. On September 1, 2026, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) closed at $41.48 per share. Over the past month, DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) declined 20.69%. DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion.
Baron Global Opportunity Fund stated the following regarding DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
We also initiated a new position in DPC Holdings PLC (NYSE:DPC), a leading manufacturer of precision-cast superalloy components – the turbine blades, vanes, and structural castings that must perform under very harsh operating conditions including very high temperatures (1000c) and high pressure. These parts go into both commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines (IGT) that generate electricity. The company occupies a hard-to-replicate market positioning as a critical supplier of the inner parts of an engine that only a handful of qualified manufacturers in the world are capable of producing.
Since the company began its turnaround in 2020 after over a decade under poor ownership, with the leadership of CEO Mike Quinn, who spent over a decade at Precision Castparts, and Co Chairperson of the Board Dirkson Charles, who built and currently is CEO of aerospace and defense proprietary parts provider
11 days ago
Valued at a market cap of $355.4 billion, GE Aerospace (GE) is a global leader in aerospace propulsion, services, and systems, supporting commercial and military aviation worldwide. With a large installed base of aircraft engines and a global workforce, the company builds on more than a century of innovation and industry expertise.
Companies worth more than $10 billion are generally described as "large-cap" stocks, and GE Aerospace fits this criterion perfectly. GE Aerospace is focused on advancing the future of flight while improving safety, performance, and reliability.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket
#large
Companies worth more than $10 billion are generally described as "large-cap" stocks, and GE Aerospace fits this criterion perfectly. GE Aerospace is focused on advancing the future of flight while improving safety, performance, and reliability.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket
#large
11 days ago
Irving, Texas-based Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in the United States and internationally. The company has a market capitalization of $367.9 billion and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of the said equipment.
Companies with a market cap of $200 billion or more are typically referred to as "mega-cap stocks." CAT fits perfectly into that category, with its market cap exceeding this threshold and reflecting its substantial size and influence in the farm and heavy construction machinery industry.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket
Tesla Stock Could Benefit as Trump Locks Down the U.S. Power Grid
#Stock #construction #Diesel #billion
Companies with a market cap of $200 billion or more are typically referred to as "mega-cap stocks." CAT fits perfectly into that category, with its market cap exceeding this threshold and reflecting its substantial size and influence in the farm and heavy construction machinery industry.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket
Tesla Stock Could Benefit as Trump Locks Down the U.S. Power Grid
#Stock #construction #Diesel #billion
11 days ago
POET (NASDAQ: POET) secured a $50 million Lumilens purchase order, and our model sees 137% upside to a $17.74 BUY price target.
Lumentum (LITE) generates $1 billion quarterly on the same optical tailwind; Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) proves hyperscale-qualified 800G suppliers command premium multiples.
POET holds $796 million in cash to fund its Malaysia production ramp, but four of its last five earnings reports missed estimates.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Poet Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
POET Technologies (NASDAQ:POET) is a small-cap photonics designer building optical engines for 400G, 800G, and 1.6T data center interconnects, the plumbing hyperscalers need to move AI traffic without melting their power budgets. With a fresh $50 million purchase order from Lumilens in hand, our proprietary model sees room for a sharp re-rating.
#order
Lumentum (LITE) generates $1 billion quarterly on the same optical tailwind; Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) proves hyperscale-qualified 800G suppliers command premium multiples.
POET holds $796 million in cash to fund its Malaysia production ramp, but four of its last five earnings reports missed estimates.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Poet Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
POET Technologies (NASDAQ:POET) is a small-cap photonics designer building optical engines for 400G, 800G, and 1.6T data center interconnects, the plumbing hyperscalers need to move AI traffic without melting their power budgets. With a fresh $50 million purchase order from Lumilens in hand, our proprietary model sees room for a sharp re-rating.
#order
12 days ago
The wait for a large gas turbine now runs longer than the time it takes to design, permit, and build the plant it will sit in. Order one today from any of the three largest manufacturers, and the delivery slot lands four or more years out—if a slot is available at all. The queue to connect a new plant to the grid runs about as long. For developers racing to power the data centers hyperscalers are building, the timeline no longer works, and it is pushing the U.S. generation build toward whatever can be constructed without waiting in either line.That dislocation is the backdrop to a quieter story about where capital is moving, and it surfaced in July when a familiar U.S. plant operator changed hands. IHI Power Services Corp., a company with roughly four decades of experience running American power plants, became Kyuden Energy Partners Corp. on completion of its acquisition by Kyuden International Corp., the overseas arm of a company fully owned by **** an's Kyushu Electric Power Co. The rebrand is the news of the day. The more instructive part is what a foreign utility chose to buy: not power plants, but the capability to run them.
Tony Dabbene, who led IHI Power Services through the transition and stays on as CEO, was blunt about the market. "We are seeing the most dynamic environment in decades," he told POWER, pointing to demand tied to the hyperscalers' data center buildout. Major gas turbine manufacturers, he said, are quoting lead times of four-plus years, with interconnection queues running about the same. The manufacturers' own disclosures bear that out: GE Vernova's gas turbine backlog and slot reservations reached 116 GW by mid-2026, and Siemens Energy has described itself as booked into the back half of the decade, treating 2029 delivery slots as near-term availability.What Dabbene described next was the market's response. Rather than wait for an interconnection that may not clear before mid-decade, developers are building behind the meter and on private grids that sidestep the queue entirely. To power them, they're reaching for whatever can be deployed the fastest: reciprocating engines, fuel cells, and battery storage paired with microgrids, engineered to achieve the high-availability targets that around-the-clock computing demands while managing the power-quality swings that come when those loads shift in an instant. "It is a brand-new world in the energy **** e," he said.This is where a multi-fuel operator has the edge. A company that already runs natural gas, hydro, biomass, wind, solar, and storage has done the work developers are now rushing toward—operating mixed generation and meeting high availability targets. The turbine shortage may be a headache for those building facilities, but it's an opportunity for reliable operators.
#corp #runs #plant #four
Tony Dabbene, who led IHI Power Services through the transition and stays on as CEO, was blunt about the market. "We are seeing the most dynamic environment in decades," he told POWER, pointing to demand tied to the hyperscalers' data center buildout. Major gas turbine manufacturers, he said, are quoting lead times of four-plus years, with interconnection queues running about the same. The manufacturers' own disclosures bear that out: GE Vernova's gas turbine backlog and slot reservations reached 116 GW by mid-2026, and Siemens Energy has described itself as booked into the back half of the decade, treating 2029 delivery slots as near-term availability.What Dabbene described next was the market's response. Rather than wait for an interconnection that may not clear before mid-decade, developers are building behind the meter and on private grids that sidestep the queue entirely. To power them, they're reaching for whatever can be deployed the fastest: reciprocating engines, fuel cells, and battery storage paired with microgrids, engineered to achieve the high-availability targets that around-the-clock computing demands while managing the power-quality swings that come when those loads shift in an instant. "It is a brand-new world in the energy **** e," he said.This is where a multi-fuel operator has the edge. A company that already runs natural gas, hydro, biomass, wind, solar, and storage has done the work developers are now rushing toward—operating mixed generation and meeting high availability targets. The turbine shortage may be a headache for those building facilities, but it's an opportunity for reliable operators.
#corp #runs #plant #four
12 days ago
Gentlemen from Connecticut, start your engines. The Nutmeg State just doubled its chances in "The Chase."
Berlin native Ryan Preece, with an overtime victory Saturday night at Daytona in the ***** e Zero Sugar 400, the final regular-season race in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the 16th and final berth in the postseason.
Preece will join Middletown native and former Cup champion Joey Logano in the 16-driver playoff series, which opens Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
On Saturday night at Daytona, Preece triumphed at a track at which he knew mostly trauma. He twice flipped cars at NASCAR's iconic home track, last year during the Daytona 500 and in 2023 at the ***** e Zero Sugar 400.
This time around, Preece dodged mayhem on the final lap when leader Zane Smith got ***** ped and spun into other cars. Preece safely navigated his No. 60 car to the front and took the checkered flag under caution.
#daytona #series #night
Berlin native Ryan Preece, with an overtime victory Saturday night at Daytona in the ***** e Zero Sugar 400, the final regular-season race in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the 16th and final berth in the postseason.
Preece will join Middletown native and former Cup champion Joey Logano in the 16-driver playoff series, which opens Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
On Saturday night at Daytona, Preece triumphed at a track at which he knew mostly trauma. He twice flipped cars at NASCAR's iconic home track, last year during the Daytona 500 and in 2023 at the ***** e Zero Sugar 400.
This time around, Preece dodged mayhem on the final lap when leader Zane Smith got ***** ped and spun into other cars. Preece safely navigated his No. 60 car to the front and took the checkered flag under caution.
#daytona #series #night
15 days ago
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)'s ABC filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on August 18, 2026, calling the agency's investigation into the network a "retaliatory campaign." A federal judge rejected Disney's request for an urgent hearing on August 20, 2026, setting a filing deadline of September 24 and a hearing in early October instead.
This fight has become a real test of broadcasters' free speech rights, playing out as President Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its licenses over programming he dislikes.
Can Disney actually win a First Amendment case against its own federal regulator, or does fighting the FCC risk making its licensing problems worse?
The FCC has already agreed to give The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) at least 48 hours' notice before referring ABC's licenses for a hearing, a procedural concession that removes the risk of a sudden license action. Commissioner Anna Gomez has publicly sided with ABC, giving Disney a sympathetic voice inside the regulator. The lawsuit leans on a unanimous 2024 Supreme Court precedent limiting government pressure on private speech.
On fundamentals, Disney enters this fight strong: companywide revenue grew 7% to $25.2 billion in fiscal Q3, and segment operating income rose 21% to $5.6 billion, ahead of guidance. Disney Experiences hit a record $9.97 billion, up 10%, while streaming reached a 13% SVOD margin and stays on track for double digits this year. That combination means ABC's legal exposure sits inside a company whose two biggest growth engines are firing together. A win would set a precedent limiting political pressure on Disney's other broadcast **** ets.
#company #NYSE
This fight has become a real test of broadcasters' free speech rights, playing out as President Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its licenses over programming he dislikes.
Can Disney actually win a First Amendment case against its own federal regulator, or does fighting the FCC risk making its licensing problems worse?
The FCC has already agreed to give The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) at least 48 hours' notice before referring ABC's licenses for a hearing, a procedural concession that removes the risk of a sudden license action. Commissioner Anna Gomez has publicly sided with ABC, giving Disney a sympathetic voice inside the regulator. The lawsuit leans on a unanimous 2024 Supreme Court precedent limiting government pressure on private speech.
On fundamentals, Disney enters this fight strong: companywide revenue grew 7% to $25.2 billion in fiscal Q3, and segment operating income rose 21% to $5.6 billion, ahead of guidance. Disney Experiences hit a record $9.97 billion, up 10%, while streaming reached a 13% SVOD margin and stays on track for double digits this year. That combination means ABC's legal exposure sits inside a company whose two biggest growth engines are firing together. A win would set a precedent limiting political pressure on Disney's other broadcast **** ets.
#company #NYSE
16 days ago
The Brooklyn Nets are about one month away from their training camp that will prepare them for a 2026-27 season that they hope will be better to watch than the previous campaign. Heading into the 2026 NBA offseason, Brooklyn made various moves to improve the roster, including trading for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle to bolster the starting lineup.
Now that the Nets are done with the 2026 NBA Draft, summer league circuit, and free-agency, the focus now is making sure everyone is ready to put their best foot forward next season. Randle will be joining sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. as the main offensive engines while being flanked by young guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin along with center Day'Ron Sharpe.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez and general manager Sean Marks are heading into the third year of their partnership and both are likely hoping for more wins and more development for the youngest players on the team. This article will be a crossover between Nets Wire and Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire to discuss the Nets and how they stack up against the Philadelphia 76ers:
Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire: That should be the goal for next season given that the Nets won't have their pick for next year, but the Eastern Conference has gotten better as a whole this summer. It's entirely possible that Brooklyn wins more games next season than they did this past season and still finish the year as one of the worst teams in the league. There is too much talent and experience in the Eastern Conference.
Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire: I think it's fair to see the Nets be a bit more competitive in the coming season. They've won 20 and 26 games in the previous two seasons, respectively, and it's time for this franchise to take another step forward. The front office has gathered some nice, young pieces, and it will be on coach Jordi Fernandez and the veterans to help them grow, but Brooklyn has to take a step forward at some point, and this year feels like that year.
#next
Now that the Nets are done with the 2026 NBA Draft, summer league circuit, and free-agency, the focus now is making sure everyone is ready to put their best foot forward next season. Randle will be joining sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. as the main offensive engines while being flanked by young guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin along with center Day'Ron Sharpe.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez and general manager Sean Marks are heading into the third year of their partnership and both are likely hoping for more wins and more development for the youngest players on the team. This article will be a crossover between Nets Wire and Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire to discuss the Nets and how they stack up against the Philadelphia 76ers:
Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire: That should be the goal for next season given that the Nets won't have their pick for next year, but the Eastern Conference has gotten better as a whole this summer. It's entirely possible that Brooklyn wins more games next season than they did this past season and still finish the year as one of the worst teams in the league. There is too much talent and experience in the Eastern Conference.
Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire: I think it's fair to see the Nets be a bit more competitive in the coming season. They've won 20 and 26 games in the previous two seasons, respectively, and it's time for this franchise to take another step forward. The front office has gathered some nice, young pieces, and it will be on coach Jordi Fernandez and the veterans to help them grow, but Brooklyn has to take a step forward at some point, and this year feels like that year.
#next
17 days ago
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) jumped 12.6% to a record $152.20 on August 19 after a pivotal melanoma trial validated intismeran autogene, the individualized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Moderna. In the 1,137-patient Phase 3 INTerpath-001 study, intismeran plus Keytruda produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival compared with Keytruda alone. No new safety concerns emerged. Investors are now asking whether intismeran can turn Keytruda from a drug approaching a patent cliff into the foundation of a personalized-cancer platform.
That distinction matters because Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) generated $31.68 billion from Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex in 2025, nearly half of the company's sales. In the U.S., biosimilar competition could begin after Keytruda's primary compound patent expires in December 2028, although biosimilars have already entered some smaller international markets. A successful combination could support continued use of the franchise without removing the need for other growth engines.
The bullish case for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is that intismeran adds a personalized immune response to a checkpoint inhibitor already embedded across oncology. The treatment is designed from the unique mutations in each patient's tumor and encodes as many as 34 neoantigens, training the immune system to recognize tumor cells while Keytruda removes a brake on the immune response.
Earlier Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death at five years. Phase 3 confirmation makes the approach more credible for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) beyond melanoma. The company is also studying intismeran combinations in non-small cell lung, bladder and renal-cell cancers. Success across several tumor types could create a portfolio of Keytruda combinations rather than a single indication.
That would give Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) another lifecycle-management tool alongside Keytruda Qlex and newer oncology ***** ets. It also strengthens the argument that Keytruda can remain commercially relevant after standalone pembrolizumab faces lower-priced competition.
#NYSE #tumor #cancer
That distinction matters because Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) generated $31.68 billion from Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex in 2025, nearly half of the company's sales. In the U.S., biosimilar competition could begin after Keytruda's primary compound patent expires in December 2028, although biosimilars have already entered some smaller international markets. A successful combination could support continued use of the franchise without removing the need for other growth engines.
The bullish case for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is that intismeran adds a personalized immune response to a checkpoint inhibitor already embedded across oncology. The treatment is designed from the unique mutations in each patient's tumor and encodes as many as 34 neoantigens, training the immune system to recognize tumor cells while Keytruda removes a brake on the immune response.
Earlier Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death and a 59% reduction in distant metastasis or death at five years. Phase 3 confirmation makes the approach more credible for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) beyond melanoma. The company is also studying intismeran combinations in non-small cell lung, bladder and renal-cell cancers. Success across several tumor types could create a portfolio of Keytruda combinations rather than a single indication.
That would give Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) another lifecycle-management tool alongside Keytruda Qlex and newer oncology ***** ets. It also strengthens the argument that Keytruda can remain commercially relevant after standalone pembrolizumab faces lower-priced competition.
#NYSE #tumor #cancer
18 days ago
This story was originally published on FSR. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily FS Insider.
I grew up in a small business. My parents ran one, and I learned the business the way most independent owners do, from the inside, on my feet, watching the money and the mistakes up close.
I notice something whenever the subject of chains comes up with independent owners. There seem to be two main reflexes, both can lead to problems. Some wave the chains off entirely. They look at chains like they're a world apart, with different rules, and nothing to learn from a place that ships their sauce from their own warehouses. On the reverse side, there are owners who quietly envy the whole machine and start attempting to bolt pieces of it onto a twelve-table dining room. Both of these directions can be costly mistakes.
The owners who get ahead in the cutthroat business of restauranteering have made peace with a more useful idea. Chains are worth studying, but only if you know what you are trying to learn. National chains are engines built to reproduce the same experience across thousands of locations run by franchise owners who will never meet each other. Almost everything impressive about chain restaurants, and almost everything "soulless" about them, comes back to that single design goal.
Once you see it, studying them gets easier. Some will strengthen your restaurant. Others will slowly turn it into a worse version of the place down the street. Here is how I sort them.
#almost #mistakes #learn #place
I grew up in a small business. My parents ran one, and I learned the business the way most independent owners do, from the inside, on my feet, watching the money and the mistakes up close.
I notice something whenever the subject of chains comes up with independent owners. There seem to be two main reflexes, both can lead to problems. Some wave the chains off entirely. They look at chains like they're a world apart, with different rules, and nothing to learn from a place that ships their sauce from their own warehouses. On the reverse side, there are owners who quietly envy the whole machine and start attempting to bolt pieces of it onto a twelve-table dining room. Both of these directions can be costly mistakes.
The owners who get ahead in the cutthroat business of restauranteering have made peace with a more useful idea. Chains are worth studying, but only if you know what you are trying to learn. National chains are engines built to reproduce the same experience across thousands of locations run by franchise owners who will never meet each other. Almost everything impressive about chain restaurants, and almost everything "soulless" about them, comes back to that single design goal.
Once you see it, studying them gets easier. Some will strengthen your restaurant. Others will slowly turn it into a worse version of the place down the street. Here is how I sort them.
#almost #mistakes #learn #place
18 days ago
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Madison Large Cap Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, U.S. stock market indices achieved their best performance since 2020, driven largely by a narrow group of Artificial Intelligence-related stocks. As in the pandemic's early days, investors are fixated on who will benefit from AI, reminiscent of the late 1990s internet bubble. Against this backdrop, The Madison Large Cap Fund (class I) returned 8.4% in the second quarter of 2026, compared to a 15.2% increase in the S&P 500 Index. The current market's extreme narrowness is concerning, and history suggests this won't persist. While AI is reshaping society and the economy, today's winners may not remain so, and booms could lead to busts. Additionally, factors such as a volatile federal administration, growing budget deficits, inflation, high interest rates, and strained consumer finances will significantly impact the economy and stock market in the future. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) as a new holding. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA), spun off from Honeywell International in June 2026, manufactures and supplies aircraft components, avionics, engines, and systems. On August 21, 2026, Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) closed at $164.73 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $52.21 billion. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) posted a one‑month return of ‑21.87%.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is a leading aerospace and defense supplier, supporting OEM, government, and aircraft operator customers. The company's products sit on a wide variety of aerospace programs with approximately 90% of in-service aircraft today having Honeywell Aerospace content. The separation from Honeywell International should enhance an already high-quality business as management compensation and capital allocation will be better tailored to the specific needs of the business. We believe the combination of attractive growth outlook, improved incentives, and optimized capital allocation is underappreciated."
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the potential of Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) 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.
#large #letter #stocks
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) as a new holding. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA), spun off from Honeywell International in June 2026, manufactures and supplies aircraft components, avionics, engines, and systems. On August 21, 2026, Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) closed at $164.73 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $52.21 billion. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) posted a one‑month return of ‑21.87%.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is a leading aerospace and defense supplier, supporting OEM, government, and aircraft operator customers. The company's products sit on a wide variety of aerospace programs with approximately 90% of in-service aircraft today having Honeywell Aerospace content. The separation from Honeywell International should enhance an already high-quality business as management compensation and capital allocation will be better tailored to the specific needs of the business. We believe the combination of attractive growth outlook, improved incentives, and optimized capital allocation is underappreciated."
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the potential of Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) 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.
#large #letter #stocks
18 days ago
This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter.
Ryan Gwillim spent the first seven years of his career practicing law, work he said he loved, before a series of roles at Brunswick Corporation eventually put him in the CFO seat.
Gwillim joined Brunswick's legal department in 2011 and worked his way through corporate securities and M&A roles before moving into investor relations in 2017. He became treasurer two years later and CFO in 2020. Brunswick added chief strategy officer to his ******* le in 2024.
Today, he oversees finance for the $5 billion marine business whose portfolio includes prominent boat brands like Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Lund, and Harris, along with Mercury Marine engines and Freedom Boat Club (Brunswick's subscription boat service). The company's footprint also extends to advanced marine technology brands like Lowrance and Simrad.
Brunswick's history is equally notable; founded in 1845 as a carriage maker, it successfully evolved from a traditional billiards and bowling giant into the world's largest manufacturer of recreational boats and marine engines.
#daily
Ryan Gwillim spent the first seven years of his career practicing law, work he said he loved, before a series of roles at Brunswick Corporation eventually put him in the CFO seat.
Gwillim joined Brunswick's legal department in 2011 and worked his way through corporate securities and M&A roles before moving into investor relations in 2017. He became treasurer two years later and CFO in 2020. Brunswick added chief strategy officer to his ******* le in 2024.
Today, he oversees finance for the $5 billion marine business whose portfolio includes prominent boat brands like Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Lund, and Harris, along with Mercury Marine engines and Freedom Boat Club (Brunswick's subscription boat service). The company's footprint also extends to advanced marine technology brands like Lowrance and Simrad.
Brunswick's history is equally notable; founded in 1845 as a carriage maker, it successfully evolved from a traditional billiards and bowling giant into the world's largest manufacturer of recreational boats and marine engines.
#daily
20 days ago
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Madison Large Cap Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, U.S. stock market indices achieved their best performance since 2020, driven largely by a narrow group of Artificial Intelligence-related stocks. As in the pandemic's early days, investors are fixated on who will benefit from AI, reminiscent of the late 1990s internet bubble. Against this backdrop, The Madison Large Cap Fund (class I) returned 8.4% in the second quarter of 2026, compared to a 15.2% increase in the S&P 500 Index. The current market's extreme narrowness is concerning, and history suggests this won't persist. While AI is reshaping society and the economy, today's winners may not remain so, and booms could lead to busts. Additionally, factors such as a volatile federal administration, growing budget deficits, inflation, high interest rates, and strained consumer finances will significantly impact the economy and stock market in the future. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) as a new holding. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA), spun off from Honeywell International in June 2026, manufactures and supplies aircraft components, avionics, engines, and systems. On August 21, 2026, Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) closed at $164.73 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $52.21 billion. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) posted a one‑month return of ‑21.87%.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is a leading aerospace and defense supplier, supporting OEM, government, and aircraft operator customers. The company's products sit on a wide variety of aerospace programs with approximately 90% of in-service aircraft today having Honeywell Aerospace content. The separation from Honeywell International should enhance an already high-quality business as management compensation and capital allocation will be better tailored to the specific needs of the business. We believe the combination of attractive growth outlook, improved incentives, and optimized capital allocation is underappreciated."
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the potential of Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) 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.
#honeywell #fund
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) as a new holding. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA), spun off from Honeywell International in June 2026, manufactures and supplies aircraft components, avionics, engines, and systems. On August 21, 2026, Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) closed at $164.73 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $52.21 billion. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) posted a one‑month return of ‑21.87%.
Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is a leading aerospace and defense supplier, supporting OEM, government, and aircraft operator customers. The company's products sit on a wide variety of aerospace programs with approximately 90% of in-service aircraft today having Honeywell Aerospace content. The separation from Honeywell International should enhance an already high-quality business as management compensation and capital allocation will be better tailored to the specific needs of the business. We believe the combination of attractive growth outlook, improved incentives, and optimized capital allocation is underappreciated."
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the potential of Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) 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.
#honeywell #fund
20 days ago
Indycar takes to the streets around Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
First things first. I am a car enthusiast, a motor racing fan and an active race competitor, having competed in the Nurburgring 24-hours in Germany and countless other domestic races in ****** an over the last 25 years. I've also been to watch numerous F1 races, the 24-Hours of Le Mans, the Indy 500, World Rally Championship events in the middle of nowhere, and even street F1 races from Monaco to Melbourne. So yes, I love cars and racing. But what President Trump did last weekend by staging his Freedom 250 IndyCar Grand Prix race in Washington DC was, well, let's just call it excessive, disruptive, inappropriate and tone-deaf.
Over the weekend, the distinct, ear-splitting whine of 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines echoed off the marble facades of federal buildings as IndyCar made its highly controversial debut on the streets of the nation's capital.
The event, billed as the "Washington Grand Prix," saw open-wheel Indy race cars speeding at over 150 mph down Pennsylvania Avenue, transforming the historic corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the White House into a 1.7-mile long temporary, high-octane racetrack. The narrow, angular cars blasted past the US Capitol, made sharp turns around the National Archives, and pass the Smithsonian Air and ****** e Museum for a total of 147 laps, a number which equals a race distance of 250-miles. Yes, you guessed it. That 250 number had to relate to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
Penske Corporation CEO Roger Penske (R) and IndyCar series champion Alex Palou (L) presents U.S. President Donald Trump (C) with a race helmet during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
#washington #grand #races #images
First things first. I am a car enthusiast, a motor racing fan and an active race competitor, having competed in the Nurburgring 24-hours in Germany and countless other domestic races in ****** an over the last 25 years. I've also been to watch numerous F1 races, the 24-Hours of Le Mans, the Indy 500, World Rally Championship events in the middle of nowhere, and even street F1 races from Monaco to Melbourne. So yes, I love cars and racing. But what President Trump did last weekend by staging his Freedom 250 IndyCar Grand Prix race in Washington DC was, well, let's just call it excessive, disruptive, inappropriate and tone-deaf.
Over the weekend, the distinct, ear-splitting whine of 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines echoed off the marble facades of federal buildings as IndyCar made its highly controversial debut on the streets of the nation's capital.
The event, billed as the "Washington Grand Prix," saw open-wheel Indy race cars speeding at over 150 mph down Pennsylvania Avenue, transforming the historic corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the White House into a 1.7-mile long temporary, high-octane racetrack. The narrow, angular cars blasted past the US Capitol, made sharp turns around the National Archives, and pass the Smithsonian Air and ****** e Museum for a total of 147 laps, a number which equals a race distance of 250-miles. Yes, you guessed it. That 250 number had to relate to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
Penske Corporation CEO Roger Penske (R) and IndyCar series champion Alex Palou (L) presents U.S. President Donald Trump (C) with a race helmet during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
#washington #grand #races #images
23 days ago
On August 13, Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) used its second-quarter earnings call to announce a fourth floating LNG unit, an order signed just hours before the call began. The Mark II vessel will be built at CIMC Raffles Shipyard in China and delivered within 2029, making it the earliest available liquefaction capacity anywhere in the world. Combined with an EBITDA backlog of $17 billion already locked in through Hilli, Gimi, and the FLNG Esperanza, the announcement reframes Golar as a company still adding capacity rather than one just running out its existing fleet.
The new order lifts Golar's controlled liquefaction capacity by 41%, from 8.6 million tonnes to more than 12 million tonnes once fully delivered. Management said that if the unit is chartered on terms similar to last year's Esperanza deal, annual earnings capacity could rise 50%, pushing run-rate EBITDA past $1.2 billion by 2030. That confidence rests on a shipyard bottleneck.
Samsung, the industry's biggest builder, isn't expected to have open capacity until 2031, and Wison in China is on track to book its next two large units, leaving it committed well into the next decade. Seatrium and CIMC, the only two yards actively converting FLNG units right now, have built exclusively for Golar. The operating record backs up the growth pitch. Hilli finished its eight-year Cameroon contract with 100% economic uptime and 156 cargoes delivered, Gimi produced 15% above its contracted volume in the quarter, and the Esperanza conversion is 74% complete and still on budget. Commodity-linked income is already showing up in the numbers: Hilli's contribution jumped to $37 million in the quarter from $10 million in the first quarter, helping push EBITDA up 20% sequentially to $127 million.
Growth at this pace isn't free. The CapEx budget for the fourth FLNG unit came in around $2.45 billion, roughly 10% above the $2.2 billion spent on Esperanza, a jump management tied to inflation in long-lead equipment like turbines and dual-fuel engines, parts now being bid up by AI data center and aircraft manufacturers too. That new unit also has no charter yet, so the 50% earnings boost management is pointing to is a target, not a locked-in number.
Meanwhile, Golar is still equity funding Esperanza, having put in $1.3 billion of its $2.2 billion budget, while carrying net interest-bearing debt of about $1.8 billion. Executives are counting on refinancing Hilli and locking in long-term financing for Esperanza to free up roughly $2.3 billion in liquidity, transactions that are still in progress rather than done. The commodity exposure that flatters earnings when LNG prices are high works the same way in reverse. Management's own sensitivity table shows EBITDA falling back toward $1.2 billion if prices settle near $8 per million BTU, well below the $1.9 billion implied by today's $15 forward price. And the disruption at Qatar's Ras Laffan facility, which knocked out an estimated 17 million tonnes of capacity for three
The new order lifts Golar's controlled liquefaction capacity by 41%, from 8.6 million tonnes to more than 12 million tonnes once fully delivered. Management said that if the unit is chartered on terms similar to last year's Esperanza deal, annual earnings capacity could rise 50%, pushing run-rate EBITDA past $1.2 billion by 2030. That confidence rests on a shipyard bottleneck.
Samsung, the industry's biggest builder, isn't expected to have open capacity until 2031, and Wison in China is on track to book its next two large units, leaving it committed well into the next decade. Seatrium and CIMC, the only two yards actively converting FLNG units right now, have built exclusively for Golar. The operating record backs up the growth pitch. Hilli finished its eight-year Cameroon contract with 100% economic uptime and 156 cargoes delivered, Gimi produced 15% above its contracted volume in the quarter, and the Esperanza conversion is 74% complete and still on budget. Commodity-linked income is already showing up in the numbers: Hilli's contribution jumped to $37 million in the quarter from $10 million in the first quarter, helping push EBITDA up 20% sequentially to $127 million.
Growth at this pace isn't free. The CapEx budget for the fourth FLNG unit came in around $2.45 billion, roughly 10% above the $2.2 billion spent on Esperanza, a jump management tied to inflation in long-lead equipment like turbines and dual-fuel engines, parts now being bid up by AI data center and aircraft manufacturers too. That new unit also has no charter yet, so the 50% earnings boost management is pointing to is a target, not a locked-in number.
Meanwhile, Golar is still equity funding Esperanza, having put in $1.3 billion of its $2.2 billion budget, while carrying net interest-bearing debt of about $1.8 billion. Executives are counting on refinancing Hilli and locking in long-term financing for Esperanza to free up roughly $2.3 billion in liquidity, transactions that are still in progress rather than done. The commodity exposure that flatters earnings when LNG prices are high works the same way in reverse. Management's own sensitivity table shows EBITDA falling back toward $1.2 billion if prices settle near $8 per million BTU, well below the $1.9 billion implied by today's $15 forward price. And the disruption at Qatar's Ras Laffan facility, which knocked out an estimated 17 million tonnes of capacity for three
24 days ago
Crossroads Capital LLC, an investment management firm, published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund increased by 11.5% net of fees and expenses during the quarter. Since its founding, the fund has compounded at a net rate of 17.9%. By the end of June 2026, the fund's overall non-delta-adjusted gross and net exposures were 115.0% and 86.9%, respectively. In Q2, the S&P 500 rebounded 14.9%, its best since 2020, as market uncertainty eased. The oil market showed a transition, with Brent crude prices fluctuating. AI and semiconductors thrived, with 25% earnings growth. The quarter underscored a key principle: risk is priced continuously but resolved discontinuously. Small-cap benchmarks hit new highs, though the Magnificent 7 saw modest gains. In Q2, market activity focused on adjustments rather than facts, capitalizing on high option premiums. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI). FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) is an aviation company that owns, acquires, and sells aviation equipment. On August 19, 2026, FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) closed at $210.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $21.66 billion. FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) posted a one‑month return of -6.95%, while its shares gained 38.10% over the past 52 weeks.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) entered the book eighteen months ago as a special situation, as a short seller campaign had marked the stock into the low $80s. However, it has since graduated to "emerging compounder." Today. FTAI is the leading independent MRO franchise for the CFM56, the most widely-flown engine on earth. It runs a vertically-integrated platform that manufactures "green time" (remaining usable life) by tearing down older engines and rebuilding them with proprietary PMA parts and used serviceable material into modules that swap in days rather than months. In a supply-constrained aftermarket, that speed can be the difference between an airline flying or remaining idle. FTAI captures the demand for that speed with high-margin Aerospace Products revenue layered on top of leasing, with the whole model migrating towards capital-light through its Strategic Capital vehicles.
The first quarter, reported in late April, showed the 2026 guidance of $1.625B in segment EBITDA was table stakes: Adjusted EBITDA came in at $325.6M and Aerospace Products revenue more than doubled with segment EBITDA up 70%. And 270 CFM56 modules were refurbished, up 96% year-over-year. The second quarter, reported late July, saw the Aviation Leasing segment guidance cut from $575M to $475M as part of the company's shift toward a more ***** et-light business model. With the Aerospace Products segment holdin
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Crossroads Capital highlighted FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI). FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) is an aviation company that owns, acquires, and sells aviation equipment. On August 19, 2026, FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) closed at $210.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $21.66 billion. FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) posted a one‑month return of -6.95%, while its shares gained 38.10% over the past 52 weeks.
Crossroads Capital stated the following regarding FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ:FTAI) entered the book eighteen months ago as a special situation, as a short seller campaign had marked the stock into the low $80s. However, it has since graduated to "emerging compounder." Today. FTAI is the leading independent MRO franchise for the CFM56, the most widely-flown engine on earth. It runs a vertically-integrated platform that manufactures "green time" (remaining usable life) by tearing down older engines and rebuilding them with proprietary PMA parts and used serviceable material into modules that swap in days rather than months. In a supply-constrained aftermarket, that speed can be the difference between an airline flying or remaining idle. FTAI captures the demand for that speed with high-margin Aerospace Products revenue layered on top of leasing, with the whole model migrating towards capital-light through its Strategic Capital vehicles.
The first quarter, reported in late April, showed the 2026 guidance of $1.625B in segment EBITDA was table stakes: Adjusted EBITDA came in at $325.6M and Aerospace Products revenue more than doubled with segment EBITDA up 70%. And 270 CFM56 modules were refurbished, up 96% year-over-year. The second quarter, reported late July, saw the Aviation Leasing segment guidance cut from $575M to $475M as part of the company's shift toward a more ***** et-light business model. With the Aerospace Products segment holdin
24 days ago
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull Racing by signing a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2030 season.
Prior to this extension, Verstappen's contract was set to expire in 2028. However, speculation about his future had been mounting, with several rival teams reportedly expressing interest in the driver.
Adding to the uncertainty, Verstappen fueled retirement rumors earlier this year, voicing his dissatisfaction with the current generation of F1 cars. He has been particularly outspoken about the electric hybrid engines, criticizing them as "anti-racing."
Regardless, Red Bull's leadership has consistently expressed confidence in Verstappen and pride in retaining him.
In a team statement, Red Bull described their partnership with Verstappen as "one of the most successful and defining in F1 history," emphasizing that the new deal signifies "a strong sign of mutual trust and ambition and a collective choice to shape the future together."
#prior
Prior to this extension, Verstappen's contract was set to expire in 2028. However, speculation about his future had been mounting, with several rival teams reportedly expressing interest in the driver.
Adding to the uncertainty, Verstappen fueled retirement rumors earlier this year, voicing his dissatisfaction with the current generation of F1 cars. He has been particularly outspoken about the electric hybrid engines, criticizing them as "anti-racing."
Regardless, Red Bull's leadership has consistently expressed confidence in Verstappen and pride in retaining him.
In a team statement, Red Bull described their partnership with Verstappen as "one of the most successful and defining in F1 history," emphasizing that the new deal signifies "a strong sign of mutual trust and ambition and a collective choice to shape the future together."
#prior
1 month ago
It was reported on July 27 that AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) shares outperformed in European trading after the company reported second-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations and reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance. Core earnings per share (EPS) jumped 18% on a constant exchange rate (FXN) basis year-over-year to $2.63, comfortably ahead of the $2.48 ***** yst consensus. Total revenue reached $15.38 billion, up 5% at constant exchange rates, driven primarily by sustained momentum in its Oncology and Rare Disease units. Management reconfirmed its full-year 2026 outlook of mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit Core EPS growth, expressing confidence in reaching its $80 billion total revenue target by 2030 despite near-term headwind shocks.
The quarter demonstrated strong commercial execution in core growth engines. Oncology revenue rose 16% to $7.33 billion, supported by strong demand for Tagrisso ($1.94 billion), Imfinzi ($1.85 billion), and Enhertu (+31%). Rare Disease contributed $4.9 billion, led by Ultomiris. These gains successfully offset severe pressures in the Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM) segment, which declined 15% due to the loss of exclusivity (LOE) for Farxiga in the U.S. and ongoing Volume-Based Procurement (VBP) price cuts in China.
Meanwhile, pipeline updates presented a mixed picture. On July 27, AZN disclosed that a Phase 3 study evaluating Ultomiris in hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) failed to hit its primary endpoint of event-free survival at week 26 versus placebo. Following the readout, H.C. Wainwright noted that the trial miss represents a "clear positive" for competitor Omeros (OMER), removing a major near-term competitive overhang on its drug Yartemlea and driving Omeros shares up 11% in morning trading.
AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)'s core profitability remains elite, with core operating margins expanding to 34% in Q2 despite top-line headwinds from generic entry. High gross and net margins signal durable pricing power across its branded specialty portfolio. This strong profitability generates predictable cash flow to fund heavy R&D investments, commercial rollouts, and growing shareholder returns, including a 3-cent increase in the interim dividend to $1.06 per share, while buffering the company against pricing pressure.
The company's expansive late-stage pipeline and high volume of regulatory approvals underpin a multi-year growth trajectory. With 30 major regional approvals since late 2025 and more than 20 high-value trial readouts scheduled over the next 18 months, AZN possesses broad commercial optionality. Continued expansions in oncology (e.g., Enhertu and Imfinzi) and respiratory therapies (such as Breztri and Tezspire) provide direct revenue replacement for legacy products facing patent expiration.
#high #july
The quarter demonstrated strong commercial execution in core growth engines. Oncology revenue rose 16% to $7.33 billion, supported by strong demand for Tagrisso ($1.94 billion), Imfinzi ($1.85 billion), and Enhertu (+31%). Rare Disease contributed $4.9 billion, led by Ultomiris. These gains successfully offset severe pressures in the Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM) segment, which declined 15% due to the loss of exclusivity (LOE) for Farxiga in the U.S. and ongoing Volume-Based Procurement (VBP) price cuts in China.
Meanwhile, pipeline updates presented a mixed picture. On July 27, AZN disclosed that a Phase 3 study evaluating Ultomiris in hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) failed to hit its primary endpoint of event-free survival at week 26 versus placebo. Following the readout, H.C. Wainwright noted that the trial miss represents a "clear positive" for competitor Omeros (OMER), removing a major near-term competitive overhang on its drug Yartemlea and driving Omeros shares up 11% in morning trading.
AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)'s core profitability remains elite, with core operating margins expanding to 34% in Q2 despite top-line headwinds from generic entry. High gross and net margins signal durable pricing power across its branded specialty portfolio. This strong profitability generates predictable cash flow to fund heavy R&D investments, commercial rollouts, and growing shareholder returns, including a 3-cent increase in the interim dividend to $1.06 per share, while buffering the company against pricing pressure.
The company's expansive late-stage pipeline and high volume of regulatory approvals underpin a multi-year growth trajectory. With 30 major regional approvals since late 2025 and more than 20 high-value trial readouts scheduled over the next 18 months, AZN possesses broad commercial optionality. Continued expansions in oncology (e.g., Enhertu and Imfinzi) and respiratory therapies (such as Breztri and Tezspire) provide direct revenue replacement for legacy products facing patent expiration.
#high #july
1 month ago
WENDOVER, Utah (AP) — The first — and only — person to break the sound barrier in a car hits the track in Utah this week with new wheels and his eye on another record.
Twenty years ago, British driver Andy Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car, reaching 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) at Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Green will return to the lunarlike landscape Tuesday and try to beat that mark, this time with a hydrogen-powered car.
The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot aims not only to win another accolade but to showcase the power of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative. It's the "fuel of the future," Green told The ******* ociated Press in a July interview.
Green will be driving the 32-foot (9.75-meter) JCB Hydromax, the brainchild of British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. The car is bright yellow, long and slim, resembling a pencil. It's powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, which were adapted from engines used in the company's construction machinery. They mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power.
In targeting the diesel-powered record, Green also hopes to easily clear the world land speed records for hydrogen internal combustion engines (185.5 mph/298.5 kph) and electric vehicles (341.3 mph/549.2 kph).
#hydrogen
Twenty years ago, British driver Andy Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car, reaching 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) at Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Green will return to the lunarlike landscape Tuesday and try to beat that mark, this time with a hydrogen-powered car.
The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot aims not only to win another accolade but to showcase the power of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative. It's the "fuel of the future," Green told The ******* ociated Press in a July interview.
Green will be driving the 32-foot (9.75-meter) JCB Hydromax, the brainchild of British construction equipment manufacturer JCB. The car is bright yellow, long and slim, resembling a pencil. It's powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, which were adapted from engines used in the company's construction machinery. They mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power.
In targeting the diesel-powered record, Green also hopes to easily clear the world land speed records for hydrogen internal combustion engines (185.5 mph/298.5 kph) and electric vehicles (341.3 mph/549.2 kph).
#hydrogen
1 month ago
After a rough start to the year for its stock, Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP) shares have come roaring back, bolstered by its latest earnings report. After falling to a low of $94, the stock is once again nearing $150 and is down less than 10% year to date.
Dubbed a potential AI loser earlier this year, Shopify is flipping the script, showing it has the potential to be a big AI winner with agentic commerce. This all starts with its Shopify Catalog, which is built on the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) that it co-developed with Alphabet and others. Shopify Catalog structures product information and maps it to a standard product taxonomy (organizing items by shared categories and attributes) that feeds the product data into AI search engines, shopping apps, and agentic storefronts. Or said another way, Shopify is taking billions of products and simplifying them into an AI-ready database.
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 »
Dozens of retailers and platforms have already adopted UCP, which was introduced at the start of the year, and AI searches powered by Catalog are converting at twice the rate as scraped data. Meanwhile, Shopify saw AI-driven orders and traffic triple year over year in the second quarter. At the same time, its AI tools, led by its Sidekick AI ****** istant, have been seeing strong adoption, with Sidekick usage increasing 3.6 times among merchants.
While agentic AI represents a huge opportunity, the company's overall business continues to thrive. Its Q2 sales soared 34% year over year to $3.58 billion, surpassing the $3.45 billion consensus ****** yst estimate.
#catalog #product #sidekick
Dubbed a potential AI loser earlier this year, Shopify is flipping the script, showing it has the potential to be a big AI winner with agentic commerce. This all starts with its Shopify Catalog, which is built on the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) that it co-developed with Alphabet and others. Shopify Catalog structures product information and maps it to a standard product taxonomy (organizing items by shared categories and attributes) that feeds the product data into AI search engines, shopping apps, and agentic storefronts. Or said another way, Shopify is taking billions of products and simplifying them into an AI-ready database.
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 »
Dozens of retailers and platforms have already adopted UCP, which was introduced at the start of the year, and AI searches powered by Catalog are converting at twice the rate as scraped data. Meanwhile, Shopify saw AI-driven orders and traffic triple year over year in the second quarter. At the same time, its AI tools, led by its Sidekick AI ****** istant, have been seeing strong adoption, with Sidekick usage increasing 3.6 times among merchants.
While agentic AI represents a huge opportunity, the company's overall business continues to thrive. Its Q2 sales soared 34% year over year to $3.58 billion, surpassing the $3.45 billion consensus ****** yst estimate.
#catalog #product #sidekick
