A handshake agreement. That's the term I saw all weekend regarding the College Football Playoff expanding from 12 teams to 24 beginning next year, with ESPN remaining the sole rights holder. There are positives and negatives to the reported deal, and it was refreshing to hear discourse on both sides of the argument across ESPN's networks this weekend. That's something college football fans didn't get with the network's coverage of the Protect College Sports Act.
However, in the end, ESPN owns all the goods. Again. The network has been the exclusive rights holder since the playoff began just 12 years ago. Fans can debate whether expanding the playoff to 24 teams will diminish the weekly must-win stakes of college football or lead to the elimination of conference championship games for major conferences. One thing remains clear: ESPN controls the entire package. That raises a question: If the sport wants to expand on the field, why can't it expand how those games are broadcast?
The old saying goes, "Follow the money." After signing a six-year, $7.8 billion exclusive extension in 2024, ESPN received an exclusive 30-day window to negotiate with the College Football Playoff over expansion. That window expired, but a handshake agreement was reportedly reached in the days that followed.
As a result, FOX Sports, CBS Sports/TNT Sports/Skydance, NBC Sports, and others never had an opportunity to compete for the expanded package during that window. Has ESPN dominated college football coverage for generations? Of course. Is watching College GameDay part of the average fan's Saturday routine during the fall? Absolutely.
But imagine if the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL handled their biggest events the same way. Imagine if Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady were left out of the NFL's biggest games. What if Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk never got the opportunity to call the Stanley Cup Final?

#college #exclusive

Insider ponders Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State leaving Big Ten over 24-team expansion appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The College Football Playoff race watched Ohio State football strengthen its chances Saturday. Especially in a tight Big Ten Conference race. But one insider brought up a bold idea moving forward involving OSU, Michigan and Penn State.
It involves going the independent route before the postseason field increases to 24 teams.
College football insider and columnist for ESPN Dan Wetzel presented the bold idea Sunday morning. He started off his idea with a rant.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#college #race

Oracle, Microsoft, and Amazon helped push hyperscaler capex past $400 billion in 2025, a figure that exceeded combined operating cash flow for the first time.
Meta and Alphabet fund an AI buildout projected at $9 trillion through 2032, averaging 3.22% of GDP and topping railroads' historic 2.24% share.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Railroads made Cornelius Vanderbilt America's richest person by the 1860s, dying in 1877 with an estate estimated at $95 million to $105 million, larger than U.S. Treasury holdings. By share of GDP, Vanderbilt places third among the richest Americans, behind Rockefeller and Carnegie. Within years, his industry's financing gave way, a warning for today's AI expansion.
The rail network doubled from 35,000 to 70,000 miles between 1865 and 1872, with bonds financing more than three-quarters of it. On September 18, 1873, Jay Cooke's bank failed. The New York Stock Exchange closed for ten days, its first closure ever.

#railroads #amazon

The US economy is stacking up wins, even if it doesn't feel that way for many households because of the resurgence in inflation.
The economy has now posted 78 consecutive months of expansion, the sixth-longest business cycle since 1854, per new ***** ysis from The Kobeissi Letter. This is well above the long-term average of 49 months and the median of 38 months.

By comparison, the longest period for the US economy without a recession was between 2009 and 2020, at 128 months. The record of course was broken by the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ground the economy to a halt.
Read more: Scaramucci: Lots of Americans 'feel left out of the system'

"Unconventional monetary policy, historically large budget deficits, alongside the AI investment boom, appear to be extending the duration of business cycles. The data says the US economy is remarkably strong," The Kobeissi Letter team said.
Meanwhile, the US economy is nearing an impressive achievement on the unemployment front.
The US unemployment rate is nearing a record number of consecutive months below 5%, Truist chief strategist Keith Lerner said in a note on Monday. The longtime record dates back to the mid-1960s.

#letter #consecutive

LOCHIEL, Ariz. — For more than two months, activists sat high up in the branches of a giant cottonwood tree here on the border with Mexico in an effort to block federal contractors from knocking it down to make way for President Donald Trump’s $46.5 billion border wall expansion.
But that standoff came to an end Monday when demonstrators say more than 50 Customs and Border Protection agents raided the activist camp and an excavator knocked down what they called a “grandmother” tree, estimated to be 150 to 250 years old.
Footage taken by protesters shows the massive tree crashing down as border agents look on, and the activists who worked to protect it wail.
“We have been raided, **** aulted, battered, bruised, bleeding by the Border Patrol agents,” said Kate Scott, an activist who kicked off the group’s tree sit, in a call following Monday’s raid. As CBP cleared the area, about 10 people were arrested, the group of activists estimates, and another 10 received citations, including for “violation of a closure order” for being in the border-wall zone.
At least one activist showed images of scrapes and bandages on a Monday video call.

#border #tree

In late September 2026, Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division secured a US$5.10 billion contract to conduct the refueling and complex overhaul of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), while also advancing carrier programs and expanding unmanned production capacity across its U.S. facilities.
Together with the Navy order for 10 ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels and the Pocasset unmanned systems campus expansion, these developments highlight how HII is tying long-duration carrier work to growing autonomous maritime capabilities within its Mission Technologies division.
We'll now examine how the Truman overhaul award, alongside new ROMULUS unmanned vessel production, could influence Huntington Ingalls Industries' investment narrative.
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To own Huntington Ingalls Industries, you need to believe that its multi decade carrier, submarine and unmanned systems backlog can be converted into steadier margins and free cash flow despite current back end loaded cash expectations. The Truman refueling and complex overhaul award reinforces that backlog, but does not remove the near term risk that 2026 free cash flow could miss if contract advances or tax benefits arrive later or smaller than management hopes.

#unmanned #truman #romulus

On September 17, Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) and Bolt, a leading European shared mobility platform, announced a strategic partnership to develop and deploy autonomous mobility services across Europe. This sent shares of Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) higher, and the stock ended the trading session with gains of nearly 6%.
The partnership will combine Lucid Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:LCID) software-defined vehicle platform with Bolt's European data, operating infrastructure, and mobility expertise. The companies will be looking to develop and launch autonomous mobility services at scale, using vehicles based on Lucid Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:LCID) upcoming Midsize platform.
Bolt plans to deploy at least 25,000 fully autonomous vehicles across multiple European cities and countries, supporting its ambitious goal of having 100,000 autonomous vehicles on its platform by 2035.
The financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.
The deal comes as Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) continues to face significant financial pressure. The company has been pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy. However, its revenue growth has not yet been enough to offset substantial operating losses and the high costs ****** ociated with building its global factories.

#lcid #european #platform #partnership

For the recently reported second quarter, PicS N.V. (NASDAQ:PICS) outperformed relative to its previous guidance across all profitability metrics. The total account base for the company went up to 70.4 million during the second quarter, showcasing a 10% jump from the prior year. Moving on to the bottom line figures, the adjusted earnings before tax, without factoring in costs ******* ociated with stock-based compensation came in at R$291 million for the quarter. This represented a 2.1% outperformance relative to the company's R$285 million guidance. Similarly, compared to the R$245 million projection, adjusted net income for the period actually stood 15.5% higher at R$283 million.
welcomia/Shutterstock.com
The second quarter concluded with strong financial and operating momentum for PicS. The company recorded a 9% annual and 2% sequential growth in its client base, which went up to 45.4 million active users. The total credit portfolio jumped to R$31.9 billion, exceeding management's guidance by 3%. This outperformance came due to a higher number of mature credit card cohorts, and accelerated origination within secured and partly secured categories. An additional factor that accounted for the credit portfolio growth was management's measured expansion into higher risk areas such as newer platform credit and private payroll lending.
Managerial revenue rose to R$3,730 million, topping guidance by 3.6%, and net interest income reached R$2,002 million, 5.4% above projections, boosted by growing credit income. Total cash in totaled R$136.4 billion, up 17% from a year earlier and 9% from the previous quarter, with customers bringing in an average of approximately R$45.4 billion to the platform each month. Total deposits climbed to R$35.8 billion, a 45% yearly jump and 10% quarterly rise.
Some concerns related to the company's loan portfolio emerged during the quarter. Non-performing loans more than 90 days overdue increased to 9.8% of the credit portfolio during the quarter, up 93 basis points sequentially. Stage 3 exposure, which includes a broader set of credit-impaired loans, reached 12.9% of the total credit portfolio.

#million #credit #quarter #Portfolio

On September 9, 2026, Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG) reported second-quarter net profit of more than $52 million, reversing a net loss of over $9 million a year earlier, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.19 beating ***** yst estimates of $1.72 by a wide margin. It sent shares up as much as 24% in trading.
The parent of Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Jared also raised its full-year profit guidance for the second time this fiscal year. It also extended its consumer credit partnership with Bread Financial through 2035, a deal it said includes new profit-sharing terms expected to make more than $1 billion in incremental value over time.
Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG) is showing demand improvement across its core jewelry brands. Same-store sales increased 2.2% in the second quarter, beating Wall Street's 1.9% expectation. Management reported positive comparable sales across all three months of the quarter. Performance also improved across Kay, Zales, Jared, and Blue Nile. It shows the recovery extends beyond a single brand or temporary sales spike.
Margin expansion is allowing Signet to make substantially stronger earnings despite limited revenue growth. Adjusted operating margin expanded 140 basis points to 7%, while adjusted EPS reached $2.19, well above ***** ysts' $1.74 estimate. Stronger bridal and timepiece sales, tighter inventory management, and operating improvements helped Signet expand profitability. Redesigned Kay and Jared websites provide additional opportunities to back up digital sales.
Signet's higher earnings outlook and shareholder returns solidify the investment case. The company raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $10.45-$12.15 versus $9.20-$11.00 and plans a $125 million accelerated share repurchase program. Signet also extended its consumer-credit partnership with Bread Financial through 2035. It added improved technology and data ***** ytics while supporting customer financing and marketing capabilities over the long term.

#adjusted #jewelers #limited

On September 9, 2026, Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) reported fiscal second-quarter net sales of $3.33 billion, up 7.3% year over year, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.36, nearly double the roughly $0.18 ******* ysts had expected, prompting the company to raise its full-year revenue and profitability outlook. CEO Sumit Singh said the broader pet market did not meaningfully recover during the quarter but also did not deteriorate further, with Chewy continuing to outperform the category by two to three times through share gains across its established and newer businesses.
Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY)'s recurring revenue base is solid. It gives the company greater visibility into future sales. Autoship sales jumped by 9.3% year over year to $2.82 billion and represented 84.6% of total net sales. The growing contribution from subscription-based purchases gives Chewy a more predictable revenue stream and reduces its exposure to fluctuations in discretionary pet spending.
Chewy is also building growth engines beyond its core retail business. Chewy Health, which includes veterinary care and pharmacy services, delivered triple-digit revenue growth. Specialty categories such as equine and exotics recorded a seventh consecutive quarter of mid-double-digit growth. These businesses give Chewy additional opportunities to increase customer spending and diversify its sources of revenue as the overall pet market matures.
Chewy is combining customer growth with stronger profitability and shareholder returns. The firm added 208,000 net active customers during the quarter. It takes its customer base to 21.7 million while returning $200 million to shareholders through share repurchases. Management also noted structural SG&A leverage, automation, and AI-driven cost reductions as contributors to margin expansion. It shows that Chewy can improve earnings while investing in customer acquisition and growth.
Part of Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY)'s profitability improvement came from benefits that may not recur. CFO Chris Deppe said the quarter's profitability upside included about $10 million from timing benefits and more than $5 million from discrete benefits. Those items boosted the latest results but do not provide a recurring earnings contribution. It means investors may need to lower their expectations for the pace of margin expansion in future quarters.

#customer

On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) raised £4.25 billion, or about $5.76 billion, in its first-ever sterling bond sale, slightly more than initially expected, as part of a four-tranche deal spanning 3 to 19 years. Final investor demand came in at more than £10.65 billion, roughly 2.5 times the amount raised, but that was notably lower than the demand Alphabet saw for its own sterling debut in February, a sign ******* ysts said shows hyperscaler borrowing may be starting to test the limits of investor appetite.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s first sterling bond sale shows that investors still have a strong appetite for its debt. The firm raised $5.8 billion through the offering, and demand reached roughly 2.5 times the amount available. The sterling market also has relatively limited supply of large technology-company debt. It could back up demand for future Amazon issuance in the currency. Strong demand gives Amazon another funding channel as it finances its large-scale AI and cloud infrastructure investments.
Amazon can put the proceeds toward AWS, its fastest-growing major business. AWS revenue increased 36.7% year over year in the second quarter. It marks its fastest growth rate in 18 quarters as demand for AI infrastructure accelerated. Funding more data centers, computing capacity and related infrastructure could allow Amazon to capture more of that demand. If AWS sustains its growth while making strong operating profits, the additional debt could support investments in one of Amazon's most important long-term earnings drivers.
The sterling offering diversifies Amazon's funding base as its capital requirements grow. Amazon issued four tranches with maturities ranging from three to 19 years. It gives the business access to UK investors while adding sterling financing alongside its existing dollar, euro, Swiss franc and yen debt. This overall investor base gives Amazon greater flexibility to raise capital across different markets and currencies. So diversification could become more valuable as Amazon funds an unprecedented AI infrastructure buildout without relying entirely on one debt market.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s weaker reception compared with Alphabet signals that investors may demand higher borrowing costs from hyperscalers. Amazon's sterling offering attracted about 2.5 times coverage, below Alphabet's roughly 3.5 times coverage for its recent euro bond sale. The difference shows that demand for hyperscaler debt is not unlimited. If investor appetite continues to weaken, Amazon could face higher yields on future borrowing, increasing the cost of financing its AI infrastructure expansion.

#sterling #infrastructure #NASDAQ #amzn

On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that CEO Brian Niccol's first two years as Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) CEO have succeeded in bringing customers back to the coffee chain. Comparable sales rose 7.9% in the fiscal third quarter for a fourth straight quarter of improvement, but his "Back to Starbucks" restructuring has raised costs and squeezed margins along the way. Global operating margin has fallen to 12.9% from 15.8% two years earlier. Niccol, who marks his second anniversary in the role, now faces pressure to convert the sales recovery into the sustainable profit growth investors are demanding.
Niccol's turnaround strategy has already restored customer momentum at Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX). The "Back to Starbucks" strategy reversed six consecutive quarters of declining comparable sales as the company focused on reducing wait times, simplifying menus, improving store ambiance, and increasing staffing. Starbucks has moved beyond the sales deterioration that preceded Niccol's tenure. It gives investors a stronger foundation for the next phase of the turnaround. If management can sustain traffic gains while improving productivity, the sales recovery could provide a path toward stronger earnings growth.
The China joint venture with Boyu Capital gives Starbucks a more capital-efficient way to participate in China's growth. Starbucks sold control of its China retail operations to Boyu. It retained a 40% stake and continues to own and license its brand and intellectual property. The structure reduces Starbucks' direct capital requirements while allowing it to retain economic exposure to the Chinese market. Reuters cited ****** ysts who said the arrangement leaves Starbucks well positioned to convert stronger organic sales growth into profit growth, which could support returns as the recovery progresses.
Starbucks now has an opportunity to turn its customer investments into margin expansion. The firm committed at least $500 million toward labor as part of the restructuring. Niccol prioritized staffing and store improvements to rebuild the customer experience. That spending helped help the sales recovery. But it also pushed global operating margins down to 12.9% from 15.8% over two years. With sales now improving, management can focus more heavily on productivity, cost control, and operating leverage. It creates an opportunity for stronger earnings if it can improve margins without damaging customer traffic.
Labor tensions could undermine Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)' recovery and keep costs elevated. Starbucks has yet to reach a first contract with its U.S. barista union. The union called for a consumer boycott in August. Negotiations or labor actions could disrupt store operations, increase labor costs, and create reputational pressure just as Starbucks tries to improve profitability. Therefore, investors face a risk that labor issues could offset some of the productivity gains management needs to expand margins.

#

Toward the end of the lightning round on September 17, a caller asked for Mad Money's host Jim Cramer's thoughts on Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM), and he replied:
It's been an incredible stock. It's a real estate investment trust, basically. And you know, we know that they shred, 3% yield, down 20 points from its high. I think it's a buy.
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) operates a highly durable business model centered on physical records management, secure document destruction, and expanding digital infrastructure. In Q2, total revenue reached $2.03 billion, representing an 18.7% increase year-over-year and 16.8% organic growth. The core physical storage business provides reliable cash flow, with storage rental revenue expanding 11.5% year-over-year excluding foreign-exchange effects across a global customer base of 240,000. Adjusted funds from operations grew 17% to $432.7 million, or $1.44 per share.
At the same time, management has channeled capital into scaling higher-growth segments, including digital solutions, ***** et lifecycle management, and data center operations. The data center segment posted 39% revenue growth during the second quarter, securing 110 megawatts in new leases through July and increasing power capacity across major enterprise markets. Operating as a real estate investment trust, the company maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.864 per share, offering shareholders a forward yield of over 3%.
On the other hand, Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) faces risks inherent to capital-intensive real estate infrastructure expansion. Rapid buildouts of data center power capacity demand substantial capital expenditure, leading to elevated leverage across the balance sheet. Long-term debt, net of the current portion, reached approximately $17.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, increasing sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations and refinancing costs.

#revenue #Growth

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIND) announced on September 15 that it had acquired 60% of White Desert Antarctica and its new aviation travel business, Echo Charlie. Consideration comprises approximately $61 million in cash, plus approximately $6 million relating to acquired cash, subject to working-capital, cash, and indebtedness adjustments.
The purchase broadens the travel portfolio beyond expedition cruises. For investors, the test is whether additional bookings and cash generation justify the acquisition price and subsequent investment.
White Desert takes guests into Antarctica's interior, including the Geographic South Pole. Echo Charlie offers journeys aboard a restored DC-3 aircraft carrying 12 guests. These experiences add distinctive products that Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIND) could market to existing adventure travelers.
Cross-selling could reduce marketing costs per booking and encourage repeat travel across the portfolio. Established customer relationships provide a starting point; the financial benefit depends on generating additional profitable departures.
The company already operates a growing land-travel business. Second-quarter Land Experiences revenue increased 23% to $70.0 million, driven by additional trips and higher pricing. That provides a relevant commercial foundation for the expansion.

#additional

Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) reported second-quarter 2026 net revenue of RMB15.7 billion, up 6% year over year, in results released September 15. Revenue on its international platform increased more than 50%, highlighting a promising source of expansion against slower group growth.
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) also recognized a RMB5.2 billion antimonopoly penalty in general and administrative expenses. The investment question extends beyond that charge: can international expansion generate enough profitable growth to offset pressure on domestic monetization?
International expansion gives Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) a potential route to reducing dependence on revenue earned from domestic travel. A broader customer base could make growth less reliant on a single market's commercial practices and regulatory environment.
The opportunity is especially attractive if new customers become repeat users. Over time, repeat bookings could reduce acquisition spending per transaction and allow technology and service costs to be spread across more revenue. That would turn international scale into operating leverage, with profits growing faster than sales.
Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) also grew accommodation revenue 6% year over year despite a regulator-imposed revenue reduction. That result offers some evidence of resilience, although reservation growth and the revenue earned from those reservations remain separate considerations.

#NASDAQ

LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) announced an exclusive healthcare collaboration on September 15 that initially makes virtual-health membership benefits available to approximately 29 million eligible AT&T wireless and fiber customers across 11 states. Customers must be 18 or older, and some services have additional eligibility and state restrictions. A nationwide expansion planned for January 2027 would extend eligibility beyond 100 million customers.
The $19 monthly membership fee is waived, but customers must enroll. Visits, prescriptions, and other services remain separately payable. For LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD), the opportunity is converting access to a large audience into recurring demand for paid care.
The partnership gives LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) a distribution channel through the website, mobile app and customer-benefits program of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Reaching customers through an established relationship could reduce reliance on advertising and lower acquisition costs per paying patient.
Removing the membership charge also reduces the financial commitment required to try the service. Announced visit prices start at $29 for message-based care, $49 for urgent and primary care video visits, and $79 for specialty care. Customers may use insurance, Medicare, or discounted cash-pay rates for visits and prescriptions.
LifeMD, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFMD) could benefit from repeat consultations and prescription fulfillment when clinically appropriate. Primary care, chronic-condition management and other services create opportunities for continuing patient relationships. If satisfied patients return, the revenue earned over those relationships could exceed the cost of acquiring and serving them.

#Services

RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ:RFIL) reported stronger fiscal third-quarter results on September 14. Revenue increased 21% to $23.96 million for the quarter ended July 31, 2026, while operating income reached approximately $1.8 million, compared with $720,000 a year earlier.
The next question is whether new orders can sustain that performance. Quarterly bookings totaled $22.5 million, below revenue. Backlog stood at $18.6 million at quarter-end and increased to $19.8 million by September 14.
Bookings measure new orders, including modifications or cancellations of earlier orders. Backlog represents orders received for which revenue has yet to be recognized.
RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ:RFIL) improved both sales and profitability. Gross margin increased to 35.6% from 34% a year earlier, helping operating income grow much faster than revenue.
Management attributes the margin expansion to a shift toward customized cabling and integrated systems. These offerings involve more engineering and larger projects than traditional component sales. Competing on technical capability and customer requirements could support stronger relationships and repeat business.

#earlier

Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of approximately $462 million on September 15, up 94% year over year. Bookings reached $1.503 billion, increasing 375%, while backlog stood at $3.0 billion as of June 30, 2026.
The reported 3.3 times book-to-bill ratio compares quarterly bookings with quarterly revenue. Bookings and backlog are operating measures of order activity and outstanding contractual work, respectively. Neither represents cash collected, and backlog does not guarantee the timing of future revenue.
Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) expects fiscal 2027 revenue of $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion, implying 76% growth at the midpoint. The question is whether factories, employees, and working capital can support that expansion while preserving cash generation.
Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) already has evidence of stronger production economics. Fourth-quarter operating income reached $91.9 million, compared with $8.3 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $74 million, exceeding the quarter's $31 million of capital expenditures.
Those results suggest that rising output is beginning to cover the costs of expansion. Management attributed stronger profitability partly to revenue growing faster than operating costs as new campuses approached target production levels.

#operating #power #solutions #NYSE

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) reported on September 17 that it had signed a multi-year contract to supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Antares Nuclear, with deliveries expected to begin before the end of the decade. Although financial terms were not disclosed, the deal includes prepayments from Antares to help fund Centrus' expanded HALEU capacity.
The deal holds strategic importance as Antares is developing compact microreactors for critical missions on Earth and in ***** e. The company was also recently selected for the U.S. Army's Janus Program, a $2.2 billion initiative to build and operate tiny nuclear reactors on military bases, with the hope that they will one day power remote installations.
Amir Vexler, President and CEO of Centrus Energy, commented:
"This contract is another sign that demand for HALEU is real and it is accelerating, and Centrus is in prime position to meet this need. Binding orders from Antares and others are supporting our expansion to commercial-scale production – an expansion that is now well underway. We look forward to supporting Antares' continued growth and success."
dan-meyers-xXbQIrWH2_A-unsplash

#centrus #haleu

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is about to significantly expand its operations in Venezuela. The company's CFO, Eimear Bonner, revealed at a Barclays conference on September 8 that the American oil giant plans to more than double the number of oil rigs it operates in the country as part of its five-year plan ‌to increase output.
The statement follows the company's recent announcement that its joint venture partnerships in Venezuela would invest more than $7 billion to more than double oil ⁠output to 600,000 barrels per day by 2031. The current production from Chevron's three Venezuelan JVs totals around 290,000, which is all exported to the United States.
The move builds on Chevron's longstanding presence in Venezuela, as it was the only American oil major that continued operating in the country under a special US license, allowing it to produce and export oil despite the sanctions.
The expansion comes alongside a much larger agreement between Washington and Caracas announced this month, which gave the US majority control over around 20% of Venezuela's proven crude reserves. The White House has now invited American oil companies to revive and modernize the South American country's oil infrastructure and more than double its crude production in the next few years.
Chevron has maintained operations in Venezuela since 1923 and even stayed through the nationalizations that forced ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips to exit in 2007. This gives it a significant competitive advantage, since it already has a longstanding relationship with the state-owned PDVSA and extensive experience operating in the country's complex regulatory environment.

#around

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) announced on September 8 that it had secured a loan of up to $1.9 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the restart of a shuttered nuclear power plant in Iowa. The Duane Arnold Energy Center ceased operations in 2020 after 45 years of service. The plant is now expected to resume operations in early 2029, pending regulatory approvals.
The federal funding is intended to help restore the facility and add reliable generation capacity as the US electricity demand soars to record levels amid the AI boom. To help meet the growing demand, President Trump is making efforts to accelerate the expansion of nuclear energy. He has signed an executive order to get 10 large conventional reactors under construction by 2030 and has also called for federal funding to support the restart of shuttered nuclear plants.
John Ketchum, Chairman, President, and CEO of NextEra Energy, commented:
"Restarting Duane Arnold is about delivering new power to meet new demand while generating billions of dollars in economic value for Iowans. Just as importantly, it shows how America can support rapid economic growth and rising electricity demand while helping keep power affordable for existing customers. By bringing new generation online to serve new demand, we can strengthen the grid, create hundreds of good-paying jobs and help ensure Iowa families and businesses are not asked to bear the costs of growth. We appreciate the Administration's leadership in advancing America's nuclear renaissance and share its commitment to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that expands supply, strengthens energy security and keeps America competitive."
Photo by Frédéric Paulussen on Unsplash

#duane #arnold

Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) has declined by around 17% since hitting its record high in May, likely as a result of rising bond yields, lack of visibility on the company's 5% growth guidance through the end of the decade, and the recently closed equity offering intended to fund the midstream operator's strategic acquisitions.
However, BMO Capital sees this pullback as an opportunity and on September 15, the firm upgraded ENB from 'Market Perform' to 'Outperform', while also slightly raising its price target from C$79 to C$79.50. The target boost implies an upside of 18% from the current levels.
The **** yst believes that Enbridge's scale, limited commodity exposure, and diversified **** ets are underappreciated. BMO also cited the company's improving visibility on growth, robust backlog, opportunistic acquisitions, and improved balance sheet as reasons behind the upgrade.
Enbridge's aggressive expansion strategy adds significantly to its bull case. The company announced on September 9 that it would acquire Tallgrass Energy's crude oil business for $2.55 billion in cash, expanding its US liquids pipeline network by buying a majority ‌stake in the Pony Express Pipeline and other **** ets. The midstream operator expects the acquisition to be accretive to distributable cash flow per share in the first full year of ownership.
Similarly, Enbridge announced last month that it had agreed to acquire Salt Creek Midstream's crude oil gathering business for $600 million in cash, further bolstering its presence in the prolific Permian Basin. The acquired **** ets have an average remaining contract life of about 10 years, providing ⁠stable long-term cash flows.

#visibility #target

On September 16, Air Products (NYSE:APD) said it had signed a long-term deal to supply high-purity gases to a leading chipmaker, backed by roughly $250 million of its own money in Arizona. It is the company's second semiconductor supply win, and the two projects together carry more than $900 million of investment. That is a notable turn for a company that has been pulling back from big clean-energy projects.
The Arizona project plays to what Air Products already does. It will build, own, and operate the equipment, from hydrogen generation units and carbon dioxide purification to bulk supply for three gases: helium, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. That means the customer's gas supply runs through equipment Air Products owns. Supply is targeted to start in phases, so the buildout can move alongside the customer's expansion plans. And this is familiar ground. Air Products has supplied electronics makers for more than 40 years, and its Chandler facility has served the Phoenix chip cluster since 1981, with a pipeline system carrying ultra-high purity nitrogen around the area.
The core business gives the deal a solid floor. In the fiscal third quarter, reported on July 30, adjusted earnings per share rose 12% to $3.47, and management lifted its full-year outlook to an adjusted $13.39 to $13.49 per share. Margins widened as well, so growth is showing up as profit. Chips appear elsewhere in the results too, since the company announced a deal to build four large air separation units to serve a chipmaker's growth in Taiwan.
The cost of the pivot is hard to ignore. On June 30, Air Products announced it would not go ahead with its Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and would discontinue a zero-carbon liquid hydrogen facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, plus other smaller clean energy distribution projects. The exits triggered roughly $2.9 billion in pre-tax charges, which is why the company posted a GAAP loss of $6.47 per share in the third quarter even as its underlying earnings grew. Adjusted results leave that hit out, but the GAAP numbers show what the retreat cost.
Owning the ****** ets also means funding them. Air Products expects about $3.5 billion of capital spending in fiscal 2026, and the Arizona plant alone is a commitment of approximately $250 million, with supply arriving in phases. The release also leaves gaps: it does not name the customer or say how long the contract runs, so the length of the revenue stream is unclear. Elsewhere, Europe's operating income rose only 2% as costs climbed, and management says it is still cautious about the economic backdrop.

#clean #adjusted

Interested in O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Record store expansion: O'Reilly plans to open 232 stores in 2026, its highest annual total, supported by new distribution capacity and growth opportunities across underserved U.S. markets.
International growth: The company expects to open 20–25 stores in Mexico, where it sees potential for more than 1,000 locations over time, and plans to add three to five Canadian stores while developing its platform.
Demand and competitive advantages: Comparable-store sales rose 7% through the second quarter, while O'Reilly highlighted its inventory network, promote-from-within culture, proprietary brands exceeding 55% of sales, and opportunities from an aging and increasingly complex vehicle fleet.
Hitting the Brakes: Is O'Reilly's Stock a Breakdown or a Buy?

#stores #open #Growth #interested

Costco is expanding its same-day delivery network as it looks to grow e-commerce sales and compete with retailers like Walmart and Target.
The retailer this week launched collaborations with DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) and Uber (NYSE: UBER) to pick up online orders at U.S. stores and drive them to the customer's door. The arrangements give Costco more channels to reach customers through ultra-fast delivery, made possible by gig drivers who use the platforms to select ******* ignments.
DoorDash, best known for delivering restaurant food, announced that Costco (NASDAQ: COST) members can now order groceries, dry goods, household essentials and other products from its marketplace and then arrange fast delivery from their local store, all through the DoorDash app. The U.S. launch extends the existing relationship between the companies in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland and Puerto Rico.
DoorDash now serves eight of the 10 largest food retailers in North America.
On Wednesday, Uber announced a major expansion of its partnership with Costco to deliver products in 47 states, up from 17 states. Nearly 600 Costco locations are now available on the Uber Eats app, where shoppers can arrange on-demand and scheduled delivery.

#Food #announced

Recent initial public offering NB Bancorp (NBBK) is the IPO Stock Of The Week as it attempts to find support at a key level and with the stock within striking distance of a new buy point. This regional banking name also sits on Investor's Business Daily's IPO Leaders screen.
Massachusetts-based NB Bancorp is the holding company for Needham Bank, which was founded in 1892.
On July 22, NB Bancorp said its earnings growth accelerated to 33% in the second quarter, up from 9% in the first quarter. That was fueled by net interest margin expansion to 4% along with solid loan and deposit growth. Revenue jumped 46% from the year-ago period, to $74.7 million.
For the third quarter, ***** ysts expect NB Bancorp to earn 59 cents per share on revenue of $77.3 million. Those are respective year-over-year increases of 30% and 49%. Also, third-quarter earnings come due in late October.
And for the full year, Wall Street expects the banking leader to earn $2.14 per share, a 25% year-over-year increase. ***** ysts see further growth of 22% in 2027, according to IBD MarketSurge.

#revenue

For the recently reported second quarter, PicS N.V. (NASDAQ:PICS) outperformed relative to its previous guidance across all profitability metrics. The total account base for the company went up to 70.4 million during the second quarter, showcasing a 10% jump from the prior year. Moving on to the bottom line figures, the adjusted earnings before tax, without factoring in costs ****** ociated with stock-based compensation came in at R$291 million for the quarter. This represented a 2.1% outperformance relative to the company's R$285 million guidance. Similarly, compared to the R$245 million projection, adjusted net income for the period actually stood 15.5% higher at R$283 million.
welcomia/Shutterstock.com
The second quarter concluded with strong financial and operating momentum for PicS. The company recorded a 9% annual and 2% sequential growth in its client base, which went up to 45.4 million active users. The total credit portfolio jumped to R$31.9 billion, exceeding management's guidance by 3%. This outperformance came due to a higher number of mature credit card cohorts, and accelerated origination within secured and partly secured categories. An additional factor that accounted for the credit portfolio growth was management's measured expansion into higher risk areas such as newer platform credit and private payroll lending.
Managerial revenue rose to R$3,730 million, topping guidance by 3.6%, and net interest income reached R$2,002 million, 5.4% above projections, boosted by growing credit income. Total cash in totaled R$136.4 billion, up 17% from a year earlier and 9% from the previous quarter, with customers bringing in an average of approximately R$45.4 billion to the platform each month. Total deposits climbed to R$35.8 billion, a 45% yearly jump and 10% quarterly rise.
Some concerns related to the company's loan portfolio emerged during the quarter. Non-performing loans more than 90 days overdue increased to 9.8% of the credit portfolio during the quarter, up 93 basis points sequentially. Stage 3 exposure, which includes a broader set of credit-impaired loans, reached 12.9% of the total credit portfolio.

#million #total

BuyWander says it plan to use the fresh capital to drive its expansion throughout the US, support technological upgrades, and bolster its executive team.
The investment was headed by Madrona Venture Group and Inspired Capital. Past supporters of the company include Triple Impact Capital, Silence Ventures, Animal Capital, as well as several angel investors.
The business currently has eight locations and has lately entered the Denver and Chicago markets, with a new warehouse site scheduled to open soon in Minneapolis.
BuyWander co-founder and CEO Jordan Allen said: "Retailers are sitting on billions of dollars in returned and overstocked inventory every year, and buyers are hungry for a better way to access it. We've seen that appetite play out in every market we've entered. This funding lets us bring that experience to more cities, faster, and put BuyWander in front of the next wave of buyers who are done with the old returns model."
Founded in 2023 by Jordan Allen and Brock Kowalchuk, BuyWander is an auction-based marketplace that links buyers with returned and surplus goods from retailers such as Amazon, Target and Walmart.

#capital #buyers #allen

Trump signed the legislation into law on Friday, the White House said.
LONDON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday thanked President Donald Trump for signing into law a bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, which allows for the expansion of sanctions on Russia related to Moscow's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump signed the bill on Friday, the White House said in a statement, after the legislation passed both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan backing. The legislation "authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran," the White House said.
The bill's passage came about two months after Graham died suddenly following a tear in his aorta. Graham had long been an advocate of U.S. support for Kyiv and more stringent measures on Russia and the regime headed by President Vladimir Putin. In 2024, Russia's state financial monitoring agency added Graham to its list of alleged "terrorists and extremists."
In a post to Telegram on Friday night, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for signing what he called "critically important legislation," extending his thanks to "all the senators and members of the House of Representatives who supported it."

#legislation #white #Russia #zelenskyy

On September 4, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) announced that its Pratt & Whitney business was investing $25 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Niepołomice, Poland.
The site produces complex tubular ****** emblies for both military and commercial engines. The expanded facility will begin operations in 2028 and create over 120 jobs.
Niepołomice already delivers precision components for several engines, including the F135, Pratt & Whitney GTF, and the PW800. The initiative complements the $100 million investment announced in April to boost production and enhance capabilities at the company's facility in Rzeszów, Poland.
The capacity expansion reflects the company's confidence in sustained demand for both commercial and military engine production over the coming years, which is supported by a record backlog of $289 billion at the end of Q2, increasing 22% year-over-year.
This further strengthens RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)'s manufacturing footprint in Europe, especially in Poland – which is already the company's largest presence outside the U.S. with more than 9,500 employees. The expansion will enhance its regional supply chain capabilities.

#Manufacturing