2 months ago
Good morning. Stocks wavered at the opening bell on Wednesday as investors **** sed fresh inflation data and upcoming earnings from AI bellwether Nvidia (NVDA). Oil prices continued to fall, adding some support to stocks.
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Tech (XLK) stocks saw muted gains ahead of Nvidia's earnings. While semiconductors rose slightly, Big Tech names came under slight pressure. In one notable move in early trading, Meta (META) stock flipped into red territory after the company agreed to settle with 29 states over social media addiction claims.
Healthcare stocks (XLV) were the biggest laggards, followed by Consumer Discretionary names (XLY).
Here are some notable stocks that Yahoo Finance readers are viewing this morning: Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Boston Scientific (BSX), Zoom Communications (ZM), Zscaler (ZS), FIGS (FIGS), and Sandisk (SNDK).
#stocks #Tech
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Tech (XLK) stocks saw muted gains ahead of Nvidia's earnings. While semiconductors rose slightly, Big Tech names came under slight pressure. In one notable move in early trading, Meta (META) stock flipped into red territory after the company agreed to settle with 29 states over social media addiction claims.
Healthcare stocks (XLV) were the biggest laggards, followed by Consumer Discretionary names (XLY).
Here are some notable stocks that Yahoo Finance readers are viewing this morning: Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Boston Scientific (BSX), Zoom Communications (ZM), Zscaler (ZS), FIGS (FIGS), and Sandisk (SNDK).
#stocks #Tech
3 months ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Focused Growth Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the Baron Focused Growth Fund achieved a 13.26% gain, still trailing the Russell 2500 Growth Index's 24.02% return. The underperformance was driven by ongoing concerns about AI's impact on portfolio businesses and underexposure to AI infrastructure. The IPO of ******* eX provided a boost, but overall, the Fund's companies are generating robust revenue growth and strengthening margins through enhanced client engagement and product offerings. Many stocks remain historically undervalued, and companies are beginning accelerated share repurchases, bolstering investor confidence. The Fund is perceived as compelling, benefiting from favorable market conditions and strong balance sheets, while inflation and interest rates are expected to remain stable. The Fund has outperformed its Benchmark over the past 3, 5, and 10 years, showing significant excess returns with lower market risk, attributed to a research-driven investment approach. The Fund maintains a commitment to long-term investing in growth-oriented businesses, utilizing a balanced portfolio to mitigate risk and potentially enhance returns. Please review the Fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Focused Growth Fund highlighted FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS). FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) is a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel company known for its scrubwear for healthcare professionals. On August 19, 2026, FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) closed at $14.49 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.41 billion. FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) posted a one‑month return of 56.82%, while its shares gained 109.09% over the past 52 weeks.
Baron Focused Growth Fund stated the following regarding FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) designs and sells scrubwear for health care professionals through a digitally native, direct-to-consumer strategy. The stock detracted from performance as shares slipped due largely to investor positioning. Even so, the company reported a very strong first quarter. Revenue came in at $159.9 million, up 28%, well ahead of the company's guidance for low-20% growth and above consensus expectations. The results were broad-based. U.S. revenue grew 24% to $131.6 million, with strength across core offerings, new product launches, and promotional periods, while international revenue accelerated 50% to $28.3 million, with double-digit growth in every region. Active customers surpassed 3 million for the first time, up 12% year over year, with both new and repeat customers contributing. We continue to have conviction in the strength of FIGS' business model and the company's ability to gain market share in the attractive global health care apparel industry."
#figs #focused
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Focused Growth Fund highlighted FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS). FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) is a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel company known for its scrubwear for healthcare professionals. On August 19, 2026, FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) closed at $14.49 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.41 billion. FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) posted a one‑month return of 56.82%, while its shares gained 109.09% over the past 52 weeks.
Baron Focused Growth Fund stated the following regarding FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) designs and sells scrubwear for health care professionals through a digitally native, direct-to-consumer strategy. The stock detracted from performance as shares slipped due largely to investor positioning. Even so, the company reported a very strong first quarter. Revenue came in at $159.9 million, up 28%, well ahead of the company's guidance for low-20% growth and above consensus expectations. The results were broad-based. U.S. revenue grew 24% to $131.6 million, with strength across core offerings, new product launches, and promotional periods, while international revenue accelerated 50% to $28.3 million, with double-digit growth in every region. Active customers surpassed 3 million for the first time, up 12% year over year, with both new and repeat customers contributing. We continue to have conviction in the strength of FIGS' business model and the company's ability to gain market share in the attractive global health care apparel industry."
#figs #focused
4 months ago
Justin Theroux ordered custom-made scrubs to wear to the hospital for his son's birth.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, guest host Ike Barinholtz asked his Running Point co-star about the arrival of his first child.
Justin and his wife, actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, tied the knot in March 2025 and welcomed their son - whose name has not yet been announced - in April.
"It's the best," he said of fatherhood, before reflecting on preparing for the birth. "I think I was very helpful, in the whole process. My wife was incredibly helpful... She was great in the setup of it... we had our go bags, all that stuff. I was more worried about, sort of, what I was going to wear."
The Leftovers star went on to recall how he decided to wear scrubs while Nicole was giving birth.
"I mean, in all seriousness, it's not about me. So, I went ahead and I Googled and I got these scrubs (from FIGS Scrubs). I had scrubs made with my name on it and I had the little cap like Noah Wyle wears in (HBO hospital drama) The Pitt. I just wanted to blend in; I didn't want to make this about me. So, I wore the outfit," the 54-year-old recounted.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, guest host Ike Barinholtz asked his Running Point co-star about the arrival of his first child.
Justin and his wife, actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, tied the knot in March 2025 and welcomed their son - whose name has not yet been announced - in April.
"It's the best," he said of fatherhood, before reflecting on preparing for the birth. "I think I was very helpful, in the whole process. My wife was incredibly helpful... She was great in the setup of it... we had our go bags, all that stuff. I was more worried about, sort of, what I was going to wear."
The Leftovers star went on to recall how he decided to wear scrubs while Nicole was giving birth.
"I mean, in all seriousness, it's not about me. So, I went ahead and I Googled and I got these scrubs (from FIGS Scrubs). I had scrubs made with my name on it and I had the little cap like Noah Wyle wears in (HBO hospital drama) The Pitt. I just wanted to blend in; I didn't want to make this about me. So, I wore the outfit," the 54-year-old recounted.
9 months ago
Farmers devastated as key crop becomes harder to grow: 'Cultivation is now under threat'
Once a reliable source of food and income, Iraq's fig trees are dying off due to relentless drought, leaving farmers struggling for their livelihood.
In Iraq's Babylon province, fig farmers are seeing sharp declines in yields due to drought, according to Jummar.
Just two years ago, a single tree could produce 25 to 40 crates of figs per season, with each crate weighing up to 20 kilograms. Today, a single tree produces just one 15- to 20-kilogram crate every two to three days — a steep drop in producti
Once a reliable source of food and income, Iraq's fig trees are dying off due to relentless drought, leaving farmers struggling for their livelihood.
In Iraq's Babylon province, fig farmers are seeing sharp declines in yields due to drought, according to Jummar.
Just two years ago, a single tree could produce 25 to 40 crates of figs per season, with each crate weighing up to 20 kilograms. Today, a single tree produces just one 15- to 20-kilogram crate every two to three days — a steep drop in producti
