1 hr. ago
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Hoogland Restaurant Group, Marco's Pizza's largest franchisee, is reiterating its confidence in the chain by adding five new stores to its portfolio and bringing its footprint to 120 locations in 14 states. The new stores are located in Lewisville, Fort Worth, Saginaw, and North Richland Hills, Texas, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
"With the economic headwinds in today's QSR environment, it's a testament to our team to be growing rather than contracting," HRG President McLain Hoogland said in a statement. "We're proud to add these locations to our family of stores."
This expansion comes as Marco's accelerates its national and international growth. The company is targeting more than 80 new store openings this year, including the West Coast. In 2025, Marco's domestic footprint included 1,196 locations, marking a 2.9% increase versus 2024, according to Technomic.
To support this growth, Marco's is currently developing a new Operations Center of Excellence in Orlando, Florida, designed to elevate franchisee training and strengthen operational execution. The hub, expected to open in the fall, is backed by an investment of more than $1 million and includes a training kitchen and office ****** e to house approximately 50 corporate team members. Marco's also recently added two industry veterans to its leadership team in Steve Kennedy, chief marketing officer, and Bill Schaffler, chief financial officer.
#footprint #chief
Hoogland Restaurant Group, Marco's Pizza's largest franchisee, is reiterating its confidence in the chain by adding five new stores to its portfolio and bringing its footprint to 120 locations in 14 states. The new stores are located in Lewisville, Fort Worth, Saginaw, and North Richland Hills, Texas, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
"With the economic headwinds in today's QSR environment, it's a testament to our team to be growing rather than contracting," HRG President McLain Hoogland said in a statement. "We're proud to add these locations to our family of stores."
This expansion comes as Marco's accelerates its national and international growth. The company is targeting more than 80 new store openings this year, including the West Coast. In 2025, Marco's domestic footprint included 1,196 locations, marking a 2.9% increase versus 2024, according to Technomic.
To support this growth, Marco's is currently developing a new Operations Center of Excellence in Orlando, Florida, designed to elevate franchisee training and strengthen operational execution. The hub, expected to open in the fall, is backed by an investment of more than $1 million and includes a training kitchen and office ****** e to house approximately 50 corporate team members. Marco's also recently added two industry veterans to its leadership team in Steve Kennedy, chief marketing officer, and Bill Schaffler, chief financial officer.
#footprint #chief
1 day ago
LeBron James could quickly become one of the most popular figures in the world of "YouTube golf" after the NBA star entered the fast-growing social media ***** e over the weekend.
James only started playing golf last year but has already become obsessed with the game—so much so that he's launched a YouTube channel focused entirely on golf content. His first video, ***** led "The 2016 Cavs 10-Year Reunion Golf Scramble," has amassed more than 2 million views since being published Saturday. In the video, James takes part in a 3 vs. 3 match in Scotland with his former NBA Finals-winning Cleveland teammates Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson, and Channing Frye.
His YouTube channel—the handle is simply LeBron—had already surpassed 530,000 subscribers as of Tuesday afternoon. The account actually joined YouTube in 2010 and had about 121,000 subscribers as of last week but was dormant until Saturday with no recent videos, according to figures from social media data tracker Social Blade.
YouTube golf channels typically feature content creators playing matches in various competitive formats with contestants mic'd up. The heavily produced final product often includes broadcast elements seen in live professional golf, like shot tracers. The most popular channels each have millions of subscribers. Rick Shiels leads the way with 3 million-plus, followed closely by Bryson DeChambeau's 2.8 million.
James has a strong social media footprint. He boasts 154 million subscribers on Instagram and another 54 million on X/Twitter. He has regularly posted casual videos from the golf course on those apps in recent months, as well as commentary about professional golf tournaments.
#james #Media #year
James only started playing golf last year but has already become obsessed with the game—so much so that he's launched a YouTube channel focused entirely on golf content. His first video, ***** led "The 2016 Cavs 10-Year Reunion Golf Scramble," has amassed more than 2 million views since being published Saturday. In the video, James takes part in a 3 vs. 3 match in Scotland with his former NBA Finals-winning Cleveland teammates Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson, and Channing Frye.
His YouTube channel—the handle is simply LeBron—had already surpassed 530,000 subscribers as of Tuesday afternoon. The account actually joined YouTube in 2010 and had about 121,000 subscribers as of last week but was dormant until Saturday with no recent videos, according to figures from social media data tracker Social Blade.
YouTube golf channels typically feature content creators playing matches in various competitive formats with contestants mic'd up. The heavily produced final product often includes broadcast elements seen in live professional golf, like shot tracers. The most popular channels each have millions of subscribers. Rick Shiels leads the way with 3 million-plus, followed closely by Bryson DeChambeau's 2.8 million.
James has a strong social media footprint. He boasts 154 million subscribers on Instagram and another 54 million on X/Twitter. He has regularly posted casual videos from the golf course on those apps in recent months, as well as commentary about professional golf tournaments.
#james #Media #year
2 days ago
On August 7, Construction Partners (NASDAQ:ROAD) held its fiscal third-quarter 2026 earnings call and used it to raise guidance for the second time this year. Revenue climbed 28.2% year-over-year to $999.4 million, and the company closed the quarter with a record $3.36 billion project backlog. Operationally, the infrastructure and asphalt provider is focusing its growth strategy on two key drivers: expanding its commercial footprint in AI data center construction and navigating ongoing federal transportation funding debates in Washington.
CPI's quarter split roughly two ways: 8.9% organic growth and 19.3% from acquisitions, together pushing adjusted EBITDA up 24% to $163 million. Net income landed at $59.6 million, with adjusted EPS of $1.08. Management pointed to more than 1,000 commercial projects expected across its 8 states and 115-plus local markets this year, including a fast-growing data center vertical. In Texas, its Lone Star Paving unit is already working data center jobs with a pipeline exceeding $100 million, and in Oklahoma, the newly acquired Ellsworth Construction adds a further $100 million of active data center work with over $130 million more in the pipeline.
On the public side, CPI won airfield paving work at Pensacola International Airport and more than $80 million in Florida DOT rest-stop contracts along I-4. Management also argued that a proposed federal bill, BUILD America 250 Act, would fund highways at roughly 7.2% above prior levels, and noted that the last three transportation bills all ended up richer than their initial House versions.
Not every line moved the right direction. Gross margin actually slipped slightly, to 16.8% from 16.9% a year earlier, even as revenue surged, with management citing energy cost inflation and unusually wet weather in May. The balance sheet tells a similar story of progress with strings attached: debt to trailing EBITDA fell to 3.1x, but CPI just added a $300 million incremental term loan and expanded its revolver to $700 million, meaning the leverage reduction came alongside fresh borrowing.
On the funding side, management admitted the legislative calendar is tightening as midterms approach, raising the odds Congress leans on a continuing resolution rather than passing a new multiyear bill. And while CPI says a CR wouldn't disrupt fiscal 2027 activity, roughly 45% of the prior infrastructure law's funding still hasn't even been deployed, leaving real uncertainty about pacing.
#year #management
CPI's quarter split roughly two ways: 8.9% organic growth and 19.3% from acquisitions, together pushing adjusted EBITDA up 24% to $163 million. Net income landed at $59.6 million, with adjusted EPS of $1.08. Management pointed to more than 1,000 commercial projects expected across its 8 states and 115-plus local markets this year, including a fast-growing data center vertical. In Texas, its Lone Star Paving unit is already working data center jobs with a pipeline exceeding $100 million, and in Oklahoma, the newly acquired Ellsworth Construction adds a further $100 million of active data center work with over $130 million more in the pipeline.
On the public side, CPI won airfield paving work at Pensacola International Airport and more than $80 million in Florida DOT rest-stop contracts along I-4. Management also argued that a proposed federal bill, BUILD America 250 Act, would fund highways at roughly 7.2% above prior levels, and noted that the last three transportation bills all ended up richer than their initial House versions.
Not every line moved the right direction. Gross margin actually slipped slightly, to 16.8% from 16.9% a year earlier, even as revenue surged, with management citing energy cost inflation and unusually wet weather in May. The balance sheet tells a similar story of progress with strings attached: debt to trailing EBITDA fell to 3.1x, but CPI just added a $300 million incremental term loan and expanded its revolver to $700 million, meaning the leverage reduction came alongside fresh borrowing.
On the funding side, management admitted the legislative calendar is tightening as midterms approach, raising the odds Congress leans on a continuing resolution rather than passing a new multiyear bill. And while CPI says a CR wouldn't disrupt fiscal 2027 activity, roughly 45% of the prior infrastructure law's funding still hasn't even been deployed, leaving real uncertainty about pacing.
#year #management
5 days ago
Management has raised its full-year earnings outlook twice, and the segment doing most of the lifting is still short of its own target margin.
CVS Health (CVS) stock has returned 0.2% over the past three months while the S&P 500 returned 4.6%, a strange pause for a stock up 50.6% over the trailing twelve months. The earnings power underneath the stock did not pause. The upside case rests on one repair still in progress through deliberate management actions: the margin recovery at Aetna, its health benefits business.
Aetna's Turnaround Kept Delivering Through June
The starting point matters: on the first-quarter call in May, the company said its Medicare business improved significantly in 2025 and still generated an adjusted operating loss. Year-over-year improvement in adjusted operating income at Aetna was more than $1 billion through the March quarter and more than $2 billion through the June quarter. That is one lever measured twice, moving one way. The mechanism management describes is unglamorous: two years of deliberate coordinated actions at Aetna, progress in the geographic footprint and product mix, top Medicare Star Ratings (which drive performance bonus payouts), and a Medicare business the company now says is ahead of expectations.
The Guidance Raise Is Bigger Than Its One-Time Help
#medicare
CVS Health (CVS) stock has returned 0.2% over the past three months while the S&P 500 returned 4.6%, a strange pause for a stock up 50.6% over the trailing twelve months. The earnings power underneath the stock did not pause. The upside case rests on one repair still in progress through deliberate management actions: the margin recovery at Aetna, its health benefits business.
Aetna's Turnaround Kept Delivering Through June
The starting point matters: on the first-quarter call in May, the company said its Medicare business improved significantly in 2025 and still generated an adjusted operating loss. Year-over-year improvement in adjusted operating income at Aetna was more than $1 billion through the March quarter and more than $2 billion through the June quarter. That is one lever measured twice, moving one way. The mechanism management describes is unglamorous: two years of deliberate coordinated actions at Aetna, progress in the geographic footprint and product mix, top Medicare Star Ratings (which drive performance bonus payouts), and a Medicare business the company now says is ahead of expectations.
The Guidance Raise Is Bigger Than Its One-Time Help
#medicare
5 days ago
Frost Bank and Texas Capital Bank are great regional banking options with solid customer service and products for Texans.
If you prefer a credit union, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union has 65 branches in the state.
Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union serves over 1 million members with 60 branches and fee-free checking accounts.
Consider Chase for its huge physical footprint, but beware potential fees and generally low yields.
As the saying goes, "Everything is bigger in Texas" — including your banking options. The Lone Star State hosts hundreds of banks and credit unions, from major national institutions to community-focused regional players. Whether you need extensive branch access, competitive rates or exceptional customer service, Texas has financial institutions to match your priorities.
#union
If you prefer a credit union, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union has 65 branches in the state.
Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union serves over 1 million members with 60 branches and fee-free checking accounts.
Consider Chase for its huge physical footprint, but beware potential fees and generally low yields.
As the saying goes, "Everything is bigger in Texas" — including your banking options. The Lone Star State hosts hundreds of banks and credit unions, from major national institutions to community-focused regional players. Whether you need extensive branch access, competitive rates or exceptional customer service, Texas has financial institutions to match your priorities.
#union
5 days ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Profitability grew over-proportionally relative to sales, driven by production ramp-ups, operational efficiencies, and accelerated realization of acquisition synergies.
The group successfully integrated The Shyft Group operations, expanding the North American footprint and simplifying brand architecture within one year of the acquisition.
North American growth was fueled by successful walk-in van backlog conversion and record service body production at Royal, which increased 20% over historical averages.
European performance benefited from strong commercial execution in the airport segment and the successful launch of the new Aebi Terratrac in the agricultural business.
#acquisition #NVIDIA #tell #shyft
Profitability grew over-proportionally relative to sales, driven by production ramp-ups, operational efficiencies, and accelerated realization of acquisition synergies.
The group successfully integrated The Shyft Group operations, expanding the North American footprint and simplifying brand architecture within one year of the acquisition.
North American growth was fueled by successful walk-in van backlog conversion and record service body production at Royal, which increased 20% over historical averages.
European performance benefited from strong commercial execution in the airport segment and the successful launch of the new Aebi Terratrac in the agricultural business.
#acquisition #NVIDIA #tell #shyft
5 days ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributed the 4.1% consolidated sales decline to softening Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) trends in June and July, which offset growth in retail and international channels.
The Solo Stove segment faced a 14.7% sales decline, though management highlighted that new product launches accounted for nearly half of the segment's DTC sales.
Operational efficiency was a primary focus, with management reducing the U.S. distribution footprint from five facilities in 2025 to just one by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Watersports segment was established as a separate reporting unit following a 59% sales increase, driven by strong retail point-of-sale demand for Oru and ISLE brands.
#sales #retail #segment
Management attributed the 4.1% consolidated sales decline to softening Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) trends in June and July, which offset growth in retail and international channels.
The Solo Stove segment faced a 14.7% sales decline, though management highlighted that new product launches accounted for nearly half of the segment's DTC sales.
Operational efficiency was a primary focus, with management reducing the U.S. distribution footprint from five facilities in 2025 to just one by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Watersports segment was established as a separate reporting unit following a 59% sales increase, driven by strong retail point-of-sale demand for Oru and ISLE brands.
#sales #retail #segment
8 days ago
SummaryView Transcript
Saia President and CEO, Fritz Holzgrefe, shares insights into the current LTL freight market, including customer sentiment and Saia's strategic network expansion. Discover how Saia's investment in new terminals and workforce is cutting transit times, offering unparalleled service, and driving growth in competitive markets across the U.S. Holzgrefe also discusses navigating inflationary costs and balancing wage increases while maintaining a focus on customer value. #LTL #FreightMarket #SupplyChain
Saia has opened 70 terminals since 2017 as part of a deliberate, multiyear organic expansion that CEO Fritz Holzreif says is still far from its full potential. Since 2023 alone, the carrier has added close to 40 new locations and replaced or relocated another 30 facilities — a pace of physical network transformation that Holzreif said no other LTL carrier has matched in the same period.
The buildout matters because it has unlocked transit lanes Saia could not previously offer. Customers can now ship freight from Trenton, N.J., to Texas markets in three days, Holzreif noted — a direct result of the denser footprint. "Customers are coming to us and say, 'Oh, fantastic, you can now get my freight from Trenton, New Jersey to Texas markets in 3 days,'" he said. "That's significant. We couldn't do that historically."
"We are early innings of tapping the full potential of this business," Holzreif said, adding that the roughly 40 facilities opened since 2023 have not yet reached the profitability or density levels the company believes they can achieve.
#saia #since #markets
Saia President and CEO, Fritz Holzgrefe, shares insights into the current LTL freight market, including customer sentiment and Saia's strategic network expansion. Discover how Saia's investment in new terminals and workforce is cutting transit times, offering unparalleled service, and driving growth in competitive markets across the U.S. Holzgrefe also discusses navigating inflationary costs and balancing wage increases while maintaining a focus on customer value. #LTL #FreightMarket #SupplyChain
Saia has opened 70 terminals since 2017 as part of a deliberate, multiyear organic expansion that CEO Fritz Holzreif says is still far from its full potential. Since 2023 alone, the carrier has added close to 40 new locations and replaced or relocated another 30 facilities — a pace of physical network transformation that Holzreif said no other LTL carrier has matched in the same period.
The buildout matters because it has unlocked transit lanes Saia could not previously offer. Customers can now ship freight from Trenton, N.J., to Texas markets in three days, Holzreif noted — a direct result of the denser footprint. "Customers are coming to us and say, 'Oh, fantastic, you can now get my freight from Trenton, New Jersey to Texas markets in 3 days,'" he said. "That's significant. We couldn't do that historically."
"We are early innings of tapping the full potential of this business," Holzreif said, adding that the roughly 40 facilities opened since 2023 have not yet reached the profitability or density levels the company believes they can achieve.
#saia #since #markets
8 days ago
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (JAPEX) is expanding its U.S. oil and gas footprint with a $320 million acquisition of tight oil and gas producer Fundare, strengthening its position in Colorado and Wyoming as it pursues an aggressive international growth strategy.
JAPEX said it would acquire all four Fundare operating entities through its U.S.-based subsidiary structure, adding ***** ets that produced approximately 9,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first quarter of 2026.
A major portion of the acquired acreage sits close to ***** EX's existing Verdad ***** ets, which the ***** anese producer acquired earlier this year. The proximity should allow ***** EX to pursue operational synergies, lower development costs and benefit from greater economies of scale.
The deal is closely aligned with ***** EX's newly launched 2026-2035 management plan, which positions the United States as a key hub for early earnings growth and for building the company's operational expertise in tight oil and gas. The company has set a target of increasing production to 100,000 boe/d by fiscal 2031 and 180,000 boe/d by 2035, with overseas E&P at the center of the strategy.
JAPEX's U.S. expansion has accelerated rapidly. Reuters reported in April that the company plans to direct more than half of its overseas E&P investment toward the United States, following its $1.3 billion acquisition of Verdad.
#fundare #tight #Growth
JAPEX said it would acquire all four Fundare operating entities through its U.S.-based subsidiary structure, adding ***** ets that produced approximately 9,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first quarter of 2026.
A major portion of the acquired acreage sits close to ***** EX's existing Verdad ***** ets, which the ***** anese producer acquired earlier this year. The proximity should allow ***** EX to pursue operational synergies, lower development costs and benefit from greater economies of scale.
The deal is closely aligned with ***** EX's newly launched 2026-2035 management plan, which positions the United States as a key hub for early earnings growth and for building the company's operational expertise in tight oil and gas. The company has set a target of increasing production to 100,000 boe/d by fiscal 2031 and 180,000 boe/d by 2035, with overseas E&P at the center of the strategy.
JAPEX's U.S. expansion has accelerated rapidly. Reuters reported in April that the company plans to direct more than half of its overseas E&P investment toward the United States, following its $1.3 billion acquisition of Verdad.
#fundare #tight #Growth
8 days ago
Boston, Massachusetts-based American Tower Corporation (AMT)is a leading independent REIT that owns, operates, and develops multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of nearly 149,000 communications sites and a highly interconnected footprint of U.S. data center facilities. With a market cap of $80.4 billion, the company leases antennae sites on multi-tenant towers for a diverse range of wireless communications industries, including personal communications services, paging, and cellular.
Shares of this leading REIT have underperformed the broader market over the past year. AMT has declined 17.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.4%. In 2026, AMT stock is down 1.7%, compared to the SPX's 13.3% rise on a YTD basis.
Don't **** ume Micron Will Share SanDisk's Fate. Here's Why.
The Nvidia-SpaceX Deal Is Sending a Clear Signal on AI Dominance
Rocket Lab Investors Have Plenty to Cheer Ahead of Q2 Earnings Today
#leading
Shares of this leading REIT have underperformed the broader market over the past year. AMT has declined 17.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.4%. In 2026, AMT stock is down 1.7%, compared to the SPX's 13.3% rise on a YTD basis.
Don't **** ume Micron Will Share SanDisk's Fate. Here's Why.
The Nvidia-SpaceX Deal Is Sending a Clear Signal on AI Dominance
Rocket Lab Investors Have Plenty to Cheer Ahead of Q2 Earnings Today
#leading
8 days ago
Aug 10 (Reuters) - Global drugmakers are expanding their U.S. footprint, pledging billions of dollars to ramp up manufacturing capacity and research in the country.
Pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Roche have announced roughly $500 billion in U.S. investments as they seek to strengthen infrastructure, mitigate supply-chain risks and reassure investors.
Pfizer
Pfizer reached a deal with President Donald Trump on September 30 to invest $70 billion in research and development and domestic manufacturing, and received a three-year grace period exempting its products from the pharmaceutical-targeted tariffs.
GSK
#pfizer #pharmaceutical #lilly
Pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Roche have announced roughly $500 billion in U.S. investments as they seek to strengthen infrastructure, mitigate supply-chain risks and reassure investors.
Pfizer
Pfizer reached a deal with President Donald Trump on September 30 to invest $70 billion in research and development and domestic manufacturing, and received a three-year grace period exempting its products from the pharmaceutical-targeted tariffs.
GSK
#pfizer #pharmaceutical #lilly
8 days ago
On August 11, QumulusAI (NASDAQ:QMLS), a neocloud infrastructure provider, signed a GPU-as-a-Service agreement with DRW, a diversified global trading firm, to supply a dedicated Nvidia Blackwell B300 cluster. The capacity will be served from QumulusAI's U.S. data center footprint, carrying an initial one-year term and three one-year renewal options that could run up to four years in total.
The agreement follows a string of major AI infrastructure deals, pushing QMLS's total announced customer agreements past $246 million since early June. Previously on August 7, QumulusAI signed an agreement with an agentic hedge fund to provide Nvidia Blackwell GPU capacity. It also signed a $71.9 million, three-year agreement with an AI Inference platform provider to supply NVIDIA Blackwell B300 and B200 capacity.
These agreements signify a growing pipeline for QMLS that is supportive of management's fiscal 2026 targets. The company expects forward ARR of $300 million for fiscal year 2026 and approximately 30x growth in fiscal 2026 over fiscal 2025. This outlook is backed by executed contract revenue to date, expected renewals, deposit-backed compute capacity reservations and projected contract signings.
The particular DRW agreement in discussion expands QumulusAI's addressable markets beyond the current AI inference platforms that have driven much of its recent contract growth. DRW is the company's second financial-markets customer after the unnamed agentic hedge fund. Moreover, the deal signifies how QMLS is demonstrating that the demand for its GPU infrastructure spans across multiple customer categories.
The bear case here is that QMLS is yet to prove that it can execute on growth despite the strong flow of customer announcements. Particularly for the DRW agreement, the contract has an initial one-year term while the rest of the three years depend on annual renewals.
#contract
The agreement follows a string of major AI infrastructure deals, pushing QMLS's total announced customer agreements past $246 million since early June. Previously on August 7, QumulusAI signed an agreement with an agentic hedge fund to provide Nvidia Blackwell GPU capacity. It also signed a $71.9 million, three-year agreement with an AI Inference platform provider to supply NVIDIA Blackwell B300 and B200 capacity.
These agreements signify a growing pipeline for QMLS that is supportive of management's fiscal 2026 targets. The company expects forward ARR of $300 million for fiscal year 2026 and approximately 30x growth in fiscal 2026 over fiscal 2025. This outlook is backed by executed contract revenue to date, expected renewals, deposit-backed compute capacity reservations and projected contract signings.
The particular DRW agreement in discussion expands QumulusAI's addressable markets beyond the current AI inference platforms that have driven much of its recent contract growth. DRW is the company's second financial-markets customer after the unnamed agentic hedge fund. Moreover, the deal signifies how QMLS is demonstrating that the demand for its GPU infrastructure spans across multiple customer categories.
The bear case here is that QMLS is yet to prove that it can execute on growth despite the strong flow of customer announcements. Particularly for the DRW agreement, the contract has an initial one-year term while the rest of the three years depend on annual renewals.
#contract
9 days ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Discovery Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. Baron Discovery Fund appreciated by 19.08% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which gained 25.71%. This lag was primarily due to a momentum-driven "AI winners" trade, with these stocks largely contributing to the Benchmark's performance. The Fund experienced a 6.63% underperformance, largely driven by an underweight in strong-performing Momentum and Beta factors. The Fund prioritizes a long-term balanced portfolio over chasing momentum. The letter discussed parallels between the current AI market and the late 1990s dot-com bubble. The firm remains focused on company fundamentals and long-term valuation. Please review the fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Discovery Fund highlighted Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) as a leading contributor to performance. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading industrial company that designs and manufactures electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and energy-intensive industrial facilities. On August 10, 2026, Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) closed at $37.60 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $11.45 billion. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) posted a one-month return of -6.12%.
Baron Discovery Fund stated the following regarding Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and industrial applications. Forgent is a low- and medium voltage equipment specialist focused on custom, "engineered-to order" products (over 90% of revenue) whereas larger competitors in the industry generally focus more on higher voltage and standard products. The stock rose during the quarter as Forgent continued to deliver very strong financial results reflecting improving demand for its products amidst the broader data points on AI infrastructure and grid buildout continuing to point to strong growth for the next several years. Forgent is gaining share with its ability to offer customized products at industry-leading lead times and is still just scratching the surface of its opportunity having sold very little directly to the biggest customers in the market. The company has invested heavily in capacity and people to support future growth, and we see many strong years of growth and margin expansion ahead as it grows from an approximate $1.2 billion revenue run rate currently into its $5 billion manufacturing footprint."
#fund #baron #discovery #Growth
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Discovery Fund highlighted Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) as a leading contributor to performance. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading industrial company that designs and manufactures electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and energy-intensive industrial facilities. On August 10, 2026, Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) closed at $37.60 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $11.45 billion. Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) posted a one-month return of -6.12%.
Baron Discovery Fund stated the following regarding Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Forgent Power Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:FPS) is a leading manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, the power grid, and industrial applications. Forgent is a low- and medium voltage equipment specialist focused on custom, "engineered-to order" products (over 90% of revenue) whereas larger competitors in the industry generally focus more on higher voltage and standard products. The stock rose during the quarter as Forgent continued to deliver very strong financial results reflecting improving demand for its products amidst the broader data points on AI infrastructure and grid buildout continuing to point to strong growth for the next several years. Forgent is gaining share with its ability to offer customized products at industry-leading lead times and is still just scratching the surface of its opportunity having sold very little directly to the biggest customers in the market. The company has invested heavily in capacity and people to support future growth, and we see many strong years of growth and margin expansion ahead as it grows from an approximate $1.2 billion revenue run rate currently into its $5 billion manufacturing footprint."
#fund #baron #discovery #Growth
10 days ago
Tilray Brands will stop producing beer at its Terrapin facility in Athens, Georgia as the cannabis and beverages group continues to "optimise" its US beer network.
In a statement, the group said from 25 September, it will move "brewing production from Athens to other breweries within our network".
It said the move was part of "ongoing efforts to optimise our brewing network and support our long-term operating model".
The Nasdaq-listed company added: "With robust brewing operations across the country, this transition allows us to continue serving customers efficiently while leveraging the scale and capabilities of our broader brewery footprint."
The taproom, warehouse and repack operations in Athens "will remain open and continue serving customers from the current location".
#brewing
In a statement, the group said from 25 September, it will move "brewing production from Athens to other breweries within our network".
It said the move was part of "ongoing efforts to optimise our brewing network and support our long-term operating model".
The Nasdaq-listed company added: "With robust brewing operations across the country, this transition allows us to continue serving customers efficiently while leveraging the scale and capabilities of our broader brewery footprint."
The taproom, warehouse and repack operations in Athens "will remain open and continue serving customers from the current location".
#brewing
11 days ago
Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Performance was driven by record fiber address delivery, with the first half of 2026 exceeding the peak construction period of late 2025 due to expanded capacity and strong execution.
Management attributed the decline in total operating revenues to discrete adjustments to wholesale revenues and legacy copper and cable pressures, which were partially offset by a 13% increase in residential fiber revenue.
The company is leveraging its position as the largest E-ACAM recipient to accelerate fiber deployment in hard-to-reach rural areas, converting copper footprints to fiber to mitigate legacy headwinds.
Strategic positioning has shifted toward a fiber-centric model, with 60% of the total footprint now served by fiber and 80% of addresses capable of gigabit speeds.
#total #copper #tell #management
Performance was driven by record fiber address delivery, with the first half of 2026 exceeding the peak construction period of late 2025 due to expanded capacity and strong execution.
Management attributed the decline in total operating revenues to discrete adjustments to wholesale revenues and legacy copper and cable pressures, which were partially offset by a 13% increase in residential fiber revenue.
The company is leveraging its position as the largest E-ACAM recipient to accelerate fiber deployment in hard-to-reach rural areas, converting copper footprints to fiber to mitigate legacy headwinds.
Strategic positioning has shifted toward a fiber-centric model, with 60% of the total footprint now served by fiber and 80% of addresses capable of gigabit speeds.
#total #copper #tell #management
11 days ago
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Regional banks generally fit between community banks and national banks when it comes to size, available products and services, and accessibility. They tend to offer a generous range of products and services, but they serve a particular area of the country.
While regional banks may not be nationally accessible, they have several advantages that make them an attractive place to bank for many.
According to the Federal Reserve, a regional bank has between $10 billion and $100 billion in ***** ets.
As the name suggests, many regional banks serve a specific region (or multiple regions) of the country. For example, Zions Bank is a regional bank that primarily serves the Intermountain West. However, some regional banks have larger footprints. Plus, online and mobile banking make some regional banks accessible from anywhere.
#regional #products #Services #country
Regional banks generally fit between community banks and national banks when it comes to size, available products and services, and accessibility. They tend to offer a generous range of products and services, but they serve a particular area of the country.
While regional banks may not be nationally accessible, they have several advantages that make them an attractive place to bank for many.
According to the Federal Reserve, a regional bank has between $10 billion and $100 billion in ***** ets.
As the name suggests, many regional banks serve a specific region (or multiple regions) of the country. For example, Zions Bank is a regional bank that primarily serves the Intermountain West. However, some regional banks have larger footprints. Plus, online and mobile banking make some regional banks accessible from anywhere.
#regional #products #Services #country
11 days ago
Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Kimberly Williams-Paisley says she bought at auction accessories that once belonged to her late Father of the Bride co-star Diane Keaton.
Diane Keaton participates in a hand and footprint ceremony immortalizing her in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's) in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles in 2022. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
"Recently I bought this hat and gloves from the Diane Keaton auction. I'm so happy to have some of her iconic style with me," Williams-Paisley wrote on Instagram Friday, alongside photos of her wearing the items and channeling Keaton's signature style.
"While my friends and I were carefully unpacking these items and getting ready to shoot this, a gorgeous, gigantic bald eagle landed in a nearby tree, stayed for a moment and then flew off (see video). THIS IS SO RARE!! It definitely felt like Diane's energy was around us! The hat says, 'NO MORE WAR,' and she'd added a skull and crossbones. So, I'm passing along her message."
Keaton died of pneumonia in 2025 at the age of 79.
#williams #bought #items
Diane Keaton participates in a hand and footprint ceremony immortalizing her in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's) in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles in 2022. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
"Recently I bought this hat and gloves from the Diane Keaton auction. I'm so happy to have some of her iconic style with me," Williams-Paisley wrote on Instagram Friday, alongside photos of her wearing the items and channeling Keaton's signature style.
"While my friends and I were carefully unpacking these items and getting ready to shoot this, a gorgeous, gigantic bald eagle landed in a nearby tree, stayed for a moment and then flew off (see video). THIS IS SO RARE!! It definitely felt like Diane's energy was around us! The hat says, 'NO MORE WAR,' and she'd added a skull and crossbones. So, I'm passing along her message."
Keaton died of pneumonia in 2025 at the age of 79.
#williams #bought #items
13 days ago
The Dayton Flyers will play Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 29, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
The site of the game was announced on Thursday, Aug. 6, while news of the matchup broke in March. The time of the game and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The game is part of the inaugural Atlantic 10/American Showcase on ESPN. Saint Louis, the defending A-10 regular-season champion, will play South Florida, the defending American Conference regular-season and tournament champion, in the first game. The Dayton-Memphis matchup will follow.
This collaboration presents a tremendous opportunity for Atlantic 10 teams to compete against quality opponents on a neutral floor before a national audience," A10 Commissioner Dan Leibovitz said in a press release. "We appreciate our media partner, ESPN, and the American Conference for coming together to create a unique event with meaningful scheduling value. This collaboration will strengthen our league's non-conference profile and improve our NCAA Tournament positioning.
According to the A-10, "Future editions of the event will rotate participating schools and host locations within the Atlantic 10 and American Conference footprints. As part of the multi-year agreement, additional participating schools and host sites will be announced later."
#announced #dayton #tournament
The site of the game was announced on Thursday, Aug. 6, while news of the matchup broke in March. The time of the game and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The game is part of the inaugural Atlantic 10/American Showcase on ESPN. Saint Louis, the defending A-10 regular-season champion, will play South Florida, the defending American Conference regular-season and tournament champion, in the first game. The Dayton-Memphis matchup will follow.
This collaboration presents a tremendous opportunity for Atlantic 10 teams to compete against quality opponents on a neutral floor before a national audience," A10 Commissioner Dan Leibovitz said in a press release. "We appreciate our media partner, ESPN, and the American Conference for coming together to create a unique event with meaningful scheduling value. This collaboration will strengthen our league's non-conference profile and improve our NCAA Tournament positioning.
According to the A-10, "Future editions of the event will rotate participating schools and host locations within the Atlantic 10 and American Conference footprints. As part of the multi-year agreement, additional participating schools and host sites will be announced later."
#announced #dayton #tournament
13 days ago
Luxury fashion retailers are accelerating store closures as slowing demand, economic uncertainty, and shifting consumer spending force even the industry's biggest names to rethink their global footprints.
Over the past year, several luxury companies have announced plans to shrink their retail networks as they prioritize stronger-performing locations, streamline operations, and invest in long-term growth rather than maintaining expansive store portfolios.
Kering closed 133 stores across its brands in 2025 and plans to shutter an additional 100 locations, with further reductions under review. The French multinational luxury goods group owns some of the most recognizable luxury houses, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen.
Ferragamo also expects to close roughly 70 stores between 2025 and 2026, while Burberry shuttered 21 locations during fiscal 2026.
Industry ****** ysts do not expect a rapid recovery.
#luxury #saint #laurent
Over the past year, several luxury companies have announced plans to shrink their retail networks as they prioritize stronger-performing locations, streamline operations, and invest in long-term growth rather than maintaining expansive store portfolios.
Kering closed 133 stores across its brands in 2025 and plans to shutter an additional 100 locations, with further reductions under review. The French multinational luxury goods group owns some of the most recognizable luxury houses, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen.
Ferragamo also expects to close roughly 70 stores between 2025 and 2026, while Burberry shuttered 21 locations during fiscal 2026.
Industry ****** ysts do not expect a rapid recovery.
#luxury #saint #laurent
13 days ago
SpaceX's $18.4B AI capex is a fraction of the $860B rivals plan to spend in 2026, an 80% year-over-year increase.
Amazon commits $220B and Meta up to $145B for AI this year, while ****** eX rents compute capacity to Google and Anthropic instead.
xAI's Grok trails Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini in Apple's App Store rankings, exposing ****** eX's weak enterprise and consumer AI footprint.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and ****** eX didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Someone, please tell me if I'm wrong. ****** eX (NASDAQ: SPCX) said its capital expenditures were $18.4 billion in the quarter that just ended. Almost all of the spending is going toward AI. By the same token, Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) says it will spend a ton more. Yahoo reports, "Oracle expects capital expenditures of up to $95 billion in fiscal 2027, though it expects repayments from customers for up to $25 billion of that." And that number is small by megatech company standards.
#billion #NASDAQ #oracle #expects
Amazon commits $220B and Meta up to $145B for AI this year, while ****** eX rents compute capacity to Google and Anthropic instead.
xAI's Grok trails Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini in Apple's App Store rankings, exposing ****** eX's weak enterprise and consumer AI footprint.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and ****** eX didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Someone, please tell me if I'm wrong. ****** eX (NASDAQ: SPCX) said its capital expenditures were $18.4 billion in the quarter that just ended. Almost all of the spending is going toward AI. By the same token, Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) says it will spend a ton more. Yahoo reports, "Oracle expects capital expenditures of up to $95 billion in fiscal 2027, though it expects repayments from customers for up to $25 billion of that." And that number is small by megatech company standards.
#billion #NASDAQ #oracle #expects
13 days ago
Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributes the 200 basis point sequential physical occupancy increase to deliberate market share gains and the ramping of record new business wins from the prior year.
The company is successfully winning business from smaller, capital-constrained competitors who are struggling operationally or exiting the industry as new project starts slow.
Strategic focus has shifted toward underpenetrated sectors, including retail footprints in Europe and convenience store capabilities in Asia Pacific, to diversify beyond traditional storage.
Pricing discipline remains a priority, with management choosing to lead with service excellence rather than participating in the price-cutting trends seen among smaller industry participants.
#management #tell #strategic #pacific
Management attributes the 200 basis point sequential physical occupancy increase to deliberate market share gains and the ramping of record new business wins from the prior year.
The company is successfully winning business from smaller, capital-constrained competitors who are struggling operationally or exiting the industry as new project starts slow.
Strategic focus has shifted toward underpenetrated sectors, including retail footprints in Europe and convenience store capabilities in Asia Pacific, to diversify beyond traditional storage.
Pricing discipline remains a priority, with management choosing to lead with service excellence rather than participating in the price-cutting trends seen among smaller industry participants.
#management #tell #strategic #pacific
13 days ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Performance was driven by disciplined cost management and a simplified go-to-market strategy, resulting in expanded gross and adjusted EBITDA margins despite revenue pressure.
Management attributed broadband subscriber losses to intense competitive pressure, particularly from fiber overbuilders and fixed wireless providers in the West footprint.
The company is pivoting toward a convergence-led strategy, leveraging a new multiyear agreement with T-Mobile to expand its mobile addressable market into wearables and connected devices.
Operational efficiency improved significantly through the deployment of AI-powered tools like Google CES and Gemini, which contributed to a 20% year-over-year decline in truck rolls and service calls.
#market #tell
Performance was driven by disciplined cost management and a simplified go-to-market strategy, resulting in expanded gross and adjusted EBITDA margins despite revenue pressure.
Management attributed broadband subscriber losses to intense competitive pressure, particularly from fiber overbuilders and fixed wireless providers in the West footprint.
The company is pivoting toward a convergence-led strategy, leveraging a new multiyear agreement with T-Mobile to expand its mobile addressable market into wearables and connected devices.
Operational efficiency improved significantly through the deployment of AI-powered tools like Google CES and Gemini, which contributed to a 20% year-over-year decline in truck rolls and service calls.
#market #tell
14 days ago
Applied Digital Corp (NASDAQ:APLD)'s transformation from a crypto-mining/data-center hosting company to an AI infrastructure provider is beginning to reflect in its earnings. The company is enjoying robust growth fueled by rapid conversion of its data center footprint into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure. Likewise, hyperscaler leases and tenant buildout are increasingly driving near-term revenue growth.
Shares have gained more than 20% year to date, with the stock remaining volatile and below some of its recent highs. The market is particularly focused on the company's execution, financing, profitability, and timing of future cash flows. Sentiment and outlook for the stock are slowly changing, triggering prospects of a potential breakout after months of underperformance.
Robust revenue growth affirms why Applied Digital Corp (NASDAQ:APLD) is a compelling investment play on improving underlying fundamentals. The company delivered fiscal fourth quarter 2026 revenue of $258.7 million, up 407% year over year and topping estimates of $94.8 million. Similarly, full-year revenue was up 167% to $611.3 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.04 above expectations of a $0.22 loss.
The 407% revenue growth suggests the company is no longer a future AI story but a company that's converting data center capacity into sales. The growth has come as the company shifts toward building large, power-dense data centers that it leases to hyperscalers and AI cloud companies, thereby securing key revenue streams.
The Data Center Hosting segment generated $38 million in revenue in Q4 FY2025. Revenue in the segment increased to $203 million as of Q4 FY2026, suggesting new leases are becoming bigger than Traditional Data Center Hosting, which was essentially flat at $37.3 million.
#Growth
Shares have gained more than 20% year to date, with the stock remaining volatile and below some of its recent highs. The market is particularly focused on the company's execution, financing, profitability, and timing of future cash flows. Sentiment and outlook for the stock are slowly changing, triggering prospects of a potential breakout after months of underperformance.
Robust revenue growth affirms why Applied Digital Corp (NASDAQ:APLD) is a compelling investment play on improving underlying fundamentals. The company delivered fiscal fourth quarter 2026 revenue of $258.7 million, up 407% year over year and topping estimates of $94.8 million. Similarly, full-year revenue was up 167% to $611.3 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.04 above expectations of a $0.22 loss.
The 407% revenue growth suggests the company is no longer a future AI story but a company that's converting data center capacity into sales. The growth has come as the company shifts toward building large, power-dense data centers that it leases to hyperscalers and AI cloud companies, thereby securing key revenue streams.
The Data Center Hosting segment generated $38 million in revenue in Q4 FY2025. Revenue in the segment increased to $203 million as of Q4 FY2026, suggesting new leases are becoming bigger than Traditional Data Center Hosting, which was essentially flat at $37.3 million.
#Growth
14 days ago
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Allworth Financial, a Folsom, Calif.-based registered investment advisor with $39 billion in client ******* ets, has acquired Sachetta, a Lynnfield, Mass.-based wealth management and tax advisory firm overseeing $1.1 billion in ******* ets under management.
In addition, the RIA announced it has added Arthur Stein Financial, a Bethesda, Md.-based RIA specializing in financial planning for federal employees and retirees. That firm, majority owned by Arthur Stein, has about $141 million in AUM, according to its most recent Form ADV.
The moves come after Allworth executed a recapitalization in April led by Integrum Holdings and including former investors Lightyear Capital and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. The investment was structured to ******* ist in "Allworth's organic growth plan, including expanding its national footprint through high-quality partnerships with firms that share its long-term commitment to clients, advisors and employees," the RIA wrote in the deal announcement.
The move for Sachetta adds 21 professionals, including 13 wealth and tax advisors, and approximately 630 client households in the Boston area.
#investment
Allworth Financial, a Folsom, Calif.-based registered investment advisor with $39 billion in client ******* ets, has acquired Sachetta, a Lynnfield, Mass.-based wealth management and tax advisory firm overseeing $1.1 billion in ******* ets under management.
In addition, the RIA announced it has added Arthur Stein Financial, a Bethesda, Md.-based RIA specializing in financial planning for federal employees and retirees. That firm, majority owned by Arthur Stein, has about $141 million in AUM, according to its most recent Form ADV.
The moves come after Allworth executed a recapitalization in April led by Integrum Holdings and including former investors Lightyear Capital and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. The investment was structured to ******* ist in "Allworth's organic growth plan, including expanding its national footprint through high-quality partnerships with firms that share its long-term commitment to clients, advisors and employees," the RIA wrote in the deal announcement.
The move for Sachetta adds 21 professionals, including 13 wealth and tax advisors, and approximately 630 client households in the Boston area.
#investment
14 days ago
Aug 4 (Reuters) - AI cloud computing company CoreWeave said on Tuesday it is expanding into Indonesia and adding three new facilities in the country, marking the firm's first data-center presence in the Asia Pacific region.
CoreWeave has benefited from a surge in demand for AI cloud infrastructure globally, as tech companies rush to secure the hardware and cloud capacity needed to develop and run AI systems. The company has been investing heavily in its data-center footprint to cater to the demand.
Here are some details on the expansion:
• CoreWeave will add a total of 360 megawatts of contracted power through the three data centers, and will own and operate all three sites.
• "Across Asia, enterprises, AI-native companies, and governments increasingly need AI compute located close to their data and users, driven by both latency-sensitive workloads and data locality requirements. CoreWeave's move... reflects this shift," the company said.
#cloud #demand
CoreWeave has benefited from a surge in demand for AI cloud infrastructure globally, as tech companies rush to secure the hardware and cloud capacity needed to develop and run AI systems. The company has been investing heavily in its data-center footprint to cater to the demand.
Here are some details on the expansion:
• CoreWeave will add a total of 360 megawatts of contracted power through the three data centers, and will own and operate all three sites.
• "Across Asia, enterprises, AI-native companies, and governments increasingly need AI compute located close to their data and users, driven by both latency-sensitive workloads and data locality requirements. CoreWeave's move... reflects this shift," the company said.
#cloud #demand
14 days ago
Since taking the reins at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB), Greg Abel has been busy reshaping the conglomerate's stock portfolio. He trimmed the enormous Apple stake, built a large position in Alphabet, and closed out more than a dozen smaller holdings.
Yet one corner of the empire he has left almost entirely alone is energy. Coming from a CEO who spent his career running Berkshire's energy business, that may be a signal worth reading closely.
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 »
Berkshire's energy footprint is substantial, and Abel has not reduced it. Chevron remains a top-five holding at roughly 7% of the equity portfolio, and Berkshire has held on to its large Occidental Petroleum stake without trimming a share. If anything, the company has deepened the relationship, completing the purchase of Occidental's OxyChem business earlier this year. On top of the stocks sits Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the wholly owned utility giant that Abel himself built into a powerhouse. While the technology portfolio got reshuffled, energy simply stood pat.
Abel is an energy operator at his core, so leaving these bets alone, and even adding to them, hints at real conviction. The timing sharpens the point. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a surge in electricity demand, and Abel has said that roughly half of Berkshire Hathaway Energy's businesses now serve AI-related power needs, with data centers already making up a growing share of the load in some of its markets. Seen that way, both the oil stocks and the utilities look less like leftovers and more like a deliberate bet on a world that will need vastly more energy. Abel may simply see durable, underappreciated value in the one industry he knows better than anyone.
#energy #NYSE #flashing
Yet one corner of the empire he has left almost entirely alone is energy. Coming from a CEO who spent his career running Berkshire's energy business, that may be a signal worth reading closely.
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 »
Berkshire's energy footprint is substantial, and Abel has not reduced it. Chevron remains a top-five holding at roughly 7% of the equity portfolio, and Berkshire has held on to its large Occidental Petroleum stake without trimming a share. If anything, the company has deepened the relationship, completing the purchase of Occidental's OxyChem business earlier this year. On top of the stocks sits Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the wholly owned utility giant that Abel himself built into a powerhouse. While the technology portfolio got reshuffled, energy simply stood pat.
Abel is an energy operator at his core, so leaving these bets alone, and even adding to them, hints at real conviction. The timing sharpens the point. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a surge in electricity demand, and Abel has said that roughly half of Berkshire Hathaway Energy's businesses now serve AI-related power needs, with data centers already making up a growing share of the load in some of its markets. Seen that way, both the oil stocks and the utilities look less like leftovers and more like a deliberate bet on a world that will need vastly more energy. Abel may simply see durable, underappreciated value in the one industry he knows better than anyone.
#energy #NYSE #flashing
14 days ago
Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributed Q2 performance to the successful execution of a 10% promotional price increase in North America, which fully offset price/mix headwinds in Latin America.
The company is undergoing its largest portfolio refresh in a decade, transitioning over 30% of the North American MDA portfolio to new products to drive premium mix and market share.
Operational progress was supported by a 100 basis point tailwind in net costs as the company moved past the heavy inventory reduction actions taken in the first quarter.
Strategic footprint changes in Iowa, Brazil, and Mexico are being implemented to accelerate vertical integration and automation, though the vast majority of benefits are expected in 2027.
#management #latin
Management attributed Q2 performance to the successful execution of a 10% promotional price increase in North America, which fully offset price/mix headwinds in Latin America.
The company is undergoing its largest portfolio refresh in a decade, transitioning over 30% of the North American MDA portfolio to new products to drive premium mix and market share.
Operational progress was supported by a 100 basis point tailwind in net costs as the company moved past the heavy inventory reduction actions taken in the first quarter.
Strategic footprint changes in Iowa, Brazil, and Mexico are being implemented to accelerate vertical integration and automation, though the vast majority of benefits are expected in 2027.
#management #latin
14 days ago
Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Revenue growth of 15% sequentially was driven by strengthening demand for advanced etch and deposition applications supporting AI infrastructure and gate-all-around architectures.
Gross margin expansion of 130 basis points to 14.1% resulted from a structural footprint realignment and improved product mix favoring proprietary components and non-semi business.
Management attributed the Q2 revenue shortfall to isolated part shortages in flow control that were resolved within days of the quarter end, shifting that volume into Q3.
Operational efficiencies in machining and component businesses drove product margin expansion independent of factory utilization gains.
#revenue #tell #gross
Revenue growth of 15% sequentially was driven by strengthening demand for advanced etch and deposition applications supporting AI infrastructure and gate-all-around architectures.
Gross margin expansion of 130 basis points to 14.1% resulted from a structural footprint realignment and improved product mix favoring proprietary components and non-semi business.
Management attributed the Q2 revenue shortfall to isolated part shortages in flow control that were resolved within days of the quarter end, shifting that volume into Q3.
Operational efficiencies in machining and component businesses drove product margin expansion independent of factory utilization gains.
#revenue #tell #gross
14 days ago
The NWSL on Wednesday revealed the schedule footprint for its 2027 season, which will feature a seven-week summer break for the Women's World Cup and a February start, the earliest in the league's history.
The regular season will begin on 11 February with a match hosted by Angel City in Los Angeles, three days before Super Bowl LXI is played in the same city. The annual Challenge Cup, which pits the reigning champion against the Shield winner, will be played on 6 February at a location to be determined.
Related: Continuity, chaos and Rodman: how Washington Spirit are thriving in NWSL
Each team will play a 30-game schedule. The break will cover the entirety of the World Cup, which runs from 24 June to 25 July in Brazil. The regular season concludes with a Decision Day on 31 October, with playoffs in the first two weekends of November and the championship on 20 November.
During the 2023 Women's World Cup, the NWSL paused regular season play for five weeks but continued playing the Challenge Cup, at the time an in-season tournament. In the three years since, the league has expanded from 12 teams to 16 and increased its overall regular season match calendar from 132 to 240.
#World
The regular season will begin on 11 February with a match hosted by Angel City in Los Angeles, three days before Super Bowl LXI is played in the same city. The annual Challenge Cup, which pits the reigning champion against the Shield winner, will be played on 6 February at a location to be determined.
Related: Continuity, chaos and Rodman: how Washington Spirit are thriving in NWSL
Each team will play a 30-game schedule. The break will cover the entirety of the World Cup, which runs from 24 June to 25 July in Brazil. The regular season concludes with a Decision Day on 31 October, with playoffs in the first two weekends of November and the championship on 20 November.
During the 2023 Women's World Cup, the NWSL paused regular season play for five weeks but continued playing the Challenge Cup, at the time an in-season tournament. In the three years since, the league has expanded from 12 teams to 16 and increased its overall regular season match calendar from 132 to 240.
#World
14 days ago
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.
Alimentation Couche-Tard announced on Friday that it planned to buy Żabka, Poland's largest convenience retailer, for about $8.6 billion. If the deal goes through, Żabka's 13,000 stores in Poland and Romania would significantly bolster Couche-Tard's presence in the region.
But what's inside the stores may be just as important for the Canadian retailer. Key parts of the Polish retailer's business could support Core + More, the forward-looking strategy Couche-Tard rolled out earlier this year.
"This is a unique opportunity to invest in a business we deeply admire, one that is already operating at the leading edge of convenience in areas such as food, digital engagement, supply chain and innovation," said Alex Miller, president and CEO of Couche-Tard, in a presentation on Friday. He added, "many of the capabilities we believe will define the future of convenience already exist at scale within Żabka."
When an ******* yst asked if Couche-Tard would proliferate the best parts of Żabka across the rest of its footprint if the deal closed, Miller listed off areas where the European chain could help improve its business in North America and elsewhere.
#couche #business #miller
Alimentation Couche-Tard announced on Friday that it planned to buy Żabka, Poland's largest convenience retailer, for about $8.6 billion. If the deal goes through, Żabka's 13,000 stores in Poland and Romania would significantly bolster Couche-Tard's presence in the region.
But what's inside the stores may be just as important for the Canadian retailer. Key parts of the Polish retailer's business could support Core + More, the forward-looking strategy Couche-Tard rolled out earlier this year.
"This is a unique opportunity to invest in a business we deeply admire, one that is already operating at the leading edge of convenience in areas such as food, digital engagement, supply chain and innovation," said Alex Miller, president and CEO of Couche-Tard, in a presentation on Friday. He added, "many of the capabilities we believe will define the future of convenience already exist at scale within Żabka."
When an ******* yst asked if Couche-Tard would proliferate the best parts of Żabka across the rest of its footprint if the deal closed, Miller listed off areas where the European chain could help improve its business in North America and elsewhere.
#couche #business #miller
