2 hours ago
The Los Angeles Clippers finally got an answer on the NBA's cap circumvention investigation, but it's not the one they were hoping for. Despite claiming innocence and complying with the league throughout the process, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came down with strict penalties, including a $30 million fine, the loss of five draft picks, and suspensions for several Clippers executives.
Instead of accepting their losses, however, the Clippers plan to fight with everything they have. After making their initial statement today, they shared their official email to the Commissioner, in which they called him out on the way this investigation was conducted. According to the Clippers, they worked tirelessly to comply with the league office, committing millions of dollars and many hours to prove their innocence.
"Almost one year ago today, you announced that the league would be investigating podcast allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in salary cap circumvention by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through a 'no-show' contract with a Clippers sponsor, Aspiration. In announcing that investigation, you represented that 'due process' and 'a fundamental sense of fairness' would govern the process. You made clear that the 'burden [would be] on the league' to prove any violation through actual evidence, not 'mere appearances.' And you concluded by promising that everyone involved in the investigation would be treated 'the same way I would want to be treated if people were making allegations against me.'"
"Unfortunately, none of those promises have been kept. In the last year, Steve Ballmer has spent nearly $50 million funding an investigation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that has stretched far beyond the bounds of what the league set out to investigate, let alone the bounds of 'fundamental fairness.' The Clippers have produced more than 30,000 documents and provided more than 20 witnesses who have sat for 30 interviews."
"Third parties, including Clippers business partners and sponsors, have likewise provided documents, interviews, and statements to investigators. Mr. Ballmer has reimbursed the costs of at least six law firms, many of which were hired at the demand of the league's lawyers. To say the investigation has been a distraction would be an understatement—Clippers employees have spent thousands of hours scouring document repositories, phones, messaging systems, central files, and accounting records, working with counsel, and sitting for interviews. This investigation has permanently strained relationships with key Clippers stakeholders."
#angeles #commissioner #circumvention #innocence
Instead of accepting their losses, however, the Clippers plan to fight with everything they have. After making their initial statement today, they shared their official email to the Commissioner, in which they called him out on the way this investigation was conducted. According to the Clippers, they worked tirelessly to comply with the league office, committing millions of dollars and many hours to prove their innocence.
"Almost one year ago today, you announced that the league would be investigating podcast allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers engaged in salary cap circumvention by funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through a 'no-show' contract with a Clippers sponsor, Aspiration. In announcing that investigation, you represented that 'due process' and 'a fundamental sense of fairness' would govern the process. You made clear that the 'burden [would be] on the league' to prove any violation through actual evidence, not 'mere appearances.' And you concluded by promising that everyone involved in the investigation would be treated 'the same way I would want to be treated if people were making allegations against me.'"
"Unfortunately, none of those promises have been kept. In the last year, Steve Ballmer has spent nearly $50 million funding an investigation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that has stretched far beyond the bounds of what the league set out to investigate, let alone the bounds of 'fundamental fairness.' The Clippers have produced more than 30,000 documents and provided more than 20 witnesses who have sat for 30 interviews."
"Third parties, including Clippers business partners and sponsors, have likewise provided documents, interviews, and statements to investigators. Mr. Ballmer has reimbursed the costs of at least six law firms, many of which were hired at the demand of the league's lawyers. To say the investigation has been a distraction would be an understatement—Clippers employees have spent thousands of hours scouring document repositories, phones, messaging systems, central files, and accounting records, working with counsel, and sitting for interviews. This investigation has permanently strained relationships with key Clippers stakeholders."
#angeles #commissioner #circumvention #innocence
5 hours ago
Apple (AAPL) investors have a major leadership transition to watch as John Ternus officially takes over as CEO on Sept. 1, succeeding Tim Cook after his 15-year tenure at the helm. Cook will remain closely involved as executive chairman, helping ensure continuity, but Ternus now inherits a company valued at trillions of dollars and facing a critical test of its next phase of growth.
For Apple stock investors, the timing could hardly be more important. Ternus, a longtime hardware engineering leader who has worked at Apple since 2001, steps into the CEO role just ahead of the company's Sept. 9 product event. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its next generation of iPhones and potentially its first foldable iPhone. At the same time, Apple is under increasing pressure to accelerate its artificial intelligence strategy and deliver the kind of breakthrough innovation that can sustain its enormous valuation. Let's dig deeper to understand Apple's fundamentals that will potentially shape the Ternus era.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Bill Gates Says 'We Need Time to Prepare' for an Economic Upheaval — Especially the $20-an-Hour Workers Being Replaced by $10-an-Hour Robots
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
#hour #time
For Apple stock investors, the timing could hardly be more important. Ternus, a longtime hardware engineering leader who has worked at Apple since 2001, steps into the CEO role just ahead of the company's Sept. 9 product event. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its next generation of iPhones and potentially its first foldable iPhone. At the same time, Apple is under increasing pressure to accelerate its artificial intelligence strategy and deliver the kind of breakthrough innovation that can sustain its enormous valuation. Let's dig deeper to understand Apple's fundamentals that will potentially shape the Ternus era.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Bill Gates Says 'We Need Time to Prepare' for an Economic Upheaval — Especially the $20-an-Hour Workers Being Replaced by $10-an-Hour Robots
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
#hour #time
6 hours ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."
#NYSE #fund #fundamental #wiley
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."
#NYSE #fund #fundamental #wiley
6 hours ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."
#ffiv
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."
#ffiv
6 hours ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY). Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY), a leading enterprise software company that provides cloud applications for human resources and financial management, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) closed at $197.45 per share. Over the past month, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) returned 15.87%, but its shares are down 13.29% over the past year. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a leader in cloud software for back-office business functions, spanning human capital management (HCM), financial management, and adjacent ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, with 60% of the Fortune 500 as HCM customers. Shares declined over the period, pressured by investor concerns that AI could disrupt application software vendors. The most recent quarter, however, did not show evidence of this. Subscription revenue grew 14%, 12-month backlog grew 16%, retention remained industry leading, margins expanded, and management reiterated full-year subscription revenue guidance while raising operating margin guidance. AI adoption also appears to be progressing, with Workday-developed agents now used by more
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY). Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY), a leading enterprise software company that provides cloud applications for human resources and financial management, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) closed at $197.45 per share. Over the past month, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) returned 15.87%, but its shares are down 13.29% over the past year. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a leader in cloud software for back-office business functions, spanning human capital management (HCM), financial management, and adjacent ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, with 60% of the Fortune 500 as HCM customers. Shares declined over the period, pressured by investor concerns that AI could disrupt application software vendors. The most recent quarter, however, did not show evidence of this. Subscription revenue grew 14%, 12-month backlog grew 16%, retention remained industry leading, margins expanded, and management reiterated full-year subscription revenue guidance while raising operating margin guidance. AI adoption also appears to be progressing, with Workday-developed agents now used by more
6 hours ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 24.6% (Institutional Shares), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (16.7%) and the S&P 500 (15.2%). Year to date, it's up 11.7%, surpassing its benchmarks. The first half of 2026 mirrored the previous year, with a 10.4% drawdown in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions, similar to last year's tariff-related decline. However, the fund rebounded with a 24.6% gain in Q2 after a cease-fire and declining oil prices. Stock selection drove the outperformance, contributing 940bps, while sector allocation detracted 152bps. In a volatile market, the firm remains focused on identifying high-quality, competitively advantaged companies and is optimistic about long-term prospects, investing when prices align with intrinsic values. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP). Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a Canada-based e-commerce technology company that provides a cloud-based platform for individuals and companies to create and manage their operations, detracted from performance in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) closed at $147.37 per share. Over the past month, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) returned 19.52%, but its shares are up 5.99% over the past year. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has a market capitalization of $189.59 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $94.00 to $182.19.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a leading global commerce platform serving merchants across online and offline channels, detracted from performance in the second quarter with the stock down 3.7%. The decline was driven by multiple compression (its P/E was down 8.5%11) rather than any deterioration in the underlying business or fundamental outlook. Shopify continued to post healthy growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, which were up 30% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. Instead, the pressure reflected investor concerns about the company's long-term positioning in a future state of e-commerce that may rely more heavily on AI-driven applications than traditional websites. We view those concerns as misplaced and see Shopify as an AI winner. Two decades of proprietary data across millions of merchants provide Shopify with a strong foundation for AI tools that improve merchant outcomes. Recent product releases also embed the platform more deeply within the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem while creating new monetization opportunities. We continue to believe that Shopify is the category-defining platform for modern commerce, benefiting from durable secular growth
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP). Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a Canada-based e-commerce technology company that provides a cloud-based platform for individuals and companies to create and manage their operations, detracted from performance in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) closed at $147.37 per share. Over the past month, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) returned 19.52%, but its shares are up 5.99% over the past year. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has a market capitalization of $189.59 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $94.00 to $182.19.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a leading global commerce platform serving merchants across online and offline channels, detracted from performance in the second quarter with the stock down 3.7%. The decline was driven by multiple compression (its P/E was down 8.5%11) rather than any deterioration in the underlying business or fundamental outlook. Shopify continued to post healthy growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, which were up 30% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. Instead, the pressure reflected investor concerns about the company's long-term positioning in a future state of e-commerce that may rely more heavily on AI-driven applications than traditional websites. We view those concerns as misplaced and see Shopify as an AI winner. Two decades of proprietary data across millions of merchants provide Shopify with a strong foundation for AI tools that improve merchant outcomes. Recent product releases also embed the platform more deeply within the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem while creating new monetization opportunities. We continue to believe that Shopify is the category-defining platform for modern commerce, benefiting from durable secular growth
7 hours ago
Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT). LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is a medical device company focusing on the manufacturing and development of products and services for vascular surgery. On August 31, 2026, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) closed at $80.28 per share.LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) declined 24.11% in a month and 15.52% over the past 52 weeks. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion with a 52-week trading range between $78.27 - 118.01.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT), our peripheral vascular device holding, declined approximately 12% in a quarter when nearly everything profitable in small cap health care went down and nearly everything speculative went up. The company's niche leadership, pricing power, and consistent execution are unchanged, and we view the weakness as sentiment-driven rather than fundamental."
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI sto
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT). LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is a medical device company focusing on the manufacturing and development of products and services for vascular surgery. On August 31, 2026, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) closed at $80.28 per share.LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) declined 24.11% in a month and 15.52% over the past 52 weeks. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion with a 52-week trading range between $78.27 - 118.01.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT), our peripheral vascular device holding, declined approximately 12% in a quarter when nearly everything profitable in small cap health care went down and nearly everything speculative went up. The company's niche leadership, pricing power, and consistent execution are unchanged, and we view the weakness as sentiment-driven rather than fundamental."
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI sto
7 hours ago
Hennessy Fund's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund. The letter can be downloaded here. The letter discusses portfolio changes, emphasizing opportunities in equity and fixed income markets that can withstand economic uncertainty. The portfolio held businesses with a 23.0% pre-tax return on invested capital versus 16.1% for the S&P 500. The letter notes a reversal in U.S. equities, driven by AI spending and strong earnings, despite cautious sentiment among lower-income households. The focus on high-quality firms with durable advantages is expected to yield positive outcomes as valuation pressures mount, indicating that future market performance may hinge on fundamentals rather than speculative trends. The portfolio aims to capitalize on the overlooked valuations of quality companies, presenting significant investment opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH), a leading diversified financial services company focusing on life insurance, annuities, ******* et management, and retirement solutions. The Fund disclosed that it sold its position in Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) closed at $50.13 per share. Over the past month, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) returned 3.90%, but its shares are down 4.97% over the past year. Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) has a market capitalization of $13.67 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $35.19 to $55.15.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) triggered our soft stop-loss review, and with no insider buying to reinforce conviction, we sold the position. While Equitable continues to generate strong cash flow and return capital in a disciplined manner, the underlying core business has remained inconsistent. Earnings quality is uneven, flows are mixed, and ongoing pressure in the individual life and retirement segments raises concern. Although valuation appears attractive, our confidence in the ability to deliver consistent results and successfully execute a turnaround was lowered."
Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 49 hedge fund portfolios held Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) at the end of the second quarter, which was 42 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH), a leading diversified financial services company focusing on life insurance, annuities, ******* et management, and retirement solutions. The Fund disclosed that it sold its position in Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) closed at $50.13 per share. Over the past month, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) returned 3.90%, but its shares are down 4.97% over the past year. Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) has a market capitalization of $13.67 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $35.19 to $55.15.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) triggered our soft stop-loss review, and with no insider buying to reinforce conviction, we sold the position. While Equitable continues to generate strong cash flow and return capital in a disciplined manner, the underlying core business has remained inconsistent. Earnings quality is uneven, flows are mixed, and ongoing pressure in the individual life and retirement segments raises concern. Although valuation appears attractive, our confidence in the ability to deliver consistent results and successfully execute a turnaround was lowered."
Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 49 hedge fund portfolios held Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) at the end of the second quarter, which was 42 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on
12 hours ago
It's 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and 19-year-old Delsina Desanctes is standing outside the Palazzo de Cinema — the iconic venue where the Venice Film Festival takes place — surrounded by umbrellas, suitcases, sleeping bags and even a tent.
"I'm hoping to see Sydney Sweeney, Kendall Jenner and Jonathan Bailey," says Desanctes, who traveled to Lido from Rome. (None of them are at the fest for movies; they're attending as brand ambassadors for Armani.)
More from Variety
Venice Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal Says Films Are 'Fundamentally, Unavoidably Political' and Questions Lack of Female Directors in Competition: 'There's a Systemic Problem'
Ruben Östlund's Plattform Produktion Boards Jessica Hausner's Satirical Drama 'Toxic' Ahead of Venice Gap-Financing Market (EXCLUSIVE)
#film
"I'm hoping to see Sydney Sweeney, Kendall Jenner and Jonathan Bailey," says Desanctes, who traveled to Lido from Rome. (None of them are at the fest for movies; they're attending as brand ambassadors for Armani.)
More from Variety
Venice Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal Says Films Are 'Fundamentally, Unavoidably Political' and Questions Lack of Female Directors in Competition: 'There's a Systemic Problem'
Ruben Östlund's Plattform Produktion Boards Jessica Hausner's Satirical Drama 'Toxic' Ahead of Venice Gap-Financing Market (EXCLUSIVE)
#film
18 hours ago
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ:KALU) has pulled back sharply from its recent highs, but UBS sees the weakness as a buying opportunity. On August 31, UBS upgraded Kaiser Aluminum from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target to $184 from $179. ******* yst Alex Stansbury argued that the selloff has created an attractive entry point into a business with improving earnings power.
UBS's upgrade to Buy from Neutral is based on the view that Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ:KALU)'s recent pullback has created an attractive entry point rather than signaling a deterioration in the company's long-term earnings outlook. ******* yst Alex Stansbury raised the price target to $184 from $179, arguing that the selloff has created an opportunity to buy a business with improving earnings power.
The most important part of UBS's argument is that several of the pressures weighing on Kaiser's shares appear temporary. Stansbury specifically pointed to scrap as a meaningful tailwind while also saying that the company's underlying fundamentals are strengthening. That is important because UBS is not relying solely on higher aluminum prices to support its bullish view. Instead, the bank sees operational improvements and stronger end-market demand contributing to earnings growth.
UBS also highlighted the benefits of Kaiser's investments at Warrick and Trentwood. Those investments are increasingly relevant to the earnings story. Kaiser says its Warrick investment is designed to increase capacity for higher-margin coated packaging products, while its Trentwood modernization has focused on improving efficiency, capacity and the quality of products serving aerospace and general engineering customers.
The aerospace recovery is another key part of UBS's thesis. Stansbury pointed to the end of aerospace destocking and accelerating build rates, suggesting that an important headwind for Kaiser is beginning to reverse. That view is supported by Kaiser's latest results: the company said aerospace demand was strengthening as destocking eased, while second-quarter aerospace shipments increased year over year.
#kaiser #earnings #created #view
UBS's upgrade to Buy from Neutral is based on the view that Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ:KALU)'s recent pullback has created an attractive entry point rather than signaling a deterioration in the company's long-term earnings outlook. ******* yst Alex Stansbury raised the price target to $184 from $179, arguing that the selloff has created an opportunity to buy a business with improving earnings power.
The most important part of UBS's argument is that several of the pressures weighing on Kaiser's shares appear temporary. Stansbury specifically pointed to scrap as a meaningful tailwind while also saying that the company's underlying fundamentals are strengthening. That is important because UBS is not relying solely on higher aluminum prices to support its bullish view. Instead, the bank sees operational improvements and stronger end-market demand contributing to earnings growth.
UBS also highlighted the benefits of Kaiser's investments at Warrick and Trentwood. Those investments are increasingly relevant to the earnings story. Kaiser says its Warrick investment is designed to increase capacity for higher-margin coated packaging products, while its Trentwood modernization has focused on improving efficiency, capacity and the quality of products serving aerospace and general engineering customers.
The aerospace recovery is another key part of UBS's thesis. Stansbury pointed to the end of aerospace destocking and accelerating build rates, suggesting that an important headwind for Kaiser is beginning to reverse. That view is supported by Kaiser's latest results: the company said aerospace demand was strengthening as destocking eased, while second-quarter aerospace shipments increased year over year.
#kaiser #earnings #created #view
18 hours ago
Investors in AI stocks are not without their long list of worries — chief among them is that demand is peaking.
"There was a notable discrepancy between management teams' outlooks for fundamentals and investors' outlooks for share prices," said Deutsche Bank ***** yst Melissa Weathers in a new note on Wednesday.
The note recapped a recent conference DB had, hosting tech execs from the likes of Intel (INTC) and Sandisk (SNDK) and investors in the ***** e.
"Fundamentally, most companies in attendance signaled steady and strong trends, especially the supply chain names gearing up for more advanced processor architectures, higher memory demand, etc. Many management teams signaled confidence not only in industry-wide trends (confidence spanned across sub-sectors like processors, broad-based semis, semicap, etc), but also company-specific efforts to expand margins and drive EPS power.
By contrast, investor sentiment has soured materially from the enthusiasm seen in the first half of the year, with "peak cycle" fears common among many investors. Much of this bearishness stems from ongoing concerns of demand destruction caused by DRAM pricing and technological innovation to break through the "Memory wall", Weathers explained.
#investors #memory #teams
"There was a notable discrepancy between management teams' outlooks for fundamentals and investors' outlooks for share prices," said Deutsche Bank ***** yst Melissa Weathers in a new note on Wednesday.
The note recapped a recent conference DB had, hosting tech execs from the likes of Intel (INTC) and Sandisk (SNDK) and investors in the ***** e.
"Fundamentally, most companies in attendance signaled steady and strong trends, especially the supply chain names gearing up for more advanced processor architectures, higher memory demand, etc. Many management teams signaled confidence not only in industry-wide trends (confidence spanned across sub-sectors like processors, broad-based semis, semicap, etc), but also company-specific efforts to expand margins and drive EPS power.
By contrast, investor sentiment has soured materially from the enthusiasm seen in the first half of the year, with "peak cycle" fears common among many investors. Much of this bearishness stems from ongoing concerns of demand destruction caused by DRAM pricing and technological innovation to break through the "Memory wall", Weathers explained.
#investors #memory #teams
18 hours ago
On August 31, Baird upgraded Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its price target to $800 from $640, implying meaningful upside from the share price cited in the report. The upgrade is based on an expected improvement in North American agricultural fundamentals in 2027.
Baird expects mid-2027 corn futures to move above farmer breakeven levels, while soybean economics are also improving. Deteriorating crop conditions and tighter projected stocks-to-use ratios could support higher crop prices and improve per-acre farmer margins.
That matters for Deere because stronger farm profitability typically gives farmers more room to purchase large tractors, combines, planters, and other equipment. The timing is important because Deere's management has previously indicated that 2026 should represent the bottom of the current agricultural equipment cycle. At the same time, the company's Production & Precision Agriculture business remains under pressure, showing that the expected recovery has not fully reached its results yet.
Photo by Sebastian Gómez on Unsplash
The biggest bullish argument is that higher corn and soybean prices could signal the start of a new agricultural equipment replacement cycle. Farmers have delayed major machinery purchases during the downturn, so sustained improvement in crop economics could unlock pent-up demand.
#baird
Baird expects mid-2027 corn futures to move above farmer breakeven levels, while soybean economics are also improving. Deteriorating crop conditions and tighter projected stocks-to-use ratios could support higher crop prices and improve per-acre farmer margins.
That matters for Deere because stronger farm profitability typically gives farmers more room to purchase large tractors, combines, planters, and other equipment. The timing is important because Deere's management has previously indicated that 2026 should represent the bottom of the current agricultural equipment cycle. At the same time, the company's Production & Precision Agriculture business remains under pressure, showing that the expected recovery has not fully reached its results yet.
Photo by Sebastian Gómez on Unsplash
The biggest bullish argument is that higher corn and soybean prices could signal the start of a new agricultural equipment replacement cycle. Farmers have delayed major machinery purchases during the downturn, so sustained improvement in crop economics could unlock pent-up demand.
#baird
19 hours ago
Peter Lynch built an impressive track record as the fund manager for Fidelity's Magellan Fund. Under his stewardship, from 1977 to 1990, the fund beat the S&P 500 index in 11 out of the 13 years. And it produced an impressive 29% average annual return.
Fortunately, Lynch shares his wisdom in a book called One Up on Wall Street. He describes his philosophy, which is buy what you know, research the company's fundamentals, and plan to make a long-term commitment.
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 »
With this in mind, here are two consumer goods companies that fit the bill.
Many people continue to shop at Costco Wholesale's (NASDAQ: COST) giant warehouses. If you've ever gone into one, you can usually see a crowd.
#NVIDIA #fund #flashing #years
Fortunately, Lynch shares his wisdom in a book called One Up on Wall Street. He describes his philosophy, which is buy what you know, research the company's fundamentals, and plan to make a long-term commitment.
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 »
With this in mind, here are two consumer goods companies that fit the bill.
Many people continue to shop at Costco Wholesale's (NASDAQ: COST) giant warehouses. If you've ever gone into one, you can usually see a crowd.
#NVIDIA #fund #flashing #years
1 day ago
Hennessy Fund's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund. The letter can be downloaded here. The letter discusses portfolio changes, emphasizing opportunities in equity and fixed income markets that can withstand economic uncertainty. The portfolio held businesses with a 23.0% pre-tax return on invested capital versus 16.1% for the S&P 500. The letter notes a reversal in U.S. equities, driven by AI spending and strong earnings, despite cautious sentiment among lower-income households. The focus on high-quality firms with durable advantages is expected to yield positive outcomes as valuation pressures mount, indicating that future market performance may hinge on fundamentals rather than speculative trends. The portfolio aims to capitalize on the overlooked valuations of quality companies, presenting significant investment opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is a building materials company that supplies aggregates and heavy-side building materials to the construction industry. On August 28, 2026, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) closed at $531.05 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $37.72 billion. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) posted a one‑month return of ‑2.07%, while its shares lost 13.85% over the past 52 weeks.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The largest detractor year-to-date based on relative performance vs. the benchmark was Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). Shares were pressured by elevated expectations rather than any meaningful deterioration in fundamentals. Infrastructure and nonresidential demand remain supported by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding and data center construction, while recent acquisitions should enhance pricing, margins, and cash flow. We remain confident in Martin Marietta's ability to compound earnings over the long term."
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 67 hedge fund portfolios held Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) at the end of the second quarter, which was 65 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#hennessy #Equity
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is a building materials company that supplies aggregates and heavy-side building materials to the construction industry. On August 28, 2026, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) closed at $531.05 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $37.72 billion. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) posted a one‑month return of ‑2.07%, while its shares lost 13.85% over the past 52 weeks.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The largest detractor year-to-date based on relative performance vs. the benchmark was Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). Shares were pressured by elevated expectations rather than any meaningful deterioration in fundamentals. Infrastructure and nonresidential demand remain supported by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding and data center construction, while recent acquisitions should enhance pricing, margins, and cash flow. We remain confident in Martin Marietta's ability to compound earnings over the long term."
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 67 hedge fund portfolios held Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) at the end of the second quarter, which was 65 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#hennessy #Equity
1 day ago
Hennessy Fund's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund. The letter can be downloaded here. The letter discusses portfolio changes, emphasizing opportunities in equity and fixed income markets that can withstand economic uncertainty. The portfolio held businesses with a 23.0% pre-tax return on invested capital versus 16.1% for the S&P 500. The letter notes a reversal in U.S. equities, driven by AI spending and strong earnings, despite cautious sentiment among lower-income households. The focus on high-quality firms with durable advantages is expected to yield positive outcomes as valuation pressures mount, indicating that future market performance may hinge on fundamentals rather than speculative trends. The portfolio aims to capitalize on the overlooked valuations of quality companies, presenting significant investment opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D). Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) is a leading utility company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. On August 28, 2026, Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) closed at $65.55 per share. Over the past month, Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) returned -4.65%, while its shares have gained 9.43% in the last 52 weeks. Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) has a market capitalization of $57.65 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $55.85 to $72.99.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Our process remains bottom-up, and recent volatility has mainly given us opportunities to add, what we believe, are high-quality businesses at attractive valuations, funded by trimming positions that had appreciated or where our conviction had lowered.
In January, we initiated a position in Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D), which operates as a predominantly regulated utility with stable earnings, improving financial flexibility, and attractive long-term growth drivers. More than 90% of earnings are generated from regulated electric and gas utilities in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, providing predictable cash flows and low revenue cyclicality.
#letter #Equity
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D). Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) is a leading utility company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. On August 28, 2026, Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) closed at $65.55 per share. Over the past month, Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) returned -4.65%, while its shares have gained 9.43% in the last 52 weeks. Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) has a market capitalization of $57.65 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $55.85 to $72.99.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Our process remains bottom-up, and recent volatility has mainly given us opportunities to add, what we believe, are high-quality businesses at attractive valuations, funded by trimming positions that had appreciated or where our conviction had lowered.
In January, we initiated a position in Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D), which operates as a predominantly regulated utility with stable earnings, improving financial flexibility, and attractive long-term growth drivers. More than 90% of earnings are generated from regulated electric and gas utilities in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, providing predictable cash flows and low revenue cyclicality.
#letter #Equity
1 day ago
Hennessy Fund's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund. The letter can be downloaded here. The letter discusses portfolio changes, emphasizing opportunities in equity and fixed income markets that can withstand economic uncertainty. The portfolio held businesses with a 23.0% pre-tax return on invested capital versus 16.1% for the S&P 500. The letter notes a reversal in U.S. equities, driven by AI spending and strong earnings, despite cautious sentiment among lower-income households. The focus on high-quality firms with durable advantages is expected to yield positive outcomes as valuation pressures mount, indicating that future market performance may hinge on fundamentals rather than speculative trends. The portfolio aims to capitalize on the overlooked valuations of quality companies, presenting significant investment opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) as a leading contributor. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) provides materials and process solutions for the semiconductor and other high-technology industries. On August 28, 2026, Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) closed at $134.92 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $20.62 billion. Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) posted a one‑month return of 7.76%, while its shares gained 61.12% over the past 52 weeks.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The largest contributor year-to-date based on relative performance vs. the benchmark was Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG), as it benefited from improving fab utilization and accelerating AI-driven semiconductor demand. The company continues to gain share as advanced node transitions increase materials intensity per wafer, while improving memory and logic markets support broader growth. With its investment cycle largely complete, margin expansion and improving free cash flow should drive the next phase of earnings growth. We remain attracted to Entegris' strong competitive positioning and high barriers to entry."
Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 47 hedge fund portfolios held Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) at the end of the second quarter, the same as in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#NASDAQ #income #hennessy
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) as a leading contributor. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) provides materials and process solutions for the semiconductor and other high-technology industries. On August 28, 2026, Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) closed at $134.92 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $20.62 billion. Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) posted a one‑month return of 7.76%, while its shares gained 61.12% over the past 52 weeks.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The largest contributor year-to-date based on relative performance vs. the benchmark was Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG), as it benefited from improving fab utilization and accelerating AI-driven semiconductor demand. The company continues to gain share as advanced node transitions increase materials intensity per wafer, while improving memory and logic markets support broader growth. With its investment cycle largely complete, margin expansion and improving free cash flow should drive the next phase of earnings growth. We remain attracted to Entegris' strong competitive positioning and high barriers to entry."
Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 47 hedge fund portfolios held Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) at the end of the second quarter, the same as in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Entegris, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
#NASDAQ #income #hennessy
1 day ago
For stocks to stay hot, they will now have to overcome a perception problem after Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh came across as surprisingly more hawkish than many investors thought when he got the gig.
"While we expect underlying fundamentals here to remain solid, the presumption of higher rates does present a sentiment headwind," Citigroup US equity strategist Scott Chronert wrote in a new note.
Delivering his debut keynote address as Fed chair at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium on Friday, Warsh adopted a hawkish stance on interest rate policy, warning that the central bank's fight against inflation is far from over.
With inflation "running above our 2% target … the Fed's predominant focus right now should be on prices," Warsh said.
Warsh characterized recent inflation numbers as "concerning" and added that "we must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed … otherwise, we have work to do."
#underlying
"While we expect underlying fundamentals here to remain solid, the presumption of higher rates does present a sentiment headwind," Citigroup US equity strategist Scott Chronert wrote in a new note.
Delivering his debut keynote address as Fed chair at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium on Friday, Warsh adopted a hawkish stance on interest rate policy, warning that the central bank's fight against inflation is far from over.
With inflation "running above our 2% target … the Fed's predominant focus right now should be on prices," Warsh said.
Warsh characterized recent inflation numbers as "concerning" and added that "we must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed … otherwise, we have work to do."
#underlying
2 days ago
The notion college sports are for college students who will move on when they complete their degree or turn pro enjoys near-universal support. But right now, that fundamental boundary is being dismantled amid a relentless wave of litigation.
In two cases, the NCAA has been ordered to allow professional basketball players to return to college basketball, despite the fact they intentionally left college to go to the NBA Draft and each played in several NBA games. In another case, a judge required the NCAA to allow an athlete to compete for a fifth school in five years. And in the past two weeks, without so much as a hearing, let alone a trial, two courts permitted NFL players to return immediately to college football. These few examples are merely the tip of the iceberg.
POWER PLAY: College football's 25 most powerful people
OP-ED: Federal antitrust protection is only workable path to saving college sports
Eligibility rules have long held a simple purpose: Ensuring a fair playing field while preserving access to the life-changing benefits college sports provide to actual college students. For decades, that standard meant allowing student-athletes four seasons of competition over five years. Recognizing the need for evolution, NCAA member schools recently updated this rule to allow up to five years of competition before age 24. However, since the start of 2025, more than 165 lawsuits have been filed seeking to tear down these basic limits.
#ncaa #allow #players
In two cases, the NCAA has been ordered to allow professional basketball players to return to college basketball, despite the fact they intentionally left college to go to the NBA Draft and each played in several NBA games. In another case, a judge required the NCAA to allow an athlete to compete for a fifth school in five years. And in the past two weeks, without so much as a hearing, let alone a trial, two courts permitted NFL players to return immediately to college football. These few examples are merely the tip of the iceberg.
POWER PLAY: College football's 25 most powerful people
OP-ED: Federal antitrust protection is only workable path to saving college sports
Eligibility rules have long held a simple purpose: Ensuring a fair playing field while preserving access to the life-changing benefits college sports provide to actual college students. For decades, that standard meant allowing student-athletes four seasons of competition over five years. Recognizing the need for evolution, NCAA member schools recently updated this rule to allow up to five years of competition before age 24. However, since the start of 2025, more than 165 lawsuits have been filed seeking to tear down these basic limits.
#ncaa #allow #players
2 days ago
Broadcom (AVGO) reports fiscal Q3 2026 earnings after the close on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The numbers will almost certainly be extraordinary. The real question, and Morgan Stanley spelled it out, is whether extraordinary is enough.
That's the setup heading into Q3. Not "Can Broadcom deliver?" but whether it can clear a bar that some investors have quietly set at more than $150 billion in AI revenue for fiscal 2027. Morgan Stanley models $120 billion.
The gap between those two numbers is where near-term volatility lives. Remember, Q2 was a great reminder that very strong results are not necessarily enough when expectations are high.
The firm maintains its Overweight rating on AVGO, according to a note shared with me at TheStreet. But it's worth reading the note's headline: "The main risk into the print is expectations rather than fundamentals."
Also Read: Broadcom Inc. Latest News and Stories
#fiscal #extraordinary #enough
That's the setup heading into Q3. Not "Can Broadcom deliver?" but whether it can clear a bar that some investors have quietly set at more than $150 billion in AI revenue for fiscal 2027. Morgan Stanley models $120 billion.
The gap between those two numbers is where near-term volatility lives. Remember, Q2 was a great reminder that very strong results are not necessarily enough when expectations are high.
The firm maintains its Overweight rating on AVGO, according to a note shared with me at TheStreet. But it's worth reading the note's headline: "The main risk into the print is expectations rather than fundamentals."
Also Read: Broadcom Inc. Latest News and Stories
#fiscal #extraordinary #enough
2 days ago
Ondas (ONDS) falls 6% and Red Cat (RCAT) drops 3% with no company-specific news or filings behind either move this session.
DRNZ slips 2% while SPY falls just 0.5%, bracketing the drone complex and flagging this as a risk-appetite withdrawal, not a fundamental repricing.
The 10-year yield at 4.8% and Brent crude above $91 on U.S.-Iran tensions compress valuations hardest for pre-profit, small-float drone names.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and AeroVironment didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The drone complex is selling in a strict beta ladder this Tuesday morning, and the ordering itself is the story. The smallest and least profitable names are falling hardest, the sector fund is falling less, and the broad market is falling least of all. That pattern identifies today's action as a risk-appetite event rather than drone-specific news flow.
#risk
DRNZ slips 2% while SPY falls just 0.5%, bracketing the drone complex and flagging this as a risk-appetite withdrawal, not a fundamental repricing.
The 10-year yield at 4.8% and Brent crude above $91 on U.S.-Iran tensions compress valuations hardest for pre-profit, small-float drone names.
Act now: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and AeroVironment didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The drone complex is selling in a strict beta ladder this Tuesday morning, and the ordering itself is the story. The smallest and least profitable names are falling hardest, the sector fund is falling less, and the broad market is falling least of all. That pattern identifies today's action as a risk-appetite event rather than drone-specific news flow.
#risk
2 days ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."
#value #company
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."
#value #company
2 days ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY). Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY), a leading enterprise software company that provides cloud applications for human resources and financial management, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) closed at $197.45 per share. Over the past month, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) returned 15.87%, but its shares are down 13.29% over the past year. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a leader in cloud software for back-office business functions, spanning human capital management (HCM), financial management, and adjacent ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, with 60% of the Fortune 500 as HCM customers. Shares declined over the period, pressured by investor concerns that AI could disrupt application software vendors. The most recent quarter, however, did not show evidence of this. Subscription revenue grew 14%, 12-month backlog grew 16%, retention remained industry leading, margins expanded, and management reiterated full-year subscription revenue guidance while raising operating margin guidance. AI adoption also appears to be progressing, with Workday-developed agents now used by more
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY). Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY), a leading enterprise software company that provides cloud applications for human resources and financial management, detracted from performance this quarter. On August 31, 2026, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) closed at $197.45 per share. Over the past month, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) returned 15.87%, but its shares are down 13.29% over the past year. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) has a market capitalization of $47.59 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a leader in cloud software for back-office business functions, spanning human capital management (HCM), financial management, and adjacent ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, with 60% of the Fortune 500 as HCM customers. Shares declined over the period, pressured by investor concerns that AI could disrupt application software vendors. The most recent quarter, however, did not show evidence of this. Subscription revenue grew 14%, 12-month backlog grew 16%, retention remained industry leading, margins expanded, and management reiterated full-year subscription revenue guidance while raising operating margin guidance. AI adoption also appears to be progressing, with Workday-developed agents now used by more
2 days ago
Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."
#application
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."
#application
2 days ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The fund achieved a strong quarter, gaining 24.6% (Institutional Shares), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index (16.7%) and the S&P 500 (15.2%). Year to date, it's up 11.7%, surpassing its benchmarks. The first half of 2026 mirrored the previous year, with a 10.4% drawdown in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions, similar to last year's tariff-related decline. However, the fund rebounded with a 24.6% gain in Q2 after a cease-fire and declining oil prices. Stock selection drove the outperformance, contributing 940bps, while sector allocation detracted 152bps. In a volatile market, the firm remains focused on identifying high-quality, competitively advantaged companies and is optimistic about long-term prospects, investing when prices align with intrinsic values. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP). Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a Canada-based e-commerce technology company that provides a cloud-based platform for individuals and companies to create and manage their operations, detracted from performance in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) closed at $147.37 per share. Over the past month, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) returned 19.52%, but its shares are up 5.99% over the past year. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has a market capitalization of $189.59 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $94.00 to $182.19.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a leading global commerce platform serving merchants across online and offline channels, detracted from performance in the second quarter with the stock down 3.7%. The decline was driven by multiple compression (its P/E was down 8.5%11) rather than any deterioration in the underlying business or fundamental outlook. Shopify continued to post healthy growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, which were up 30% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. Instead, the pressure reflected investor concerns about the company's long-term positioning in a future state of e-commerce that may rely more heavily on AI-driven applications than traditional websites. We view those concerns as misplaced and see Shopify as an AI winner. Two decades of proprietary data across millions of merchants provide Shopify with a strong foundation for AI tools that improve merchant outcomes. Recent product releases also embed the platform more deeply within the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem while creating new monetization opportunities. We continue to believe that Shopify is the category-defining platform for modern commerce, benefiting from durable secular growth
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund highlighted Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP). Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a Canada-based e-commerce technology company that provides a cloud-based platform for individuals and companies to create and manage their operations, detracted from performance in the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) closed at $147.37 per share. Over the past month, Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) returned 19.52%, but its shares are up 5.99% over the past year. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has a market capitalization of $189.59 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $94.00 to $182.19.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP), a leading global commerce platform serving merchants across online and offline channels, detracted from performance in the second quarter with the stock down 3.7%. The decline was driven by multiple compression (its P/E was down 8.5%11) rather than any deterioration in the underlying business or fundamental outlook. Shopify continued to post healthy growth in gross merchandise volume and revenue, which were up 30% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. Instead, the pressure reflected investor concerns about the company's long-term positioning in a future state of e-commerce that may rely more heavily on AI-driven applications than traditional websites. We view those concerns as misplaced and see Shopify as an AI winner. Two decades of proprietary data across millions of merchants provide Shopify with a strong foundation for AI tools that improve merchant outcomes. Recent product releases also embed the platform more deeply within the emerging agentic commerce ecosystem while creating new monetization opportunities. We continue to believe that Shopify is the category-defining platform for modern commerce, benefiting from durable secular growth
2 days ago
Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, released its 'Small Cap Strategy' Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Small Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell 2000 in the second quarter as the benchmark experienced one of its strongest risk-on rallies in recent memory, although the strategy remained ahead year-to-date. The quarter was defined by accelerating AI investment, energy market disruptions, and renewed investor appetite for higher-beta stocks, creating headwinds for the firm's quality-focused approach and healthcare positioning. Despite this, stock selection contributed positively in energy, materials, and financials, while healthcare and consumer discretionary detracted due to the fund's disciplined avoidance of speculative businesses. Looking ahead, the firm remains cautiously optimistic, focusing on opportunities created by market dislocations, including AI infrastructure enablers, select consumer companies, healthcare innovators, and energy businesses trading below intrinsic value. The strategy continues to emphasize high-quality companies with strong management teams and attractive valuations, positioning the portfolio for a potential rotation away from speculative market leadership. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT). LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is a medical device company focusing on the manufacturing and development of products and services for vascular surgery. On August 31, 2026, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) closed at $80.28 per share.LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) declined 24.11% in a month and 15.52% over the past 52 weeks. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion with a 52-week trading range between $78.27 - 118.01.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT), our peripheral vascular device holding, declined approximately 12% in a quarter when nearly everything profitable in small cap health care went down and nearly everything speculative went up. The company's niche leadership, pricing power, and consistent execution are unchanged, and we view the weakness as sentiment-driven rather than fundamental."
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI sto
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy highlighted LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT). LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is a medical device company focusing on the manufacturing and development of products and services for vascular surgery. On August 31, 2026, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) closed at $80.28 per share.LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) declined 24.11% in a month and 15.52% over the past 52 weeks. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion with a 52-week trading range between $78.27 - 118.01.
Riverwater Partners Small Cap Strategy stated the following regarding LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT), our peripheral vascular device holding, declined approximately 12% in a quarter when nearly everything profitable in small cap health care went down and nearly everything speculative went up. The company's niche leadership, pricing power, and consistent execution are unchanged, and we view the weakness as sentiment-driven rather than fundamental."
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ:LMAT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI sto
2 days ago
Hennessy Fund's Q2 2026 investor letter for the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund. The letter can be downloaded here. The letter discusses portfolio changes, emphasizing opportunities in equity and fixed income markets that can withstand economic uncertainty. The portfolio held businesses with a 23.0% pre-tax return on invested capital versus 16.1% for the S&P 500. The letter notes a reversal in U.S. equities, driven by AI spending and strong earnings, despite cautious sentiment among lower-income households. The focus on high-quality firms with durable advantages is expected to yield positive outcomes as valuation pressures mount, indicating that future market performance may hinge on fundamentals rather than speculative trends. The portfolio aims to capitalize on the overlooked valuations of quality companies, presenting significant investment opportunities. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH), a leading diversified financial services company focusing on life insurance, annuities, ******* et management, and retirement solutions. The Fund disclosed that it sold its position in Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) closed at $50.13 per share. Over the past month, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) returned 3.90%, but its shares are down 4.97% over the past year. Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) has a market capitalization of $13.67 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $35.19 to $55.15.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) triggered our soft stop-loss review, and with no insider buying to reinforce conviction, we sold the position. While Equitable continues to generate strong cash flow and return capital in a disciplined manner, the underlying core business has remained inconsistent. Earnings quality is uneven, flows are mixed, and ongoing pressure in the individual life and retirement segments raises concern. Although valuation appears attractive, our confidence in the ability to deliver consistent results and successfully execute a turnaround was lowered."
Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 49 hedge fund portfolios held Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) at the end of the second quarter, which was 42 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hennessy Equity and Income Fund highlighted Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH), a leading diversified financial services company focusing on life insurance, annuities, ******* et management, and retirement solutions. The Fund disclosed that it sold its position in Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) during the quarter. On August 31, 2026, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) closed at $50.13 per share. Over the past month, Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) returned 3.90%, but its shares are down 4.97% over the past year. Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) has a market capitalization of $13.67 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $35.19 to $55.15.
Hennessy Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) triggered our soft stop-loss review, and with no insider buying to reinforce conviction, we sold the position. While Equitable continues to generate strong cash flow and return capital in a disciplined manner, the underlying core business has remained inconsistent. Earnings quality is uneven, flows are mixed, and ongoing pressure in the individual life and retirement segments raises concern. Although valuation appears attractive, our confidence in the ability to deliver consistent results and successfully execute a turnaround was lowered."
Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 49 hedge fund portfolios held Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) at the end of the second quarter, which was 42 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on
2 days ago
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - LIV Golf signage carries one of several non-performing value propositions (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The game of golf is one of the oldest sports. As a pastime, it harks back to childhood diversions; as a profession, it dates back to the "Old Course" at St. Andrews, Scotland, where in the 1850s the sport was first played by professionals.
Vulnerabilities of Golf's Present Business Model
Because of the beauty of its venues and the challenge of mastering the game, golf has long been jocularly described as "a good walk spoiled." But over the centuries, professional golf has arguably spoiled more than just a good walk. Its enduring business model has always had some fundamental vulnerabilities:
It is inherently solitary. Individuals play against individuals, even as collaboration and teamwork have become increasingly important features of contemporary life.
#individuals #good
The game of golf is one of the oldest sports. As a pastime, it harks back to childhood diversions; as a profession, it dates back to the "Old Course" at St. Andrews, Scotland, where in the 1850s the sport was first played by professionals.
Vulnerabilities of Golf's Present Business Model
Because of the beauty of its venues and the challenge of mastering the game, golf has long been jocularly described as "a good walk spoiled." But over the centuries, professional golf has arguably spoiled more than just a good walk. Its enduring business model has always had some fundamental vulnerabilities:
It is inherently solitary. Individuals play against individuals, even as collaboration and teamwork have become increasingly important features of contemporary life.
#individuals #good
2 days ago
Kenneth Lonergan has taken a firm stand for Mark Ruffalo amid antisemitism accusations tied to his Israel-Gaza remarks. The Oscar-winning filmmaker and longtime friend of Ruffalo addressed the allegations in a letter to The Hollywood Reporter. He called the antisemitism accusation against Ruffalo "overtly preposterous" and said it was being used to silence his criticism of Israel.
Ruffalo's latest controversy followed his criticism of Oracle founder Larry Ellison and the company's reported ties to Israeli military technology. He also faced backlash from Paramount Skydance after criticizing the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company accused him of using antisemitic tropes, but Ruffalo denied it and said he was criticizing political and corporate actions.
Lonergan's relationship with Ruffalo dates back to You Can Count on Me, his 2000 directorial debut starring Laura Linney and Ruffalo. The film was widely praised and marked the beginning of their friendship, which has continued for decades.
Their long friendship led Lonergan to publicly defend the actor. In his letter, he referred to Ruffalo as his "dear friend for thirty years." Lonergan called the antisemitism accusation "a cynical and disgusting lie" and questioned the motives behind it. He wants the Simon Wiesenthal Center to review its response and clarify where it detects any antisemitism.
Lonergan said that attacking Ruffalo personally helps critics avoid addressing his actual arguments. He also acknowledged that he "disagrees profoundly with many of his positions on the Middle East, Israel, Gaza, and Iran's constellation of fanatical Islamic fundamentalist proxies." However, Lonergan said people can disagree with Ruffalo's views without labeling his criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
#ruffalo #friend #letter #accusation
Ruffalo's latest controversy followed his criticism of Oracle founder Larry Ellison and the company's reported ties to Israeli military technology. He also faced backlash from Paramount Skydance after criticizing the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company accused him of using antisemitic tropes, but Ruffalo denied it and said he was criticizing political and corporate actions.
Lonergan's relationship with Ruffalo dates back to You Can Count on Me, his 2000 directorial debut starring Laura Linney and Ruffalo. The film was widely praised and marked the beginning of their friendship, which has continued for decades.
Their long friendship led Lonergan to publicly defend the actor. In his letter, he referred to Ruffalo as his "dear friend for thirty years." Lonergan called the antisemitism accusation "a cynical and disgusting lie" and questioned the motives behind it. He wants the Simon Wiesenthal Center to review its response and clarify where it detects any antisemitism.
Lonergan said that attacking Ruffalo personally helps critics avoid addressing his actual arguments. He also acknowledged that he "disagrees profoundly with many of his positions on the Middle East, Israel, Gaza, and Iran's constellation of fanatical Islamic fundamentalist proxies." However, Lonergan said people can disagree with Ruffalo's views without labeling his criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
#ruffalo #friend #letter #accusation
2 days ago
One step forward, no steps back.
That's about how Alabama football offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb summed up the most fundamental way for the Crimson Tide rushing attack to improve in 2026: eliminate negative plays.
"I thought one of our biggest sins last year was the number of negative yardage runs that we had," Grubb said Monday. "You know, for us, just the availability of keeping the ball consistently moving forward and eliminating the negative yardage runs is going to be step one. And that's a very low bar."
A low bar indeed, but one UA too often failed to clear in 2025. Crimson Tide running backs got caught in the backfield plenty, even if sack yardage accounted for most rushing losses in official statistics. When Alabama was held to minus-3 yards rushing in a blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, quarterback Ty Simpson took 29 yards in rushing losses via the sack. But UA's leading rusher (Daniel Hill) had just 11 yards net.
Still, disallowing penetration is naturally at the top of Grubb's list.
#yardage #yards #grubb
That's about how Alabama football offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb summed up the most fundamental way for the Crimson Tide rushing attack to improve in 2026: eliminate negative plays.
"I thought one of our biggest sins last year was the number of negative yardage runs that we had," Grubb said Monday. "You know, for us, just the availability of keeping the ball consistently moving forward and eliminating the negative yardage runs is going to be step one. And that's a very low bar."
A low bar indeed, but one UA too often failed to clear in 2025. Crimson Tide running backs got caught in the backfield plenty, even if sack yardage accounted for most rushing losses in official statistics. When Alabama was held to minus-3 yards rushing in a blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, quarterback Ty Simpson took 29 yards in rushing losses via the sack. But UA's leading rusher (Daniel Hill) had just 11 yards net.
Still, disallowing penetration is naturally at the top of Grubb's list.
#yardage #yards #grubb
3 days ago
The Indian cricket board's reluctance to seek better price discovery ahead of the upcoming IPL and home bilateral media rights tender is weighing heavily on the industry.
With about six months to go before the final IPL edition of the 2023-27 rights cycle begins, there is growing concern among cricket's biggest stakeholders that the absence of a credible bidder other than JioStar will prevent an accurate ******* sment of the property's value, and, in turn, deny the market the competitive tension that has driven IPL rights upwards for a decade.
That sentiment was echoed by none other than Uday Shankar, the media entrepreneur who serves as vice-chairman of JioStar, at the recent ET World Leaders Forum.
"Ten years ago, you would have multiple and serious media companies (around four) competing for major sports rights. You'd have four or more companies genuinely fighting for properties. Today, increasingly, it feels as if we are the only ones standing. And that's not healthy," Shankar said.
"The fundamental issue is that the cost of the rights has risen dramatically. But the ability to monetise those rights hasn't necessarily risen at the same rate. The value of sports is enormous, but the rights holder, broadcaster and platform all need to participate in a sustainable ecosystem," he added.
The worrying part of this narrative is the absence of a Plan B for Indian cricket. That JioStar will bid healthily for the IPL is a given: its subscription numbers are heavily leveraged against cricket consumption. What is baffling is the BCCI's inability to bring more participants to the table.
Players such as YouTube and Netflix have been engaging aggressively with sport in the West. YouTube's move into rights aggregation and bundling has, in fact, become an industry trend of its own.
YouTube increasingly treats sport not as a series of standalone rights acquisitions but as the anchor of a broader pay-TV and subscription ecosystem. Its seven-year deal for exclusive US distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket — worth a reported $2 billion a season — works both as a value-add for YouTube TV subscribers and as a standalone product sold through YouTube channels.
Average revenue per user in the West bears little resemblance to what the subcontinent generates, which complicates the ******* umption that volume alone wins the argument. Even so, Indian cricket remains the only market in this part of the world worth a player like YouTube testing the waters in.
More recently, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told The Economic Times that the streaming giant was interested in live sport, including cricket, but had no intention of becoming a "conventional full-season sports broadcaster".
If so, a property like the IPL sits squarely in Netflix's territory. The storytelling potential of an India-first sports property speaks to a billion-plus domestic audience, a vast global diaspora, and to markets where cricket remains one of India's most effective export
With about six months to go before the final IPL edition of the 2023-27 rights cycle begins, there is growing concern among cricket's biggest stakeholders that the absence of a credible bidder other than JioStar will prevent an accurate ******* sment of the property's value, and, in turn, deny the market the competitive tension that has driven IPL rights upwards for a decade.
That sentiment was echoed by none other than Uday Shankar, the media entrepreneur who serves as vice-chairman of JioStar, at the recent ET World Leaders Forum.
"Ten years ago, you would have multiple and serious media companies (around four) competing for major sports rights. You'd have four or more companies genuinely fighting for properties. Today, increasingly, it feels as if we are the only ones standing. And that's not healthy," Shankar said.
"The fundamental issue is that the cost of the rights has risen dramatically. But the ability to monetise those rights hasn't necessarily risen at the same rate. The value of sports is enormous, but the rights holder, broadcaster and platform all need to participate in a sustainable ecosystem," he added.
The worrying part of this narrative is the absence of a Plan B for Indian cricket. That JioStar will bid healthily for the IPL is a given: its subscription numbers are heavily leveraged against cricket consumption. What is baffling is the BCCI's inability to bring more participants to the table.
Players such as YouTube and Netflix have been engaging aggressively with sport in the West. YouTube's move into rights aggregation and bundling has, in fact, become an industry trend of its own.
YouTube increasingly treats sport not as a series of standalone rights acquisitions but as the anchor of a broader pay-TV and subscription ecosystem. Its seven-year deal for exclusive US distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket — worth a reported $2 billion a season — works both as a value-add for YouTube TV subscribers and as a standalone product sold through YouTube channels.
Average revenue per user in the West bears little resemblance to what the subcontinent generates, which complicates the ******* umption that volume alone wins the argument. Even so, Indian cricket remains the only market in this part of the world worth a player like YouTube testing the waters in.
More recently, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told The Economic Times that the streaming giant was interested in live sport, including cricket, but had no intention of becoming a "conventional full-season sports broadcaster".
If so, a property like the IPL sits squarely in Netflix's territory. The storytelling potential of an India-first sports property speaks to a billion-plus domestic audience, a vast global diaspora, and to markets where cricket remains one of India's most effective export
