Goldman Sachs upgrades Palantir Technologies to Buy from Neutral, citing an explosion of demand for sovereign and bespoke AI.

#upgrades

Apple's 2.5B active devices and 1.5B paid subscriptions let it monetize AI without heavy data center spending, fueling a 9th straight EPS beat.
Microsoft's AI infrastructure spending surged 79% to $116B, shrinking free cash flow, while Apple's customers fund AI hardware themselves.
Siri AI awaits EU and China approval, iCloud+ upgrades haven't launched yet, and a $30B Broadcom chip deal gives Apple untapped upside catalysts.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
I added to my Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) position this month and expect to add more after the October 29 earnings report. The market has misunderstood Apple's AI strategy.

#Apple #broadcom

Google and Constellation Energy announced a 20-year power purchase agreement on Tuesday to bring 890 megawatts of new nuclear capacity onto the PJM Interconnection grid, with Constellation committing more than $4.3 billion to fund the build-out.
The capacity will be generated through turbine, steam generator, and digital control system upgrades at 11 Constellation nuclear units in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, the companies said. The first uprate is expected to be delivered by 2028. The agreement is expected to sustain roughly 4,400 existing jobs and create approximately 7,200 new construction jobs during the building period.
Alongside the power purchase agreement, the companies entered into a separate 15-year energy supply agreement covering an additional 2,700 megawatts from Constellation's existing fleet in the PJM market, the company said.
"We're committed to meeting our growth responsibly by actively investing in clean, reliable power that brings new capacity to our nation's grids," Amanda Peterson Corio, global head of energy and power at Google, said in a statement. "Our agreement with Constellation to fund nuclear reactor uprates will strengthen the PJM grid, which serves 67 million people, all while protecting energy affordability and supporting local union jobs."
Joe Dominguez, chairman, president and CEO of Constellation, said in a statement that the collaboration "can serve as a model for how technology companies and the energy industry can work together to responsibly develop the digital economy."

#energy #capacity #Jobs

The Trump administration is airing campaign-style television ads using money Congress approved for border security upgrades, efforts to combat drug trafficking and memorials for officers killed in the line of duty, according to federal spending records.
Democrats say the ads break multiple federal laws by using taxpayer money for political purposes that Congress never authorized. The White House defends the ads as public service announcements.
One of the spots closely resembles a 30-second video produced by the Trump campaign in 2024. The latest ad features President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth advocating for the Iran war. They feature disclosures saying they are “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”
On Sept. 19, a few days before the ads began airing, the White House Office of Management and Budget added $20 million to a Department of Homeland Security budget line designated for “commemorative events,” according to publicly disclosed OMB data. Congress approved the spending for those events in Trump’s 2025 domestic spending package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, and intended it for “Line-of-Duty death memorials, Department or agency anniversaries, and commendation ceremonies,” according to a House budget committee report.
The next day, Sept. 20, DHS awarded a $20 million contract for a “national media campaign” to the LMD Agency, a Maryland-based public relations and media firm that had previously worked for the department. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

#Trump

On September 9, 2026, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone and the biggest change to the iPhone's design in nearly 20 years, at the first product launch event led by new CEO John Ternus since he succeeded Tim Cook on September 1. The book-style, passport-shaped device opens into a 7.6-inch display, Apple's largest ever, starts at $1,999 for the 256-gigabyte model and rises to $3,199 for 2 terabytes of storage. This makes it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold, with availability set for October 23.
The iPhone Duo gives Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) a new premium growth opportunity in a mature smartphone market. Apple entered the foldable market with the $1,999 Duo. It creates a new high-end product category within its largest hardware franchise. ******* ysts expect Apple to take a real share of the foldable market. The firm's brand strength and large installed base could help speed up use of foldable smartphones.
The Duo creates a materially different iPhone experience that could encourage upgrades and attract Android users. The device opens to a 7.6-inch display, supports side-by-side multitasking, and offers a tablet-like experience in a pocketable design. Apple also shows the Duo's ******* anium frame, custom hinge, A20 Pro chip, and Apple Intelligence features. It gives customers several reasons to pay a substantial premium for the new form factor.
The launch solidifies Apple's hardware innovation strategy under new CEO John Ternus. The Duo represents Apple's most significant iPhone redesign since the iPhone X. It gives Ternus an opportunity to reignite enthusiasm around the company's hardware portfolio. The product also expands Apple's ability to monetize its ecosystem through higher-value hardware, services, and accessories as customers spend more time using a larger, more versatile iPhone.
The $1,999 starting price could keep the Duo a niche product. Reuters reported that the global foldable market could account for less than 3% of smartphone sales in 2026. ******* ysts expect only about 6 million Duo units as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) enters the category. Even strong market share would turn into a relatively small contribution compared with Apple's broader iPhone business.

#iphone #aapl

On September 9, 2026, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) reported fiscal first-quarter revenue of $5.68 billion, up 24.3% year over year, and earnings per share of $7.37, beating the $6.78 ******* yst consensus. Yet shares fell roughly 10-15% after same-store sales grew just 3.2%, below the 3.8% Wall Street had expected.
CEO Darren Rebelez described a "volatile" fuel environment during the quarter. Same-store fuel gallons sold declined 0.3% as elevated prices pushed customers toward fewer gallons per visit, more frequent trips, and cheaper fuel grades.
Fuel profitability more than offset softer gallon volumes. Fuel gross profit jumped 19.6% to $446.9 million as the fuel margin expanded to 47.8 cents per gallon from 41.0 cents a year earlier. It shows Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY)'s pricing discipline can protect profitability even when customers buy fewer gallons. Prepared food added another source of margin strength, with same-store sales rising 4.8% and margins expanding to 59.3% from 58.0%.
Strong earnings growth gives Casey's a solid start to fiscal 2027. EBITDA grew 17.1% to $485.1 million, while net income rose 27.1% to $273.7 million. It shows that Casey's can grow earnings despite softer same-store sales. The firm also delivered $5.68 billion of revenue, up 24% year over year and above the $5.56 billion ******* yst estimate. It gives investors evidence that the overall business remains capable of producing strong growth.
Casey's is expanding its store base and integrating Fikes. The business said the Fikes integration remains ahead of schedule and maintained its plan to open at least 120 stores in fiscal 2027 through construction and acquisitions. Ongoing unit growth can expand Casey's geographic reach, increase purchasing scale, and support long-term revenue growth even if mature-store sales remain uneven.

#fuel #revenue

A Wall Street Journal report on September 16 revealed that ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is nearing a preliminary agreement with Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA, potentially marking its return to the country almost two decades after its ***** ets were nationalized. According to Reuters, Exxon has shown interest in the large Petromonagas heavy oil project in the Orinoco Belt, as well as in areas in the neighboring Carabobo block.
While the talks are still in their preliminary phase and could still fall apart or be delayed, they mark a major turnaround from Exxon's previous stance on Venezuela. The company's CEO, Darren Woods, stated in January that the country was "uninvestable" without durable investment protections, legal reforms, and changes to its hydrocarbon laws.
The development comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to open Venezuela's oil industry to American companies and revive the country's dilapidated oil infrastructure. The South American nation is sitting on the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world, accounting for roughly 17% of the global total.
Venezuela could provide Exxon with access to an enormous resource base at a time when the company is actively seeking low-cost and long-duration ***** ets. The fields under consideration are estimated to contain more than 50 billion barrels of oil buried underground.
Exxon already holds an advantage through its previous experience in the country. Petromonagas, formerly called Cerro Negro, was once the energy firm's flagship project in Venezuela, giving it familiarity with the country's vast heavy and extra-heavy crude resources. Petromonagas also remains one of the few Venezuelan projects with an operational upgrader capable of turning the Orinoco's extra-heavy crude into lighter exportable grades.

#heavy #project

On August 6, Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) reported second-quarter net earnings of $543 million on $929 million of revenue, both records. Through the first half, net earnings rose 106% to $1.1 billion. During the quarter, the company also made net upfront cash payments of $4.5 billion relative to mineral stream interests, and it now carries $2.0 billion of total debt against $100 million of cash on hand. Here is what that trade looks like up close.
Start with what the streaming model does when prices climb. Wheaton sold 14% more gold equivalent ounces than a year ago, but the average realized gold equivalent price jumped 61% in Q2, and that higher price explains most of the revenue surge. Costs per ounce rose from $406 to $568, yet the cash operating margin per ounce still grew 65% to $3,875, faster than gold itself appreciated. Operating cash flow hit $650 million in the quarter and $1.4 billion for the half.
The second argument is that plenty of growth hasn't arrived yet. Only about 3% of this year's production comes from **** ets still in construction or ramp-up, and the company forecasts a rise of roughly 50% to 1,200,000 gold equivalent ounces by 2030. Some of that ramp has dates attached. Ivanhoe now expects commercial production at Platreef in the fourth quarter of 2026, and Montage Gold is targeting first gold at Koné in late Q4. Effective April 1, Wheaton expanded its share of silver production from Antamina from 33.75% to 67.5% through the newly acquired BHP Antamina PMPA.
Growth on this scale wasn't free. Wheaton had no bank debt at the end of 2025. On April 1, it drew $1.5 billion on a new two-year term loan to help pay for Antamina, and finance costs that were negligible a year ago now take a real bite. Net debt stands at $1.9 billion. Taxes are heavier too. Wheaton paid $109 million of global minimum tax on June 24, and another Cdn$346 million is due around March 31, 2027.
Operations also gave investors a few reasons for caution. Gold ounces produced slipped 2.6% year over year, so the 6% rise in gold equivalent production leaned heavily on the Antamina purchase. Gold output at Salobo fell 11% on lower grades. At Constancia, it fell 35% after mining at the higher-grade Pampacancha pit finished in the fourth quarter of 2025. Hemlo Mining said on July 20 that its second-quarter output fell below the first quarter's, and Rio2 said on May 15 that Fenix missed planned tonnes and grade in Q1. And because the revenue jump came mainly from price, the same leverage works in reverse if metals slip.

#wheaton

Meta Platforms (META) has spent most of 2026 trading near $648 while the business behind it delivered record quarterly revenue. That growing mismatch has drawn a wave of ******* ysts who believe the stock is meaningfully underpriced.
Second-quarter revenue reached $60.8 billion, up 28% year over year, with a 31% operating margin, Meta's earnings press release confirmed.
At a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19, the stock trades below the S&P 500's approximately 22 times forward earnings.
Reaching $900 would require roughly 39% upside from current levels. Whether the target is realistic depends on how quickly Meta's artificial intelligence spending produces revenue beyond its advertising business.
Meta's advertising technology is producing gains that rival any growth story in big tech. Internal model upgrades drove an 8.3% lift in ad clicks and a 15.7% conversion gain on Facebook last quarter, 24/7 Wall St reported.

#business #year

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

#capital #buyers #allen

GE Vernova Inc (NYSE:GEV) rebounded with Bernstein's backing after an earlier sell-off that followed broader concerns about technology infrastructure spending.
Shares were up 6% at $933.94 during afternoon trading on Wednesday, outpacing the utilities sector's reported 1.24% advance.
GE Vernova also ranked among the three leading stocks by turnover in the utilities sector as its shares recovered from prior-session declines.
Bernstein reaffirmed its "outperform" rating, highlighting electrification demand beyond immediate artificial intelligence data center needs.
The brokerage said utility-driven power grid upgrades, energy security and decarbonization initiatives accounted for the majority of electrification orders.

#backing

AI data centers are facing growing power constraints, and the issue is becoming increasingly urgent. New utility capacity can take years to develop and bring online, but hyperscalers cannot afford to wait that long to support their growing computing needs. That gap between supply and demand creates an opportunity for Bloom Energy (BE), which is focused on delivering power where and when hyperscalers like Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) require it. The fundamentals are now starting to provide support for the growing optimism around its opportunity.
Bloom Energy's technology stands out because it can address the AI power challenge on a much shorter timeline. The company's solid-oxide fuel cells are manufactured in factories and can be moved where required. They can also be deployed much faster than traditional power infrastructure. Instead of waiting years for grid upgrades or additional turbine capacity, data center developers can install Bloom Energy's systems and bring power online in a much shorter timeframe. As AI infrastructure expands, that speed has helped the company establish itself as an increasingly important on-site power vendor. All major U.S. hyperscalers are also providing validation of its position.
Why UBS Just Turned Bearish on NuScale Power Stock
Crude Oil Prices Retreat as Supply Fears Ease
Crude Prices Soar as Global Oil Supplies Continue to Tighten

#bloom #crude

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bipartisan bill aimed at shielding Americans from increased electricity costs **** ociated with data centers being built across the country.
The Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed with an overwhelming 417-3 majority, "ensures American families are not left footing the bill for the grid upgrades and new energy generation required to operate large data centers," Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, one of the bill's sponsors, said ahead of the vote.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its prospects of passing are uncertain.
The Ratepayer Protection Act is the first major piece of legislation taken up by Congress to address the growing public discontent over the mass buildout of data centers among the American public. Even if it passes, though, it won't directly set the rates that data center operators pay for their electricity.
Congress doesn't have the power to compel utilities to set higher rates for the facilities. Only states have that authority. What the Ratepayer Protection Act would do is compel state utility regulators to consider adopting a federal standard under which large data centers would cover the extra costs of upgrades. The bill is comparable to a proclamation signed by President Trump earlier this year that established a similar voluntary pledge for tech companies.

#passed

Interested in Netflix, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Netflix received 25 negative revisions in 90 days, yet 54 **** ysts remain bullish, seeing over 20% upside despite reduced price targets.
Meta Platforms faces 21 downgrades tied to rising CapEx and weak Q2 results, but **** ysts still rate it a Moderate Buy with about 20% upside.
Lululemon's downgrades reflect genuine fundamental deterioration, with 29 **** ysts giving it a consensus Reduce rating and mostly Hold or Sell ratings.
Downgrades rarely help bullish traders, hurting sentiment and price action—unless, of course, you're looking for a good stock to buy into. As always, it's the trend that matters, because a downgrade or price target reduction can mean different things in different situations.

#bullish #upside #interested #here

Shares of Lennar Corporation (LEN) have been hit hard on Wall Street, with persistent housing market headwinds sending its stock deep into the red in 2026. Elevated mortgage rates, sluggish housing demand, lower average selling prices, and shrinking gross margins fueled by aggressive pricing incentives have weighed heavily on the homebuilder. Add a string of ****** yst downgrades to the mix, and it's easy to see why investor confidence has taken a beating.
But Lennar may have a chance to turn the tide. The homebuilder is set to report its fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings after market hours on Wednesday, Sept. 16, putting the stock back in the spotlight. Investors will be watching closely for any signs of recovery and, more importantly, clues that the housing giant's rough stretch could finally be coming to an end. With a major catalyst just around the corner, here's a closer look at Lennar stock ahead of its earnings report.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Apple Stock as New Offerings Become 'More Exciting'
The EV Bubble Has Burst. How to Play Rivian Stock Now.

#Stock #housing #earnings

Shares of Lennar Corporation (LEN) have been hit hard on Wall Street, with persistent housing market headwinds sending its stock deep into the red in 2026. Elevated mortgage rates, sluggish housing demand, lower average selling prices, and shrinking gross margins fueled by aggressive pricing incentives have weighed heavily on the homebuilder. Add a string of ***** yst downgrades to the mix, and it's easy to see why investor confidence has taken a beating.
But Lennar may have a chance to turn the tide. The homebuilder is set to report its fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings after market hours on Wednesday, Sept. 16, putting the stock back in the spotlight. Investors will be watching closely for any signs of recovery and, more importantly, clues that the housing giant's rough stretch could finally be coming to an end. With a major catalyst just around the corner, here's a closer look at Lennar stock ahead of its earnings report.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Morgan Stanley Doubles Down on Apple Stock as New Offerings Become 'More Exciting'
The EV Bubble Has Burst. How to Play Rivian Stock Now.

#rates

The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.

Top 5 Upgrades:
Wells Fargo upgraded Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to Equal Weight from Underweight with a price target of $525, up from $450, after meeting with management. The firm says the company is navigating industry headwinds better than expected.
Oppenheimer upgraded Etsy (ETSY) to Outperform from Perform with a $90 price target. The firm cites the company's AI search benefits, product improvements, and app engagement for the upgrade.
Berenberg upgraded Eli Lilly (LLY) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $1,400, up from $1,220. The firm says its 2026 return on investment **** ysis confirms Eli Lilly's "strong track record of delivering best-in-class returns on investment."
Bernstein upgraded Agilon Health (AGL) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target of $125, up from $86. The company is undergoing a turnaround focused on risk-taking discipline and incremental medical cost improvements, the firm tells investors in a research note.

#firm #outperform #perform

This story was originally published on CRE Daily. Join 70,000+ commercial real estate professionals getting daily news, market insights, and industry ******* ysis delivered straight to their inbox with the free CRE Daily newsletter.
A $420 million CMBS loan backed by the 893,000-square-foot office tower at 51 West 52nd Street will exit special servicing after Harbor Group closed a negotiated extension.
Morningstar reported occupancy fell from 99% to 86% and cash flow dropped 37% below underwritten levels, though a source close to the deal says the building is now fully leased.
Harbor Group bought the Midtown tower from ViacomCBS for $760 million in 2021, the largest investment sale that year, and has since invested $150 million in upgrades.
A $420 million CMBS loan backed by 51 West 52nd Street, a 38-story, 893,000-square-foot Midtown office tower, will exit special servicing after sponsor Harbor Group International closed a negotiated loan extension, according to Commercial Observer. The loan, which backs the single-asset, single-borrower DBGS 2021-W52 deal, was transferred to special servicing ahead of its October 2026 maturity even though it still carried a 12-month extension option, per an alert from Morningstar Credit ******* ytics.

#group #extension

The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.

Top 5 Upgrades:
Wolfe Research upgraded Paychex (PAYX) to Peer Perform from Underperform without a price target. The firm sees reduced estimate risk for the company amid stable employment trends.
UBS upgraded Union Pacific (UNP) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $339, up from $310. The firm says its **** ysis of key customer markets points to a second year of strong volume growth in 2027 for Union Pacific.
Needham upgraded Rocket Pharmaceuticals (RCKT) to Buy from Hold with a $9 price target after the FDA reaffirmed the pivotal study design for RP-A501 in Danon Disease, except for a recalibrated dose and prophylaxis.
Needham upgraded Similarweb (SMWB) to Buy from Hold with an $11 price target after meeting with management. Needham was encouraged by AI's potential to increase the value and consumption of Similarweb's data.

#needham #Research #union #pacific

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is betting $1 billion that leather armchairs, rugs, and bookshelves can turn a recovering coffee business into a more profitable one. The company plans to upgrade as many as 9,000 North American stores into warmer, more comfortable **** es designed to bring back customers who stopped treating Starbucks as a place to sit and stay. The strategy arrives as CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround gains traction, but investors still need to see whether higher traffic can translate into stronger margins.
Pixabay/Public Domain
The store upgrades are part of Niccol's broader "Back to Starbucks" strategy, which has already helped reverse a prolonged sales slump. Global comparable-store sales increased 7.9% in the latest quarter, with transactions up 4.2% and average ticket up 3.5%. U.S. comparable sales also rose 7.9%, indicating that the recovery is being driven by more than higher prices.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is spending roughly $150,000 per store on the new uplifts, far below the cost of previous renovations, and the work can generally be completed overnight without closing stores. The company expects about 1,500 upgrades to be finished by the end of September and ultimately wants to reach 8,000 to 9,000 company-operated North American locations.
That matters because Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has gradually become optimized for transactions rather than lingering. Mobile orders now account for roughly one-third of U.S. transactions, more than twice their share in 2019. The new design is therefore an attempt to restore the "third place" concept without abandoning the convenience that has become central to the business.

#corporation #NASDAQ #sales #transactions

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hosting a month-long celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month throughout September, launching community outreach programs and student-athlete recognition under the banner "Somos DUUUVAL."
The initiative addresses the growth of the Hispanic and Latino community in Northeast Florida through youth sports, literacy outreach, and leadership initiatives.
Adriel Rocha, the Jaguars vice president of community impact and youth development, emphasized the initiative's focus on community service and culture. "Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of the rich culture, contributions and leadership of the Hispanic community and through Somos DUUUVAL, the Jaguars strive to celebrate and strengthen that spirit in Jacksonville," Rocha said. "Through a month-long series of initiatives for the Hispanic community, we are harnessing the power of service to strengthen connections and make a lasting difference in this community."
As part of the initiative, Jaguars PREP, the foundation's youth programming branch, partnered with Ticketmaster and Farah & Farah to host two youth football camps focused on athletics and leadership skills.
Nearly 350 students in third through fifth grades at BridgePrep Academy and Englewood Elementary School are participating.

#hispanic #month #heritage #somos

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) has an argument against rapid hardware obsolescence: older accelerators still command rental prices. For CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV), which sells access to computing infrastructure, the harder question is how much of that rent becomes a return.
The September 7 settlement of a transaction-based GPU rental benchmark put NVIDIA's H100 SXM at $3.17 per GPU-hour and its older A100 SXM4 at $1.05. Those are market benchmarks, not CoreWeave's realized prices or the economics of its entire fleet.
The distinction matters because a chip can remain useful without every owner earning an attractive return on the equipment purchased around it.
NVIDIA benefits when buyers believe its systems can serve workloads across multiple product generations. A longer revenue-producing life can make the initial purchase easier to justify and reinforce confidence in its computing ecosystem.
That does not guarantee faster replacement demand. Customers able to run suitable tasks on older equipment may defer some upgrades. NVIDIA still needs new systems to offer advantages worth paying for, especially when power and facility capacity constrain deployment.

#NASDAQ #rental #computing #return

One of the longest-tenured members of the Houston Astros leadership will be taking his talents to the East Coast to try out a new professional sport.
On Monday afternoon, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins announced the appointment of Marcel Braithwaite as the team's new President of Business Operations.
Braithwaite has been promoted to the new role after 14 years with the Houston Astros. He notably served as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations and was one of the initial hires under the Jim Crane-led baseball organization.
"It's an honor to join the Penguins at such an exciting time under new ownership," said Braithwaite. "I am grateful to the Astros and look forward to serving the employees, fans and city of Pittsburgh by bringing a winning culture to this franchise alongside Geoff, Kyle and the rest of this talented Front Office."
As a member of the Astros' Executive leadership team, Braithwaite guided the franchise through several ballpark renovations, security upgrades and naming rights negotiations, ensuring the business maximized revenue opportunities while providing a best-in-class fan experience.

#astros #braithwaite #houston

On September 10, Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) posted record third-quarter revenue of $6.76 billion, up 13% year over year, and raised its full-year revenue and profit targets. Non-GAAP EPS climbed 15% to $6.13, while GAAP EPS rose 11% to $4.62. Buried inside those headline numbers was a sharper story: AI-first ending ARR topped $650 million, growing more than 150% year over year. The same call brought a leadership change, with Anil S. Chakravarthy set to take over as CEO from Shantanu Narayen on December 1. Investors got a lot to digest in one afternoon.
Adobe's AI tools are no longer just a demo. Firefly ending ARR, which spans the Firefly app and its credit packs, grew 40% quarter over quarter, and the Acrobat AI ******* istant doubled its monthly active users over the same three months. Total monthly active users across Adobe's businesses surpassed 1 billion in the quarter, up more than 20% year over year, and creative premium MAU crossed 100 million, up more than 70%. Business professionals and consumers MAU passed 900 million, up more than 25%. That kind of user growth, concentrated in free and freemium tiers, is what feeds the paid AI upgrades now showing up in ARR.
The company backed that growth with cash. Operating cash flow hit a third-quarter record of $2.52 billion, and Adobe bought back roughly 9.5 million shares during the quarter, leaving $24.55 billion still authorized for repurchases. Management raised its full-year revenue target to a range of $26.58 billion to $26.63 billion and its non-GAAP EPS target to $24.45 to $24.50. On the product side, Adobe struck a deal to acquire Topaz Labs, whose AI enhancement models for image and video work would slot directly into Firefly and Creative Cloud. Enterprise demand held up too, with ending ARR growing more than 20% year over year at each of Adobe Experience Manager, Adobe Gen Studio, and Adobe Experience Platform.
Not every metric moved as fast. Remaining performance obligations, the backlog of contracted but unrecognized revenue, grew 8% year over year to $22.16 billion, trailing both the 13% revenue growth and the 11.2% growth in total ending ARR. Current RPO grew 9%, also behind the topline. Interim CFO Steven Day flagged a separate issue heading into the fourth quarter: a foreign-exchange headwind that partly offset the benefit of the third-quarter beat when management updated its full-year guidance.
AI-first ARR, for all its 150% growth rate, is still just over $650 million against a total ARR base of $27.50 billion, so it remains a small slice of the business even as it scales. The transition arrives at a pivotal moment too, with Chakravarthy set to take the CEO seat on Dec. 1 just as the company leans harder into an unproven agentic-software strategy, and the Topaz Labs deal still needs to clear regulatory approval before it adds anything to the numbers.

#adobe #billion #million

What did Pro Football Focus make of the New Orleans Saints' season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions? PFF's unique grading system leaves a lot to be desired as far as valuable ****** ysis, but it's a good starting point for highlighting which players pulled their weight and which performances deserve more scrutiny. With the Saints having fought their into overtime after stumbling out of the gates, let's check in on the best and worst player grades on offense and defense after Week 1.
WR Chris Olave: 82.6. Olave wasn't as effective blocking on run plays as he'd like to be, but that's nearly the only negative about his game (he did also drop a pass deep downfield early on). He caught 10 of 13 targets for a career-high 182 receiving yards, went 2-of-4 on contested catches, and converted seven first downs. His 30 yards gained after the catch were also impressive.
TE Noah Fant: 79.6. Fant had some miscues -- Shough overthrew and underthrew him a few times as the pair worked to get in sync -- but you can see why the ball continued to go his way. Fant picked up almost half of his yardage after the catch and looked comfortable while drawing targets in traffic.
QB Tyler Shough: 75.0. How impressive is it that Shough clawed his way back up the list after starting so poorly? PFF had him with six "big time throws" this week, as many as the next two quarterbacks combined, which they define as "a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." He just needs to cut down on the turnover-worthy plays, sacks, and penalties. That's easier said than done but should come with experience.
TE Juwan Johnson: 73.4. Johnson was the team's highest-rated run blocker (75.1), and while he didn't see many targets until late in the game, he made them count by going 3-of-6 for 54 yards and a critical touchdown. He also forced the Lions defense into committing a costly coverage penalty early on.

#shough

The John Harbaugh era got off to a rousing start last night with the New York Giants defeating the division rival Dallas Cowboys 28-20 at a raucous MetLife Stadium. (When was the last time "raucous" and "MetLife" appeared in the same sentence about a Giants game?) Let's see what the **** ysts at Pro Football Focus thought of the individual player performances.
Focusing first on the passing, Jaxson Dart's 23 of 29, 230-yard, 3 TD, 0 INT performance was given a grade of…65.8, smack in the middle of their "average" range. I'm sure fans will take Dart's highly efficient game, as evidenced by his excellent 134.2 NFL passer rating last night, every week. PFF, though, grades on degree of difficulty and taking care of the ball. Dart didn't have any interceptions, but in PFF's eyes he had two turnover-worthy plays, which they see as being just as bad. He also did not have any "big-time," throws, i.e., **** placed accurately into tight windows and especially those that go deep downfield for explosive plays. Dart only threw three **** beyond 20 yards and only completed one. To quote Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that," but that's what PFF values. Dart did what he had to do to win the game. In the long run, he'll have to show that he can hurt opposing defenses deep on a consistent basis, but for one game the short-range passing game was just fine.
Let's look at the effect of pressure:
Dart was an amazing 19 of 22 when kept clean, including all three of his TD passes. When pressured he was 4 of 7 for 57 yards, but both of his TWPs came under pressure.
Moving on to the pass blocking:

#night

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed enough in their 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals to feel like they could have won. Instead, four lost fumbles, shaky pass protection, and defensive issues underneath turned a competitive performance into a 0-1 start.
Tampa Bay finished with 282 total yards, converted five of 10 third downs, and never punted. The Bucs also fought back from a 21-3 deficit and had the game within six points late, but the turnovers kept Cincinnati in control.
Here are the Buccaneers' Week 1 grades by position.
Baker Mayfield's game was almost a perfect reflection of Tampa Bay's afternoon. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards without an interception, added 30 rushing yards, and scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The number one problem for Mayfield was ball security. Mayfield fumbled three times and lost all three of them. One was returned 27 yards for a touchdown, another went through the end zone for a touchback near the goal line, and the third came on a fourth-quarter strip-sack while Tampa Bay was trying to complete its comeback.There is some living and dying by the sword with Mayfield. Part of what makes him unique is his willingness to fight through contact, extend plays, and create something when a play looks dead. When it works, everyone loves it. When it ends with the football on the ground, it looks reckless. Against Cincinnati, he pushed that line much too far.

#yards #lost #game

The Wisconsin Badgers comfortably beat the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Saturday, but the score didn't capture the full picture, as it was an up-and-down game for the home team at Camp Randall Stadium.
There were a lot of questions about the defense for Wisconsin, as they struggled to contain the run at times against a team that lost 41-10 to Illinois State the week before.
Here are the snap counts and PFF grades for every player on defense for the Badgers against Western Illinois.
Hammond Russell IV – Snap Count: [23], Grade: 64.1
Michael Garner – Snap Count: [23], Grade: 62.8

#wisconsin #badgers #team #leathernecks

Interested in Intuitive Surgical, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Global procedure growth remains intact despite a recent U.S. slowdown and Affordable Care Act-related uncertainty; Intuitive Surgical maintained its 13.5%–15.5% global procedure-growth outlook, expecting results near the midpoint.
Ambulatory surgery centers and international markets remain important expansion opportunities, with second-quarter system placements rising in the U.S. and abroad. However, China remains pressured by local competition and slower tenders, with improved visibility not expected until 2027.
Future growth could come from da Vinci 5 upgrades, Force Feedback instruments, new procedures and sites of care, and AI services such as Case Insights. The company also reported strong financial performance, including 21% revenue growth and operating and free-cash-flow margins above historical averages.
This AI ETF Is Missing the Biggest AI Winners

#affordable

Interested in Lam Research Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better.
Lam Research raised its 2026 wafer-fabrication equipment spending outlook to the low-$150 billion range from $135 billion-$140 billion, driven by sustained AI demand and expectations for eight to 10 new leading-edge fabs through 2027.
AI hardware is increasing equipment intensity, while advanced chip designs and packaging are expanding Lam's addressable market. The company cited growing opportunities in gate-all-around transistors, backside power delivery, advanced packaging and dry-resist technology.
Lam is accelerating capacity expansion, including a second Malaysia facility, as clean-room availability and supply-chain capacity constrain the industry. The company also expects NAND upgrades to accelerate, while targeting mid-50% gross margins and reporting record customer-support revenue.
From High Dividend Growth to High Yield, These 3 Stocks Just Boosted Dividend Payouts

#billion #Research #equipment #advanced