One training camp practice was enough to show the Eagles are changing everything originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Eagles are showing early signs of an offensive evolution, and quarterback Jalen Hurts appears ready to embrace the changes.
During the team's first training camp practice, one of the biggest takeaways was how different the offense looked compared to recent seasons. Hurts spent much of the session operating from under center rather than exclusively working out of the shotgun, signaling a new direction for Philadelphia's attack.
The shift was especially noticeable during team drills, where the Eagles frequently incorporated under-center play-action concepts. It's a wrinkle that could make the offense more unpredictable while creating additional opportunities in both the running and passing games.
For Hurts, however, the adjustment isn't as dramatic as it may seem from the outside.

#practice #source

Nicole Kidman embraced the minimalist shoe trend on the red carpet at Paramount+'s "Lioness" Season Three premiere, held at SVA Theater in New York on Wednesday. Nicole Kidman John Nacion The actress went for barely-there beige leather strappy sandals with a high heel for the event. The shoes were held in place by a delicate, slender arch strap that extended over the toes. The shoes featured a round, slightly oversized toe silhouette that peeked out beneath the hem of her wide-leg trousers. She paired the heels with a look from the Fendi fall 2026 couture collection. The sleeveless top featured a tunic-like design with embellished, beaded detailing that gave the garment a cage, armor-like effect. The sheer top was paired with cream, polished, high-waisted trousers with a satin panel down the side. Nicole Kidman in New York City. GC Images The look was styled by Jason Bolden and retained some of the key elements seen on the runway. While Bolden opted for gold jewelry for Kidman, the look was styled with two-tone jewelry in silver and gold for the runway show. Both versions incorporated beige sandals, with the runway model wearing a pair by Fendi. "Lioness" premiered in 2023. The series returns with its third
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#nicole

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is entering a new phase of growth as two major catalysts—the expansion of its Samsung partnership and its push into AI infrastructure— begin reshaping the company's long-term outlook.
Its expanded collaboration with Samsung paves the way for Snapdragon platforms to power Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphones, smart watches, and future AI-powered smart glasses. The collaboration reinforces Qualcomm's dominance in premium Android smartphones, validates its leadership in on-device AI, and creates opportunities to expand Snapdragon into new categories such as AI PCs, XR devices, and connected technologies.
Securing Snapdragon chips for more Galaxy flagship models will provide Qualcomm with higher premium chipset shipments, stronger QCT segment revenue, and greater visibility into future earnings.
Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr
While smartphones remain Qualcomm's largest business, management is increasingly focused on reducing its dependence on the cyclical handset market by expanding into AI infrastructure.

#Smartphones #qualcomm #infrastructure #premium

O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During Q2 2026, the market experienced notable dispersion between perceived AI losers and winners. The firm has made investments early in AI infrastructure companies, which yielded gains during market repricing. The second quarter experienced strong equity rallies, with the S&P 500 gaining 15.2% and the Nasdaq 21.4%, marking the best quarter since Q2 2020. While the software sector faced challenges, with the iShares Software ETF dropping ~27% before a rally, reflecting high volatility. This volatility is seen as an opportunity, despite the potential for 'dead money' in underperforming stocks. The firm remains cautious, focuses on owning durable businesses at reasonable prices, holding cash, and hedging risks to navigate unpredictability. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory highlighted Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW). Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is a technology company that operates through its Optical Communication, Display Technologies, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials, and Life Sciences business segments. On July 27, 2026, Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) closed at $143.36 per share. One-month return of Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) was -43.88%, and its shares gained 131.30% over the past 52 weeks. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) has a market capitalization of $123.38 billion.
O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory stated the following regarding Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Qualcomm and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) both appreciated materially in Q2. We trimmed both positions using a combination of options and stock sales.
Corning appreciated over 20% in Q2. Corning spent the second quarter signing up the biggest names in AI as customers and partners. In May, Nvidia and Corning announced a multiyear commercial and technology partnership under which Corning will increase its U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing capacity tenfold and expand U.S. Fiber production by more than 50%, including three new plants in North Carolina and Texas. Nvidia paid $500 million for rights to Corning shares, including warrants on up to 15 million shares at a $180 exercise price; if exercised in full, Nvidia's total equity investment could reach $3.2 billion. In June, Amazon signed a multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement for Corning to supply the optical Fiber, cable, and connectivity for its expanding U.S. data centers. These follow the up to $6 billion supply agreement Meta signed in January. Historically, data centers used copper cables to connect their technology, some of which is switching to Fiber. Corning's Fiber may be a future bottleneck. As legacy data centers convert to newer, Fiber-connected racks, Corning contends with new data centers demand

O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory, an investment advisory firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During Q2 2026, the market experienced notable dispersion between perceived AI losers and winners. The firm has made investments early in AI infrastructure companies, which yielded gains during market repricing. The second quarter experienced strong equity rallies, with the S&P 500 gaining 15.2% and the Nasdaq 21.4%, marking the best quarter since Q2 2020. While the software sector faced challenges, with the iShares Software ETF dropping ~27% before a rally, reflecting high volatility. This volatility is seen as an opportunity, despite the potential for 'dead money' in underperforming stocks. The firm remains cautious, focuses on owning durable businesses at reasonable prices, holding cash, and hedging risks to navigate unpredictability. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory highlighted QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM). QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a semiconductor and communication technology company focusing on the development and commercialization of foundational technologies for the wireless industry. On July 27, 2026, QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) closed at $170.04 per share. One-month return of QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) was -7.98%, and its shares gained 4.91% over the past 52 weeks. QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) has a market capitalization of $179.22 billion.
O'Keeffe Stevens Advisory stated the following regarding QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) and Corning both appreciated materially in Q2. We trimmed both positions using a combination of options and stock sales.
Qualcomm faced a long-standing structural challenge: customer concentration in Apple, which is internally developing its own modem and transitioning away from Qualcomm silicon. Qualcomm hosted an investor day in June, with all eyes focused on their AI and datacenter strategy. Qualcomm has long been seen as a loser in AI stemming from higher memory prices driving down phone demand, and in turn QCOM's handset business. Qualcomm's diversiQcation strategy continues to play out. At the investor day, Qualcomm doubled its Qscal 2029 non-handset revenue goal to $40 billion, liVed its automotive revenue target to $10 billion, and struck a deal with Meta to supply data center CPUs for AI infrastructure, with production of its Dragonby C1000 slated for 2028. We trimmed due to the position becoming oversized in the portfolio, and risk/reward was no longer as attractive."

#qcom

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) delivered rapid optical growth on July 28, then suffered a share-price decline of more than 20% after its guidance fell short of elevated expectations. Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) also traded sharply lower. Coherent belongs in this story for a specific reason: the two companies monetize different components of the same AI data-center links.
Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) supplies the passive layer, including optical fiber, cable and dense connector systems. Coherent supplies active devices and modules, including lasers, photodiodes and 800G and 1.6T transceivers that convert electrical signals into light and back again. As clusters add accelerators, network builders need both more fiber paths and faster optical endpoints. Corning's order pace can therefore provide a partial read-through on the volume and timing of deployments that create transceiver demand for Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR). It cannot establish Coherent's market share, pricing or margins.
Corning reported second-quarter core sales of $4.74 billion, up 17% year over year, and core earnings of $0.78 a share, up 30%. Optical Communications sales increased 32% to $2.07 billion. Within that segment, Enterprise Networks grew 65%, and the company said generative-AI product sales grew significantly faster.
The disappointment came from the next quarter. Corning projected $4.9 billion to $5.0 billion of third-quarter core sales, about 16% year-over-year growth but slightly below Wall Street's expectation, according to Reuters. Optical growth also eased from 36% in the first quarter to 32% in the second. Corning had gained roughly 64% in 2026 through the prior close, leaving little room for even modest deceleration.
Coherent's own latest quarter, ended March 31, argues against treating Corning's guidance as proof of weaker Coherent operations. Revenue rose 21% to $1.81 billion, GAAP gross margin reached 37.7%, and management cited exceptionally strong data-center and communications demand while expanding capacity. Its product roadmap includes 1.6T transceivers, lasers and photodiodes for AI networks. Different customer mixes, active-component content and manufacturing yields can make its results diverge from Corning's.

#corning #optical

The "Who Dey!" chant at Bengals games is one of the best parts of being a Bengals fan and a Cincinnati sports fan. When the Ruler of the Jungle leads The Jungle in the Who Dey chant before kickoff, that gets you going as a fan. After a big touchdown, that's when the "Who Dey!" chant is at its best.
So, where does the chant rank among NFL stadium chants? Sports Illustrated's Karl Rasmussen ranked the 10 best in the NFL, with the "Who Dey!" chant checking in at No. 6. If you've ever wondered how the "Who Dey!" chant came to be, here's how, according to Rasmussen:
The Bengals' chant originated in 1981, stemming from a popular local car commercial and a beloved beer, Hudepohl. Beer vendors at the team's former stomping grounds, Riverfront Stadium, used to offer the local beer by shouting "Hudy!" to fans. That eventually transitioned to "Who Dey," and it evolved further after fans incorporated the song played in commercials by Red Frazier's Ford of Cincinnati, which goes, "Who's going to give you a better deal than Red Frazier … ******* ody!" The combination of both resulted in the Bengals chant. "Who dey? Who dey? Who dey say is gonna beat the Bengals? … ******* ody!"
Rasmussen also ******* yzes the comparison between the "Who Dey!" chant in Cincinnati and the "Who Dat!" chant in New Orleans that Saints fans do in the Superdome. In fact, he ranked the "Who Dat!" chant No. 5, one spot above the Bengals. Of course, there's an ongoing debate between the two teams of which chant came first.
One of my favorite memories as a Bengals fan was being at the Bengals-Saints game in New Orleans four years ago. There were so many Bengals fans who made the trip for the game. Before kickoff, Saints fans started doing the "Who Dat!" chant. In response, Bengals fans started doing the "Who Dey!" chant. It was dueling chants, making for an awesome pregame environment.

#beer #best #jungle #orleans

Montaka Global Investments, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the update is available to download here. Montaka manages a concentrated portfolio of high–conviction, long-term, competitively advantaged businesses bought when prices are attractive. While it delivered positive returns in the June quarter, its 12-month performance was largely negative due to declines in the March quarter amid the 'SaaSpocalypse', yet the underlying businesses performed well. Montaka's strategy focuses on owning businesses that grow earnings in large markets, which struggled against short-term bottleneck trades that gained popularity. However, Montaka aims for long-term excess returns above market indices, anticipating that current mispricing will eventually correct. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 22, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $531.98 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $470.05 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 8.81%, while its shares lost 5.59% over the past 52 weeks.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"On the other side of the market are some of the world's highest quality businesses which have been overlooked during the semiconductor–mania.
Take Visa and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), for example. Both are extraordinarily advantaged businesses and have consistently grown annual revenues at double–digit percentage rates for many years. And in our view, strong growth will likely continue – driven by new value–added services attached to their payment networks (related to stablecoins, agentic commerce, fraud detection, and other data services) which are growing at even faster rates.

#incorporated #businesses #Investments #quarter

On July 21, during CNBC's Mad Money program, host Jim Cramer used the daily chart **** ysis by options trader Bob Lang, founder of Explosive Options, to examine American Express Company (NYSE:AXP). Cramer pointed to the company's distinct cardholder demographic and high-margin annual fee structure, as he highlighted why the premium card issuer remains a long-time favorite for core portfolio allocations:
Now finally, there's one that I have been near and dear for as long as I can remember, and that's American Express. Now, this only has 10% of purchase volume with fewer cards in circulation, but their cardholders tend to spend a lot more money. Plus, they charge fees for their best cards, basically making you pay for access to their generous rewards programs. It's a fantastic business model. But remember, they do have credit risk.
Under Cramer's framework, American Express occupies a specialized niche compared to rival payment networks Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). While Visa controls 60% of cardholders and Mastercard holds 25% to 30%, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) commands roughly 10% of purchase volume. However, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which operate strictly as neutral tollbooths with zero balance-sheet risk, American Express operates as a direct card issuer. That closed-loop structure allows the company to capture premium annual membership fees and higher per-cardholder spending, though it requires absorbing credit default risk when consumers fall behind on payments.
On the technical side, Cramer highlighted that Lang noted that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has shown exceptional relative strength during recent broader market chop. After breaking out above its 200-day moving average in early June, the stock successfully retested that key support level on multiple occasions before surging higher on heavy volume. With the MACD indicator continuing to flash a buy signal, Lang sees a clear path toward $350, with a secondary upside target at its February peak of $370. It is the exact price level where sellers previously emerged. Furthermore, heading into Friday's quarterly report, Cramer shared Lang's bullish fundamental outlook on travel demand while offering his own tactical trading playbook for retail investors:
Now, I've gotta tell you, in his view, American Express is the best in class. Given that we've seen big numbers in travel here, Lang expects that Amex will shoot the lights out when it reports on Friday… I agree with him that this company's best of breed, but I also want to point out that American Express' stock, no matter what they seem to report, tends to sell off in response to earnings on that Friday even when the numbers are terrific. Then it gradually finds its footing afterwards and mounts strong rallies in between quarters, which is why I always say, you know, around like 10:30, 11, you might want to buy this one. I'm not kidding. It's been a good prediction so far.

#volume

During the July 21 episode of CNBC's Mad Money, host Jim Cramer reviewed Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) using options trader Bob Lang's **** ysis of the daily chart of the stock. Pointing to the company as a premier vehicle for investors seeking to rebalance away from pure tech without sacrificing growth or high-margin processing power, Cramer highlighted its market share and recent price action:
I want to talk about the next chart, which is one of my absolute favorites. Michael Miebach runs it. It's Mastercard, MA, second most commonly used credit card. 25 to 30% of cardholders have one. Again, you can see that the stock's gone crazy in the last few weeks. Bouncing like mad off of its June lows. Although, unlike Visa, it still hasn't taken out its January highs. This is what I mean, by the way, when I say you need to diversify away from some of your tech. Mastercard is a tech company in bank clothing. It's always been a terrific place to be.
Examining the daily chart, Cramer highlighted that Bob Lang noted that Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) has constructed a textbook bullish trend channel marked by a series of higher highs and higher lows since hitting its June bottom. The stock's moving average convergence divergence (MACD) line generated a buy signal last month, while its relative strength index continues to trend upward without reaching overbought territory. Elevated volume and a rising on-balance volume line further validate the move. Cramer noted that Lang sees that the stock has legs, with primary technical resistance sitting at $573, representing roughly $35 in potential upside toward where the stock traded prior to a January gap down, giving Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) a clear path to challenge its January highs.
In Cramer's breakdown of the payment landscape, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) occupies a middle ground in cardholder reach while sharing a critical structural moat with market leader Visa Inc. (NYSE:V). While Visa commands the top spot with 60% of cardholders and American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) handles roughly 10% of purchase volume, Mastercard sits solidly in second place with 25% to 30% cardholder penetration. Both Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) operate strictly as **** et-light processing networks with zero credit exposure, completely insulating them from default losses that direct lenders like American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) must carry on their balance sheets. On the technical side, while Visa has already surged past its January peak, Mastercard is still catching up after bouncing off its June floor, giving investors a high-margin processing stock.

#cramer

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, as record orders, revenue and operating profit helped the company surpass Wall Street forecasts and lift its full-year guidance.
The aerospace and defence technology company posted adjusted earnings per share of $6.28, comfortably ahead of the **** yst consensus estimate of $5.79.
Revenue increased 9.8% year over year to $1.66 billion, exceeding expectations of $1.58 billion and setting a new quarterly record.
Shares of Teledyne rose 4.10% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Buoyed by its strong first-half performance, Teledyne increased its adjusted earnings outlook for full-year 2026.

#full #adjusted #billion

Giverny Capital ***** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ***** et Management highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 20, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $547.44 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $483.71 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 11.06%, while its shares lost 2.99% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ***** et Management stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
Similarly, Wall Street ***** ysts expect Mastercard to compound EPS by 15% over the next few years, roughly the same rate as the past 20 years. The stock was down 10% in the first half of 2026 and has lagged the Index over the past five years."

#incorporated #index #asset

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. equities experienced a strong recovery in Q2 2026, with the S&P 500 Index gaining 15.2%, marking its best quarter since 2020. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) regained market optimism in the quarter, leading the Information Technology and Industrials sectors upward, and Energy and Utilities lagged because of falling oil and gas prices. In June, the Federal Reserve maintained steady interest rates, but the meeting had a hawkish tone. As AI transitions into its agentic phase, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology. The Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell 2500 Growth Index in the quarter. The Industrials and Information Technology sectors contributed to the relative performance, whereas Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors detracted. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund highlighted Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE). Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE), a private equity and venture capital firm, detracted from the performance during the quarter. On July 20, 2026, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) closed at $84.60 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.69 billion. Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) posted a one-month return of 11.86%, while its shares lost 45.16% over the past 52 weeks.
Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund stated the following regarding Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Hamilton Lane Incorporated (NASDAQ:HLNE) is a private markets investment firm that provides customized investment solutions, advisory services, and data driven tools to institutional and private wealth clients. The company benefits from a diversified platform across private markets, long-standing client relationships, and a growing evergreen business that broadens access to individual investors. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance as broader concerns around private credit and software exposure within private equity portfolios continued to weigh on sentiment across the alternative ***** et management industry. While these concerns pressured the stock, we believe Hamilton Lane's diversified portfolio exposure helps make the risks manageable."

#hamilton #hlne #weatherbie

With a market cap of $43.7 billion, Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) is a global provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, operating across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It designs and manufactures a wide range of semiconductor products, including microcontrollers, microprocessors, ******* og devices, memory solutions, and specialized technologies for diverse industrial, automotive, and communication applications.
The Chandler, Arizona-based company is slated to announce its fiscal Q1 2027 results soon. Ahead of the release, ******* ysts predict MCHP to report EPS of $0.59, a 247.1% jump from $0.17 in the year-ago quarter. It has exceeded or met Wall Street's earnings expectations in three of the past four quarters while missing on another occasion.
Huge, Unusual Intel Options Volume Today Ahead of Earnings This Week
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Billionaire Mark Cuban Says If CEOs Get 10% of Pay in Stock, Janitors Deserve the Same Percentage — 'That Will Change the Game'

#ahead #high

Columbus, Georgia-based Aflac Incorporated (AFL) is a Fortune 500 insurer providing supplemental health and life insurance in the U.S. and ******* an. The company pays eligible claims directly to policyholders, helping reduce financial stress during illness or accidents while offering financial protection through voluntary insurance products. It has a market capitalization of approximately $63.5 billion.
AFL is set to report its Q2 earnings on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after the market closes. Ahead of the release, ******* ysts expect the company to report diluted EPS of $1.77, down marginally from $1.78 in the year-ago quarter. AFL has surpassed Wall Street's EPS estimates in two of the past four quarters and missed expectations in the other two.
PayPal Says a $53 Billion Takeover Offer from Stripe Undervalues It. How to Play PYPL Stock Here.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos Called Amazon's Customer Service to Prove a Point But Waited in Silence for More Than 10 Minutes — 'It Was Really Long'
Micron Stock Is Near Bear-Market Territory. Here's Why ASML's Guidance Says Buy the Dip.

#market

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. US equities strongly rebounded in the second quarter, with the S&P 500 Index returning 15.2%. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) fueled market optimism in the quarter, driving the Information Technology and Industrials sectors forward, while Energy and Utilities lagged due to falling oil and gas prices. Despite discussions about AI disruption, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology as it enters its agentic phase. The Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell Midcap Growth Index in the quarter, driven by strong performances in Information Technology and Health Care, while Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary detracted from the performance. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund highlighted Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM). Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing therapies for patients with serious and rare diseases. On July 17, 2026, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) closed at $108.32 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $23.49 billion. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) posted a one-month return of 9.85%, and its shares gained 5.39% over the past 52 weeks.
Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund stated the following regarding Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM), GFL Environmental Inc, and Karman Holdings Inc. were among the top detractors from performance. Insmed is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory, inflammatory, pulmonary, and rare disease treatments, with an approved portfolio that includes Brinsupri and Arikayce. The company's opportunity is tied to expanding adoption of its commercial products while advancing a pipeline aimed at areas of meaningful unmet medical need. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance despite headline results that were generally better than expected, as investors focused on early launch dynamics for Brinsupri. Concerns centered on patient additions, discontinuation rates, and compliance trends, which raised questions about the quality and durability of the launch. While these issues pressured the stock, management has begun providing greater detail around launch dynamics, and we believe improved execution and additional data could help restore investor confidence over time."

#insmed #incorporated #focus #technology

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. US equities strongly rebounded in the second quarter, with the S&P 500 Index returning 15.2%. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) fueled market optimism in the quarter, driving the Information Technology and Industrials sectors forward, while Energy and Utilities lagged due to falling oil and gas prices. Despite discussions about AI disruption, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology as it enters its agentic phase. The Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell Midcap Growth Index in the quarter, driven by strong performances in Information Technology and Health Care, while Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary detracted from the performance. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund highlighted GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL). GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) is a Canadian-based waste management company offering non-hazardous solid waste management services. On July 17, 2026, GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) closed at $39.56 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $14.28 billion. GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) posted a one-month return of 13.03%, while its shares lost 15.87% over the past 52 weeks.
Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund stated the following regarding GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Insmed Incorporated, GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL), and Karman Holdings Inc. were among the top detractors from performance. GFL Environmental is one of the largest diversified environmental services companies in North America, providing solid waste collection, recycling, and related services across Canada and a broad footprint of U.S. states. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance even as the company reported better-than expected first-quarter results and raised its full-year guidance. The weakness instead centered on GFL's announcement of a sizeable acquisition that expands its presence in Western Canada, which pressured the stock as investors weighed the equity component used to fund the deal and the integration involved in absorbing a large new platform."
GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) at the end of the first quarter, up from 43 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) 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 ben

Giverny Capital ****** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ****** et Management highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 20, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $547.44 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $483.71 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 11.06%, while its shares lost 2.99% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ****** et Management stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
Similarly, Wall Street ****** ysts expect Mastercard to compound EPS by 15% over the next few years, roughly the same rate as the past 20 years. The stock was down 10% in the first half of 2026 and has lagged the Index over the past five years."

#mastercard #incorporated #NYSE #giverny

We recently published Bill Miller Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks. Conduent Incorporated (NASDAQ:CNDT) is one of the top stock picks.
Conduent Incorporated (NASDAQ:CNDT) is a business process technology company. Its shares are down by 44% over the past year and by 20% year-to-date. The firm has been in the news several times in 2026. For instance, in February, cybersecurity firm MalwareBytes reported that Conduent Incorporated (NASDAQ:CNDT)'s data breach, first reported in October 2025, was worse than initially believed. It estimates that 25 million people across the US were affected and added that not only was the breach one of the largest in US history, but the stolen data covered details such as social security numbers, legal names and health insurance data.
photo by Business-laptop-campaign-creators on Unsplash
On June 30th, Conduent Incorporated (NASDAQ:CNDT) announced that it was selling its tolling business to a Canadian firm for a $70 million price tag. The deal is expected to close before the end of this year and the firm's CEO outlined that it was part of his firm's effort to simplify its business and focus on core operations.
While we acknowledge the potential of CNDT 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.

Some may say entrepreneurship belongs to the young (1), but recent data suggests that's not entirely accurate.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, the number of Americans who've incorporated new businesses between the ages of 55 and 64 increased 22% (2) over the last ten years. For some of these older entrepreneurs, starting a business gave them a chance to try something new while utilizing the experience and skills they acquired over the years.
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MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) is one of the Best Penny Stocks to Invest In According to Billionaires. MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) has gained roughly 20% since the FDA approved Afrezza, which is an inhaled insulin for children and adolescents aged 6 and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The news came on May 29.
Management noted that this approval expands Afrezza beyond adults, where it was already approved. More than 350,000 children and adolescents in the US have diabetes, and most need lifelong insulin therapy. The drug works through the company's Technosphere platform, delivering insulin via the lungs for rapid absorption. Moreover, the approval was based on the INHALE-1 trial plus two decades of additional safety and efficacy data on inhaled insulin.
More recently, on June 23, MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) also announced receiving a grant from Breakthrough T1D to support the company's INHALE-1ST clinical study. The trial tests whether Afrezza can be used soon after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis in kids. The company's CEO called the partnership a sign of growing confidence in inhaled insulin's potential for newly diagnosed children.
Moreover, the Street is also bullish on the stock, with ***** ysts' 12-month average price target suggesting more than 54% upside from the current level.
MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in chronic disease care. Incorporated in 1991, the company provides solutions for serious conditions, such as diabetes, pulmonary hypertension, and fluid overload.

Interested in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated? Here are five stocks we like better.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals for $10 billion, paying $85 per share in cash, with closing expected in the third quarter of 2026.
The acquisition adds PALSONIFY, an approved acromegaly treatment, and Atumelant, a Phase 3 candidate for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, expanding Vertex's rare disease pipeline.
Analysts have not yet rerated VRTX shares since the announcement, though H.C. Wainwright maintains a Buy rating with a Street-high $641 price target.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) recently announced its plans to acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CRNX) for $10 billion. The deal, which has already been approved by the board of directors of both companies, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

Palm Valley Capital Management, an investment management firm, has issued the second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Palm Valley Capital Fund." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the fund's investor class gained 1.80%, while the S&P SmallCap 600 rose 19.7% and the Morningstar Small Cap Total Return Index returned 14.0%. The Strategy primarily focused on small-cap categories, allocating 75% to cash equivalents. This led to underperformance relative to benchmarks. The Fund is currently seeking more small-cap opportunities that meet its return criteria and will act swiftly if market conditions improve. The Index benefited from strong contributions from data center construction and biotech sectors, while the energy industry lagged. Additionally, reviewing the fund's top five holdings can reveal its best investments in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Palm Valley Capital Management highlighted Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) as a newly added position. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) is a leading brewing company that offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages, and non-alcoholic beverages including premium mixers and energy drinks. On July 7, 2026, Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) closed at $39.27 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $7.36 billion. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) posted a one-month return of -3.99%, while its shares gained 20.75% over the past 52 weeks.
Palm Valley Capital Management stated the following regarding Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The Fund acquired three new positions during the second quarter: The Clorox Company (ticker: CLX), Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), and Vontier Corp. (ticker: VNT). Molson Coors is the second largest brewer in North America and a top five global player. Its brewing heritage extends back two centuries. Coors Brewing Company was incorporated in 1913 and merged with Molson in 2005. The firm acquired full ownership of the Miller portfolio in 2016. The company's beer brands include Coors Light, Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Molson Canadian, Carling, Staropramen, Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Miller High Life, and Keystone Light. Beyond the beer aisle, the firm offers Vizzy Hard Seltzer and partner brands such as Simply Spiked, ZOA Energy, and Fever-Tree…" (Click here to read the full text)

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is a leading global semiconductor and wireless technology company headquartered in San Diego. The company develops advanced chipsets, connectivity solutions, and intellectual property that power smartphones, automotive systems, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, PCs, networking equipment, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Through its Snapdragon platforms and extensive portfolio of wireless patents, Qualcomm plays a pivotal role in enabling 5G connectivity and next-generation edge computing. The company has a market cap of around $192.8 billion, making it one of the world's largest semiconductor companies.
The semiconductor and equipment giant is scheduled to release its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings results on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Ahead of the event, **** ysts expect QCOM to report a profit of $1.53 per share, down 33.2% from $2.29 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has surpassed or met Wall Street's EPS estimates in its last four quarters.
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) on Monday agreed to acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) for $85 per share in cash, a total equity value of approximately $10 billion ($8.8 billion net of cash).
Vertex expects to finance the acquisition using a combination of cash on hand and debt, supported by $4.5 billion of fully committed bridge financing.
Vertex's cash, cash equivalents, and total marketable securities as of March 31, 2026, were $13.0 billion.
Read Also:Vertex Says Casgevy Label Expansion Opens Treatment to 5,500 More US Children
The transaction was approved by both the Vertex and Crinetics Boards of Directors and is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2026.

Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) is set to be incorporated into the Nasdaq-100 index after the market closes on July 6. The Nasdaq-100 consists of the 100 largest non-financial companies by measure of market capitalization, and inclusion in the index can have a meaningfully positive impact on a company's stock price.
Because funds that track the Nasdaq-100 need to purchase shares of ***** eX to accurately reflect the index's composition, there could be a significant near-term uptick in demand for the stock as a result of the index rebalancing. While its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 could be a significant positive catalyst for ***** eX stock, I think there's a company already included in the index that stands out as a much better buying opportunity right now.
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 »
While the trading backdrop for leading artificial intelligence (AI) chip stocks has been incredibly bullish this year, many top software plays have actually been under pressure. Despite posting strong business results and possessing great infrastructure and a wealth of established business relationships that have continued to expand, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has been a poster child for lagging software stocks.
At the end of April, Microsoft published results for the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year -- which ended March 31. The business posted non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $4.27 on sales of $82.89 billion, significantly exceeding the average Wall Street estimate of $4.06 on revenue of $81.39 billion. Overall revenue was up 18% year over year, and revenue from the company's Azure and other cloud services businesses rose 40%, beating the average ***** yst target for growth.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is one of the best NASDAQ stocks to invest in for long term. On June 2, Texas Instruments announced that Julie Knecht will become the company's new chief financial officer, effective August 1. She will succeed Rafael Lizardi, who is retiring after a 25-year tenure. To ensure a smooth transition, Lizardi will remain in an advisory capacity until August 31.
Leadership at Texas Instruments credited Lizardi for his long-term focus on disciplined capital allocation and investments in manufacturing capacity. Knecht, a 25-year veteran of the firm, has worked closely with Lizardi for over a decade, with CEO Haviv Ilan highlighting her proven track record in strategic planning and financial operations as a key factor in her promotion.
For illustration purposes only. Photo from Pixabay/Pexels
Expressing her commitment to the company's culture and strategy, Knecht stated she looks forward to building on Texas Instruments Incorporated's (NASDAQ:TXN) established success. Meanwhile, the company remains focused on its operational goals and is scheduled to announce its Q2 2026 financial results on July 22.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is involved in the design and manufacture of semiconductors. The company's operations are divided into the following segments: ***** og, Embedded Processing, and Other.

Jenny Han arrived at Madison Square Garden for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's black-tie wedding in a strapless pink gown and black heels
Han, a longtime Swift fan, incorporated 30 of Swift's songs into her series after personally requesting permission
Swift's music has been pivotal in Han's show, which explores young love and complex relationships through a love trianglei
Jenny Han is officially a part of Taylor Swift's love story.
The Summer I Turned Pretty author and showrunner was seen arriving at Madison Square Garden, where Swift is celebrating her wedding to Travis Kelce, wearing a strapless pink gown and black high heels.

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — A wildfire burning southwest of Denver has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and destroyed more than 160 structures by Friday as erratic winds pushed the blaze across two Colorado counties.
The Aspen Acres fire is one of about 40 uncontained large blazes burning mostly in the West, fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow this past winter in some places.
Fire personnel were scooping water from the Pueblo Reservoir to fight Aspen Acres fire, which expanded overnight by 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) which brought it up to nearly 105 square miles (272 square kilometers) by Friday with zero containment.
All of Colorado City, an unincorporated community of about 2,200, was ordered evacuated as well as the towns of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.
About 50 National Guard soldiers were being sent in Friday to help with staffing checkpoints on roads in Custer and Pueblo counties.

Mineralys Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MLYS) is one of the 8 Hidden Multibagger Stocks to Buy Now. During the last few trading sessions, Mineralys Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MLYS) has seen positive momentum. On June 4, Goldman Sachs **** yst Richard Law reiterated a Buy rating on the stock and **** igned a target price of $42.
Earlier on June 2, MLYS revised its agreement with Tanabe Pharma to gain full worldwide rights to lorundrostat without having to pay future royalties. Under this amendment, the company agreed to pay Tanabe a $200 million upfront cash payment and could make additional payments of up to $365 million if certain commercial targets are achieved. Moreover, the company secured a loan of up to $500 million from funds managed by Pharmakon Advisors. The financing will be provided in stages, with access to additional funds tied to the FDA approval of lorundrostat and the achievement of certain sales milestones. This loan will provide capital to support the company's growth and commercialization plans. However, it also increases MLYS's debt obligations, which could limit the company's financial flexibility.
Mineralys Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MLYS) is a biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines to target diseases driven by dysregulated aldosterone. Its primary drug candidate is lorundrostat, which is used for the treatment of cardiorenal conditions affected by dysregulated aldosterone, such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania.
While we acknowledge the potential of MLYS 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.
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