The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the other major stock indexes fell Tuesday, with oil prices rising following an attack on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthis. Energy stocks jumped while software lagged. Meanwhile, memory-chip leader SK Hynix (SKHY) rallied on the stock market today, breaking out past a new buy point.
Stocks were under pressure in the first day of the shortened trading week, with the Dow industrials diving nearly 700 points. This equates to a 1.3% drop. Oil major Chevron (CVX) stood out with a 2% pop, putting shares back in a buy zone.
But Amgen (AMGN) plunged 9% and dropped to its 50-day moving average. It comes after a disappointing trial results for an experimental Novartis (NVS) cardiovascular treatment were seen as a negative indicator for the former firm's own fledgling heart treatment olpasiran. Novartis, not a blue chip stock, plummeted more than 13%.
The S&P 500 also felt the heat, dropping 0.4%. A majority of sectors were lower, with communication services and healthcare being hit the hardest. Energy and utilities were posting the best gains.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was also being punished, falling 0.5%. Booking (BKNG) and Shopify (SHOP) lagged due to drops of more than 5% and around 8%, respectively. CoreWeave (CRWV) showed strength by rising more than 8%.

#major #rising #lagged

Two Colts defensive backs were fined for preseason infractions that did not include on-field penalties.
Veteran cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was fined $7,791 for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing in the team's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, and safety Trey Washington was fined $5,583 for a facemask in the team's preseason loss to Atlanta.
Neither defensive back was flagged for a penalty on the play that led to their fines.
Washington's face mask happened on a 20-yard completion from Falcons quarterback Jack Strand to wide receiver Chris Blair in the second quarter of the preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Washington is listed as one of two tacklers on the play; former Colts cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was also involved in the tackle.
Buy Colts tickets

#fined #washington #cornerback #veteran

Oregon Ducks football coach Dan Lanning wasn't all that pleased following his team's 34-27 win over Boise State in the 2026 season opener. The Ducks were sloppy much of the time, and while some mistakes are expected in first games, others were compounded by miscues that just can't happen, first game or not.
The Ducks were flagged 10 times for 90 yards, and some of those were costly, directly leading to Boise State scoring just a couple of plays later.
There was a lot of bad in that game, but there was a lot of good also. Oregon managed to play through the adversity, erase a 10-point deficit, and eventually hang on to win against a determined Broncos team that showed why they are favorites to win the new Pac-12 this year.
Now the Ducks will face a different kind of adversity as they go on the road for the first time this season, a trip to Stillwater, Okla., to face a brand new Oklahoma State team. This isn't the team Oregon played just a year ago and pounded 69-3. The Cowboys have 91 new scholarship players, so film is limited. They did play at Tulsa last week, but OSU fell 24-10.
Here's everything Lanning had to say in his weekly Monday night press conference before preparing to face the Big 12 team.

#team #season

CrowdStrike (CRWD) looks like one of the strongest growth stories in cybersecurity right now. It had a lot to prove in the fiscal second-quarter earnings. The company delivered on all three numbers that I flagged ahead of the Q2 print, and in some cases it did much better than expected. And the stock's massive 90% gains so far this year reflect that outstanding performance.
With a market cap of $220 billion, CrowdStrike is a cloud-based cybersecurity company best known for its Falcon platform. The company helps businesses protect endpoints, cloud workloads, identities, and other parts of their technology infrastructure from cyber threats.
How to Play SNPS Stock as Layoffs Hit Synopsys
Micron Stock More Than Tripled in 2026. Now Taiwan Strike Threat Could Shake the AI Boom.
Dear Adobe Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 10

#Stock #company #Cybersecurity

Virginia Tech is off to a sensational start in the James Franklin era after cruising to a 73-3 victory over VMI. The new Virginia Tech head coach watched his team deliver a dominant performance in its season opener and praised several aspects afterward.
However, one moment during the blowout victory genuinely irritated Franklin. Officials penalized the Hokies for a celebration, and their head coach did not hesitate to express his frustration with the call, leading to plenty of reactions from college football fans.
College football has specific rules governing excessive celebrations, and Virginia Tech found itself on the wrong side of one of them in its opening game.
Officials flagged Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. for unsportsmanlike conduct after he scored his third touchdown and immediately made his way toward a large group of cadets.
Hawkins proceeded to high-five several of them, but an official in the end zone determined that the celebration warranted a penalty.

#franklin #college #head #several

Juventus had won their first two games of the season, but it would be entirely fair to say that they had come close to leaving those matches ruing missed opportunities. Each of them could've been put away long time before they were, and indeed one of the major talking points headed into Sunday's matchup against AC Milan was the fact that the Bianconeri had gotten the results without reaching the level of performance they desired. Milan were in the same boat, winning two straight under new manager Ruben Amorim but not convincing in either. It felt as though the team that managed to perform better would be the likelier to come out of the Allianz on top.
It was ultimately Juve that had the better of a game that was equal parts chaotic and sloppy. But once again they failed to take advantage of their performances. They failed to make the most of the chances they made over the game's first 70 minutes before Milan scored on — stop me if you've heard this one before — their first shot on target of the match. It took until the second minute of stoppage time for Juve to finally even things out, when Federico Gatti powered home a Teun Koopmeiners cross from six yards to earn the Old Lady a 1-1 draw.
The problems for Juventus were the same as we've talked about all season so far. The finishing wasn't nearly good enough, the passing was disjointed and often inaccurate, and overall creativity seemed to be lacking. But in spite of all of that, they can honestly say that they were the better of the two sides and deserved victory — even more so when you consider the fact that Milan's goal really should've been disallowed for a foul in the buildup that was never flagged by VAR. Considering they were missing seven players due to injury, several of whom were extremely important, it's far too early to start abandoning hope of a successful year—provided they make the improvements that their play so far suggest is possible.
Luciano Spalletti was missing Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie, Khéphren Thuram, Andrea Cambiaso, Jeff Ekhator, Juan Cabal, and Pape Matar Sarr. His 4-2-3-1 formation gave several players their first starts of the year. Guglielmo Vicario started behind the back four of Pierre Kalulu, Bremer, Jhon Lucumí, and Zeki Celik. Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz started in the middle of the park, while Francisco Conceição joined Nico González and Kerim Alajbegovic behind Randal Kolo Muani in attack.
Amorim missed Matteo Gabbia due to an ankle injury, but returned a few players to the starting lineup who had been eased back into things after long World Cup runs. Mike Maignan started in goal, ahead of a 3-4-2-1 setup that was a slight tweak to Amorim's usual 3-4-3. Former Juve prospect Koni De Winter joined Strahinja Pavolovic and Mario Gila in defense. Big-money signing Diego Moreira got his first start of the season opposite Pervis Estupiñán at the wing-back spots, while Luka Modric and Yunis Musah manned the double pivot. Adrien Rabiot joined Alexis Saele

Matt Campbell was far from the being the only coach to have a solid showing in his debut with his new school. His predecessor at Penn State ended up having a pretty big day as well.
James Franklin won his head coaching debut with Virginia Tech on Saturday behind an offensive explosion against VMI. Virginia Tech's 73-3 victory was fueled in part by a handful of notable performances by some former Penn State players who chose to follow Franklin from Happy Valley to Blacksburg.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, now Virginia Tech's starting quarterback, passed for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns before giving way to his backup in the second half. Tight end Luke Reynolds was Virginia Tech's second-leading receiver with 5 catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Defensive lineman Mylachi Williams recorded the first sack of his career in the first quarter. Messiah Mickens, a freshman running back who was set to join Penn State but ultimately stayed loyal to Franklin, had 5 carries for 23 yards in his college debut.
The Hokies out-gained VMI 619 to 83, and the defense held the Keydets to negative rushing yardage in the game (-4 yards). But it wasn't all rosy for Franklin's squad. Virginia Tech was flagged 11 times for penalties for a total of 93 penalty yards. Virginia Tech also lost the turnover battle, 2-1.
Virginia Tech's next game will be next Saturday against Old Dominion, coached by former Penn State offensive coordinator (under Franklin) Ricky Rahne. The Hokies are orchestrating a "white effect" for Lane Stadium for the game.

#Tech #game

New Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover started 6-for-6 passing for 98 yards and two touchdowns in his first start with the Hoosiers, but it took some blood and sweat — literally.
In the second quarter of Indiana's season opener against North Texas on Saturday, Sept. 5, a Mean Green defender brought some pressure to Hoover in the pocket but grabbed Hoover's facemask and turned his helmet completely backward in an obvious penalty. The defender was flagged for the play, which caused a open wound to Hoover's face, which he played with the remainder of the drive.
Blood continued to drip down Hoover's face and onto his chinstrap midway through the second quarter, but the first-year TCU transfer led the Hoosiers on a touchdown drive anyway, ending in a 9-yard touchdown pass to returning starter Charlie Becker to extend their lead to 21-3.
It's quite a first impression for a quarterback aiming to fill the shoes of Fernando Mendoza, who went No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft and won the Heisman Trophy before scoring a gutty touchdown himself in the national championship.
Hoover, a three-year starter at TCU, entered the game with 9,629 career passing yards and 79 total touchdowns to 33 interceptions. His first touchdown as a Hoosier was a beautiful back-shoulder pass to Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh, who caught the pass one-handed for what was also his first score.

#hoover #touchdown #blood #passing

After a slow start to the season, there would have been hope that this fixture against Nottingham Forest would be the moment things started to click for Tottenham Hotspur. Instead, Spurs had to settle for a goalless draw as their wait for a first Premier League goal of the season continued.
Roberto De Zerbi made three changes from the loss against Newcastle United, with Destiny Udogie and Savio getting their first league starts of the season, and Conor Gallagher returning to the XI in favor of Mateus Fernandes. Forest made one change, as Liam Delap was preferred to Igor Jesus up front.
This first half was full of physicality but not much quality. Both sides struggled to create clearcut scoring opportunities, with set pieces and long-range efforts the only real threats from either side. There was a sort of symmetry to the chance creation, though, as both Spurs and Forest saw attackers in behind one-on-one with the keeper only for the attacker to fail to capitalize and the referee to also call the play back. Omar Marmoush for Spurs was the first, breaking away from Neco Williams to latch onto Porro's long ball, only for a foul to be awarded to Williams for a shove by the Egyptian; while Morgan Gibbs-White was flagged for offside as he sprinted in behind Jan Paul van Hecke.
With both sides failing to score in the first half, it looked like Forest may have opened the scoring in the second. Really poor positioning from Jan Paul van Hecke allowed Gibbs-White to get in behind; Kinsky did enough to at least deflect Gibbs-White's shot, but Sandro Tonali whiffed on a clearance before Williams appeared to bundle the ball into the net by way of a diving header. It was a calamitous concession by Spurs, but one that did not stand for long, as replays showed the ball ended up in the net off Williams' arms with VAR overturning the goal.
A flurry of substitutions followed from both sides as both managers searched for a winner. Neither side was able to muster the quality to create anything to break the deadlock, however, and a late headed chance from substitute Dominic Solanke that went well over the crossbar was the final chance of a reasonably low-quality affair with the match finishing 0-0.

#SPURS #williams #only

Bitcoin news today shows the price rose more than 5% on September 3 to trade briefly above $82,000, as concerns about a Federal Reserve rate hike eased and Treasury yields fell. Fundstrat head of digital ******* ets Sean Farrell called the move important data worth respecting, while noting Bitcoin has bucked its historically weak September pattern over the past three years.
This is not simply a one-day rebound. It is the latest data point in a debate among strategists over whether the crypto bear market has already bottomed, a thesis complicated by volatile spot Bitcoin ETF flows and a seasonal track record that still favors caution.
DISCOVER: Upcoming Binance Listings
The token's move above $82,000 follows a 25% rally in August, a month strategists have flagged as a turning point after the Treasury Department's intervention in the bond market and ******* istance to ******* an helped lift both gold and crypto prices. Some of those August gains were erased when oil prices surged and hawkish remarks from Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh raised concerns about the central bank's September rate decision, before Fed governor Christopher Waller signaled openness to holding rates steady if inflation continues to ease.
Despite the rebound, Bitcoin remains roughly 7% lower year to date and about 35% below the all-time high of more than $126,000 it reached in early October 2025. September itself carries an unfavorable base rate: Farrell noted Bitcoin has posted negative returns in nine of the past 15 years during the month, though he cautioned that seasonality is a helpful data point rather than a foolproof trading system. For more on how Treasury-yield dynamics have shaped this resilience, see Bitcoin's macro pressure and resilience, and on the ETF side, BlackRock's IBIT and the current price setup.

#september #treasury #point #farrell

Cheapest freight isn't always best, especially when a late shipment can cost millions. ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine breaks down why SMB shippers need parcel, LTL and truckload in one workflow, and why better freight decisions now matter more than just lower rates. From the merger that created ShipStation Global to adding more modes into the platform, this conversation gets into where shipping tech is heading, how data shapes carrier selection, and what smaller shippers actually need from logistics partners. #FreightTech #LTL #SupplyChain
ShipStation Global is formally launching its less-than-truckload product, marking the first tangible freight expansion since the merger of software provider Auctane, formerly the parent of the Stamps.com andShipStation,and WWEX Group, which previously housed freight brokerages like Worldwide Express. The company's CEO said the rollout represents the opening move in a broader strategy to let small and midsize shippers purchase and manage all transportation modes through a single platform.
"Today's the first day we've really launched the LTL product," said Tom Madine, CEO of ShipStation Global, noting the company plans to add truckload, final mile, and eventually ocean and forwarding capabilities after establishing its inland position.
The strategic rationale centers on eliminating the workflow gap that forced ShipStation users to leave the platform whenever they needed to move freight beyond parcel. Customer surveys repeatedly flagged the absence of additional modes as the top improvement request, he said. With LTL now integrated, shippers can manage inbound inventory movements alongside outbound parcel without switching systems.
"Cheapest is not always best…But at the same time, you don't want to overpay," Madine said, illustrating the point with a customer whose engine shipments carry multi-million-dollar consequences if delayed.

#madine #shippers #parcel #cheapest

On August 12, Flywire (NASDAQ:FLYW) expanded its partnership with Trustly, bringing "Pay by Bank" open banking payments to customers across the US and Canada. The expansion lets payers authorize ACH and Pre-Authorized Debit transfers straight from their bank login, skipping the routing and account numbers that trip up so many cross-border payments. It is the kind of unglamorous plumbing upgrade that rarely makes headlines, but for a company built on moving money across borders, cutting payment friction is close to the whole business model.
Flywire and Trustly have partnered since 2017, first in Europe, and this expansion carries that same playbook into North America. Trustly runs a real-time balance check the moment a payer authorizes a transaction, catching insufficient funds before the payment is submitted rather than after. For cross-border transfers, Flywire manages the funds through the return window itself, which cuts down on the reversals that have long made international payments messy for clients and their customers alike. "We're applying the open banking infrastructure we've successfully scaled across Europe to North America, enabling our clients to confidently offer their payers a proven experience," said Kate Moran, Flywire's Vice President of Global Payments.
The timing lines up with a quarter of accelerating growth. On August 4, 2026, Flywire reported second-quarter revenue up 27.2% year over year to $167.7 million, while total payment volume jumped 38.2% to $8.2 billion. Management raised its full-year guidance for both revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margin, and the business is no longer leaning on education alone. Flywire signed more than 200 new clients across 45 countries during the quarter, with hospitality wins spanning nearly 90 U.S. hotel properties and education revenue outside its core markets growing more than 30% year over year.
Growth came with a cost. Gross margin slipped to 53.4% in the second quarter of 2026 from 57.0% a year earlier, and adjusted gross margin fell even further, from 61.1% down to 56.6%. That is a meaningful step backward on a per-dollar basis even as the top line expanded by double digits, and it raises the question of whether faster growth is being bought with thinner margins on the payments themselves.
Flywire also still posted a GAAP net loss of $8.1 million for the quarter, an improvement from the $12.0 million loss a year earlier but a loss nonetheless. And the company's own leadership flagged caution ahead: CFO Cosmin Pitigoi said Flywire is keeping its ***** umptions for the education vertical conservative because of the current visa policy environment, an acknowledgment that the company's largest historical vertical faces headwinds outside its control.

#trustly #across #payment

On August 3, UFP Technologies (NASDAQ:UFPT) reported second-quarter net income of $20.9 million, up 21.4% from $17.2 million a year earlier, alongside net sales of $174.0 million, a 15.1% jump from $151.2 million. Both figures, along with adjusted earnings per share of $2.92, marked the best quarter in the company's history. For the six months ended June 30, net income reached $38.3 million on sales of $328.2 million, up from $34.4 million and $299.3 million, respectively, in the same period of 2025. The headline numbers look clean. What sits underneath them is less tidy.
The quarter's strength did not come from one customer or one product line carrying the rest. UFP Technologies' top five customers grew 14.7%, and the remainder of its MedTech business grew even faster, at 19.7%. Organic sales growth, stripping out acquisitions, still ran at 12.4% for the quarter and 6.8% for the first half, which means the base business is expanding on its own rather than relying on deals to pad the numbers. Gross margin climbed to 29.3% from 28.8% a year earlier, and operating income rose 15.5% to $28.1 million, outpacing revenue growth. Adjusted EBITDA followed the same pattern, up 14.3% to $36.4 million for the quarter.
The balance sheet moved in a healthy direction too. Long-term debt, excluding current installments, fell to $104.8 million from $122.9 million at the end of 2025, while total equity grew to $462.4 million from $423.9 million over the same stretch. UFP Technologies also added executives in business development, operations, and legal during the quarter, a sign that management is building out the organization to support the growth it is already seeing rather than reacting to it after the fact.
The same earnings release that touted record results also flagged where the strain is showing. CEO Mitch Rock said the company's ongoing investment in its Dominican Republic operations is "taking longer than anticipated" to pay off and is creating "near-term mix and margin pressure" within the U.S. business. That is a direct admission that the expansion driving future capacity is costing money today. Selling, general and administrative expenses grew 21.8% to $22.8 million, faster than the 15.1% sales growth, pushing SG&A as a percentage of sales up to 13.1% from 12.4%. On an adjusted basis, SG&A crept up to 11.7% of sales from 10.8%.
Not every part of the business is contributing to the growth story either. While MedTech surged, the non-medical segment was flat for the quarter, leaving the entire growth burden on one part of the portfolio. Cash on hand also dropped sharply, falling to $9.0 million from $20.3 million at the end of 2025, even as receivables grew to $113.2 million from $82.9 million and inventories rose to $100.1 million from $86.9 million, a combination that suggests working capital is absorbing more cash than it used to.

#sales

On August 26, Movado Group (NYSE:MOV) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results that pushed adjusted earnings per share to $0.54 from $0.23 a year earlier, while net sales climbed 4.9% to $169.8 million. The jewelry and watch company also confirmed it will stop issuing annual financial guidance going forward, choosing instead to focus commentary on near-term trends. For a business built on Swiss craftsmanship and a stable of licensed fashion brands, the quarter marked a fifth straight period of positive momentum, and it came with a few surprises tucked inside the numbers.
Some of the headline strength came from a one-time source: $3.2 million in IEEPA duty refunds tied to tariffs paid between February 2025 and May 2026, which lifted GAAP gross margin to 59.4% from 54.1%. But strip that out and adjusted gross margin still rose 340 basis points to 57.5%, driven by favorable channel and product mix, strategic pricing, and less discounting. Growth was broad rather than concentrated in one line item. US net sales rose 4.9%, international sales rose 4.9% as well (4.1% in constant currency), and Latin America and India posted particularly strong results.
Movado.com sales jumped 8%, and Olivia Burton sales grew 23%, powered by small-shaped watches focused on the U.K. and US markets. The company also flagged a resurgence in traditional watch interest among younger buyers, pointing to the Baby Face mini strap watch, which sold out more than 400 units on movado.com in under a month. Looking ahead, Movado is expanding its Tapestry partnership to launch Kate Spade watches starting next fiscal year. The balance sheet backs up the momentum, with $211.6 million in cash, no debt, and $16.6 million already returned to shareholders through dividends this year.
Not every piece of this quarter travels into the second half. Management was explicit that the favorable mix of lower duty rate inventory that padded margins is temporary and is not expected to continue, and second-half gross margin guidance of 55% to 56% reflects that normalization. Sallie DeMarsilis also noted that gross margin gains were partially offset by higher shipping costs tied to fuel surcharges and rising e-commerce volume.
Geographically, the Middle East remains a soft spot, with Efraim Grinberg citing tourism-related headwinds in a region still affected by regional conflict. Operating expenses rose to $85.7 million from $80.6 million, largely on higher performance-based compensation and marketing spend. There is also a smaller but notable item: a $0.2 million pretax charge tied to a misconduct investigation within a Dubai-based Swiss subsidiary branch. And while Movado expects to recover another $6.8 million in IEEPA duties, it has chosen not to recognize that gain until the cash actually arrives, a reminder that not all of this quarter's tailwind is guaranteed to repeat.

#second

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO, XETRA:1YD), the American chip designer behind custom AI processors for Google, Meta and OpenAI, delivered another quarter of results that beat Wall Street's expectations.
Yet its shares slipped 0.8% in after-hours trading, a sign that investors are growing warier of even strong AI-related earnings.
The muted reaction stemmed largely from Broadcom's fourth-quarter revenue forecast of $34.8 billion, which fell short of the $35.03 billion ******* ysts had pencilled in.
For a stock that has already lagged the wider market this year, up just 6% against the S&P 500's 12% gain, that miss carried extra weight.
The scale of the AI build-out

#NASDAQ #avgo

On August 25, Box Inc. (NYSE:BOX) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results that beat management's own guidance across the board, with revenue climbing 9% to $321.1 million as customers piled into the company's priciest tier, Enterprise Advanced. The bigger story sits underneath the headline number. Box is repositioning itself as the security layer that lets AI agents from Anthropic, Databricks, and Slack actually touch a company's files, and that shift is starting to show up in the billings line.
Billings jumped 17% to $309.5 million, a figure management tied directly to booking strength and record second-quarter wins, which suggests customers are signing bigger contracts rather than trickling in seat by seat. Net retention rose to 106%, ahead of the 105% the company had guided to, driven by both seat expansion and higher price per seat. That combination matters because it means existing customers are both growing their headcount on the platform and paying more per person, a dual engine that is harder to replicate than growth from new logos alone. Suites, Box's bundled higher-tier offering, now make up 69% of revenue, up from 63% a year earlier, and customers paying at least $100,000 annually grew 10% year over year.
A major federal agency illustrated the pattern in the flesh, upgrading to Enterprise Advanced with a fourfold seat expansion to replace several separate software vendors it had been using for contract management and research. Operating margin expanded to 29.4%, and free cash flow jumped 67% to $59.7 million, evidence that the growth is not being bought with discounts. Box also introduced new Model Context Protocol integrations with partners including Anthropic, Databricks, and Slack, letting AI agents execute multistep tasks directly inside a customer's Box environment rather than just answering questions about files stored there.
Not everything in the quarter was clean. CFO Dylan Smith flagged that gross margin faces a constraint tied to "limited access to certain components of the infrastructure," language that points to capacity limits at the cloud providers Box relies on to run its AI features, and management guided third-quarter gross margin down to roughly 80.5% from the 81.2% just posted. Operating margin guidance for the third quarter also steps down to about 28%, a full percentage point below the 29.4% Box just delivered, even as the top line keeps growing.
Currency is another drag that will not disappear on its own. The company absorbed a $0.04 per share hit from foreign exchange in the quarter and expects roughly $0.09 off full-year earnings per share, which is baked into the raised full-year EPS guidance of $1.54. And while 9% reported revenue growth beat expectations, it is still a business growing in the high single digits, a pace that leaves little room for stumbles if Enterprise Advanced adoption cools or larger AI platforms decide to build competing file-governance tools of their own rather than partner with B

Report: Nearly 10-year age fraud uncovered as Bengal cricket bans 65 players including an India U-19 World Cup winner originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cricket ***** ociation of Bengal banned 65 players over age fraud and documentation issues.
2022 U-19 World Cup winner Ravi ***** ar was flagged with a 45-month age discrepancy spanning five domestic seasons.
India U-19 leg-spinner Rohit Yadav received an immediate 2-year BCCI ban following the discovery of a 27-month birth record irregularity.
Indian domestic cricket's chronic struggle with age manipulation has hit a massive administrative wall in Kolkata. According to a report from RevSportz, the Cricket ***** ociation of Bengal (CAB) has unleashed a sweeping crackdown, barring 65 players from registration and transfers across the 2026–27 and 2027–28 domestic seasons due to severe documentation flaws and systemic date-of-birth discrepancies.

#players #India #fraud

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has faced several issues in recent years that have weighed on its share price. First, the company's coronavirus business isn't nearly as strong as it once was. Second, Pfizer is racing toward important patent cliffs, including that of Eliquis, an anticoagulant. Third, the pharmaceutical giant has faced clinical setbacks with otherwise promising pipeline candidates, including some it acquired. This problem has led to billions in impairment charges. Because of these headwinds (and others), Pfizer's shares have lagged broader equities over the past two years and have hovered below $30 apiece. Is it finally time to invest in the company? Let's see whether there is a rebound on the horizon.
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 »
Let's start with Pfizer's recent second-quarter update. The company's revenue increased by 1% year over year to $15 billion. While that top-line growth doesn't look impressive, it beat ***** yst estimates. On the bottom line, Pfizer's adjusted earnings per share were $0.77, slightly lower than the $0.78 reported in the prior-year quarter. Here too, Pfizer beat expectations. And it's important to highlight what drove the revenue and earnings beat.
The company noted that non-COVID revenue increased 5% year over year, while sales from launched and acquired products jumped 18%. This is great news for Pfizer. It suggests that newer (and acquired) products will help pull sales in the right direction over the medium term, while older medicines, especially within its coronavirus business, continue to lose steam.
Even with the progress Pfizer is making with relatively new launches, upcoming patent cliffs will be a major problem for the company. Consider, for instance, that Eliquis was the drugmaker's best-selling therapy during the second quarter. Pfizer's revenue from Eliquis came in at $2.4 billion, up 21% year over year. So, it arguably remains its single most important growth driver. Pfizer will have to launch more new drugs to fill the gap Eliquis will leave behind as it faces generic competition by the end of the decade. Can the company pull it off? My view is that it can.

#company #revenue #years

OPEC+ is likely to leave its oil production policy unchanged for October when seven of its core members meet on Sunday, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing three sources close to the matter.
Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman are due to meet online at 11:00 GMT Sunday. The seven producers have spent much of 2026 raising their monthly production quotas, with the September increase completing the phased rollback of 1.65 million barrels per day of supply cuts first agreed in 2023.
Much of that additional supply has failed to reach the market. Actual production has lagged the higher quotas as the Iran war disrupted Gulf exports through the Strait of Hormuz, while the war in Ukraine has hit exports from Russia and Kazakhstan. OPEC production rose by 1.17 million bpd in July, but output remained well below the group's quotas.
The Iran war has also weakened OPEC+'s ability to influence the market. With Gulf exports constrained by the disruption in Hormuz, Reuters said the group's production decisions now have less impact on prices and market share than they did before the war.
Brent crude was trading near $94 per barrel Wednesday as renewed U.S.-Iran fighting and attacks on tankers kept attention on physical supply from the Gulf rather than OPEC+ production targets.

#production #Iran #supply #exports

By Ahmad Ghaddar and Olesya Astakhova
LONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - OPEC+ is likely to keep its oil output policy unchanged for October at a meeting on Sunday, three ‌sources close to the matter told Reuters, as the producer group completes the ‌unwinding of one layer of production cuts this month and turns its focus to 2027 quota negotiations.
The meeting comes as the Iran war continues to disrupt oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing OPEC+'s influence over prices and market share. Unlike in the past, the group's supply decisions now have a more limited impact on the market.
Sunday's meeting will involve seven core OPEC+ members: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, ‌Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman. The ⁠countries have been raising monthly production quotas for most of this year. Their online meeting is expected to begin at 1100 GMT, two of the ⁠sources said.
In practice, however, actual output has lagged the planned quota increases as the wars in Iran and Ukraine disrupted exports from the Gulf, Russia and Kazakhstan.

#opec #meeting #kazakhstan #production

On September 1, Helios Technologies (NYSE:HLIO) announced that its Electronics segment had expanded the No Roads platform with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, bringing familiar smartphone integration to boats, ATVs, and off-road rigs that never touch pavement. The announcement landed three weeks after Helios posted a second quarter in which that same Electronics segment expanded gross margin by more than 500 basis points, and it came alongside a raised full-year outlook. For a company known for hydraulic cylinders and industrial controls, chasing smartphone connectivity is a notable shift in emphasis.
No Roads was built jointly by Enovation Controls and i3 Product Development, pairing hardware built for rugged, integrated displays with i3's software and connected-product design work. Billy Aldridge, President of Electronics for Helios, described the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto rollout as a foundation for future connected capabilities rather than a standalone feature, and pointed to powersports, marine, overlanding, and specialty-vehicle OEMs as customers who now have a reason to look at Helios displays.
CEO Sean Bagan tied the move to a broader pattern of combining the company's operating units to build differentiated products, extending value to existing customers while pursuing new business in adjacent markets. The segment's own numbers back up that framing. Electronics sales climbed 19% in the second quarter of 2026 to $85.5 million, while gross margin expanded 530 basis points to 34.6%, pushing operating income up 90% to $11.2 million. That kind of margin expansion tends to show up when a business shifts from generic hardware toward harder-to-copy, differentiated products, which is exactly the case Helios is building for No Roads.
The company backed that story up at the corporate level too, raising its full-year 2026 sales outlook to $880 million to $900 million, up from a prior range of $840 million to $870 million, while cutting net debt to 1.4 times adjusted EBITDA from 2.6 times a year earlier.
Helios has not disclosed what No Roads, or the CarPlay and Android Auto features specifically, contribute to revenue, so the financial case for this rollout rests on management's framing rather than a number investors can independently verify. CFO Jeremy Evans tempered the company's own optimism when he flagged tougher year-over-year comparisons in the second half, along with geopolitical uncertainty, tariff dynamics, and broader inflationary pressures as ongoing headwinds.

#auto #expanded

NIO dropped 4% despite vehicle margin nearly doubling to 18.5%, as AI-driven memory chip costs hit RMB14,000 per car; XPEV fell just 0.5%.
DRIV fell only 1% versus SPY's 0.7% decline, confirming today's selloff is Nio-specific rather than a broad EV sector move.
Nio's ability to hold vehicle margin near 18.5% against per-car cost headwinds of RMB2,000 to 3,000 will decide the next re-rating when November Q3 results land.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
The Chinese electric vehicle sector is reacting a sharp cost-guidance warning, delivered inside what was arguably Nio's best profit quarter to date. Nio's management flagged rising costs for batteries and memory chips as the defining challenge of the second half, and investors sold the story despite a huge margin expansion.

#Margin #xpev

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ****** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ****** an) was the only detractor, and ****** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) as a leading performance contributor. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google, offers various platforms and services, including online search and advertising, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence. On August 31, 2026, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) closed at $335.41 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.13 trillion. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) posted a one-month return of -11.22%, while its shares gained 57.19% over the past 52 weeks.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)—the parent company of Google and YouTube—rose during the quarter as contracted future revenues from cloud operations continued to be strong, amplified by explosive demand for AI infrastructure, strong AI-focused memory chip production and resilient digital-ad sales. Google's full-stack AI solution underpins prospective long-term momentum for the company, with an anticipated near-term boost from hosting OpenAI's latest generative AI model."

#goog #eagle

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM). Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a cloud computing company that offers Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together. On August 31, 2026, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) closed at $257.54 per share. Over the past month, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) returned 36.58%, and its shares are up 3.16% over the past year. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) has a market capitalization of $211.96 billion.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Despite reporting better-than-expected results for its most recent quarter, shares of enterprise software developer Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) were weak during the quarter because of ongoing industrywide concerns that generative AI will trigger an exodus from software applications. We believe that Salesforce's technology serves as an economic moat to the potential disruption of AI because its products are embedded as the foundational system of record for its customers. In addition, we continue to believe that the company is well positioned to grow and scale its Agentforce platform over time."

#NYSE #global #index #management

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ****** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ****** an) was the only detractor, and ****** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA). HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities. On August 31, 2026, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) closed at $414.45 per share. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) returned 3.42% over the past month, and its shares are up 2.05% over the past year. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) has a market capitalization of $89.72 billion.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The leading detractors in the quarter were gold bullion, Charter Communications, Inc. Class A, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), Exxon Mobil Corporation and Salesforce.com, Inc. HCA Healthcare is the largest for-profit hospital operator in the US, with a difficult-to-replicate network of large urban hospitals. Although the company reported sales and profit growth for its most recent growth, HCA reported that patient volumes grew at the low end of guidance, driven partially by declines in respiratory-related emergency room visits, inpatient surgeries and outpatient surgeries. A decrease in enrollment in both Medicaid and Affordable Care Act exchanges was also a headwind. We continue to view HCA's management as an effective steward of both operations and the balance sheet as it continues to return capital to shareholders through share buybacks."

#fund #first

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM). ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is a leading US-based crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company. On August 31, 2026, ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) closed at $160.95 per share. Over the past month, ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) returned 5.74%, and its shares are up 41.95% over the past year. ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has a market capitalization of $661.81 billion.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of integrated oil and gas giant ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) traded down alongside easing crude oil prices. Although the company experienced disruptions in its Middle East operations, it reported better-than expected results for its most recent quarter because of improved production from ***** ets in Guyana and the Permian Basin. We continue to view Exxon as a high-quality operator with strong capital discipline, an attractive portfolio of durable ***** ets and a commitment to returning cash to shareholders."

#first

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is the second largest health insurer, and one of the largest commercial insurers in the United States. Shares rose during the quarter after the company reported quarterly earnings that beat consensus estimates. It was further supported by news that the US agreed to increase 2027 payments for private Medicare Advantage plans above the initial proposal. The company is priced at a discount to the market, driven by skepticism surrounding margins and growth, despite being a superior business that grows above GDP while returning most of its cash to shareholders."

#NYSE #fund #fundamental #wiley

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ****** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ****** an) was the only detractor, and ****** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR). Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a US-based broadband connectivity company. On August 31, 2026, Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) closed at $152.44 per share. The one-month return of Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) was -4.10%, and its shares lost -44.49% over the past 52 weeks. Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) has a market capitalization of $26.69 billion.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The leading detractors in the quarter were gold bullion, Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), HCA Healthcare Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation and Salesforce.com, Inc. Charter Communications is the second-largest broadband commu nications service company in the US, providing cable broadcasting, internet, voice and mass-media services. Cable providers in general remain under competitive pressure from mobile operators, which are scaling up entry-level fixed wireless service. We continue to view Charter as a high-quality business with difficult-to-replicate ****** ets that generate steady cash flows and returns cash to shareholders."

#charter #global #msci

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), the health insurer and healthcare-services provider formerly known as Anthem, rallied during the quarter as margins expanded—after a protracted decline—due to declining medical costs, stronger pricing and increased utilization with higher premiums."
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 84 hedge fund portfolios held Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) at the end of the second quarter, which was 87 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) 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 tr

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund." A copy can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns, with the Russell 1000 Value Index rising by 13.9%, although many individual stocks lagged. Notably, semiconductor stocks and AI-related sectors saw exceptional gains. The rally appeared speculative, marked by a stark difference in performance between high-beta and low-volatility stocks, along with momentum stocks outperforming the market significantly. Despite heightened enthusiasm for AI investments, concerns arise over inflated valuations reminiscent of the dot-com era. While there is substantial capital investment in AI, future earnings growth must justify these expenditures. The fund maintains a cautious approach towards perceived beneficiaries of AI, suggesting that select high-quality businesses with reasonable valuations may be better positioned. Historical trends suggest that speculative markets often revert to valuations based on fundamental economic realities, and the chosen investments are believed to be well-prepared for such a shift. The fund underperformed the index in the quarter and returned 5.69% vs. 13.87% for the Russell 1000 Value Index, largely due to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors like semiconductors, while stock selection in healthcare provided a positive contribution. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund highlighted F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) as one of its leading individual contributors. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) offers multi-cloud application security and delivery solutions. On August 31, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) closed at $407.13 per share. Over the past month, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) declined 3.41%, while its shares are up 29.82% over the past year. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) has a market capitalization of $23.05 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $223.76 to $435.00.
Hotchkis & Wiley Large Cap Fundamental Value Fund stated the following regarding F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) sells application networking and security software as well as data center appliances. The company's stock rose after it posted good quarterly results and raised both its revenue and EPS guidance. The company is misunderstood and gets incorrectly classified as a legacy IT hardware vendor, resulting in an attractive valuation for a company with better-than-average fundamental risk ratings. F5 has over 50% market share in traditional ADCs (application delivery controllers), along with various multi-cloud networking and application security products."

#ffiv