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Space Exploration Technologies Corp. CEO Elon Musk says that the commercial ****** eflight company has targeted conducting 30 launches of the Starship rocket per day by 2030.
Mach 33 co-founder Aaron Burnett on X on Thursday said that "1,000 launches/reentries is the goal," quoting a post by President Donald Trump's Science and Technology Advisor Michael Kratsios, who outlined the administration's new ****** e launch rules targeting 1,000 launches annually by 2030. "FAA was forecasting 385 by 2030 in their bull case," Burnett added.
1,000 launches/reentries is the goal. FAA was forecasting 385 by 2030 in their bull case. This is a statement by administration to start taking launch scale seriously.

For context, our conservative model estimating ~940 launches by ****** eX alone by 2030.

SpaceX publicly stated… https://t.co/HV2eLKMo9q
— Aaron Burnett (aaronburnett) August 20, 2026

#launches #aaron #SpaceX #reentries

Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Global Growth Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. The SGA Global Growth Portfolio returned 7.4% gross and 7.2% net, compared with 14.9% for the MSCI ACWI and 19.8% for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. Momentum leadership and enthusiasm around AI infrastructure drove markets, with semiconductor, memory, and hardware stocks accounting for much of the gain. Although the portfolio owned AI beneficiaries, broader holdings lagged despite fundamentals, as median revenue and EPS growth reached 12% and 14% and more than 60% of the holdings beat expectations. SGA believes valuation compression reflects sentiment rather than weaker business quality, leaving the portfolio near its widest discount to the market since inception. The firm continues to favor durable compounders and expects 16% revenue growth and 20% earnings growth over three years. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC). Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) is a Swiss-based healthcare and medical technology company focused on eye care products. On August 21, 2026, Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) closed at $73.63 per share. The one-month return of Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) was 9.44% and its shares lost 8.83% over the past 52 weeks. Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) has a market capitalization of $36.68 billion.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"During the quarter, we exited our position in Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC). Alcon remains a leader in eye care with exposure to increasing secular demand driven by aging and myopia, with market leadership across multiple categories. Strong launches in new equipment and eye drops drove topline growth of 6% constant currency and earnings per share growth of 16%+ in Q1. This was slightly below expectations of 7% growth, as the market for cataracts and contact lenses remains subdued. Additionally, the premium intraocular lens for cataracts is getting more competitive, with Alcon remaining the leader but expected to continue to cede share from the highs of 80%+ as competitors are catching up. Management continues to execute well on product launches to offset pressures in intraocular lens, which accounts for 17% of total sales. However, to account for the increased competition and subdued market conditions overall, we gradually reduced the position before ultimately redeploying the capital into a higher growth opportunity in Schneider Electric."

#strategy

SpaceX (SPCX) and AST ******* eMobile (ASTS) each fell 3% as markets sold Trump's 1,000-launch-by-2030 memo, pricing execution risk over policy optimism.
The Procure ******* e ETF (UFO) slipped just 0.4% while pure-play names sold off, showing broader satellite and defense holdings are cushioning the sector.
CFO Adam Spice said one Neutron test launch would flip Rocket Lab to positive EBITDA, but CEO Beck warned the year-end window is narrowing.
Act now: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Rocket Lab didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) stock is down 3% to $133.48 in early Monday trading, extending a slide that has surprised bulls counting on federal launch policy to lift the group. The pullback comes even as President Trump signed a memo directing agencies to target at least 1,000 launches and re-entries annually by 2030.

#spacemobile

Hannah Einbinder has come out strongly in defense of Mark Ruffalo as the actor faces an accusation of "antisemitism" from Paramount Skydance over his opposition to the studio's deal for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
Paramount accused Ruffalo of antisemitism after the actor drew links between Larry Ellison's tech giant Oracle and the Israeli military. Larry Ellison is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison and provided much of the funding that allowed David Ellison's Skydance to merge with Paramount Global in 2025 and is also heavily involved in the financing of Paramount's merger with WBD.
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Oscars: South Korea Picks Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' as Best Int'l Feature Submission

#paramount

Turnarounds in the healthcare sector do not all look the same. Some companies recover because management executes better, launches stronger products, and improves operations, while others do so because the industries they serve begin improving after prolonged downturns.
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) are two of healthcare's most closely watched recovery stories, but they are being driven by very different forces. The question for investors is whether Medtronic's (NYSE:MDT) internally driven turnaround or Thermo Fisher's (NYSE:TMO) improving end markets offer the stronger long-term opportunity.
The latest results reinforce that Medtronic's (NYSE:MDT) turnaround is beginning to translate into measurable financial performance. The company reported its highest annual revenue growth in a decade, suggesting that years of investment in new technologies are beginning to gain traction.
Furthermore, Medtronic's (NYSE:MDT) cardiac segment is emerging as one of the most prominent growth drivers for the company, as the Cardiac Ablation Solutions revenue rose 78% globally, including 124% U.S. growth. Several of the company's newer product launches are beginning to contribute meaningfully to growth, helping strengthen its competitive position in several high-growth markets. It is also heavily investing in innovation and M&A, along with targeted investments in high-growth segments such as ICE catheter technology.
While Medtronic's (NYSE:MDT) recovery is being driven by internal execution and product innovation, Thermo Fisher's (NYSE:TMO) outlook increasingly depends on improving customer spending across the life sciences industry. What stood out most from Thermo Fisher's (NYSE:TMO) quarter was the breadth of the recovery across its life sciences businesses. Management highlighted improving customer activity across pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, while multiple operating segments returned to healthy growth. That is an important distinction because broader participation across business segments suggests customer spending is becoming healthier rather than merely stabilizing in one niche.

#improving #driven

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock has been a disappointment for some investors in 2026. The stock price is up 15%, which is beating the broader market's 12% rise, but it isn't outperforming the way it has in the previous three years. In 2026, Nvidia has reported strong results so far that suggest the growth thesis continues, yet the market has grown skeptical.
This makes now a great time to consider buying. Just know that the window could be closing fast. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Nvidia reports fiscal 2027 second-quarter results (for the quarter ending July 30). Because Nvidia is valued at an attractive level heading into earnings, this could be the last chance investors have to buy the stock cheaply, as there is a good shot the stock experiences a strong, significant rally following the report.
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 »
Given its continued stellar growth rate and reasonable valuation, I can think of few stocks that are better buys. All of that could change depending on the quality of Nvidia's earnings and the market's reaction afterward.
Nvidia makes computing equipment, with most of its products centered around its GPU ecosystem. Nvidia GPUs are the industry standard in AI computing right now, and nearly every product that launches is compared to theirs. So, checking Nvidia's valuation versus its competitors is a smart move.

#signal #investors #makes

Now that the **** e dust, er, the dust from the **** eX (SPCX) initial public offering (IPO) has settled, I decided to take another look at the IPO **** e at large. What did I find? Even in a strong period for stocks, like the past 52 weeks, IPOs are a **** shoot. That's based on the current holdings of the Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO), which have been public for at least 12 months.
With OpenAI and Anthropic thought of as the "next big thing" in IPO land, given their expected offerings, it should be noted that the last two headline-grabbing launches are not exactly posting stellar numbers out of the gate. Cerebras (CBRS) debuted in May of this year, and after hitting an intraday high of $386 just hours after its debut, it closed Wednesday at around $216.
Soros Fund Management Opened a New Position in Nebius During Q2. What This Means for NBIS Stock.
Ahead of Nvidia Earnings, Here's What Barchart Data Says Comes Next for NVDA Stock
Nvidia Earnings, Jackson Hole and Other Key Things to Watch this Week

#NVIDIA #spcx #even

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
President Donald Trump signed a memo Thursday directing federal agencies to dramatically ramp up commercial rocket activity, setting a target of at least 1,000 launches and re-entries annually by 2030, according to Reuters.
Last year's total sat at 178 launches — already 10 times the 2013 figure. Reaching 1,000 would mean roughly a fivefold jump from current levels.
The memo directs agencies to look at federal land for new launch and re-entry sites, and calls for a new federal re-entry site to be identified within 90 days. Officials are also told to expedite permitting, speed up environmental reviews and secure adequate wireless spectrum for launches, per Reuters.
Don't Miss:

#finance

Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Global Growth Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. The SGA Global Growth Portfolio returned 7.4% gross and 7.2% net, compared with 14.9% for the MSCI ACWI and 19.8% for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. Momentum leadership and enthusiasm around AI infrastructure drove markets, with semiconductor, memory, and hardware stocks accounting for much of the gain. Although the portfolio owned AI beneficiaries, broader holdings lagged despite fundamentals, as median revenue and EPS growth reached 12% and 14% and more than 60% of the holdings beat expectations. SGA believes valuation compression reflects sentiment rather than weaker business quality, leaving the portfolio near its widest discount to the market since inception. The firm continues to favor durable compounders and expects 16% revenue growth and 20% earnings growth over three years. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC). Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) is a Swiss-based healthcare and medical technology company focused on eye care products. On August 21, 2026, Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) closed at $73.63 per share. The one-month return of Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) was 9.44% and its shares lost 8.83% over the past 52 weeks. Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) has a market capitalization of $36.68 billion.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"During the quarter, we exited our position in Alcon Inc. (NYSE:ALC). Alcon remains a leader in eye care with exposure to increasing secular demand driven by aging and myopia, with market leadership across multiple categories. Strong launches in new equipment and eye drops drove topline growth of 6% constant currency and earnings per share growth of 16%+ in Q1. This was slightly below expectations of 7% growth, as the market for cataracts and contact lenses remains subdued. Additionally, the premium intraocular lens for cataracts is getting more competitive, with Alcon remaining the leader but expected to continue to cede share from the highs of 80%+ as competitors are catching up. Management continues to execute well on product launches to offset pressures in intraocular lens, which accounts for 17% of total sales. However, to account for the increased competition and subdued market conditions overall, we gradually reduced the position before ultimately redeploying the capital into a higher growth opportunity in Schneider Electric."

#market #strategy #Portfolio #quarter

On August 13, Ascendis Pharma (NASDAQ:ASND) reported second-quarter results that showed how far its rare disease portfolio has come. Total product revenue roughly doubled from a year earlier to €315 million, and for the first time all three of the company's approved TransCon therapies, SKYTROFA, YORVIPATH and YUVIWEL, were contributing meaningful sales in the same quarter. That combination is what management is leaning on to justify its 2030 revenue ambitions.
YORVIPATH, the hypoparathyroidism treatment, generated €252 million in the quarter and crossed blockbuster level on an annualized basis just two years after its U.S. launch, while reaching patients in more than 35 countries through either commercial sales or named patient access programs. Long-term trial data presented during the quarter showed response rates sustained between 82% and 86% on the combined endpoint, with patients still on therapy at a 95% rate five years after starting.
SKYTROFA, the once-weekly growth hormone therapy, crossed 20,000 unique patient enrollments and remains the best-selling long-acting growth hormone in the US as measured by brand value, contributing €55 million for the quarter. YUVIWEL, the newest of the three, launched commercially in the US during the quarter and brought in €8 million in its first quarter on the market. Enrollment kept climbing after the quarter closed, from more than 170 unique patients through June 30 to more than 220 by the end of July, with more than 65% of those patients already approved for reimbursement. Ascendis also ended the quarter with €812 million in cash and carries no bank debt or convertible debt, giving it room to keep funding these launches without outside financing.
The growth came with a steeper cost base. SG&A expenses rose to €173 million in the quarter from €145 million in the prior quarter, and R&D expenses climbed to €76 million from €59 million, a comparison made sharper by the fact that the prior quarter's figure had been reduced by a one-time €11 million reversal of earlier inventory write-downs. Reported operating profit of €220 million also leaned heavily on a one-time item, a €158 million gain tied to the sale of a PRV. Strip that out and non-IFRS operating profit was €92 million, a 27% margin that better reflects the underlying business. Total revenue of €339 million for the quarter also included €24 million of non-product collaboration revenue, including a €17 million milestone payment tied to TransCon CNP, money that will not repeat every quarter. And while YUVIWEL's early numbers are strong, formal regulatory decisions for the drug in the U.S. and European Union are not expected until the fourth quarter of 2026, meaning current sales are happening ahead of full approval.

#patients #time #transcon

Growing geopolitical tensions are fueling a global arms race. According to SIPRI, global military spending hit a record $2.9 trillion in 2025, an increase of 2.9% from the previous year. Meanwhile, the ******* e Foundation reported that the global ******* e economy reached $613 billion in 2024. Separately, the World Economic Forum and McKinsey projects that the ******* e economy is on track to surpass $1.8 trillion by 2035.
These trends cast the spotlight on the expanding business opportunities for defense and ******* e technology companies. Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB), with its broadening portfolio and programs, looks well-positioned to capture those opportunities. Its contract with the U.S. ******* e Force highlights its expanding role in national security ******* e missions.
Rocket Lab has secured a $266 million contract from the U.S. ******* e Force to provide around a dozen suborbital launches, with an option for more. This is the company's largest launch contract award ever. The first launch is expected to take place by the end of 2026.
The award also confirms Rocket Lab's growing relationship with U.S. defense customers. Earlier this year, the Pentagon awarded the company a $190 million contract to support hypersonic flight testing. Rocket Lab is also working with Rtx Corp (NYSE:RTX) on the proposed Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
Starting off as a launch service provider, Rocket Lab has steadily transformed its business to become a broader ******* e systems provider. Aside from offering launch services, the company supplies ******* ecraft, payloads, and satellite components. It also supports mission operations. The expanded scope allows Rocket Lab to capture a greater share of each customer program.

#rocket #contract #launch #trillion

South Africa and New Zealand collide in the first of four huge Tests in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
The All Blacks have won all three of their warm-up games since arriving in South Africa, and now take on a Springboks side that beat them in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
Rassie Erasmus' world champions are unbeaten in their last 12 matches and were narrow victors in the pair's last encounter at Ellis Park.
Another blockbuster encounter could be in store as the landmark series launches in style.
Here's everything you need to know.

#south #africa #series

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Focused Growth Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the Baron Focused Growth Fund achieved a 13.26% gain, still trailing the Russell 2500 Growth Index's 24.02% return. The underperformance was driven by ongoing concerns about AI's impact on portfolio businesses and underexposure to AI infrastructure. The IPO of ******* eX provided a boost, but overall, the Fund's companies are generating robust revenue growth and strengthening margins through enhanced client engagement and product offerings. Many stocks remain historically undervalued, and companies are beginning accelerated share repurchases, bolstering investor confidence. The Fund is perceived as compelling, benefiting from favorable market conditions and strong balance sheets, while inflation and interest rates are expected to remain stable. The Fund has outperformed its Benchmark over the past 3, 5, and 10 years, showing significant excess returns with lower market risk, attributed to a research-driven investment approach. The Fund maintains a commitment to long-term investing in growth-oriented businesses, utilizing a balanced portfolio to mitigate risk and potentially enhance returns. Please review the Fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Focused Growth Fund highlighted FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS). FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) is a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel company known for its scrubwear for healthcare professionals. On August 19, 2026, FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) closed at $14.49 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.41 billion. FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) posted a one‑month return of 56.82%, while its shares gained 109.09% over the past 52 weeks.
Baron Focused Growth Fund stated the following regarding FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) designs and sells scrubwear for health care professionals through a digitally native, direct-to-consumer strategy. The stock detracted from performance as shares slipped due largely to investor positioning. Even so, the company reported a very strong first quarter. Revenue came in at $159.9 million, up 28%, well ahead of the company's guidance for low-20% growth and above consensus expectations. The results were broad-based. U.S. revenue grew 24% to $131.6 million, with strength across core offerings, new product launches, and promotional periods, while international revenue accelerated 50% to $28.3 million, with double-digit growth in every region. Active customers surpassed 3 million for the first time, up 12% year over year, with both new and repeat customers contributing. We continue to have conviction in the strength of FIGS' business model and the company's ability to gain market share in the attractive global health care apparel industry."

#figs #focused

NASHVILLE - "It's Sure Gonna Hurt" - After nearly two decades, Rayna and Deacon face the facts of their storied and often tempestuous relationship. Scarlett makes a startling self-discovery in between tour dates while Gunnar performs with one of his idols, rock-music legend Sir Elton John, who guest stars as himself. Luke stops by "The View" to trumpet a worthy cause-before a family emergency pulls his focus. Elsewhere, Juliette struggles to make a connection, and Layla launches her album at The Bluebird. Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Raven Symon and Paula Faris guest star as themselves on "Nashville," WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Television Network. (Photo by Mark Levine/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) HAYDEN PANETTIERE
Hayden Panettiere, known to many of us as the cheerleader who couldn't be broken on Heroes and the country western star who came apart on Nashville, died this week in her South Carolina home at the age of 36. She left behind an eleven-year-old daughter called Kaya. Her cause of death is not yet known.
The public response to her death has followed a familiar refrain: the tragic trajectory of a child star whose bright light cast longer shadows. But Panettiere's story is also one of a young woman who fought hard to reclaim her narrative, and was willing to drag the darkest parts of it into the light, even when doing so made people uncomfortable.
Her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, detailed a near-death labor and postpartum psychological spiral, an opioid and alcohol addiction that predated her daughter's birth by more than a decade, and the very difficult decision to give her daughter's father, former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, full custody of their daughter in 2018. It was a story that gave a voice to a subject and a stigma that so many women have been unable to face openly for fear of shame, judgment and retribution. And perhaps that makes her sudden death all the more tragic, and opens up an important question that deserves to be confronted: what, exactly, do we mean when we say "good mother"?
381839 09: Actress Hayden Panettierre poses for photographers November 13, 2000 at the premiere of "102 Dalmatians" at Radio City Music Hall In New York City. (Photo by George DeSota/Newsmakers)

#star

Pony.ai reported Tuesday that its overseas robotaxi deployment pipeline has grown to more than 4,000 vehicles, as the Chinese autonomous driving company accelerates its push into international markets.
Those vehicles are already under contract, though when each deployment goes live will depend on permitting, regulatory clearances, and other operational factors, Pony.ai CEO James Peng told ******* ysts on a post-earnings call, according to Reuters. Pony.ai offered no indication of when the full roster of planned international launches would be complete, and gave no figures on how many robotaxis it has actually put on the road outside China.
The total includes a contract with Uber for deployment of more than 2,000 robotaxis in Europe, the company said. Pony.ai did not disclose a breakdown of the remaining commitments across other markets.
Pony.ai announced the expanded Uber partnership last week, which builds on an existing commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, and adds four more European cities. Under the arrangement, Pony.ai contributes its autonomous driving technology and operational expertise, Uber provides its ride-hailing platform, and locally selected providers handle fleet tasks such as maintenance and charging.
Beyond Europe, Pony.ai said it has also advanced robotaxi operations in Luxembourg in collaboration with Bolt and Stellantis, and in Singapore made its robotaxi service available to the general public through ComfortDelGro's Zig app.

#international

SpaceX (SPCX) crushed Q2 estimates by 15%, delivering $7.8B in revenue on 92% year-over-year growth as its AI segment surged 247%.
Management is targeting a $100B annualized revenue run rate by December, requiring monthly revenue to triple from today's $2.6B pace.
Shares jumped 6.5% to $149 after **** eX launched two Falcon 9 rockets 38 minutes apart, and Polymarket puts 89.5% odds on $150 this week.
Act now: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and **** eX didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The back-to-back Falcon 9 launches by **** eX (NASDAQ:SPCX) over the weekend set a fresh cadence record and showcase how quickly the launch infrastructure is scaling. The longer-term thesis, however, hinges on Starship achieving full and rapid reusability with quick turnarounds.

#revenue #spcx #year #management

Caitlin Clark launches heartfelt hospital program for pediatric patients originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Caitlin Clark has built her basketball career by creating opportunities for teammates. Her newest **** ist will deliver books, activities and moments of happiness to children facing much more difficult circumstances than anything encountered on a basketball court.
The Caitlin Clark Foundation announced the launch of "Turning Pages, Healing Hearts," a new program designed to support pediatric patients and their families at children's hospitals in Indiana and Iowa. Created in partnership with Scholastic, the initiative provides participating hospitals with book vending machines and tokens that allow young patients to select books based on their own interests. The program also includes arts and crafts activities and a welcome "joy finder."
"We are honored to be bringing our new program, Turning Pages, Healing Hearts, to local hospitals!" the foundation announced on Instagram.
Clark shared the post on her Instagram Story and added an emotional response.

#clark #program #patients #healing

e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on August 5, and the headline number is hard to ignore. Net sales grew 36% year-over-year, marking the company's 30th consecutive quarter of net sales growth, a streak stretching back more than seven years. Management says only 6 of 516 public consumer companies tracked have matched that pace while averaging at least 20% quarterly growth. On the back of it, e.l.f. raised its full-year outlook to 18% to 20% net sales growth, up from 12% to 14% previously.
Of roughly 1,800 cosmetics and skin care brands Nielsen tracks, only 14 have topped $200 million in retail sales, and e.l.f. now owns four of them. Rhode, the Hailey Bieber brand, is the standout. It added about $160 million in net sales this quarter and posted $27 million in single-day sales on rhodeskin.com during its summer launch, pulling in 90,000 new customers while still drawing over 70% of sales from repeat buyers. International sales grew 61%, well ahead of the 29% domestic pace, as e.l.f. expands into Boots in the UK, Sephora in Brazil, and Naturium into Canada and Mexico this fall.
Rhode itself launches with Sephora across 19 European countries in September. The company is also pushing into haircare, with its June launch of e.l.f. Hair drew nearly half its buyers from outside the existing e.l.f. customer base, a sign the newer categories are expanding the audience rather than just cross-selling it.
Strip away Rhode and the core e.l.f. business told a different story this quarter. Organic net sales declined by a high single-digit percentage, and unit volumes fell about 3 percentage points even as pricing and mix added 39 points to overall growth. Management ran a pricing test this spring and ultimately cut prices on about 10% of e.l.f. SKUs to try to win back units, an acknowledgment that value positioning needed adjusting. Profitability also got a boost that will not repeat. Q1 gross margin jumped roughly 1,400 basis points to 83%, but over 1,050 of those basis points came from $50 million in IEEPA tariff refunds flowing through cost of goods. Adjusted EBITDA rose 93% to $168 million, yet excluding the refund, growth was 36%.
Management plans to reinvest the entire refund through lower prices and marketing, which it expects to be a net zero benefit to full-year EBITDA. SG&A as a share of sales also climbed to 54% from 50% a year earlier, and the company still owes the first payment on Rhode's earnout later this year given how far the brand has outperformed.

#back #sephora

On July 28, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) reported its second-quarter financial results, delivering strong core operational performance and showcasing steady commercial momentum. The firm's total Q2 turnover reached £8.4 billion, marking a 5% increase year-over-year at constant exchange rates (CER), while Core operating profit climbed 7% CER to £2.80 billion and Core EPS rose 9% CER to 50.5p. Growth was primarily fueled by double-digit gains in Specialty Medicines (+14% CER to £3.8 billion) and robust momentum in Vaccines (+8% CER to £2.3 billion). However, Total operating profit dropped 75% CER to £481 million, hit by a £1.3 billion non-cash impairment charge following the decision to discontinue camlipixant after CALM-1/2 Phase III trial results.
Alongside earnings, GSK outlined major strategic plans to accelerate its R&D roadmap. Management announced it expects 20+ Phase III trial starts in 2026, up from its previous projection of 10, focusing on 7 key **** et accelerations across 18 indications in oncology, respiratory, hepatology, and vaccines.
To support this pipeline expansion and fund late-stage development, GSK initiated its new 'Accelerate Growth' restructuring program. The three-year initiative aims to generate £1.9 billion in annual cost savings by 2029 for total costs of £2.4 billion, with savings earmarked for pipeline reinvestment and supporting operating margins through the dolutegravir loss-of-exclusivity period (2028–2030). Additionally, ViiV Healthcare, GSK's majority-owned HIV business, presented positive Phase IIIb VOGUE study data, reinforcing the efficacy and real-world utility of its long-acting HIV regimen portfolio.
This brings up a key question: Is GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)'s pipeline acceleration and core business growth enough to offset upcoming patent expiries, or does statutory margin volatility signal deeper pipeline execution risks ahead?
Bullish **** ysts highlight that GSK plc's core business model continues to show high execution efficiency, supported by key product launches and pipeline catalysts over the next 12 months that build confidence in reaching its £40 billion sales target by 2031. A critical driver is GSK plc's active business development strategy, illustrated by the acquisition of efimosfermin, which expands its hepatology portfolio, provides optionality for related liver diseases, and seamlessly aligns with corporate M&A goals.

#phase #business #operating

Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management attributed the 4.1% consolidated sales decline to softening Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) trends in June and July, which offset growth in retail and international channels.
The Solo Stove segment faced a 14.7% sales decline, though management highlighted that new product launches accounted for nearly half of the segment's DTC sales.
Operational efficiency was a primary focus, with management reducing the U.S. distribution footprint from five facilities in 2025 to just one by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Watersports segment was established as a separate reporting unit following a 59% sales increase, driven by strong retail point-of-sale demand for Oru and ISLE brands.

#sales #retail #segment

Qiagen (NYSE:QGEN) walked into its second quarter of 2026 bracing investors for a roughly 2% sales decline. Instead, net sales came in flat at $535 million on August 6, and adjusted diluted EPS hit $0.62, both ahead of the company's own outlook. For a diagnostics and life sciences supplier still working through the loss of discontinued product lines, beating a cautious bar is one thing. What happens next, as management leans on a stack of new launches to carry the back half of the year, is the more interesting question.
The company's so-called growth pillars, the businesses management is counting on to outpace the broader market, expanded 5% at constant exchange rates in the quarter. Sample Technologies led with 9% CER growth, driven by automated consumables and higher instrument sales. QIAcuity, the digital PCR platform, posted double-digit consumables growth even as weaker OEM demand offset some of that strength. QuantiFERON, the tuberculosis test that had flagged a sharp drop in US immigration testing demand back in the first quarter, still managed to return to growth as demand across other testing groups more than made up the difference.
Behind those numbers sits a wave of product activity. QIAsymphony Connect launched commercially, QIAsprint Connect placements are drawing what management called strong pharma customer acceptance, and two new bloodstream infection panels for QIAstat launched in Europe, detecting 33 pathogens and 28 resistance markers in about an hour, with US FDA approval targeted by year-end. Parse, the single-cell ****** ysis business, is running ahead of its roughly $40 million 2026 sales target and was selected for a NASA-supported research program aboard the International ****** e Station. Qiagen also completed a $500 million share repurchase in January and raised its annual dividend 40% to $0.35 per share.
The flat top line masks uneven performance underneath. Diagnostic solutions overall declined 2% at constant currency, and PCR and nucleic acid amplification sales fell 8%, with QIAstat-Dx down 7% as a tough prior-year comparison in respiratory testing outweighed gains in gastrointestinal and meningitis panels. Profitability also gave ground. Adjusted operating income fell 2% to $157 million, with the margin slipping to 29.4% from 29.9% a year earlier, and adjusted gross margin declined to 66.2% from 66.7% on product mix shifts.
Regionally, EMEA sales fell 2% CER as declines in Germany, France, and Italy outweighed gains elsewhere, and Asia Pacific sales fell 2% CER as China dropped in the low teens, even though it improved sequentially. Inventory days outstanding also climbed to 153 from 149, tied to stockpiling ahead of new launches. The company is now guiding to a jump from roughly negative 1% CER sales growth in the first half to 3% to 4% in the second half, a swing that leans heavily on new products, easier comparisons and the fading drag from discontinued lines all landing on schedule.

#Growth #adjusted #ro

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Wednesday performed its second ballistic missile test in less than a week, its neighbors said, a likely protest of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said a ballistic missile fired from the North's eastern coastal Wonsan area around 6 a.m. flew more than 700 kilometers (435 miles). The **** anese Defense Ministry also detected the launch, saying the weapon landed in waters outside its exclusive economic zone, between the Korean Peninsula and **** an.
The launches, within days of each other, were seen as part of North Korea's extended run of weapons tests as the country has refused to return to talks with the U.S. and South Korea for years. Experts say North Korea often uses its rivals' military training as a pretext to boost its own testing activities.
South Korea's military said it remains ready to repel any provocation by Pyongyang in cooperation with the United States. South Korea's national security council called North Korean ballistic missile launches "acts of provocation" and urged the North to halt them immediately.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters that **** an strongly protested the North Korean launch through their embassies in Beijing. "It's a serious problem that affects the safety of the **** anese people," he said.

#Japan

Long Cast Advisers, an independent registered investment adviser, released its Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy can be downloaded here. The firm reported strong earnings in the second quarter, with results improving 20%, bringing year-to-date returns to +19%. While performance trailed the Russell 2000 and iShares US MicroCap ETF, it remained well ahead of the iShares SmallCap EAFE (ex-N. Am) ETF. Since inception in 2015, ***** ulative returns stand at 343% (15% CAGR), reflecting the firm's strategy of concentrated, patient investments in small and micro‑cap companies. The firm remains cautious in this environment, emphasizing patience and endurance while avoiding margin and volatility. In addition, please check the firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Long Cast Advisers highlighted Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX). Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) is a global medical device company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells powered surgical instruments for medical device OEMs. On August 7, 2026, Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) closed at $65.56 per share. The one-month return of Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) was 7.88%, and its shares gained 72.87% over the past 52 weeks. Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) has a market capitalization of $209.32 million.
Long Cast Advisers stated the following regarding Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"In 2Q26, Pro-Dex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDEX), PESI and MTRX were the largest contributors. The PDEX pitch offered an attempt to quantify the anticipated incremental benefits to operations if Zimmer succeeds with the mBos robot commercialization (a corrected version of the slide is below). The milestones, prices and margins are all derived from public filings and we ***** ume four effectors per system sale, as an informed estimate.
Zimmer's purchase of Monogram last year included "contingent valuation rights" (CVRs) that pay out $3.41 / share in each year from 2028 to 2030 that mBos gross revenues exceed certain hurdles. Based on these estimates, we calculated the number of systems needed to achieve those revenues, and it triangulates to a capital sale in the range of ~$1M per machine, in line with the cost of Stryker's Mako platform. Stryker sold 860 units in its first three years, so the forecast 609 units to trigger the final CVR seems achievable. And even if the timing is wrong or our estimates imprecise, as long as the direction is right - and Zimmer is putting significant resources behind the launch - once the system launches, PDEX could experience an exceptional transformation in operating cash flow that would justify a substantially higher corporate value. This is why it remains a top position."

#long #cast #investor

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) delivered a quarter that forced Wall Street to catch up to its own numbers. On August 5, the company reported second-quarter revenue of $23.0 billion, up 48% from a year earlier, and used the momentum to raise its full-year sales and profit targets. Shares moved higher the same day as investors focused on how fast the obesity franchise is still expanding.
The headline number came from Mounjaro and Zepbound. Mounjaro revenue jumped 91% to $9.9 billion, while Zepbound climbed 46% to $4.9 billion, and together they anchored a quarter where US sales rose 33% to $14.4 billion, and international sales rose 80% to $8.6 billion. Growth was not confined to the diabetes and obesity lineup either. Lilly's immunology, oncology, and neuroscience products grew a combined 121%, showing the newer parts of the portfolio are starting to contribute in a real way.
Management responded by lifting full-year revenue guidance to a range of $85 billion to $87 billion, up from $82 billion to $85 billion previously. Lilly is also plowing the cash back into its pipeline, closing acquisitions of Orna Therapeutics, Ajax Therapeutics, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and Kelonia Therapeutics during the quarter, agreeing to buy AtaiBeckley afterward, and committing another $4.5 billion to expand manufacturing in Indiana. On the drug development side, three more Phase 3 trials of the experimental triple agonist retatrutide read out positively, giving Lilly a complete data package to support a planned obesity application submission in the first quarter of 2027.
The same quarter that produced 48% revenue growth also showed what that growth is costing. Realized prices fell 13% company-wide, with international pricing down 36% largely tied to Mounjaro's addition to China's national reimbursement drug list, a trade-off Lilly is making for volume and market access. The acquisition spree carried a real accounting price tag too. Acquired R&D charges hit $2.8 billion in the quarter, versus just $154 million a year earlier, which is why reported EPS grew only 26% even as the non-GAAP figure grew 33%.
Asset impairment and restructuring charges of $703 million, largely tied to the Kelonia and Centessa deals, added further drag, and the effective tax rate climbed to 23.3% from 16.5% because of the non-deductible nature of those charges. R&D spending rose 14% to $3.8 billion, and marketing and administrative costs rose 25% to $3.4 billion, a reminder that funding a pipeline this active and prepping for a wave of new launches is not cheap. None of this changes the underlying growth story, but it does mean the path from strong sales to clean reported profit is getting ****** pier as the deal-making continues.

#billion #lilly #therapeutics #reported

Shop TODAY senior editor Julie Ricevuto shares some buzzy items and new launches for a routine reset in August. Products include the Coolcura neck wrap, the Scrub Daddy damp duster and more.

#ricevuto #scrub #senior

Vacationers were sent scrambling for safety Monday after a projectile struck a crowded beach in a Russian Black Sea resort town, killing seven people, including four children, and injuring dozens more, officials said.
Video footage captured the incident in the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka near Gelendzhik, where the beach was packed with visitors at the time of the strike.
The Russian Mission in Geneva said in a post on X that the "bloody attack" was carried out by a drone launched by Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of targeting civilians.
Ukraine Launches What Appears To Be One Of Its Largest Drone Attacks Against Russia: Report
A projectile flies overhead near Arkhipo-Osipovka, Russia, on Monday.

#osipovka

BlackRock has launched tokenized share classes for a range of European money market funds holding a combined $311 billion, its first on-chain fund access in Europe.
The 12 new share classes sit across six funds in the BlackRock Institutional Cash Series, covering euro, sterling and U.S. dollar strategies in both distributing and accumulating form. Tokens are minted on Ethereum using Kinexys, J.P. Morgan's blockchain unit, which handles minting and burning and acts as the layer between on-chain activity and the traditional share register.
Each token represents a share in the underlying fund, and the official shareholder register continues to be maintained by the fund's transfer agent. Smart contracts move holdings between approved investor wallets, which BlackRock said delivers round-the-clock peer-to-peer transferability and near real-time visibility.
"Today's launches represent an important evolution in how investors access and manage cash, while helping modernise capital markets infrastructure," Beccy Milchem, Global Head of Cash Distribution and Head of the International Cash Management business at BlackRock, said in a press release shared with Decrypt.
Kara Kennedy, global head of market development at Kinexys, noted that, "Tokenization has moved from concept to execution," while BlackRock pointed to corporate treasury management, digital collateral and bank and wealth distribution channels as the use cases it expects the structure to open up.

#blackrock

Washington Saves launches July 1, 2027, automatically enrolling workers without employer retirement plans into an IRA at a default contribution rate ranging from 3% to 7%.
Choosing a Roth over a traditional auto-IRA keeps withdrawals tax-free and invisible to the Social Security formula that determines benefit taxation.
Even modest savings before full retirement age can fund delayed Social Security claiming, worth roughly 8% more per year than filing early.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
Picture a 59-year-old woman in Tacoma who has waited tables, run a register, and answered phones at a seven-person insurance office. Decades of steady work, zero years with a 401(k). Her retirement plan has always been Social Security. Then a letter arrives from her employer explaining that starting July 1, 2027, she is being automatically signed up for something called Washington Saves.

#Retirement #Social #free

Washington Saves launches July 1, 2027, automatically enrolling workers without employer retirement plans into an IRA at a default contribution rate ranging from 3% to 7%.
Choosing a Roth over a traditional auto-IRA keeps withdrawals tax-free and invisible to the Social Security formula that determines benefit taxation.
Even modest savings before full retirement age can fund delayed Social Security claiming, worth roughly 8% more per year than filing early.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
Picture a 59-year-old woman in Tacoma who has waited tables, run a register, and answered phones at a seven-person insurance office. Decades of steady work, zero years with a 401(k). Her retirement plan has always been Social Security. Then a letter arrives from her employer explaining that starting July 1, 2027, she is being automatically signed up for something called Washington Saves.

#security #july #free #year

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST) just announced a 2-for-1 stock split, set to take effect in mid-August, the latest in a long line of splits for one of the market's great long-term winners.
With about $200, you can easily own shares. But a split is never the real reason to buy a stock. The business behind it is, and Monster's is as strong as ever.
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 »
Monster is the energy drink powerhouse behind Monster Energy, and its secret weapon is a partnership most casual observers have forgotten. Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) owns roughly a fifth of the company and distributes Monster through its vast worldwide bottling network. That gives a mid-sized beverage company the global reach of a giant. Monster is using that muscle to expand aggressively into Southeast Asia, China, India, and other fast-growing markets, and international sales now make up nearly half of its business. For a brand once seen as an American phenomenon, that runway abroad is enormous.
What keeps Monster fresh is a nonstop stream of new products. The company rolls out new flavors and zero-sugar variants constantly, from limited-edition cans to region-specific launches, keeping fans engaged and shelves turning. Its marketing leans into motorsports, gaming, and action sports, cementing a rebellious, high-energy identity that money alone cannot buy.

#flashing #long