9 days ago
On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that CEO Brian Niccol's first two years as Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) CEO have succeeded in bringing customers back to the coffee chain. Comparable sales rose 7.9% in the fiscal third quarter for a fourth straight quarter of improvement, but his "Back to Starbucks" restructuring has raised costs and squeezed margins along the way. Global operating margin has fallen to 12.9% from 15.8% two years earlier. Niccol, who marks his second anniversary in the role, now faces pressure to convert the sales recovery into the sustainable profit growth investors are demanding.
Niccol's turnaround strategy has already restored customer momentum at Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX). The "Back to Starbucks" strategy reversed six consecutive quarters of declining comparable sales as the company focused on reducing wait times, simplifying menus, improving store ambiance, and increasing staffing. Starbucks has moved beyond the sales deterioration that preceded Niccol's tenure. It gives investors a stronger foundation for the next phase of the turnaround. If management can sustain traffic gains while improving productivity, the sales recovery could provide a path toward stronger earnings growth.
The China joint venture with Boyu Capital gives Starbucks a more capital-efficient way to participate in China's growth. Starbucks sold control of its China retail operations to Boyu. It retained a 40% stake and continues to own and license its brand and intellectual property. The structure reduces Starbucks' direct capital requirements while allowing it to retain economic exposure to the Chinese market. Reuters cited ****** ysts who said the arrangement leaves Starbucks well positioned to convert stronger organic sales growth into profit growth, which could support returns as the recovery progresses.
Starbucks now has an opportunity to turn its customer investments into margin expansion. The firm committed at least $500 million toward labor as part of the restructuring. Niccol prioritized staffing and store improvements to rebuild the customer experience. That spending helped help the sales recovery. But it also pushed global operating margins down to 12.9% from 15.8% over two years. With sales now improving, management can focus more heavily on productivity, cost control, and operating leverage. It creates an opportunity for stronger earnings if it can improve margins without damaging customer traffic.
Labor tensions could undermine Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)' recovery and keep costs elevated. Starbucks has yet to reach a first contract with its U.S. barista union. The union called for a consumer boycott in August. Negotiations or labor actions could disrupt store operations, increase labor costs, and create reputational pressure just as Starbucks tries to improve profitability. Therefore, investors face a risk that labor issues could offset some of the productivity gains management needs to expand margins.
#
Niccol's turnaround strategy has already restored customer momentum at Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX). The "Back to Starbucks" strategy reversed six consecutive quarters of declining comparable sales as the company focused on reducing wait times, simplifying menus, improving store ambiance, and increasing staffing. Starbucks has moved beyond the sales deterioration that preceded Niccol's tenure. It gives investors a stronger foundation for the next phase of the turnaround. If management can sustain traffic gains while improving productivity, the sales recovery could provide a path toward stronger earnings growth.
The China joint venture with Boyu Capital gives Starbucks a more capital-efficient way to participate in China's growth. Starbucks sold control of its China retail operations to Boyu. It retained a 40% stake and continues to own and license its brand and intellectual property. The structure reduces Starbucks' direct capital requirements while allowing it to retain economic exposure to the Chinese market. Reuters cited ****** ysts who said the arrangement leaves Starbucks well positioned to convert stronger organic sales growth into profit growth, which could support returns as the recovery progresses.
Starbucks now has an opportunity to turn its customer investments into margin expansion. The firm committed at least $500 million toward labor as part of the restructuring. Niccol prioritized staffing and store improvements to rebuild the customer experience. That spending helped help the sales recovery. But it also pushed global operating margins down to 12.9% from 15.8% over two years. With sales now improving, management can focus more heavily on productivity, cost control, and operating leverage. It creates an opportunity for stronger earnings if it can improve margins without damaging customer traffic.
Labor tensions could undermine Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)' recovery and keep costs elevated. Starbucks has yet to reach a first contract with its U.S. barista union. The union called for a consumer boycott in August. Negotiations or labor actions could disrupt store operations, increase labor costs, and create reputational pressure just as Starbucks tries to improve profitability. Therefore, investors face a risk that labor issues could offset some of the productivity gains management needs to expand margins.
#
9 days ago
On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that AI music startup Suno launched a new suite of models, including its flagship v6 and exploratory v6-Wild, built in partnership with Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) and BMG. It lets users make new music inspired by licensed recordings from participating artists. The launch follows Warner Music's copyright lawsuit settlement with Suno in November 2025, under which artists and songwriters can opt in to have their names, voices, and compositions used in AI-generated music in exchange for compensation.
Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) can turn the Suno litigation dispute into a new licensing revenue opportunity. Suno has now launched its v6 models in partnership with Warner Music and BMG. It allows users to make music inspired by licensed works from participating artists. Warner previously sued Suno over copyright issues before reaching a licensing agreement. This gives the label a direct path to monetize AI-generated music rather than relying solely on litigation. The deal could create a new revenue stream as consumers increasingly adopt AI music tools.
Warner enters the AI-music market from a position of financial strength. The firm reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $5.44 billion, up 9% year over year. Adjusted OIBDA increased 16% to $433 million, and its adjusted OIBDA margin expanded to 23.2%. Warner also said it had met or exceeded its financial targets for five consecutive quarters. That basic growth gives the company greater flexibility to invest in AI initiatives while using licensing agreements to add another potential growth driver to its existing streaming and publishing businesses.
Warner could help establish a more sustainable commercial model for AI-generated music. Suno said future products will include opt-in experiences that allow individual artists to participate and receive payment when users generate music around them. So Warner has an opportunity to help shape licensing and compensation practices as Spotify and other platforms develop their own AI-music products. If the industry increasingly adopts licensed models, Warner's large catalog and relationships with artists could solidify its negotiating position and create recurring AI-related revenue.
Suno's new licensing model does not eliminate the overall legal risks surrounding AI music. Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) has reached an agreement with Suno, but other copyright owners are challenging the firm's technology. Independent publisher Round Hill sued Suno in August, alleging that the company used copyrighted songs to train its AI system. Suno also faces separate litigation from Universal Music Group and Sony Music. Hence, lawsuits could increase legal costs and create uncertainty over the licensing framework that Warner hopes to monetize.
#music #licensing #corp #revenue
Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) can turn the Suno litigation dispute into a new licensing revenue opportunity. Suno has now launched its v6 models in partnership with Warner Music and BMG. It allows users to make music inspired by licensed works from participating artists. Warner previously sued Suno over copyright issues before reaching a licensing agreement. This gives the label a direct path to monetize AI-generated music rather than relying solely on litigation. The deal could create a new revenue stream as consumers increasingly adopt AI music tools.
Warner enters the AI-music market from a position of financial strength. The firm reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $5.44 billion, up 9% year over year. Adjusted OIBDA increased 16% to $433 million, and its adjusted OIBDA margin expanded to 23.2%. Warner also said it had met or exceeded its financial targets for five consecutive quarters. That basic growth gives the company greater flexibility to invest in AI initiatives while using licensing agreements to add another potential growth driver to its existing streaming and publishing businesses.
Warner could help establish a more sustainable commercial model for AI-generated music. Suno said future products will include opt-in experiences that allow individual artists to participate and receive payment when users generate music around them. So Warner has an opportunity to help shape licensing and compensation practices as Spotify and other platforms develop their own AI-music products. If the industry increasingly adopts licensed models, Warner's large catalog and relationships with artists could solidify its negotiating position and create recurring AI-related revenue.
Suno's new licensing model does not eliminate the overall legal risks surrounding AI music. Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) has reached an agreement with Suno, but other copyright owners are challenging the firm's technology. Independent publisher Round Hill sued Suno in August, alleging that the company used copyrighted songs to train its AI system. Suno also faces separate litigation from Universal Music Group and Sony Music. Hence, lawsuits could increase legal costs and create uncertainty over the licensing framework that Warner hopes to monetize.
#music #licensing #corp #revenue
10 days ago
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is about to significantly expand its operations in Venezuela. The company's CFO, Eimear Bonner, revealed at a Barclays conference on September 8 that the American oil giant plans to more than double the number of oil rigs it operates in the country as part of its five-year plan to increase output.
The statement follows the company's recent announcement that its joint venture partnerships in Venezuela would invest more than $7 billion to more than double oil output to 600,000 barrels per day by 2031. The current production from Chevron's three Venezuelan JVs totals around 290,000, which is all exported to the United States.
The move builds on Chevron's longstanding presence in Venezuela, as it was the only American oil major that continued operating in the country under a special US license, allowing it to produce and export oil despite the sanctions.
The expansion comes alongside a much larger agreement between Washington and Caracas announced this month, which gave the US majority control over around 20% of Venezuela's proven crude reserves. The White House has now invited American oil companies to revive and modernize the South American country's oil infrastructure and more than double its crude production in the next few years.
Chevron has maintained operations in Venezuela since 1923 and even stayed through the nationalizations that forced ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips to exit in 2007. This gives it a significant competitive advantage, since it already has a longstanding relationship with the state-owned PDVSA and extensive experience operating in the country's complex regulatory environment.
#around
The statement follows the company's recent announcement that its joint venture partnerships in Venezuela would invest more than $7 billion to more than double oil output to 600,000 barrels per day by 2031. The current production from Chevron's three Venezuelan JVs totals around 290,000, which is all exported to the United States.
The move builds on Chevron's longstanding presence in Venezuela, as it was the only American oil major that continued operating in the country under a special US license, allowing it to produce and export oil despite the sanctions.
The expansion comes alongside a much larger agreement between Washington and Caracas announced this month, which gave the US majority control over around 20% of Venezuela's proven crude reserves. The White House has now invited American oil companies to revive and modernize the South American country's oil infrastructure and more than double its crude production in the next few years.
Chevron has maintained operations in Venezuela since 1923 and even stayed through the nationalizations that forced ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips to exit in 2007. This gives it a significant competitive advantage, since it already has a longstanding relationship with the state-owned PDVSA and extensive experience operating in the country's complex regulatory environment.
#around
10 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 17, 2026 and **** et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#league #welcome #etfs
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#league #welcome #etfs
11 days ago
It's no secret that Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) is a crucial piece of the artificial intelligence (AI) puzzle. But how often do you think of Arm as a top-shelf AI investment? It's easy to forget this impressive compounder amid the glitzy hypergrowth of Nvidia's and AMD's expensive AI accelerators.
Arm doesn't build the chips that train large language models. The company doesn't actually build chips at all. Instead, Arm designs fundamental instruction sets and CPU cores. It licenses those designs to anyone with a fab contract and an ambition and collects a royalty on every unit shipped. It's basically a toll booth on a road that keeps getting wider.
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 »
Arm's toll road used to run almost entirely through smartphones. Now it runs through the data center too. Nvidia's Vera CPU pairs Arm cores with its accelerators. Amazon's Graviton, Microsoft's Cobalt, and Alphabet's Google Axion are all Arm-based, built in-house by companies that spend like nation-states on server capacity.
Every AI cluster on the planet needs general-purpose compute to feed the high-speed AI accelerators, handle networking, and run the orchestration layer. A growing share of that work sits on Arm designs.
#signal #flashing #build #chips
Arm doesn't build the chips that train large language models. The company doesn't actually build chips at all. Instead, Arm designs fundamental instruction sets and CPU cores. It licenses those designs to anyone with a fab contract and an ambition and collects a royalty on every unit shipped. It's basically a toll booth on a road that keeps getting wider.
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 »
Arm's toll road used to run almost entirely through smartphones. Now it runs through the data center too. Nvidia's Vera CPU pairs Arm cores with its accelerators. Amazon's Graviton, Microsoft's Cobalt, and Alphabet's Google Axion are all Arm-based, built in-house by companies that spend like nation-states on server capacity.
Every AI cluster on the planet needs general-purpose compute to feed the high-speed AI accelerators, handle networking, and run the orchestration layer. A growing share of that work sits on Arm designs.
#signal #flashing #build #chips
11 days ago
Financial services company Enova International (NYSE: ENVA) seemed headed for the investor doghouse late Thursday. The company, which focuses on lending to underserved individuals and small businesses, withdrew its applications for banking licenses.
As investors considered this a defeat for the company, they promptly and vigorously sold the stock. As of Thursday evening, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, its price had fallen by nearly 20% week to date.
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 »
In December 2025, Enova announced it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Grasshopper Bancorp, the holding company for a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured online lender Grasshopper Bank. Around that time, Enova submitted a clutch of applications to federal and state authorities for it to provide banking services as Grasshopper's would-be owner.
Enova said the decision was in the best interests of the company and its investors. It cited a lack of clarity in the authorization process as a roadblock for its ambition.
#signal
As investors considered this a defeat for the company, they promptly and vigorously sold the stock. As of Thursday evening, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, its price had fallen by nearly 20% week to date.
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 »
In December 2025, Enova announced it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Grasshopper Bancorp, the holding company for a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured online lender Grasshopper Bank. Around that time, Enova submitted a clutch of applications to federal and state authorities for it to provide banking services as Grasshopper's would-be owner.
Enova said the decision was in the best interests of the company and its investors. It cited a lack of clarity in the authorization process as a roadblock for its ambition.
#signal
11 days ago
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday granted Paramount Skydance's request to allow Middle Eastern royal families to hold a substantial stake in a merged Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery.
Foreign investors, including the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are slated to indirectly own nearly 50% of the equity in David Ellison's proposed mega-studio. That will give them a hefty stake in CBS, CNN, Comedy Central, HBO and two historic Hollywood film studios.
Paramount also asked the commission, led by President Trump's appointee Brendan Carr, to allow the foreign investors to eventually take on an even bigger stake because the company expects that it will need more capital to run the merged entity after closing the highly leveraged deal.
The FCC's Media Bureau granted Paramount's petition. Ellison needed FCC approval because the deal will change the ownership structure of CBS.
As part of the Communications Act of 1934, Congress placed restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast outlets because of concerns about national security. Current rules prevent foreign investors from owning more than 25% of a company that holds a U.S. broadcast license — unless the FCC determines that foreign ownership would serve a public interest.
#stake
Foreign investors, including the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are slated to indirectly own nearly 50% of the equity in David Ellison's proposed mega-studio. That will give them a hefty stake in CBS, CNN, Comedy Central, HBO and two historic Hollywood film studios.
Paramount also asked the commission, led by President Trump's appointee Brendan Carr, to allow the foreign investors to eventually take on an even bigger stake because the company expects that it will need more capital to run the merged entity after closing the highly leveraged deal.
The FCC's Media Bureau granted Paramount's petition. Ellison needed FCC approval because the deal will change the ownership structure of CBS.
As part of the Communications Act of 1934, Congress placed restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast outlets because of concerns about national security. Current rules prevent foreign investors from owning more than 25% of a company that holds a U.S. broadcast license — unless the FCC determines that foreign ownership would serve a public interest.
#stake
11 days ago
On September 9, 2026, Reuters reported that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) CEO Jim Farley criticizing the automaker's business relationships with Chinese battery maker CATL and Chinese automakers Geely and BYD as raising "profound concern."
It specifically flagged Ford's licensed CATL battery technology at its Marshall, Michigan plant, its joint venture with Geely in Spain, and its decision not to move Lincoln Nautilus production out of China until 2030. Ford responded that Duffy's letter was "a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines," noting that it owns the Marshall plant, controls its operations, and employs the workforce there, unlike companies that simply import Chinese-made batteries.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) can argue that its CATL partnership still solidifies U.S. battery manufacturing rather than becoming more dependent on Chinese imports. Ford owns and operates its Marshall, Michigan battery plant. It allows the company to manufacture batteries domestically while licensing CATL technology. That structure could help Ford expand its U.S. EV production capacity and reduce the need to import finished Chinese battery packs.
Ford's improving financial performance gives the firm more flexibility to manage the political pressure. The automaker raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $10 billion-$11 billion after second-quarter results exceeded expectations, with record Bronco sales and a stronger product mix supporting the improvement. Stronger operating earnings could give Ford more resources to adjust its battery strategy if policymakers impose more restrictions on Chinese technology.
The company's existing U.S. manufacturing footprint could become a competitive advantage if Washington tightens restrictions on Chinese automotive technology. Ford has already invested in domestic battery production instead of relying entirely on imported battery packs. Model e losses have narrowed for three consecutive quarters. If policymakers force automakers to cut Chinese supply-chain reliance, Ford can use its existing U.S. factories to adapt faster than rivals that depend heavily on Chinese parts.
#ford #catl #motor
It specifically flagged Ford's licensed CATL battery technology at its Marshall, Michigan plant, its joint venture with Geely in Spain, and its decision not to move Lincoln Nautilus production out of China until 2030. Ford responded that Duffy's letter was "a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines," noting that it owns the Marshall plant, controls its operations, and employs the workforce there, unlike companies that simply import Chinese-made batteries.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) can argue that its CATL partnership still solidifies U.S. battery manufacturing rather than becoming more dependent on Chinese imports. Ford owns and operates its Marshall, Michigan battery plant. It allows the company to manufacture batteries domestically while licensing CATL technology. That structure could help Ford expand its U.S. EV production capacity and reduce the need to import finished Chinese battery packs.
Ford's improving financial performance gives the firm more flexibility to manage the political pressure. The automaker raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $10 billion-$11 billion after second-quarter results exceeded expectations, with record Bronco sales and a stronger product mix supporting the improvement. Stronger operating earnings could give Ford more resources to adjust its battery strategy if policymakers impose more restrictions on Chinese technology.
The company's existing U.S. manufacturing footprint could become a competitive advantage if Washington tightens restrictions on Chinese automotive technology. Ford has already invested in domestic battery production instead of relying entirely on imported battery packs. Model e losses have narrowed for three consecutive quarters. If policymakers force automakers to cut Chinese supply-chain reliance, Ford can use its existing U.S. factories to adapt faster than rivals that depend heavily on Chinese parts.
#ford #catl #motor
11 days ago
Polymarket has hired Jacob Horne, the co-founder of Zora, the app behind Coinbase's failed creator-coin experiment, to rebuild its onchain trading product. Chief executive Shayne Coplan announced the move Thursday.
Horne left Zora eight days ago after more than six years running it. His new job sets him against Kalshi, the exchange that now powers Coinbase's own prediction markets across the United States.
Polymarket runs two venues:
Traders outside the US use a market that settles on the Polygon blockchain, a corner of the industry known as Decentralized Finance (DeFi).
Americans use a separate exchange licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
#shayne
Horne left Zora eight days ago after more than six years running it. His new job sets him against Kalshi, the exchange that now powers Coinbase's own prediction markets across the United States.
Polymarket runs two venues:
Traders outside the US use a market that settles on the Polygon blockchain, a corner of the industry known as Decentralized Finance (DeFi).
Americans use a separate exchange licensed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
#shayne
11 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 16, 2026 and ***** et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#september #welcome #factset
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#september #welcome #factset
12 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 15, 2026 and ***** et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#brand #september #welcome
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#brand #september #welcome
12 days ago
Freight fraud risks and carrier vetting are the focus as Highway Chief Commercial Officer Michael Caney joins FreightWaves Today. He breaks down what brokers, carriers and shippers need to watch right now when onboarding and monitoring capacity.If you work fraud prevention, carrier compliance or network procurement, this conversation gets straight to the operational takeaway without the fluff.#FreightFraud #CarrierVetting #SupplyChain
Carrier-vetting platform Highway is putting its balance sheet behind its fraud-detection product: if a broker moves freight using Highway's guarantee standard and loses a load, Highway writes a check for $100,000. The company's chief commercial officer said the program covers the vast majority of carrier capacity in North America — and has paid out only once across roughly one million loads.
Of the approximately 175,000 carriers that move freight for freight brokers, Highway says more than 82% qualify for the guarantee tier. "What I would tell you is the industry keeps trying to solve for the bottom 18% of the market," the CCO said. "And what we're saying is if you will just move your freight to this cohort of carriers, which is the majority of capacity in North America, not only will you be fine, but Highway will stand behind it with a performance guarantee."
"The average cargo theft is not the $100,000, it's $250,000. This idea that a motor carrier can just show up and say, hey man, I'm gonna need this cargo, it's $250 grand, I'm good for it, is bananas."
The single payout to date stemmed from an identity-design flaw tied to California's non-domiciled limited-term licensing rules. A fraudulent carrier obtained a new license through California's process, resubmitted in Highway's system, and the alert dropped off before the bug was caught and fixed — costing Highway $100,000. The CCO described theft events as a "Swiss cheese" of compounding decisions rather than a single failure point, and said Highway continuously monitors for ownership changes, inbox compromises, and cyber anomalies within the guarantee framework.
#carriers #capacity #America
Carrier-vetting platform Highway is putting its balance sheet behind its fraud-detection product: if a broker moves freight using Highway's guarantee standard and loses a load, Highway writes a check for $100,000. The company's chief commercial officer said the program covers the vast majority of carrier capacity in North America — and has paid out only once across roughly one million loads.
Of the approximately 175,000 carriers that move freight for freight brokers, Highway says more than 82% qualify for the guarantee tier. "What I would tell you is the industry keeps trying to solve for the bottom 18% of the market," the CCO said. "And what we're saying is if you will just move your freight to this cohort of carriers, which is the majority of capacity in North America, not only will you be fine, but Highway will stand behind it with a performance guarantee."
"The average cargo theft is not the $100,000, it's $250,000. This idea that a motor carrier can just show up and say, hey man, I'm gonna need this cargo, it's $250 grand, I'm good for it, is bananas."
The single payout to date stemmed from an identity-design flaw tied to California's non-domiciled limited-term licensing rules. A fraudulent carrier obtained a new license through California's process, resubmitted in Highway's system, and the alert dropped off before the bug was caught and fixed — costing Highway $100,000. The CCO described theft events as a "Swiss cheese" of compounding decisions rather than a single failure point, and said Highway continuously monitors for ownership changes, inbox compromises, and cyber anomalies within the guarantee framework.
#carriers #capacity #America
12 days ago
On September 15, CareTrust REIT (NYSE:CTRE) announced it had closed on a $400 million skilled nursing portfolio in the Southwest, effective September 1, and unveiled a reloaded $600 million investment pipeline behind it. The deal covers 2,622 licensed beds triple net leased back to the existing operator, sourced off-market and structured through a joint venture that put roughly $380 million of CareTrust's own capital to work. It is the latest entry in a buying spree that has now pushed the company's 2026 investment total past $1.9 billion.
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#still
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#still
13 days ago
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.
#vaccine #pfizer #NYSE
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.
#vaccine #pfizer #NYSE
13 days ago
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.
#disease
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.
#disease
13 days ago
International Business Machines (IBM) has risen 6.0% over the last five trading days while the S&P 500 fell 1.3%. A run like that in a weak market pulls money in, but the five-day move is not the question worth answering. What matters is what IBM does to your money when the market moves. Most of what IBM does has little to do with the market.
On days the S&P 500 rose over the past year, IBM captured about 83% of the gain. On days the index fell, IBM took about 102% of the loss. That is a one-year reading of daily moves. For investors evaluating a recent breakout, an asymmetric downside capture ratio warrants closer inspection.
IBM is not a quiet stock. Over the past five years it ran 30.3% annualized volatility against 17.2% for the S&P 500. Its daily moves have tracked the index with a correlation of only 0.36 across those five years, so most of that movement is IBM's own. Independence like that comes from what IBM sells, and when its customers buy.
Software is nearly 45% of IBM's revenue, and about 80% of that software revenue is recurring, coming from subscription and consumption products like Red Hat, HashiCorp and Confluent. The other 20% is transactional. Large clients buy the mainframe and its software stack on enterprise license agreements, generally treated as capital spending.
That last 20% is what slipped in the second quarter of 2026. Management says many clients redirected spending toward servers, storage and memory to secure supply-constrained infrastructure ahead of expected price increases. Tens of large deals did not close on time, and transaction processing revenue fell 9% while data grew 18%.
#revenue
On days the S&P 500 rose over the past year, IBM captured about 83% of the gain. On days the index fell, IBM took about 102% of the loss. That is a one-year reading of daily moves. For investors evaluating a recent breakout, an asymmetric downside capture ratio warrants closer inspection.
IBM is not a quiet stock. Over the past five years it ran 30.3% annualized volatility against 17.2% for the S&P 500. Its daily moves have tracked the index with a correlation of only 0.36 across those five years, so most of that movement is IBM's own. Independence like that comes from what IBM sells, and when its customers buy.
Software is nearly 45% of IBM's revenue, and about 80% of that software revenue is recurring, coming from subscription and consumption products like Red Hat, HashiCorp and Confluent. The other 20% is transactional. Large clients buy the mainframe and its software stack on enterprise license agreements, generally treated as capital spending.
That last 20% is what slipped in the second quarter of 2026. Management says many clients redirected spending toward servers, storage and memory to secure supply-constrained infrastructure ahead of expected price increases. Tens of large deals did not close on time, and transaction processing revenue fell 9% while data grew 18%.
#revenue
14 days ago
On September 15, CareTrust REIT (NYSE:CTRE) announced it had closed on a $400 million skilled nursing portfolio in the Southwest, effective September 1, and unveiled a reloaded $600 million investment pipeline behind it. The deal covers 2,622 licensed beds triple net leased back to the existing operator, sourced off-market and structured through a joint venture that put roughly $380 million of CareTrust's own capital to work. It is the latest entry in a buying spree that has now pushed the company's 2026 investment total past $1.9 billion.
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#closed
The new portfolio is expected to generate a stabilized yield of about 8.6%, in line with the 8.7% blended yield CareTrust has posted across two dozen deals closed so far in 2026. That consistency matters more than any single transaction. The company has now closed roughly $710 million in investments in the third quarter alone, including a small UK care home purchase in mid-August, on top of the $899.6 million it closed in the second quarter at an 8.9% yield.
Management says the $600 million pipeline of near-term, actionable deals, about half of it aimed at the senior housing operating portfolio, does not even include a set of larger transactions still being pursued, so the deal flow may not be finished. The balance sheet backs up that ambition. CareTrust ended the second quarter, on June 30, 2026, with net debt to annualized normalized EBITDA of just 1.01x, and as of the September announcement it still had $725 million available under its revolver plus $612 million of remaining ATM capacity. That combination let the company raise its full year 2026 guidance on August 6 to normalized FFO of $2.03 to $2.06 per share, an increase of 16.2% at the midpoint over 2025, even before this latest acquisition was on the books.
This growth has come with a real cost to existing shareholders. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding rose from about 192.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 to 234.2 million a year later, as CareTrust leaned on forward equity offerings and its ATM program to fund the buying spree. The company still had $439 million of expected net proceeds sitting in unsettled forward equity contracts as of September 15, meaning more shares are still coming.
The second quarter also carried a $4.7 million provision for loan losses, a line that did not appear in the prior year period and is worth watching as the loan and financing receivable book grows alongside the property portfolio. Interest expense rose to $15.3 million in the quarter from $13.0 million a year earlier, and 2026 guidance leans on rent escalators of just 2.5% a year, a modest built-in growth rate once the acquisition pace eventually slows. The company's own risk disclosures flag reliance on tenants to keep meeting their lease obligations, along with exposure to healthcare reform, staffing requirements, and currency swings tied to its UK operations.
#closed
16 days ago
Costco has raised the price of its Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil and begun limiting how much any one member can purchase, as a global lubricant shortage tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict pushes crude oil toward $100 a barrel.
That 10-quart case — two 5-quart bottles, enough for a typical V6 or V8 oil change — has jumped to $57.99, compared with the roughly $30 price members had grown accustomed to paying, according to The Drive. Stores are capping purchases at two units per customer per week. The retailer has also imposed a five-per-member limit on Mobil 1, with six quarts of that brand running $44.
The rationing reflects pressure from multiple directions. The connection to fuel prices runs through the refinery: base oil shares its crude-oil origins with gasoline and diesel, so when margins on finished fuel are strong, refiners have a financial reason to favor fuel production over lubricant stock, according to The Auto Wire. EIA data showed the gasoline crack spread sitting roughly a dollar per gallon higher than where it stood at the same point in 2025, a gap that has squeezed base oil availability and pushed its price upward.
Regulatory and licensing costs add a separate layer of expense. The Kirkland 5W-30 displays the dexos1 Gen 3 certification, GM's proprietary specification, and earning that mark is not free — manufacturers must put their formulation through GM's independent testing protocol and obtain a license from the automaker, paying separately for each product and each unit sold, according to The Auto Wire. Layered on top of that is an industry-wide burden: when the API SP category took effect around 2020, it introduced seven additional laboratory tests with no equivalent in the previous standard, among them a procedure targeting low-speed pre-ignition, the knock-like detonation problem **** ociated with modern turbocharged, direct-injection engines.
The supply squeeze is unfolding against a backdrop of a worsening global oil deficit. The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast to 102 million barrels per day in August, projecting a deficit of 1.8 million barrels per day in the third quarter — more than double its prior estimate. **** ulative global inventory draws since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict have reached more than 500 million barrels, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said last week that the cushions that had softened earlier price increases have been exhausted. U.S. diesel prices crossed $6 per gallon for the first time, sitting at $6.06 as of Monday, an 8-cent increase from Sunday and 21 cents above week-earlier levels, according to AAA.
#barrels #wire
That 10-quart case — two 5-quart bottles, enough for a typical V6 or V8 oil change — has jumped to $57.99, compared with the roughly $30 price members had grown accustomed to paying, according to The Drive. Stores are capping purchases at two units per customer per week. The retailer has also imposed a five-per-member limit on Mobil 1, with six quarts of that brand running $44.
The rationing reflects pressure from multiple directions. The connection to fuel prices runs through the refinery: base oil shares its crude-oil origins with gasoline and diesel, so when margins on finished fuel are strong, refiners have a financial reason to favor fuel production over lubricant stock, according to The Auto Wire. EIA data showed the gasoline crack spread sitting roughly a dollar per gallon higher than where it stood at the same point in 2025, a gap that has squeezed base oil availability and pushed its price upward.
Regulatory and licensing costs add a separate layer of expense. The Kirkland 5W-30 displays the dexos1 Gen 3 certification, GM's proprietary specification, and earning that mark is not free — manufacturers must put their formulation through GM's independent testing protocol and obtain a license from the automaker, paying separately for each product and each unit sold, according to The Auto Wire. Layered on top of that is an industry-wide burden: when the API SP category took effect around 2020, it introduced seven additional laboratory tests with no equivalent in the previous standard, among them a procedure targeting low-speed pre-ignition, the knock-like detonation problem **** ociated with modern turbocharged, direct-injection engines.
The supply squeeze is unfolding against a backdrop of a worsening global oil deficit. The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast to 102 million barrels per day in August, projecting a deficit of 1.8 million barrels per day in the third quarter — more than double its prior estimate. **** ulative global inventory draws since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict have reached more than 500 million barrels, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said last week that the cushions that had softened earlier price increases have been exhausted. U.S. diesel prices crossed $6 per gallon for the first time, sitting at $6.06 as of Monday, an 8-cent increase from Sunday and 21 cents above week-earlier levels, according to AAA.
#barrels #wire
16 days ago
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.
For millions of Americans, handing a driver's license to a rental-car agent, hotel clerk or security guard is a routine transaction that barely warrants a second thought.
But what happens when the system designed to verify your identity becomes a tool that can help criminals steal it?
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A record 45% of central banks plan to grow gold reserves — and many investors are following suit. Get your free gold IRA guide from Priority Gold
#Gold #rental
For millions of Americans, handing a driver's license to a rental-car agent, hotel clerk or security guard is a routine transaction that barely warrants a second thought.
But what happens when the system designed to verify your identity becomes a tool that can help criminals steal it?
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A record 45% of central banks plan to grow gold reserves — and many investors are following suit. Get your free gold IRA guide from Priority Gold
#Gold #rental
17 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 10, 2026 and **** et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#september
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#september
17 days ago
Salesforce (CRM) trades at 20.6 times earnings, below the S&P 500 median of 22.6, after losing 2.8% over the past twelve months while the index gained 17.9%. A profitable software company priced under the market is the setup value buyers wait for. The question is whether that is a good business on sale or a fair price for a legacy platform facing disintermediation from next-generation AI architectures.
Salesforce sells the customer relationship software that companies run their sales and service teams on, and it owns Slack. Deutsche Telekom and FIFA both expanded their AI spending with Salesforce in fiscal Q2 2027. Revenue over the trailing twelve months was $43.94 billion, up 11.2%. The three-year average revenue growth rate is 9.9% a year—ahead of the S&P 500 median of 8.3%—making the last twelve months the faster of the two.
Free cash flow over the same window was $15.15 billion, a 7.6% yield on the market value. Operating margin over those twelve months is 21.5% against an S&P 500 median of 18.6%, and the margin did not thin against the year before.
Free cash flow in fiscal Q2 2027 was $1.1 billion, up 81% from a year earlier. That is one quarter. For the whole of fiscal 2027 management guides free cash flow growth of 4% to 5%, against revenue guided up 11% to 12%, so cash is set to grow at less than half the pace of the top line.
License revenue is a headwind and integration and ******* ytics revenue is volatile, management says, though both only partially offset growth in the newer lines. Near $243, the stock is just 8% off its 52-week high, though it remains about 33% below its two-year peak of $363.22: while the recent rally closed the immediate valuation gap, the longer-term discount reflects that structural hesitation hasn't fully cleared.
#cash #billion
Salesforce sells the customer relationship software that companies run their sales and service teams on, and it owns Slack. Deutsche Telekom and FIFA both expanded their AI spending with Salesforce in fiscal Q2 2027. Revenue over the trailing twelve months was $43.94 billion, up 11.2%. The three-year average revenue growth rate is 9.9% a year—ahead of the S&P 500 median of 8.3%—making the last twelve months the faster of the two.
Free cash flow over the same window was $15.15 billion, a 7.6% yield on the market value. Operating margin over those twelve months is 21.5% against an S&P 500 median of 18.6%, and the margin did not thin against the year before.
Free cash flow in fiscal Q2 2027 was $1.1 billion, up 81% from a year earlier. That is one quarter. For the whole of fiscal 2027 management guides free cash flow growth of 4% to 5%, against revenue guided up 11% to 12%, so cash is set to grow at less than half the pace of the top line.
License revenue is a headwind and integration and ******* ytics revenue is volatile, management says, though both only partially offset growth in the newer lines. Near $243, the stock is just 8% off its 52-week high, though it remains about 33% below its two-year peak of $363.22: while the recent rally closed the immediate valuation gap, the longer-term discount reflects that structural hesitation hasn't fully cleared.
#cash #billion
18 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 9, 2026 and ******* et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#table #welcome #etfs
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#table #welcome #etfs
18 days ago
Investors hammered Cooper Companies (COO) on Thursday after the medtech's fiscal third-quarter sales lagged Wall Street's expectations, leading to a guidance cut.
Specifically, the CooperVision segment — which sells contact lenses — missed expectations by 4.5%, William Blair **** yst Steven Lichtman said in a report. The miss was due to destocking. Further, the company opted against selling its CooperSurgical business following a strategic review.
"The 'no sale' is a surprise after management highlighted prospective buyers on the last earnings call," he said. "With CVI (CooperVision) results also disappointing, the stock moves back into the penalty box."
On today's stock market, Cooper Companies shares toppled 14.7%, closing at 54.17. Shares are already trading well below their key moving averages, IBD MarketSurge charts show.
Cooper said it couldn't sell the surgical division due to competition for its implantable contraceptive, Paragard, an intrauterine device. In June, Organon (OGN) licensed Miudella, a rival to Cooper's non-hormonal IUD. Cooper is also facing fertility litigation, BofA Securities **** yst Travis Steed said in a note to clients.
#Companies #expectations #investors #wall
Specifically, the CooperVision segment — which sells contact lenses — missed expectations by 4.5%, William Blair **** yst Steven Lichtman said in a report. The miss was due to destocking. Further, the company opted against selling its CooperSurgical business following a strategic review.
"The 'no sale' is a surprise after management highlighted prospective buyers on the last earnings call," he said. "With CVI (CooperVision) results also disappointing, the stock moves back into the penalty box."
On today's stock market, Cooper Companies shares toppled 14.7%, closing at 54.17. Shares are already trading well below their key moving averages, IBD MarketSurge charts show.
Cooper said it couldn't sell the surgical division due to competition for its implantable contraceptive, Paragard, an intrauterine device. In June, Organon (OGN) licensed Miudella, a rival to Cooper's non-hormonal IUD. Cooper is also facing fertility litigation, BofA Securities **** yst Travis Steed said in a note to clients.
#Companies #expectations #investors #wall
18 days ago
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., gave the cold shoulder when asked to weigh in on her son's home being raided by police after his convicted felon roommate was arrested.
Minneapolis police officers found while carrying out a search warrant on August 25 multiple weapons and ammunition in the shared home of Omar's son, Adnan Hirsi, 20, and his roommate Abdulrahman Abdi, 22. The warrant was obtained after Abdi was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and was found to have no driver's license or proof of insurance.
Abdi was released and the car was impounded, but a firearm was later found. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Abdi to possess a firearm, so the property that he shares with Abdi was raided.
Caught On Camera: Squad Dem Squirms When Pressed On Vance Doj Fraud Probe
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is seeking another term in Minnesota's heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District.
#found
Minneapolis police officers found while carrying out a search warrant on August 25 multiple weapons and ammunition in the shared home of Omar's son, Adnan Hirsi, 20, and his roommate Abdulrahman Abdi, 22. The warrant was obtained after Abdi was pulled over in a routine traffic stop and was found to have no driver's license or proof of insurance.
Abdi was released and the car was impounded, but a firearm was later found. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Abdi to possess a firearm, so the property that he shares with Abdi was raided.
Caught On Camera: Squad Dem Squirms When Pressed On Vance Doj Fraud Probe
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is seeking another term in Minnesota's heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District.
#found
18 days ago
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) entered a five-year senior secured credit facility with OrbiMed for up to $400 million and drew $75 million at closing. The remaining $325 million depends on milestones or further lender agreement.
The facility bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of 3% or the one-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate, plus 6.15%, payable monthly. The formula sets a 9.15% minimum. Applying that floor to the initial borrowing produces approximately $6.9 million of article-calculated annual interest before commitment, administrative, undrawn-amount, and facility fees.
The financing arrives as Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) prepares for a potential U.S. launch of lonvoguran ziclumeran, or lonvo-z, for hereditary angioedema. Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) held $628.4 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of June 30, but reported a $106.6 million second-quarter net loss.
The staged structure gives Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) capital without issuing equity at closing and avoids drawing the full amount before milestones that could support additional debt.
A second $75 million tranche becomes available at the option of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) if the FDA approves the biologics license application for lonvo-z before a specified date. Three further $40 million tranches depend on lonvo-z revenue targets, while another $30 million requires an equity-fundraising milestone. This links most committed borrowing capacity to regulatory and commercial progress.
#million #therapeutics #ntla #lonvo
The facility bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of 3% or the one-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate, plus 6.15%, payable monthly. The formula sets a 9.15% minimum. Applying that floor to the initial borrowing produces approximately $6.9 million of article-calculated annual interest before commitment, administrative, undrawn-amount, and facility fees.
The financing arrives as Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) prepares for a potential U.S. launch of lonvoguran ziclumeran, or lonvo-z, for hereditary angioedema. Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) held $628.4 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of June 30, but reported a $106.6 million second-quarter net loss.
The staged structure gives Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) capital without issuing equity at closing and avoids drawing the full amount before milestones that could support additional debt.
A second $75 million tranche becomes available at the option of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) if the FDA approves the biologics license application for lonvo-z before a specified date. Three further $40 million tranches depend on lonvo-z revenue targets, while another $30 million requires an equity-fundraising milestone. This links most committed borrowing capacity to regulatory and commercial progress.
#million #therapeutics #ntla #lonvo
18 days ago
A Brazilian federal judge ordered the immediate suspension of all environmental licenses held by Sigma Mineração S.A., the operating subsidiary of Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML), for the Grota do Cirilo project. The September 4 preliminary order also halted mining activities following a civil action brought by the Federation of Quilombola Communities of Minas Gerais.
The dispute centers on whether the project lies within the area of influence of the Baú Quilombola Community and therefore required free, prior, and informed consultation. The judge cited studies placing the community's territory approximately 2.7 kilometers from the project's directly affected area, within the 8-kilometer presumptive regulatory impact radius applicable to mining projects outside Brazil's Legal Amazon under Interministerial Ordinance No. 60/2015. Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) has argued that the project is outside the relevant impact zone.
The court ordered independent georeferencing and barred Minas Gerais and its environmental agency from issuing new licenses, amendments, or corrective approvals until the community-protection requirements are completed.
Two routes remain. If independent georeferencing supports the boundary position, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) could seek favorable court relief modifying or reversing the suspension. This provides an alternative to completing the consultation requirements.
If the project falls within the regulated impact area, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) would need Incra approval of the Quilombola Component Study, Basic Quilombola Environmental Plan and Final Execution Report, plus free, prior and informed consultation with the Baú community. Completing those requirements could preserve the project if acceptable mitigation is agreed.
#corporation #sgml #project #community
The dispute centers on whether the project lies within the area of influence of the Baú Quilombola Community and therefore required free, prior, and informed consultation. The judge cited studies placing the community's territory approximately 2.7 kilometers from the project's directly affected area, within the 8-kilometer presumptive regulatory impact radius applicable to mining projects outside Brazil's Legal Amazon under Interministerial Ordinance No. 60/2015. Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) has argued that the project is outside the relevant impact zone.
The court ordered independent georeferencing and barred Minas Gerais and its environmental agency from issuing new licenses, amendments, or corrective approvals until the community-protection requirements are completed.
Two routes remain. If independent georeferencing supports the boundary position, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) could seek favorable court relief modifying or reversing the suspension. This provides an alternative to completing the consultation requirements.
If the project falls within the regulated impact area, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) would need Incra approval of the Quilombola Component Study, Basic Quilombola Environmental Plan and Final Execution Report, plus free, prior and informed consultation with the Baú community. Completing those requirements could preserve the project if acceptable mitigation is agreed.
#corporation #sgml #project #community
18 days ago
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit plans to launch a new super app in Europe that will offer both a regular bank account and stock and crypto trading.
The privately held Dubai-based firm, which claims to have more than 80 million users worldwide, has been granted an electronic money institution license by European regulators.
That will enable Bybit, which also holds a Markets in Crypto ******* ets (MiCA) license in Austria, to launch the new super app for the European market.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster
#super #license #Europe #Dubai
The privately held Dubai-based firm, which claims to have more than 80 million users worldwide, has been granted an electronic money institution license by European regulators.
That will enable Bybit, which also holds a Markets in Crypto ******* ets (MiCA) license in Austria, to launch the new super app for the European market.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster
#super #license #Europe #Dubai
19 days ago
(Table below reflects daily flows on September 8, 2026 and ******* et totals as of that date.)
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#table
ETF Brand League Table
Welcome to the etf.com league table. On this page, you'll find the U.S. ETF market through different lenses: brand and issuer. What's the difference? The brand is what the ETF says on the tin. For example, "iShares" is the brand of issuer "BlackRock's" ETFs. Because many issuers license their ETF infrastructure to third parties, we present the data in both ways. The identification of the correct brand and legal issuer is done by our key data provider, FactSet.
Brand
AUM ($, mm)
#table
19 days ago
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.
Edelman Financial Engines is extending its retirement plan advisory and fiduciary capabilities to the small and mid-sized business market. While the firm has long served business owners through its workplace and wealth businesses, this service focuses on helping smaller business owners offer and manage retirement plans for their employees.
The firm has partnered with ADP for payroll, human capital management and retirement services. Edelman's will provide investment management, 3(38) investment management, plan consulting and personalized financial advice to plan participants. That includes providing one-on-one discretionary advisory services for individual employees.
Employees also gain unlimited access to Edelman's phone-based licensed advisors, who average 10 years of industry tenure, along with on-demand digital planning tools.
"EFE financial wellness and advisory services have been available to employees in eligible workplace retirement plans through the ADP platform since 2018," said Chris Magno, senior vice president and general manager of ADP Retirement Services, in a statement. "The new service expands that relationship by delivering a more comprehensive retirement solution purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses, offered in combination with the full-service recordkeeping, payroll integration and plan administration capabilities of ADP."
#Services #management #wealthmanagement
Edelman Financial Engines is extending its retirement plan advisory and fiduciary capabilities to the small and mid-sized business market. While the firm has long served business owners through its workplace and wealth businesses, this service focuses on helping smaller business owners offer and manage retirement plans for their employees.
The firm has partnered with ADP for payroll, human capital management and retirement services. Edelman's will provide investment management, 3(38) investment management, plan consulting and personalized financial advice to plan participants. That includes providing one-on-one discretionary advisory services for individual employees.
Employees also gain unlimited access to Edelman's phone-based licensed advisors, who average 10 years of industry tenure, along with on-demand digital planning tools.
"EFE financial wellness and advisory services have been available to employees in eligible workplace retirement plans through the ADP platform since 2018," said Chris Magno, senior vice president and general manager of ADP Retirement Services, in a statement. "The new service expands that relationship by delivering a more comprehensive retirement solution purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses, offered in combination with the full-service recordkeeping, payroll integration and plan administration capabilities of ADP."
#Services #management #wealthmanagement
19 days ago
Lindsey Brooke Isaacs was asleep at home when police arrived and told the 23-year-old that her car had been involved in a crash that killed three people. She knew they had the wrong person. Her black Dodge Durango showed no obvious collision damage, and she had a receipt showing where she had been.
Still, the investigation eventually led to her being arrested and 13 days in jail. "My heart was in my stomach," Lindsey told me on The CyberGuy Report Podcast at Cyberguy.com/podcast/. "I didn't know what was going on."
Months later, prosecutors dropped all eight felony charges against her and investigators arrested another woman in connection with the crash. Her case now raises a bigger question about how much weight investigators should give license plate camera data when a person's freedom is on the line.
Missed CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the Protect Your Money replay
Our free CyberGuy LIVE class, Protect Your Money From Today's Biggest Threats, has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our financial protection checklist. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks. You'll learn how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers. No technical experience is needed.
#told
Still, the investigation eventually led to her being arrested and 13 days in jail. "My heart was in my stomach," Lindsey told me on The CyberGuy Report Podcast at Cyberguy.com/podcast/. "I didn't know what was going on."
Months later, prosecutors dropped all eight felony charges against her and investigators arrested another woman in connection with the crash. Her case now raises a bigger question about how much weight investigators should give license plate camera data when a person's freedom is on the line.
Missed CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the Protect Your Money replay
Our free CyberGuy LIVE class, Protect Your Money From Today's Biggest Threats, has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our financial protection checklist. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks. You'll learn how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers. No technical experience is needed.
#told
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