Inter will welcome their only target for the midfield before the opener, as they have reached an agreement with Liverpool to acquire Curtis Jones. They have been courting him since the beginning of the summer. While he was immediately keen on joining, concocting the deal took some work, La Gazzetta dello Sport relays.
In the end, the Reds lowered their demands a little. The Englishman is transferring for €30M, plus €5M add-ons and a 10 percent sell-on clause. He'll sign a five-year contract and make about €4M annually.
Jones is the third player signed by Inter coming from the Premier League this summer after John Stones and Djed Spence. Liverpool ultimately granted a small discount to avoid a Bosman departure in a year. The midfielder seemingly only wanted to head to San Siro.
Christian Chivu was one of the main proponents of the deal. He believes the newcomer will be able to play in multiple positions and bring something different to the table. The Nerazzurri also had to move Davide Frattesi to make room.
They might have some sort of cap when it comes to fees and total packages. It's basically the same operation they devised for Spence. They waited patiently for the sellers to get to their numbers, and not the other way around, after convincing the players, which is a testament to their appeal. They'll be a little overcrowded for a season. However, after all, Hakan Calhanoglu, Piotr Zielinski, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan aren't getting any younger. They were almost irrationally fixated on him, considering his role and what he showed in recent years, so they must have a pretty good plan to make him thrive.

#deal

Klarna cut its full-year forecasts for revenue, gross merchandise volume, and adjusted operating income.
The buy-now-pay-later firm also announced its CFO and CMO will leave their roles early next year.
Klarna's stock could be on track to lose a fifth of its value in a single session.
Shares of Klarna Group (KLAR) were down 21% in recent trading, after the Swedish fintech firm trimmed its full-year forecasts and announced changes in its leadership.
The buy-now-pay-later firm said it now sees full-year revenue of $4.08 billion to $4.16 billion, down from its prior forecast of $4.34 billion. It lowered its Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) forecast to between $149 billion to $151 billion, from $155 billion. Its adjusted operating income (AOI) is seen coming in at $280 million to $300 million, with the midpoint below the previous $299 million.

#year #full #firm

Earlier this year, one of Wall Street's most closely watched research arms made a bold commodity price call, the boldest any large institution had made in years.
The forecast turned heads. It implied the kind of return that usually only shows up in speculative ******* ets. And for a few months, the trade was working.
Then the market changed. The call got walked back. Then walked back again. This is the third revision in 2026 alone, and the gap between where Wells Fargo started the year and where its forecast sits today is large enough to matter for anyone who has been tracking it.
Wells Fargo Investment Institute lowered its 2026 gold price target to $4,900 to $5,100 an ounce from the previous range of $5,300 to $5,500. Its 2027 target also dropped, to $5,400 to $5,600 from $5,800 to $6,000. Both ranges came down by $400 at each end.
In February, Wells Fargo raised its 2026 gold target to $6,100 to $6,300. Gold was trading near $4,961 at the time. The bank was calling for 23% to 27% upside by year's end.

#call #forecast

Gemini ***** e Station (NASDAQ: GEMI) stock is selling off in Monday's trading. The company's share price was down 9.1% as of 11:30 a.m. ET and had been off as much as 13.8% earlier in the session.
Gemini stock is losing ground today in response to a slew of downward price target revisions from ***** ysts. As of this writing, the company's share price has fallen roughly 64.5% year 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 »
Investment firms weighed in with new coverage on Gemini ***** e Station stock today, and each newly published note delivered a downward price target revision. Rosenblatt lowered its price target from $9 per share to $6 per share, Mizuho lowered its target from $8 per share to $7 per share, Needham lowered its target from $8 per share to $6 per share, and Goldman Sachs lowered its target from $4 per share to $3.50 per share.
Rosenblatt, Mizuho, and Needham each reiterated the equivalent of a buy rating on the stock, but each firm issued a significant downward adjustment for its valuation forecast. Meanwhile, Goldman maintained its sell rating on Gemini.

#lowered

On August 6, Nature's Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR) held its second-quarter earnings call, and the numbers told two very different stories at once. Net sales hit $117 million, the strongest second quarter in the company's history. Gross margin climbed to 73.7%, the highest level in over four years. Yet management also cut its full-year sales and profit guidance, pointing to currency swings and a sudden reversal in China. The tension between a record quarter and a lowered forecast defines where this stock stands today.
North America digital sales grew 26% year-over-year in the quarter, and new customers acquired through the digital channel rose by the same amount. Autoship subscriptions made up 36% of website orders, while the newer social commerce channel jumped 177%, with autoship accounting for 60% of that revenue. Management noted that subscription customers carry a lifetime value more than three times higher than other buyers. The digital business overall is on pace to reach $50 million in sales by the end of 2026, just five years after it launched.
Growth outside China held up too. ****** an sales jumped 50%, and the company's Synergy Eagle system, which operates in ****** an, Taiwan and Korea, grew sales 11% with China excluded from the Asia Pacific total. Europe sales rose 4% to $26.7 million. The company also strengthened its leadership bench, naming Ruth Perkins, a finance veteran of Ford, Estee Lauder and PepsiCo, as CFO effective September 1, and Janine Weber, who helped build Rodan + Fields into a $1 billion skin care brand, as President of North America effective August 10.
China sales fell 20% in the quarter, a sharp reversal from growth that had exceeded 30% over the prior year, which management attributed to unspecified operational issues. That slowdown, combined with currency headwinds, pushed the company to lower its full-year net sales guidance to a range of $490 million to $500 million, down from $500 million to $515 million, and to cut its EBITDA guidance to $48 million to $52 million from $50 million to $54 million. SG&A expenses rose to $44.9 million from $43.7 million a year earlier, and management expects that figure to run between $45 million and $47 million for the rest of the year as growth investments ramp up. Volume incentives climbed to 30.6% of net sales from 29.9%.
The company also spent part of the quarter without a permanent CFO after Shane Jones departed in June, and executives acknowledged that the North American direct selling business has been under pressure for some time, with a planned overhaul not arriving until early 2027.

#sales #digital

BEIJING, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China consigned the body of former Premier Zhu Rongji to the flames on Tuesday and lowered the national flag to mourn the no-nonsense reformer who died last week aged 97, as citizens recalled a bygone era and reflected on his ‌complicated legacy.
Security was tight across the city, particularly around Tiananmen Square and the leaders' enclave of Zhongnanhai, the centre of political power, which lie ‌on the route to the Babaoshan crematorium.
President Xi Jinping and the other six members of the Politburo standing committee stood in silence and made three bows before Zhu was cremated at the Beijing cemetery for top officials and national heroes, the official news agency Xinhua said.
Former President Hu Jintao, 83, who has missed a string of recent public events, sent a wreath of condolence for the former second-ranking official, it added.
A COMPLEX LEGACY

#former #China #premier #rongji

Karl-Anthony Towns has added a wedding band to his ring collection.
The New York Knicks star and Jordyn Woods reportedly got married over the weekend in Malibu, California.
On Sunday, Aug. 16, the New York Post shared photos and details of the wedding. The outdoor ceremony was held under a flowered arch overlooking the ocean. Woods wore a strapless ball gown with a neck scarf and Towns opted for a black suit and bow tie. All of the guests wore black attire.
The publication reported that Towns' Knicks teammates Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride attended the wedding along with New York superfans Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet. The "Marty Supreme" actor's girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, is a good friend of Woods and was also a guest. Other members of Woods' close circle shared in the joyous occasion, including Suni Lee and Hailey and Justin Bieber.

#karl

Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) is the aerospace spinoff of former conglomerate Honeywell International. With Cramer having openly admitted that he has a bias for aerospace stocks, it wasn't unsurprising that he was one of the spinoff's biggest supporters before it occurred. While most of his attention was focused on the firm's quantum computing spinoff, he nevertheless defended the conglomerate after multiple less-than-stellar earnings reports. However, as Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA)'s dropped on August 6th, here's what Cramer said in the morning:
"Let me talk about Honeywell Aerospace, because we owned Honeywell and we got some of this. And we sold it. And we sold it because, not because the company missed. But I think the company missed because they were hopeful. There were multiple opportunities to let shareholders know that there were supply chain problems that would cause them to miss the quarter. They waited, and waited, and waited, and didn't tell us until they reported. I think that was ill-advised, an ill-advised way to disseminate the information.
"The problems at Honeywell were actually systemic. They were really, really bad. There were many suppliers, even though it was just a couple of small percent. The cut was so big that the credibility of the company is in question. . .I spoke with management, it's funny Carl, I spoke with management. . .there would have been a time. . .where people would have said, oh my god, this is terrible. It was not dishonesty, it just was new. It was a rookie mistake. . .they should have realized, look we're just being hopeful. . .suboptimal way to report. . ."
Later, Cramer added that he would have preferred a preannouncement like IBM. The results that he was talking about were Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA)'s second quarter earnings report released on the 5th. It saw Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) miss ******* yst revenue and earnings estimates. More importantly, the firm also lowered full year 2026 organic sales growth forecast to 4% to 5% from an earlier 7% to 9%.
Naturally, with the earnings being the first since the spinoff, they also point towards bullish and bearish viewpoints for Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA). On the bearish front, the firm's supply chain weaknesses were thrown into the spotlight. CEO Jim Currier admitted that the supply chain had been unable to ramp according to expectations, but added that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) was making progress with initiatives to "integrate supplier capacity, factory operations and customer delivery to create predictable growing throughput." The firm's CFO Joshua Jepsen admitted that in order to meet the spares market's capacity, Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA)'s investments would " dampen near-term financial performance in the back half."

#cramer

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI) just crossed $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, yet the stock sits roughly 30% below its high. That gap between a record top line and a beaten-down share price is the whole story here. On the call covering the quarter ended June 30, held August 5, management laid out exactly why it is choosing growth over profit right now, and investors are still deciding whether to believe them.
Net revenue grew 50% year-over-year in the second quarter, powered by a 44% jump in gross merchandise volume and a 56% rise in total payment volume. The more interesting number sits underneath that headline. A year after MercadoLibre lowered its free shipping threshold in Brazil, items per buyer there climbed 19% year-over-year and conversion rose 1.1 percentage points, even as the company kept adding new buyers who typically spend less at first.
Management framed this as proof that existing shoppers are engaging more deeply, not just a bigger crowd showing up. That matters most for what the company calls ecosystemic users, people who use both the marketplace and Mercado Pago. Those users generated 70% more GMV and 55% more items sold per user than marketplace-only shoppers, and contribution profit per ecosystemic user runs multiples above a marketplace or fintech user alone. The credit book backs this up. It reached $16.4 billion, up 75% year-over-year, while delinquency rates sat near historical lows and net interest margin after losses improved from 18% to 21% between the first and second quarters.
That growth came at a real cost. Operating income fell from $825 million to $683 million, and operating margin narrowed from 12.2% to 6.7%, a 550 basis point drop from a year earlier. Management did not suggest relief is coming soon, calling the trade-off a deliberate choice to keep prioritizing long-term engagement and scale over near-term profitability. Net income for the first half of 2026 fell 13% year-over-year to $883 million even as revenue climbed 50% to $19 billion, a gap that shows growth and profit are currently moving in opposite directions.
Competitors including Amazon have pushed MercadoLibre to compete harder on price, and the company's expansion into consumer lending has meant absorbing more loan losses along the way. The quarter also demanded serious capital, with $441 million in capital expenditures and $2.1 billion funneled into growing the credit portfolio, leaving adjusted free cash flow at $214 million.

#mercadolibre #billion #quarter

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Aug. 14, 2026 3:01 am ET
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Aviva booked a rise in operating profit in the first half, though it lowered its full-year expectations for its health business.

#profit #half #though

As of August 14, the U.S. dollar is facing pressure due to changing expectations for the Fed after release of slower inflation data provided further evidence of a case for increased easing. The July report for the Producer Price Index (PPI) indicated that inflation for wholesale goods was unchanged compared to the month prior, and core PPI also increased by 0.2% after the latest CPI report indicated a slower-than-expected rise. The data released further eased the concerns for inflation rising again and suggested that the Fed was likely to begin cutting rates in September.
For the Fed, the labor market is still the most important factor. The recent data for July hiring indicated slower hiring, and more of a need to strike a balance between inflation concerns and an economy likely to be slowing. However, Fed officials reassure the market that the inflation data is still well above the Fed's target for inflation being set at 2%.
The euro is benefitting from the slower expectations of Fed rate movements, but is also dealing with domestic challenges. The European Central Bank is still maintaining a cautious stance by keeping policy the same as they ******* s the impact of the disruptions to Middle East energy supply and inflation as well as consumer demand. Recent reports of the activity of the euro zone have shown signs of stabilizing, but still have the potential to grow at a lower level due to slow demand and geopolitical challenges.
Sterling faces considerable pressure as the UK's second-quarter GDP showed a 0.4% quarterly rise, following stronger early quarter growth. The data published reflects the economy's resilience, especially as price rises for energy have been high and global uncertainties remain. Still, the Bank of England must continue to balance inflation and the threats caused by the increasing growth of nominal wages and energy price rises.
For currency markets, the most important factor continues to be the difference in interest rates and the expected changes. Easing US inflation has lowered expectations of further rate hikes by the FOMC, and the euro and pound are now being evaluated on whether their respective domestic economies can continue to grow without re-igniting inflation.

#data #further #indicated #euro

Interested in Nomad Foods Limited? Here are five stocks we like better.
Revenue and volumes declined: Organic revenue fell 2.9% and volume dropped 5.9%, mainly because retailer disputes caused out-of-stocks and reduced promotions in Germany and France. Nomad said shelves are being replenished and market-share trends are beginning to improve.
Margins benefited from pricing and productivity: Adjusted gross margin expanded 110 basis points, while productivity initiatives offset more than 60% of inflation year to date. However, adjusted EBITDA declined 4.3% and adjusted EPS fell slightly to EUR 0.39.
Outlook was largely maintained but EPS was cut: Nomad reaffirmed its full-year revenue and EBITDA decline forecasts but lowered adjusted EPS guidance to EUR 1.38–EUR 1.53 because of higher interest costs following its debt refinancing. The company is prioritizing debt reduction and extended its debt maturities, with no meaningful maturities until 2032.
3 Underfollowed Stocks Wall Street Still Likes—And for Good Reason

#nomad #fell

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) reported its second-quarter 2026 financial results on July 24, confirming the figures previewed earlier in the month. While top-line growth remained healthy, a visible deterioration in payer mix and a revision to full-year profitability guidance triggered immediate target cuts across Wall Street.
In its Q2 results, HCA Healthcare, Inc. reported that revenue increased 8.7% year-over-year to $20.23 billion from $18.61 billion in Q2 2025. The firm's net income attributable to the company rose 2.8% to $1.69 billion, while diluted EPS increased 11.6% to $7.62 (or $7.59 on an adjusted basis). Adjusted EBITDA grew 4.6% to $4.027 billion compared to $3.849 billion in the prior-year period. Operational volume remained positive overall, with same-facility admissions up 2.5%, equivalent admissions up 2.7%, and emergency room visits rising 3.6%. However, same-facility inpatient surgeries dropped 2.3%, and outpatient surgeries fell 3.4%.
Despite the top-line expansion, management was forced to adjust its full-year 2026 outlook downward. The company now expects 2026 diluted EPS of $28.70 to $30.50 (down from $29.10 to $31.50) and Adjusted EBITDA of $15.40 billion to $16.10 billion (down from $15.55 billion to $16.45 billion), while narrowing revenue guidance to $77.00 billion to $79.50 billion.
The primary culprit was a policy-driven payer mix shift: an uptick in uninsured volume following Medicaid redeterminations and the lapse of health insurance exchange coverage wiped out roughly $400 million from Q2 pre-tax income. HCA now anticipates the full-year exchange-related drag to reach $1.00 billion to $1.20 billion, partially offset by $300 million to $500 million in net Medicaid Supplemental Payment Program benefits.
Following the report, ***** ysts swiftly adjusted their models. On July 28, Mizuho lowered its price target on HCA to $475 from $525 while keeping an Outperform rating, citing slower post-Q2 growth expectations. The same day, Morgan Stanley reduced its price target to $380 from $425 and maintained an Underweight rating. Morgan Stanley ***** yst noted that while lower guidance "puts numbers in a better place," core EBITDA performance was "disappointing," warning of a full valuation alongside a rising risk profile in payer mix.

#year #payer #guidance

The dollar index (DXY00) on Thursday ended the day little changed despite downward pressure from the dovish US PPI report, which lowered the odds of a Fed rate hike in September to 35% from 40% on Wednesday. In addition, the 10-year T-note yield fell -5 bp, undercutting the dollar's interest rate differentials.
The dollar was also undercut by reduced safe-haven demand as there were no overnight reports of new military attacks by the US or Iran in the Persian Gulf. Market concerns about the Middle East were also reduced slightly by news reports saying that the Trump administration is pivoting to using the naval blockade to apply economic pressure on Iran rather than new military attacks. There is no sign of any progress between the US and Iran on an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although some ships are still getting through by turning off their transponders and hoping for the best.
Will Silver Hold Above Its Critical Support Level?
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#Iran #dollar #report #undercut

The Atlanta Braves have found a lot of success this season under first-year manager Walt Weiss. As of Aug. 14, the club is 73-48 and comfortably in first place in the National League East.
They lead the Philadelphia Phillies by nine games in the division, but trail the Milwaukee Brewers by one and a half games for the NL's No. 1 seed.
The Braves recently released their lineup for Friday's game versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Usually a right fielder, Ronald Acuña Jr. is the designated hitter in this configuration. This is his fifth game at DH since he returned from the injured list on July 27.
This kind of lineup lets the Braves go with their best combination of hitting and defense. Firstly, Acuña's injury risk is greatly lowered by not having to run around in the outfield. He has missed 52 games this season from injury.
For as great a hitter as he is, Acuña is not a great defensive right fielder. He has compiled -34 outs above average there since 2022, -6 of that coming this season in limited action.

#since

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger have lowered the asking price of their Los Angeles mansion after struggling to find a buyer.
The couple initially put their Pacific Palisades home on the market for $32 million in September 2023. The 11,000 sq ft property, which has now been relisted for $20 million, features six bedroom suites, a full-size movie theater decorated with plush, velvet green sofas, a sauna, basketball court, an outdoor pool, a grand dining room decked with sky-high ceilings, and a **** ious kitchen complete with marble countertops. The home even includes a teakwood spa with hot and cold plunge pools and a steam room for a "complete wellness experience". The couple also installed a gold simulator at the property.
Chris and Katherine have resided in the luxurious abode since 2021 after the Marvel Cinematic Universe star purchased the land in 2018 for $15.6 million. Prior to moving in, the pair spent two years renovating the **** e. The property is located in the hills and boasts sweeping views of Santa Monica.
Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt lowered the price of their mansion (@ Getty Images for Disney)
The actor married Katherine in 2019, and the pair share three children – daughters, Lyla Maria and Eloise Christina, and son, Ford Fitzgerald. The Jurassic World star also shares a a son named Jack with his ex-wife, Anna Faris.

#pratt #schwarzenegger #couple

During the August 6 episode of Mad Money, a caller asked host Jim Cramer about Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) following a steep, near 28% collapse in the stock between August 4 and August 6. Cramer revealed that the Charitable Trust immediately unloaded the position at the opening bell. He stated:
It really hurt us. Both Phil LeBeau and I were stunned. Phil said three times that they could've told us that things were bad. I called the management, and I said, management called me back, and said, look, I said, listen, I think it's a very suboptimal situation.
I really don't like the situation. I think that the company should have been much more forthcoming. I think it was a rookie mistake. We sold the stock at the opening for the Charitable Trust. It is a great company, but man, they are not ready for prime time, and it was very disappointing.
The sudden plunge caught institutional investors and **** ysts off guard, landing the newly minted standalone company in Wall Street's penalty box. Honeywell Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:HONA) watched its shares implode after management slashed its full-year outlook following the second-quarter results.
The core catalyst behind the selloff was a severe downgrade to the corporate financial roadmap. Management aligned full-year forecasts with supply-chain capabilities, scaling back expectations across some major financial metrics. Organic growth guidance was reduced to a range of 4% to 5%, compared to previous guidance of 7% to 9%. Pro forma standalone adjusted EBIT was lowered to a range of $4.35 billion to $4.45 billion, down from earlier projections of $4.65 billion to $4.75 billion. In addition, year-over-year adjusted EBIT growth was revised to a range of flat to 3%, down from prior guidance of 7% to 10%. Persistent supply-chain constraints forced the company to prioritize original equipment manufacturer deliveries to major planemakers like Boeing and Airbus. As a result, production was diverted away from higher-revenue, higher-margin aftermarket operations, squeezing profitability right out of the gate as an independent entity.

#management #guidance #range #cramer

Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, global equities rebounded sharply, with the MSCI ACWI posting its strongest quarterly gain since 2020, supported by broad market strength, easing geopolitical tensions, and continued enthusiasm for AI infrastructure. Information technology led the advance, with semiconductor and hardware companies accounting for most of the index's rise. The fund returned 26.9% (net) in the second quarter of 2026. The portfolio benefited from strong gains across memory, software infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other AI-related holdings, although its concentrated exposure to mega-cap chip designers and manufacturers weighed on relative performance as leadership broadened into CPUs, networking, and memory. Vertical software, internet, and financial holdings were modest detractors amid macro concerns and uncertainty over AI disruption. The fund remains focused on critical AI bottlenecks, including compute, memory, manufacturing, networking, and power, while retaining selected businesses that may use AI to strengthen their competitive positions. You can check the fund's top five holdings to learn more about its leading investment ideas for the year.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX). **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) is a US-based aerospace company specializing in advanced rockets and **** ecraft. The one-month return of **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) was -2.40%. On August 7, 2026, **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) closed at $133.11 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $1.77 trillion.
Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding **** e Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) (SpaceX) was added as a more idiosyncratic growth opportunity. The company provides foundational infrastructure for the emerging **** e economy through its reusable launch technology and Starlink broadband network. Reusability has lowered launch costs, increased launch frequency, and strengthened **** eX's leadership in global mass to-orbit. We believe this position could widen further as Starship scales, while Starlink expands the opportunity into enterprise connectivity, government communications, and direct-to-device services. We initiated the position at a modest weight, recognizing the potential volatility **** ociated with limited float, retail activity, and technical buying pressure."

#technologies #NASDAQ #technology

Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) stock is losing ground on Tuesday following the release of the company's second-quarter results. The company's share price was down 12.2% as of 12:30 p.m. ET. At the same point in the daily session, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite had fallen 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.
After the market closed yesterday, Upwork published its Q2 numbers. Results in the period were mixed, with earnings coming in below expectations despite a sales beat. Making matters worse, the gig-economy marketplace company lowered its full-year guidance.
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 »
Upwork reported sales of roughly $191.7 million in the second quarter, beating the average ******* yst estimate by roughly $1.7 million. On the other hand, earnings per share of $0.20 in the period missed the average Wall Street target by $0.01. Sales were still down 1.7% year over year in the quarter, and active clients on the company's platform declined roughly 4% year over year to 763,000. A 5% increase in gross service volume (GSV) per customer to $5,230 helped offset the client decline, but the business is facing persistent headwinds.
With its Q2 report, Upwork lowered its full-year sales guidance to between $730 million and $750 million -- down from previous guidance for sales between $760 million and $790 million. Management also now expects non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share to be between $1.38 and $1.43 -- down from its previous target for earnings per share between $1.50 and $1.55.

#signal

Interested in Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Record growth lifted the outlook: Second-quarter revenue surged 114% year over year to $227 million, including 56% organic growth, while backlog reached $866 million. Cardinal raised 2026 revenue guidance to $880 million–$900 million.
Profitability weakened amid expansion costs: Adjusted EBITDA rose 43% to $28.1 million, but the margin fell to 12.4% from 18.6% due to higher labor and equipment costs, project delays, underutilized crews and severe Georgia weather. Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin guidance was lowered to 16%–18%.
Acquisitions and vertical integration remain central: Cardinal acquired Atlanta-based Allied Paving, adding $108 million in annual revenue and paving capabilities that should reduce subcontractor reliance. The company also continues investing in asphalt production, wet-utility capacity and fleet expansion while maintaining substantial liquidity.
Cardinal Infrastructure Group (NASDAQ:CDNL) reported record second-quarter revenue and backlog while raising its full-year revenue outlook, though profitability fell below management's expectations as the company absorbed higher labor, equipment and weather-related costs.

#million #costs #second

Interested in TeleTech Holdings, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Q2 results declined year over year: Revenue fell 11.3% to $455 million, while adjusted EBITDA dropped to $39 million from $52 million, pressured by weakness in the Engage segment.
Engage faces client and profitability challenges: Revenue declined 12.1% as public-sector and technology clients came under pressure. TTEC is reviewing a high-single-digit number of underperforming engagements and lowered its full-year Engage revenue and margin outlook.
Digital strategic review and balance-sheet actions underway: TTEC began reviewing strategic alternatives for its Digital business while reiterating its full-year Digital guidance. Net debt fell to $767 million, and covenant flexibility from lenders is expected to support liquidity.
TeleTech (NASDAQ:TTEC) reported second-quarter results that fell short of its plan, as revenue and profitability declined from a year earlier amid pressure in its Engage segment. Management said it is pursuing cost reductions, operational changes and client profitability reviews while beginning a strategic-alternatives review for its TTEC Digital business.

#engage #digital #revenue #declined

Interested in Teleflex Incorporated? Here are five stocks we like better.
Teleflex exceeded Q2 expectations, with revenue of $570.3 million, adjusted EPS of $1.76 and strong growth in its Vascular and Surgical segments. Interventional revenue declined 1% as acquisition integration disrupted systems, distributors and sales-force operations.
The company lowered its 2026 revenue-growth outlook to 3.5%–4.5% but raised adjusted EPS guidance to $6.90–$7.20, helped by share repurchases and lower interest expense. Management expects Interventional integration to be completed by year-end and described 2026 as a transition year.
Teleflex is using divestiture proceeds to reduce debt and return capital, including $250 million of Q2 share repurchases and another planned $250 million accelerated buyback. The company also highlighted FDA approval for EZPLAZ plasma and continued progress on its Freesolve scaffold program.
Teleflex (NYSE:TFX) reported second-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings above its expectations, supported by strong growth in its Vascular and Surgical businesses, while slower-than-anticipated integration of its acquired Vascular Intervention business weighed on Interventional results.

#surgical

Usana Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA) stock saw a huge valuation contraction this week in response to disappointing second-quarter results. The company's share price declined 30% across the stretch. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 3.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 5.2%.
Usana published its second quarter results on Aug. 4, and both sales and earnings for the period came in significantly worse than the average ******* yst estimates. In addition to the weak Q2 print, the company also issued new forward guidance that disappointed the market.
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 the second quarter, Usana recorded non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings of $0.07 per share on sales of roughly $223 million. The company's adjusted profit per share came in $0.50 below the level called for by the average ******* yst estimate, and revenue for the period was roughly $12 million lower than the average forecast. In addition to Q2 earnings that came in far below Wall Street's forecast and a meaningful sales miss, the company's Q2 report also arrived with disappointing forward guidance.
With its Q2 report, Usana announced that it would be taking a $29 million goodwill impairment charge on the value of its Hiya business. As a result, the company now expects to record a loss of roughly $11 million this year -- down from previous guidance for a profit between $20 million and $27 million. The company also lowered its full-year sales target.

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Interested in Westlake Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better.
Westlake returned to profitability in Q2 2026, reporting $3.3 billion in sales, $260 million in net income and $679 million in EBITDA, supported by higher PEM pricing, lower feedstock costs and cost savings.
The company's profitability-improvement plan contributed about $150 million to year-over-year EBITDA growth in the quarter, keeping Westlake on track for its $600 million full-year 2026 target. HIP sales rose 8%, but its margin fell to 22% due to lower prices and higher transportation and raw-material costs.
Westlake lowered its 2026 HIP outlook toward the low end of its prior guidance range amid weaker residential construction expectations, while maintaining $900 million in capital expenditures. The company also completed a PVC and VCM plant acquisition in Germany expected to contribute more meaningfully to earnings next year.
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer moved into 10th place all-time in strikeouts, passing Hall of Famer Walter Johnson in the Blue Jays' 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.
The 42-year-old Scherzer, making his ninth start of the season, has 3,516 career strikeouts, one more than Johnson, and is second to Justin Verlander (3,554) in strikeouts among active pitchers.
Scherzer struck out Kyle Schwarber leading off the sixth to move past Johnson before giving up consecutive home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper that tied the game at 2 and ended his night.
Scherzer cruised through five scoreless innings against Philadelphia, scattering just three hits, and had retired nine in a row before the consecutive drives by Turner and Harper. He allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 7.25.
Scherzer was selected in the first round (No. 11 overall) by Arizona in the 2006 draft. He has won three Cy Youngs, made eight All-Star teams and won two World Series ****** les.

#strikeouts

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Management lowered full-year core FFO guidance primarily due to an upward shift in the forward SOFR curve, which reduced projected swap inflows by approximately $14.6 million.
Performance attribution is highly concentrated, with the Nashville market accounting for roughly 85% of the total same-store NOI reduction due to soft revenue and steep expense growth.
Operational efficiency improved through a centralized model and technology platform, leading to a 140 basis point reduction in the full-year same-store expense growth outlook.
The portfolio is benefiting from a significant affordability gap in the housing market, with the premium to own versus rent at 44% compared to a 17% long-run average.

#full #year #store #Growth

Interested in Criteo S.A.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Criteo lowered its 2026 outlook after second-quarter results missed expectations, primarily because several large Performance Media clients reduced spending. Full-year Contribution ex-TAC is now expected to decline 10% to 12% at constant currency.
Retail Media showed underlying strength despite $75 million of expected annualized impact from client scope reductions. Excluding those clients, second-quarter Retail Media Contribution ex-TAC grew 20%, while media spend increased 31% year over year.
Criteo continues investing in AI and self-service products, with more than 2,000 brands running campaigns through its OpenAI partnership and over half of its small clients adopting Criteo GO. The company expects these initiatives to become meaningful growth contributors beginning in 2027.
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The Grayscale XRP Trust ETF has sold XRP worth more than $180 million during the first half of 2026, the latest filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed.
The fund held 122.23 million XRP by the end of 2025 but lowered the holdings to 55.04 million XRP as of June 30, 2026.
The trust cashed out $180.78 million worth of XRP, selling 103.41 million tokens to redeem investor ****** ets.
Related: XRP holders can now borrow Ripple's stablecoin
The trust created an additional 36.27 million in XRP worth $66.58 million during the last six months. But the outflows exceeded the inflows.

#commission

Investors should consider taking profits in Dell Technologies (DELL) following its explosive year-to-date rally, says Evan Lee, a senior GF Securities **** yst. In a research note this morning, Lee lowered his price target on DELL to $403, signaling potential downside of roughly 12% from current levels.
Dell stock has been a lucrative investment in 2026, currently trading at more than 3.5x its price at the start of this year.
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#rally #Stock #securities #jeff

Shares of eBay (EBAY) inched lower on Aug. 3 after Wells Fargo's senior ******* yst Ken Gawrelski downgraded the e-commerce giant to "Underweight." In his research note, Gawrelski also lowered his price target on EBAY to $92, indicating potential downside of roughly 5% from current levels.
That said, eBay stock has been a lucrative investment in 2026, currently up nearly 35% versus its year-to-date low in mid-February.
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#gawrelski