2 hours ago
The Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm 105-95 on Tuesday night in the first night of regular-season action for the WNBA after the All-Star break. However, instead of the Fever's three-game winning streak entering the game, a lot of the coverage surrounding the Fever was on comments reserve guard Sophie Cunningham made regarding transgender athletes.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said via a profile on her published by ESPN. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Cunningham's words became a hot-topic issue, with people weighing in from all over the media, intense debates being had online, and even rallies being planned.
After the game, WNBA reporter Roberta Rodrigues, who rebuked Cunningham's comments and the rally tied to them on social media, asked head coach Stephanie White, who is married to journalist Lisa Salters, about the situation.
"Coach, there was a rally before the game, an anti-trans rally before the game, inspired by Sophie Cunningham," Rodrigues started. "As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, how did you receive her comments and the way it ignited the right-wing and anti-trans supporters? And for the players, have you had conversations in the locker room about it?"
#sophie
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said via a profile on her published by ESPN. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Cunningham's words became a hot-topic issue, with people weighing in from all over the media, intense debates being had online, and even rallies being planned.
After the game, WNBA reporter Roberta Rodrigues, who rebuked Cunningham's comments and the rally tied to them on social media, asked head coach Stephanie White, who is married to journalist Lisa Salters, about the situation.
"Coach, there was a rally before the game, an anti-trans rally before the game, inspired by Sophie Cunningham," Rodrigues started. "As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, how did you receive her comments and the way it ignited the right-wing and anti-trans supporters? And for the players, have you had conversations in the locker room about it?"
#sophie
4 hours ago
It's amazing how the free cash flow line has meant wildly different things for Apple (AAPL) and Oracle (ORCL) investors this year.
Call it an Investing 101 reminder: Cash is king.
Quick insight: With tech investors laser-focused on capex, free cash flow has emerged as a major driver of share prices this year.
The latest example: Alphabet (GOOGL) reported its first negative free cash flow quarter, and the stock was hammered last week after its earnings. Free cash flow could remain negative for Alphabet in the near-term, based on guidance from its earnings call.
As for Apple, it has generated about $129 billion in trailing 12-month free cash flow. On the other hand, Oracle has seen a $24 billion outflow. It's not that Apple isn't investing in AI, but Oracle's business model requires it to take bigger financial swings. In this case, those swings are being funded by new debt.
#Apple #investors
Call it an Investing 101 reminder: Cash is king.
Quick insight: With tech investors laser-focused on capex, free cash flow has emerged as a major driver of share prices this year.
The latest example: Alphabet (GOOGL) reported its first negative free cash flow quarter, and the stock was hammered last week after its earnings. Free cash flow could remain negative for Alphabet in the near-term, based on guidance from its earnings call.
As for Apple, it has generated about $129 billion in trailing 12-month free cash flow. On the other hand, Oracle has seen a $24 billion outflow. It's not that Apple isn't investing in AI, but Oracle's business model requires it to take bigger financial swings. In this case, those swings are being funded by new debt.
#Apple #investors
4 hours ago
Micron (MU) stock has multiple strong positive and negative catalysts at this point, making its performance difficult to predict. On the positive side, the memory-chip maker should continue to benefit significantly in the near-to-medium term from the AI boom, and Bank of America recently ******* erted that MU should be boosted by the release of low-cost, open-source AI models made in China. Additionally, the valuation of MU stock remains low.
On the other hand, Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) technological breakthrough remains a long-term threat for MU, and investors have been unenthusiastic about Micron in recent weeks.
Dear ******* eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 6
Amazon Stock Just Hit a Major Hurdle Ahead of Earnings
Elon Musk Just Revealed a Quiet Win for Tesla's AI Ambitions
#micron #positive #America #China
On the other hand, Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) technological breakthrough remains a long-term threat for MU, and investors have been unenthusiastic about Micron in recent weeks.
Dear ******* eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 6
Amazon Stock Just Hit a Major Hurdle Ahead of Earnings
Elon Musk Just Revealed a Quiet Win for Tesla's AI Ambitions
#micron #positive #America #China
12 hours ago
The Philadelphia Eagles took a massive step back last season. From winning the Super Bowl to bowing out in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, the letdown was massive for the entire team. Given the state of the offense, a lot of the blame fell directly on Jalen Hurts.
Despite his resume, the dual-threat quarterback has been the subject of a ton of criticism. With some obvious flaws in his game, many believe this could be a make-or-break year for him. However, a franchise icon still remains one of his staunchest supporters.
Hurts' resume is hard to match. A three-time Pro Bowler, who finished in the top two in MVP once, the Eagles star has a lot of upsides to his game. Since he became the season-long starter in 2021, the team has never missed the playoffs.
But this past year, the negatives were more ****** ounced than ever. With wide receiver A.J. Brown shouting from the rooftops about the state of the offense, the blame fell squarely on Hurts as they ranked near the bottom of the league in three-and-out possessions.
LeSean McCoy, though, still believes Hurts can be the answer for the Eagles. During the latest episode of "Speakeasy," he offered a comprehensive defense of the three-time Pro Bowler, even comparing him to another elite quarterback, Joe Burrow.
#three #massive #playoffs #offense
Despite his resume, the dual-threat quarterback has been the subject of a ton of criticism. With some obvious flaws in his game, many believe this could be a make-or-break year for him. However, a franchise icon still remains one of his staunchest supporters.
Hurts' resume is hard to match. A three-time Pro Bowler, who finished in the top two in MVP once, the Eagles star has a lot of upsides to his game. Since he became the season-long starter in 2021, the team has never missed the playoffs.
But this past year, the negatives were more ****** ounced than ever. With wide receiver A.J. Brown shouting from the rooftops about the state of the offense, the blame fell squarely on Hurts as they ranked near the bottom of the league in three-and-out possessions.
LeSean McCoy, though, still believes Hurts can be the answer for the Eagles. During the latest episode of "Speakeasy," he offered a comprehensive defense of the three-time Pro Bowler, even comparing him to another elite quarterback, Joe Burrow.
#three #massive #playoffs #offense
12 hours ago
Kelsey Grammer is escalating his criticism of American history education as he promotes a new civics project tied to the nation's 250th anniversary.
During an appearance on The Katie Miller Podcast, the Frasier star used the term "child abuse" to describe lessons that he believes teach students to view the United States primarily through its failures.
Grammer argued that children who repeatedly hear that America is a bad country may begin questioning whether being American makes them bad. He did not identify a particular school, curriculum or educator responsible for the approach he criticized.
His remarks follow an earlier interview in which he called for an overhaul of the education system and warned that people without a clear understanding of their history become easier to control.
Grammer made the comparison while discussing what he considers an overly negative presentation of American history. "What they're doing to children in school today is child abuse," he said in the podcast clip shared by TMZ.
#american #children
During an appearance on The Katie Miller Podcast, the Frasier star used the term "child abuse" to describe lessons that he believes teach students to view the United States primarily through its failures.
Grammer argued that children who repeatedly hear that America is a bad country may begin questioning whether being American makes them bad. He did not identify a particular school, curriculum or educator responsible for the approach he criticized.
His remarks follow an earlier interview in which he called for an overhaul of the education system and warned that people without a clear understanding of their history become easier to control.
Grammer made the comparison while discussing what he considers an overly negative presentation of American history. "What they're doing to children in school today is child abuse," he said in the podcast clip shared by TMZ.
#american #children
12 hours ago
On Monday, one day before the Chargers veterans reported to training camp in El Segundo, it was reported that the team had released veteran offensive lineman Ben Cleveland.
In February of 2025, Cleveland was arrested and cited for DUI in his home state of Georgia. He plead guilty to the charge on November 4th and was ultimately suspended for three games by the Ravens. Cleveland was given a one-year probation on his driver's license. On July 16th, just 12 days before the start of camp, Cleveland was picked up for speeding which violates that probation.
Due to the repeated off-field issues, it looks like the Chargers finally decided keeping Cleveland around wasn't worth the negative publicity. And to be fair, Cleveland was no longer a good fit with the Chargers after the firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Now, the Chargers can focus on their wealth of young offensive lineman without needing worry about the availability of a fringe roster player.
#chargers #Monday
In February of 2025, Cleveland was arrested and cited for DUI in his home state of Georgia. He plead guilty to the charge on November 4th and was ultimately suspended for three games by the Ravens. Cleveland was given a one-year probation on his driver's license. On July 16th, just 12 days before the start of camp, Cleveland was picked up for speeding which violates that probation.
Due to the repeated off-field issues, it looks like the Chargers finally decided keeping Cleveland around wasn't worth the negative publicity. And to be fair, Cleveland was no longer a good fit with the Chargers after the firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Now, the Chargers can focus on their wealth of young offensive lineman without needing worry about the availability of a fringe roster player.
#chargers #Monday
13 hours ago
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday blamed former President Biden for the Pentagon being low on munitions but denied that the depletion is negatively impacting the war with Iran.
"We have to take a step back here in that a lot of stockpiles were depleted not only from what we gave Ukraine over the last … four or five years," Waltz told host Kristen Welker on NBC News's "Meet the Press."
Waltz also said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "inherited a depleted situation" from the Biden administration due to U.S. strikes on the Houthis — which the Trump administration carried out for nearly two months last year due to the Yemeni terrorist group targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.
NBC News reported Friday that U.S. military commanders have been selectively choosing which Iranian missiles and explosive-packed drones to intercept amid an effort to preserve the Pentagon's diminishing supply of weapons that block projectiles from reaching their targets.
Military ***** ysts also ***** s it could take the U.S. four years or more to restock its weapons inventory. But that is only if Congress provides the administration with additional funding for the war.
#four
"We have to take a step back here in that a lot of stockpiles were depleted not only from what we gave Ukraine over the last … four or five years," Waltz told host Kristen Welker on NBC News's "Meet the Press."
Waltz also said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "inherited a depleted situation" from the Biden administration due to U.S. strikes on the Houthis — which the Trump administration carried out for nearly two months last year due to the Yemeni terrorist group targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.
NBC News reported Friday that U.S. military commanders have been selectively choosing which Iranian missiles and explosive-packed drones to intercept amid an effort to preserve the Pentagon's diminishing supply of weapons that block projectiles from reaching their targets.
Military ***** ysts also ***** s it could take the U.S. four years or more to restock its weapons inventory. But that is only if Congress provides the administration with additional funding for the war.
#four
13 hours ago
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) reported its second-quarter financial results on July 23, delivering a modest upside on earnings per share despite ongoing top-line volume pressures. The company reported GAAP diluted EPS of $4.96, topping Wall Street consensus estimates of $4.83, while non-GAAP diluted EPS came in at $3.65. The EPS beat was primarily driven by gross margin expansion, reaching 50.4%, up 60 basis points year-over-year, and a $1.31 per-share after-tax benefit from a favorable adjustment in supplier litigation.
The company's net revenue for the quarter was roughly in line with expectations at $568.3 million, down 3.3% year-over-year. Depletions fell 6%, which, while negative, came in better than the Street's fear of a 9% decline. Shipment volume was approximately 2.0 million barrels, down 4.5%. Crucially, management maintained its full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance of $8.50 to $10.50.
Following the report, Wall Street ******* ysts adjusted their outlooks. On July 24, Roth Capital lowered its price target on Boston Beer to $295 from $315 while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that while major components of guidance were unchanged, commentary on the earnings call suggested that if current trends persist, full-year results would land toward the lower end of the guided range. On the same day, Deutsche Bank lowered its price target to $176 from $187 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares.
This mix of resilient operational execution and volume headwinds brings up a key question: Is The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM)'s margin recovery and balance sheet strength enough to navigate persistent category challenges?
Optimistic investors emphasize Boston Beer's low leverage and durable financial flexibility as foundational strengths. With minimal debt, $265.5 million in cash, and a sizable equity base, the company maintains the financial headroom to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and share repurchases. This strong balance sheet allows Boston Beer to absorb macroeconomic shocks, tariffs, or litigation without forced deleveraging, preserving strategic optionality over both short- and long-term horizons.
#boston #capital #volume #million
The company's net revenue for the quarter was roughly in line with expectations at $568.3 million, down 3.3% year-over-year. Depletions fell 6%, which, while negative, came in better than the Street's fear of a 9% decline. Shipment volume was approximately 2.0 million barrels, down 4.5%. Crucially, management maintained its full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance of $8.50 to $10.50.
Following the report, Wall Street ******* ysts adjusted their outlooks. On July 24, Roth Capital lowered its price target on Boston Beer to $295 from $315 while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that while major components of guidance were unchanged, commentary on the earnings call suggested that if current trends persist, full-year results would land toward the lower end of the guided range. On the same day, Deutsche Bank lowered its price target to $176 from $187 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares.
This mix of resilient operational execution and volume headwinds brings up a key question: Is The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM)'s margin recovery and balance sheet strength enough to navigate persistent category challenges?
Optimistic investors emphasize Boston Beer's low leverage and durable financial flexibility as foundational strengths. With minimal debt, $265.5 million in cash, and a sizable equity base, the company maintains the financial headroom to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and share repurchases. This strong balance sheet allows Boston Beer to absorb macroeconomic shocks, tariffs, or litigation without forced deleveraging, preserving strategic optionality over both short- and long-term horizons.
#boston #capital #volume #million
13 hours ago
Both Alphabet and Tesla posted negative quarterly free cash flow, but their profitability, balance sheets and stock swings after earnings show quite different dangers.
Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) got the same tough message from Wall Street to start: Investors are no longer prepared to pay for artificial intelligence spending without asking about its cash flow impact.
But their stocks tell two distinct tales presently.
Shares of Tesla sank more than 14% on July 23, while Alphabet slid almost 7% after both companies disclosed negative quarterly free cash flow and detailed plans for increased spending. The selloff also dragged on the broader market, as the Magnificent Seven account for over 30% of the S&P 500's value.
But by July 27, Alphabet was up about 3%, trading near $328.60 in late-morning trading. Tesla was last down about 1.4% at $308.76.
#negative
Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) got the same tough message from Wall Street to start: Investors are no longer prepared to pay for artificial intelligence spending without asking about its cash flow impact.
But their stocks tell two distinct tales presently.
Shares of Tesla sank more than 14% on July 23, while Alphabet slid almost 7% after both companies disclosed negative quarterly free cash flow and detailed plans for increased spending. The selloff also dragged on the broader market, as the Magnificent Seven account for over 30% of the S&P 500's value.
But by July 27, Alphabet was up about 3%, trading near $328.60 in late-morning trading. Tesla was last down about 1.4% at $308.76.
#negative
14 hours ago
Alphabet reported earnings on July 22 and the stock dropped more than 7% in a single session. The numbers weren't bad. Cloud grew 82% year over year. Advertising held up. EPS beat. What rattled investors was the spending. Capital expenditure guidance for 2026 came in at $195 billion to $205 billion. Free cash flow went negative for the first time in the company's history. The market looked at that bill and sold first, asked questions later.
Five days later, Phillip Securities ****** yst Serena Lim Yi Qi published a note saying the market got it wrong. On July 27, she upgraded Alphabet to Buy from Accumulate, lowered her price target to $425 from $450, and explained why the combination of those two moves makes sense.
The upgrade from Accumulate to Buy is the meaningful part of the call. Phillip Securities is saying Alphabet's AI momentum has reached the point where sitting on the sidelines no longer makes sense, according to Investing.com.
Lim Yi Qi pointed to Alphabet's vertically integrated AI ecosystem as the core of the bull case. The company controls its own custom silicon through its Tensor Processing Units, runs optimized data centers, and deploys its Gemini models across Search, Cloud, and its broader product suite. That integration, in her view, gives Alphabet a structural advantage that is starting to show up in the numbers in a meaningful way.
The free cash flow picture is more complicated. Alphabet turned negative on free cash flow for the first time this quarter because of the scale of its AI investment. Lim Yi Qi views that as a temporary condition supporting stronger long-term growth rather than a structural problem. The company has also raised its 2026 capex guidance to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, signaling the buildout is far from over.
#free #flow #first #cloud
Five days later, Phillip Securities ****** yst Serena Lim Yi Qi published a note saying the market got it wrong. On July 27, she upgraded Alphabet to Buy from Accumulate, lowered her price target to $425 from $450, and explained why the combination of those two moves makes sense.
The upgrade from Accumulate to Buy is the meaningful part of the call. Phillip Securities is saying Alphabet's AI momentum has reached the point where sitting on the sidelines no longer makes sense, according to Investing.com.
Lim Yi Qi pointed to Alphabet's vertically integrated AI ecosystem as the core of the bull case. The company controls its own custom silicon through its Tensor Processing Units, runs optimized data centers, and deploys its Gemini models across Search, Cloud, and its broader product suite. That integration, in her view, gives Alphabet a structural advantage that is starting to show up in the numbers in a meaningful way.
The free cash flow picture is more complicated. Alphabet turned negative on free cash flow for the first time this quarter because of the scale of its AI investment. Lim Yi Qi views that as a temporary condition supporting stronger long-term growth rather than a structural problem. The company has also raised its 2026 capex guidance to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, signaling the buildout is far from over.
#free #flow #first #cloud
15 hours ago
Liberty trade update may finally deliver resolution to Betnijah Laney-Hamilton disappearance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is becoming an afterthought for the New York Liberty.
Sure, the Liberty's roster is among the deepest in the WNBA. That is a reality to which first-year head coach Chris DeMarco has alluded several times in recent weeks.
However, Laney-Hamilton's return after a meniscus tear cost her the entire 2025 season has generated more negative headlines than positive ones.
MORE: Wings' Alanna Smith update is a trade plan no one saw coming
#source #york
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is becoming an afterthought for the New York Liberty.
Sure, the Liberty's roster is among the deepest in the WNBA. That is a reality to which first-year head coach Chris DeMarco has alluded several times in recent weeks.
However, Laney-Hamilton's return after a meniscus tear cost her the entire 2025 season has generated more negative headlines than positive ones.
MORE: Wings' Alanna Smith update is a trade plan no one saw coming
#source #york
18 hours ago
Germany sporting director Rudi Völler has reflected on Julian Nagelsmann's tenure as head coach of the national team, admitting that the former Bayern Munich boss faced a level of scrutiny that made his job increasingly difficult.
According to Völler, Nagelsmann's public standing deteriorated to the point where virtually every decision he made was met with criticism, regardless of the reasoning behind it.
"One thing that became very difficult during Julian Nagelsmann's time as national coach - and that's something I underestimated myself - was his standing with the media and the fans. At some point, it didn't matter what decision he made; people reacted negatively, which made every decision appear to be the wrong one."
Völler pointed to the contrasting reactions Nagelsmann received when dealing with his players, arguing that the coach found himself in a no-win situation.
"The best examples were the occasions when Julian criticised players - he was criticised for doing so. When he tried to take the pressure and blame off the players, he was criticised for that as well. That's simply part of a coach's job. In the end, the results are what count, and unfortunately, those were disappointing towards the end."
#julian #decision #national #standing
According to Völler, Nagelsmann's public standing deteriorated to the point where virtually every decision he made was met with criticism, regardless of the reasoning behind it.
"One thing that became very difficult during Julian Nagelsmann's time as national coach - and that's something I underestimated myself - was his standing with the media and the fans. At some point, it didn't matter what decision he made; people reacted negatively, which made every decision appear to be the wrong one."
Völler pointed to the contrasting reactions Nagelsmann received when dealing with his players, arguing that the coach found himself in a no-win situation.
"The best examples were the occasions when Julian criticised players - he was criticised for doing so. When he tried to take the pressure and blame off the players, he was criticised for that as well. That's simply part of a coach's job. In the end, the results are what count, and unfortunately, those were disappointing towards the end."
#julian #decision #national #standing
22 hours ago
During a conversation with Turkey's Socrates Magazine, the 23-year-old was asked about some of the controversial narratives surrounding last season's team. Regarding his pairing with Durant, Sengun said (via YouTube's English transcript): A perception suddenly formed out of nowhere. I've never had an argument with KD, not even once. We've never raised our voices at each other. We always talk, and we always talk after games, too. We especially talked after games we lost. Like, "What are we doing wrong?" I specifically would ask him, "What do we need to do? Where do you think we made mistakes today? Why didn't it work out?" I ask him, and he answers. These things always happen, but like I said, because we're people who hate losing… you can see that on our faces during games. You can read it on KD's face. You can read it on my face. You can read it on Ime's face. KD also has a massive fanbase. I think about it like this. My fans will never view me negatively. I notice this. Like, there are areas where I perform poorly, and I see that myself. But, say, I'm talking to someone on the phone — they'll always blame others. I'm not that kind of person, though. I always hold myself accountable. I don't speak like that with anyone — whether it's a friend or family member. When things like that are discussed, I always say, "That's not how the situation actually is." Do you get me? I can't ease my conscience by shifting the blame to someone else. I don't like those kinds of excuses, and you can't get any better that way.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Alperen Sengun on Kevin Durant rift rumors: 'I've never had an argument with KD, not even once'
#like #i 've
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Alperen Sengun on Kevin Durant rift rumors: 'I've never had an argument with KD, not even once'
#like #i 've
23 hours ago
Concerns about the private credit market have prompted investors to withdraw capital from Blackstone's (NYSE: BX) flagship private credit fund, BCRED (Blackstone Private Credit Fund). They requested to redeem 10% of their money in the second quarter, up from 7.9% in the first quarter, well above Blackstone's quarterly withdraw cap of 5%. These withdraws and concerns about the continued negative impact of private credit have sent Blackstone's stock down more than 30% from its 52-week high.
While the withdrawals are impacting the leading alternative investment manager's stock price, here's a look at what its latest quarter says about their effect on its overall results.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Given all the headlines and the decline in Blackstone's share price, you'd expect that the financial giant's earnings would be under significant pressure. However, that hasn't been the case. Blackstone recently reported strong second-quarter financial results. Its distributable earnings surged 26% to nearly $2 billion, driven by strong fee-related earnings growth (up 22%) and net realizations (up 27%). Meanwhile, its year-to-date distributable earnings are also up 26% (to $3.7 billion).
While existing clients are pulling some of their funds from BCRED, Blackstone isn't having any trouble raising capital from investors. Total inflows approached $70 billion during the quarter, pushing its ***** ets under management up to $1.35 trillion.
#credit #blackstone #NVIDIA #billion
While the withdrawals are impacting the leading alternative investment manager's stock price, here's a look at what its latest quarter says about their effect on its overall results.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Given all the headlines and the decline in Blackstone's share price, you'd expect that the financial giant's earnings would be under significant pressure. However, that hasn't been the case. Blackstone recently reported strong second-quarter financial results. Its distributable earnings surged 26% to nearly $2 billion, driven by strong fee-related earnings growth (up 22%) and net realizations (up 27%). Meanwhile, its year-to-date distributable earnings are also up 26% (to $3.7 billion).
While existing clients are pulling some of their funds from BCRED, Blackstone isn't having any trouble raising capital from investors. Total inflows approached $70 billion during the quarter, pushing its ***** ets under management up to $1.35 trillion.
#credit #blackstone #NVIDIA #billion
1 day ago
BTCI's monthly payouts dropped from $1.04 to $0.65 in 2026, shrinking the forward yield to 8% versus a misleading 40% trailing headline.
Down 23% year to date with a -2% average annual return since inception, BTCI cushions Bitcoin losses but cannot prevent negative total returns.
Don't wait: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
The NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (CBOE:BTCI) markets itself as a way to earn equity-like income from Bitcoin's volatility. BTCI pays monthly, uses a synthetic covered call overlay on Bitcoin exposure, and has distributed at rates translating into a headline yield well above 15%. This piece examines how BTCI generates that cash flow, whether the current distribution level is durable, and what trailing price action reveals about total returns.
This Bitcoin-oriented vehicle holds BTC exposure indirectly rather than through spot coins. According to the fund's holdings snapshot, roughly 56% of **** ets sit in U.S. Treasury bills, with Bitcoin exposure coming through positions in iShares Bitcoin Trust (roughly 13%) and VanEck's HODL (roughly 7%). The manager writes call options on Bitcoin ETFs and may layer in bear call spreads, a structure described in fund coverage as a synthetic covered call approach. BTCI's design aims to generate income while maintaining indirect exposure to Bitcoin price movements.
#btci
Down 23% year to date with a -2% average annual return since inception, BTCI cushions Bitcoin losses but cannot prevent negative total returns.
Don't wait: the **** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
The NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (CBOE:BTCI) markets itself as a way to earn equity-like income from Bitcoin's volatility. BTCI pays monthly, uses a synthetic covered call overlay on Bitcoin exposure, and has distributed at rates translating into a headline yield well above 15%. This piece examines how BTCI generates that cash flow, whether the current distribution level is durable, and what trailing price action reveals about total returns.
This Bitcoin-oriented vehicle holds BTC exposure indirectly rather than through spot coins. According to the fund's holdings snapshot, roughly 56% of **** ets sit in U.S. Treasury bills, with Bitcoin exposure coming through positions in iShares Bitcoin Trust (roughly 13%) and VanEck's HODL (roughly 7%). The manager writes call options on Bitcoin ETFs and may layer in bear call spreads, a structure described in fund coverage as a synthetic covered call approach. BTCI's design aims to generate income while maintaining indirect exposure to Bitcoin price movements.
#btci
1 day ago
For 22 years, Google generated more cash than it spent every quarter. That record broke between April and June this year.
Alphabet, Google's parent, spent $44.9 billion on AI infrastructure (chips, servers and data centers) over those three months — or about $490 million a day. The business generated $39.1 billion in cash during the same stretch. That left it $5.9 billion in the hole, its first ever quarter of negative free cash flow since the company went public in August 2004.
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
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going
#Google #april #june
Alphabet, Google's parent, spent $44.9 billion on AI infrastructure (chips, servers and data centers) over those three months — or about $490 million a day. The business generated $39.1 billion in cash during the same stretch. That left it $5.9 billion in the hole, its first ever quarter of negative free cash flow since the company went public in August 2004.
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
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going
#Google #april #june
4 days ago
Indiana Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham is averaging less than 10 points on the season, but has still managed to become one of the most popular players in the WNBA. Most recently, Cunningham has received a massive amount of support, as well as backlash, for her comments on transgender girls competing in sports with other girls.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham, who some fans have dubbed "MAGA Barbie," said. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
After her comments caught fire on social media, Cunningham doubled down on them.
"I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense," she responded. "And I think I'll always believe in that. I think it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said."
After her comments, Cunningham's shoe with Adidas completely sold out, and she took to X to share her gratitude.
#comments #indiana #sophie
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham, who some fans have dubbed "MAGA Barbie," said. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
After her comments caught fire on social media, Cunningham doubled down on them.
"I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense," she responded. "And I think I'll always believe in that. I think it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said."
After her comments, Cunningham's shoe with Adidas completely sold out, and she took to X to share her gratitude.
#comments #indiana #sophie
4 days ago
There is not long to go until the 2026-27 season gets underway for Real Madrid, who have Jose Mourinho back at the helm for the first time in over 13 years. The Portuguese has been tasked with ending Los Blancos' run without a major trophy, which dates back to the end of the 2024-25 campaign when they won their 15th Champions League.
There is a lot of hope that Mourinho is the ideal man to get Real Madrid back on track. A lot of current and former players have expressed their support in recent weeks, with the latest being Borja Mayoral during an interview with Marca (via MD). He recounted his memories of the Portuguese, starting with the positives.
"What I liked the most, above all, was training. They were very competitive and a lot of fun. Although my situation was not ideal, I really enjoyed training with him. Over time I was even surprised. From the conversations we had and some things he said to me before certain games, I felt that he valued my work. I remember that on one occasion he told me that I deserved to have played much earlier and he also spoke very highly of me in a press conference. That sticks with me. He was a close person. With Gonzalo Villar, Carles Pérez and the Spaniards he talked a lot about his time at Real Madrid. As I have always been very curious, I took the opportunity to ask him many things about his time at Madrid."
However, there were also negatives that Mayoral remembers, such as Mourinho's inability to take defeat well.
"Maybe he didn't really know how to lose, he made comments within the dressing room that I didn't like. Not only towards me, but also towards other colleagues. I understand that he is a very competitive person and that in the heat we can all say things, but I believe that respect for people should always be above all else."
#things #mayoral
There is a lot of hope that Mourinho is the ideal man to get Real Madrid back on track. A lot of current and former players have expressed their support in recent weeks, with the latest being Borja Mayoral during an interview with Marca (via MD). He recounted his memories of the Portuguese, starting with the positives.
"What I liked the most, above all, was training. They were very competitive and a lot of fun. Although my situation was not ideal, I really enjoyed training with him. Over time I was even surprised. From the conversations we had and some things he said to me before certain games, I felt that he valued my work. I remember that on one occasion he told me that I deserved to have played much earlier and he also spoke very highly of me in a press conference. That sticks with me. He was a close person. With Gonzalo Villar, Carles Pérez and the Spaniards he talked a lot about his time at Real Madrid. As I have always been very curious, I took the opportunity to ask him many things about his time at Madrid."
However, there were also negatives that Mayoral remembers, such as Mourinho's inability to take defeat well.
"Maybe he didn't really know how to lose, he made comments within the dressing room that I didn't like. Not only towards me, but also towards other colleagues. I understand that he is a very competitive person and that in the heat we can all say things, but I believe that respect for people should always be above all else."
#things #mayoral
4 days ago
London looks set to open in the red on Friday, with tech selling and oil topping $100 a barrel combining to darken the mood heading into the weekend.
Futures traders have the FTSE 100 called 40 points lower, building on Thursday's 77-point decline to 10,639. The blue-chip index faces pressure from two directions: a sharp Wall Street sell-off driven by disappointing Big Tech earnings, and fresh geopolitical anxiety in the Middle East pushing oil prices to triple figures for the first time in months.
US stocks fell heavily overnight, with the Nasdaq leading the way down 2.2% as investors took a dim view of quarterly results from Alphabet and Tesla. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, its worst session of the month, while the Dow shed 1%.
The problem wasn't the earnings themselves, according to Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya; it was the spending. "Earnings themselves were not the problem; spending and evaporating free cash flow were," she said. "Both Alphabet and Tesla stood by their capital investment plans, while Alphabet raised its capex outlook by $15 billion to $205 billion. Meanwhile, free cash flow at both Alphabet and Tesla turned negative in the second quarter."
Ozkardeskaya warned that Big Tech, once defined by being capital-light and cash-heavy, is becoming the opposite: increasingly reliant on equity and debt issuance to finance AI ambitions at a time when interest rate expectations are moving higher.
#tesla #ozkardeskaya
Futures traders have the FTSE 100 called 40 points lower, building on Thursday's 77-point decline to 10,639. The blue-chip index faces pressure from two directions: a sharp Wall Street sell-off driven by disappointing Big Tech earnings, and fresh geopolitical anxiety in the Middle East pushing oil prices to triple figures for the first time in months.
US stocks fell heavily overnight, with the Nasdaq leading the way down 2.2% as investors took a dim view of quarterly results from Alphabet and Tesla. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, its worst session of the month, while the Dow shed 1%.
The problem wasn't the earnings themselves, according to Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya; it was the spending. "Earnings themselves were not the problem; spending and evaporating free cash flow were," she said. "Both Alphabet and Tesla stood by their capital investment plans, while Alphabet raised its capex outlook by $15 billion to $205 billion. Meanwhile, free cash flow at both Alphabet and Tesla turned negative in the second quarter."
Ozkardeskaya warned that Big Tech, once defined by being capital-light and cash-heavy, is becoming the opposite: increasingly reliant on equity and debt issuance to finance AI ambitions at a time when interest rate expectations are moving higher.
#tesla #ozkardeskaya
4 days ago
In a week where an AI model went rogue and broke out of a secure test environment—and in a year where seemingly all we're hearing is how AI can displace large swaths of the workforce—it may come as a surprise when one of the tech's most prominent voices is pushing an optimistic view of the tech, joining the many in his field who have recently walked back comments of how it could negatively impact workers.
"As we enter this next wave with AI, we continue to believe the future is for everyone," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote as the caption to a short video on Thursday, harkening back to the company's early years of tech optimism.
"Call us optimists, call us dreamers, call us whatever the ****** you want, but we're betting on people, and we like those odds," the voiceover in the video said.
The video featured montages of people using Instagram, Whatsapp, FaceBook and Meta's Ray-Ban glasses to film touching moments and connect with loved ones, with the backdrop of concerts and snowboarding and laughing children set to calm music as the voiceover framed Meta's AI efforts as doubling down on betting on people, just like the company did 22 years ago with FaceBook.
Marketing experts told Fortune that the Meta video's reliance on nostalgic imagery seemed like a way to redirect attention from AI concerns and to buffer against growing AI fears.
#like #we 're #back #years
"As we enter this next wave with AI, we continue to believe the future is for everyone," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote as the caption to a short video on Thursday, harkening back to the company's early years of tech optimism.
"Call us optimists, call us dreamers, call us whatever the ****** you want, but we're betting on people, and we like those odds," the voiceover in the video said.
The video featured montages of people using Instagram, Whatsapp, FaceBook and Meta's Ray-Ban glasses to film touching moments and connect with loved ones, with the backdrop of concerts and snowboarding and laughing children set to calm music as the voiceover framed Meta's AI efforts as doubling down on betting on people, just like the company did 22 years ago with FaceBook.
Marketing experts told Fortune that the Meta video's reliance on nostalgic imagery seemed like a way to redirect attention from AI concerns and to buffer against growing AI fears.
#like #we 're #back #years
4 days ago
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), the global electric-vehicle, battery storage, and autonomous driving platform, closed at $319.69, down 14.52%. Thursday's drop followed an earnings miss and heavier AI and robotics spending. Investors will continue watching margins with another focus on autonomous-driving guidance next.
Trading volume reached 114.2 million shares, coming in about 131% above its three-month average of 49.4 million shares.
Tesla IPO'd in 2010 and has grown 20,006% since going public.
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 1.21% to 7,408.30, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) dropped 2.15% to 25,138. Among electric vehicle manufacturing peers, Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) closed at $16.46, down 4.19%, and Lucid Group (NASDAQ:LCID) closed at $6.45, down 4.87%, reflecting pressure across EV names.
Tesla's revenue soared in Q2, driven by a surge in EV unit volume. Deliveries jumped 25% year over year, and revenue gains came close to matching that. Yet profits dropped, and free cash flow turned negative as operating expenses and capital spending soared.
Analysts lowered their price targets for Tesla following the earnings miss, citing margin pressure and cautious guidance on autonomous driving.
The future direction of Tesla stock will depend on what investors prioritize. Competition in the EV market has put pricing pressure on Tesla, which it is offsetting with volume. But that additional revenue isn't reaching the bottom line because of the company's growth investments and expenses.
#revenue
Trading volume reached 114.2 million shares, coming in about 131% above its three-month average of 49.4 million shares.
Tesla IPO'd in 2010 and has grown 20,006% since going public.
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 1.21% to 7,408.30, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) dropped 2.15% to 25,138. Among electric vehicle manufacturing peers, Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) closed at $16.46, down 4.19%, and Lucid Group (NASDAQ:LCID) closed at $6.45, down 4.87%, reflecting pressure across EV names.
Tesla's revenue soared in Q2, driven by a surge in EV unit volume. Deliveries jumped 25% year over year, and revenue gains came close to matching that. Yet profits dropped, and free cash flow turned negative as operating expenses and capital spending soared.
Analysts lowered their price targets for Tesla following the earnings miss, citing margin pressure and cautious guidance on autonomous driving.
The future direction of Tesla stock will depend on what investors prioritize. Competition in the EV market has put pricing pressure on Tesla, which it is offsetting with volume. But that additional revenue isn't reaching the bottom line because of the company's growth investments and expenses.
#revenue
4 days ago
Linda Cohn leaving ESPN feels like a generation ago after seeing the number of prominent on-air personalities who were laid off this week.
Cohn mutually agreed to part ways with ESPN last month after a tenure that lasted more than three decades. And as the longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor in ESPN history, Cohn received a proper sendoff that was both deserved and earned. Three weeks later, however, ESPN reminded everyone how coldblooded the industry is when they executed their latest round of layoffs. And while everyone understands layoffs are part of the business, ESPN has been condemned for the manner in which they handled those cuts.
"The ESPN layoffs were awful. You hate to see anybody lose their job," Cohn said on her recently launched YouTube show. "It's all bad. When you're laid off, when you're fired, when your salary is cut, when you have to think, 'what do I do now?' Well, the ESPN layoffs, that was awful. What made it even worse, if that could be possible, was the way ESPN PR handled it, or mishandled it, because they treated everyone on this latest firing list with zero respect. Zero. Beginning with Ryan Clark."
"That whole PR nightmare could have been avoided if Ryan Clark was alerted, how about the night before? And how about before he took the set for NFL Live?" Cohn continued. "If you knew there were media outlets going to break the news and you were concerned about Ryan finding out by looking at his phone during the show, then why didn't you just tell him before the show? That is **** bling and fumbling. That buffoonery electrified this story in a negative way even more."
Clark was arguably the most prominent personality laid off by ESPN this week, but it was the fact that he learned his fate during a commercial break on NFL Live that garnered the most headlines. ESPN learned Outkick was set to report the news on Clark's looming layoff while he was on NFL Live Monday afternoon. Not wanting to risk Clark's phone blowing up with news of the layoff while he was on-camera, ESPN decided to let him go during a commercial break.
#espn #live #break
Cohn mutually agreed to part ways with ESPN last month after a tenure that lasted more than three decades. And as the longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor in ESPN history, Cohn received a proper sendoff that was both deserved and earned. Three weeks later, however, ESPN reminded everyone how coldblooded the industry is when they executed their latest round of layoffs. And while everyone understands layoffs are part of the business, ESPN has been condemned for the manner in which they handled those cuts.
"The ESPN layoffs were awful. You hate to see anybody lose their job," Cohn said on her recently launched YouTube show. "It's all bad. When you're laid off, when you're fired, when your salary is cut, when you have to think, 'what do I do now?' Well, the ESPN layoffs, that was awful. What made it even worse, if that could be possible, was the way ESPN PR handled it, or mishandled it, because they treated everyone on this latest firing list with zero respect. Zero. Beginning with Ryan Clark."
"That whole PR nightmare could have been avoided if Ryan Clark was alerted, how about the night before? And how about before he took the set for NFL Live?" Cohn continued. "If you knew there were media outlets going to break the news and you were concerned about Ryan finding out by looking at his phone during the show, then why didn't you just tell him before the show? That is **** bling and fumbling. That buffoonery electrified this story in a negative way even more."
Clark was arguably the most prominent personality laid off by ESPN this week, but it was the fact that he learned his fate during a commercial break on NFL Live that garnered the most headlines. ESPN learned Outkick was set to report the news on Clark's looming layoff while he was on NFL Live Monday afternoon. Not wanting to risk Clark's phone blowing up with news of the layoff while he was on-camera, ESPN decided to let him go during a commercial break.
#espn #live #break
4 days ago
Montaka Global Investments, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the update is available to download here. Montaka manages a concentrated portfolio of high–conviction, long-term, competitively advantaged businesses bought when prices are attractive. While it delivered positive returns in the June quarter, its 12-month performance was largely negative due to declines in the March quarter amid the 'SaaSpocalypse', yet the underlying businesses performed well. Montaka's strategy focuses on owning businesses that grow earnings in large markets, which struggled against short-term bottleneck trades that gained popularity. However, Montaka aims for long-term excess returns above market indices, anticipating that current mispricing will eventually correct. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 22, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $531.98 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $470.05 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 8.81%, while its shares lost 5.59% over the past 52 weeks.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"On the other side of the market are some of the world's highest quality businesses which have been overlooked during the semiconductor–mania.
Take Visa and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), for example. Both are extraordinarily advantaged businesses and have consistently grown annual revenues at double–digit percentage rates for many years. And in our view, strong growth will likely continue – driven by new value–added services attached to their payment networks (related to stablecoins, agentic commerce, fraud detection, and other data services) which are growing at even faster rates.
#incorporated #businesses #Investments #quarter
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 22, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $531.98 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $470.05 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 8.81%, while its shares lost 5.59% over the past 52 weeks.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"On the other side of the market are some of the world's highest quality businesses which have been overlooked during the semiconductor–mania.
Take Visa and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), for example. Both are extraordinarily advantaged businesses and have consistently grown annual revenues at double–digit percentage rates for many years. And in our view, strong growth will likely continue – driven by new value–added services attached to their payment networks (related to stablecoins, agentic commerce, fraud detection, and other data services) which are growing at even faster rates.
#incorporated #businesses #Investments #quarter
4 days ago
Montaka Global Investments, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the update is available to download here. Montaka manages a concentrated portfolio of high–conviction, long-term, competitively advantaged businesses bought when prices are attractive. While it delivered positive returns in the June quarter, its 12-month performance was largely negative due to declines in the March quarter amid the 'SaaSpocalypse', yet the underlying businesses performed well. Montaka's strategy focuses on owning businesses that grow earnings in large markets, which struggled against short-term bottleneck trades that gained popularity. However, Montaka aims for long-term excess returns above market indices, anticipating that current mispricing will eventually correct. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM). Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a cloud computing company that offers Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together. On July 22, 2026, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) closed at $163.00 per share. One-month return of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) was 3.52%, and its shares lost 41.92% over the past 52 weeks. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) has a market capitalization of $133.5 billion.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The It's Not About the SaaS: Why the market is wrong about Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM): Since the start of the recent SaaS selloff – which we explored in detail in Montaka's recent whitepaper – Salesforce's share price has halved. The market is now pricing in something like obsolescence for the world's dominant customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
This, in our view, represents a significant investment opportunity. The market's concern is two-fold. First, that AI makes software trivially cheap and easy to build – rendering vendors like Salesforce redundant. Second, that agents don't need software interfaces at all – they can interact directly with data and systems, making seat-based licences obsolete.
#montaka
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM). Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a cloud computing company that offers Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together. On July 22, 2026, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) closed at $163.00 per share. One-month return of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) was 3.52%, and its shares lost 41.92% over the past 52 weeks. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) has a market capitalization of $133.5 billion.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The It's Not About the SaaS: Why the market is wrong about Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM): Since the start of the recent SaaS selloff – which we explored in detail in Montaka's recent whitepaper – Salesforce's share price has halved. The market is now pricing in something like obsolescence for the world's dominant customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
This, in our view, represents a significant investment opportunity. The market's concern is two-fold. First, that AI makes software trivially cheap and easy to build – rendering vendors like Salesforce redundant. Second, that agents don't need software interfaces at all – they can interact directly with data and systems, making seat-based licences obsolete.
#montaka
4 days ago
Montaka Global Investments, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the update is available to download here. Montaka manages a concentrated portfolio of high–conviction, long-term, competitively advantaged businesses bought when prices are attractive. While it delivered positive returns in the June quarter, its 12-month performance was largely negative due to declines in the March quarter amid the 'SaaSpocalypse', yet the underlying businesses performed well. Montaka's strategy focuses on owning businesses that grow earnings in large markets, which struggled against short-term bottleneck trades that gained popularity. However, Montaka aims for long-term excess returns above market indices, anticipating that current mispricing will eventually correct. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Visa Inc. (NYSE:V). Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a multinational financial services company known for its payment technology network that offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products and other services. On July 22, 2026, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) closed at $353.42 per share. One-month return of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) was 5.95%, and its shares lost 1.07% over the past 52 weeks. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) has a market capitalization of $665.89 billion.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"On the other side of the market are some of the world's highest quality businesses which have been overlooked during the semiconductor–mania.
Take Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard, for example. Both are extraordinarily advantaged businesses and have consistently grown annual revenues at double–digit percentage rates for many years. And in our view, strong growth will likely continue – driven by new value–added services attached to their payment networks (related to stablecoins, agentic commerce, fraud detection, and other data services) which are growing at even faster rates.
#NYSE #Services #quarter #investor
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Montaka Global Investments highlighted Visa Inc. (NYSE:V). Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a multinational financial services company known for its payment technology network that offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products and other services. On July 22, 2026, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) closed at $353.42 per share. One-month return of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) was 5.95%, and its shares lost 1.07% over the past 52 weeks. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) has a market capitalization of $665.89 billion.
Montaka Global Investments stated the following regarding Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"On the other side of the market are some of the world's highest quality businesses which have been overlooked during the semiconductor–mania.
Take Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard, for example. Both are extraordinarily advantaged businesses and have consistently grown annual revenues at double–digit percentage rates for many years. And in our view, strong growth will likely continue – driven by new value–added services attached to their payment networks (related to stablecoins, agentic commerce, fraud detection, and other data services) which are growing at even faster rates.
#NYSE #Services #quarter #investor
4 days ago
Three big earnings reports came out this week. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) reported Wednesday after the market closed, and International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) shared its official results the same day. All three show the same thing: spending money on AI is starting to hurt profits. However, each company's story is different enough that treating them as one big story would miss what's actually going on. So let's dig into it:
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) made more money than expected. Revenue came in at $119.8 billion compared to the $116.9 billion ***** ysts expected, growing 24% from last year. Its cloud business also had its best quarter ever. Cloud revenue jumped 82% to $24.77 billion, way above the $22.46 billion ***** ysts predicted, and the amount of future cloud business it has lined up hit $514 billion, up from about $460 billion. Even so, the stock fell about 4% after hours. Why? Because Alphabet said it will spend even more money in 2026 than planned, between $195 billion and $205 billion instead of the earlier $180-190 billion range and well above the roughly $186 billion Wall Street expected. The firm's leftover cash after paying for everything actually went negative, by $5.9 billion, for the first time in at least 10 years. That happened because Alphabet spent $44.9 billion in just this one quarter, double what it spent a year ago. Alphabet's finance chief, Anat Ashkenazi, told ***** ysts the tech firm still doesn't have enough computing power to meet demand. Google is even renting extra computing capacity from ***** eX to keep up while it builds more of its own.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) had a similar problem, just in a different business. Revenue beat expectations, coming in at $28.24 billion versus $25.71 billion expected, up 26% from last year. Tesla also delivered more cars than expected. But profit missed, and adjusted earnings were 33 cents per share, well below the 51 cents ***** ysts expected. The profit margin on each car sold also shrank to about 16.3% instead of the roughly 18% expected. And Tesla's leftover cash went negative too, by $1.1 billion, for the first time in over two years. That's because Tesla spent 142% more money than usual, $5.8 billion, mostly on things like Optimus robots, its Cybercab robotaxi, and AI computing power, not on making more cars. Elon Musk called it "a massive capex year" and said he believes these investments will pay off. But right now, it's the car business paying for all of it, and the car business is making less money per vehicle than before.
#expected #alphabet #money
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) made more money than expected. Revenue came in at $119.8 billion compared to the $116.9 billion ***** ysts expected, growing 24% from last year. Its cloud business also had its best quarter ever. Cloud revenue jumped 82% to $24.77 billion, way above the $22.46 billion ***** ysts predicted, and the amount of future cloud business it has lined up hit $514 billion, up from about $460 billion. Even so, the stock fell about 4% after hours. Why? Because Alphabet said it will spend even more money in 2026 than planned, between $195 billion and $205 billion instead of the earlier $180-190 billion range and well above the roughly $186 billion Wall Street expected. The firm's leftover cash after paying for everything actually went negative, by $5.9 billion, for the first time in at least 10 years. That happened because Alphabet spent $44.9 billion in just this one quarter, double what it spent a year ago. Alphabet's finance chief, Anat Ashkenazi, told ***** ysts the tech firm still doesn't have enough computing power to meet demand. Google is even renting extra computing capacity from ***** eX to keep up while it builds more of its own.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) had a similar problem, just in a different business. Revenue beat expectations, coming in at $28.24 billion versus $25.71 billion expected, up 26% from last year. Tesla also delivered more cars than expected. But profit missed, and adjusted earnings were 33 cents per share, well below the 51 cents ***** ysts expected. The profit margin on each car sold also shrank to about 16.3% instead of the roughly 18% expected. And Tesla's leftover cash went negative too, by $1.1 billion, for the first time in over two years. That's because Tesla spent 142% more money than usual, $5.8 billion, mostly on things like Optimus robots, its Cybercab robotaxi, and AI computing power, not on making more cars. Elon Musk called it "a massive capex year" and said he believes these investments will pay off. But right now, it's the car business paying for all of it, and the car business is making less money per vehicle than before.
#expected #alphabet #money
4 days ago
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares fell more than 5% in premarket trading on Thursday after the electric vehicle maker reported earnings below market expectations, with softer automotive margins and negative free cash flow overshadowing record vehicle deliveries and continued investment in artificial intelligence.
The results reinforced investor concerns about the company's ability to balance heavy spending on future technologies with near-term profitability.
Tesla reported capital expenditure of $5.8 billion during the second quarter as it continued investing heavily in autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence.
Chief Executive Elon Musk acknowledged the scale of the investment programme, telling investors, "This is a massive capex year," while adding that the spending is expected to eventually "yield incredible returns."
The company generated negative free cash flow of $1.1 billion during the quarter, its first negative reading in two years, reflecting the financial impact of its long-term growth strategy.
#cash #flow #investment #artificial
The results reinforced investor concerns about the company's ability to balance heavy spending on future technologies with near-term profitability.
Tesla reported capital expenditure of $5.8 billion during the second quarter as it continued investing heavily in autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence.
Chief Executive Elon Musk acknowledged the scale of the investment programme, telling investors, "This is a massive capex year," while adding that the spending is expected to eventually "yield incredible returns."
The company generated negative free cash flow of $1.1 billion during the quarter, its first negative reading in two years, reflecting the financial impact of its long-term growth strategy.
#cash #flow #investment #artificial
4 days ago
September S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESU26) are down -0.42%, and September Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQU26) are down -0.51% this morning as earnings from Alphabet and Tesla heightened concerns over the scale of AI spending, while rising oil prices drove bond yields higher.
Alphabet (GOOGL) fell nearly -4% in pre-market trading after the Google parent raised its full-year capital spending guidance to as much as $205 billion, overshadowing its stronger-than-expected Q2 results. Notably, Alphabet's quarterly cash flow turned negative for the first time since the company went public more than two decades ago, underscoring the magnitude of its capital spending. Also, Tesla (TSLA) slumped more than -5% in pre-market trading after the EV maker reported weaker-than-expected Q2 adjusted EPS, with a surge in spending leading to its first cash burn in two years.
Dear **** eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23
Walmart Stock's Extended Downturn Could Trigger a Possible Comeback
The Biggest Risk to **** eX Stock Comes After Earnings. Here Are The Numbers You Should Keep An Eye On.
#spending #alphabet
Alphabet (GOOGL) fell nearly -4% in pre-market trading after the Google parent raised its full-year capital spending guidance to as much as $205 billion, overshadowing its stronger-than-expected Q2 results. Notably, Alphabet's quarterly cash flow turned negative for the first time since the company went public more than two decades ago, underscoring the magnitude of its capital spending. Also, Tesla (TSLA) slumped more than -5% in pre-market trading after the EV maker reported weaker-than-expected Q2 adjusted EPS, with a surge in spending leading to its first cash burn in two years.
Dear **** eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23
Walmart Stock's Extended Downturn Could Trigger a Possible Comeback
The Biggest Risk to **** eX Stock Comes After Earnings. Here Are The Numbers You Should Keep An Eye On.
#spending #alphabet
4 days ago
S&P 500 member United Rentals (URI) soared on stronger-than-forecast Q2 results after Wednesday's close as Google (GOOGL) got a late-day haircut. The divergent reactions to earnings weren't entirely unrelated.
AI data center construction has helped supercharge earnings for URI, which provides a one-stop shop for large construction projects. Google's plan to keep boosting capital spending suggests the demand environment for heavy machinery will keep shining, even as it may slow the pay-off for AI hyperscalers.
URI stock looks set to clear an early entry buy point at Thursday's open. Google raised its capex outlook for the full year to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, up $15 billion at both ends. The company confirmed that it still expects CapEx to "increase significantly" in 2027.
Futures Fall As Google, Tesla Skid On Earnings
Results: URI posted second-quarter earnings of $12.76 per share, crushing the FactSet consensus forecast by $1.22 a share. Earnings growth accelerated to 21.9% from 9.6% in Q1 and negative growth throughout 2025. Revenue growth accelerated to 11.8% from 7.2%, as sales of $4.41 billion exceeded $4.21 billion estimates.
#capex #forecast #Share
AI data center construction has helped supercharge earnings for URI, which provides a one-stop shop for large construction projects. Google's plan to keep boosting capital spending suggests the demand environment for heavy machinery will keep shining, even as it may slow the pay-off for AI hyperscalers.
URI stock looks set to clear an early entry buy point at Thursday's open. Google raised its capex outlook for the full year to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, up $15 billion at both ends. The company confirmed that it still expects CapEx to "increase significantly" in 2027.
Futures Fall As Google, Tesla Skid On Earnings
Results: URI posted second-quarter earnings of $12.76 per share, crushing the FactSet consensus forecast by $1.22 a share. Earnings growth accelerated to 21.9% from 9.6% in Q1 and negative growth throughout 2025. Revenue growth accelerated to 11.8% from 7.2%, as sales of $4.41 billion exceeded $4.21 billion estimates.
#capex #forecast #Share
5 days ago
Fund managers now see gold (XAU) as the most undervalued **** et since March 2023, according to Bank of America's July survey. The reading arrives as the metal bounces 3.5% in two days from the $3,900-$4,000 support zone.
The last time the survey flipped this way, gold traded below $2,000 and then rallied to $5,598 in January. Whether history repeats may depend on the Federal Reserve and a possible US-Iran truce.
The July edition of the BofA Global Fund Manager Survey polled 181 institutional managers overseeing $484 billion in **** ets. A net 6% of them now call gold undervalued, the first negative overvaluation reading in more than three years.
The shift is dramatic. Through 2025 and early 2026, the same survey showed extreme readings, with a net 40% or more of managers calling gold overvalued near the January peak.
Sentiment has reset after a brutal repricing. Gold trades about 26% below its record, a drawdown that already pushed the metal into bear market territory earlier this month.
#Gold #survey #july
The last time the survey flipped this way, gold traded below $2,000 and then rallied to $5,598 in January. Whether history repeats may depend on the Federal Reserve and a possible US-Iran truce.
The July edition of the BofA Global Fund Manager Survey polled 181 institutional managers overseeing $484 billion in **** ets. A net 6% of them now call gold undervalued, the first negative overvaluation reading in more than three years.
The shift is dramatic. Through 2025 and early 2026, the same survey showed extreme readings, with a net 40% or more of managers calling gold overvalued near the January peak.
Sentiment has reset after a brutal repricing. Gold trades about 26% below its record, a drawdown that already pushed the metal into bear market territory earlier this month.
#Gold #survey #july
