Emerald Wealth Partners, an independent ******* et and wealth management firm based in Zurich, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Focused Equity Strategy." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Strategy reported a 0.8% gross return for the second quarter of 2026. Equity markets rallied after the first quarter's Iran shock faded and oil prices reversed their spike, but the advance remained narrow and concentrated in cyclical semiconductor and memory stocks benefiting from supply constraints. The letter warned that investors were treating peak-cycle earnings as durable, while FOMO, IPO demand, and a US cyclically adjusted P/E ratio near 40 pointed to late-cycle market behavior. Long-term fundamentals are currently undervalued by the market, leading to underperformance in the strategy, notably due to the portfolio's avoidance of low-quality momentum-driven semiconductor stocks, which boosted the benchmark this quarter. It remains focused on enterprise infrastructure, digital platforms, custom silicon, and networking businesses that hold customer relationships, workflow data, distribution, and efficiency advantages, which could allow them to monetize AI rather than be displaced by it. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for its key selections.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy highlighted Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL). Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) operates as an energy and petrochemical company. On August 4, 2026, Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) closed at $89.84 per share. One-month return of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) was 9.24% and its shares gained 24.36% over the past 52 weeks. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) has a market capitalization of $247.4 billion.
Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) was the largest detractor from quarterly performance, reducing returns by 59 bps. The stock fell 15.9% during Q2 as the ceasefire between the US and Iran pared back geopolitical risks and the Strait of Hormuz gradually reopened. This followed a strong first quarter, when Shell's shares rose 28% thanks to sharp oil and gas price rises. Following that move, Shell had become our largest position in the portfolio. We therefore sold approximately half our holding: the sharp appreciation had compressed the margin of safety and left the position larger than we were comfortable with."

#shell #strategy #letter

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB), headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates as an energy infrastructure company focused on connecting North America's hydrocarbon resource plays to growing markets for natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and olefins. With a market cap of $87.4 billion, the company owns and operates midstream gathering and processing ****** ets, and interstate natural gas pipelines.
Shares of this natural gas giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. WMB has gained 18.7% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.2%. However, in 2026, WMB stock is up 19%, surpassing the SPX's 13% rise on a YTD basis.
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#operates #williams #tulsa

MGM Resorts International (MGM), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, owns and operates casino, hotel, and entertainment resorts. Valued at $11.2 billion by market cap, the company offers accommodation, dining, meeting, convention, and hospitality management services for casino and non-casino properties.
Shares of this global hospitality and entertainment giant have outperformed the broader market over the past year. MGM has gained 28.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.2%. In 2026, MGM stock is up 25.3%, surpassing the SPX's 13% rise on a YTD basis.
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#entertainment #international #vegas #nevada

Midstream stocks, or shares in companies that own energy **** ets like oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, are an unglamorous yet highly profitable niche within the energy sector. Operating as a "toll road" type business, generating fixed fees largely unaffected by volatile fossil fuel prices, these companies can quietly mint profit during boom times and bust times in the oil sector.
This can create fantastic compounding potential for investors more concerned with capital growth. This holds especially true for owners of the following three pipeline stocks: Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), and MPLX (NYSE: MPLX).
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Enbridge is a diversified energy and utility infrastructure company. In addition to owning over 18,000 miles of pipeline across the U.S. and Canada, Enbridge operates a gas utilities company serving over 7 million customers. The company has also invested extensively in renewable energy infrastructure.
Diversification notwithstanding, it's Enbridge's midstream **** ets that make it a steady cash generator, enabling it to consistently raise its dividend over time. While the company's dividend growth streak currently stands at just three years, its quarterly payouts have grown by an average of 7.3% annually over the past decade.

#energy #NYSE #NVIDIA #company

CMG sits 30% below its 52-week high while management bought back $631 million in shares at an average $32.55, near current prices.
CMG trails the S&P 500, down 19% over the past year, yet 34 ******* ysts target $44 implying 27% upside as transaction growth turns positive.
Act now: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Chipotle Mexican Grill didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
After two years of whipsaw share price action, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) shows evidence that its transaction slump is reversing. Furthermore, the current entry point near $35.13 trades well below where management is aggressively repurchasing stock.
The fast-casual leader operates over 4,200 restaurants across North America and international partner markets, generating $12.4 billion in trailing revenue. The stock repriced from a growth darling to a value name after FY25 became a full year of negative comparable sales. Shares now trade roughly 30% below the 52-week high, and the question is whether the operational turn has staying power.

#chipotle #week #high #near

With a market cap of $1.1 trillion, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) is a diversified holding company with operations spanning insurance and reinsurance, freight rail transportation, utilities, and energy. It also operates businesses across manufacturing, services, and retailing, giving the company a broad and diversified business portfolio.
The Omaha, Nebraska-based company's shares have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. BRK.B stock has risen 11.3% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 23.4%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 2.8% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 13.5% gain.
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#company #Stock #market #broader

Zillow Group (Z) is a leading real estate technology company reimagining how people buy, sell, rent, and finance homes across the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Zillow operates the most visited real estate app and website in the country, connecting hundreds of millions of consumers with trusted local agents, loan officers, and innovative digital tools.
The company has built a diversified real estate marketplace spanning residential listings, rentals, mortgages, and agent software solutions like Zillow Showcase and Zillow Pro. Its portfolio also includes legacy brands such as Trulia, StreetEasy, and HotPads, reinforcing its dominant position in online real estate.
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#united

Valued at a market cap of $27.3 billion, Regions Financial Corporation (RF) is one of the world's largest financial services firms. The New York-based company operates globally through Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Bank, and ***** et & Wealth Management segments, offering a full suite of banking, payments, lending, and investment solutions.
Shares of the Birmingham, Alabama-based company have outpaced the broader market over the past 52 weeks. RF stock has increased 27.1% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 23.6%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 18% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 13.7% gain.
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#banking #based

Diamond Hill Capital, a First Eagle Investment Management company, issued its Q2 2026 investor letter for its "Mid Cap Strategy". A copy of the Q2 2026 investor letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, equity markets posted strong returns as resilient economic growth and robust corporate earnings supported investor sentiment, although AI-related companies continued to dominate market leadership. Technology was the strongest-performing sector, while industrials also advanced and energy lagged as oil prices declined. The Fund returned 7.92% and the Russell Midcap Index returned 13.83%. Health care holdings were the largest positive contributor, supported by strength across managed care, diagnostics, and life sciences. However, stock selection and an underweight position in information technology remained the main relative headwinds. The strategy maintained limited exposure to highly valued semiconductor and memory companies, reflecting concerns that current valuations ******* ume an extended period of elevated AI spending. It also continued to ******* s software and services businesses individually based on how AI may affect their long-term competitive positions. Management emphasized higher-quality companies, attractive valuations, capital preservation, and durable long-term compounding while remaining cautious about elevated valuations, concentrated leadership, and the sustainability of the current AI investment cycle. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for its key selections.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Diamond Hill Capital Mid Cap Strategy highlighted Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX), a company specializing in data, ******* ytics, and technology through its Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International divisions. During the quarter, the strategy added Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) to its portfolio. On August 04, 2026, Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) closed at $177.12 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $20.81 billion. Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) posted a one-month return of 6.00%, while its shares lost 26.38% over the past 52 weeks.
Diamond Hill Capital Mid Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX), a provider of mortgage, employment and other data, manages proprietary datasets that are costly and difficult to replicate. Given that its data is critical to customers' workflows yet represents a small portion of their overall costs and it operates in a consolidated industry, the company has historically benefited from strong pricing power and consistent growth."

#capital #diamond #letter

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) operates as the bank holding company for Fifth Third Bank, National ****** ociation, which provides a range of financial products and services in the United States. Valued at a market cap of $52.4 billion, the company operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, Consumer and Small Business Banking, and Wealth and ****** et Management.
FITB stock has rallied the broader market over the past year, surging 40.7% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 22.2% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has grown by nearly 24.3%, outperforming the SPX's 13% rise.
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#Stock #fitb #bank #billion

Emerald Wealth Partners, an independent ***** et and wealth management firm based in Zurich, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Focused Equity Strategy." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Strategy reported a 0.8% gross return for the second quarter of 2026. Equity markets rallied after the first quarter's Iran shock faded and oil prices reversed their spike, but the advance remained narrow and concentrated in cyclical semiconductor and memory stocks benefiting from supply constraints. The letter warned that investors were treating peak-cycle earnings as durable, while FOMO, IPO demand, and a US cyclically adjusted P/E ratio near 40 pointed to late-cycle market behavior. Long-term fundamentals are currently undervalued by the market, leading to underperformance in the strategy, notably due to the portfolio's avoidance of low-quality momentum-driven semiconductor stocks, which boosted the benchmark this quarter. It remains focused on enterprise infrastructure, digital platforms, custom silicon, and networking businesses that hold customer relationships, workflow data, distribution, and efficiency advantages, which could allow them to monetize AI rather than be displaced by it. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for its key selections.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy highlighted Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL). Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) operates as an energy and petrochemical company. On August 4, 2026, Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) closed at $89.84 per share. One-month return of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) was 9.24% and its shares gained 24.36% over the past 52 weeks. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) has a market capitalization of $247.4 billion.
Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) was the largest detractor from quarterly performance, reducing returns by 59 bps. The stock fell 15.9% during Q2 as the ceasefire between the US and Iran pared back geopolitical risks and the Strait of Hormuz gradually reopened. This followed a strong first quarter, when Shell's shares rose 28% thanks to sharp oil and gas price rises. Following that move, Shell had become our largest position in the portfolio. We therefore sold approximately half our holding: the sharp appreciation had compressed the margin of safety and left the position larger than we were comfortable with."

#partners

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB), headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates as an energy infrastructure company focused on connecting North America's hydrocarbon resource plays to growing markets for natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and olefins. With a market cap of $87.4 billion, the company owns and operates midstream gathering and processing **** ets, and interstate natural gas pipelines.
Shares of this natural gas giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. WMB has gained 18.7% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.2%. However, in 2026, WMB stock is up 19%, surpassing the SPX's 13% rise on a YTD basis.
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#broader

Anthropic has signed a $10 billion, six-year deal for computing capacity with Volta Infra Holdings, a cloud infrastructure startup backed by Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA, XETRA:NVD), according to media reports citing people familiar with the matter, as the Claude maker moves to secure additional computing resources amid growing demand for its AI products.
Volta announced earlier Tuesday that it had secured a six-year, $10 billion agreement with an unnamed artificial intelligence company. The deal will be delivered in partnership with Bitdeer Technologies Group, a bitcoin miner that operates data centers, using a site in Norway.
The managed data center is expected to feature Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin AI chips, according to details of the agreement. Volta was recently valued at $2.4 billion following a $300 million funding round.
Volta CEO Ricard Boada declined to identify the customer. Representatives for Anthropic and Bitdeer declined to comment.
The agreement adds to Anthropic's efforts to expand its computing capacity as businesses and consumers increasingly use its Claude chatbot and other AI tools, particularly for coding and related tasks.

#claude

Hotchkis & Wiley, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value Fund." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Equity markets posted strong returns in the second quarter of 2026, with the Russell Midcap Index rising 13.8% and the Russell Midcap Value Index returning 13.4%, despite concerns about inflation, a hawkish Federal Reserve, and rising oil prices due to the Iran conflict. Narrow market leadership was evident, particularly semiconductor stocks and other stocks in the AI sector, which saw returns exceeding 100%. The Firm favors quality businesses with attractive valuations, believing that fears regarding AI's impact are overstated. The Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value Fund lagged the Russell Midcap Value Index, achieving a 4.74% return in the second quarter, primarily due to underperformance in technology and energy sectors, while stock selection in healthcare contributed positively. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value Fund highlighted Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN). Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN), a leading manufacturer and distributor of chemical products that operates through Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls, Epoxy, and Winchester segments, detracted from the fund's performance during the quarter. On August 3, 2026, Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) closed at $18.62 per share. The one-month return for Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) was -10.22%, and its shares lost 2.05% over the past 52 weeks. Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) has a market capitalization of $2.12 billion.
Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) is one of the largest global producers of chlor alkali chemicals and chlorine derivatives, and also owns the Winchester ammunition brand. It is significantly underearning today due to below-normal commodity prices and demand, but a tightening five-plus year supply/demand outlook in North American chlor-alkali could drive a pricing and volume recovery— and as the swing producer in the region, Olin could capture more than its share of that improvement, with shareholder-friendly capital allocation and an investment-grade balance sheet commitment reinforcing the case. The stock's decline reflects an easing of tensions in the Middle East which will lead to a near term loosening of supply/demand dynamics in commodity chemicals. Olin also announced a merger of equals with Huntsman that we believe is strategically sound and will help reduce risk over the intermediate term due to synergy capture and deleveraging."

#value #russell

With a market cap of $333.2 billion, Morgan Stanley (MS) is a global financial holding company that provides a wide range of financial products and services to governments, institutions, and individuals worldwide. The firm operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments, offering services such as capital raising, financial advisory, brokerage, lending, ***** et management, and research.
Shares of the New York-based company have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. MS stock has surged 51.7% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 21.2%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 20.8% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 12% gain.
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#company #management #shares #stanley

DoorDash, Inc. (DASH), headquartered in San Francisco, California, operates a commerce platform that connects merchants, consumers, and independent contractors. Valued at $87.4 billion by market cap, the company develops technology to connect customers with merchants through an on-demand food delivery application.
Shares of this food delivery giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. DASH has declined 19.3% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 21.8%. In 2026, DASH stock is down 11.5%, compared to the SPX's 11% gains on a YTD basis.
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#company

The Kroger Co. (KR), headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates supermarkets, multi-department stores, and fulfillment centers. Valued at $35.7 billion by market cap, the company offers meat, seafood, bakery, dairy, frozen, cleaning, kitchen, beverages, health, electronics, toys, vegetables, fruits, beauty, and household products.
Shares of this supermarket chain have underperformed the broader market over the past year. KR has declined 18.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 21.8%. In 2026, KR stock is down 6.8%, compared to the SPX's 11% rise on a YTD basis.
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#market #cincinnati #valued #index

Westlake, Texas-based The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, **** et management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company has a market cap of $184.1 billion and operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments.
SCHW stock has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, growing 8.8% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 21.8% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen by nearly 5.7%, underperforming the SPX's 11% gain.
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#Services #company #Stock

Arlington, Virginia-based The Boeing Company (BA) designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human **** e flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company has a market cap of $184.5 billion and operates through three segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, **** e & Security; and Global Services.
BA stock has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, surging 6.4% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 21.8% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has grown by nearly 8.9%, underperforming the SPX's 11% rise.
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#commercial #boeing

With a market cap of $99.2 billion, U.S. Bancorp (USB) delivers a wide range of banking, lending, payment, investment, and trust services to individuals, businesses, institutions, and government entities. It operates across multiple segments, including consumer and business banking, wealth management, payment services, and corporate and institutional banking.
Shares of the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company have outpaced the broader market over the past 52 weeks. USB stock has increased 43.5% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 21.8%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 19.4% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 11% gain.
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#banking #minneapolis

New York-based Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. The company has a market cap of $71.9 billion and operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition, and offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, and other products.
CL shares have lagged behind the broader market over the past year, surging 7.6% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 21.8% surge. However, in 2026, the stock has grown by nearly 13.7%, outperforming the SPX's 11% rise.
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#products #market

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) said on August 3 that a North Korea-linked adversary injected a malicious dependency into at least 131 Mastra AI framework packages on npm (Node Package Manager). Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) owns GitHub, which acquired npm in 2020 and operates the registry at the center of the attack chain.
This was a developer-supply-chain breach with unusually efficient distribution. Stolen maintainer credentials let the attacker publish poisoned Mastra versions tagged as the latest releases. The malicious easy-day-js dependency then ran during installation, exposing developer machines and build pipelines to credential theft and remote code execution. CrowdStrike found that 87% of identified software-registry threats in the first half of 2026 involved npm packages.
Image by Tawanda Razika from Pixabay
Microsoft's role cuts both ways. GitHub controls the registry infrastructure, and its advisory database powers npm audit, so repeated account takeovers increase the burden to harden publishing and dependency scanning. Yet Microsoft's own June 17 investigation identified more than 140 affected Mastra packages and detailed detections across Defender Antivirus, Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR. The same incident that creates reputational risk for npm also gives Microsoft another reason to sell integrated security.
The more direct demand read-through belongs to CrowdStrike. Its fiscal Q1 2027 revenue grew 26% to $1.39 billion, while annual recurring revenue rose 24% to $5.51 billion. Hedge-fund ownership also increased to 79 portfolios at the end of Q1 2026 from 67 in Q4 2025, according to Insider Monkey's database. The valuation is the restraint: a roughly $190 billion market value equals about 32 times CrowdStrike's $5.91 billion to $5.96 billion fiscal-year revenue guidance. The business must sustain growth near the mid-20% range for that multiple to remain comfortable.

#NASDAQ

With a market cap of $30.7 billion, Centene Corporation (CNC) is a leading U.S. healthcare enterprise focused on providing government-sponsored and privately insured health plans. The Missouri-based company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments, offering a wide range of services including health insurance, specialty care, pharmacy services, and behavioral health support.
Centene has emerged as one of the healthcare sector's standout performers, surging 146.1% over the past year, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 21.8%. The rally has shown no signs of slowing, with the stock up 55% year to date, versus the benchmark's 11% advance.
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#Health #centene #company #medicaid

The modern American right-wing movement is transactional by its nature.
Look no further than the man it has propped up as its beacon of values and character: Donald Trump. The absolute king of seeing everything in life as a transaction. If you can't do something for him, he has no time for you. His presumption that everyone in the world operates that way has always been a self-reflection.
The movement, and its media arm, work in much the same way. That's true of the topics it covers as well as its own people. Pundits go from being the face of a network to persona non grata in the blink of an eye.
Truth, nuance, and humanity are useless concepts. Everyone is a widget on an **** embly line of messaging. No one exists outside that transactional lens, and once you're no longer of any use to them, you're not only out, but you become their next target.
For a perfect example, look no further than Caitlin Clark.

#everyone #transactional #american #Trump

"I ***** love Foucault. I ***** with Foucault hard," enthused Supriya Ganesh, star of The Pitt, in a recent interview with New York magazine. Ganesh, who uses she/they ***** ouns, never felt comfortable with rigid gender and ***** uality labels, and Foucault's The History of ***** uality, Volume I showed her how these categories have in fact varied across cultures and through history: "I think this idea of defining ***** uality is very new—or at least that's the argument he's making … it really illuminated a lot of that for me."
Ganesh was unwittingly providing fresh evidence for the central argument of The Frenchmen: Or, My Life in Theory, which proposes that a small group of dead twentieth-century intellectuals are "crucial for understanding the world we inhabit today." Written by Emily Eakin, a senior editor at The New York Times Book Review, The Frenchmen focuses on eight French or French-speaking theorists (Louis Althusser, Roland Barthes, Gilles Deleuze, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Félix Guattari, Jacques Lacan, and Paul de Man) who, she argues, "permanently alter[ed] how we think not only about bedrock philosophical ideas but about the role of language in shaping those beliefs and everything else."
Eakin's Frenchmen are an eclectic group, differing in interests, politics, and methods. Two were practicing psychoanalysts. Most were academics, working in fields including philosophy, linguistics, semiotics, anthropology, history, and comparative literature. They wrote on topics as varied as schizophrenia, prison architecture, photography, Edgar Allan Poe, and (in Barthes's case) their mom. What unites them, according to Eakin, is their emphasis on systems, as opposed to individuals, and their attention to the complex and contradictory ways that language operates. Instead of taking for granted (as the existentialists did) that people are autonomous free agents defined by their choices, they wrote about the ways people and texts are created and constrained by powerful yet unstable structures of knowledge and language—an idea that resonates in our era of inescapable algorithms and artificial intelligence. ("Chatbots frighten us," Eakin writes, "to the degree that they make literal theory's suggestion that thought does not require a human thinker.")
"Deconstruction," an ***** ytical method developed by Derrida, came to define French theory and is at the heart of Eakin's book. She defines it as "a style of reading" that "took apart" a text and left it in pieces, showing how it was undone by its own internal contradictions. A common deconstructive move is to show how the binary terms that a text's argument depends on—for example, speech versus writing—are not actually opposed after all. In classic Derridean fashion, Eakin structures her book around an oft-repeated binary between "theory" and "real life" that she sees as ripe for deconstructing, contrasting the Frenchmen's "stringent antihumanism" with their all-too-human lives; academic t

Should you prioritize a global travel ****** an or a fast-growing restaurant disruptor? Deciding between Booking (NASDAQ:BKNG) and CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA) requires weighing mature cash flows against aggressive retail expansion.
Booking is a leader in the digital travel ****** e, providing a massive platform for hotels and flights. CAVA is a rising star in the fast-casual dining world, often compared to early-stage winners in the restaurant industry. Both companies are vying for consumer dollars, but they offer very different risk-and-reward profiles for investors today.
Booking operates a massive network of travel brands, including its namesake site, Priceline, and Agoda. The company connects travelers to roughly 4.5 million properties across more than 220 countries and territories. A key recent strategy involves a partnership with The Trade Desk to monetize its deep pool of traveler data through targeted advertising.
Financial performance remains robust in the travel and tourism stocks sector. In 2025, revenue reached nearly $26.9 billion, representing a 13.4% increase over the previous year. The company reported net income of nearly $5.4 billion, resulting in a healthy net margin of approximately 20%.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is roughly -3.5x, which means total liabilities exceed total ****** ets. The current ratio, which measures the ability to pay short-term debts with current ****** ets, is approximately 1.3x. Free cash flow, or the cash left after capital expenditures, was approximately $9.1 billion in 2025.

#billion #approximately

Fundsmith, an investment management firm based in London, has released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Fundsmith Equity Fund." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund returned -2.9% in the first half of 2026, underperforming the MSCI World Index by 14.1 percentage points, driven by challenges from a momentum-driven market dominated by passive index funds and AI-related exuberance. The letter discusses the rise of passive investing, noting that index funds now resemble active funds, concentrating heavily in a few sectors and stocks. Due to increased market volatility and a 51% portfolio turnover in the first half of the year, the firm plans to adopt a more active approach, incorporating momentum while maintaining its core mantra: buy good companies, don't overpay, and do little. In addition, please check the Firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Fundsmith Equity Fund highlighted Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) as a newly added position. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is a multinational technology company that offers ridesharing, food delivery, freight, and other services. On July 31, 2026, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) closed at $70.36 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $143.22 billion. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) posted a one-month return of -2.84%, while its shares lost 20.43% over the past 52 weeks.
Fundsmith Equity Fund stated the following regarding Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) – Uber operates a platform that connects users with ride-hailing and food-delivery drivers. It relies on a two-sided network effect: more drivers mean shorter wait times, which attracts more riders, making the platform highly sticky and difficult for local competitors to disrupt. Now that most of these challengers (Karhoo, Sidecar, Juno, Fasten, Hailo, etc.) have disappeared and Uber has survived, the network effects become very attractive. This is shown in the company's cash from operations, which went from -$4.3bn in 2019 to -$445m in 2021 (last year of negative) to $3.6bn in 2023 and over $10bn in 2025. Uber's logistics network is massive, coordinating roughly 42m trips and delivery orders every single day globally. Future growth opportunities include expanding into grocery and package delivery and eventually integrating autonomous (self-driving) vehicles ('AVs') into their fleet to drastically lower costs. Some see AVs as a threat to Uber, but we think it is more likely that Tesla, Waymo, etc., will use Uber's distribution and global licenses to reach customers and maximise their ****** et usage rather than having to get licenses, build an app, and get tens of millions of people to download. ROIC: mid 20s, FCF yield: 7.4%."

#technologies

Fundsmith, an investment management firm based in London, has released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Fundsmith Equity Fund." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund returned -2.9% in the first half of 2026, underperforming the MSCI World Index by 14.1 percentage points, driven by challenges from a momentum-driven market dominated by passive index funds and AI-related exuberance. The letter discusses the rise of passive investing, noting that index funds now resemble active funds, concentrating heavily in a few sectors and stocks. Due to increased market volatility and a 51% portfolio turnover in the first half of the year, the firm plans to adopt a more active approach, incorporating momentum while maintaining its core mantra: buy good companies, don't overpay, and do little. In addition, please check the Firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Fundsmith Equity Fund highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) as a newly added position. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company that provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 31, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $573.10 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $502.04 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 7.50%, while its shares gained 0.58% over the past 52 weeks.
Fundsmith Equity Fund stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) – Mastercard operates a digital payment network connecting consumers, merchants, and banks worldwide. It benefits from a classic network effect: the more consumers use the card, the more merchants are forced to accept it, making it difficult for a new entrant to replicate. A new entrant would need to negotiate agreements and integrate its technology with the majority of global financial institutions. While digital payments feel ubiquitous in developed nations, roughly 1.4bn adults globally remain entirely unbanked. Future growth depends on bringing this unbanked population into the financial system, shifting remaining cash transactions to digital payments, and expanding into business-to business payments, a far bigger market than C2C or C2B payments. We now own both Visa and Mastercard in the portfolio as payments is one of the few sectors that we expect to grow no matter what happens with AI, and Mastercard and Visa are equally good businesses. This gives us a way to achieve >6% exposure to payments without excessive stock-specific risk or breaching UCITS concentration rules. Also, with 46% of all global transactions still done in cash and B2B payments 85% of the value of total global payments, there is plenty of room for two companies to grow and compound. ROIC: >75%, FCF yield: 4.5%."

#payments #letter #Equity #global

Newsmax (NMAX) is a Boca Raton, Florida-headquartered multi-platform media and entertainment company founded in 1998 by CEO Chris Ruddy. The company operates through two segments: Broadcasting, which powers its flagship Newsmax TV cable news channel distributed to over 100 million U.S. homes and a growing OTT streaming platform; and Digital, encompassing its website, social media channels, Newsmax+ streaming service, and digital publishing properties.
With 30.4 million total quarterly viewers, 25.4 million social media followers (up 25% year-over-year), and rapidly expanding international licensing and affiliate fee revenues, Newsmax has positioned itself as the fastest-growing conservative news and media brand in the United States.
Cathie Wood Doubles Down on Tesla and ******* eX as Wall Street Turns Cautious
Why BlackRock Is Betting Big on Ondas Stock Now
Hoping for Lower Prices at the Gas Pump? After Exxon Doubles Profits, CEO Darren Woods Says 'I Wouldn't Hold My Breath.'

#doubles #digital

The recent AI stock meltdown was primarily driven by a margin unwind instead of weak fundamentals. More than 3% of South Korean adults received margin calls in July, with commonplace 500% margin loans getting wiped out. These investors focused heavily on AI stocks, especially SK Hynix and Samsung.
It then came out that Leopold Aschenbrenner's hedge fund, Situational Awareness LP, had to sell off all its holdings due to a margin call. His market-beating returns came down to picking the right AI stocks and using significant leverage. The recent correction cascaded into steep losses as Aschenbrenner looks to raise funds.
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 »
The fact that the margin unwind is a major catalyst should give AI stock investors a breath of relief. Fundamentals aren't the problem. In fact, they're getting better. As the margin unwind calms down, these three stocks look promising.
Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) operates the software backbone of the AI boom thanks to its cloud platform. This platform helps companies run applications, create AI agents, and enhance online security.

#flashing