ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) agreed to increase its Papua LNG interest from 28.7% to 34.1% and ***** ume operatorship, as disclosed on September 7. The proposed ownership percentages reflect Papua New Guinea's state participation rights.
Papua LNG targets a fourth-quarter 2026 final investment decision, or FID. Santos Limited (ASX:STO) disclosed FID as a closing condition for its own stake acquisition; the operatorship announcement did not specify an equivalent condition.
TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) said redesign and contractor rebidding had reduced estimated development spending by nearly $4 billion since 2024 to approximately $14 billion. The project would produce 5.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually. The question is whether that smaller budget can support attractive returns through construction and an uncertain LNG market.
ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) already operates neighboring PNG LNG. Combining operatorship could improve coordination during construction and operations, including the redesigned handling of upstream condensate. That gives the proposed efficiency gains a practical basis in existing infrastructure and local experience.
The cost reduction is substantial. Mechanically, nearly $4 billion off an approximately $18 billion previous estimate represents about 22%. For ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM), lower development spending would reduce the capital required to generate each future dollar of project cash flow, ***** uming production and operating economics hold.

#holdings #operatorship

Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) is seeking investors for a potential data center near its Loma de la Lata power plant in Patagonia. Investors favor a 20-to-40-MW pilot, with potential electricity demand reaching up to 500 MW after expansion. Electrical infrastructure for the full concept could cost almost $900 million, according to a September 7 Reuters report.
The Reuters report did not identify an anchor customer, committed financing, or a final investment decision. The electrical estimate does not establish the total development budget or the amount Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) would invest. Those distinctions matter when ****** sing the potential shareholder return.
Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) could turn proximity to generation and gas resources into a commercial advantage. Locating computing demand beside an energy complex offers a starting point for coordinating fuel supply, power delivery, and future expansion.
The attraction for shareholders would be dependable electricity sales under contracts that compensate Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) for the infrastructure and operating risks it ****** umes. A customer with strong credit and a long-term commitment could improve revenue visibility and support financing.
Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM) is quoting energy prices to interested parties and aims to reach initial agreements by the end of 2026, according to Reuters. That provides a near-term commercial milestone.

#Potential #electrical #power

Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) disclosed on September 6 that a wholly owned subsidiary had signed a conditional RMB1.5 billion cash commitment to Tianjin Lisi Xingshen Equity Investment Partnership. The agreement, dated September 4, requires shareholder approval, with payments funded internally through capital calls.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) expects to hold no more than 30% of the fund and will have no role in daily management or individual investment decisions. The blind-pool structure asks shareholders to approve a manager and strategy before specific investments are identified. The fund targets early-to-mid-stage private AI and technology companies with significant mainland China connections.
The strategic rationale fits the company's existing capabilities. Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) is developing AI search, expert-data solutions and AI-enabled content businesses. Exposure to foundation models, infrastructure, robotics and applications could create technology partnerships and help identify emerging customer needs.
A specialist fund also supplies investment research, deal sourcing and portfolio oversight that would require substantial internal resources to replicate. For shareholders, the potential benefit combines investment returns with commercial opportunities for the core content platform. Any cooperation would still require separate **** sment and agreement.
There is an operating business to build around. Second-quarter paid content and intellectual-property operations revenue increased to RMB425.9 million from RMB408.2 million. Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) also reduced total operating expenses by 13% to RMB469.4 million. These results support a focused approach in which outside technology complements established content and expert relationships.

#content #technology #million

Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) reported fiscal second-quarter net sales of $394.4 million, down 2.2%. Full-price direct-to-consumer sales declined 1%, while wholesale sales fell 14%, primarily reflecting lower off-price sales.
GAAP gross margin increased to 73.8% from 61.4% after Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) recognized approximately $42 million of tariff refund claims as a reduction of cost of goods sold. Company-defined non-GAAP adjusted gross margin, excluding tariff refunds and LIFO effects, still improved to 63.1% from 61.7%. Updated **** ortment, sourcing, and pricing strategies increased initial markups, while lower off-price wholesale sales improved the sales mix.
Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) lowered full-year sales guidance to $1.43 billion to $1.47 billion from $1.475 billion to $1.505 billion. Company-defined non-GAAP adjusted EPS guidance fell to $1.60 to $2.00 from $2.30 to $2.70, reducing the midpoint by 28%. Adjusted EPS excludes LIFO effects, tariff refunds and related interest, Johnny Was amortization, distribution-center relocation costs, merchandising initiatives, store-closure impairments and related taxes.
Underlying margin expansion suggests Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) improved product economics beyond the one-time refund. Company-defined non-GAAP adjusted operating income, which excludes LIFO effects, tariff refunds and related interest, Johnny Was amortization, and specified distribution-center, merchandising, and store-closure costs, increased to $29.3 million from $28.3 million. Adjusted operating margin rose to 7.4% from 7.0%.
Tommy Bahama remained the strongest major brand for Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM), with sales increasing 0.8% and adjusted gross margin rising to 63.6% from 60.7%. FIFO inventory fell $9 million, or 4%, from one year earlier, reducing markdown exposure.

#gaap

Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) reported that August less-than-truckload shipments per workday increased 1.1% year over year, while tonnage per workday rose 8.7% and weight per shipment increased 7.5%. For July and August combined, shipments per workday increased 1.0%, tonnage per workday rose 8.3%, and weight per shipment grew 7.2%.
The data show higher freight intensity, but most of the tonnage growth came from heavier shipments rather than strong shipment-count growth. The investment question is whether that mix can improve trailer utilization and spread terminal, driver, and line-haul costs across more freight without weakening yield or service.
Heavier shipments can support operating leverage when added weight fills available trailer capacity and moves through the network efficiently. The 218-terminal network of Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) may provide room to absorb incremental tonnage, although Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) did not disclose network utilization.
Second-quarter results offer evidence that higher volume can translate into improved economics. Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) increased tonnage per workday 8.4%, grew revenue 17.1%, and increased operating income 26%. The operating ratio improved to 86.9% from 87.8%, meaning operating expenses consumed a smaller share of revenue.
Pricing and shipment economics were mixed but constructive. Second-quarter revenue per shipment, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 1.5%. If heavier freight continues to raise revenue per shipment while fixed network costs grow more slowly, Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) could produce additional operating leverage.

#operating #revenue #shipments

XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) reported that preliminary August 2026 North American less-than-truckload, or LTL, tonnage per day increased 3.7% from a year earlier. Shipments per day rose 5.7%, while average weight per shipment declined 1.8%. Final July figures showed tonnage per day increasing 5.8%, shipments per day rising 5.9%, and weight per shipment slipping 0.2%.
The two months indicate stronger shipment activity, but August's wider gap between shipment and tonnage growth points to lighter freight. The investment question is whether XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) can convert additional shipments into better network density and fixed-cost absorption without allowing extra handling costs to dilute margins.
Higher shipment counts can improve the utilization of routes, service centers, dock doors, and equipment. XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) operates an ****** et-based North American LTL network that moves approximately 16 billion pounds of freight annually. More shipments moving through that infrastructure can spread terminal, technology, and equipment costs across a larger revenue base.
The second quarter provides evidence that XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) has recently translated volume and pricing growth into stronger economics. North American LTL revenue increased 15.2% to $1.43 billion. Fuel-surcharge revenue accounted for part of that increase, rising to $314 million from $183 million. Separately, yield excluding fuel increased 4.4%, shipments per day rose 2.8%, and tonnage per day increased 1.0%.
XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) reported a company-defined non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio of 79.9%, an improvement of 300 basis points. XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) calculates adjusted operating ratio as one minus adjusted operating income divided by segment revenue, using unrounded amounts. Adjusted operating income removes amortization and restructuring costs and adjusts for gains on real estate transactions. XPO, Inc. (NYSE:XPO) also reported a damage claims ratio below 0.2%.

#adjusted #north #operating

Horizon Technology Finance Corp., an affiliate of Monroe Capital, on September 10 said that the RoHo Capital Opportunity Fund LLC, a joint venture formed by Horizon and CR Financial Holdings, Inc., the holding company for Roth Capital Partners, LLC, has provided a $20-million senior credit facility to NeoVolta, Inc., with the ability to increase the facility to $30 million upon mutual agreement. An initial $20 million was funded at closing to support NeoVolta's continued growth.NeoVolta is an energy technology company focused on developing and manufacturing domestic battery energy storage systems (BESS). Together with its joint venture partner LONGi, NeoVolta is developing a 210,600-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pendergrass, Georgia, to produce BESS systems designed to meet U.S. domestic content and supply-chain requirements. The facility is expected to have an initial annual production capacity of up to 2 GWh, with the potential to scale to 8 GWh over time."Providing growth capital to innovative companies operating in attractive, high-growth markets is a core focus of RoHo's investment strategy," said Paul Seitz, chief investment officer of Horizon. "Formed by Horizon and Roth Capital, RoHo pairs Horizon's venture lending and structuring expertise with Roth's deep public markets relationships to deliver flexible growth capital to small- and micro-cap public companies. We are pleased to support NeoVolta's growth plans with a tailored financing solution and look forward to continuing to deploy capital through RoHo in support of innovative public companies pursuing significant market opportunities.""Horizon and Roth Capital bring valuable experience and a collaborative approach as we advance NeoVolta's domestic battery energy storage systems manufacturing platform," said Ardes Johnson, CEO of NeoVolta. "As we ramp our Georgia facility and pursue larger commercial and utility-scale opportunities, this relationship supports our ability to execute on our long-term growth strategy."Horizon Technology Finance Corp. is a specialty finance company that provides capital in the form of secured loans to venture capital and private equity-backed companies and publicly traded companies in the technology, life science, healthcare information and services, and sustainability industries. The investment objective of Horizon is to maximize its investment portfolio's return by generating current income from the debt investments it makes and capital appreciation from the warrants it receives when making such debt investments. Horizon is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, with a regional office in Pleasanton, California, and investment professionals located throughout the U.S.Monroe Capital is a premier ****** et management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, opportunistic, structured credit, real estate and equity.CR Financial Holdings, Inc., is a private hol

A Brazilian federal judge ordered the immediate suspension of all environmental licenses held by Sigma Mineração S.A., the operating subsidiary of Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML), for the Grota do Cirilo project. The September 4 preliminary order also halted mining activities following a civil action brought by the Federation of Quilombola Communities of Minas Gerais.
The dispute centers on whether the project lies within the area of influence of the Baú Quilombola Community and therefore required free, prior, and informed consultation. The judge cited studies placing the community's territory approximately 2.7 kilometers from the project's directly affected area, within the 8-kilometer presumptive regulatory impact radius applicable to mining projects outside Brazil's Legal Amazon under Interministerial Ordinance No. 60/2015. Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) has argued that the project is outside the relevant impact zone.
The court ordered independent georeferencing and barred Minas Gerais and its environmental agency from issuing new licenses, amendments, or corrective approvals until the community-protection requirements are completed.
Two routes remain. If independent georeferencing supports the boundary position, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) could seek favorable court relief modifying or reversing the suspension. This provides an alternative to completing the consultation requirements.
If the project falls within the regulated impact area, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML) would need Incra approval of the Quilombola Component Study, Basic Quilombola Environmental Plan and Final Execution Report, plus free, prior and informed consultation with the Baú community. Completing those requirements could preserve the project if acceptable mitigation is agreed.

#corporation #sgml #project #community

Prosper Stars & Stripes, a long/short equity fund, recently released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. In Q2 2026, the portfolio delivered a strong net return of +30.1% compared to the Russell 2000 Index's +21.5% return and the HFRX Equity Hedge Index's +10.3% return. The long book drove performance, generating a 43.2% gross contribution, while average net exposure remained relatively modest at 47%. U.S. economic growth remained resilient despite inflation concerns, elevated energy prices, and geopolitical uncertainty. Markets rallied sharply after easing U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices lower, supporting renewed risk appetite. Small-cap equities benefited significantly, with Information Technology, Industrials, and Health Care leading gains, while Energy declined as crude prices fell. Year to date, the Composite returned +23.7%, slightly ahead of the Russell 2000's +22.6% and well above the HFRI Equity Hedge Index's +9.7%. Additionally, you can review the Portfolio's top 5 holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Prosper Stars & Stripes highlighted TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) as the largest contributor to the portfolio's short book. TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) provides sales and support of purchase intent-driven advertising campaigns. On September 9, 2026, TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) closed at $3.89 per share. Over the past month, TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) returned 1.57% and its shares lost 35.17% over the past 52 weeks. TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) has a market capitalization of $281.37 million, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $3.37 to $7.15.
Prosper Stars & Stripes stated the following regarding TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"TechTarget, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTGT) was the largest contributor to our short book during the quarter. The company monetizes the purchase research behavior of enterprise IT buyers by operating a network of websites where buyers register to consume technical content, then selling those intent signals as leads to IT vendors. We first shorted the company after it completed a value-destroying acquisition in December 2024 that led to significant impairment charges in Q1 2025 and again in Q1 2026. We believe AI is likely to dismantle search-based discovery and commoditize content, the two pillars of TechTarget's value propositions. Results have validated our concerns, with management describing its market as mature, with 2% to 3% top-line growth, and EBITDA margins that peaked in 2022 falling to 7% in Q1 2026. Notably, revenue growth began deteriorating before ChatGPT launched in November 2022, suggesting that problems run deeper than AI alone. We continue to believe generative AI will weigh on TechTarget's prospects and remain short the company."

#techtarget #NASDAQ

By Sai Ishwarbharath B and Abhirami G
BENGALURU, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Wipro's AI initiatives have increased productivity equivalent to the output of 20,000 employees, who have since been redeployed ‌within the Indian IT firm, its chief technology officer said.
The comments come as India's $315 ‌billion software services industry grapples with adoption of AI, which is reshaping hiring, software development and contracts.
Wipro, with about 243,000 employees in June, is shifting to a "human-AI operating model," with more than 100,000 employees receiving advanced AI-related training and certifications, Sandhya Arun said in an interview.
"It could be the same engineer managing a bunch of agents, deployed on other projects or being trained for some other role. It doesn't ‌necessarily mean person-to-person replacement by an ⁠agent."

#employees #ishwarbharath

The NBA sources are confident the criminal probe will focus primarily on the Clippers, the financial angle of the discretions and not encroach on any basketball side of the equation. And if the justice department looks at deals involving the Clippers, now-bankrupt Aspiration, the technology company Daktronics — which said it was co-operating with the investigators — and other companies, it has nothing to do with the Raptors or the long-awaited transaction.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The NBA sources are confident the criminal probe will …

#sources

At just 46 years old, Dino Mavrookas' career already looks more expansive than most, spanning three distinct roles: Navy SEAL, private-equity investor, and now cofounder and CEO of $9.25 defense-tech startup Saronic—proof that your first career doesn't have to be your last.
His latest career pivot came just four years ago, when Mavrookas was a senior ***** ociate at Austin-based private equity firm Vista Equity Partners. However, after half a decade in finance—likely bringing in a six-figure salary—Mavrookas began to question whether he wanted to spend the rest of his career on the same path.
"After five years, I started to look around and say, is this what I want to do for the next 20 or 30 years of my life? Like, I learned a ton about investing. I learned a ton about operating companies, but is this what I wanted my career to be? And the answer was no," Mavrookas said in a recent interview on the Sourcery podcast.
"I walked into the living room one night and I told my wife that I had to quit my job."
Mavrookas knew he wanted to start a defense-tech company, but he didn't yet know what the business would be. What he did know was that he needed to create the time and ***** e to figure it out.

#mavrookas #years #wanted #private

For its Q3 FY26, ABM Industries Inc. (NYSE:ABM) posted a record topline figure of $2.3 billion. With year-over-year acquisitive growth and organic expansion of 2.1% each, the total jump in sales was 4.2%. The company's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter climbed 11% to $139.6 million, compared to Q3 FY25. Adjusted net income stood at $61.5 million, exhibiting a 19% growth and translating into an adjusted diluted EPS of $1.04. ABM generated operating cash flows for the third quarter totaling $146.8 million, while free cash flow stood at $128.4 million.
Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com
Third quarter print revealed that majority of the topline growth was concentrated across the company's Aviation, and Manufacturing & Distribution (M&D) segments, which expanded 12.5% and 17.6% respectively. Performance within the M&D segment was driven by strong technology market trends, with further support coming from ABM's acquisition of WGNstar. Aviation segment got a boost from robust demand for air travel and healthy progress around the company's newly secured London Heathrow contract.
Prudent cost management resulted in around $3 million reduction in ongoing corporate costs compared to the previous year. Overall growth in bottom line can be attributed to higher operating profits across most segments, a lower tax bill, and cut down in corporate overhead. Some of these were offset by rising interest burden due to the financing of the WGNstar transaction. The company's share buyback initiative was another factor that led to a 25% rise in diluted EPS for the quarter.
The Education segment's revenue held steady. Business & Industry (B&I) slipped 2.6%, largely in line with expectations, due to the previously disclosed loss of a major UK client and ongoing weakness along the US west coast. Technical Solutions (ATS) growth was hampered by certain deferred projects.

#Growth #adjusted #topline

Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ:DAKT) reported its Q1 FY27 results, showing continued momentum across core segments and its strategic push. The company reported topline figures of $234.6 million, which grew 7.1% compared to the same period last year. This growth was primarily driven by impressive numbers across the Live Events, Transportation, and International units. The diluted EPS of $0.40 was the highest quarterly figure in the last twelve quarters, exhibiting a substantial growth of more than 21%. The business generated $31.4 million in cash from operations, which pushed the cash balance to $154.6 million by the quarter end, after accounting for $4.4 million expenditure on share repurchases.
Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo
The recently reported results point to enhanced profitability and the company's ongoing operational excellence initiatives, which would strengthen investor confidence. An impressive cash position backed with robust operating cash flows would enable Daktronics to pursue its 3-year strategic plan around growth, operational strength, and efficient capital allocation.
For growth, management focused on vertical market expansion during the quarter, with investments in service offerings and software to facilitate recurring revenue growth and customer value.
For operational excellence, the company took several initiatives around supply chain and manufacturing. These include scaling up of Mexico operations, adding automation, refining procurement, and more. Product backlog reached $311.3 million, the sixth straight quarter it has stayed above $300 million, pointing to continued demand spread across the company's varied business segments.

#million #cash #results

On September 8, ServiceTitan, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTAN) reported its fiscal second-quarter financial results, which showed impressive growth. The company's revenue increased 21% year-over-year to $292.8 million and non-GAAP free cash flow reached a record $50.5 million. The company's non-GAAP operating margin also improved to 15.2%.
A key highlight of the quarter was the growing adoption of ServiceTitan, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:TTAN) AI-powered Max package. The company exceeded its target as the number of Max locations more than doubled during the quarter. It now expects to reach more than 700 Max locations by the end of the fiscal year.
The company also said that it is currently focusing on Max and AI, as these represent the highest return on investment. However, this also means that the company is deferring expansion into new commercial trades.
GTV Growth Slows Despite Strong Results
While overall results were solid, ServiceTitan, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTAN) saw some moderation in gross transaction volume (GTV) growth. GTV increased 17% year-over-year in the fiscal second quarter, down from the 23% growth seen in the first quarter. The company attributed the slower growth mainly to lower lead volumes among customers, particularly in the HVAC market.

#NASDAQ

Two cybersecurity heavyweights, Rubrik, Inc. (NYSE:RBRK) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD), both released Q2 FY2027 earnings in late August/early September while deepening their strategic alliance. On September 1, the companies announced a joint agentic identity resilience workflow orchestrated by CrowdStrike's Charlotte Agentic SOAR. By uniting CrowdStrike's Falcon Next-Gen Identity Security with Rubrik's Identity Resilience, joint customers can now detect, investigate, and recover from compromised identity environments in hours instead of days.
Den Rise/Shutterstock.com
CrowdStrike continues to operate at a massive scale with strong cash generation and expanding margins. For Q2 FY2027, CrowdStrike reported total revenue of $1.47 billion, up 26% year-over-year, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) reaching $5.84 billion (up 25%) after adding a record $333 million in net new ARR. GAAP net income turned positive at $5.3 million ($0.01 per diluted share), while non-GAAP net income reached $322.9 million ($0.31 per diluted share). Operating cash flow hit a Q2 record of $530.3 million, with free cash flow reaching $377.4 million. Expanding its momentum, CrowdStrike announced a partnership with OpenAI on September 2 to secure Codex agents and integrate GPT-5.6 Cyber into Falcon, prompting Raymond James to raise its price target to $250 from $240 on September 3, citing an "AI double whammy."
Rubrik, meanwhile, represents the hyper-growth challenger outperforming Wall Street's top-line expectations. For Q2 FY2027, Rubrik's total revenue surged 38% year-over-year to $427.3 million (up 43% when normalized for material rights), while Subscription ARR grew 33% to $1.66 billion. While GAAP net loss per share narrowed to $(0.30), Rubrik achieved non-GAAP net income per share of $0.20 ($0.47–$0.53 guidance for full FY27). Operating cash flow reached $76.8 million, generating $65.7 million in free cash flow. While CrowdStrike holds the stronger overall financial profile given its $5.84 billion ARR scale and $377.4 million free cash flow generation, Rubrik leads in top-line growth velocity.
CrowdStrike's bull case rests on its leadership in endpoint and identity security, proven GAAP and non-GAAP profitability, and deep AI integrations with platforms such as OpenAI and Charlotte AI, which could drive further platform consolidation and high-margin ARR growth. However, slower percentage growth compared with younger peers, elevated valuation multiples, and lingering customer scrutiny following past software update disruptions remain key risks.

#flow

Braze Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) turned in a strong second quarter. The reputed customer engagement platform showcased continued momentum across both its product strategy and financial performance. The company generated topline figure of $227.2 million, an impressive 26.2% increase compared to the same period last year. This revenue growth was fueled by upselling gains, customer additions and renewals. The company posted $24.2 million in cash flow from operating activities, a monumental growth relative to $7 million in the same period a year ago. This was paired with $21.7 million in free cash flow, against $3.5 million during Q2 FY26.
Jirsak/Shutterstock.com
The quarter brought several meaningful strategic moves. Braze broadened its BrazeAI Operator tool, which allows users to build new Canvas steps straight from conversational prompts. The company also signed a three-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to support collaborative co-selling and go-to-market initiatives. The arrangement will incentivize AWS sellers for integrating Braze within their accounts.
For the latest quarter, subscription revenue jumped to $207.7 million from $171.8 million a year prior, while professional services and other revenue more than doubled, reaching $19.6 million. Dollar-based net retention among larger accounts, defined as those with annual recurring revenue of $500,000 or more, edged up to 112% in comparison to 111% a year earlier. Profitability metrics improved considerably as well, with adjusted operating income jumping to $22 million from $6 million, and adjusted diluted EPS increasing from $0.15 to $0.19.
Management cited growing demand for measurable return on investment as the primary force behind faster uptake of Braze's AI product lineup, which includes BrazeAI Operator, BrazeAI Agent Console, and BrazeAI Decisioning Studio.

#revenue

On September 2, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) announced a key integration with MuleSoft, a Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) company, federating F5 AI Guardrails directly into MuleSoft's Agent Fabric Omni Gateway. As enterprises rapidly scale agentic AI capabilities, security teams face growing governance gaps and risks from prompt injection, data leakage, and toxic outputs. This native integration gives security and platform engineering teams centralized policy enforcement, proactive threat mitigation, and low-touch policy tuning without forcing organizations to re-architect existing infrastructure.
While the partnership strengthens both ecosystems, examining their latest financials reveals two enterprise software giants moving at distinctly different scales and growth trajectories.
F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) reported strong Q3 FY26 results, generating $865 million in revenue (up 11% year-over-year). Revenue growth was anchored by a 19% jump in product revenue, led by a 32% surge in systems revenue ($240 million). F5's bottom line remained exceptionally robust, expanding non-GAAP operating margin to 35.0% and delivering non-GAAP net income of $272 million ($4.73 per diluted share, up from $4.16).
Salesforce operated at a much larger scale in its record Q2 FY27, generating $11.3 billion in quarterly revenue (up 11% year-over-year). Growth was fueled by subscription and support revenue of $10.8 billion and expanding adoption of its Agentforce platform, whose annual recurring revenue (ARR) neared $3.9 billion. Salesforce posted a non-GAAP operating margin of 34.1%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $5.90, while raising its full-year FY27 revenue guidance to $46.1B–$46.4B.
While both companies run near-identical, highly profitable non-GAAP operating margins (~34%–35%), Salesforce leads overall financial health due to its massive free cash flow generation, cRPO backlog of $33.5 billion, and broader ecosystem dominance.

#Growth

The pharmaceutical sector was hit with major pipeline news on September 1 when Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) paused eight clinical trials of rap-cel, its experimental CAR-T cell therapy targeting autoimmune and neurological disorders. The suspension, effective August 24, followed three patient deaths caused by severe, life-threatening immune reactions (immune effector cell-associated hemophagocytic syndrome). Novartis is currently conducting a safety review alongside independent monitoring boards. Following the news, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) voluntarily paused trials for its competing CAR-T treatment, zola-cel, as a precautionary measure after detecting transient inflammatory side effects.
Looking at Q2 2026 earnings, Bristol Myers Squibb is currently demonstrating stronger financial momentum. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) reported total revenue of $13.0 billion, up 6% year over year, driven by a 15% increase in its Growth Portfolio to $7.6 billion, led by Opdivo, Qvantig, Reblozyl, and Camzyos. Non-GAAP EPS reached $2.04, while net income totaled $3.3 billion, or $4.2 billion on a non-GAAP basis. The company also raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance from approximately $46.0–$47.5 billion to $49.0–$50.0 billion and increased its non-GAAP EPS outlook to $6.75–$7.00.
Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS), meanwhile, reported Q2 net sales of $14.4 billion, up 3% in U.S. dollars and 1% at constant currencies, supported by Kisqali and Kesimpta, which grew 43% and 32% at constant currencies, respectively. However, generic competition reduced growth by 14 percentage points, while core operating income remained flat at $5.9 billion and GAAP net income fell 19% to $3.3 billion. Novartis reaffirmed rather than raised its full-year guidance, calling for low single-digit sales growth and a low single-digit decline in core operating income.
Overall, Bristol Myers stands out as the stronger financial story this quarter, with its Growth Portfolio offsetting legacy patent-cliff pressures and supporting a guidance increase, while Novartis continues to contend with generic erosion weighing on earnings.
Novartis' bull case rests on strong double-digit growth from high-margin blockbusters such as Kisqali, Kesimpta, and Scemblix, supporting robust Q2 free cash flow of $5.6 billion. However, CAR-T safety setbacks could threaten a key pipeline platform, while intense generic competition has already reduced top-line growth by 14 percentage points.

#billion #novartis

On September 2, Shell Offshore, a subsidiary of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), announced the acquisition of a 30% working interest in Conifer, an exploration prospect operated by BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Located offshore within Keathley Canyon near BP's Kaskida host development, Conifer represents a significant deep-water play. BP retains operatorship, with the initial exploration well expected to spud in 2027. While the deal reflects shared risk and capital efficiency in high-cost offshore basins, comparing the two giants' Q2 2026 earnings shows that Shell is currently executing from a position of superior financial strength.
Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) delivered an exceptionally clean Q2 2026 report. Adjusted earnings reached $9.8 billion, driven by record upstream production in Brazil and record refinery utilization, which offset Middle East operational outages. Cash flow from operations (CFFO) came in at $21.4 billion, supported by higher realized prices and a $3.4 billion working capital inflow. Shell maintained strict capital discipline, reiterating its full-year capex outlook of $24 billion–$26 billion while completing $5.8 billion in structural cost reductions since 2022. Balance sheet health remains robust, with gearing at 19% and net debt at $42 billion ($12 billion excluding leases).
BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) also turned in a solid Q2 recovery, but its headline metrics lag behind Shell's scale. BP reported underlying replacement cost profit (its proxy for net income) of $5.7 billion, a 78% quarter-over-quarter rebound fueled by strong refining margins and oil trading. Operating cash flow reached $10.9 billion after absorbing a $1.0 billion working capital build. BP used strong cash generation to trim net debt down to $22.25 billion, while guiding full-year capex to $13.5 billion–$14.0 billion.
Although BP raised its quarterly dividend by 4% to 8.66 cents, Shell's cash engine allowed it to announce its 19th consecutive quarter of at least $3 billion in share buybacks, distributing 44% of CFFO over the trailing 12 months.
Shell's bull case centers on superior capital allocation, aggressive portfolio high-grading, including the ARC Resources acquisition targeting a 4% production CAGR through 2030, and consistent share buybacks. The bear case focuses on execution risks in integrated gas and LNG amid volatile market conditions, as well as the challenges of integrating large-scale acquisitions.

#cost

On August 31, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), and Humain announced that their joint AI infrastructure buildout in Saudi Arabia is officially live. The deployment links AMD's Instinct MI355X GPUs and EPYC CPUs directly with Cisco's Silicon One-based 800G switches, giving Humain a foundation to offer GPU-as-a-service across the Middle East. Beyond this immediate launch, the trio plans to deploy up to 250 MW of capacity powered by next-gen AMD MI400 Series GPUs starting in 2027, staying on track for a massive 1 GW platform by 2030.
The milestone highlights how compute and networking have fused into a single market. But financially, AMD and Cisco present two very different investment profiles.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)'s Q2 2026 results demonstrated massive top-line expansion, driven almost entirely by data center demand. Revenue surged 50% year-over-year to $11.5 billion, while non-GAAP EPS rose 82% to $1.66. Its Data Center segment alone more than doubled to $6.7 billion (+107% YoY), accounting for 58% of total revenue as EPYC server chips and Instinct GPUs continue to gain enterprise traction.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)'s Q4 and full-year FY2026 report reflected a mature cash-flow powerhouse capturing an architectural transition. Q4 revenue grew 18% YoY to a record $17.3 billion, pushing full-year revenue up 12% to $63.3 billion. Non-GAAP EPS for Q4 reached $1.22 (+23%), with FY2026 non-GAAP EPS hitting $4.33. Cisco logged $9.3 billion in AI infrastructure orders for the fiscal year (up 4.5x YoY) and maintained a non-GAAP operating margin of 35.9%, generating $14.2 billion in annual operating cash flow.
While AMD clearly leads on top-line growth velocity, Cisco holds the upper hand in raw profitability, structural gross margins (66.3%), and shareholder return via capital repurchases and dividends.

#revenue #advanced

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Net sales growth of 22% was primarily driven by sustained demand across enterprise, data center, and specialty market sectors, including military applications.
Gross profit margin expansion to 37.4% demonstrates significant manufacturing operating leverage, where fixed costs are distributed over higher production volumes.
Management attributes margin improvements to increased manufacturing efficiencies that naturally occur as production volumes scale.
The company is navigating industry-wide optical fiber shortages and raw material lead time extensions by actively managing supply chain dynamics to protect customer deliveries.

#Margin #Manufacturing #volumes #management

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) represent two sides of a historical silicon transition. A September 2 report from MacRumors highlighted a key milestone: Apple notified developers that universal Mac App Store apps requiring macOS 13 or later can now drop support for Intel-based Macs. Removing Intel binary slices simplifies app development and reduces download sizes. While symbolic, the move underscores Apple's completed transition to Apple Silicon and highlights Intel's diminishing footprint within Apple's high-margin ecosystem.
Financially, Apple is faring significantly better than Intel.
For Q3 2026 (ended June 27, 2026), Apple reported record quarterly revenue of $109.4 billion, up 16% year-over-year, driven by double-digit growth across iPhone, Mac, and Services. The company's gross margin reached 50.1%, supported by a 2 percentage point favorable impact from tariff refunds. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) surged 29% year-over-year to $2.02, which included a $0.11 favorable boost from tariff refunds. Operating cash flow and active installed base both set new June quarter records.
Intel's Q2 2026 financial results (ended June 27, 2026) delivered $16.1 billion in quarterly revenue, up 25% year-over-year, marking its fastest top-line growth in over 15 years. Intel reported a GAAP net loss of $11.0 billion (GAAP EPS of -$2.16), largely driven by non-cash charges and mark-to-market adjustments. However, on a non-GAAP basis, net income reached $2.2 billion ($0.42 diluted EPS), nearly doubling consensus expectations. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 41.8% (40.4% GAAP) on strong product mix and factory yields.
Apple's bull case centers on expanding Services margins, strong ecosystem lock-in, and the potential for Apple Intelligence to drive further demand and engagement across iOS and macOS devices, supporting high-margin growth. On the other hand, Apple faces risks from elevated valuation multiples, sluggish growth in Greater China, where Q3 revenue reached $14.7 billion, and ongoing global antitrust scrutiny over App Store fees.

#revenue

Eli Lilly (LLY) stock has gained about 56% over the past year, moving from $722.65 to $1,123.91. Before that run the company was doing something strange. It was deliberately selling less medicine than people wanted to buy, and it kept saying so out loud.
In early February 2025 the CEO said the capacity Lilly had already built was not enough to meet global demand, and that the company was still gating promotion and gating launches around the world. That is a company telling you its reported revenue understates what its products could sell.
The build was landing. Lilly produced more than 1.6 times as many salable incretin doses in the first half of 2025 as it had made in the first half of 2024. The rationed business was already lucrative: trailing-twelve-month operating margin as of fiscal Q2 2025 ran at 42.1%, against its own three-year average of 32.7%. A business earning that much with the tap half closed has an obvious next chapter.
Four weeks before the run began, the CFO was specific about where. Commercial activity behind the recent launches in Brazil, China, India, and Mexico was being kept deliberately measured, so that demand would not outrun supply.
Then look at where the growth landed a year later. In the second quarter of 2026, China revenue grew 93% in constant currency, and rest-of-world revenue grew 136% in constant currency, driven by Mounjaro, primarily in Latin America and Asia. China is on both lists; Latin America and Asia cover the rest. The volume was waiting.

#year #half

On August 11, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) announced that its Medicaid plan, Humana Healthy Horizons in Indiana, is collaborating with HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTM). The partnership expands access to workforce training for caregivers, aiming to recruit and retain talent in rural and underserved communities. While one provides healthcare coverage and the other builds the software to train healthcare workers, both companies are capitalizing on the industry's critical focus: solving caregiving shortages and optimizing healthcare delivery.
HealthStream emerges as the operationally cleaner, higher-growth performer, while Humana continues to navigate a more complex transition marked by regulatory and profitability pressures. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) reported Q2 2026 GAAP EPS of $5.73 and adjusted EPS of $7.61, with an Insurance segment GAAP benefit ratio of 91.2%. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of at least $9.00 but lowered its FY 2026 GAAP EPS forecast to at least $6.52 from $8.36, reflecting non-cash adjustments and value creation charges. Although individual Medicare Advantage membership is expected to grow approximately 25% in 2026, lower Star Ratings remain a significant drag on profitability.
HealthStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTM), meanwhile, delivered record Q2 2026 results, with revenue rising 12.5% year over year to $83.7 million. Operating income increased 41.4% to $8.3 million, while net income climbed 23.8% to $6.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA also increased 16.9% to $20.6 million. The company's debt-free balance sheet, supported by $66.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, further strengthens its financial flexibility. While Humana operates at substantially greater scale, HealthStream is demonstrating stronger operational leverage, margin expansion, and balance sheet flexibility.
Humana's bull case is supported by strong Medicare Advantage membership growth, with the company targeting a 25% increase in 2026, alongside strategic expansion of its CenterWell primary care business and state Medicaid footprint, including its recent Illinois win. These initiatives could strengthen its long-term recovery and expand its addressable market. However, the bear case centers on elevated medical benefit ratios, which reached 91.2% in Q2, as well as regulatory pressures in Medicaid and continued Medicare Star Ratings headwinds. These factors could further squeeze margins and weigh on net earnings.

#healthcare #year

During a September 8 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer examined the broader aerospace ecosystem following GE Aerospace's (NYSE:GE) nearly $12 billion agreement to acquire castings specialist Consolidated Precision Products (CPP). Commenting on the strategic importance of supply chain control and the enduring strength of commercial and defense aviation despite rising oil prices, Cramer stated:
I still believe in the data center, but I also want to open your eyes to other opportunities. This morning, for example, GE Aerospace spent nearly $12 billion to buy a castings company called Consolidated Precision Products to integrate this key segment into its supply chain. It's vital for both commercial aircraft and particularly defense, both of which are booming. Now, on a day where oil's up, you might not want to focus on anything airline related, but travel's been booming the whole time, the whole time the Iranian war's been going on. This acquisition will pay off quickly for GE, making it more likely that they can accelerate production. This is also good news, therefore, for Boeing, a huge customer of GE that needs to boost its production speed.
GE is relatively close to its highs, deservedly so. Boeing? Nowhere near its high. Yet the order book is full. Last week, there was this negative article about how Boeing is being hurt by the problem-filled Spirit AeroSystems acquisition. It made that one two years ago. But that actually had to be done because Boeing, like GE Aerospace, needs to get better control of its supply chain. Aha, you say, who needs that kind of problem? Boeing just reported its slowest deliveries in 4 months. I come back and say, wait a second. First, the problems from the Spirit deal are now behind them. You know what? The story is actually old news.
Plus, CEO Kelly Ortberg has made it clear that orders would be lumpy. I knew that. And look, I know the high price of oil, particularly jet fuel, is bad news for the airlines. But the higher price of fuel also makes these new engines and airplanes far more valuable than before. Why? They're way more energy efficient. It's a good situation that has nothing to do with the data center. It does require more, better tech that AI can help with.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) represent two distinct pillars of the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, operating at massive commercial scale. GE Aerospace reported second-quarter revenue of $13.3 billion, up 21% year-over-year, driven by strong commercial engine services and record internal shop visit output. Its total order backlog extends past $210 billion, supported by sustained airline demand for propulsion systems and aftermarket maintenance.

#boeing #chain #consolidated

Microsoft (MSFT) is coming off the most profitable stretch it has posted in years, and its stock trades at $493.95, about 92% of its 52-week high. Nothing here is broken. The risk is quieter than that. The spending that came with those margins is still climbing, and the company has already told shareholders what it expects that to do to fiscal 2027.
Net margin over the trailing twelve months is 40.3%, the highest in at least five years and well above a 36.8% three-year average. Operating margin runs 46.8% against a 45.3% three-year average, near the top of its multi-year range. Revenue of $331.8 billion grew 17.8% year over year, so none of this came from a shrinking business.
Margins at a peak rarely stay there. This peak arrives with a specific and growing bill, and that bill is the Azure build-out.
Azure revenue grew 43% in fiscal Q4 2026, and management says customer demand still exceeds available capacity. Company-wide, the build-out took $41 billion of capital expenditure in that one quarter (including equipment acquired under leases), roughly two-thirds of it on what management calls short-lived **** ets, primarily CPUs and GPUs. Against $55.4 billion in cash from operations, cash actually paid for property and equipment was $35.8 billion, yielding $19.6 billion in free cash flow.
The bill is already visible in the margin. The company's gross margin was 67% in fiscal Q4 2026, down year over year, and management attributes the decline to the sales mix shift toward Azure and the AI infrastructure spending behind it, offset only partly by efficiency gains. Capital expenditure is guided higher again in fiscal 2027.

#azure #bill #cash

On September 2, NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) reported its Q1 FY27 results, posting record quarterly net revenue of $2.03 billion. Topline for the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company expanded by 30% compared to the first quarter in FY26. The quarter saw a broad-based growth across its core segments, resulting in a record adjusted earnings per share of $2.58, and a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share. The company also strengthened its existing engagements with major players, covering a range of underlying functions.
During the first quarter, all-flash array net revenue went up 47% year-over-year, hitting a record $1.3 billion mark. This drove the overall net revenue for its Hybrid Cloud segment to $1.8 billion, translating into a 30% year-over-year growth. Public Cloud, which accounts for a smaller chunk of the business, saw its net revenue climb by 28%, also setting a record of $206 million. NetApp's total billings clocked in at $2.06 billion, exhibiting a 36% growth compared to Q1 FY26, while its non-GAAP operating margin reached 31.9%.
During the quarter, NetApp finalized the acquisition of an AI-enabled data infrastructure business, DataPelago. The deal is aimed toward facilitating customers streamline and accelerate large-scale AI deployments. On the product front, the company launched StorageGRID 12.1, to support scaling of AI workload through a federated global namespace. It also introduced Instaclustr for its fully managed Model Context Protocol Gateway, along with enhanced support for Azure NetApp Files up to 64 TiB.
NetApp also revealed new features for NetApp Trident software 26.06. These include deeper integration of OpenShift Virtualization, non-disruptive iSCSI rebalancing, efficient volume placement, and additional cloud support.
Despite encouraging numbers reported during the quarter, the free cash flows settled at $401 million. This was a 35% drop compared to figures reported for Q1 FY26. Additionally, NetApp remains heavily dependent on its Hybrid Cloud business, which generated roughly 90% of quarterly revenue, while Public Cloud still contributes a relatively small fraction of the topline despite growing 28% during the recent quarter. This leads to concerns regarding how much of the company's growth story is truly cloud-native compared to conventional on-premises hardware refresh cycles that are strongly tied to AI infrastructure investments. For the underlying all-flash arrays, such AI-linked demand trend could prove to be front-loaded or cyclical in case enterprise capital expenditure decelerates.

#netapp #Growth

Dow is considering an exit from its stake in the $20-billion Sadara Chemical Company venture with Saudi Aramco as the U.S. chemicals giant battles a prolonged industry downturn compounded by the Iran war.
Dow could sell its reported 35% interest in the Saudi petrochemical complex, with Aramco potentially emerging as a buyer, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Strategic and financial investors could also be interested, although no final decision has been made.
The potential exit comes as the global chemicals industry struggles with weak demand, persistent overcapacity and elevated costs. The Middle East conflict has added another layer of pressure by disrupting petrochemical flows and supply chains and increasing transportation and operating expenses.
Sadara itself was temporarily shut earlier this year due to conflict-related supply disruptions.
Located in Jubail Industrial City, Sadara was developed as a $20-billion mega-project and was the world's largest integrated chemicals complex built in a single phase when completed. Its 26 manufacturing plants have the capacity to produce more than 3 million metric tons of performance plastics and high-value chemicals annually.

#exit #reported

On September 3, a caller asked if UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) has enough profitable growth that they should consider adding it to their portfolio. Mad Money host Jim Cramer replied:
Yes, the answer: it does, it does. You know, I've got to tell you, I thought that last quarter was very, very good. The stock market did not like the quarter as much as I thought it would, but the stock's making a stand here. I think that UNH is good to buy.
Cramer's bullish stance rests on the core strength of the company's financial delivery and improving execution. In its second-quarter 2026 report, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) posted consolidated revenues of $112 billion and operating earnings of $8 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share reached $6.38, outpacing Wall Street expectations by $1.48. Driven by strong performance across both the UnitedHealthcare and Optum divisions, management raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $19.50 to $20. Furthermore, the medical care ratio improved to 86.7% down from 89.4% a year prior, showing that medical cost trends and pricing are aligning effectively.
On the other hand, Wall Street remains cautious about lingering cost pressures across the managed care landscape. Even though the medical care ratio improved compared to last year, patients continuing to utilize medical services at a high rate keeps expenses heavy. At the same time, commercial insurance margins are taking longer to bounce back. Adding in tighter payment adjustments for government-backed plans along with heavy spending on tech infrastructure, cautious investors could have reasons to wait rather than chasing the stock higher.
Insider Monkey's data tracking over 1000 hedge funds shows accumulation by major ****** et managers. 143 hedge funds had positions in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in Q2 compared to 130 in Q1. Of those funds, Fisher ****** et Management was the top shareholder with nearly 9.1 million shares. The firm increased its position in the stock by 74% in the quarter. Additionally, short interest remains low, with the short percentage of the float sitting at 1.92%, showing a general lack of aggressive bearish bets against the stock.

#unitedhealth #funds