America's newest college graduates were sold the college premium. Four in 10 of them are working jobs that never needed the diploma.
About 42% of recent college graduates, ages 22 to 27, were underemployed in June, working jobs that typically don't require a bachelor's degree, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's tracker of the labor market for recent college graduates. That's up from 41.8% in May but down from 42.4% in November 2025 and below the pandemic-era high of 43.4% in October 2020.
Unemployment is the other half of the problem. Recent grads' jobless rate hit 5.7% in June, well above the 4.1% rate for all workers. That's a reversal. From 1990, when the Fed's data begins, through 2018, recent grads were more likely to be unemployed than the average worker in just eight months. They have been more likely every month since January 2021. The gap hit a record 1.8 percentage points in April 2025 and is still near it.
Some degrees fare much worse than others. Using 2024 Census data, the Fed's breakdown by college major found criminal justice had the most underemployment, at 65.8%, followed by performing arts at 63.9% and fine arts at 58.9%.
On unemployment, computer engineering was second-worst of any major at 7.8%, and computer science fourth at 7%. Education majors fared best: special education had a 0.7% jobless rate and elementary education 1.2%. Nursing was 2.1%.

#recent #Education #june #grads

Today, Suze Orman is one of the world's foremost financial experts. Once upon a time, though, she was a little girl who watched her father run into a burning building.
As Orman explained on her podcast, she and her mother went to pick her father up from work one day and found him outside the chicken shack where he worked. The chicken shack was ablaze, and Orman watched her father run into the building that was engulfed in flames.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

#orman

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Worried you might be weighed down with a parent's debts or expenses after they die? You might not need to worry.
As it turns out, you may have limited obligations to pay your parents' debts if they die (or to take on their expenses if they're still alive). And, if you're a parent, there are steps you can take to prevent your adult children from taking on your debts, if you were to die.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#might #expenses #worried #bezos

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Gold just gained something more valuable than another bullish forecast: a voice inside the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
With America's national debt above $40 trillion (1), Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has brought in an economist whose ideas could change what Washington offers investors in exchange for their money.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#moneywise #finance #washington

A Florida woman who passed away kept receiving her Social Security retirement benefits for nearly six years — and her great-niece was cashing in.
Asha Anderson, 48, of Pompano Beach, Florida had been withdrawing her great-aunt's benefits from ATMs between April 2017 and December 2022 — to the tune of more than $152,000, according to prosecutors.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#great #asha #anderson #beach

Valkyries fans will love Kelsey Plum's Gabby Williams take appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Valkyries are only in the second year of their existence in the WNBA. And yet here they are, needing to win just three more games to secure the franchise's first championship after grabbing a 68-64 victory in Game 1 against the Atlanta Dream. Both teams had rough shooting nights to begin the WNBA Finals, but in the end, it was the Valkyries that executed when it mattered the most.
With points being at a premium, having someone who can simply generate open looks all while having the ability to make difficult shots could make all the difference. The Valkyries have that in star guard Gabby Williams, who finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-22 shooting from the field.
The signing of Williams this past offseason has certainly elevated a middling playoff team to a full-blown ***** le contender. And for two-time WNBA champion and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum, she has always seen Williams as this impactful of a player even when she was still more of a role player with the Seattle Storm.
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#game #here

CLEVELAND — A pivotal ALCS Game 5 that looked on paper like a premium pitchers' duel dissolved into something much different on Sunday, as the Tampa Bay Rays took down the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 at Progressive Field to move within one win of a World Series berth. While the final score suggests a closely contested ballgame, the tale of the two starting pitchers tells otherwise.
When the AL Cy Young Award is announced next month, it's a safe bet that Yankees ace Cam Schlittler will take home the honor. Toronto's Dylan Cease appears to be the likeliest runner-up. Beyond that, both Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen and Guardians rookie lefty Parker Messick have a strong case to be the third finalist, based on their fantastic regular seasons. Rasmussen ranked third in fWAR (5.0) and fourth in ERA (2.67) behind Schlittler and Cease; Messick ranked fourth in fWAR (4.9) and third in ERA (2.56).
These were the starting pitchers for Game 5 on Sunday. Rasmussen had tossed six innings of two-run ball in Game 1 — but in a Rays loss. Messick covered five innings and allowed three runs in Game 2 — but in a Guardians loss. With the series tied at two games apiece, Sunday's contest gave each frontline arm the tantalizing chance to push his club closer to the American League pennant.
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For neutral observers hoping for maximum October drama, the blueprint for a best-case clash could be found in July, when Rasmussen and Messick traded blows in a 1-0 Rays victory at Tropicana Field. In that one, Messick allowed the lone run across 7 ⅔ innings while Rasmussen yielded just one hit across seven shutout frames. If a similar game were on tap Sunday — this time with supremely elevated stakes — that would mean a timely hit or two would be required to seize a narrow victory. But such visions of a repeat nailbiter enforced by these elite starters were quashed in a hurry.

#messick #rays #Guardians

Trillion-dollar conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA)(NYSE:BRKB) entered 2026 in uncharted territory for the first time in more than half a century. On Dec. 31, Warren Buffett, the company's longtime CEO, who oversaw a greater-than-6,000,000% outperformance of the benchmark S&P 500 since the mid-1960s, retired as CEO. His successor, Greg Abel, is now in charge of Berkshire's $350 billion investment portfolio.
While the Oracle of Omaha had a knack for spotting amazing deals hiding in plain sight, he wasn't infallible. Decisions made in the years leading up to his retirement with No. 1 holding Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have cost Berkshire Hathaway up to $112 billion in would-be gains.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 14x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ******* ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Image source: Getty Images.
Warren Buffett began building a position in the "Apple" of his eye in the first quarter of 2016. While artificial intelligence is all the rage today, Buffett was more interested in consumers' draw to the brand when he initially invested. Apple has an exceptionally loyal customer base that's shown a willingness to pay premium prices for its physical products (iPhone, iPad, and Mac).

#warren

Coca-Cola ($KO) beats PepsiCo ($PEP) for generational portfolios with 63 consecutive dividend increases, wider margins, and 182% 10-year share gains versus 60%.
PepsiCo's free cash flow barely covers its 4.44% dividend yield, while Coca-Cola's expected $12.4B free cash flow dwarfs its $8.8B dividend payout.
A pending IRS appeals ruling and a premium P/E of 28 are the two risks that could crack Coca-Cola's otherwise dominant long-term case.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Coca-Cola didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat KO. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) or PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP): Which one better suits someone investing for retirement right now, knowing the shares may pass to the next generation? Looked at over several decades, Coca-Cola wins. PepsiCo pays the bigger yield today. Coca-Cola has the safer dividend, the stronger brand economics and fewer structural cracks.

#stocks

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If you've been worried sick about higher prices, one of Wall Street's most-watched bulls has a message for you: relief may be on the way.
"I think the probabilities are really high. It's going to drop," Tom Lee, co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors, said of inflation in a Sept. 25 interview.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#finance #earn

When a caller mentioned that they are thinking about adding to their position in Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) during the October 2 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer commented:
I think you're absolutely right... I want you to add to the Simon Property Group... What a great man he (David Simon, previous CEO) was, and he built a fabulous company, and you should buy more of it.
A September 8 question about buying Simon Property Group led Cramer to bring another real estate stock into the conversation.
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) reported second-quarter real estate funds from operations of $3.29 per diluted share, up 7.9% year-over-year. Domestic property net operating income increased 8.5%. Occupancy at its U.S. malls and premium outlets remained at 96%, while base minimum rent increased 6.3% to $62.42 per square foot. Management raised its full-year real estate funds from operations outlook to $13.20 - $13.30 per share. These figures show rent and property-income growth without requiring an increase in occupancy. Leasing activity also remained substantial. During the earnings call, management reported signing approximately 1,200 leases covering more than 4.8 million square feet, with new-deal volume increasing more than 20%.
Stable occupancy does not mean every tenant is healthy. Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) absorbed approximately one million square feet of ****** e returned through retailer bankruptcies during the quarter. Management said it successfully re-leased the ****** e, helping maintain occupancy. That shows leasing strength, but also a reminder of the work required to preserve rental income. Additional retailer failures could bring more vacancies and replacement costs, even when demand for the properties remains sound.

#occupancy #NYSE #management #estate

Netflix gave up on buying Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming business on Feb. 26. By the next day, Paramount Skydance, the company that outbid it, paid Netflix $2.8 billion.
The money was a breakup fee written into Netflix's own deal with Warner, and Paramount covered it as part of its winning bid, according to a Warner Bros. Discovery securities filing.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

#warner #bros #jeff #ramsey

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The annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) can make or break the finances of retirees, as it determines how much benefits will increase to keep pace with inflation.
Since COLAs are very important to beneficiaries, advocacy groups make predictions throughout the year, offering insight into how much extra money (if any) Social Security recipients will collect in the coming year.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#make #moneywise #since

Generating $6,550 a month requires $2.25M at a 3.5% yield, $1.31M at 6%, or just $786,000 at 10%.
A blended portfolio of VYM, DIVO, VICI, JEPQ, ARCC, and SGOV yields 5.6%, requiring $1.4M while preserving some dividend growth.
A 3.5% yield growing 8% annually reaches $249,000 in income by year 15, while a static 10% yield stays flat and loses ground to inflation.
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A target of $6,550 a month equals $78,600 a year. For a 66-year-old, that income must cover housing, healthcare premiums, travel, and decades of other retirement expenses. The amount you need to invest to generate $78,600 from portfolio income alone varies widely by yield. Here's what the numbers look like at three yield levels, using six income holdings as examples.

#yield

Selling appreciated stock and donating cash still leaves the full capital gain in Medicare's MAGI, potentially triggering IRMAA surcharges two years later.
A couple adding a $90,000 gain to $200,000 in normal income can face $5,770 in extra annual Medicare premiums, even after donating every dollar to charity.
Donating appreciated shares held over a year directly to charity keeps the gain out of MAGI entirely, avoiding IRMAA; those over 70.5 can also use a QCD up to $111,000.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
A 72-year-old retiree has held Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-B) shares for decades. This fall he sells $100,000 worth of stock he bought for $10,000, then writes a check for the full amount to his church's building fund. He ***** umes the gift wipes out the income Medicare sees. For his income tax bill, the gift helps. For Medicare, the $90,000 gain stays on his return, and it will raise his premiums two years from now.

#medicare #magi #Stock

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent isn't known for holding back at the podium. His remarks have made headlines, and some economists seem to have had enough.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman argued (1) on Substack that Bessent's recent comments evoke another fiery speaker, former Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Saeed Al-Sahhaf — known more prominently in the West as "Baghdad Bob."
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#scott

If you're bracing for higher health insurance premiums as the end of the year creeps up, keep bracing: The news might be worse than you think.
Health insurance premiums have been skyrocketing, rising by around 20% over the past three years. Now, some consumers could see premium increase by nearly 10% in 2027.
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 reasons why retirees can't afford to waste time
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one

#bracing #nearly #dave #security

Famed "Big Short" investor Michael Burry isn't letting go of his bearish views towards Wall Street.
"The stock market is quite obviously in its first stage of grief, denial," Burry recently wrote on X. "Per 2000 and 2008, this stage lasts 6-9 months."
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#burry #short #wall #jeff

FYEE beat JEPI on a $100,000 investment in 2026, paying $7,023 versus $6,070, but FYEE's quarterly payout has fallen from $0.82 to $0.56 per share.
JEPI's monthly distributions better match recurring expenses for retirees, while FYEE's quarterly schedule suits investors who reinvest or can wait between payments.
FYEE's lower share price ($30 vs. JEPI's $56) means $100,000 buys nearly twice as many shares, which is why it delivers more cash despite lower per-share payouts.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JEPI) built its following on a simple promise. It holds lower-volatility U.S. stocks, adds income from S&P 500 call-option premium, and sends a check every month. JEPI holders value that rhythm, and JEPI remains the default name in covered-call income. On an identical $100,000 investment this year, though, the Fidelity Yield Enhanced Equity ETF (CBOE:FYEE) has paid more cash while writing far fewer checks.

#income #quarterly

Giving out checks to Americans has emerged as one of President Trump's major messages in the final weeks of the campaign season.
But Americans are skeptical, as multiple polls show voters harbor serious doubts about whether Trump will deliver and whether the cost would hurt the economy.
The president is nevertheless determined to escalate the issue with 29 days until the midterm elections. This past weekend, he mentioned checks at every campaign stop and made a new pledge to send $90 to millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B.
The payment is intended to offset October Medicare premiums and will be deposited this month, but Trump emphasized that it will come in the form of cash.
"Over 20 million seniors on Medicare will soon be receiving a deposit of nearly $100 directly into their bank accounts," he announced on Truth Social. "You'll get your money almost immediately."

#medicare #Trump #whether #part

Disney raised prices on many of its theme park offerings today, coinciding with the start of the company’s new fiscal year. But consumers aren’t pushing back the way they did a few years ago.
Disney’s price hikes are an annual October ritual for the company, and it’s always a tricky balancing act between increasing revenue and consumers’ willingness to pay.
Many ticket types, passes and add-ons at Disneyland are not increasing at all this time. But premium products are getting more expensive, like the highest-level, skip-the-line service at Walt Disney World, which could now run just shy of the $500 mark during peak demand.
It’s a reflection of the company’s strategy: Spread the price boosts across different audiences, while leaving bottom-tier prices - like the slowest season, one-day, one-park tickets - unchanged.
Its theme parks strategy, Disney said, has evolved over time. Higher-priced premium products and add-ons, alongside targeted discounts and a refresh of older attractions, allowed the company this summer to generate the strongest parks and cruises revenue in two years.

#disney #company #consumers

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed no regret about daring financial markets to bet against his currency and bond market interventions.
"The house doesn't win every hand," Bessent told Axios. "The house plays percentages."
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

#ramsey

President Trump has announced that the administration will send a one-time $90 payment to 21 million people enrolled in Medicare Part B coverage. The payments will be issued automatically to qualified Medicare beneficiaries starting this week.
Not everyone enrolled in Medicare Part B will be paid. There are over 70 million people enrolled in Medicare, with almost 63 million in Part B, which covers general medical care and preventive health services.
In a White House statement, the president said the "premium rebates" are intended to help "enrollees pay for their Medicare Part B premiums."
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 for 2026, up from $185 in 2025.
Read more: Medicare changes coming in 2027: What to know before open enrollment

#part #president #premium #House

One-time trillionaire Elon Musk is known for his bombastic behavior and predictions. At one point in early 2012, he proclaimed that Tesla would be entirely self-funded.
"Tesla does not need to ever raise another funding round," Musk said in February 2012 in response to a question on the company's financial position and the speed at which it was burning through cash. He relayed robust confidence in managing Tesla's self-funded future at the time.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

#tesla

Clark Howard calls Medicare Advantage plans "disadvantage plans," warning the new SCAN Costco HMO prioritizes cost savings over patient care through prior authorization denials.
In a serious illness year, a $0-premium Advantage plan can cost $6,807 more than Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G, which caps costs at $283 annually.
Choosing Advantage at 65 may permanently lock you out of Medigap coverage if you get sick later, since most states allow insurers to deny or upcharge applicants.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
"Costco. Do you know what you're doing here? You know who you're messing around with?" Consumer advocate Clark Howard, usually one of the warehouse club's biggest fans, said that on his show on October 5.

#clark #plan #plans

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) dropped by almost 800,000 barrels last week, and the Trump administration moved forward with plans to sell another 40 million barrels in the coming months.
New data released on Monday by the US Department of Energy showed the US energy backstop sitting at 283 million barrels, down from 283.77 million the week prior.
That leaves about two weeks of US oil consumption in the reserve amid widespread worries about global stockpiles, which the head of Saudi Arabia's state producer on Monday called "scarily thin."
Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Aramco, added at an Energy Intelligence Forum in London on Monday that releasing stockpiles will buy economies some time but won't fix the imbalances that have developed between supply and demand.
Yet these withdrawals in the US could soon accelerate after the Trump administration unveiled a request for bids from companies to buy up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR, with the aim of having the companies return those supplies "with additional premium barrels." The solicitation process is ongoing, and it's unclear if companies will agree to those terms.

#Companies #saudi #week

By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million ‌Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, ‌to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said was given $2 billion by Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program.
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial promises the Republican leader has made to ‌voters heading into the November ⁠midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Trump's Republican Party currently has a narrow majority in both the Senate ⁠and the House of Representatives but his approval rating has been low over his handling of the high cost of living for Americans during the US-Israeli war on Iran that has spiked oil and gas prices.

#americans #insurance #program #singh

Sean Combs was reportedly placed back in solitary confinement following a NBC News report that the music mogul was using a contraband cellphone to scroll on Instagram, kept a private stash of premium liquor, and had access to a jailbroken tablet where he watched a Netflix documentary about himself.
The 56-year-old was put in a special housing unit, both NBC and TMZ have reported, after footage was released of Combs seemingly using a cell phone while serving his 50-month sentence at Fort Dix in New Jersey. This would be Combs' second time placed in isolation, following a physical fight with a fellow inmate in July.
More from Rolling Stone
Rihanna Shooting Suspect Indicted by Grand Jury, Pleads Not Guilty to Upgraded Charges
Chris Brown Will Get New Dog Attack Trial, But Only If Housekeeper Rejects Reduced $9.5 Million Award

#following #Instagram #july

On August 6, Aflac (NYSE:AFL) reported second-quarter numbers that point in opposite directions. Net earnings climbed to $825 million, helped along by investment losses that shrank to $153 million from $421 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings, though, fell 7.7% to $883 million. Both numbers are real, but they answer different questions. Which measure you trust changes the story, so here is what sits underneath.
Start with the yen, because it is muddying the picture. The average rate was 159.45 to the dollar, 9.3% weaker than a year earlier, and that cost adjusted earnings $0.05 a share. Take the currency out of the first half and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.1% to $3.57. ******* an is also running more profitably. Its pretax adjusted margin widened to 34.3% from 32.0% as claims took a smaller bite out of premiums, and yen-based pretax adjusted earnings rose 3.4%. So part of the decline in ******* an's dollar-reported profit is currency, not operations.
The US business is still growing at the top line. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion, and sales climbed 2.6% to $349 million, led by group voluntary benefits along with dental and vision plans. In ******* an, the refreshed Tsumitasu life policy and the new Anshin Palette medical product grew strongly in the quarter, and first-half sales rose 7.0% to ¥37.3 billion. Then there is the cash. Aflac returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter, $983 million of it through buybacks, and declared a $0.61 third-quarter dividend, payable September 1 to holders of record on August 19, 2026. Management notes 43 straight years of dividend increases through 2025 and says the board is on a path to extend that in 2026.
The catch is that ******* an's profit gains came from lower claims, not a bigger business. Net earned premiums in yen fell 3.7%, mainly because of a new external reinsurance deal and older limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status. Premium persistency, the share of policies customers keep, slipped to 92.7% from 93.7%. ******* an's pretax adjusted earnings still fell 2.1% once currency is stripped out, and new sales dipped 5.6% in the quarter against a tough comparison for the Miraito cancer product, which launched in March 2025.
The US segment has its own soft spot. Pretax adjusted earnings fell 4.6% to $370 million, and the margin narrowed to 20.9% from 22.5% as claims and benefits took a bigger share of premiums. Corporate and Other swung to a $10 million pretax adjusted loss from a $20 million gain a year earlier, with interest expense up 21.6% to $62 million. And adjusted book value per share, excluding foreign currency remeasurement, slid to $41.22 at June 30 from $42.97 a year earlier.

#earnings #fell

On September 9, 2026, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone and the biggest change to the iPhone's design in nearly 20 years, at the first product launch event led by new CEO John Ternus since he succeeded Tim Cook on September 1. The book-style, passport-shaped device opens into a 7.6-inch display, Apple's largest ever, starts at $1,999 for the 256-gigabyte model and rises to $3,199 for 2 terabytes of storage. This makes it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold, with availability set for October 23.
The iPhone Duo gives Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) a new premium growth opportunity in a mature smartphone market. Apple entered the foldable market with the $1,999 Duo. It creates a new high-end product category within its largest hardware franchise. ******* ysts expect Apple to take a real share of the foldable market. The firm's brand strength and large installed base could help speed up use of foldable smartphones.
The Duo creates a materially different iPhone experience that could encourage upgrades and attract Android users. The device opens to a 7.6-inch display, supports side-by-side multitasking, and offers a tablet-like experience in a pocketable design. Apple also shows the Duo's ******* anium frame, custom hinge, A20 Pro chip, and Apple Intelligence features. It gives customers several reasons to pay a substantial premium for the new form factor.
The launch solidifies Apple's hardware innovation strategy under new CEO John Ternus. The Duo represents Apple's most significant iPhone redesign since the iPhone X. It gives Ternus an opportunity to reignite enthusiasm around the company's hardware portfolio. The product also expands Apple's ability to monetize its ecosystem through higher-value hardware, services, and accessories as customers spend more time using a larger, more versatile iPhone.
The $1,999 starting price could keep the Duo a niche product. Reuters reported that the global foldable market could account for less than 3% of smartphone sales in 2026. ******* ysts expect only about 6 million Duo units as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) enters the category. Even strong market share would turn into a relatively small contribution compared with Apple's broader iPhone business.

#iphone #aapl