On September 14, during the episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer said CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is emerging as a beneficiary of growing concerns over the cybersecurity risks created by artificial intelligence, as he said:
Over the weekend, the co-founder and CEO of Anthropic published an essay where he pushed for a slowdown among the frontier AI labs in order to handle newfound security concerns. In response to that, the cybersecurity cohort just went crazy because there are the companies that can prevent AI agents from randomly hacking into networks all over the world, and it's the cybersecurity companies. Take CrowdStrike, which shot up nearly 14% today, leading the S&P 500, something I feel great about, of course, because we own it big for the Charitable Trust. These guys have been adamant that AI represented a great opportunity for their business, and now Wall Street's finally gotten the memo.
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CRWD) second-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue increased 26% year over year to $1.47 billion, while ending annual recurring revenue rose 25% to $5.84 billion. Net new ARR reached a record $332.8 million, and free cash flow was $377.4 million. The company also raised its full-year fiscal 2027 net new ARR growth outlook to 34% at the midpoint, up 630 basis points. CEO George Kurtz said the company believes securing AI is its "largest market opportunity in our history."
Kurtz said on September 14 that AI-driven threats are already operating at machine speed, describing the emerging threat as autonomous campaigns rather than individual hackers. He identified endpoints, cloud workloads and SaaS as key battlegrounds and said "enforcement at machine speed" is needed to stop AI agents in motion. CrowdStrike has responded by expanding into AI-agent, model and infrastructure protection, including Continuous Identity for AI Agents and Falcon AI Detection and Response.
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CRWD) valuation leaves little room for a meaningful slowdown in growth. Yahoo Finance currently shows a forward P/E of approximately 188.7 times and a price-to-sales ratio of roughly 44.6 times. Those multiples leave little room for a material slowdown in ARR growth, weaker adoption of newer products, or greater competitive pressure. The company also remains much less profitable on a GAAP basis than its adjusted results suggest. The company reported a $33.2 million GAAP operating loss in the latest quarter against $371.6 million of non-GAAP operating income, while stock-based compensation and related employer payroll taxes totaled $399 million.

#crwd

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) has secured Madrid as the fourth city covered by its partnership with WeRide, bringing Spain into its rapidly expanding autonomous vehicle network. The company's broader AV strategy covers more than 30 partners, while Uber expects to commit more than $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years. At the center of that strategy is Uber's decision not to build self-driving technology itself. Instead, the company wants to become the indispensable demand layer for whichever AV providers ultimately emerge as winners. Yet the diversification strategy is facing pressure in key areas. One of its most prominent AV partners is pulling back, while another remains under an active safety investigation.
Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO have secured Spain's first national permit covering level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles. The permit was issued by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic and allows the companies to begin deployment preparations on public roads in Madrid. Under the permit, WeRide can test its GXR vehicles and conduct roadmapping throughout Madrid in preparation for a commercial launch planned for year-end. The rollout will begin with 20 vehicles, each supervised by an in-car specialist, operating across high-demand areas of Greater Madrid. Madrid becomes the fourth city included in the Uber-WeRide partnership, which plans to reach 15 cities globally by 2030. The expansion also fits Uber's broader ******* et-light AV strategy, which includes more than 30 partnerships while Uber expects to commit over $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years.
The diversification of Uber's AV network does not eliminate risks from individual partners. Uber and Waymo confirmed in late June that their Phoenix partnership had ended, while Waymo is reportedly considering a broader exit from its relationship with Uber. This comes even as Uber executives have publicly criticized Waymo's model while investing substantial capital in competing fleets. Avride is facing a separate challenge, with the NHTSA investigating the Uber AV partner after multiple crashes. At the same time, Tesla is ramping up its own Cybercab fleet, while Waymo has raised $16 billion to accelerate its independent growth. Together, these moves could reduce Waymo's reliance on Uber while increasing competitive pressure on Uber's AV platform.

#madrid #waymo

Immigrants applying to live permanently in the United States can be rejected if they receive public benefits, beginning this week.
Use of Medicaid, food stamps, tuition ******* istance and free school lunch programs, among other government ******* istance, could all be grounds for denying a green-card application.
Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.
The policy from President Donald Trump's administration, which took effect Friday, marks a dramatic change to a long-standing federal policy consistent with the president's efforts to restrict legal immigration pathways.
The rule could reduce federal and state payments by $13 billion a year, by persuading some 950,000 people to disenroll from or avoid federal safety net programs, according to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security. The agency said that the rule aligns with Congress's intent that noncitizens "in the United States be self-sufficient and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits."

#states

Core & Main, Inc. (NYSE:CNM) reported quarterly sales of $2.145 billion on September 9, up 2.5%. Company-defined non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA reached $274 million. The measure adjusts consolidated net income for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, equity compensation, debt modification and extinguishment losses, offering expenses, and specified other income or expenses.
Consolidated net income rose 6.4% to $150 million, while GAAP diluted earnings per share increased 10% to $0.77. Diluted weighted-average shares declined approximately 2.5% to 193.4 million. Buybacks amplified an improvement that also had an operating foundation.
The company repurchased $169 million of equity during the quarter, against $62 million of operating cash flow. The investment question is whether cash generation can sustain capital returns alongside the spending needed to grow.
Core & Main, Inc. (NYSE:CNM) benefits from demand for essential infrastructure products. Management highlighted municipal demand, fire protection, treatment plants, and data centers as areas of strength. These end markets provide several sources of business even when construction demand is uneven.
Expense discipline also helped. Quarterly selling, general and administrative expenses declined to $301 million from $302 million. Controlling overhead allows modest sales growth to contribute more to earnings. Stronger volumes would make further earnings gains easier to sustain.

#income #main #quarterly

Evommune, Inc. (NYSE:EVMN) announced on September 8 that EVO756 missed its primary endpoint in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial involving 121 adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The primary measure was the percentage change from baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index, or EASI, at week 12. No tested dose met the primary or secondary endpoints, and development in that indication will stop.
Evommune, Inc. (NYSE:EVMN) had already discontinued EVO756 for chronic spontaneous urticaria following a June trial failure. Development continues in migraine prevention. The setbacks place greater weight on EVO301, which has positive Phase 2a eczema data and a Phase 2b study planned for mid-2027.
Evommune, Inc. (NYSE:EVMN) has clinical evidence supporting its next eczema program. In February, the company reported that EVO301 met the primary endpoint in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial involving 70 adults. Participants received two intravenous doses or placebo over a 12-week study.
Evommune, Inc. (NYSE:EVMN) reported a 55% EASI reduction with EVO301 versus 22% with placebo at week 12, a difference of 33 percentage points. The study met its prespecified Bayesian success criterion, and a separate conventional ****** ysis showed statistical significance at p

Amazon raised minimum starting pay for its U.S. full-time core operations employees to $20 an hour on Wednesday, a $1-per-hour increase for front-line workers who sort, pack, and transport orders.
Amazon said the typical hourly rate for those workers climbs to nearly $24, and that when benefits are counted, total compensation comes out to more than $32 an hour. Amazon said its minimum starting pay has risen more than 17% over the past three years.
The announcement arrives as Amazon approaches the peak holiday shopping season. According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon hired 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers in advance of last year's holiday period.
Along with the pay increase, Amazon announced two new benefits. Beginning Oct. 1, all U.S. Amazon employees will receive a grocery discount — 10% off eligible groceries and everyday essentials on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market online, and 20% off in-store at Whole Foods. The discount can be combined with existing Prime member discounts, the company said.
Amazon also said it is launching a banking benefit called Day 1 Financial, through which qualified employees and their families can obtain a lifelong membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union. The benefit includes accounts with no overdraft fees, no monthly maintenance fees, and no account minimums, as well as access to credit cards, auto loans, and home loans for those who qualify. The company said the rollout will start in late 2026, with broad availability expected in 2027.

#time #employees #credit #starting

Updated Sept 16, 2026, 12:44 pm EDT / Original Sept 16, 2026, 10:49 am EDT
Power availability is a key constraint to
AI growthExternal link
. Computers need to be turned on. That idea has sent data center operators scrambling for internally controlled power-generation solutions, helping send shares of power-equipment providers to the moon.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
U.S.-Canada energy trade already delivers energy security and abundance for consumers on a larger scale than Venezuela can provide, Ben Cahill writes.

#power #sept #updated

On August 5, Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK) reported the strongest quarterly results in company history and raised its full-year 2026 guidance. The Permian-focused midstream operator posted net income, including noncontrolling interest, of $123.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, while Adjusted EBITDA climbed to $280.8 million. Management didn't stop at celebrating the number. It used the quarter as the launchpad for a string of expansion decisions that stretch out to 2028.
The Midstream Logistics segment, Kinetik's largest, grew Adjusted EBITDA 35% year over year to $204.8 million in the second quarter, even though processed natural gas volumes held flat at 1.74 Bcf/d. That flat number actually undersells the quarter. It came despite roughly 250 million cubic feet per day of gas that had been shut in because of weak Waha-area pricing, with stronger natural gas liquid recoveries, condensate yields, and favorable commodity spreads carrying the segment instead.
Management is betting the growth continues well past 2026. In May, Kinetik reached a final investment decision on Kings Landing II, a roughly $260 million project that will lift sour gas processing capacity across the company's Delaware North complex above 700 MMcf/d and push total system capacity to 2.7 Bcf/d when it comes online in mid-2028, earlier than previously communicated. The ECCC Pipeline, which links the system's northern and southern halves between Eddy and Culberson Counties, is now in service, and right-of-way work has already begun on a follow-on expansion for 2027.
Kinetik also locked in new firm Gulf Coast access for residue gas starting in 2027 and signed fresh natural gas liquids transport agreements, both aimed at getting better prices for the gas it moves. On the back of that momentum, Kinetik raised its full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $1.04 billion to $1.1 billion, a 7% ***** p from the guidance it issued in February.
Not every part of the business is moving in the same direction. The Pipeline Transportation segment posted Adjusted EBITDA of $83.0 million in the quarter, down 14% year over year, a decline the company attributes to last year's divestiture of its equity stake in EPIC Crude Holdings. That sale removed a source of cash flow the rest of the business now has to make up for. Kinetik also expects gas curtailments to keep running at an average of 25 million cubic feet per day through the second half of 2026, on top of the Waha-driven shut-ins that already weighed on the quarter. Its own pricing ***** umptions underline the regional problem: the company is now modeling Waha Hub natural gas at negative $0.26 per MMBtu for the full year, meaning gas in parts of the Permian is priced so low that moving it out of the basin is the whole game.

#quarter

On September 11, Elastic (NYSE:ESTC) rolled out Elasticsearch Vector Database, a new serverless offering the company says lets developers ship large-scale vector search and AI applications without stitching together the usual pile of infrastructure themselves. The launch landed less than three weeks after Elastic posted first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on August 27, for the period ended July 31, giving investors a fresh product story to weigh against a quarter that already showed accelerating growth.
The new database automates what used to require manual **** embly: chunking documents, hosting embedding and reranking models, configuring indexes, and wiring query-time retrieval. Elastic built in expert-tuned defaults, a single field type that handles indexing, embeddings, and chunking together, and hybrid search that combines full-text and vector retrieval in one query. The system scales to hundreds of billions of vectors using Elastic's Better Binary Quantization, which the company says shrinks vector memory by up to 32 times while keeping recall high, and pricing is based on data and search capacity rather than the opaque compute units the company says define most pure-play vector database pricing.
That product push follows a quarter that was already running hot. Total revenue reached $478 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, up 15% year over year, while current remaining performance obligations grew 21% and remaining performance obligations grew 27%. Sales-led subscription revenue, which strips out Monthly Elastic Cloud, grew 18% year over year to $399 million, outpacing the company's overall subscription growth.
Elastic added more customers with annual contract value above $100,000 than in any prior quarter, pushing that cohort past 1,800 from over 1,720 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and over 1,550 a year earlier. Net expansion rate held around 111%, and the company generated $143 million in adjusted free cash flow during the quarter. Guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2027, ending October 31, calls for revenue of $486 million to $487 million and a swing to positive GAAP operating margin, with full fiscal 2027 non-GAAP operating margin guided to roughly 19.4%, up from 16.2% in the quarter just reported.
Growth came with a reminder that Elastic has not fully crossed into GAAP profitability. The company posted a GAAP operating loss of $24 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, a -5% operating margin, and a GAAP net loss per share of $0.16. Non-GAAP figures told a healthier story, with $77 million in non-GAAP operating income and $0.70 in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, but the gap between the two measures shows how much of Elastic's reported profitability still depends on excluding real costs like stock-based compensation.

#elastic #vector #company

AARP projects a 3.6% Social Security COLA for 2027, adding roughly $75 monthly to the average check, while the Senior Citizens League forecasts 3.5%.
The official COLA drops October 14, but the Medicare Part B premium that offsets it won't be announced until November, leaving budgeters with incomplete data.
Hold-harmless rules protect most retirees from net payment cuts, but higher-income enrollees facing IRMAA surcharges and newly enrolled Medicare recipients get no such protection.
Read More: Learn 7 secret wealth tips high net worth investors use that most investors miss (sponsor)
The projected Social Security raise for 2027 is the biggest in years, and it is also a moving target, according to recent reports. In the same week, two of the most closely watched forecasters revised their estimates in opposite directions. Neither is official, and the actual number will not be announced until October; the Medicare premium that determines how much of the raise reaches a retiree's bank account will not be announced until November. Anyone budgeting today is working with half the picture.

#medicare #announced #november

Walmart and SCAN Health Plan announced a partnership on Wednesday to offer co-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states, targeting a pool of more than two million Medicare enrollees.
The plans, pending regulatory approval, may include pharmacy, vision, food, and over-the-counter benefits, the companies said. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins Oct. 15, according to MarketWatch.
A central feature of the partnership is Walmart's Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI tool designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance based on members' shopping preferences and self-reported wellness goals. The companies said they plan to make that capability available to participating plan members as part of broader coaching and wellness support.
"By combining Walmart's technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN's Medicare product experience, we have an opportunity to develop products that translate those insights into meaningful support that helps members make more informed choices about their health and well-being," said Zack Myers, national general manager of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement.
Walmart Group Director for Consumer Health and Data Solutions Pravene Nath said the collaboration is distinct because of Walmart's role in customers' everyday lives. "Because customers regularly turn to Walmart for groceries and other everyday essentials, we have an opportunity for those who choose to participate, to use insights from their shopping experiences to make nutrition guidance more relevant and actionable," Nath said in a statement.

#Wellness #members #scan #advantage

Oscar Health (OSCR) raised its full-year earnings outlook while lowering its expected medical costs to cover benefits for its nearly 3 million Affordable Care Act exchange members. OSCR stock climbed in early Wednesday stock market action ahead of its 9 a.m. ET investor conference.
Oscar, which made an aggressive play to gain ACA market share, has seen enrollment surge 47% from a year ago as of June 30, even as overall enrollment has plunged due to the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies. As of now, it looks like the bet is paying off in a big way, with shares up 126% this year through Tuesday. But it's still a bit early to know, because Oscar's earnings depend not only on its own members' costs, but also those of other ACA insurers.
The ACA's No. 2 insurer by membership behind Centene (CNC) said that it now expects its medical loss ratio, or benefit costs as a share of premiums, to be in the 81% to 82% range, down from the prior outlook of 81.5% to 82.5%.
Oscar boosted its outlook for earnings from operations by $100 million at both ends to a range of $600 million to $800 million. The unchanged revenue outlook, between $18.7 billion and $19 billion, implies that no additional customer churn is expected.
Here is what investors should keep in mind. Compared to the overall ACA risk pool, Oscar's enrollment is relatively young, healthy and more likely to sign up for very-high-deductible bronze plans. Yet based on its relatively healthy risk pool, Oscar expects about 20% of its premiums will be paid out via risk adjustment to other carriers under ACA rules. That means results in the second half of this year depend to a large degree on the level of healthcare utilization by non-Oscar members. As of now, it's a bit early to tell, since healthcare spending tends to rise as the year progresses and insured members exhaust their deductibles.

#oscar #year

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Management is deliberately shifting the business model toward a more diversified energy company by balancing legacy long-life non-operated ******* ets with high-margin mineral and royalty interests.
The fourth quarter recovery was driven by the roll-off of temporary operational items, increased production, and improved operating costs per barrel, which more than doubled adjusted EBITDA sequentially.
Portfolio resilience was demonstrated by stronger liquids pricing and improved operations offsetting persistent natural gas pricing headwinds and regional differentials.
The company maintains a 'steady as she goes' outlook for oil demand while anticipating long-term natural gas demand growth from LNG expansion and data center power needs.

#company #improved #demand #NVIDIA

If online prediction markets are correct, the Democrats are likely to win back the House and Senate in November. On Polymarket, there's currently a 53% chance of a Democratic sweep.
If you're a crypto investor, that outcome could have important consequences for your portfolio. That's especially the case if Democrats delay, roll back, or block important pro-crypto legislation. With that in mind, here's one crypto to buy and one crypto to sell.
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 »
My one crypto to buy is Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC). It is still the most popular cryptocurrency, accounting for a whopping 60% of the crypto market's total $2.6 trillion market cap. As Bitcoin goes, so goes the crypto market.
As a result, Bitcoin currently has the support of both Wall Street and the White House, so any political fallout from the midterm elections in the event of a Democratic sweep should be minimal. Regulators already agree that Bitcoin is a commodity, not a security. Thus, even if the Clarity Act does not pass this year, it shouldn't have a direct impact on the regulatory status of Bitcoin and how institutional investors view it.

#NVIDIA #flashing #total

As markets anxiously await the outcome of the current FOMC meeting, Treasury yields notched new 19-year highs in trading Tuesday. The closely watched 10-year surpassed 5.0% Tuesday morning in a high not seen since July 2007. Even the 30-year Treasury yield rose sharply, hitting 5.4%, its highest since June 2007.
In addition to worries over persistent, rising core inflation (one of the Fed's preferred inflation measurements), skyrocketing oil prices and shortages create further pressure on Treasuries. Currently, the rolling one-month correlation between the 10-year Treasury yield and front-month WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude sits at 0.96 per BMO Capital Markets ****** ysis.
Bond yields and oil prices have moved in tandem for much of this year as investors position for the longer-term inflationary impact of higher oil prices. And with major oil execs sounding the alarm on global supply cache shortages and strategic reserves depletion that help to temporarily soften spiking oil prices for consumers, these pricing pressures are likely to continue in the near-term. Saudi Arabia announced the closure of its East-West pipeline that bypassed the Strait of Hormuz after it came under attack late last week, and cancelled some shipments to Europe, reported Reuters.
"Normally, the relationship isn't as clean as it is now, but the geopolitical drivers behind the price of oil and global inflation are so prominent that the normally modest correlation has become much tighter," Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist, Interactive Brokers told CNBC. "As long as oil prices remain firm and continue to drift higher, this will add pressure to interest rates."
As macro uncertainty continues and inflation persists, bonds and oil/energy will be categories to keep a weather eye towards and could see renewed ETF investor attention. Currently, investors are seizing the opportunity in longer-term bonds, with $9.7 billion flowing into the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) in the last three months though the fund is only up $3.4 billion net YTD according to FactSet data. It will be a category likely to see action in the wake of the FOMC rate decision. As bond yields climb, prices fall as they move inverse to each other, and should yields climb higher, investors may choose to scoop up longer duration bonds at depreciated prices for future gains. However, an exodus is more likely until the path of rate hikes becomes more certain.

#treasury #longer #higher

Coca-Cola announced plans Tuesday to invest $10 billion in U.S. infrastructure between 2026 and 2030, covering new and expanded production, distribution and office facilities across the country.
That $10 billion commitment is calculated across the full Coca-Cola system — meaning it rolls in spending by bottling partners and is not limited to the parent company's own capital budget, according to Reuters. In July, the company forecast its own capital expenditure at approximately $2.2 billion for the fiscal year. Projects covered by the broader $10 billion commitment include previously announced work in Rancho Cucamonga, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Birmingham, Alabama; Coopersville, Michigan; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida; and Webster, New York, the company said.
The announcement accompanied an independently commissioned study measuring the Coca-Cola system's 2025 economic contributions in the United States. The study found the system contributed $85 billion to U.S. gross domestic product — roughly $10 million in economic activity per hour — and supported nearly 1 million jobs, the company said. Rounding out the economic picture, the system directed roughly $37 billion toward American suppliers and channeled $177 million into community initiatives via The Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
"This ****** sment reinforces what we see every day: the Coca-Cola system is deeply rooted in America and continues to deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve," John Murphy, president and chief financial officer of The Coca-Cola Company, said in a statement.
The company said its production network spans more than 70 facilities and hundreds of distribution centers across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with the system's economic contributions exceeding $1 billion in 25 states. The study was conducted by Steward Redqueen.

#billion #economic #across #study

On September 8, United Natural Foods Inc. (NYSE:UNFI) announced its fourth quarter and full FY26 results. For the final quarter, the company posted an adjusted EBITDA of $172 million, which grew 48.3% compared to Q4 FY25. United's fourth quarter adjusted EPS of $0.69 took a sharp turn relative to a $0.11 adjusted loss per share for the same period last year. Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter stood at $197 million, along with free cash flow of $80 million.
Nejron Photo/Shutterstock.com
Amid a favorable customer mix and network optimizations, United delivered Q4 gross profit of $1,050 million, increasing marginally by 1.9% from the same period last year. This led to a gross margin of 13.7%, compared to 13.4% recorded in Q4 FY25. Cost-saving initiatives, which included efficient productivity through distribution centers and network optimizations, translated into lower operating expenses on a year-over-year basis. It helped United jump from an $87 million net loss for Q4 FY25 to a net income of $35 million during the recently concluded quarter.
For the complete fiscal year, the company delivered an adjusted EBITDA of $701 million, showcasing a 27% growth compared to FY25. Full-year adjusted EPS also climbed from $0.71 last year to $2.65. United generated FY26 operating cash flow of $540 million and free cash flow of $323 million.
Several encouraging operational developments took place during the fourth quarter. United initiated onboarding additional business from its existing customer base, as well as the new ones. Topline impact of such additions will be seen during FY27, once the broader optimization initiatives have cycled through. For its Lean Daily Management (LDM) program, the company concluded a preliminary rollout covering 44 distribution centers. This resulted in year-over-year enhancement in fill rates, throughput, and on-time deliveries, for four consecutive quarters.

#cash #flow #fourth #company

Enova International Inc (NYSE:ENVA) withdrew regulatory applications for its planned Grasshopper Bancorp acquisition on Tuesday, sending shares sharply lower despite reaffirmed growth forecasts and plans for faster buybacks.
Shares fell 25% to $169.50 following the company's acquisition update.
The technology and ******* ytics company pulled applications with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve after reviewing the transaction and bank approval process.
CEO Steve Cunningham said withdrawing the applications was the best choice for Enova and its shareholders, adding that the company can keep growing without becoming a bank.
He argued that banking rules have not kept pace with the credit needs of consumers and small businesses that banks do not adequately serve.

#acquisition #bank #international

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.

#vaccine #pfizer #NYSE

Broyhill **** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill **** et Management highlighted First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA). First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) operates as the holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, providing retail and commercial banking services. On September 14, 2026, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) closed at $2,173.88 per share. Over the past month, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) declined 1.03%, but its shares are up 17.10% over the past year. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) has a market capitalization of $24.55 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $1,623.76 to $2,296.30.
Broyhill **** et Management stated the following regarding First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA), initiated in June, is a well-run company which we believe to be undervalued and with catalysts on the horizon. The company has retired almost 20% of its Class A shares since July 2024, and inside its roughly $25 billion market capitalization sits a rail leasing fleet of approximately 128,000 cars valued by the market at bank multiples. Management has proven themselves highly competent and highly aligned with shareholders, with the Holding family in key executive positions, owning over 20% of the economics and controlling roughly half the vote through their Class B shares. Much of what we are waiting on has a date attached to it: two separations have completed, and Masco and First Citizens are retiring shares at a pace that improves per-share value whether or not the multiples change."

#fcnca #market

Broyhill **** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill **** et Management highlighted Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO). Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) is a route-based service provider that offers a range of pest control services. On September 14, 2026, Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) closed at $22.55 per share. Over the past month, Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) declined 5.34%, but its shares are down 10.61% over the past year. Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) has a market capitalization of $11.2 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $22.24 to $34.67.
Broyhill **** et Management stated the following regarding Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) declined 9%. North American pest organic growth of 2.8% was entirely price, and customer retention remains near 80%. Our thesis is that the significant valuation discount to peer Rollins (almost half at the end of the second quarter) narrows as the Terminix integration is delivered."
Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 15 hedge fund portfolios held Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 19 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#quarter #letter #investor

Broyhill **** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill **** et Management highlighted IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV). IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) is a US-based provider of clinical research services, commercial insights, and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. On September 14, 2026, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) closed at $265.67 per share. Over the past month, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) returned 10.68%, and its shares are up 42.21% over the past year. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) has a market capitalization of $43.73 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $154.50 to $271.80.
Broyhill **** et Management stated the following regarding IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) gained 14% after being our largest detractor in the first quarter. We set out our full case last quarter and will not repeat it here. The second quarter added evidence: results came in ahead, and request-for-proposal flow and award timing both improved. We trimmed the position in June and rolled the proceeds into Thermo Fisher, an exercise in portfolio management rather than a statement about our conviction."
IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 58 hedge fund portfolios held IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) at the end of the second quarter, down from 64 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#iqvia

Carter's unveiled a new brand identity and marketing campaign on Tuesday, as the children's clothing company works to attract a younger generation of parents and build on a recent business turnaround.
The rebrand centers on a new brand promise — "Let every child's light shine" — and a refreshed logo in which a shooting star replaces the apostrophe in the Carter's wordmark, the company said. A new 60-second film called "Watch Them Glow" will debut across connected television as the first major marketing expression of the new direction.
Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Crockett told CNBC that the company sees a significant shift in its core customer base. Gen Z is expected to account for a large share of new parents over the next several years, according to Carter's, and those parents tend to let children make their own clothing choices and turn to social media for guidance.
"We had an opportunity to really tap into the values that parents are bringing into the household," Crockett told CNBC.
The new identity will begin rolling out across Carter's channels in 2026, with additional retail, product, and packaging elements to follow in 2027, the company said. Carter's is also launching a creator program called Light Makers, featuring voices across North America, and expanding partnerships with organizations including Outward Bound and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

#parents #Marketing #cnbc #America

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) reported on August 14 that the European Medicines Agency has validated the Marketing Authorization Application for PF-07307405, the companies' experimental Lyme disease vaccine candidate, and will now begin the official review.
For a vaccine candidate first proposed in a 2020 collaboration deal between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and French biotech Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), this represents the formal transition from years of clinical development into European regulatory review.
The application is based on the Phase 3 VALOR trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized study of 9,437 participants aged five and older from high-incidence Lyme disease locations in US, Canada, and Europe. Participants got four doses on a phased schedule: one at months 0, 2, and 5-9, followed by a fourth dosage around a year later, shortly before the start of the next Lyme season. Topline data released in March 2026 demonstrated efficacy of over 70% in reducing confirmed Lyme disease cases, with the vaccine generally tolerated and no safety issues detected. However, the statistical picture was less clean than the headline efficacy suggests. The first prespecified **** ysis, which served as the primary endpoint, showed 73.2% efficacy but failed the trial's predefined statistical criterion because the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 15.8%, below the required 20%. A second prespecified **** ysis showed 74.8% efficacy and did meet that threshold.
Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), the smallest of the two partners, views the vaccine as a clean competitive setup. According to the company, PF-07307405 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate currently in clinical development, a rare spot in the vaccine industry where new entrants often face competition from existing treatments. Under the terms of the 2020 partnership and license agreement, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will have exclusive rights to produce and commercialize the vaccine if it is approved, while Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) will benefit as a development partner.
The institutional stance is very different between the two companies, reflecting their very different sizes. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is still a strong name in the institutional **** e, with hedge fund ownership stable at 83 funds in the second quarter of 2026, the same as the first quarter, reflecting its position as a large, diversified pharmaceutical holding, rather than a name driven by a specific pipeline event. Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN), however, has little hedge fund exposure, with only 4 funds holding a position in the second quarter, up from 1 in the first quarter, reflecting the continued lack of visibility of the smaller partner among institutional investors.

#disease

Broyhill ******* et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill ******* et Management highlighted First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA). First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) operates as the holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, providing retail and commercial banking services. On September 14, 2026, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) closed at $2,173.88 per share. Over the past month, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) declined 1.03%, but its shares are up 17.10% over the past year. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) has a market capitalization of $24.55 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $1,623.76 to $2,296.30.
Broyhill ******* et Management stated the following regarding First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCNCA), initiated in June, is a well-run company which we believe to be undervalued and with catalysts on the horizon. The company has retired almost 20% of its Class A shares since July 2024, and inside its roughly $25 billion market capitalization sits a rail leasing fleet of approximately 128,000 cars valued by the market at bank multiples. Management has proven themselves highly competent and highly aligned with shareholders, with the Holding family in key executive positions, owning over 20% of the economics and controlling roughly half the vote through their Class B shares. Much of what we are waiting on has a date attached to it: two separations have completed, and Masco and First Citizens are retiring shares at a pace that improves per-share value whether or not the multiples change."

#first #fcnca

Broyhill **** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill **** et Management highlighted Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO). Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) is a route-based service provider that offers a range of pest control services. On September 14, 2026, Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) closed at $22.55 per share. Over the past month, Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) declined 5.34%, but its shares are down 10.61% over the past year. Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) has a market capitalization of $11.2 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $22.24 to $34.67.
Broyhill **** et Management stated the following regarding Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) declined 9%. North American pest organic growth of 2.8% was entirely price, and customer retention remains near 80%. Our thesis is that the significant valuation discount to peer Rollins (almost half at the end of the second quarter) narrows as the Terminix integration is delivered."
Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 15 hedge fund portfolios held Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 19 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#quarter

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The news that the giant AI technology provider Anthropic launched Claude for Financial Advisors was received with some skepticism by industry **** ysts, but overall, many wealth management technology providers and consultants shared their excitement and enthusiasm, noting that the company had presented them with something that could, if implemented well, solve many issues with current advisor tech stacks.
"I find it positive that Anthropic has sent these signals to the market and it is good for the industry overall," said longtime **** yst Alois Pirker, who is now the CEO of his own consultancy, Pirker Partners.
"Nonetheless, my sense is that Claude will hit the same problem as Salesforce, getting to the level of specificity that financial advisors need," he said, referring to the behemoth CRM provider and its initial rollout of Salesforce for Financial Services, which reached general availability a decade ago (and later changed its name to Salesforce Financial Services Cloud).
One way in which the technology industry responded to advisors' desire for such specificity was the development of the specialized and popular advisor CRM product Practifi, he said, which is built on top of Salesforce and caters to certain types of firms in need of more customization.

#financial #advisors #wealthmanagement

Broyhill **** et Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, which is available for download here. The Broyhill Equity Composite gained 8.8% in Q2, trailing the MSCI All Country World Index's 15.1% and the MSCI ACWI Value Index's 10.8%. For the first half, the Composite returned 2.3%, versus 11.5% for the Index. The letter highlights that a significant portion of the shortfall occurred in April due to market dynamics and geopolitical events, with tech, particularly semiconductors, driving recent gains. Broyhill notes its lack of direct semiconductor exposure but acknowledges potential interest in the sector if opportunities arise, maintaining its investment philosophy focused on capital protection in fragile market conditions. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Broyhill **** et Management highlighted IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV). IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) is a US-based provider of clinical research services, commercial insights, and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. On September 14, 2026, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) closed at $265.67 per share. Over the past month, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) returned 10.68%, and its shares are up 42.21% over the past year. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) has a market capitalization of $43.73 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $154.50 to $271.80.
Broyhill **** et Management stated the following regarding IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) gained 14% after being our largest detractor in the first quarter. We set out our full case last quarter and will not repeat it here. The second quarter added evidence: results came in ahead, and request-for-proposal flow and award timing both improved. We trimmed the position in June and rolled the proceeds into Thermo Fisher, an exercise in portfolio management rather than a statement about our conviction."
IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 58 hedge fund portfolios held IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) at the end of the second quarter, down from 64 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#holdings #letter #investor

Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NYSE-A:OPTT) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $1.7 million, up 44% from a year earlier, as the company expanded its work with US defense and security customers and moved forward with a strategic review process.
Ocean Power Technologies ran three PowerBuoy systems off Southern California for a U.S. Department of Homeland Security maritime domain awareness program, integrated with Anduril's Lattice platform and including a deployment beyond 1,000 meters depth, calling it the company's largest deployment and recurring revenue contract to date.
Ocean Power Technologies also deployed a PowerBuoy system off New Jersey for Rutgers University and delivered a WAM-V unmanned surface vehicle to Stevens Institute of Technology within five weeks of receiving the order.
The company demonstrated autonomous docking, charging and redeployment of a WAM-V, a capability it is working to integrate with the PowerBuoy platform to support longer autonomous missions. It also acquired subsea developmental technology ****** ets from Columbia Power Technologies, extending its capabilities from the ocean surface to the seabed.
Ocean Power Technologies achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 compliance, positioning it to pursue defense programs requiring protection of controlled unclassified information. After the quarter ended, the company was selected as one of six potential awardees under a $40 million multiple-award contract supporting the Naval Oceanographic Office, creating an opportunity to compete for ocean-floor mapping task orders using unmanned surface vehicles.

#ocean #power #technologies #powerbuoy

Iran is deliberately targeting U.S. naval drones in the Strait of Hormuz to gather intelligence on American surveillance capabilities and learn how to evade U.S. defenses, drone experts warned Tuesday.
Tehran's strategy is coordinated, they said, and involves exposing critical insights into U.S. Navy theater operations in the world's most vulnerable maritime choke point even when classified data is uncompromised.
The warning came as tensions escalated in the Gulf region Sept. 14 after the U.S. military destroyed two Iranian small boats amid an attempted seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of an American unmanned surface vessel (USV) patrolling the area, according to reports.
Us Military Attacks Iran In 'Self-defense Strikes' Over Weekend
A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

#Iran #sept