Buying a new car is getting harder just as Ford Motor's stock is having one of its best days of the year.
Ford (F) shares jumped 12.4% Thursday after the automaker delivered better-than-expected adjusted earnings and raised the bottom end of its annual profit outlook.
For shareholders, that was welcome news.
For someone walking into a dealership, Ford's results revealed a less comfortable trend.
From a previous forecast of around $2 billion, Ford now anticipates increased commodity expenses of nearly $2.5 billion this year. The cost of steel, copper, computer chips, gasoline, and transportation is all rising.

#ford

Welltower (WELL) pays out only 52% of normalized FFO, while Ventas (VTR) raised its dividend 8% and improved leverage to a decade-low 4.4x.
Baby boomers turning 80 now number nearly 70 million, yet builders started only 1,000 new senior housing units last quarter.
Sabra's 6% yield comes with a dividend flat since 2020 and a $102 million non-cash loan loss provision recorded in Q2.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Welltower didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat WELL. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Senior housing has one of the clearest demand stories in real estate. On its third-quarter call, Ventas (NYSE:VTR) noted that the baby boomer generation, a cohort of nearly 70 million individuals, began turning 80 this year. Builders started only 1,000 units of new senior housing in the quarter. More 80-year-olds and very few new buildings push occupancy and rents higher, but operator health, labor costs, and government reimbursement decide how much of that reaches shareholders. The four REITs below are all equity REITs that own buildings. None is a mortgage REIT. Dividend safety is measured on FFO, FAD, or AFFO coverage, the cash-flow figures REITs actually pay dividends from.

#senior #million #housing #ventas

Bear markets are a normal part of investing in the stock market. **** ody knows when the next one will arrive, but it will eventually arrive with 100% certainty. The time to prepare is before you face the fear that comes with big market downturns. That's why you should consider owning companies like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG).
But there are two pieces to the story here. First, they all operate in economically resilient industries. Second, they all have incredible dividend track records. Here's a quick look at each one.
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 »
To be fair, you may not be happy about paying for healthcare, since it can be expensive. But you will still pay for it because, in the most extreme cases, it can be the difference between life and death. In less extreme cases, the difference is between a better and worse quality of life, and you'll still probably pay up. The risk of not paying simply isn't worth it.
Johnson & Johnson is a good choice if you are worried about a bear market and are looking for a safe-haven investment. It is a major player in both the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, providing diversification. It is a Dividend King, having rewarded shareholders with more than 50 consecutive annual dividend increases. And while its yield isn't exactly huge at 2%, it is roughly twice what you'd collect from an S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) fund. J&J isn't exactly an exciting company, but it is a reliable one.

#signal

(Bloomberg) -- SK Hynix Inc. (SKHY) plans to return about 80% of the gains from selling down its stake in ***** an's Kioxia Holdings Corp. to shareholders through a special dividend of about 16 trillion won ($12 billion), the DongA Ilbo newspaper reported.
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#corp

AGNC's Q2 spread income of 40 cents per share covered its 36-cent dividend, but the payout has been cut three times since 2015.
Annaly raised its quarterly dividend from $0.70 to $0.75, while Dynex rebounded to 6.4% economic return after both posted Q1 losses.
If Q3 spread income falls below 36 cents or book value drops below $8.38, shareholders' own capital funds the dividend and a cut becomes likely.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) is a mortgage REIT that borrows short-term money in the repo market, buys agency mortgage-backed securities, and keeps the spread between bond yields and borrowing costs. Leverage of 7.4 times tangible equity magnifies both gains and losses.

#times

American Express (NYSE: AXP) has been a staple of Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB) portfolio for decades -- with Warren Buffett essentially completing purchases of the stock by 1995. Buffett's hand-picked successor -- Greg Abel -- expects American Express to remain a long-term compounder and a core Berkshire holding because it's a business Berkshire understands well and trusts its management team.
American Express also features a growing dividend. It doesn't raise it every year, but even during the 2008 financial crisis, when many banks and financial services companies were slashing their payouts, American Express held its quarterly dividend steady at $0.18 per share.
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 »
American Express has substantially increased its dividend since then. The next payment of $0.95 per share is payable on Nov. 10 to shareholders on record as of Oct. 9.
Here's how many shares of American Express you'd need to generate $1,000 in yearly dividends, and the three levers American Express pulls to reward long-term shareholders.

#signal

Four major corporate splits are upcoming, with MSGS separating the Knicks and Rangers into two distinct public companies by October 2026.
Keurig Dr Pepper's coffee spinoff carries significant execution risk as Russ Torres becomes its third CEO candidate ahead of the early 2027 split.
Textron leans toward selling its $3 billion Industrial segment rather than spinning it off, meaning shareholders would receive no second stock.
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Corteva (NYSE:CTVA) has split into two companies, and we walked through what its shareholders own now. Four more large separations are coming. Each has its own timeline, and each leaves shareholders holding something different. They are listed below by expected timing, soonest first.

#split #second #different

Before we get worried about recessions or market crashes, let's put a 10% drop in context. Going back to 1980, the S&P 500 has fallen 10% or more in roughly half of all calendar years, and a correction of that size has historically shown up about once every 12 to 18 months.
What makes a 10% decline packed into a single month unusual isn't the size of the drop, it's the speed: that kind of compressed move tends to show up during sudden shocks rather than the slower grind most corrections take. Even so, it's happened before, and the market has recovered every time.
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 goal here isn't to predict whether October brings one. It's to point to three consumer businesses whose underlying demand doesn't particularly care what the stock market does that month.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) makes Tide, Pampers, Crest, and Gillette. These products are the kind of household basics people buy again almost automatically, recession or not. That steadiness shows up in the numbers. P&G generated more than $87 billion in revenue in its 2026 fiscal year and returned over $15 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.

#market #flashing #every #month

At the end of 2025, Warren Buffett stepped down from his longtime position as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB). Over the 61 years he ran the company, the stock produced incredible returns for shareholders, rising by more than six million percent. Over the same span, the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) gained 46,000%.
Clearly, Buffett earned the nickname the "Oracle of Omaha." But can you still benefit from his investment wisdom now that the 96-year-old investor is no longer with Berkshire Hathaway? You sure can!
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 »
Buffett's investment approach is deceptively simple to explain. He liked to buy well-run businesses while they were attractively priced. Then he liked to hold for the long term, so he could benefit from the growth of the businesses in which he invested. That's something that any investor can do. And while all investment approaches go in and out of favor over time, this one has clearly proven itself to be a long-term winner.
That said, Buffett was also highly selective. He once described investing as a baseball game where they don't call ******* and strikes. His point was that you don't have to swing at every pitch, even though you should have a diversified portfolio. The Motley Fool recommends 50 stocks as a good portfolio size, but there are thousands of investments you could choose from. Once again, Buffett's advice is very good: Be selective.

#hathaway #once #investor

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has been a reliable healthcare company to invest in for decades, also providing shareholders with some terrific dividend income along the way. Nowadays, however, it's struggling to attract any investors at all.
While its shares are up over 10% this year, over the past five years, they're still down 35%. Worries about its future growth and the safety of the payout are keeping investors away. Here's why I think that's a mistake, and why it may just be the most underrated dividend stock out there today.
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 »
Image source: Getty Images.
Many investors may scoff at stocks that have high yields, out of fear that they simply are too good to be true, and that a cut could be due. But that isn't always the case. In fact, there can be low and modest-yielding stocks that can be riskier. Yield is not always indicative of risk.

#down #company

Over his career, Warren Buffett established himself as one of the world's best investors. However, after 60 years at Berkshire Hathaway, he finally stepped away for good. After relinquishing the CEO **** le at the start of the year, he also stepped down as Chairman last month.
In a farewell letter to shareholders on Sept. 18, Buffett said his goodbyes. In it were the only four words that investors need to be successful: "Father Time always wins." While Buffett was talking about his age and retirement, these words also hold true for investing and can help investors build a $10 million portfolio.
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 »
The most powerful force in investing is time. It's not necessarily about picking the best stocks or timing the market correctly; it's about time in the market. Over time, the stock market, as represented by the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), has always gone up in the long term.
The longer you are in the market, the greater your wealth will grow. This is due to compounding, where in later years your gains start generating gains of their own. While early growth may seem slow, it's the late-stage growth that will eventually turn even a small investment into millions of dollars.

#market #years

Warren Buffett stepped down from his role as the chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) at the end of 2025. During his 60-year tenure, he grew the company into a $1 trillion conglomerate with multiple wholly owned subsidiaries, a $350 billion stock portfolio, and over $350 billion in cash.
Had an investor purchased $500 worth of Berkshire shares when Buffett took the helm in 1965, thatr person would have been sitting on a whopping $24 million by the time Buffett stepped down. However, Buffett was a full-time professional investor, so he always knew the average person would struggle to replicate his results. That's why he regularly advocated for exchange-traded funds (ETF) that track a diversified index like the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC).
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 »
In his 2013 annual letter to shareholders (published in February 2014), Buffett specifically recommended the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) because of its exceptionally low fees. While young investors in their 20s and 30s can afford to take more risks, those in their 40s who want to achieve financial security heading into retirement might want to heed Buffett's advice. Here's why I'd buy the Vanguard ETF if I were in that age group.
The S&P 500 is made up of 500 American companies from 11 different sectors of the economy. It has a very strict entry criteria, requiring its members to maintain a market capitalization of at least $22.7 billion, and they must also generate positive earnings. But even after meeting those conditions, a special committee still has the final say over which companies make the cut.

#NVIDIA #signal #flashing

Vista Gold Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:VGZ) announced on September 21 that it had agreed to be acquired by Artemis Gold Inc. (TSXV:ARTG). Under the agreement signed September 20, shareholders would receive 0.0966 buyer common shares for each existing common share and own approximately 5% of the combined company. That ownership calculation excludes the buyer's existing 4.95% stake in Vista Gold Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:VGZ), which it intends to cancel at completion.
For shareholders, the trade-off is a smaller interest in a larger mining business with an operating ***** et and development expertise. The central question is whether that combination can supply the capital and execution needed to bring Australia's Mt Todd gold project into production.
Artemis Gold Inc. (TSXV:ARTG) operates the Blackwater mine in British Columbia and expects its future cash generation to support Mt Todd. That offers Vista Gold a potential funding source alongside a team experienced in building and operating mines.
The financial starting point explains the appeal. Vista Gold Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:VGZ) ended June 2026 with $49.5 million in cash and no debt. Management described that cash as sufficient for interim development objectives. Joining an operating producer could broaden the resources available for the much larger task of construction.
The acquisition requires no cash consideration or new acquisition debt. Preserving the buyer's financial capacity could leave more room for investment, although the share exchange itself does not raise construction funding.

#cash

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, Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) reported fiscal second-quarter net sales of $3.33 billion, up 7.3% year over year, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.36, nearly double the roughly $0.18 ******* ysts had expected, prompting the company to raise its full-year revenue and profitability outlook. CEO Sumit Singh said the broader pet market did not meaningfully recover during the quarter but also did not deteriorate further, with Chewy continuing to outperform the category by two to three times through share gains across its established and newer businesses.
Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY)'s recurring revenue base is solid. It gives the company greater visibility into future sales. Autoship sales jumped by 9.3% year over year to $2.82 billion and represented 84.6% of total net sales. The growing contribution from subscription-based purchases gives Chewy a more predictable revenue stream and reduces its exposure to fluctuations in discretionary pet spending.
Chewy is also building growth engines beyond its core retail business. Chewy Health, which includes veterinary care and pharmacy services, delivered triple-digit revenue growth. Specialty categories such as equine and exotics recorded a seventh consecutive quarter of mid-double-digit growth. These businesses give Chewy additional opportunities to increase customer spending and diversify its sources of revenue as the overall pet market matures.
Chewy is combining customer growth with stronger profitability and shareholder returns. The firm added 208,000 net active customers during the quarter. It takes its customer base to 21.7 million while returning $200 million to shareholders through share repurchases. Management also noted structural SG&A leverage, automation, and AI-driven cost reductions as contributors to margin expansion. It shows that Chewy can improve earnings while investing in customer acquisition and growth.
Part of Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY)'s profitability improvement came from benefits that may not recur. CFO Chris Deppe said the quarter's profitability upside included about $10 million from timing benefits and more than $5 million from discrete benefits. Those items boosted the latest results but do not provide a recurring earnings contribution. It means investors may need to lower their expectations for the pace of margin expansion in future quarters.

#customer

On September 9, 2026, Jersey Mike's Subs Inc. (NYSE:JMKE) reported its first quarterly results as a public company, with total revenue up 10% year over year to $208 million and same-store sales accelerating to 2.3% growth from 1.7% in the prior quarter. It was primarily driven by transaction growth even as the restaurant industry faced weak traffic trends. Net income fell to $37 million from $59 million a year earlier. It showed non-routine expenses, advertising fund timing, and higher interest costs following the company's July initial public offering, partially offset by a $14 million gain on the sale of corporate-owned stores.
Jersey Mike's Subs Inc. (NYSE:JMKE) is gaining customers while its brand remains a major competitive advantage. The firm added 83 stores in the second quarter. It grew its customer base and increased systemwide sales 10% to $1.21 billion. Jersey Mike's also earned the No. 1 ranking among U.S. quick-service restaurant brands in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index, surpassing Chick-fil-A after 11 consecutive years at the top. It gives the newly public company a strong foundation for continued customer and franchisee growth.
The business has substantial whitespace for long-term unit growth. Jersey Mike's ended the quarter with 3,378 locations and maintains a domestic development pipeline of more than 1,600 stores, with more than 90% of that pipeline coming from existing franchisees. Management estimates that the U.S. market could eventually support roughly 7,500 locations and sees potential to reach approximately 15,000 stores globally. It gives the business a long runway for franchise-led revenue and royalty growth.
Digital engagement and transaction growth give Jersey Mike's more avenues to increase sales. Digital sales represented 43% of systemwide sales in the second quarter, up from 41% a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 2.3% mainly because customers placed more transactions. Jersey Mike's also had more than 12.5 million active MyMike's loyalty members in 2025. It provides the company with a large customer database that it can use to increase frequency and personalize marketing as it expands.
Jersey Mike's Subs Inc. (NYSE:JMKE) still faces a significant profitability challenge despite its revenue growth. Second-quarter revenue jumped 10% to $208 million. However, net income fell 37% to $37 million from $59 million a year earlier. Management attributed part of the decline to advertising-fund timing and higher interest expense. It shows that revenue growth has not yet translated into comparable bottom-line growth for shareholders.

#million #customer

On September 9, 2026, Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:IRT) and Centerspace announced a definitive all-stock merger agreement. It creates a combined middle-market apartment REIT with a pro forma equity market capitalization of about $5.0 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $8.1 billion, encompassing more than 44,000 units.
The combined company will retain the Independence Realty Trust name and NYSE ticker "IRT." IRT's Scott Schaeffer continues as Chairman and CEO. The management projects the deal will be roughly 5% accretive to 2027 Core FFO per share for shareholders of both companies.
The merger gives Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:IRT) higher scale and significantly broader geographic diversification. The combined company will own 44,354 apartment units across 163 communities in 17 states, with 58% of pro forma NOI coming from Sunbelt markets, 27% from the Midwest, and 15% from the Mountain West. The overall footprint reduces reliance on any single regional apartment market while keeping substantial exposure to markets with strong population and employment growth.
IRT can apply its existing value-creation strategy across a much larger portfolio. Its value-add renovation program has delivered about a 16% historical return on investment. The firm expects to grow its Wi-Fi initiative and other technology and income-generating programs across Centerspace's properties. Management also expects approximately $24 million in annualized synergies. It supports roughly 5% accretion to 2027 Core FFO per share on a leverage-neutral basis.
The all-stock structure allows the companies to chase greater scale without adding acquisition debt. IRT and Centerspace expect the combined company to retain BBB/BBB investment-grade credit ratings and maintain a well-laddered debt maturity profile. Centerspace shareholders will receive IRT shares and own approximately 22% of the combined company. It gives them exposure to the larger platform. Management also expects the transaction to improve access to capital markets and reduce the combined firm's cost of capital over time.

#management

On September 8, 2026, Reuters reported that Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) said California Attorney General Rob Bonta made television statements that contradict his own legal arguments against Paramount's request for a $1.88 billion bond in the ongoing court fight over its roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD).
Bonta's office has argued the bond is unnecessary because Paramount voluntarily agreed to pause the deal's closing rather than wait for a court injunction. But Paramount described that same pause as equivalent to an injunction in media interviews, which it argues legally requires the states to post a bond under antitrust law. A hearing is scheduled for September 24.
Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) could protect a significant portion of its financial position if the court grants its $1.88 billion bond request. Paramount says the delay could cost it about $1.3 billion in fees to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders by the time the case concludes in April 2027. A bond would give Paramount a potential path to recover those losses if it ultimately defeats the states' challenge. It reduces the financial damage from a prolonged legal process.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) is receiving financial protection from the transaction's delay through Paramount's ticking fees. Paramount agreed to pay WBD shareholders approximately $7 million per day starting October 1 if the transaction does not close, creating a growing payment obligation for Paramount. It is also providing WBD shareholders with compensation for waiting. The arrangement gives WBD a financial benefit from the prolonged closing process even as the companies await a final legal resolution.
The legal dispute has not eliminated the strategic rationale for combining the two media companies. Paramount argues that the merger would strengthen the film and television industry and lead to more content while giving the combined company greater scale to compete with Netflix and Disney. For Paramount, completing the acquisition would speed up David Ellison's plan to build a larger media competitor. WBD shareholders would receive the transaction consideration rather than remain exposed to the company's standalone turnaround.

#paramount

Toward the end of the lightning round on September 17, a caller asked for Mad Money's host Jim Cramer's thoughts on Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM), and he replied:
It's been an incredible stock. It's a real estate investment trust, basically. And you know, we know that they shred, 3% yield, down 20 points from its high. I think it's a buy.
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) operates a highly durable business model centered on physical records management, secure document destruction, and expanding digital infrastructure. In Q2, total revenue reached $2.03 billion, representing an 18.7% increase year-over-year and 16.8% organic growth. The core physical storage business provides reliable cash flow, with storage rental revenue expanding 11.5% year-over-year excluding foreign-exchange effects across a global customer base of 240,000. Adjusted funds from operations grew 17% to $432.7 million, or $1.44 per share.
At the same time, management has channeled capital into scaling higher-growth segments, including digital solutions, ***** et lifecycle management, and data center operations. The data center segment posted 39% revenue growth during the second quarter, securing 110 megawatts in new leases through July and increasing power capacity across major enterprise markets. Operating as a real estate investment trust, the company maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.864 per share, offering shareholders a forward yield of over 3%.
On the other hand, Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) faces risks inherent to capital-intensive real estate infrastructure expansion. Rapid buildouts of data center power capacity demand substantial capital expenditure, leading to elevated leverage across the balance sheet. Long-term debt, net of the current portion, reached approximately $17.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, increasing sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations and refinancing costs.

#revenue #Growth

It's been a disappointing couple of years for shareholders of biotechnology outfit CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP). This stock's barely up since the end of 2022, lagging the broad market's gains. It's not the performance that investors keeping tabs on this company were expecting, given its potential.
Don't be discouraged, though. While still speculative like most young biotech names, CRISPR Therapeutics remains a compelling prospect for investors who can stomach the risk and its inevitable volatility. Here's why.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x 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 »
On the off-chance you're reading this and aren't already familiar with the company, CRISPR Therapeutics is a drug developer that specializes in gene editing.
It's probably an area you've heard a great deal about. No gene-editing drugs were actually on the market in the United States until CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy was approved by the FDA as a treatment for sickle cell disease in late 2023. Any and all gene therapies currently on the market followed this pioneer's foray. Being first is a well-deserved accolade for the company, too, which was co-founded by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, who was one of the co-discoverers of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing mechanism that makes Casgevy work.

#crispr #gene #company

On August 6, Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP) reported a record second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA reached $1.60 billion, a 38% jump from the same period a year earlier, and management now expects full-year results near the top of its guidance range. Targa moves and processes natural gas and natural gas liquids out of the Permian Basin, and these numbers suggest that system is running fuller than ever.
The strength came from volume, not just price. Adjusted EBITDA also climbed 14% from the first quarter, helped by Permian gas volumes that added over 450 million cubic feet of daily throughput. Some producers held back output because Waha gas prices went negative, and Targa still set a volume record. Volumes for NGL pipelines, fractionation, and LPG exports also hit records, helped by Train 11, a new fractionator in Mont Belvieu, Texas, that started up early in the quarter.
Construction is also landing on time. East Driver, a new processing plant serving the Midland side of the Permian, started up late in the quarter and ahead of schedule, and the other gathering and logistics projects are tracking their plans. Shareholders get a cut too. On July 16, Targa declared a $1.25 per share quarterly dividend, 25% above the payout for the second quarter of 2025, payable August 14 to holders of record on July 31. It also spent $80 million buying back shares during the quarter.
Growth at this pace costs real money. Targa plans about $4.5 billion in net growth spending this year, and its consolidated debt stood at $19,578 million on June 30. About $3.2 billion of liquidity gives it a cushion. In July, it also extended its receivables securitization facility to July 30, 2027 and raised the size to as much as $800 million. More borrowing capacity helps, but it is still borrowing.
Not every dollar of the profit surge is as steady as a pipeline volume. Management tied the higher outlook partly to strong marketing margin and optimization work in the first two quarters, and the quarter's jump in marketing margin came from greater optimization opportunities. That kind of income can be lumpy. Meanwhile, lower natural gas prices trimmed margins in the gathering business, and the Waha curtailments showed that producers can pull back when local prices turn ugly.

#record

On September 17, Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) announced a partnership with the technology company Rakuten Group, Inc., effective January 1, 2027. The announcement gives no scope and no price tag, so it works better as a signal than as a number. The real substance sits in the results Ferrari posted on July 30, when it raised its 2026 guidance because buyers are ordering more personalization than the company expected.
In the second quarter, revenue rose 8%, but operating profit rose 10%, which means each euro of sales is leaving more behind. Ferrari credits a richer mix of cars, with the F80 helping, along with more buyers paying up for personalization. Strip out currency swings, and the gap widens, with revenue up 11% and operating profit up 16%. Deliveries of the Purosangue and the 296 Speciale family grew even in the middle of a planned model changeover.
Cash and demand back that up. Industrial free cash flow jumped 39% to €276 million, and Ferrari also returned more than €800 million to shareholders through a dividend and buybacks. Racing helped too, as higher sponsorships and engine rentals to other Formula 1 teams lifted revenue. Meanwhile, the order book covers 2027 in full, and the new 12Cilindri Manuale is already fully allocated, which is about as strong a demand signal as a carmaker can send. Those trends are why revenue guidance moved up to about €7.60 billion from about €7.50 billion.
Part of the strength is timing. Operating profit got a boost from temporarily lower depreciation and amortization while Ferrari swaps out models, and the company says those charges will climb once the new cars enter production. Net profit also leaned on a 23.0% tax rate, which reflects an estimated benefit from the new Patent Box. Neither says much about how profitable the cars themselves are.
Costs are climbing too. Higher industrial and marketing expenses weighed on operating profit, EBITDA margin slipped to 39.0% from 39.7% a year earlier, and management expects heavier brand, racing and digital spending for the year. Currency is a drag as well, mostly from the dollar and the yen, which is why 11% growth at constant currency shrank to 8% as reported. Deliveries totaled 3,366 cars while the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and SF90 XX family wound down, and sponsorship, commercial and brand revenue grew just 2%. And the whole outlook leans on current visibility into the Middle East crisis, which Ferrari cannot control.

#Ferrari

Looking for passive income and a lot of it? Who wouldn't like that? Passive income can come from multiple sources, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), pensions, annuities, royalty checks, rental properties, and dividends, to name a few. I think dividend income is particularly compelling because:
Healthy and growing dividend payers tend to increase their payouts over time, often helping shareholders keep up with inflation.
Such companies also tend to keep paying no matter whether the economy is booming or in a slump.
Dividend payers are simply great investments, in general. Check it out:
Dividend-Paying Status

#tend

On August 10, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) reported results for the three months through June 30 and raised its full-year profit outlook once again. Real estate funds from operations (FFO), a cash-flow measure suited to landlords, hit $3.29 per share. Tenants are earning more from their stores, and management is confident enough to lift its guidance again. Yet the professionals who own the stock are heading the other way.
Start with the tenants, because they pay the rent. Reported retailer sales reached $838 per square foot over the year through June 30, up from $736 a year earlier, on June 30, 2025. Stronger sales tend to make higher rent easier to swallow, and base minimum rent per square foot did climb to $62.42 from $58.70.
That demand flowed through to profit. Real estate FFO rose to $3.29 per diluted share from $3.05, and net operating income at Simon's domestic properties grew 8.5%. Management responded by lifting its full-year real estate FFO range to $13.20 to $13.30 per share, moving the midpoint up by $0.08.
Shareholders get paid while they wait. The board declared a third-quarter dividend of $2.25 per share, $0.10 more than a year ago, to be paid on September 30 to anyone on the books by September 9. Simon also put $211.4 million into buying back stock at an average of $205.10 per share, and it finished June with about $9.3 billion of liquidity.
Now the less flattering side. Net income for common stockholders was $483.1 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, versus $1.70 a year earlier. The 2025 quarter included a non-cash gain of $0.21 per share from investment activity, which flatters that comparison. Still, plain FFO followed the same path, slipping to $3.12 from $3.15.

#Share #year #june #estate

On August 20, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) said it had completed a sale of $1.25 billion of notes that carry a 5.55% coupon and come due on January 20, 2034. The money is earmarked first for floating-rate term loans, with anything left over used to repay or refinance other debt, and the offering rode on a shelf registration filed on February 29, 2024. That sounds like routine upkeep. But next to an earnings beat and a flat third-quarter pricing outlook, the deal gives you a handy lens on where the company stands.
Start with the debt itself. Swapping floating-rate borrowings for notes with a stated 5.550% coupon takes some interest-rate guesswork out of the picture, and the notes don't mature until January 20, 2034. That matters because $2.7 billion comes due in 2027 and $3.4 billion in 2028. Against those bills, the company held $6.9 billion of liquidity as of June 30, and it added $250 million to its revolving credit line in July.
The business generating the cash is running well. On July 28, Royal Caribbean reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.21 per share, ahead of its own guidance on stronger last-minute demand, lower costs, and better results from joint ventures. Management then raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $17.73 to $17.87, which implies 14% growth. It also kept returning cash to shareholders in the second quarter, through $404 million of dividends and $199 million of buybacks. Booking volumes are running above last year, and 2027 bookings are tracking ahead of past years, even on routes that geopolitical events hit in 2026.
Beat or not, that $4.21 is still below the $4.38 from the same quarter in 2025. Costs excluding fuel per passenger cruise day rose 4.4%, and the cost beat came largely from the timing of expenses. Then there is pricing, where the story gets less rosy. Third-quarter net yields are guided to roughly flat against 2025 while capacity grows 8.5%, so the expected 8% revenue growth comes from more capacity, not from better yields. Management also says prolonged geopolitical activity has dented bookings on select itineraries. It calls the hit modest, but it is now built into guidance.
The refinancing also doesn't shrink the debt pile. New notes pay off old borrowings, so the total owed stays roughly where it was, and the company still expects net interest of $980 million to $990 million this year. Add roughly $4.7 billion of capital spending in 2026, mostly for new ships and destination projects, and it is clear this business needs a steady supply of capital. The April ship orders, Icon VI and Icon VII, extend that appetite, though their financing is already committed.

#billion #quarter #company #year

On August 6, Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) reported earnings of $1.84 per diluted share for the quarter that closed on June 30, up from $1.75 a year earlier, and lifted most of its full-year targets. Here is the odd part. The company moved less volume than it did a year ago and still grew profit. Understanding how that works, and how long it can last, is the whole story.
Start with pricing, because that is the engine. Core price on total revenue added 5.3% to growth, which helped lift total revenue by 4.6%. Inside the related business, price contributed 4.1% in the restricted portion and 7.8% in the open market. Management says price beat cost inflation, and the margin backs that up. Adjusted EBITDA reached $1.42 billion at a 32.1% margin, matching the prior year even after Republic absorbed a 50 basis point drag from event-driven landfill volumes it received in 2025.
Cash generation is just as sturdy. Through the first half of 2026, operations produced $2.38 billion, and adjusted free cash flow came to $1.58 billion. That paid for $860 million of acquisitions and $1.04 billion returned to shareholders, so Republic is buying growth and rewarding owners from the same pool. The board added 4.5 cents to the quarterly dividend, setting it at $0.670 per share with an October 2 record date and payment on October 15. Management also raised full-year revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow guidance, and set adjusted earnings at $7.23 to $7.28 per share.
The catch is that volume is moving the wrong way. Average yield added 3.4% to total revenue, while volume took away 1.6%, and the related business gave up 1.9% to volume. That makes this a price-led story, and price can only carry so much weight if volumes keep shrinking. Acquisitions also supplied 1.1% of the 4.6% total growth, so organic growth is smaller than the headline suggests.
Other lines were softer too. The environmental solutions business slipped 0.2%, so it added no lift. Recycled commodities sold for an average of $136 per ton at Republic's recycling centers, which is $13 lower than a year earlier. Margin only matched last year's level, and adjusted earnings per share rose 4.5%, just under revenue growth, so profit grew in step with sales rather than faster.

#year

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has outlined its growth targets for 2026 and beyond. This comes as the company advances plans to acquire Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D). It's a $67 billion all-stock transaction expected to close before the end of next year. If the merger is completed as expected, it would result in the largest US electricity producer.
NextEra's business is already growing, and Dominion is expected to increase the growth rate. The deal's promise is exciting, but its value to investors ultimately depends on NextEra securing regulatory approvals and successfully integrating Dominion ***** ets.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $3.92 to $4.02 and said it was targeting the high end of that range. NextEra also said it expects adjusted EPS to grow at a compound annual rate of at least 8% through 2032 and is targeting the same growth rate through 2035, off the 2025 base.
NextEra also plans to continue rewarding its shareholders with higher dividends. The company expects its dividend per share to grow at a roughly 10% annual rate through 2026, off the 2024 base. It expects the dividend to grow 6% a year through 2028 from the 2026 base.
The EPS and dividend growth projections give investors a financial foundation for evaluating the Dominion deal. NextEra does not need Dominion simply to prevent a growth slowdown. Instead, it's looking to add another growth engine through the acquisition.

#dominion #rate

One of the world's largest companies has become a cash-return machine of historic scale, but its engine is now facing a serious test.
With Apple (AAPL) stock trading near $337 a share, an owner might ask a simple question. The company has returned a fortune in cash while the stock has dramatically outperformed the market; was holding worth it, and can this machine keep running?
Over the last five years, Apple sent $510.4 billion in cash back to its shareholders. That sum, equal to about 10.3% of the company's current market value, is the largest capital return of any U.S. company Trefis tracks over that period. The question is what that extraordinary payout says about the business today.
The money printer is Apple's core business, which generated $136.68 billion in free cash flow over the last twelve months. In its most recent quarter, the company reported record June-quarter revenue, with iPhone sales growing 22% and Mac sales growing an impressive 29% from a year ago. Management noted that the iPhone and Mac were "both doing remarkably better than we thought they would do."
That operational strength funds the shareholder returns. The five-year payout was heavily weighted toward share repurchases, which totaled $434.5 billion, with another $75.9 billion paid in dividends. Apple's absolute dollar payout stands alone, even though the 10.3% of market value it returned sits well below the 16.9% median for S&P 500 companies.

#market

Corning (GLW) stock took a sharp hit this week after the company opened the door to a potential $2 billion equity offering that could dilute existing shareholders. The stock dropped 13.7% on Sept. 14, marking its worst one-day decline in years. At the same time, Corning is expanding its capacity and signing major deals with some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Nvidia (NVDA) and Amazon (AMZN). Its latest Verizon (VZ) agreement alone covers over 80 million miles of optical fiber and connectivity products through 2032. Corning shares have since recovered, shifting attention away from dilution fear to whether the capital raise was a sensible decision, how much stock Corning actually sells, how quickly Optical Communications grows, and whether new capacity generates the returns management expects.
Let's find out more on what matters for investors now.
Bank of America Just Declared a 'Generational Entry Point' in U.S. Bonds. Why Investors Should Be Backing Up the Truck on Treasuries Here.
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JPMorgan Gives Up Forecasting Iran War Endgame as Trump Tells Reporters 'Anything Could Happen With Me'

#Stock #sept

On September 18, Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) announced it will sell every share it holds in Alexforbes, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Two buyers are splitting the stake. Alexforbes will repurchase roughly 372.8 million shares itself, and ARC AF Holdings will take about 74.1 million more. The package is worth about $185 million, a small number for a company managing $1.642 trillion. But the message matters more than the money. A plan Prudential laid out in August is now turning into signed agreements.
The logic is easy to follow. Prudential wants to operate in fewer places and put its money, people and attention where it thinks it can win for years. Andy Sullivan, the chief executive, says the aim is to lean harder on ***** et management, retirement and protection, and get those units working together more closely. David Legher, who leads emerging markets, called Alexforbes a successful investment, so this reads as a planned exit rather than a retreat from a problem.
The core business is giving management room to be choosy. On August 4, Prudential reported second-quarter net income of $985 million, up from $533 million a year earlier. That happened even though a charge from the yearly ***** umption update grew to $299 million from $134 million, so the underlying engine ran strong enough to absorb a bigger hit. The company also returned $743 million to shareholders in the quarter and held $4.2 billion in highly liquid ***** ets at the parent level. That does not look like a seller in a hurry.
Start with what has not happened yet. The deals are expected to close in the first half of 2027, and they still need Alexforbes shareholders to approve the buyback, along with regulatory sign-off. Until then, $185 million is an agreed price, not cash in the bank. Prudential also said New Veld's involvement continues before completion, so the company stays tied to the ***** et for now.
Then there is the size. Set against those trillions in ***** ets, this sale will not move results either way. Its value is strategic, and strategy takes years to judge. Prudential is giving up a foothold in a partnership it called important, and its remaining businesses have their own snags. Sales in Prudential of ***** an are suspended, and management said that weighed on international results even as earnings held up.

#august #money