During the September 3 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer mentioned Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for its unconventional approach to powering hyperscale data centers in partnership with Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX). He said:
How about Microsoft? Look, Mr. Softee is getting religion. They've realized that by giving us more disclosure on Azure, their cloud infrastructure business, we'll find more things to like. They're right. In the end, I come to praise Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, not bury her. They've been very clever getting power for the data centers, pumping it right out of the Permian. They got this deal with Chevron as a partner… 2.67 gigawatts. No one's talking about it. It's the cleanest behind the meter plan for power I have seen yet. People even, and this is not a stretch, I'm not kidding, people even like Copilot.
CFO Amy Hood provided Wall Street with a much clearer look at actual cloud demand by breaking down detailed Azure growth metrics and data center capacity constraints. At the same time, enterprise adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot is moving past initial trials, with major corporations deploying the AI ***** istant across workforce segments.
A major highlight of the company's infrastructure strategy is a twenty-year agreement with Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) for a proposed 2.67-gigawatt natural gas power plant in West Texas. Designed to supply dedicated off-grid electricity directly to a hyperscale data center in the Permian Basin, the project bypasses regional grid transmission queues to secure reliable power for continuous AI workloads. Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) president of Cloud Operations + Innovation, Noelle Walsh, commented:
Our agreement with Chevron helps ensure we'll have dedicated, large-scale power to support the evolution and reliability of advanced compute. Through this partnership, we're delighted to grow with and become a deeper part of the West Texas community.

#chevron #power #they 've

A ~$1.7M portfolio split evenly between SCHD and JEPI targets $7,700/month using each fund's forward payout rate.
JEPI's monthly distributions have dropped sharply since 2022 as volatility fell, and recent payouts still vary from $0.34 to $0.45 per share.
Hold JEPI in an IRA and SCHD in a taxable account to maximize after-tax income from this two-fund strategy.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
A portfolio of roughly $1.7 million, split evenly between SCHD and JEPI, targets $7,700 a month in distributions using each fund's current forward payout rate. Two tickers, one brokerage screen, nothing to rebalance beyond keeping the halves even. For a reader who finds a seven-holding portfolio intimidating, that simplicity is genuinely appealing, and it deserves to be said before the caveats begin.

#targets

Investors seeking exposure to artificial intelligence infrastructure must weigh the explosive growth of Astera Labs Inc (NASDAQ:ALAB) against the established scale and diverse portfolio of Marvell Technology Inc(NASDAQ:MRVL) to determine the better buy.
Both companies focus on the plumbing of the digital world, ensuring data moves quickly between processors and memory. While Astera Labs focuses on specialized connectivity for AI racks, Marvell offers a broader range of networking, storage, and custom compute solutions. This comparison explores which strategy offers more potential for long-term investors.
Astera Labs designs connectivity solutions that integrate various protocols to support rack-scale AI infrastructure, a high-growth niche among semiconductor stocks. The company serves major hyperscalers and equipment manufacturers who need to overcome data bottlenecks in massive data centers, though its revenue is highly concentrated. In 2025, one end customer -- Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) -- accounted for over 70% of revenue, which adds a significant layer of risk to the business model.
According to its latest annual report, filed for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025, revenue reached close to $853 million, representing a significant jump of 115% compared with the prior fiscal year. This growth trajectory helped the company transition to a net income of just over $219 million after recording losses in the previous two years. The net margin for the latest year was close to 26%.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was 0.0x, meaning the company carries no debt relative to its shareholder equity, while the so-called current ratio was 10.2x. Free cash flow for the period reached nearly $282 million. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented roughly 50.1% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

#company #million

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) is a low-cost index fund that owns about 100 high-quality, dividend-growing companies that are built for rising income and long-term total return. JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF) is an actively managed fund that owns low-volatility stocks and sells call options to generate a high monthly payout, meaning it's built for maximum current income at the cost of upside. In short: SCHD is for growing your income over time; JEPI is for maximizing your income right now.
Feature
JEPI
SCHD
Strategy

#fund #high

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Gold can act as a hedge against inflation, but it doesn't reliably rise whenever inflation does. Some investors use gold to help preserve purchasing power as prices rise, but inflation is only one of several factors that can influence gold prices.
If you've researched gold as an investment, you've probably come across financial experts ****** erting that gold is a hedge against inflation. Understanding what that actually means — and what it doesn't — can help put gold's role in an investment portfolio into perspective.
An inflation hedge is an investment or strategy intended to help offset the loss of purchasing power caused by rising prices.
As inflation rises, each dollar buys a little less than it did before. For example, imagine a cart of groceries that costs $100 today. If those same groceries cost $105 next year, your $100 no longer buys as much as it did before.

#inflation #Gold #doesn 't #power

To summarize my investment approach, I prefer to buy companies with long histories of dividend increases and historically high yields. Those two traits don't come around all that often, and sometimes I find clusters of stocks in specific sectors. I need to think specifically about diversification, one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce risk. Here's how I've done it as I've built my portfolio of around 34 investments.
The Motley Fool recommends that investors own 50 stocks. That's a perfectly fine number, but also a lot of work. And just owning 50 stocks doesn't actually mean you are diversified. You could own 50 technology stocks, for example, which would leave you with exposure to just a single sector. That's not diversification. Diversification is really about owning a reasonable number of investments across a wide range of sectors and ****** et classes.
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 first step toward diversification was to take an honest look at what I want to achieve and what I'm capable of. My goal is a mixture of income and capital appreciation. I am fairly confident in my ability to select dividend stocks, though every investor makes mistakes from time to time, and I know I can only juggle so many stocks at once. In other words, 50 stocks are too many for me, so a core part of my diversification strategy is to outsource some of my work.
For example, I own two Baron mutual funds to gain exposure to growth stocks and smaller companies. I own several closed-end funds: one focused on healthcare stocks with an option income overlay, one investing in convertible securities, and one with a broadly diversified dividend portfolio. And I own three exchange-traded funds: one with an option income focus and two that use very different screening approaches to pick dividend stocks.

#Diversification #funds

Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM) continues to strengthen its enterprise artificial intelligence offering as it looks to make AI a larger part of its customer relationship management ecosystem. On September 9, reports emerged that the company is prepared to spend as much as $2 billion to acquire Listen Labs, an AI-powered customer research platform.
The potential deal would extend Salesforce's aggressive M&A strategy as the company seeks to expand its generative and agentic AI capabilities. Salesforce recently completed its approximately $3.6 billion acquisition of customer service AI agent provider Fin, formerly Intercom, underscoring management's willingness to use acquisitions to accelerate its AI roadmap.
Listen Labs could add a new layer of customer intelligence to Salesforce's platform. The company uses artificial intelligence to conduct customer interviews through audio and video and ******* yze the resulting responses.
Kritchanut/Shutterstock.com
The potential acquisition could be particularly valuable for Salesforce Agentforce, the company's platform for building and deploying AI agents. Listen Labs could end up providing crucial insights into why customers behave the way they do. Customer interviews and conversations can reveal motivations, preferences, frustrations, and other qualitative information that may not be captured in traditional CRM databases.

#customer #salesforce #platform #artificial

On September 3, Genesco (NYSE:GCO) reported a second quarter that should not have worked on paper. Revenue fell 3% to $530 million, yet the company nearly halved its adjusted operating loss and raised full-year earnings guidance to the top end of its range. That combination, shrinking sales alongside expanding profit, is the footwear-first strategy showing up in real numbers. Every one of the company's three brands beat internal expectations, and management says the toughest sales pressure ahead is coming from a deliberate choice rather than a weakening business.
Journeys, the company's teen-focused chain, delivered its eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales, up 2%, even while lapping strong growth from a year earlier. The more interesting story sits underneath that number. The Journeys 4.0 store format, a redesigned concept built around a more elevated ***** ortment, is generating a sales lift of 25% or more wherever it opens, and the company expects roughly 180 locations, about a fifth of its fleet, running that format by year-end. That rollout, combined with fleet optimization and more efficient use of selling staff, handed Journeys 180 basis points of expense leverage in the quarter. Comparable sales kept accelerating into August, marking Journeys' ninth straight month of positive comps and a mid-single-digit gain during the back-to-school peak.
Johnston & Murphy is running its own streak, with comparable sales up 4% in its third consecutive positive quarter, helped by a newly extended, multiyear partnership with Peyton Manning and a broader shift in menswear toward more refined, put-together dressing. Companywide, adjusted gross margin expanded 140 basis points to 47.2%, and the adjusted operating loss narrowed to $8 million from $14 million a year ago. Genesco also collected $22.5 million in tariff refunds during the quarter and cut total debt to $15.8 million from $71 million a year earlier, giving a new CFO and a new Schuh president a far healthier balance sheet to work with as they settle into their roles.
The drag comes almost entirely from Schuh, Genesco's UK chain, where comparable sales fell 9% as management deliberately pulled back on discounting to protect margin. Executives were blunt about the cost of that choice. CEO Mimi Vaughn said "the UK consumer market remains challenged and price sensitive," and the Schuh turnaround is expected to take longer than the one already underway at Journeys. That pressure is now baked into guidance. Full-year total sales are expected to fall about 2%, worse than the prior forecast of down 1% to flat, with management incorporating more back-half sales pressure than it originally planned for given how promotional the UK footwear market has become.

#comparable #schuh #management #pressure

The Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg has turned into a story of resilience and record-breaking golf. While the first round saw players battling wind and rain that made the course play brutally difficult, the second round brought a dramatic shift in fortune. Shane Lowry, the local favorite, didn't just survive the conditions; he absolutely dominated them. After airing his frustration with the slow pace caused by the weather in the opening round, Lowry produced a stunning performance to take the lead. Golf Monthly reports that Lowry shot a record-breaking 62 under much kinder conditions to take the lead at the midpoint. This score puts him two shots clear of the field and sets the stage for a thrilling weekend.
The contrast between the two rounds couldn't be starker. The first day was defined by struggle, with Golf Monthly noting that the brutal conditions contributed to slow play across the property. Players like Lowry had to wait for groups ahead, testing their patience. Yet, when the wind died down, Lowry found his rhythm. He isn't alone in the hunt, however. The chasing pack is packed with talent, including defending champion Rory McIlroy, two-time Major winner Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka, all of whom Golf Monthly confirmed will join Lowry in the third round. Joaquin Niemann, the first-round leader, also remains in contention to challenge the Irishman.
While Lowry's score grabs the headlines, the most compelling story of the week might be the rise of Niklas Nørgaard. The Danish golfer has moved into a tie for second place alongside Jacob Skov Olesen and Haotong Li after posting matching 64s, according to europeantour.com. This surge came from a fundamental change in how Nørgaard approached the game, not just better ball-striking. The pressure of competition often weighs heavy, but Nørgaard found a way to lighten the load. A shift in mindset this week earned praise for his caddie, as he disclosed that his coach is actually riding in the bag during this event.
Nørgaard explained his strategy directly to the media, and the result was immediate. Europeantour.com notes that Nørgaard received late applause from spectators after draining a vital putt on the 18th and finishing his round with a closing birdie to enter the chase. His back nine was a blur of birdies, specifically a burst from the 14th to 16th holes that propelled him up the leaderboard. You have to wonder if that mental shift is the only thing standing between him and a ***** le run, considering how tight the field really is.
Other players faced different challenges. Thomas Detry made an albatross at the par-5 10th in the opening round, a rare feat that should have boosted his day. However, he finished the first day with a 74 and ultimately missed the cut, according to Golf Monthly. On the other side of the field, David Puig struggled to find consistency. Following a 71 in the opening round that left him one over par, he posted the exact same score during the second rou

It's finally here. Time to bring the early looks to the table. This is Week 1 for everyone, which means that the players' prices were established in July; take advantage of that. We know (for the most part) who will be the value picks and who is undervalued; take advantage of that.
And as far as players go, we are on the same footing with the sharks. Everyone is going off of what they think will happen because of last year's stats, but no one really knows. What we do know is that, historically, since the NFL has gone to three games in the preseason, Week 1 games typically go under their projected point total about 60% of the time; take advantage of that.
It's Week 1; don't be afraid of the chalk plays (yes, talking about you, Jahmyr Gibbs) and don't be afraid to get different. Let's get going.
There are 12 games on the main slate this week. You have to decide if you are playing: a) cash games or tournaments; and b) if you are selecting your player pool by game environment or matchups, or a combination of both.
When you rely on game environment, your player pool strategy is taking into consideration the complete context of the game. You are considering the pace of the game and the overall scoring potential of specific matchups.

#advantage

As the conversation continues on the Rams' apparent misfire regarding the decision to barnstorm into and out of Melbourne, there's another question that needs to be asked about Week 1 international games played a long way away from the U.S.
Michael Holley mentioned the concept on Friday's PFT Live. And it's a good idea — the league should treat the Week 1 international game like the Super Bowl and require the teams to arrive early.
If the goal is to export the game to the countries, the effort needs to be more comprehensive. Get there early. Make local appearances. Have multiple press conferences in the place where the game will be played.
It takes the travel strategy out of the teams' hands and makes the issue part of the overall obligation.
Yes, the rest of the story regarding the 49ers-Rams travel adventure will unfold in Week 2, and possibly beyond. But the 49ers seemed to be far more prepared to play given their decision to go to Australia a week early. Having both teams arrive on the same day avoids the possibility that one team will be acclimated and one won't.

#teams #Rams #international #played

The opening round at the Irish Open delivered a brutal test of patience and precision. Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, saw play slowed significantly across the field as strong winds dominated the conditions. Defending champion Rory McIlroy managed to stay in the hunt, carding a 1-under 69 despite a costly double bogey on the 13th hole. While he sits four shots behind the leader, his position remains viable heading into the second day. The defending champion knows the margin for error is slim when the elements turn hostile. He remains tied for 17th place, a spot that offers hope but demands immediate improvement to challenge for the **** le.
According to GolfMagic, Joaquin Niemann seized the early lead with a spectacular 5-under 65. The LIV Golf standout made his move with four consecutive birdies from the 14th to the 17th holes. His drive on the 14th landed a mere three feet from the cup, creating a simple birdie opportunity that propelled his charge. Niemann's sole mistake was a bogey on the 12th following a three-putt. When asked about the experience, he noted, "It was a lot of fun out there."It's a really tricky course and a really fun golf course to play, especially with the Irish weather, he also praised the layout, stating. Despite the pressure of chasing the leader, Niemann capitalized on the scoring opportunities while others struggled.
Rory McIlroy's round told a different story of resilience. His tee shot at the 13th rolled into a bunker, hit the lip, and came back into the sand. His second shot then hit below the lip, skipped out of the sand, and landed on the fairway, yet the damage was done with a double bogey. Playing alongside Brooks Koepka, who shot a 75 after a triple bogey start, McIlroy faced a difficult back nine. Koepka's struggles on the opening hole highlighted how the high grass and wind punished errant shots. Despite his own errors, McIlroy managed to finish under par. "I hung in there, shot under par, and at least don't feel like I'm out of the tournament," he admitted. He added, "A good day tomorrow gets me right back in it."
Shane Lowry provided a local perspective on the day's difficulty. According to ESPN, Lowry finished at 67 and remained bogey-free on the back nine. He was tied with Shaun Norris. Lowry faced the same darkness issues as others, noting, "I honestly didn't think we were going to get finished." That's probably the longest round of golf I ever played, in a three-ball, anyway. I'm happy with my score."I felt like I did a solid job of making pars and trying to get to the clubhouse as quick as I could," he explained his strategy, saying. Meanwhile, Adrian Meronk was at 3 under but unable to finish before darkness fell. Patrick Reed shot 68 in the challenging conditions.
The gap between McIlroy and Niemann is significant but not insurmountable. Four shots is a manageable deficit in a four-round event, provided the weather cooperates. McIlroy's ability to recover from the bunker disaster

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

#content #technology #million

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

Dolly Parton was a master musician, accomplished cook, and, perhaps most importantly, an excellent communicator. Parton could masterfully handle any insult, joke, or mean-spirited words that came her way.
Communication expert Dorie Clark broke down one of Dolly Parton's most infamous interviews with Barbara Walters from 1978. In it, Walters (knowingly or unknowingly) talked down to Parton about her appearance and upbringing.
But in true Dolly style, she defused anger and outrage with a strategy Clark calls a "label upgrade." It's a trick that worked well for Parton, and one Clark is sure can work for anyone during conversations that may turn offensive without warning.
In the clip shared on her Instagram, Clark highlights moments from the 1978 ABC News interview between Walters and Parton.
Walters first questions Parton about her looks, stating, "Dolly, you don't have to look like this. You're very beautiful. You don't have to wear the blonde wigs. You don't have to wear the extreme clothes, right?"

#walters #down #dorie

By Nupur Anand and Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - As U.S. President Donald Trump pressures institutions he views as adversaries, JPMorgan Chase and Capital One are fighting back. It is a strategy that legal experts and industry sources say may carry fewer risks than giving in.
Trump and his businesses are suing the banks, alleging they closed his accounts in 2021 for political reasons. They deny ‌the claims. Capital One told a federal court in July that it closed Trump's accounts following an internal anti-money-laundering review, sparking renewed scrutiny including from a senior Democratic senator who last week pressed the bank ‌for more details.
Capital One has not accused Trump or his businesses of money-laundering. Spokespeople for both banks declined to comment. The Trump Organization last week called the anti-money-laundering review a pretext to conceal a politically motivated decision.
While several legal experts said the banks have strong defenses, fighting Trump poses risks for the banks by potentially deepening animus with the president and airing confidential internal deliberations in public.

#money #laundering #president #risks

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Gold can act as a hedge against inflation, but it doesn't reliably rise whenever inflation does. Some investors use gold to help preserve purchasing power as prices rise, but inflation is only one of several factors that can influence gold prices.
If you've researched gold as an investment, you've probably come across financial experts **** erting that gold is a hedge against inflation. Understanding what that actually means — and what it doesn't — can help put gold's role in an investment portfolio into perspective.
An inflation hedge is an investment or strategy intended to help offset the loss of purchasing power caused by rising prices.
As inflation rises, each dollar buys a little less than it did before. For example, imagine a cart of groceries that costs $100 today. If those same groceries cost $105 next year, your $100 no longer buys as much as it did before.

#Gold #Help #doesn 't #power

Rams news: Stephen A. Smith calls out Los Angeles' 'mistake' in loss vs. 49ers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams' unusual travel strategy to Australia is already receiving criticism after their disastrous season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Stephen A. Smith called out the Rams for arriving in Melbourne roughly 28 hours before kickoff ahead of their 27-7 loss to the Niners.
"You got there 28 hours before the game; clearly that appeared to be a mistake," Smith said. On the Rams' worst day, they are scoring more than seven points. On their worst day, they are averaging more than 6.2 yards per play. Being up 7-3 and being outscored 24-0 after that is not the Los Angeles Rams."
The Rams intentionally stayed on Pacific Time and arrived shortly before the game, while the 49ers took the opposite approach. San Francisco arrived about a week early, giving Kyle Shanahan's team significantly more time to acclimate to Melbourne and its 17-hour time difference from Los Angeles.

#angeles

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

#revenue

HIVE Digital Technologies, a Canada-based Bitcoin miner and data center operator that trades on the Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange, has appointed Mark Volk as Senior Vice President of Revenue at BUZZ HPC, its wholly owned AI cloud and high-performance computing subsidiary.
Volk's mandate is to build BUZZ HPC's revenue engine and scale it globally. He will lead the company's go-to-market strategy across enterprise, government, sovereign AI, hyperscale, research and academic markets, overseeing commercialization of its GPU-powered infrastructure, including sovereign AI cloud, GPU-as-a-Service, colocation and hybrid AI solutions.
Related: Elon Musk warns 'if the ship of America sinks, we all sink with it'
Volk brings roughly 30 years of experience across AI, high-performance computing, cloud and enterprise infrastructure.
He is not a new face internally, he has worked with HIVE as a consultant for approximately nine months, during which he helped build BUZZ HPC's current GPU cloud demand pipeline.

#buzz #volk #performance #across

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's UK return could have a familiar royal figure at its center. An expert claims Princess Diana's legacy may help shape their re-entry into Britain. The timing has also prompted speculation about a possible project marking the 30th anniversary of Diana's death. However, one commentator has questioned the ethics of bringing the late princess into the couple's next chapter.
According to a discussion on "The Royalist" podcast, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could use Princess Diana's legacy to help reintroduce themselves to the British public. Host Tom Sykes was joined by Samara Gill, who discussed the timing of the couple's return and its possible connection to Diana.
Diana's 30th death anniversary is approaching in 2027. Against that backdrop, there has been speculation that the Sussexes may be working on a possible documentary focusing on the late princess. The project has also apparently been ******* ociated with Netflix. However, no documentary has been officially announced by Harry, Meghan, or the streaming platform.
For Gill, the potential project could serve a wider purpose. She claimed the couple may be looking to reconnect with the British public through Diana's enduring popularity. Gill said they could be "using Diana to relaunch" their return to the UK. She argued that the late princess remains someone "most people — the majority of the public — can get behind." By contrast, she claimed that Harry and Meghan face strong opposition from a large section of the British public.
From a public relations perspective, Gill acknowledged that the strategy could be effective. She described it as a "smart PR move." However, she also questioned the ethics of making Diana part of such a comeback. "Morally, I find it a little interesting, a little sticky and icky," Gill said. She added that the idea of using Diana in this way gave her "a bit of a sick feeling."

#princess #however #british #possible

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc.'s (NASDAQ:OLLI) second quarter results were characterized by robust loyalty membership growth, store count expansion, and a notable boost in earnings despite weakness in comparable store sales. During the quarter, the retailer opened 15 new locations and shut down one store because of storm-related damages. This pushed its overall store count to 686 across 36 states, a year-over-year jump of 11.9%. The ongoing growth in its store network continues to be the core focus of Ollie's expansion roadmap, as the management recently confirmed its plans to open 75 new stores by the end of this fiscal year. Such a strategy strongly reflects on the extended growth potential of Ollie's existing business model.
Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash
The company's loyalty program, Ollie's Army, continued to gain momentum during the recent quarter, raising its reach to 18.1 million members. This helped push net sales higher by 9.1% to $741.3 million, with the gain coming mainly from newly opened stores rather than sales at existing locations. Even with comparable sales trending downward, key profitability figures showed clear improvement.
With lower supply chain-related costs, gross margins expanded to 43.5%. A key factor behind this jump was the IEEPA tariff refunds, which contributed 380 basis points to gross margin on their own, in addition to broader reductions in tariff rates. This tariff-related benefit served as a meaningful cushion, helping to overcome the drop in comparable sales.
Together, these factors fueled substantial growth in the bottom line as the adjusted net income climbed 40.3% to $85.4 million, and adjusted net income per diluted share rose 43.4% to $1.42. This represented an outsized growth compared to overall sales growth, which highlights the impact of tariff refunds and margin improvements on the overall results.

#Growth #tariff

Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, says 91% of its balance sheet rests on money **** ody can take back. JPMorgan runs on deposits customers can pull any day. Strategy calls that the safer design.
The claim comes from a slide that the company put in front of investors. It puts Strategy's short-term funding gap at zero and JPMorgan's at negative $1.2 trillion. Strategy wrote those definitions itself.
"MSTR inverts TradFi," says Strategy.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Banks borrow short, lend long, and deposits can vanish in a day. Additionally, sometimes loans take years to come back, which is why insurance, regulators and central bank credit exist to cover that gap.

#follow

Interested in Qualcomm Incorporated? Here are five stocks we like better.
Qualcomm's Amazon agreement gives its data center strategy a major anchor beyond smartphones.
Amazon's warrants are tied to up to $60 billion in potential purchases over a decade, making the deal meaningful but gradual.
Qualcomm's valuation still trails many AI infrastructure peers, but dilution risk and execution timing remain important factors.
Investors continue to seek disciplined strategies to participate in the evolving artificial intelligence (AI) economy without paying inflated multiples for standard graphics hardware. Capital remains focused on businesses positioned to sustain steady enterprise workload expansion while maintaining reasonable valuation metrics.

#interested #qualcomm

The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) is taking aggressive steps to turn around its fortunes, but the food company faces a difficult test. It's whether the $500 million cost-savings plan can rebuild margins and earnings as weak demand continues to pressure sales.
The company has already cut more than 550 jobs and closed two snack plants as part of the cost-cutting efforts. Moreover, it has reduced its quarterly dividend by 36% to conserve cash. Yet management expects another year of declining sales. That means the turnaround hinges on Campbell's ability to improve efficiency while stabilizing sales.
The need for restructuring became clear in the latest quarter. Sales fell 8% to $2.1 billion, and the company swung to a $69 million loss from a $145 million profit a year ago.
The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) now plans to cut $500 million in costs by fiscal 2030. The savings are expected to support margin and allow greater investment in the brands. The cost-cutting program includes the closure of two snack plants and a workforce reduction affecting around 13% of Campbell's salaried employees.
Campbell's strategy has a clear financial logic. Lower costs should improve cash flow, help the company absorb inflationary pressures, and provide greater flexibility to invest in strengthening its brands. But the desired turnaround would only be possible if Campbell's can stabilize its underlying business at the same time.

#sales

Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is asking designers who use Figma, Inc. (NYSE:FIG) and similar tools to help test Project Oasis, a web-based graphic-design tool with brand-aware AI. The September 7 community invitation seeks feedback under a nondisclosure agreement before public launch. That makes it an early competitive signal, with neither customer wins nor meaningful revenue established.
The investment question is whether easier AI design draws marketing budgets toward Adobe or encourages customers to do more inside Figma. Both already serve people creating branded visual material. Winning that workflow could support subscriptions and paid AI usage, but another tool also gives customers another reason to compare prices.
Copyright: photogearch / 123RF Stock Photo
Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $6.62 billion, up 13%, for the period ended May 29. Its AI-first annualized recurring revenue exceeded $500 million and more than tripled year over year. Those figures give its AI strategy substance beyond a product invitation. Its established creative customer base could also make testing and distribution easier.
The risk is that product experimentation fails to produce additional spending. Adobe must persuade customers that new capabilities deserve payment while competitors make basic ******* et creation easier. Oasis currently provides no disclosed conversion rate or financial contribution with which investors can test that proposition. Its invitation targets brand-identity and marketing workflows, so success would need to solve repeatable production problems. Generating an attractive demonstration is a different hurdle from becoming the tool a team pays to use every week.

#tool #easier

This story was originally published on Bisnow, the newsroom global commercial real estate reads first. To receive daily news and ******* ysis, subscribe to Bisnow's free suite of newsletters.
CBRE's investment management arm has acquired a 5-year-old net lease company with ******* ets totaling 12M SF across the U.S.
CBRE Investment Management purchased Cerberus Capital Management's Tenet Equity business for $1.6B, both sides of the transaction announced in separate news releases Tuesday. CBRE said it made the investment on behalf of several of its investment strategies but didn't disclose which ones.
Net leases are real estate arrangements in which tenants are responsible for fees typically ******* ociated with ownership, like insurance, maintenance and taxes. This is often executed through leaseback deals, in which a business sells its property for a cash infusion and then leases it back to remain a tenant.
Along with the acquisition, CBRE is launching a new strategy to further invest in net lease properties. Akash Shivashankara, a CBRE IM senior portfolio manager, will be heading that strategy.

#management

Ford Motor Company (F) is giving investors a fresh reason to revisit its electric vehicle (EV) strategy as the automaker prepares to launch the Fathom, an affordable electric pickup aimed squarely at the mass market. Ford reportedly wants to sell more than 100,000 Fathom trucks in its first year, a target that would put the model in rare company. That'd make it the first non-Tesla (TSLA) EV to cross the 100,000-unit mark for a single U.S. model in one year.
The Fathom is expected to start at $30,000, with customer orders opening in early 2027 and production beginning in the first quarter at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, plant. Moreover, Ford is building the truck around a new Universal EV platform and a redesigned manufacturing process intended to dramatically lower costs. CEO Jim Farley has described the effort as a potential "Model T moment" for the company.
Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 10
Rocket Lab Keeps Landing Defense Deals. Here's Why **** ysts Aren't Getting More Bullish.
Why Stifel Just Revamped Its Price Target for Microsoft Stock

#model #first #target #year

I have spent much of this week watching Australian coverage of the NFL and scrolling through social media posts as the 49ers and Rams prepare to play the first regular-season game in Australia. The coverage has been entertaining, enthusiastic and occasionally educational. There have been explanations of the rules, breakdowns of the equipment and attempts to introduce American football to a country that already has a sport called football.
The Aussies are excited. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Moreover, the NFL has taken over the city. The Jonas Brothers will perform at halftime, and Tourism Australia has built an advertising campaign around the game featuring wildlife conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin. He's the son of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. In addition, Netflix will distribute the game globally.
It should be a spectacular event. I'm just not convinced it proves football has become a global sport.
This season, the NFL is staging nine regular-season games in seven countries outside the United States. That represents an extraordinary expansion from the occasional London game of the past. The league is no longer simply testing international markets. Moreover, overseas games have become an important part of its schedule, television strategy and marketing machine.
However, more games in more countries don't automatically mean football has developed deep roots in those places.

#sport

Based on Thursday night's smothering down under by the 49ers against the Rams, it appears that San Francisco's early-arrival approach worked better than the Rams' strategy of barnstorming.
But Week 1 is just part of the equation. The Rams were surely thinking about the recovery from the long trip, with the goal of being ready for the next game, against the Giants to cap Week 2.
And it doesn't get easy after that. The Rams travel to Denver for a Sunday night game before playing in Philadelphia the next Sunday afternoon. After that, it's another Monday night game — against the Bills.
The 49ers will have to fly home after fully acclimating to Australia and re-acclimating to America. The Dolphins come to town in Week 2, followed by visits from the Cardinals and Broncos. In Week 5, the 49ers make their annual visit to the Seahawks.
In many respects, Thursday night's game is only the beginning. Where both teams go from here after going home will show plenty.

#next #night #home