During the September 10 episode of Mad Money, a caller questioned whether recent vertical integration by industrial competitors and market selloffs warranted a lower valuation for Howmet Aerospace Inc.'s (NYSE:HWM) economic moat, or if demand remained strong enough to make the pullback an overreaction. Jim Cramer replied:
Now, look, I'll tell you, here's the problem… It's a fastener company, and it frankly is, most times, very commodity-oriented business, and it happens to sell at 44 times earnings, and we don't want to pay that for commodities even though the business is strong. I think people are saying, "Wait a second, that's too much to pay, and I'm going to wait till it goes lower." And if you look at the chart, it does seem like it is going lower.
Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) occupies a sole-source or primary-supplier position across critical narrowbody and widebody aircraft programs, providing single-crystal turbine blades, advanced structural castings, and **** anium fasteners. Approval and qualification requirements, manufacturing complexity, and a limited supplier base can make alternative sources difficult to establish quickly. That gives the company strong pricing power on both new plane parts and higher-margin replacement spares.
The structural advantages of Howmet Aerospace Inc.'s (NYSE:HWM) business model can be seen in its Q2 financial results. Revenue surged over 24% year-over-year (21% organically) to $2.55 billion, driven by a 28% jump in commercial aerospace revenue, a 38% expansion in industrial gas turbines, and an 11% gain in defense aerospace. The core Engine Products division recorded third-party sales of $1.37 billion, up 32% year-over-year, while segment adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 470 basis points to 37.7%.
Despite its market positioning, Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) carries valuation risks that advise a cautious approach. Trading at elevated EV/EBITDA and forward P/E multiples relative to traditional industrial peers, the stock leaves little margin for operational missteps. Capital expenditures are projected to exceed $500 million in 2026 as the company builds out production capacity for next-generation engine components and gas turbines, reducing near-term free cash conversion flexibility.

#lower #ebitda

The Spurs announced Monday that registration is open for its second annual Gregg Popovich Coach to Coaches Clinic.
Set for 12:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Frost Bank Center before the start of the team's annual Silver & Black Open Scrimmage, the free clinic is open to basketball coaches of all levels and will be headed by Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and members of his staff.
Registration runs through Oct. 2.
More than 800 coaches representing more than 200 schools, organizations and communities from across the San Antonio area participated in last year's inaugural clinic.
"Coach Popovich has always emphasized the importance of teaching, sharing knowledge and helping others grow," Johnson said. "Last year's clinic was a great opportunity to connect with coaches in our community, and we're looking forward to continuing that tradition this year. We're excited to welcome everyone back to Frost Bank Center."

#coach #popovich

After discussing the Top 27 point guards, Top 27 shooting guards and Top 27 small forwards in the NBA for next season, today, we're here to talk about the Top 27 power forwards for 2026-27.
Power forward has become the position with the least depth in the NBA; although there are superstars at the top of this ranking, things get thin real quick, with various role players adorning this list, as well as a couple of rookies. That might have to do with the fact that the traditional power forward of yesteryear is now probably playing center, as the game has become so obsessed with ****** ing.
Regardless, as we mentioned, there are some top-tier players at the top of this ranking, so figuring out the top of this list wasn't the easiest ****** ignment.
Below, find out how we ranked the Top 27 power forwards for the 2026-27 NBA season.
2025-26 stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg, 51.4 FG%, 44.3 3PT%

#power #forward #ranking #regardless

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski attended the US Open with their daughters Hazel, 12, and Violet, 10
The family has made attending the US Open an annual tradition, appearing at the tournament in recent years
Krasinski and Blunt have been candid about wanting to prioritize family time in recent interviews, and have shared that they often bringing their daughters to filming locations to stay together
John Krasinski, Emily Blunt and their daughters are continuing their annual family tradition of stopping by the US Open!
On Sunday, Sept. 13, the family of four made their yearly appearance at the 2026 US Open at the USTA's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.

#krasinski #john #tradition

Princess Charlotte has revealed a new sporting passion, and it has a surprisingly strong connection to her royal family history. The 11-year-old princess has been seen showing off her cricket skills in family footage released by the Prince and Princess of Wales, drawing attention to a sport that was once a favorite of her great-grandfather, Prince Philip.
Prince Louis reveals what Princess Charlotte really thinks of his surprising new skill (@ Karwai Tang)
Now cricket is also getting an upgrade at Sandringham, King Charles III's private Norfolk estate, and the location of Anmer Hall, the Prince and Princess of Wales' country home. Plans call for improvements to the estate's cricket ground, creating an intriguing link between Charlotte's newfound enthusiasm, her grandfather's royal estate, and a sporting tradition that stretches back generations.
According to an exclusive report in The Sun, the Sandringham and Dersingham Cricket Club, which has long used the cricket ground on the royal estate, is planning to install an all-weather artificial surface.
A planning application submitted to the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk details the £9,000 project, which is designed to extend playing hours and help protect the natural grass during periods of heavy rain or intensive use.

#Cricket #prince #norfolk

Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record quarterly revenue of $24 million, validating the long-term strategy of transitioning toward higher-value integrated systems and custom cabling solutions.
Realized significant operating leverage as revenue surpassed the $20 million threshold, driving adjusted EBITDA margins to 11.1%, exceeding the company's 10% long-term goal.
Diversification efforts successfully reduced reliance on traditional telecom, with meaningful contributions from aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, and medical imaging.
Unified engineering and product management teams into a single structure to accelerate product launches and ensure technical innovation translates directly to revenue impact.

#long #product

Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is considering making its debut in China's domestic bond market as soon as this year, with CFO Marcelo Bacci saying the company is preparing for a potential Panda bond issuance. The move would be strategically significant because China accounts for roughly half of Vale's revenue, making renminbi financing a natural extension of its relationship with its largest market. Bloomberg reported that Vale is still ****** sing the market, including whether it can obtain a maturity longer than the typical two-, three-, or five-year terms available to international issuers.
The timing is also favorable for Vale because China's Panda bond market is expanding rapidly. Reuters reported that foreign issuers have increasingly turned to Asian bond markets to diversify funding sources, while Chinese yuan bond issuance has reached record levels in 2026. For Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE), the potential transaction therefore looks less like a necessity for raising capital and more like an effort to diversify its investor base, potentially lower funding costs, and build a longer-term financing relationship with Chinese investors.
The strongest bullish argument is that Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) could potentially lower and diversify its cost of capital by accessing a large pool of Chinese investors at a time when renminbi funding remains relatively inexpensive. Reuters noted that Chinese onshore and offshore yuan bond markets have experienced record issuance this year, with foreign borrowers increasingly using these markets to diversify away from traditional funding currencies. If Vale can achieve competitive pricing, a Panda bond could provide an additional funding channel alongside its established dollar financing, reducing its dependence on a single market.
The move could also create a better natural match between Vale's revenues and its financing currency. Because China represents approximately half of Vale's revenue, raising at least some debt in renminbi could provide a degree of currency alignment with its Chinese business exposure. More importantly, establishing itself as a repeat issuer could strengthen Vale's relationships with Chinese banks and institutional investors, potentially giving it access to another source of capital when global dollar markets become less attractive.
There is also a broader strategic benefit. China is actively expanding the Panda bond market and encouraging international companies to use it. Official Chinese data showed that more than 160 billion yuan of Panda bonds were issued during the first half of 2026, up 69% year over year, demonstrating that the market is becoming more established and liquid. Vale entering this market could therefore position the company early in a growing financing ecosystem rather than waiting until it becomes more crowded.

#chinese #bond #panda #China

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is expanding its restaurant-delivery business through a partnership with Papa John's, allowing customers in select U.S. markets to order pizzas, sides, and desserts through Walmart's app and website. The service is expected to launch this fall before expanding to thousands of participating Papa John's locations nationwide. Customers will be able to order restaurant food either separately or alongside Walmart groceries and household products, with Walmart's delivery network handling fulfillment.
The move builds on Walmart's broader push into fast delivery. The company recently reported that U.S. e-commerce sales increased 24% in its latest quarter, while fast-delivery services for groceries and general merchandise grew 48%. Walmart also said 30-minute-or-less delivery was available in 38 U.S. markets, highlighting the infrastructure it can potentially leverage for restaurant orders.
The Papa John's partnership could strengthen Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s position as a broader consumer-delivery platform rather than simply a retailer. Adding restaurant meals gives shoppers another reason to open Walmart's app, while the ability to combine a pizza order with groceries and household products creates an opportunity to increase basket sizes and order frequency. This is particularly attractive because Walmart already has a large store network that increasingly functions as a last-mile fulfillment system; roughly 80% of its e-commerce orders are fulfilled from stores.
The deal could also improve the economics of Walmart's existing delivery infrastructure. Instead of building a completely separate restaurant-delivery network, Walmart can utilize its established fulfillment capabilities and Spark driver network to serve incremental demand. The Papa John's relationship also expands Walmart's restaurant offering beyond earlier partnerships, helping the company build a more comprehensive alternative to dedicated delivery platforms such as DoorDash and Uber Eats.
More importantly, restaurant delivery could become another engagement tool for Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)'s increasingly digital customer base. With e-commerce approaching a quarter of Walmart's overall sales and growing substantially faster than traditional store sales, initiatives that increase digital traffic could support Walmart's broader ecosystem of e-commerce, memberships and advertising.

#walmart #network #fulfillment

Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:LYFT) has begun offering Waymo's fully autonomous robotaxi rides directly through its app in Nashville, marking the first market where Waymo vehicles can be booked through both the Waymo and Lyft apps. Lyft users requesting Standard, Priority Pickup, Wait & Save, or Extra Comfort rides within the designated Nashville service area can be matched with a Waymo vehicle at no additional cost.
The rollout also gives Lyft a larger role in the autonomous-vehicle ecosystem through its Flexdrive subsidiary, which will manage charging, cleaning and maintenance for Waymo's fleet. Reuters previously reported that the Nashville partnership was intended to become Waymo's first commercial deployment through Lyft's ride-hailing network.
paul-hanaoka-D-qq7W751vs-unsplash
The partnership could strengthen Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:LYFT)'s long-term position in a ride-hailing industry that is increasingly moving toward autonomous vehicles. Rather than spending heavily to develop its own robotaxi technology, Lyft can leverage Waymo's autonomous-driving capabilities while providing the customer base, app infrastructure, and fleet-management services needed to put those vehicles to work. This ****** et-light approach could allow Lyft to participate in the growth of robotaxis without bearing the enormous technological costs and risks ****** ociated with developing a self-driving system internally.
The bigger opportunity is Flexdrive. Lyft is not simply sending customers to Waymo; its subsidiary is taking responsibility for keeping Waymo vehicles operational in Nashville. Lyft says its new 80,000-square-foot facility will support more than 70 full-time positions and help optimize vehicle availability. If this operating model proves successful, Lyft could potentially become a valuable infrastructure and fleet-management partner as Waymo expands into additional markets. That would give Lyft another potential revenue opportunity beyond traditional ride commissions.

#vehicle #fleet #ride #NASDAQ

The energy outside Cipriani, in Lower Manhattan, across from the Charging Bull statue on Broadway, seemed conspicuously suspended in a different time. It was as if crossing the threshold into the Financial District sent me back a decade, to the genesis of this current generation's cultural aesthetic—to the lines at VFiles, the SoHo clothing store whose Howard St. storefront once served as epicenter of the nascent fusion of the worlds of streetwear, hip-hop, and high fashion. All of this was because Kai Cenat, the popular Twitch streamer and content creator, was making his runway debut. The fashion show for his brand Vivet's first collection drew a crowd of the current generation's innovators, giving a reminiscent feeling to the last time a popular figure came crashing through the gates of mainstream fashion.
In attendance that night were popular streamers like Jasontheween, Rakai, and Duke Dennis, alongside more traditional celebrity names: Jaden Smith, Luka Sabbat, Lauryn Hill (!). Popular fashion podcasters and journalists from the New York Times filtered through the crowd as well. It reminded me of the pre-pandemic days of fashion week pop-ups in the shadow of Ye's YZY Szn launches, when the crowds outside seemed as consequential as whoever had a seat inside. Social media had given a generation of streetwear obsessives and aspiring artists a way to build their own audiences, and fashion was beginning to accommodate them. At Cipriani, the streamers had brought another audience into the room.
More from Rolling Stone
Big Sean and Kanye West Reunite After Feud With Surprise Appearance in Chicago
Drake Turns Kick Stream Into a 20-v-1 Dating Show, Warns Rap Rivals His 'Pen Isn't Dry'

#outside #seemed #time #streetwear

Prediction market Kalshi plans to offer customers the ability to trade single-stock perpetual futures contracts in the U.S., as well as bet on the price movements of agriculture commodities.
Analysts say the move represents an attempt by Kalshi to muscle in on traditional financial markets.
New York-based Kalshi says that it is seeking regulatory approval to list contracts linked to some of the biggest U.S. stocks, such as Tesla (NASDAQ: $TSLA) and Nvidia (NASDAQ: $NVDA).
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster

#Tsla #nvda

When we moved to our former house in the Tradition neighborhood of Port St. Lucie, Fla., we had two Starbucks, two Dunkin's, and two local coffeehouses within a few miles of our house. A few years later, when we moved away, we still had two Starbucks, but the local, independent chains had both closed.
In their place, we added 7 Brew, Cali Coffee, Carmela (a regional chain), Vicky Bakery (a popular Cuban cafe chain), another Dunkin', and a new independent coffee place.
It's a staggering amount of competition in a fast-growing section of the city that's only a few square miles. All of those added competitors come at a time when the overall market has been growing, but seems to have hit a wall.
"The Coffee and Snack Shops industry has experienced a wave of growth, emerging as a standout performer in the food service sector. It boasts an annualized growth rate of 2.5%, shooting revenues up to $75.5 billion over the five years to 2026," according to IBISWorld's Coffee & Snack Shops in the US Industry Data and ***** ysis.
Nationally, Americans also have more places to get their daily cup.

#coffee #starbucks #snack #House

After Josh Kerr became Great Britain's first ever Ultimate Champion with a dominant victory in the 1500m in Budapest on Sunday evening, he celebrated in customary fashion - Union Jack draped around him, beaming smile, arms raised before the cheering crowd.
But he also did something less traditional, ramping up a battle over funding at the top of athletics in the process.
The 28-year-old made a clear point of obscuring the Nike sponsor's logo on his Great Britain kit by tying his Brooks-branded running spikes over his shoulder, meaning that the video footage and photographs of his trophy lift highlighted his own personal sponsor rather than his nation's.
After praising the inaugural running of the Ultimate Championship, a new biennial event run by World Athletics with a focus on big names, Kerr explained the meaning behind the move in his interview with BBC Sport.
"There is one last thing that I think we can get right, which is allowing the athletes to represent their own brands versus their country," Kerr said.

#ultimate #athletics #josh #champion

Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, recently partnered with Moov, a payments infrastructure provider, to bring stablecoin payments and settlements to more than 1,000 U.S. community banks and credit unions. By integrating Coinbase's digital ******* et infrastructure into Moov's payments platform, the two companies will enable those financial institutions to accept stablecoins without building their own blockchains.
Let's see how this partnership could help Coinbase, why everyone is talking about stablecoins right now, and how the upcoming vote on the CLARITY Act could impact those plans.
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 »
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to a stable fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar or the euro, and can be held without a bank account. Their payments can be settled 24/7, enabling faster, cheaper money transfers than fiat currencies. They can be deposited in third-party lending platforms and liquidity pools to earn higher yields than traditional bank accounts.
Stablecoins can also allow people in countries with hyperinflation to preserve their savings without buying the underlying fiat currencies. They can also be used to accelerate cross-border transfers by acting as a "bridge currency" between the two fiat currencies.

#signal #Coinbase

Dell Technologies (DELL) stock more than quadrupled over the past year, a 323% gain, against about 18% for the S&P 500, and even Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), up 130.6%, finished far behind. Management had described most of the drivers before the run began: customers sitting on old servers, AI orders that had outrun shipments earlier in the year, and costs falling while sales rose. Those signs could not tell you how far the stock would go.
What Was Dell Seeing In Its Customers' Data Centers?
In February 2025, management said customers still ran a very large base of Dell's 13th and 14th generation servers, ready to be replaced. AI demand, already under discussion then, was exceptionally strong by May 2025, with $12.1 billion of AI server orders in fiscal Q1 2026, more than Dell's AI server shipments for all of fiscal 2025.
In August 2025, management said over 70% of its installed base was running on 14th generation servers or older, and that one 17th generation server could replace six or seven old ones. The results were uneven. In fiscal Q2 2026, traditional server revenue rose again and international demand grew, but demand in North America, its most profitable region, was weak.
Why Were Dell's Costs Falling While Its Sales Rose?

#server

Jai Opetaia scored a brutal technical knockout win in the ninth round of his cruiserweight clash with Noel Mikaelian on Saturday night, then lined up a potentially massive showdown with pound-for-pound star David Benavidez for Cinco de Mayo next year.
It all went down at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on the Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn undercard, and provided the sport with something it has lacked — continuity — in a 200-pound division often overlooked in favor of the traditionally more glamorous weight classes that surround it.
Opetaia walked to the ring sweating, as if he'd warmed up with intent to hurt, and he needed no second invitation to land the first punch of the night. He kept his forearms high to thwart Mikaelian's probing punches, throwing single shots in return, mostly to the head and to the body too. But a clash of heads, likely caused by their opposing stances, appeared to open a cut below Opetaia's eye, slowing The Ring champion's momentum.
IS THIS FINALLY GOING TO HAPPEN ⁉️

See y'all next Cinco de Mayo 👀#GarciaBenn pic.twitter.com/rzWlLyVCzN
Whether it was the bruising that had begun to grow, or the loss of his friend and former trainer Louis Meehan, who was shot dead Wednesday in a Sydney suburb, Opetaia seemed momentarily subdued.

#mayo #next

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.
If you're looking for safe ways to grow your money and protect your savings, a high-yield savings account (HYSA) can be a great option. However, it's important to be aware that there are certain instances when you could lose money. So if you plan on opening a high-yield savings account, be sure you understand how to protect your principal and earned interest.
High-yield savings accounts are like traditional savings accounts except that they offer above-average interest rates. These accounts are available from banks and credit unions, particularly online financial institutions. The higher interest rate means you earn more on your deposited funds over time, allowing your savings to grow faster.
If you open an account with a federally insured financial institution, your savings account deposits are protected in case the institution fails. With banks, deposits are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000 per institution, per depositor, per ownership category. With credit unions, deposits are similarly insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
Read more: High-yield savings account vs. traditional savings account: Which one is better?

#high #credit #interest

Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI), traditionally known as an oil and gas field services and solutions company, has been increasingly shifting toward the data center market. On September 8, the company provided an update to its guidance ranges, which suggests that this shift is working.
The company lifted its adjusted EBITDA guidance for the third and fourth quarters of 2026 and provided its initial outlook for the first quarter of 2027. The company said that the updated expectations reflect stronger contributions from its core power services business, along with better-than-expected performance from recently acquired businesses. Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) now expects Q3 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $110 million to $130 million, up from its previous range of $90 million to $105 million. At the midpoint, that represents a 23% increase.
For Q4 2026, the company raised its guidance to $145 million to $180 million from $100 million to $120 million, a 48% increase at the midpoint. The company also provided initial Q1 2027 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $200 million to $240 million.
Investors responded positively to the update as the stock rallied following the announcement. Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) has returned about 150% over the past 12 months. As of September 8, the stock was up more than 25% year to date, compared with a 12% gain for the S&P 500.
The guidance update follows the company's September 2 announcement of its acquisition of Omega Foundation Services, a leader in the specialized engineering, procurement and construction industry with expertise in heavy civil construction across several end markets, including large-scale data centers.

#energy #Services

Two retirees with identical $1.65M portfolios face different tax outcomes based solely on withdrawal order and account placement, not holdings.
Drawing down or converting a traditional IRA to Roth before age 73 shrinks future RMDs and keeps income below IRMAA Medicare surcharge thresholds.
VTEB's tax-exempt municipal interest still counts fully toward IRMAA calculations, making it a hidden Medicare cost trap for retirees.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Two retirees, same age, same $1.65 million balance, same seven holdings in identical weights. One will pay a Medicare premium surcharge stacked on top of a rising required withdrawal starting at 73. The other will not. Only the order they draw from, and the accounts those draws come from, separates the outcomes.

#medicare #irmaa #holdings

All eyes are on the Fed with another higher than expected reading for core inflation. Jeff Klingelhofer, CFA, Managing Director, Portfolio Manager & Senior Research **** yst, Securitized **** ets at Aristotle Pacific, talks with host Brad Roth on this episode of Behind the Ticker about why the new Fed Chair stepping into an environment of high inflation matters for investors and bonds, and what that means for how the firm is positioning their strategies that include three new ETFs, the Aristotle Core Plus Income ETF (ARCP), the Aristotle Multi-Sector Income ETF (ARMS), and the Aristotle Short Term Income ETF (SDUR).
You can also watch this conversation here or on our YouTube, as well as find it on any of your preferred podcast streaming platforms.
A non-traditional path to fixed income: Jeff Klingelhofer started at PIMCO, moved through Tokyo and London, then took an unexpected detour into a five-person hedge fund during his Chicago MBA. That experience shaped his career trajectory, from building Thornburg's taxable fixed income desk from scratch to joining Aristotle Pacific in 2024.
The relative value philosophy: Instead of chasing yield by taking more risk within a single **** et class, Klingelhofer compares opportunities across all of fixed income, including corporates, ABS, CLOs, bank loans, and more. His go-to example: in 2020, an American Airlines corporate bond and its aircraft-backed EETC priced identically, but a month later one traded at 27 cents on the dollar while the other held at 65 cent, proof that siloed desks miss cross-market mispricing.
Three ETFs, one philosophy: Aristotle Pacific's new suite of SDUR (short-term income), ARCP (core plus), and ARMS (multi-sector income) applies this relative value lens across the risk spectrum, each targeting a different level of duration and credit exposure. All three aim to outperform passive benchmarks through active security selection rather than added risk.

#jeff #etfs

In the before-the-bell undercard action supporting the Garcia vs. Benn fight card, Alexis Rocha and Vlad Panin led the way with solid victories.
Abel Gonzalez, and Sean Garcia also scored wins.
Fights took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the traditional Mexican Independence Day card.
It was a disservice to boxing fans and the fighters to schedule the contest between former world champion Jose Ramirez of Avenal, California (29-4, 18 KOs) and top-ten-ranked contender Alexis Rocha of Santa Ana (27-2-1, 16 KOs) so early. The Golden Boy welterweight contest seems to have been buried by ongoing friction between promoters.
This aside, Ramirez and Rocha delivered solid action for ten rounds, with Rocha prevailing by a wide unanimous decision. Scores were 98-91, 98-91, and 97-92.

#solid

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

Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) is taking another step toward consolidating its digital **** et operations under a federal regulatory framework. On September 8, it filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to charter Builders Bank & Trust, N.A.
If chartered, the Builders Bank & Trust could become an important part of Block's digital **** et custody infrastructure, giving the company a federally supervised framework for custody and related services involving bitcoin and stablecoins.
Builders Bank & Trust would be an uninsured national trust bank, meaning it would not accept deposits or make traditional loans. Instead, its focus would be on fiduciary and custody services, allowing Block to build specialized infrastructure for safeguarding digital **** ets.
The structure could be particularly valuable as Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) seeks to expand its institutional customer base. A federally supervised custody operation could give larger financial institutions greater confidence in Block's ability to safeguard Bitcoin and other digital **** ets.
Stablecoins represent a potentially important opportunity for Block, particularly through its Cash App ecosystem. A regulated custody infrastructure could eventually support broader stablecoin-related products and payments if Block chooses to expand further in this area.

#Bitcoin

TROY — It wasn't the best showing for Alabama State football in the first half against Troy, but luckily, the Mighty Marching Hornets had a chance to inject some life into the Alabama State faithful.
In a rare FCS and FBS battle of the bands, the Mighty Marching Hornets went toe-to-toe with Troy's Sound of the South during the halftime of Alabama State and Troy's game on Saturday, Sept. 12.
It was battle of different styles, an HBCU band against a more traditional college band, but who claimed the halftime show? See what the Montgomery Advertiser observed during halftime.
Winner: Sound of the South
This might've been the closest category when it came to the two performances, but what the Sound of the South did to win this category was its ability to switch up the beat, the sound level and how quickly it could make an impact when needed.

#halftime #hornets

Nippert Stadium has hosted night football games dating back to 1923's 17-0 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan.
The tradition continues as the Cincinnati Bearcats host the Western Carolina Catamounts, an FCS team that last played here in 2005. Since 2000, UC is 20-0 vs. FCS competition. Dating back to 2006, when UC knocked off then-No. 7 Rutgers under the lights 30-11, the Bearcats are 39-16 in "Nipp at Night" games.
This is the second of four straight games in Cincinnati for the 1-0 Bearcats. Next week, they're at TQL Stadium for "The Battle for the Victory Bell" vs. the Miami RedHawks. UC finishes the stretch Sept. 26 with their opening Big 12 game against Kansas State.
Buy Cincinnati Bearcats football tickets this season
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina live updates, Week 2 score

#games #dating

As continuous inflation squeezes household budgets, the discount retail sector should potentially benefit across the board, with middle- and lower-income consumers looking for value driving foot traffic into value chains. That's roughly what happened in the second-quarter reports from Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) and Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR), both of which were released in late August. Both retailers outperformed expectations, though only one company's stock was rewarded for this.
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) reported second-quarter results on August 27 that exceeded expectations, and shares rose more than 6.5% in premarket trading. Net sales increased 5.2% to $11.29 billion, surpassing the $11.2 billion market forecast, while diluted EPS came in at $2.48, up 33.3% year-over-year and well above the $2.01 ******* ysts projected. Same-store sales increased 3.5%, driven by a 2.0% increase in customer traffic and a 1.5% increase in average transaction amount, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of traffic growth and the sixth consecutive quarter of positive comps across all four merchandise categories.
Management improved their full-year estimate across the board: same-store sales growth is now expected to be 2.5% to 2.9%, up from 2.2% to 2.7% before, while full-year EPS guidance increased to $7.80-$8.00 from $7.20-$7.45. Tariff refunds, a lower LIFO provision, and improved shrink and damages helped increase the gross margin by 127 basis points to 32.6%. CEO Todd Vasos also pointed to continued market share gains from higher-income households switching away from traditional grocers, a trend the company has cited for several quarters, with management announcing plans to resume up to $700 million in share buybacks in the latter half of the year, backed by remodels under its Project Renovate and Project Elevate initiatives.
Dollar Tree's results, released on August 27, indicate a more complicated situation. Diluted EPS came in at $2.70, including a $1.31-per-share net benefit related to tariff refunds, while revenue increased 7% year-over-year to $4.89 billion. Comparable store sales up 3.7%, driven by a 3.3% gain in average ticket and a 0.4% increase in traffic, a return to positive traffic that occurred a full quarter ahead of management's internal plan.
However, the headline figure includes an important caveat: $1.31 of the $2.70 in EPS came from the net impact of $383 million in IEEPA tariff refunds after related reinvestment spending, duties, and taxes. Strip that out, and underlying EPS was $1.39, above the $1.00-$1.15 range management had guided to in May and about 23% above the $1.13 consensus estimate.

#TRAFFIC

College football, in its purest form, is a remarkable game full of tradition, pageantry and so much fun. At the apex of that purity sits rivalry games. Texas-Oklahoma. Ohio State-Michigan. Iowa-Iowa State. There are generations of tradition and hatred built up among the fanbases and the games just bring more juice.
Tonight marks the 73rd meeting of the Cy-Hawk series, which dates back to 1894. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 46-25, officially.
But things have been tight recently. Iowa hasn't officially won this game since 2021 (the 2023 win was vacated) and they haven't won it at home since 2018.
Dating back to 2017, every game in this series has been decided by 10 or fewer points. The Cyclones haven't won this matchup by more than 3 since 2005. The last time either team won by more than 10 in this series was in 2016, when the Hawkeyes emerged victorious 42-3.
This week, we've been exploring the parallels to that 2016 season for this series and there certainly are a few. For starters, that 2016 season marked year one of the Matt Campbell era. Now, 2026 marks year one of the Jimmy Rogers era after Campbell departed for Penn State.

#game #since #games #marks

The Men's First Team are in Serie A action on the road on Sunday, 13 September, travelling to Emilia-Romagna to take on Sassuolo on Matchday 4.
Ahead of the game, coach Luciano Spalletti gave his traditional MD-1 press conference.
"We'll start by saying that we're sorry about what happened to [Manuel] Locatelli. His absence, though, spreads responsibility across everyone because he's always attentive to everything. This week I've seen a team that's very willing to fight against whatever it comes up against, a team that's trained very well.
"Because of the individual pressure players carry now, there's much more freedom on the pitch, so we've used different systems. Nothing changes without Locatelli in that sense. We can use any system because we have a squad that allows us to do that.
"[Weston] McKennie and [Andrea] Cambiaso are unlikely to be there tomorrow. Andrea will do a fitness test tomorrow morning. But [Pape Matar] Sarr will be available.

#andrea

The dream for most football players is to play in the NFL eventually, and wide receiver Antonio Williams will officially realize that dream this coming Sunday when the Washington Commanders take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Williams was a third-round draft pick out of Clemson. His 2024 campaign is probably the best indication of what he is capable of, after having over 900 receiving yards and leading the ACC in touchdowns that season with 11. Washington hopes to bring that kind of production to the Commanders this season, though he'll first have to get over his first-game jitters.
"I feel like if you ain't a little nervous, you don't care. And that's how I approach the game. So, yeah, when it comes out, that first play, I'll probably have a little jitters. But then once the snap goes, then it's game time."
Williams is not a stranger to a capacity stadium and electric game atmosphere. Clemson's Death Valley is well-known in college for its game atmosphere and traditions that make it a difficult place to play, and the Tigers traveled to some hostile places during Williams' time in college. However, it is different when you are playing in the NFL.
Also, Williams and the rest of the Commanders rookie class will not be able to experience a Washington Commanders home game until Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks. This is the first time since 2012 that Washington has started their season with back-to-back road games.

#williams #play #season #dream

Well STS readers, I come to you this week recovering from an extremely sobering experience last Saturday night. I predicted a fight even in a loss, and if it even qualified as a fight, it resembled Drago vs. Apollo in Rocky IV. Probably an adequate ******* ogy because Apollo USED to be great, but he was no match for the modernized superweapon Drago. Did the Soviets cheat to develop him? Absolutely, but at that point they were doing whatever it took to be superior no matter the morality of it. Clemson fans like me could be heard yelling "throw in the ******* towel!" by maybe the fourth possession of the game. It was that obvious that Clemson was completely and totally outmatched at the lines of scrimmage and the surrounding skill had zero chance because of it on either side of the ball.
How did it come to this? I posted this in a comment on the game review thread and will paste it here as it summarizes what I have painfully allowed myself to realize: "I hate it for Dabo and others who really want to do this the way it is supposed to be done, which is to develop men and grow boys to men and that takes time more often than not. That is what the transfer portal and NIL and lack of tampering control has created and as much as Dabo has tried to evolve I just don't see how he could ever get to what actually has to be done now if you want to be elite. I bet if you begin to track LSU, Ohio State, Texas, etc, going forward, you will see that maybe 50% of their rosters will start and finish with them and the other half will be brought in from elsewhere at some stage of their five-year playing window. Dabo swallows hard just to have the maybe 15% we are up to now that would check that box. I totally understand why, but either Dabo has to let go of that OR Clemson needs a huge break and actual sane rules return to CFB. Otherwise, we are back to 1995 where we might be able to beat ok teams and bad teams but are done beating anyone that is legit top 15 in stature."
I am a Clemson Tiger for life and lived through the lean years between Ford and Dabo. I'll still tune in and attend games when I can, but I know now that something has to give if Clemson is ever going to hope to compete at the highest level and it may get worse before it can get better. I'm still looking for pathways to wins, as many wins as this team can find a way to manage. I agree they are likely better than that product we saw in Baton Rouge, but that is not saying a lot either considering how FCS level the Tigers looked in that game.
I also want to add that I highly recommend gear from our sponsor Section 103. Their polos in particular have already become some of my favorites in the closet.
Do you want to support STS writers? You can do so by supporting our sponsor, Section 103. They deep dive school traditions to create thoughtful designs artfully applied to insanely comfortable tees, polos, hats, and more.Click here to explore.

#apollo