16 days ago
Investors eager to buy into the futuristic vision of profitable driverless vehicles will get their chance soon. May Mobility is aiming to become the first U.S. publicly listed pure-play option for an autonomous ride-hailing technology company. It is poised to go public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), merging with ACP Holdings Acquisition (NASDAQ: ACGC) that values the combined company at roughly $1.4 billion.
It's expected to operate as May Mobility. trading on the Nasdaq exchange under MAY. But before investors get too excited, let's pump the brakes and take a look at the details.
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 »
It's easy for investors to get excited about the opportunity, but many might not be aware of the potential market size or growth prospects. The global robotaxi market is projected to reach about $415 billion by 2035, with the U.S. accounting for a roughly $48 billion slice of that pie. The fleet of U.S. commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs) is projected to expand from only about 4,000 vehicles currently to around 35,000 by 2030 -- or about 8% of the ride-sharing market.
A year ago this month, Bank of America projected that the long-term U.S. total addressable market (TAM) for AV ride-hailing is a trillion-dollar opportunity as companies such as May Mobility aim to replace the drivers that take roughly 70% of every fare. It's also important for investors to realize how early in the game this is: Alphabet's Waymo, with an estimated $350 million in annualized revenue, would represent only about 0.5% of U.S. ride-hailing bookings.
#vehicles #company #roughly #billion
It's expected to operate as May Mobility. trading on the Nasdaq exchange under MAY. But before investors get too excited, let's pump the brakes and take a look at the details.
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 »
It's easy for investors to get excited about the opportunity, but many might not be aware of the potential market size or growth prospects. The global robotaxi market is projected to reach about $415 billion by 2035, with the U.S. accounting for a roughly $48 billion slice of that pie. The fleet of U.S. commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs) is projected to expand from only about 4,000 vehicles currently to around 35,000 by 2030 -- or about 8% of the ride-sharing market.
A year ago this month, Bank of America projected that the long-term U.S. total addressable market (TAM) for AV ride-hailing is a trillion-dollar opportunity as companies such as May Mobility aim to replace the drivers that take roughly 70% of every fare. It's also important for investors to realize how early in the game this is: Alphabet's Waymo, with an estimated $350 million in annualized revenue, would represent only about 0.5% of U.S. ride-hailing bookings.
#vehicles #company #roughly #billion
25 days ago
Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) has secured Madrid as the fourth city covered by its partnership with WeRide, bringing Spain into its rapidly expanding autonomous vehicle network. The company's broader AV strategy covers more than 30 partners, while Uber expects to commit more than $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years. At the center of that strategy is Uber's decision not to build self-driving technology itself. Instead, the company wants to become the indispensable demand layer for whichever AV providers ultimately emerge as winners. Yet the diversification strategy is facing pressure in key areas. One of its most prominent AV partners is pulling back, while another remains under an active safety investigation.
Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO have secured Spain's first national permit covering level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles. The permit was issued by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic and allows the companies to begin deployment preparations on public roads in Madrid. Under the permit, WeRide can test its GXR vehicles and conduct roadmapping throughout Madrid in preparation for a commercial launch planned for year-end. The rollout will begin with 20 vehicles, each supervised by an in-car specialist, operating across high-demand areas of Greater Madrid. Madrid becomes the fourth city included in the Uber-WeRide partnership, which plans to reach 15 cities globally by 2030. The expansion also fits Uber's broader ******* et-light AV strategy, which includes more than 30 partnerships while Uber expects to commit over $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years.
The diversification of Uber's AV network does not eliminate risks from individual partners. Uber and Waymo confirmed in late June that their Phoenix partnership had ended, while Waymo is reportedly considering a broader exit from its relationship with Uber. This comes even as Uber executives have publicly criticized Waymo's model while investing substantial capital in competing fleets. Avride is facing a separate challenge, with the NHTSA investigating the Uber AV partner after multiple crashes. At the same time, Tesla is ramping up its own Cybercab fleet, while Waymo has raised $16 billion to accelerate its independent growth. Together, these moves could reduce Waymo's reliance on Uber while increasing competitive pressure on Uber's AV platform.
#madrid #waymo
Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO have secured Spain's first national permit covering level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles. The permit was issued by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic and allows the companies to begin deployment preparations on public roads in Madrid. Under the permit, WeRide can test its GXR vehicles and conduct roadmapping throughout Madrid in preparation for a commercial launch planned for year-end. The rollout will begin with 20 vehicles, each supervised by an in-car specialist, operating across high-demand areas of Greater Madrid. Madrid becomes the fourth city included in the Uber-WeRide partnership, which plans to reach 15 cities globally by 2030. The expansion also fits Uber's broader ******* et-light AV strategy, which includes more than 30 partnerships while Uber expects to commit over $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years.
The diversification of Uber's AV network does not eliminate risks from individual partners. Uber and Waymo confirmed in late June that their Phoenix partnership had ended, while Waymo is reportedly considering a broader exit from its relationship with Uber. This comes even as Uber executives have publicly criticized Waymo's model while investing substantial capital in competing fleets. Avride is facing a separate challenge, with the NHTSA investigating the Uber AV partner after multiple crashes. At the same time, Tesla is ramping up its own Cybercab fleet, while Waymo has raised $16 billion to accelerate its independent growth. Together, these moves could reduce Waymo's reliance on Uber while increasing competitive pressure on Uber's AV platform.
#madrid #waymo
26 days ago
Autonomous vehicle company May Mobility is merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) and will become a publicly traded company. It's a deal that could raise more than $300 million for May Mobility at a valuation of $1.4 billion, the company said Wednesday.
Once the merger is complete, May Mobility said it will be the first public company in the U.S. that is focused entirely on autonomous ride-hailing vehicles. This is meant to differentiate it from a number of other public companies working on autonomy, including Tesla, Rivian, Alphabet (with Waymo), and trucking-focused Aurora and Kodiak.
The move sets up May Mobility to be a test of the stock market's appetite for pure-play robotaxi ventures.
It will also be a test of May Mobility's approach to autonomy, which it pitches as "asset-light" and "partnership-first." Instead of owning and operating the robotaxis, May Mobility's business revolves around selling its autonomous vehicles to its fleet partners over time while maintaining control of any remote supervision and software updates. In exchange, May Mobility receives either fixed fees or per-trip licensing fees.
Founded in 2017, May Mobility currently operates autonomous Toyota Siennas in three locations in the U.S. It has a partnership with Lyft in Atlanta, and offers rides in two cities — Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids — in Minnesota.
#company #autonomous #focused
Once the merger is complete, May Mobility said it will be the first public company in the U.S. that is focused entirely on autonomous ride-hailing vehicles. This is meant to differentiate it from a number of other public companies working on autonomy, including Tesla, Rivian, Alphabet (with Waymo), and trucking-focused Aurora and Kodiak.
The move sets up May Mobility to be a test of the stock market's appetite for pure-play robotaxi ventures.
It will also be a test of May Mobility's approach to autonomy, which it pitches as "asset-light" and "partnership-first." Instead of owning and operating the robotaxis, May Mobility's business revolves around selling its autonomous vehicles to its fleet partners over time while maintaining control of any remote supervision and software updates. In exchange, May Mobility receives either fixed fees or per-trip licensing fees.
Founded in 2017, May Mobility currently operates autonomous Toyota Siennas in three locations in the U.S. It has a partnership with Lyft in Atlanta, and offers rides in two cities — Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids — in Minnesota.
#company #autonomous #focused
26 days ago
Alphabet's (GOOGL) Search revenue grew 17% to $63B and Cloud surged 82% to $25B, even as GOOGL still trades at a market-level P/E of 15.
Alphabet's cloud is outpacing Azure's growth at a cheaper multiple than Microsoft (MSFT), while Meta (META) owns none of Alphabet's cloud, OS, or Waymo ***** ets.
Alphabet's $175B+ CapEx pushed free cash flow negative, but a $460B cloud backlog and 34% operating margin justify the infrastructure bet.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Google made the cut. Enter your email to see the other nine names and why GOOGL earned its spot. The report is free. Enter your email and see the full list.
I keep adding to my position in Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) because the loudest bear case, that AI would gut Google Search and hollow out the ad engine, keeps getting louder while the numbers keep going the other way. The skeptics said generative AI would strip clicks out of the funnel. Instead, AI is actively boosting the advertising business, and my cost basis has been rising alongside the buy ***** on.
#free
Alphabet's cloud is outpacing Azure's growth at a cheaper multiple than Microsoft (MSFT), while Meta (META) owns none of Alphabet's cloud, OS, or Waymo ***** ets.
Alphabet's $175B+ CapEx pushed free cash flow negative, but a $460B cloud backlog and 34% operating margin justify the infrastructure bet.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Google made the cut. Enter your email to see the other nine names and why GOOGL earned its spot. The report is free. Enter your email and see the full list.
I keep adding to my position in Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) because the loudest bear case, that AI would gut Google Search and hollow out the ad engine, keeps getting louder while the numbers keep going the other way. The skeptics said generative AI would strip clicks out of the funnel. Instead, AI is actively boosting the advertising business, and my cost basis has been rising alongside the buy ***** on.
#free
27 days ago
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) spent nearly two years raising anticipation for the Cybercab. When the time arrived on September 3 in Austin, the result was a stock that popped, then rapidly returned all of its gains, and a robotaxi race that still seems to be Alphabet's to lose.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) had its long-awaited Cybercab launch event in Austin, Texas, but it was invitation-only, not livestreamed, and CEO Elon Musk wasn't there. The company's main public update was a 51-second video released on X of the two-seat, steering-wheel-free vehicle roaming city streets and people hailing it by app. Shares rose roughly 5% throughout the session, finishing near $376. By September 4, enthusiasm had waned, with the stock plummeting as much as 6% as investors realized how little the event revealed about deployment timelines, production ramp, or regulatory clearance.
Only 45 Cybercabs were registered in Texas, and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) did not seek an NHTSA exemption before deployment, instead self-certifying the Cybercab as compliant with applicable federal safety standards. NHTSA subsequently opened an audit into that certification and has ordered Tesla to provide additional information about the basis for its compliance claims. CNBC summarized the reaction bluntly: the update "underwhelmed" Wall Street, which had been relying on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) becoming a strong rival in the robotaxi sector, which Alphabet's Waymo currently leads.
That comparison is at the heart of the story. Waymo has established the operational track record that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is still chasing: more than 4,000 autonomous vehicles across its U.S. fleet and more than 500,000 fully autonomous rides per week.
Wall Street's take on the incident was severely divided along those lines. Despite Tesla's efforts to control the narrative, some ******* ysts, including Gary Black of Future Fund, called the Cybercab debut largely a bust. Others, such as Deepwater ******* et Management's Gene Munster, predicted that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) will add approximately 300 Cybercabs in Austin over the next month.
#tesla #NASDAQ #cybercab
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) had its long-awaited Cybercab launch event in Austin, Texas, but it was invitation-only, not livestreamed, and CEO Elon Musk wasn't there. The company's main public update was a 51-second video released on X of the two-seat, steering-wheel-free vehicle roaming city streets and people hailing it by app. Shares rose roughly 5% throughout the session, finishing near $376. By September 4, enthusiasm had waned, with the stock plummeting as much as 6% as investors realized how little the event revealed about deployment timelines, production ramp, or regulatory clearance.
Only 45 Cybercabs were registered in Texas, and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) did not seek an NHTSA exemption before deployment, instead self-certifying the Cybercab as compliant with applicable federal safety standards. NHTSA subsequently opened an audit into that certification and has ordered Tesla to provide additional information about the basis for its compliance claims. CNBC summarized the reaction bluntly: the update "underwhelmed" Wall Street, which had been relying on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) becoming a strong rival in the robotaxi sector, which Alphabet's Waymo currently leads.
That comparison is at the heart of the story. Waymo has established the operational track record that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is still chasing: more than 4,000 autonomous vehicles across its U.S. fleet and more than 500,000 fully autonomous rides per week.
Wall Street's take on the incident was severely divided along those lines. Despite Tesla's efforts to control the narrative, some ******* ysts, including Gary Black of Future Fund, called the Cybercab debut largely a bust. Others, such as Deepwater ******* et Management's Gene Munster, predicted that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) will add approximately 300 Cybercabs in Austin over the next month.
#tesla #NASDAQ #cybercab
30 days ago
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 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
1 month ago
Focusing on large-cap technology equities that have lagged behind broader market momentum during the September 3 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer broke down why Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) presents an exceptional opportunity. He said:
Hey, you want a hated stock? How about this Alphabet, up just 9% for the year? There's a big cap stock that's really been left behind. Sure, it's done next to nothing, but when you look at the monster grower that is Google Cloud, you have to wonder, how can you not own the stock? Is it because of Waymo? Now, they're doing terrifically. Maybe you don't like YouTube; wow, biggest entertainment channel on Earth. Search, Gemini, maybe their AI isn't ready? Oh, maybe it will be.
Again, I say everything at a price, and $342 is the price for Alphabet, whether they get it right or not. Amazing that ******* ody cares about… Warren buying a lot of Alphabet. All people care about is that everybody's underwater from that secondary offering they did, 13 points higher from here. I say, so what? I don't care where it went. I care where it's going. It sells for 17 times earnings. It's the price.
Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) business keeps growing fast as more companies sign up for its cloud infrastructure. In the second quarter, total revenue hit nearly $120 billion. Google Cloud was the main driver behind this growth, as its sales surged 82%, turning it into a major profit source along with core businesses like YouTube. Alphabet leads the global online media market and is steadily expanding Waymo's driverless taxi service. Despite these strengths, the stock trades at roughly 17 times earnings around Cramer's commentary. That multiple is unusually low and understates the valuation of the company's underlying operations.
At the same time, there is a reasonable case for caution due to massive spending. Capital expenditures reached nearly $45 billion in Q2 alone as Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) spends aggressively on data centers and AI hardware. If making money from AI takes longer than planned, this heavy investment could hurt short-term cash flow and profit margins. Additionally, recent stock offerings have left some recent buyers holding shares at a loss.
#behind #price
Hey, you want a hated stock? How about this Alphabet, up just 9% for the year? There's a big cap stock that's really been left behind. Sure, it's done next to nothing, but when you look at the monster grower that is Google Cloud, you have to wonder, how can you not own the stock? Is it because of Waymo? Now, they're doing terrifically. Maybe you don't like YouTube; wow, biggest entertainment channel on Earth. Search, Gemini, maybe their AI isn't ready? Oh, maybe it will be.
Again, I say everything at a price, and $342 is the price for Alphabet, whether they get it right or not. Amazing that ******* ody cares about… Warren buying a lot of Alphabet. All people care about is that everybody's underwater from that secondary offering they did, 13 points higher from here. I say, so what? I don't care where it went. I care where it's going. It sells for 17 times earnings. It's the price.
Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) business keeps growing fast as more companies sign up for its cloud infrastructure. In the second quarter, total revenue hit nearly $120 billion. Google Cloud was the main driver behind this growth, as its sales surged 82%, turning it into a major profit source along with core businesses like YouTube. Alphabet leads the global online media market and is steadily expanding Waymo's driverless taxi service. Despite these strengths, the stock trades at roughly 17 times earnings around Cramer's commentary. That multiple is unusually low and understates the valuation of the company's underlying operations.
At the same time, there is a reasonable case for caution due to massive spending. Capital expenditures reached nearly $45 billion in Q2 alone as Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) spends aggressively on data centers and AI hardware. If making money from AI takes longer than planned, this heavy investment could hurt short-term cash flow and profit margins. Additionally, recent stock offerings have left some recent buyers holding shares at a loss.
#behind #price
1 month ago
Alphabet (GOOGL) is the parent company of Google and one of the world's largest technology conglomerates. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Alphabet operates through three primary segments: Google Services, encompassing Search, YouTube, Android, and Chrome; Google Cloud, its rapidly scaling enterprise infrastructure business; and Other Bets, which includes the Waymo autonomous vehicle unit.
Under CEO Sundar Pichai, Alphabet has aggressively expanded its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through Gemini models, custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and AI-powered search features, positioning itself at the forefront of the generative AI race. With dominant digital advertising market share and accelerating cloud growth, the company remains a global technology bellwether.
How to Play SNPS Stock as Layoffs Hit Synopsys
Micron Stock More Than Tripled in 2026. Now Taiwan Strike Threat Could Shake the AI Boom.
Dear Adobe Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 10
#alphabet #technology #googl
Under CEO Sundar Pichai, Alphabet has aggressively expanded its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through Gemini models, custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and AI-powered search features, positioning itself at the forefront of the generative AI race. With dominant digital advertising market share and accelerating cloud growth, the company remains a global technology bellwether.
How to Play SNPS Stock as Layoffs Hit Synopsys
Micron Stock More Than Tripled in 2026. Now Taiwan Strike Threat Could Shake the AI Boom.
Dear Adobe Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for September 10
#alphabet #technology #googl
1 month ago
Uber is laying off about 3,300 employees, or about 10% of its workforce.
It is the deepest cut the ride-hailing giant that revolutionized on-demand taxis has made since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi announced the layoffs in a letter to employees Wednesday. The cut comes as Uber faces increasing competition from the growing robotaxi industry and other delivery services such as Instacart and DoorDash.
Read more: Waymo wins approval for drastic expansion in Los Angeles, Bay Area regions
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous taxi company, is expanding rapidly and operates in 14 cities including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Uber also competes with rival Lyft across the country.
#dara #wednesday
It is the deepest cut the ride-hailing giant that revolutionized on-demand taxis has made since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi announced the layoffs in a letter to employees Wednesday. The cut comes as Uber faces increasing competition from the growing robotaxi industry and other delivery services such as Instacart and DoorDash.
Read more: Waymo wins approval for drastic expansion in Los Angeles, Bay Area regions
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous taxi company, is expanding rapidly and operates in 14 cities including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Uber also competes with rival Lyft across the country.
#dara #wednesday
1 month ago
Lucid recalled 27,185 Air sedans over a fire risk from overheating lights, a figure that is 171% larger than its entire annual production run rate.
Napoli's 'operational reset' slashes $1 billion in costs and delays the sub-$50,000 Cosmos model, while LCID stock craters 53% this year.
Lucid's robotaxi partnership with Uber pits it against Tesla and Waymo, rivals that have vastly deeper capital and years of head start.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Lucid's (NASDAQ: LCID) stock has dropped below $5, which by definition makes it a "penny stock."
#uber #NASDAQ
Napoli's 'operational reset' slashes $1 billion in costs and delays the sub-$50,000 Cosmos model, while LCID stock craters 53% this year.
Lucid's robotaxi partnership with Uber pits it against Tesla and Waymo, rivals that have vastly deeper capital and years of head start.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Lucid's (NASDAQ: LCID) stock has dropped below $5, which by definition makes it a "penny stock."
#uber #NASDAQ
1 month ago
Martha Stewart, the grand dame ofmarketing and lifestyle branding, has recent appeared in conjunction with three high-profile brands: Starbucks, Waymo and Kohl's.
It's (almost) fall, aka pumpkin spiceeverything season, and Starbucks is back to peddling its Pumpkin spice latte.
"The PSL has developed deeper lifestyle ******* ociations and a place in online meme culture, withcontent frequently knocking the limited-time offering as a sign that the drinker is 'basic, or has cookie-cutter taste," according to Marketing Dive. "
For its latest campaign aroundthe PSL, Starbucks posits that basic isn't necessarily a bad thing, with Stewart — whom the release describes as 'the queen of fall and keeping it real' — as themessage's mouthpiece."
The PSL returned to stores Auguar 25.
#stewart #basic #waymo
It's (almost) fall, aka pumpkin spiceeverything season, and Starbucks is back to peddling its Pumpkin spice latte.
"The PSL has developed deeper lifestyle ******* ociations and a place in online meme culture, withcontent frequently knocking the limited-time offering as a sign that the drinker is 'basic, or has cookie-cutter taste," according to Marketing Dive. "
For its latest campaign aroundthe PSL, Starbucks posits that basic isn't necessarily a bad thing, with Stewart — whom the release describes as 'the queen of fall and keeping it real' — as themessage's mouthpiece."
The PSL returned to stores Auguar 25.
#stewart #basic #waymo
2 months ago
For another year, there is a lot of excitement surrounding another Lincoln Riley offense. USC has some returning players who should be in for big seasons, including starting quarterback Jayden Maiava. However, Maiava will also have to bring young playmakers up to speed to help this offense be even more explosive.
Here are my X-factors for the Trojans this season on offense:
All eyes will be on Jayden Maiava. How successful can he make this offense this season? Maiava does not have Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane anymore, two guys he could just throw the football to in any coverage. This season, it will be more on Maiava to get the most out of a younger supporting cast. With all the buzz surrounding Maiava, it appears he is more than ready to take on that challenge. While his supporting cast may not be as experienced, it is still a deep and super talented group. Many different, versatile skill sets are on this year's offense. He has an exceptional running back tandem, coupled with an experienced offensive line. It is only going to get better for Maiava. I believe last season was just the start, and he will be in for a big year.
Waymond Jordan is returning from injury, but it looks like he hasn't lost a step. He has had a great camp, and he is fully healthy. Jordan will be sharing the workload with King Miller, but I believe when it comes down to finishing drives, Jordan will be the back they look to. Jordan is a bruising and physical back, so when it is time to put the ball in the end zone, that is where Jordan will specialize. I think Jordan will post double-digit touchdowns and become a very pivotal ****** et for the Trojans offense.
The Trojans do not have Makai Lemon anymore, but that does not mean they do not have a good replacement for Lemon's impact. Tanook Hines showed shades of being that type of weapon last season in the bowl game vs TCU. 6 catches for 163 yards gave great confidence that he can step up and be the number 1 target for Jayden Maiava. Maiava and Hines already have a connection, and that will be seen all season long. I think Hines will be a big reason for Jayden Maiava having a big year and the Trojans' offense to be explosive again.
#jordan #hines #year
Here are my X-factors for the Trojans this season on offense:
All eyes will be on Jayden Maiava. How successful can he make this offense this season? Maiava does not have Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane anymore, two guys he could just throw the football to in any coverage. This season, it will be more on Maiava to get the most out of a younger supporting cast. With all the buzz surrounding Maiava, it appears he is more than ready to take on that challenge. While his supporting cast may not be as experienced, it is still a deep and super talented group. Many different, versatile skill sets are on this year's offense. He has an exceptional running back tandem, coupled with an experienced offensive line. It is only going to get better for Maiava. I believe last season was just the start, and he will be in for a big year.
Waymond Jordan is returning from injury, but it looks like he hasn't lost a step. He has had a great camp, and he is fully healthy. Jordan will be sharing the workload with King Miller, but I believe when it comes down to finishing drives, Jordan will be the back they look to. Jordan is a bruising and physical back, so when it is time to put the ball in the end zone, that is where Jordan will specialize. I think Jordan will post double-digit touchdowns and become a very pivotal ****** et for the Trojans offense.
The Trojans do not have Makai Lemon anymore, but that does not mean they do not have a good replacement for Lemon's impact. Tanook Hines showed shades of being that type of weapon last season in the bowl game vs TCU. 6 catches for 163 yards gave great confidence that he can step up and be the number 1 target for Jayden Maiava. Maiava and Hines already have a connection, and that will be seen all season long. I think Hines will be a big reason for Jayden Maiava having a big year and the Trojans' offense to be explosive again.
#jordan #hines #year
2 months ago
On paper, before the 2026 college football season kicks off, the Oregon Ducks have the best offense in the Big Ten, better than USC, and maybe the whole sport. Dante Moore is primed to be the first quarterback taken in the upcoming NFL draft, and he has an embarrassment of riches to throw the ball to. The Oregon Ducks' receiver room is completely stacked with versatile weapons in Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart, and Jeremiah McClellan. The Ducks also have two tight ends who can be better than last year's first-round draft pick, Kenyon Sadiq.
To complement that, Oregon has an elite run game once again. That sounds promising, and Oregon will be headed for offensive dominance. However, the USC Trojans have both a potential elite passing attack and run game.
Here is my hot take of the week, for game week for the USC Trojans:
Waymond Jordan and King Miller have their own case for best backfield in college football. Both backs have the potential to run for 1,000 yards. The Trojans' offensive line will be better and more experienced than last year, setting both backs up for great success.
Jayden Maiava is also set up for great success with an embarrassment of riches in pass catchers too, just like Moore. Maiava has a handful of freshman playmakers who can be special early. Mark Bowman and ***** ie Feaster will become top targets for Maiava right out of the gate. With Tanook Hines healthy now, Maiava will have his Makai Lemon replacement.
#oregon
To complement that, Oregon has an elite run game once again. That sounds promising, and Oregon will be headed for offensive dominance. However, the USC Trojans have both a potential elite passing attack and run game.
Here is my hot take of the week, for game week for the USC Trojans:
Waymond Jordan and King Miller have their own case for best backfield in college football. Both backs have the potential to run for 1,000 yards. The Trojans' offensive line will be better and more experienced than last year, setting both backs up for great success.
Jayden Maiava is also set up for great success with an embarrassment of riches in pass catchers too, just like Moore. Maiava has a handful of freshman playmakers who can be special early. Mark Bowman and ***** ie Feaster will become top targets for Maiava right out of the gate. With Tanook Hines healthy now, Maiava will have his Makai Lemon replacement.
#oregon
2 months ago
Martha Stewart is teaming up with Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous-driving company, on a social campaign announced Thursday that recasts its new Ojai vehicle as her latest "home away from home."
In a 52-second spot inspired by Architectural Digest's Open Door video series, she welcomes viewers into the vehicle and ******* ses it as if it were one of her own residences. "When choosing a property, good homes are essential," she says, praising its "excellent architecture and curb appeal" before touring three screens and asking Gemini about the weather.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet and All the Stars Spotted at the New York Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade
Martha Stewart Expands Her Empire With First-Ever Kitchen Appliance Line
#vehicle #waymo #ojai
In a 52-second spot inspired by Architectural Digest's Open Door video series, she welcomes viewers into the vehicle and ******* ses it as if it were one of her own residences. "When choosing a property, good homes are essential," she says, praising its "excellent architecture and curb appeal" before touring three screens and asking Gemini about the weather.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet and All the Stars Spotted at the New York Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade
Martha Stewart Expands Her Empire With First-Ever Kitchen Appliance Line
#vehicle #waymo #ojai
2 months ago
When asked to identify college football programs that have elite talent at receiver even as freshmen, the first answer that crosses most people's minds is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The USC Trojans, however, aim to change that narrative with their most recent recruiting class. The Trojans also have a couple of talented freshmen who will be positioned to contribute to the offense.
Here are some freshmen on offense who could make a big impact for the USC Trojans:
Redeaux has track speed at the running back position. If he gets any carries this season, there is a good chance he will find his way to the end zone with his speed alone. With his breakout in fall camp, It is very likely he ends up as the 3rd back on the depth chart. Having to deal with thunder and lightning in King Miller and Waymond Jordan, and then having to deal with Redeaux's home-run-hitting speed, spells trouble for Big Ten defenses.
Boobie Feaster is a big play waiting to happen, and he has showcased that already in much of the Trojans' fall camp footage. There is a good shot that he will be the starting slot receiver, and with that, he will make many big plays for the Trojans this season. It is players like this that will be so necessary when facing defenses like Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. Lincoln Riley will love getting the ball in Feaster's hands. More often than not, Feaster will make both Riley and Jayden Maiava right.
Mosley will be a guy that Lincoln Riley will try to get involved, given how much of a playmaker he can be with the ball in his hands. He has game-changing speed and was already dubbed this year's potential Adoree' Jackson for the Trojans. His skill set will be useful on special teams, and if the Trojans can get production in that area to complement their offense, that could make a difference in some pivotal games this year.
#speed #freshmen
Here are some freshmen on offense who could make a big impact for the USC Trojans:
Redeaux has track speed at the running back position. If he gets any carries this season, there is a good chance he will find his way to the end zone with his speed alone. With his breakout in fall camp, It is very likely he ends up as the 3rd back on the depth chart. Having to deal with thunder and lightning in King Miller and Waymond Jordan, and then having to deal with Redeaux's home-run-hitting speed, spells trouble for Big Ten defenses.
Boobie Feaster is a big play waiting to happen, and he has showcased that already in much of the Trojans' fall camp footage. There is a good shot that he will be the starting slot receiver, and with that, he will make many big plays for the Trojans this season. It is players like this that will be so necessary when facing defenses like Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. Lincoln Riley will love getting the ball in Feaster's hands. More often than not, Feaster will make both Riley and Jayden Maiava right.
Mosley will be a guy that Lincoln Riley will try to get involved, given how much of a playmaker he can be with the ball in his hands. He has game-changing speed and was already dubbed this year's potential Adoree' Jackson for the Trojans. His skill set will be useful on special teams, and if the Trojans can get production in that area to complement their offense, that could make a difference in some pivotal games this year.
#speed #freshmen
2 months ago
Cathie Wood continued betting big on ******* eX on Friday. Her ARK Invest firm purchased over 200,000 shares of Elon Musk's ******* e company across multiple ETFs worth almost $27 million, according to company logs. Wood has long placed high value on Musk's companies, pumping hundreds of millions into investments in ******* eX (SPCX) and Tesla (TSLA) over the years. ARK Invest Buys…
8/21/2026 Nevada regulators voted Thursday to approve Las Vegas robotaxi permits for Tesla, Uber and Google's Waymo. They'll join Amazon's Zoox.
Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market ******* ysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20!
#elon
8/21/2026 Nevada regulators voted Thursday to approve Las Vegas robotaxi permits for Tesla, Uber and Google's Waymo. They'll join Amazon's Zoox.
Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market ******* ysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20!
#elon
2 months ago
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter.
Robots are gaining steam in the construction industry, with two announcements this week highlighting the demand for these solutions on jobsites.
On Monday, global investment behemoth SoftBank threw its weight behind Gravis Robotics in a $200 million Series A funding round. That same day, Bedrock Robotics, founded by alumni from robotaxi firm Waymo, announced its machines were doing work on real jobsites for established contractors, including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction.
Those are only the latest developments in the sector. Last year, "robot brain" maker FieldAI raised $405 million across two consecutive funding rounds. And Bedrock's latest jobsite announcement followed its February funding news, where it raised $270 million in a Series B round.
The focus on robots in construction demonstrates not only a desire from legacy investors to pursue automation in the sector, but the need of contractors to find labor — human or otherwise — to complete jobs. As Bedrock CEO Boris Sofman told Construction Dive earlier this week, "We are seeing increasing projects with millions of cubic yards of earth to be moved."
#dive #robotics #robots
Robots are gaining steam in the construction industry, with two announcements this week highlighting the demand for these solutions on jobsites.
On Monday, global investment behemoth SoftBank threw its weight behind Gravis Robotics in a $200 million Series A funding round. That same day, Bedrock Robotics, founded by alumni from robotaxi firm Waymo, announced its machines were doing work on real jobsites for established contractors, including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction.
Those are only the latest developments in the sector. Last year, "robot brain" maker FieldAI raised $405 million across two consecutive funding rounds. And Bedrock's latest jobsite announcement followed its February funding news, where it raised $270 million in a Series B round.
The focus on robots in construction demonstrates not only a desire from legacy investors to pursue automation in the sector, but the need of contractors to find labor — human or otherwise — to complete jobs. As Bedrock CEO Boris Sofman told Construction Dive earlier this week, "We are seeing increasing projects with millions of cubic yards of earth to be moved."
#dive #robotics #robots
2 months ago
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter.
Robots are gaining steam in the construction industry, with two announcements this week highlighting the demand for these solutions on jobsites.
On Monday, global investment behemoth SoftBank threw its weight behind Gravis Robotics in a $200 million Series A funding round. That same day, Bedrock Robotics, founded by alumni from robotaxi firm Waymo, announced its machines were doing work on real jobsites for established contractors, including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction.
Those are only the latest developments in the sector. Last year, "robot brain" maker FieldAI raised $405 million across two consecutive funding rounds. And Bedrock's latest jobsite announcement followed its February funding news, where it raised $270 million in a Series B round.
The focus on robots in construction demonstrates not only a desire from legacy investors to pursue automation in the sector, but the need of contractors to find labor — human or otherwise — to complete jobs. As Bedrock CEO Boris Sofman told Construction Dive earlier this week, "We are seeing increasing projects with millions of cubic yards of earth to be moved."
#robotics #week
Robots are gaining steam in the construction industry, with two announcements this week highlighting the demand for these solutions on jobsites.
On Monday, global investment behemoth SoftBank threw its weight behind Gravis Robotics in a $200 million Series A funding round. That same day, Bedrock Robotics, founded by alumni from robotaxi firm Waymo, announced its machines were doing work on real jobsites for established contractors, including Sundt Construction and Zachry Construction.
Those are only the latest developments in the sector. Last year, "robot brain" maker FieldAI raised $405 million across two consecutive funding rounds. And Bedrock's latest jobsite announcement followed its February funding news, where it raised $270 million in a Series B round.
The focus on robots in construction demonstrates not only a desire from legacy investors to pursue automation in the sector, but the need of contractors to find labor — human or otherwise — to complete jobs. As Bedrock CEO Boris Sofman told Construction Dive earlier this week, "We are seeing increasing projects with millions of cubic yards of earth to be moved."
#robotics #week
2 months ago
Watch list season in college football continues to roll along. Recently, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava and running back Waymond Jordan were named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. However, they were not the only Trojans to make a watch list this past week.
On Tuesday, the watch list was announced for the Outland Trophy, presented annually to the top interior lineman in college football. Included on the list was USC offensive lineman Alani Noa.
After earning snaps as a reserve offensive lineman in 2023, Noa has started at offensive guard for the Trojans each of the past two seasons, Now, he returns for his senior year as a key member of a USC offensive line that is bringing back all five starters from 2025 (minus center Kilian O'Connor, who head coach Lincoln Riley announced on Thursday suffered an injury and will miss the entire season).
The only Trojan to ever win the Outland Trophy was offensive lineman Ron Yary all the way back in 1967. For context, USC head coach Lincoln Riley would not be born for another 16 years after that. Now, six decades later, Noa will look to become the second.
USC will kick off its 2026 season on August 29 at the Coliseum against San Jose State.
#lincoln
On Tuesday, the watch list was announced for the Outland Trophy, presented annually to the top interior lineman in college football. Included on the list was USC offensive lineman Alani Noa.
After earning snaps as a reserve offensive lineman in 2023, Noa has started at offensive guard for the Trojans each of the past two seasons, Now, he returns for his senior year as a key member of a USC offensive line that is bringing back all five starters from 2025 (minus center Kilian O'Connor, who head coach Lincoln Riley announced on Thursday suffered an injury and will miss the entire season).
The only Trojan to ever win the Outland Trophy was offensive lineman Ron Yary all the way back in 1967. For context, USC head coach Lincoln Riley would not be born for another 16 years after that. Now, six decades later, Noa will look to become the second.
USC will kick off its 2026 season on August 29 at the Coliseum against San Jose State.
#lincoln
2 months ago
Interested in Element Fleet Management Corp.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Element Fleet Management delivered solid Q2 growth: Adjusted net revenue rose 10% year over year to $318 million, adjusted EPS increased 12%, and adjusted ROE reached 19.6%. Vehicles under management grew 3% to 1.56 million, while first-half revenue, EPS and free cash flow per share rose 13%, 18% and 11%, respectively.
The company is expanding its capital-light and digital strategies: Its inaugural equity residual transaction transferred about $700 million of receivables off balance sheet, while automation and workflow initiatives are expected to produce roughly $20 million in annualized savings in 2027.
Waymo partnership could support future services growth: Element will initially support Waymo's autonomous-vehicle operations in San Diego, with revenue contributions expected from 2027 and potentially adding a few points to services-revenue growth. Management also returned $163 million to shareholders in Q2, including $120 million in share repurchases.
Element Fleet Management (TSE:EFN) reported second-quarter results that included double-digit growth in adjusted net revenue and adjusted earnings per share, while management highlighted progress in its capital-light funding strategy, digital transformation efforts and expansion into autonomous-vehicle fleet services.
#element
Element Fleet Management delivered solid Q2 growth: Adjusted net revenue rose 10% year over year to $318 million, adjusted EPS increased 12%, and adjusted ROE reached 19.6%. Vehicles under management grew 3% to 1.56 million, while first-half revenue, EPS and free cash flow per share rose 13%, 18% and 11%, respectively.
The company is expanding its capital-light and digital strategies: Its inaugural equity residual transaction transferred about $700 million of receivables off balance sheet, while automation and workflow initiatives are expected to produce roughly $20 million in annualized savings in 2027.
Waymo partnership could support future services growth: Element will initially support Waymo's autonomous-vehicle operations in San Diego, with revenue contributions expected from 2027 and potentially adding a few points to services-revenue growth. Management also returned $163 million to shareholders in Q2, including $120 million in share repurchases.
Element Fleet Management (TSE:EFN) reported second-quarter results that included double-digit growth in adjusted net revenue and adjusted earnings per share, while management highlighted progress in its capital-light funding strategy, digital transformation efforts and expansion into autonomous-vehicle fleet services.
#element
2 months ago
Three in four Uber riders have never ordered groceries through the app, representing a massive untapped customer base within a $1 trillion addressable market.
Uber's advertising business surpassed a $2 billion annual run rate, growing over 50% year-over-year, with margins far higher than its delivery operations.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Uber didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Artificial intelligence has become the lens through which investors view almost every technology company. Businesses are increasingly judged by whether they win or lose the AI race, even when other growth engines continue to accelerate underneath the surface. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) has become one of the latest examples.
The stock has recently swung on headlines surrounding autonomous vehicles and its partnership with Waymo, yet those headlines obscure a quieter story unfolding inside the company. For long-term investors, this overlooked business could prove far more valuable than the market currently appreciates.
#business #company #NVIDIA
Uber's advertising business surpassed a $2 billion annual run rate, growing over 50% year-over-year, with margins far higher than its delivery operations.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Uber didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Artificial intelligence has become the lens through which investors view almost every technology company. Businesses are increasingly judged by whether they win or lose the AI race, even when other growth engines continue to accelerate underneath the surface. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) has become one of the latest examples.
The stock has recently swung on headlines surrounding autonomous vehicles and its partnership with Waymo, yet those headlines obscure a quieter story unfolding inside the company. For long-term investors, this overlooked business could prove far more valuable than the market currently appreciates.
#business #company #NVIDIA
2 months ago
Fundsmith, an investment management firm based in London, has released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Fundsmith Equity Fund." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund returned -2.9% in the first half of 2026, underperforming the MSCI World Index by 14.1 percentage points, driven by challenges from a momentum-driven market dominated by passive index funds and AI-related exuberance. The letter discusses the rise of passive investing, noting that index funds now resemble active funds, concentrating heavily in a few sectors and stocks. Due to increased market volatility and a 51% portfolio turnover in the first half of the year, the firm plans to adopt a more active approach, incorporating momentum while maintaining its core mantra: buy good companies, don't overpay, and do little. In addition, please check the Firm's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Fundsmith Equity Fund highlighted Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) as a newly added position. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is a multinational technology company that offers ridesharing, food delivery, freight, and other services. On July 31, 2026, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) closed at $70.36 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $143.22 billion. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) posted a one-month return of -2.84%, while its shares lost 20.43% over the past 52 weeks.
Fundsmith Equity Fund stated the following regarding Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) – Uber operates a platform that connects users with ride-hailing and food-delivery drivers. It relies on a two-sided network effect: more drivers mean shorter wait times, which attracts more riders, making the platform highly sticky and difficult for local competitors to disrupt. Now that most of these challengers (Karhoo, Sidecar, Juno, Fasten, Hailo, etc.) have disappeared and Uber has survived, the network effects become very attractive. This is shown in the company's cash from operations, which went from -$4.3bn in 2019 to -$445m in 2021 (last year of negative) to $3.6bn in 2023 and over $10bn in 2025. Uber's logistics network is massive, coordinating roughly 42m trips and delivery orders every single day globally. Future growth opportunities include expanding into grocery and package delivery and eventually integrating autonomous (self-driving) vehicles ('AVs') into their fleet to drastically lower costs. Some see AVs as a threat to Uber, but we think it is more likely that Tesla, Waymo, etc., will use Uber's distribution and global licenses to reach customers and maximise their ****** et usage rather than having to get licenses, build an app, and get tens of millions of people to download. ROIC: mid 20s, FCF yield: 7.4%."
#technologies
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Fundsmith Equity Fund highlighted Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) as a newly added position. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is a multinational technology company that offers ridesharing, food delivery, freight, and other services. On July 31, 2026, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) closed at $70.36 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $143.22 billion. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) posted a one-month return of -2.84%, while its shares lost 20.43% over the past 52 weeks.
Fundsmith Equity Fund stated the following regarding Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) – Uber operates a platform that connects users with ride-hailing and food-delivery drivers. It relies on a two-sided network effect: more drivers mean shorter wait times, which attracts more riders, making the platform highly sticky and difficult for local competitors to disrupt. Now that most of these challengers (Karhoo, Sidecar, Juno, Fasten, Hailo, etc.) have disappeared and Uber has survived, the network effects become very attractive. This is shown in the company's cash from operations, which went from -$4.3bn in 2019 to -$445m in 2021 (last year of negative) to $3.6bn in 2023 and over $10bn in 2025. Uber's logistics network is massive, coordinating roughly 42m trips and delivery orders every single day globally. Future growth opportunities include expanding into grocery and package delivery and eventually integrating autonomous (self-driving) vehicles ('AVs') into their fleet to drastically lower costs. Some see AVs as a threat to Uber, but we think it is more likely that Tesla, Waymo, etc., will use Uber's distribution and global licenses to reach customers and maximise their ****** et usage rather than having to get licenses, build an app, and get tens of millions of people to download. ROIC: mid 20s, FCF yield: 7.4%."
#technologies
2 months ago
USC football needs a lot of things to happen if this season is going to come together perfectly. ESPN's Bill Connelly explored the "ifs" which need to emerge for the Trojans to achieve up to their expectations (and maybe even exceed them).
Connelly writes that USC's season can be special "If ... Jayden Maiava has pass catchers. Maiava is one of the most proven returning quarterbacks in the sport and should have a dynamite run game at his disposal thanks to backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller, and an experienced line. But of the seven players with at least 125 receiving yards last season, only sophomore wideout Tanook Hines returns. Transfer Terrell Anderson (NC State) will need to be an immediate hit, as will a few young, unproven options."
Tanook Hines is generally viewed and accepted as a USC receiver who will do well in 2026. The Terrell Anderson portal pickup has to hit. Other depth pieces in the wide receiver room have to become legitimate options who will demand attention and respect from opposing defenses. Part of the discussion here is that Dennis Simmons needs to develop depth at the wide receiver position. He has created stars at USC but not a lot of rooms in which there were four or five really good receivers. He had that in 2022 but hasn't matched that standard since. That's an important goal for USC this season. It could make the difference between this team being moderately good and very good, borderline great.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: National football experts agree that USC needs depth at wide receiver
#tanook
Connelly writes that USC's season can be special "If ... Jayden Maiava has pass catchers. Maiava is one of the most proven returning quarterbacks in the sport and should have a dynamite run game at his disposal thanks to backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller, and an experienced line. But of the seven players with at least 125 receiving yards last season, only sophomore wideout Tanook Hines returns. Transfer Terrell Anderson (NC State) will need to be an immediate hit, as will a few young, unproven options."
Tanook Hines is generally viewed and accepted as a USC receiver who will do well in 2026. The Terrell Anderson portal pickup has to hit. Other depth pieces in the wide receiver room have to become legitimate options who will demand attention and respect from opposing defenses. Part of the discussion here is that Dennis Simmons needs to develop depth at the wide receiver position. He has created stars at USC but not a lot of rooms in which there were four or five really good receivers. He had that in 2022 but hasn't matched that standard since. That's an important goal for USC this season. It could make the difference between this team being moderately good and very good, borderline great.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: National football experts agree that USC needs depth at wide receiver
#tanook
3 months ago
Giverny Capital **** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital **** et Management highlighted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), the parent company of Google, offers various platforms and services, including online search and advertising, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence, and is a significant contributor to the Strategy's performance. On July 21, 2026, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) closed at $347.15 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.22 trillion. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) posted a one-month return of 0.54%, while its shares gained 82.49% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital **** et Management stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Our two largest positions are Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Arista, which I believe have strong positions in the emerging AI economy. Alphabet has a near monopoly in search, a robust cloud data center business, a leading computer chip used in AI data centers, a highly profitable **** et in YouTube and the premier autonomous driving platform in Waymo. It has built a tremendous collection of **** ets.
As for portfolio activity for the quarter, we trimmed Alphabet and Arista. We sold 17% of our position in Alphabet in April at about $380. Management subsequently sold $80 billion of stock in a secondary offering at $350 to raise money to fund more investment in data centers. I feel we did the responsible thing in trimming Alphabet as it got to nearly 12% of our portfolio. Arista and Alphabet remain our largest positions as of June 30. The valuations on both are high enough that future returns likely will be lower than we're used to, even if the businesses continue to grow."
#googl #management #Portfolio
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital **** et Management highlighted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), the parent company of Google, offers various platforms and services, including online search and advertising, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence, and is a significant contributor to the Strategy's performance. On July 21, 2026, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) closed at $347.15 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $4.22 trillion. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) posted a one-month return of 0.54%, while its shares gained 82.49% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital **** et Management stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Our two largest positions are Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Arista, which I believe have strong positions in the emerging AI economy. Alphabet has a near monopoly in search, a robust cloud data center business, a leading computer chip used in AI data centers, a highly profitable **** et in YouTube and the premier autonomous driving platform in Waymo. It has built a tremendous collection of **** ets.
As for portfolio activity for the quarter, we trimmed Alphabet and Arista. We sold 17% of our position in Alphabet in April at about $380. Management subsequently sold $80 billion of stock in a secondary offering at $350 to raise money to fund more investment in data centers. I feel we did the responsible thing in trimming Alphabet as it got to nearly 12% of our portfolio. Arista and Alphabet remain our largest positions as of June 30. The valuations on both are high enough that future returns likely will be lower than we're used to, even if the businesses continue to grow."
#googl #management #Portfolio
3 months ago
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was among Jim Cramer's stock calls on Mad Money, as he advised investors to stick with the largest tech companies in the market. Cramer highlighted the company's position in the AI race, as he commented:
How about Google? Alright, now, they raised a ton of money recently and basically capped the terrific rally in their stock. In the old days, everyone loved Google because it was spewing cash. Now, it seems like it's trying to raise any amount of money that it can just to stay in the AI rat race with the other Magnificent Seven. But wait one minute. Sure, there's a race to get market share in what seems like an increasingly commoditized market with ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Perplexity, Gemini. It's entirely possible that we only will have one winner in this whole game, and if that's the case, it's going to be Google because of Gemini.
Why? Because it's a default on Apple's installed base of 2.5 billion devices. If I were at Alphabet, all I'd be thinking about is how to make the best product for Apple, how to please them, how to come up with a better Siri. That was enough to wipe out all comers once before with Google search. Now, it could be the same with Gemini. Meanwhile, we no longer spend much time pondering the worth of YouTube and Waymo. Ridiculous. Do you know that YouTube may be the most profitable large-scale business ever invented? And all we care about is Google spending money in another place.
Photo by Kai Wenzel on Unsplash
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) provides technology-related products and services, including search, advertising, cloud computing, AI tools, and digital content platforms such as YouTube and Google Play.
How about Google? Alright, now, they raised a ton of money recently and basically capped the terrific rally in their stock. In the old days, everyone loved Google because it was spewing cash. Now, it seems like it's trying to raise any amount of money that it can just to stay in the AI rat race with the other Magnificent Seven. But wait one minute. Sure, there's a race to get market share in what seems like an increasingly commoditized market with ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Perplexity, Gemini. It's entirely possible that we only will have one winner in this whole game, and if that's the case, it's going to be Google because of Gemini.
Why? Because it's a default on Apple's installed base of 2.5 billion devices. If I were at Alphabet, all I'd be thinking about is how to make the best product for Apple, how to please them, how to come up with a better Siri. That was enough to wipe out all comers once before with Google search. Now, it could be the same with Gemini. Meanwhile, we no longer spend much time pondering the worth of YouTube and Waymo. Ridiculous. Do you know that YouTube may be the most profitable large-scale business ever invented? And all we care about is Google spending money in another place.
Photo by Kai Wenzel on Unsplash
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) provides technology-related products and services, including search, advertising, cloud computing, AI tools, and digital content platforms such as YouTube and Google Play.
3 months ago
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of billionaire David Abrams' top stock picks with upside potential. Alphabet shares have more than doubled in the past year, and ******* ysts see the stock rising more from the current level. Alphabet is a big favorite of elite investors, as the stock is backed by 265 hedge funds.
Pixabay/Public Domain
On July 2, the EU's top court upheld the $4.7 billion antitrust fine against Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The fine is linked to how Google handled Android licensing after regulators accused the company of abusing its market power. Alphabet had fought hard to overturn the fine but lost the battle.
While Alphabet has lost the fight against the EU's Android fine, the company's prospects remain bright. On June 30, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Alphabet shares to $415 from $375 and kept an Overweight rating on the stock. The brokerage commented that Alphabet is one of the best-positioned AI companies around, noting the company's expanding AI compute capacity and surging demand for AI resources.
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a global technology conglomerate. It is the parent of Google, a leading provider of internet search, online advertising, and cloud computing services. Alphabet is involved in life sciences through Verily and provides robotaxi services through Waymo.
Pixabay/Public Domain
On July 2, the EU's top court upheld the $4.7 billion antitrust fine against Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The fine is linked to how Google handled Android licensing after regulators accused the company of abusing its market power. Alphabet had fought hard to overturn the fine but lost the battle.
While Alphabet has lost the fight against the EU's Android fine, the company's prospects remain bright. On June 30, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Alphabet shares to $415 from $375 and kept an Overweight rating on the stock. The brokerage commented that Alphabet is one of the best-positioned AI companies around, noting the company's expanding AI compute capacity and surging demand for AI resources.
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a global technology conglomerate. It is the parent of Google, a leading provider of internet search, online advertising, and cloud computing services. Alphabet is involved in life sciences through Verily and provides robotaxi services through Waymo.
3 months ago
Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans need to finally display dominance in the Big Ten, the best conference in college football. The talent gap between USC and other top teams in the Big Ten is not great. USC has the No. 1 recruiting class and made a huge improvement on the defensive staff with the hiring of Gary Patterson. This is the season for USC to match the standard the Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers have set.
In a recent article, ******* yst Brad Crawford projects the national ******* le winner to be a Big Ten team for a fourth straight season. He also names three other Big Ten teams that should be in contention for a playoff berth this season:
"USC, Washington and Michigan shouldn't be ignored, either. It would not surprise me if at least two Big Ten teams reached the semifinals."
The Trojans have a younger team this season, but they brought in some of the best young freshmen in the country. Names like Mark Bowman and Luke Wafle can be key contributors early. Starting quarterback Jayden Maiava should take a step forward from a stellar season last year. The Trojans' run game will be elite with King Miller and Waymond Jordan, as will their passing game. Gary Patterson is leading a defense full of talent. The Trojans have all the resources necessary to make a College Football Berth.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Trojans predicted to contend for College Football Playoff spot in 2026
In a recent article, ******* yst Brad Crawford projects the national ******* le winner to be a Big Ten team for a fourth straight season. He also names three other Big Ten teams that should be in contention for a playoff berth this season:
"USC, Washington and Michigan shouldn't be ignored, either. It would not surprise me if at least two Big Ten teams reached the semifinals."
The Trojans have a younger team this season, but they brought in some of the best young freshmen in the country. Names like Mark Bowman and Luke Wafle can be key contributors early. Starting quarterback Jayden Maiava should take a step forward from a stellar season last year. The Trojans' run game will be elite with King Miller and Waymond Jordan, as will their passing game. Gary Patterson is leading a defense full of talent. The Trojans have all the resources necessary to make a College Football Berth.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Trojans predicted to contend for College Football Playoff spot in 2026
3 months ago
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the Best AI and Technology Stocks to Buy Now. On June 23, Argus maintained a "Buy" rating and a price objective of $440 on the company's stock. Notably, the company reported healthy results with evidence that investments made towards compute infrastructure and generative AI are yielding results.
As per the ***** yst, while Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was criticized due to its dependency on digital advertising, the rapid growth of Google Cloud and YouTube started to diversify its revenue. The firm remains optimistic about Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s underlying businesses and believes that the stock is attractively valued considering its growth runway.
In a different update, Bloomberg reported that Waymo plans to offer driverless robotaxis in Germany. This is the latest move to expand outside the US. The company registered a local entity in the name of Waymo Germany GmbH. This will provide ride-hailing services with autonomous vehicles as well as services that support the commercial offering of such services by third parties, added Bloomberg.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a holding company that operates Google services such as search engines, ad platforms, Internet browsers, devices, mapping software, app stores, video streaming, and more. The company also offers cloud infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers.
While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
As per the ***** yst, while Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) was criticized due to its dependency on digital advertising, the rapid growth of Google Cloud and YouTube started to diversify its revenue. The firm remains optimistic about Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s underlying businesses and believes that the stock is attractively valued considering its growth runway.
In a different update, Bloomberg reported that Waymo plans to offer driverless robotaxis in Germany. This is the latest move to expand outside the US. The company registered a local entity in the name of Waymo Germany GmbH. This will provide ride-hailing services with autonomous vehicles as well as services that support the commercial offering of such services by third parties, added Bloomberg.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a holding company that operates Google services such as search engines, ad platforms, Internet browsers, devices, mapping software, app stores, video streaming, and more. The company also offers cloud infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers.
While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
4 months ago
Shares of Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) retreated again on Thursday, continuing a June swoon. While Google stock has gained 9% in 2026, shares have pulled back since mid-May amid investor worries over 2027 earnings estimates and a surge in capital spending, **** yst Ed Yardeni says in a report.
Google stock climbed after the company reported Q1 financial results on April 29, with strong revenue growth in cloud computing and internet search ads. That helped investors look beyond huge artificial intelligence data-center investments and focus on its "full stack" AI platform.
However, shares have pulled back since Google hit an intraday high of 408.61 on May 18. On the stock market today, Google stock fell more than 1% to 341.12. With the decline, Google stock fell further below its 50-day moving average, a key technical level.
In a report on Thursday, economist Ed Yardeni noted a "string of negative headlines that have weighed" on Google stock in recent weeks. "Investors haven't been happy about Alphabet's surprising plans to sell $80 billion of stock and convertible preferred, the company's boost to its already massive capital spending target for next year, the departure of a key executive in its artificial intelligence operation, and Waymo's recall of 3,900 self-driving cars."
Google's Q1 earnings popped 82% to $5.11 per share for the quarter ending March 31, including a $2.35 per share boost from equity investments. Alphabet owns a roughly 6% stake in Elon Musk's **** eX, which launched an initial public offering in early June, as well as shares in Anthropic and software maker Databricks.
Google stock climbed after the company reported Q1 financial results on April 29, with strong revenue growth in cloud computing and internet search ads. That helped investors look beyond huge artificial intelligence data-center investments and focus on its "full stack" AI platform.
However, shares have pulled back since Google hit an intraday high of 408.61 on May 18. On the stock market today, Google stock fell more than 1% to 341.12. With the decline, Google stock fell further below its 50-day moving average, a key technical level.
In a report on Thursday, economist Ed Yardeni noted a "string of negative headlines that have weighed" on Google stock in recent weeks. "Investors haven't been happy about Alphabet's surprising plans to sell $80 billion of stock and convertible preferred, the company's boost to its already massive capital spending target for next year, the departure of a key executive in its artificial intelligence operation, and Waymo's recall of 3,900 self-driving cars."
Google's Q1 earnings popped 82% to $5.11 per share for the quarter ending March 31, including a $2.35 per share boost from equity investments. Alphabet owns a roughly 6% stake in Elon Musk's **** eX, which launched an initial public offering in early June, as well as shares in Anthropic and software maker Databricks.
4 months ago
As summer rolls along, USC’s players still have a few more weeks off before the start of fall camp. Naturally, players are spending this time in different ways.
This past weekend, several members of the Trojans attended an MLB game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium in New York. Prior to the game, running back Waymond Jordan threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Jordan is from Florida, attended community college in Kansas, and now plays for USC, so it remains to be seen what exactly the New York connection is. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone notably did play baseball for the Trojans in the 1990s.
Last season, Jordan rushed for 576 yards and six touchdowns in USC’s first six games of the season. However, he suffered an ankle injury against Michigan that kept him out for the rest of the year. Now, he returns to the Trojans for 2026 looking to finish what he started.
While Jordan throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium is cool, New York would have been better off inviting one of USC’s wide receivers. Perhaps then he could have taught Aaron Judge how to catch the ball.
This past weekend, several members of the Trojans attended an MLB game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium in New York. Prior to the game, running back Waymond Jordan threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Jordan is from Florida, attended community college in Kansas, and now plays for USC, so it remains to be seen what exactly the New York connection is. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone notably did play baseball for the Trojans in the 1990s.
Last season, Jordan rushed for 576 yards and six touchdowns in USC’s first six games of the season. However, he suffered an ankle injury against Michigan that kept him out for the rest of the year. Now, he returns to the Trojans for 2026 looking to finish what he started.
While Jordan throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium is cool, New York would have been better off inviting one of USC’s wide receivers. Perhaps then he could have taught Aaron Judge how to catch the ball.
