Wasatch Global Investors, an ****** et management company, released its "Long/Short Alpha Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Small- and mid-cap growth stocks posted significant gains in Q2, led primarily by AI-related companies. The Russell 2500 Index rose 20.26%, while the Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund—Investor Class increased by 8.29%. However, the fund faced challenges due to the outperformance of lower-quality companies, which negatively impacted its long positions. Despite trailing the benchmark and some losses in short positions, the fund remains confident in its long portfolio's fundamentals, which have not deteriorated. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund highlighted Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE). Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE), designs and manufactures solid-oxide fuel cell systems for clean, reliable, on-site power generation. On September 15, 2026, Bloom Energy Corporation closed at $259.35 per share. Over the past month, Bloom Energy Corporation returned 25.51%, and its shares are up 225.53% over the past year. Bloom Energy Corporation has a market capitalization of $76.39 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $61.37 to $351.28.
Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund stated the following regarding Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Turning to short positions, detractors from Fund performance were those stocks that rose in price. One of the largest detractors was Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE). Bloom Energy sells natural, gas-powered fuel cells that help data centers generate power on-site before the centers can connect to the electrical grid. Bloom's stock price has increased significantly in recent months, and we believe it is representative of some of the AI-related exuberance in the small cap market."
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 116 hedge fund portfolios held Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) at the end of the second quarter, up from 91 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) 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.

#fund

Curaleaf Holdings (USOTC:CURLF) has sent a letter to Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) shareholders urging them to tender their shares to its outstanding acquisition offer after Aurora's board declined to engage with the proposal.
Under the offer, Aurora shareholders would receive 0.3463 Curaleaf shares and $0.75 in cash for each Aurora share.
Curaleaf said the terms implied a value of $4.00 per Aurora share based on the unaffected date, representing a 45% premium to Aurora's 30-day volume-weighted average price as of August 10, 2026. Aurora shares traded at $2.76 before the offer was announced.
Curaleaf Chairman and Chief Executive Boris Jordan said in the letter, "Aurora has refused. And so, we are putting the decision where it belongs: in your hands."
Curaleaf said the proposed combination would create a company operating across 17 countries.

#curlf

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions exceeding Rs2,000 ($20.8).
The charges will be applied from 15 October.
The measure follows a legislative amendment passed earlier this week that authorised fees on UPI transactions above the threshold. Customers will not pay the MDR directly, and banks have been advised to ensure that merchants do not pass the charge on to customers.
NPCI said revenue from the levy will support investment in system resilience, technological innovation, cybersecurity, and customer service.
UPI, India's instant payments system, processed 24 billion transactions worth $311bn in August, according to a Reuters report.

#payments #transactions #India

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been the artificial intelligence (AI) chip company leading this technology revolution so far. This is for two reasons: The company got in on the ******* e early, and its commitment to innovation has kept it in the top spot. And investors, excited about Nvidia's soaring earnings, have piled into the stock, seen as a no-brainer AI winner.
These days, however, Nvidia isn't the only chip company positioned to benefit from the AI market, one on track to reach into the trillions of dollars. In fact, another player is making significant progress, and this player is Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD).
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 »
Over time, AMD has become a leader in central processing units (CPUs), the chips that power computers, but in recent quarters, the company is proving its strength in AI chips too -- and investors have recognized it. So far this year, AMD stock is outperforming Nvidia. Now, my prediction is AMD stock could outrun Nvidia over the next three years -- here's the bull case.
So, first, a bit of background. As mentioned, Nvidia entered this market early and began tailoring its graphics processing units (GPUs) to suit AI about a decade ago. Over the past few years, revenue has taken a tremendous leap as sales of AI chip systems soared. For example, in the second quarter three years ago, revenue came in at $13 billion -- in the recently completed second quarter, that number reached $96 billion.

#Stock #NASDAQ

By Michael S. Derby
Sept 2 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said on Wednesday rising long-term bond yields aren't driven by inflation fears but are instead a reflection of a solid economy, in ‌comments that also said he was still collecting information to drive his next monetary policy decision.
In terms of the ‌increase in real-world borrowing costs, "what's driving it…is really a strong U.S. economy and a strong economic outlook fueled by big investments in AI and data centers and technology in general, so I see this as more of a reflection of the strength of the economy," Williams said on CNBC.
Williams downplayed the idea that worries over inflation are driving a surge in borrowing costs. Market moves have rattled investors and even prompted action by the Treasury Department aimed at helping limit the increase.
Williams indicated that higher borrowing costs, which in theory should create restraint on economic activity, ‌don't definitely drive the monetary policy choices of ⁠a central bank that must take responsibility for getting too-high levels of inflation back to the 2% target.

#williams

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#chase #travel #card

First Eagle Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor update for "First Eagle Global Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. Easing tensions in the Middle East led to a strong rally in risk markets in Q2. The S&P 500 Index rose 15.2%, while the MSCI EAFE Index gained 10.8%. Growth stocks outperformed, with the MSCI World Growth Index significantly exceeding value returns. A notable shift in U.S. interest rate expectations followed Kevin Warsh's appointment as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. Despite the optimistic market environment, concerns about fiscal constraints and limited policy flexibility remain. Tighter credit spreads and elevated equity valuations reflect strong demand for financial ***** ets, with household wealth in equities at a post-WWII high. Earnings expectations are buoyant, driven by AI infrastructure developments. Against this backdrop, Global Fund A Shares returned 2.86% in Q2 2026, with emerging markets and developed Europe as the primary contributors. Developed Asia (excluding ***** an) was the only detractor, and ***** an lagged. Information technology and financials led among equity sectors, while materials and energy detracted. The fund underperformed relative to the MSCI World Index during this period. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, First Eagle Global Fund highlighted Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as a notable contributor. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a US-based health benefits company. On August 31, 2026, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) closed at $392.54 per share. Over the past month, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) reported 3.85%, but its shares are up 21.78% over the past year. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) has a market capitalization of $85.13 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $274.84 to $436.24.
First Eagle Global Fund stated the following regarding Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), the health insurer and healthcare-services provider formerly known as Anthem, rallied during the quarter as margins expanded—after a protracted decline—due to declining medical costs, stronger pricing and increased utilization with higher premiums."
Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 84 hedge fund portfolios held Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) at the end of the second quarter, which was 87 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) 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 tr

Corn futures gains flow through Schedule F for farmers, triggering Social Security's earnings test, while the same trade by a retired investor does not.
Hedge tax treatment requires identifying the position as a hedge at trade entry. Retroactive reclassification after seeing tax outcomes is not allowed.
Benefits withheld under the earnings test are credited back at full retirement age as a higher monthly payment, making it a timing issue rather than a permanent loss.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Two people take the same corn futures position during the same season. Both collect Social Security after claiming before full retirement age (FRA). When the trade closes with a $50,000 gain, one keeps receiving every monthly check. The other can have thousands of dollars in benefits withheld. The difference has nothing to do with the futures contract.

#earnings #test

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is down by -0.50% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.67%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down by -0.29%. E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are down -0.48%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are down -0.30%.
Stock indices are under pressure today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling to a 1-week low on a flare-up in geopolitical risks. Renewed Middle East tensions are boosting crude oil prices, raising inflation expectations, bond yields, and complicating the US inflation outlook. WTI crude oil is up more than +2% today after the US and Iran exchanged strikes for the first time in about a month. The 10-year T-note yield jumped to a 19-month high today at 4.76%.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket

#index #jones #dear

On August 19, The TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) reported second-quarter results that beat its own plan, even though its largest division could not keep pace with the rest of the business. Consolidated comparable sales rose 4%, adjusted earnings per share climbed 11% to $1.22, and management raised its full-year profit outlook. The catch is that Marmaxx, the TJ Maxx and Marshalls business that generates the bulk of TJX's revenue, grew comparable sales just 1%. Everything else in the portfolio ran hot enough to cover for it.
HomeGoods was the standout, with comparable sales jumping 7% on a higher average basket and more shoppers walking through the door at both the HomeGoods and Homesense banners. Segment profit margin there widened 240 basis points to 12.4%, helped by top-line growth and lower tariff costs. Management pointed to a year-round gifting push at HomeGoods as a way to keep the home category relevant between major holidays. TJX Canada and TJX International were just as strong, posting comparable sales growth of 6% and 7%. International margin expanded 210 basis points to 7.3% on a constant currency basis, and executives described customer response to the company's second TK Maxx store in Spain in glowing terms.
Behind all of it sits a sourcing network of roughly 21,000 vendors that management says keeps merchandise flowing faster than the company can buy it. That confidence showed up in TJX's growth plans: the company lifted its long-term store target by 500 locations to 7,500 and said it will accelerate new store openings to a 4% pace starting next year. Shareholders also got $1.3 billion back in the quarter, split between $798 million in buybacks and $529 million in dividends.
Marmaxx is where the story gets complicated. Comparable sales rose just 1%, entirely from a bigger average basket, while the number of transactions actually slipped. CEO Ernie Herrman was direct about the cause, saying the company "could have executed our store mix better" by not always having the right goods in the right stores at the right time. Segment profit margin held flat at 14.2%, and adjusted SG&A crept up 20 basis points companywide on higher store wage and payroll costs.
Management expects added pressure into the third quarter, pointing to higher fuel rates in the back half that are set to weigh on gross margin. Freight costs carry their own separate strain too, tied to a shrinking pool of new truck drivers entering the industry. Third quarter earnings guidance reflects some of that caution, with adjusted EPS projected at just $1.30 to $1.32, only 2% to 3% growth versus a year earlier. Inventory also grew faster than the store base, up 7% year over year heading into the fall and holiday season, meaning the company is betting heavily that Marmaxx's self-inflicted problems get fixed before that merchandise needs to move.

#store #comparable #management #Margin

Morgan Stanley is forecasting that Cisco (CSCO) could be entering a new period of lasting growth. According to **** yst Meta Marshall, the company appears to be entering a "more durable growth phase," as quoted by Seeking Alpha. The firm also has an "Overweight" rating on the tech giant with a price target of $135. Fueling that call are several key catalysts, including upgrades with networking equipment, demand for artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
One of the biggest catalysts for Morgan Stanley's bullishness is that Cisco's customers are still in the early stages of upgrading their networking equipment. As of now, Marshall says that only about 7% of Cisco's Catalyst 4K and 6K (switches that are used by companies to connect computers, phones, servers, and other devices together) have been updated so far. That means there are still plenty of other companies that will need to upgrade.
Walmart Stock Is More Expensive Than Nvidia Amid Earnings Miss
SpaceX Stock Just Crashed Below Its IPO Price: Here's the Bull Case **** ody Can Ignore
A Major Bitcoin Short Squeeze Is Taking MicroStrategy Stock Higher. What Comes Next.

#morgan #Growth #catalysts

Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Global Growth Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. The SGA Global Growth Portfolio returned 7.4% gross and 7.2% net, compared with 14.9% for the MSCI ACWI and 19.8% for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. Momentum leadership and enthusiasm around AI infrastructure drove markets, with semiconductor, memory, and hardware stocks accounting for much of the gain. Although the portfolio owned AI beneficiaries, broader holdings lagged despite fundamentals, as median revenue and EPS growth reached 12% and 14% and more than 60% of the holdings beat expectations. SGA believes valuation compression reflects sentiment rather than weaker business quality, leaving the portfolio near its widest discount to the market since inception. The firm continues to favor durable compounders and expects 16% revenue growth and 20% earnings growth over three years. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP). Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and internationally. On August 24, 2026, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) closed at $94.68 per share. The one-month return of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) was 3.25%, and its shares gained 24.17% over the past 52 weeks. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) has a market capitalization of $83.25 billion.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We engaged with management of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) in advance of the company's annual meeting to discuss its climate strategy and a proposal on climate-related disclosures. A key topic of discussion was the company's decision to defer establishing a Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated 1.5°C-aligned emissions reduction target. While the ISS Sustainability policy recommended voting against the climate proposal due to the absence of intermediate and long-term emissions targets, management explained that the delay stemmed from the lack of a finalized intensity-based methodology from SBTi appropriate for the freight rail industry, emphasizing that CPKC remains committed to its existing goal of reducing locomotive well-to-wheel emissions intensity by 36.9% by 2030 and continues to work with SBTi as industryspecific frameworks evolve. Management highlighted continued spending on locomotive fleet modernization, including investment in new Tier 4 locomotives, expansion of its hydrogen locomotive program, and trials of renewable fuels. After reviewing the company's disclosures, proxy materials, and feedback from management, we concluded that the company is making goo

Tech stocks led Tuesday's selloff as the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.33%, followed by a 0.69% decline for the S&P 500, and a 0.22% correction for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
One reason for the selloff: U.S. 30-year Treasury bond yields hit a new 19-year high. That's not good news for the U.S. government, which has already paid out $1.2 trillion in interest on its nearly $40 trillion in debt in 2026.
Barron Trump, 20, Now Worth $150 Million — More Than Mom, Melania — From Crypto And $39 Energy Drink
Billionaire Michael Saylor Warns Against Buying a House Because 'Every 36 Years You Actually Pay the Cost of the House in Tax to the Government'
QQQ Just 'Gamma Flipped' as Market Makers Were Forced to Sell. Here's What Our Top Chart Expert is Tracking Next.

#selloff #trillion #composite

Swiss multinational investment bank UBS (NYSE: $UBS) and Tudor Investment, a hedge fund firm founded by billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, both increased their exposure to BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF in the second quarter of the year.
UBS reported calls tied to 1.95 million underlying IBIT shares as of June 30, up from 80,000 three months earlier, a more than 24-fold increase, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. Its direct IBIT holdings also rose 12% to 407,890 shares, worth about $13.6 million at the end of the quarter.
At the same time, the banking giant's put exposure fell 53% to 143,300 shares. The filing does not disclose the options' strike prices or expiration dates.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC July TradFi Trading Shifts Toward AI Storage as SNDK Futures Volume Surges More Than 15x Times

#NYSE

Aug. 26 is going to be a very important day in the stock market, with perhaps the most anticipated earnings report of Q2: Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA). This earnings season has seen a lot of wild share price movements following reports, and I expect Nvidia's to be no different. However, after looking at historical trends, I think there's a good chance for a move in the right direction.
But how can investors come to the conclusion that Nvidia's Q2 report will result in a stock pop? By looking at where the stock has been at this point in previous years.
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 »
Nvidia is a far different company now than it was at any previous point during its lifecycle, so looking at its data five to ten years back isn't really helpful. Instead, I think investors should focus on where the stock was at this time in 2024 and 2025, as that is the best comparison investors have.
Prior to Q2 results being reported at the end of August 2024, this is how the stock was valued from a forward earnings standpoint.

#NVIDIA #signal

So, cybersecurity matters more than ever. And market players know this.
At MoneyFlows, we help investors by uncovering the leading companies in each major AI frontier. And right now, institutional money flows are highlighting two clear AI security winners.
The first cybersecurity stock to own in the age of AI is Fortinet (FTNT). This $120 billion market capitalization company delivers cybersecurity solutions to enterprises, governments, and small businesses.
The stock doubled this year; now it trades at a forward price-earnings ratio of 44.2:
Its latest earnings report showed per-share earnings of $0.90, which easily beat estimates of $0.75.

#earnings #Stock #fortinet #players

Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, global equities rebounded sharply, with the MSCI ACWI posting its strongest quarterly gain since 2020, supported by broad market strength, easing geopolitical tensions, and continued enthusiasm for AI infrastructure. Information technology led the advance, with semiconductor and hardware companies accounting for most of the index's rise. The fund returned 26.9% (net) in the second quarter of 2026. The portfolio benefited from strong gains across memory, software infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other AI-related holdings, although its concentrated exposure to mega-cap chip designers and manufacturers weighed on relative performance as leadership broadened into CPUs, networking, and memory. Vertical software, internet, and financial holdings were modest detractors amid macro concerns and uncertainty over AI disruption. The fund remains focused on critical AI bottlenecks, including compute, memory, manufacturing, networking, and power, while retaining selected businesses that may use AI to strengthen their competitive positions. You can check the fund's top five holdings to learn more about its leading investment ideas for the year.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR). Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR), which builds and deploys software platforms for the intelligence community to ***** ist in counterterrorism investigations and operations, detracted from the performance this quarter. On August 7, 2026, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) closed at $172.01 per share. One-month return of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) was 32.27% and its shares lost 5.84% over the past 52 weeks. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) has a market capitalization of $413.36 billion.
Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a data intelligence and operational AI platform that helps governments and enterprises solve complex challenges by integrating and ***** yzing data across functions. Our holding was a detractor during the quarter, as shares declined despite reporting very strong first-quarter results. Revenue growth accelerated meaningfully, the company delivered a record guidance raise, and profitability continued to improve, with strong incremental margins and continued GAAP earnings growth. In our view, the stock reaction reflected elevated expectations and ongoing investor debate around valuation and competition from AI labs, rather than deterioration in the underlying business. We believe Palantir is increasingly proving itself as a clear winner in artificial intelligence, with its platform tied to dur

Mark T. Walsh, CEO and director of Savers Value Village, Inc. (NYSE:SVV), reported a sale of 207,941 shares of common stock on August 5 and August 6, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Metric
Value
Transaction value
$2.4 million

#walsh #metric

Valued at a market cap of $27.3 billion, Regions Financial Corporation (RF) is one of the world's largest financial services firms. The New York-based company operates globally through Consumer & Community Banking, Commercial & Investment Bank, and ***** et & Wealth Management segments, offering a full suite of banking, payments, lending, and investment solutions.
Shares of the Birmingham, Alabama-based company have outpaced the broader market over the past 52 weeks. RF stock has increased 27.1% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 23.6%. Moreover, shares of the company are up 18% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 13.7% gain.
Jeff Bezos Says He's Selling $1 Billion In Amazon Stock Every Year to Fund Blue Origin — 'It's The Most Important Work I'm Doing'
Apple's New CEO Is Bringing a Familiar Face Back From Retirement. The Shift Is Happening.
Nasdaq Futures Climb as Tech Rally Continues on Palantir Boost, U.S. JOLTS Report and ***** eX Earnings on Tap

#banking #based

The surprise: Wall Street expected Ford's Q2 2026 earnings to fall about 5% year over year. Ford instead posted an increase. The stock jumped more than 6% after the report.
The quarter's story was Ford making more money on fewer sales. Wholesale volumes dropped 12% year over year, but revenue fell just 4%, because Ford sold a richer mix of high-margin trucks, off-roaders, and hybrids. Adjusted EBIT rose 17% year over year.
Ford raised full-year 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance, the second raise this year.
Bull case: The real reason to own Ford is Ford Pro, its commercial fleet business, and it's the strongest ******* et any legacy automaker has. Pro sells to construction firms, delivery companies, and contractors — customers who keep buying through inflation and fuel spikes because a plumber can't stop showing up to jobs. Those buyers are far steadier than the average consumer, who is pulling back right now. And Pro isn't just vans. It's an entire infrastructure of service centers, parts, and fleet software that builds a real moat. Fleet managers won't switch to unproven rivals without a big reason, so undercutting Pro means rebuilding that whole ecosystem. Even in a weak quarter dragged down by a plant fire, Pro posted a 9.7% EBIT margin, roughly double Ford Blue's 4.4%.
The second leg is the shift to higher-margin, recurring revenue. Ford Pro paid subscriptions hit 1.6 million in Q2 2026, up 50% year over year, and BlueCruise ******* isted-driving now makes up half of retail services revenue. Software margins beat metal by a wide gap, and if Ford hits its target of 8% margins on services by 2029, that flywheel starts to move the whole company.

#ebit #revenue #Margin

There's a concept in biology called adaptive radiation. It occurs when a species enters a new environment with unoccupied ecological niches and rapidly evolves into multiple distinct forms. We see a similar pattern in technology. When a breakthrough technology emerges, it often triggers a wave of innovation, with a growing number of companies developing competing approaches and quickly filling what was previously an empty market.
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Quantum computing appears to be following a similar path. The technology is still in its early stages, and a few companies are already racing to bring it into commercial reality, each pursuing different architectures and strategies. Unlike traditional computers, which process information as ones and zeros, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, that can represent multiple states simultaneously. That allows them to tackle certain highly complex calculations much faster than conventional computers.
The commercial potential is hard to ignore, with Grand View Research projecting the quantum computing market will expand from about $1.9 billion in 2026 to more than $8 billion by 2033.

#quantum #tipranks #computing

Microsoft shares surged after its quarterly earnings exceeded expectations.
Analysts praised Microsoft's ability to balance revenue growth and profit margins amid AI investments.
Microsoft stock is surging after its latest earnings report eased investor fears about its AI spending and revenue growth.
Shares of Microsoft (MSFT) were up 15% in recent trading a day after the tech giant topped estimates with its quarterly earnings. The Windows software maker said Wednesday it earned an adjusted $4.74 per share in its fiscal fourth quarter on $90.01 billion in revenue, while ***** ysts had expected $4.25 per share and $87.7 billion in revenue.
The company reported Intelligent Cloud revenue of $39.3 billion, about $1 billion above estimates, as revenue from Microsoft's Azure segment and other cloud services rose 43%. Azure has become a key metric for Microsoft's results as it can indicate the level of demand Microsoft is seeing for cloud computing services from fellow AI companies.

#earnings #shares #quarterly #Growth

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.
Performance outperformance was driven by disciplined execution in Oilfield Services & Equipment (OFSE) and a record-breaking quarter for Industrial & Energy Technology (IET) orders.
The company is pivoting toward a higher-value industrialized energy solutions model, leveraging the convergence of energy and industrial demand across data centers, ******* e, and mining.
IET orders doubled year-over-year to $7.1 billion, fueled by a step-change in electricity demand from AI infrastructure and hyperscaler investment.
Management attributes margin expansion to favorable backlog pricing and the implementation of the Baker Hughes business system, which offset inflationary pressures.

#energy #oilfield

Brandes Investment Partners, an ***** et management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Brandes Small Cap Value Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. In Q2 2026, the Fund underperformed the Russell 2000 Index's 21.49% gain and the Russell 2000 Value Index's 17.19% rise. However, year-to-date, the fund (Class I Shares) increased by 23.17%, surpassing the 22.57% and 22.99% returns of the indexes, respectively. The second quarter's performance was mainly driven by holdings in the industrial sector, particularly aerospace and defense, as well as energy. Its underperformance was due to holdings and an underweight position in the information technology sector. The Firm remains optimistic about value stocks, citing their attractive valuations and strong free cash flow generation. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Brandes Small Cap Value Fund highlighted its new purchase, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB). The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) is a leading US-based packaged food company. On July 24, 2026, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) closed at $21.84 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $6.51 billion. The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) posted a one-month return of -5.08%, while its shares lost 32.26% over the past 52 weeks.
Brandes Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) is a North America-focused, branded packaged food company operating primarily in two segments: Meals & Beverages and Snacks. Meals & Beverages includes Campbell's condensed and ready-to-serve soups, Chunky, Swanson broths, Pacific Foods, Prego, Rao's and V8. The Snacks segment includes Goldfish, Pepperidge Farm, Snyder's of Hanover, Lance, Late July, Kettle Brand and Cape Cod. The company holds number one or number two market positions in most of its categories, and its portfolio has evolved well beyond its legacy soup identity through such acquisitions as Snyder's-Lance and Sovos Brands.
While its core categories are mature, they remain relatively defensive, with below-average and broadly stable private-label penetration, strong brand recognition and exposure to at home eating occasions where convenience, value and perceived health remain relevant…" (Click here to read the full text)

#company #investor #letter

Image source: The Motley Fool.
Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
President and Chief Executive Officer - William Bradford Kessel
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Gavin A. Mohr
Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking - Joel F. Rahn

#executive #officer #motley #william

Interested in Ladder Capital Corp? Here are five stocks we like better.
Ladder Capital reported distributable earnings of $30.8 million, or $0.24 per share, in Q2 2026, while management said the stock still trades at a meaningful discount to book value. The company's dividend yield was highlighted as above 9%.
The firm is continuing to rotate capital into higher-yielding balance sheet loans, with more than $800 million of new investments in the quarter and $1.2 billion of loans originated year to date. Management said the loan portfolio grew 75% over the past 12 months and expects net portfolio growth to continue through year-end.
Ladder ended the quarter with $1.1 billion of liquidity and repurchased $8 million of stock at a 25% discount to book value, with $92 million still available under its buyback authorization. Book value per share was $13.44, and management said it remains focused on buybacks, balance-sheet strength and narrowing the valuation gap.
Ladder Corporation: Climbing Higher And Paying 9% Yield

#Stock

Americans who currently contribute to a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k) believe they will need $1.2 million in savings to retire comfortably, according to Schroders' 2026 US Retirement Survey.
About half of them shouldn't count on being able to do so. They're actually on track to have less than $500,000 in savings at retirement — including 24% who say it's unlikely they will have $250,000 set aside.
"Many participants know they're falling short of their retirement savings goals, and it's no surprise that more than 80% worry about running out of money in retirement," Deb Boyden, head of US defined contribution at Schroders, a multinational ******* et management company, told Yahoo Finance.
There are scads of reasons why that potential shortfall is not out of the realm of possibility, according to data crunched from US investors.
Schroders' survey was conducted by marketing consultancy 8 Acre Perspective from March 20 through April 15 among 1,500 US investors ages 30 to 79, including 382 retired respondents.

#survey

Only one out of 10 manufacturers across sectors has deployed artificial intelligence at scale, while most of them focus their resources on reshoring operations at the price of higher labor costs, a new global survey said.
Parsec Automation, which has been helping manufacturers digitize their operations since 1993, polled 1,200 industry leaders across global markets last February. The respondents were a mix of executive, operational, and technical roles across different sectors.
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Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) is one of the 10 Best Stocks to Buy in Glen Kacher's Light Street Portfolio.
In early June, Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) unveiled its future growth roadmap at the William Blair Growth Stock Conference. Following its achievement of GAAP profitability in Q1 2026, the company announced it is pursuing an expansive $425 billion U.S. total addressable market. The company intends to sustain momentum and accordingly has raised its full-year 2026 outlook, projecting 22% to 23% revenue growth and full-year GAAP profitability. For strategic expansion, the company relies on AI-driven efficiency in consumer finance via its Archimedes software factory and the upcoming rollout of its 2026 product pipeline, including Jade AI co-pilot, joint accounts, and Chime Invest platforms.
Prior to this, in a separate development, Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) together with Invest America launched the Compound Combine series, a football-drill-themed initiative providing wealth-building education, on May 29, 2026. With the program, the company aimed to increase financial literacy and awareness. Luke Pettit, **** istant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, participated in the event and gave the following comment.
Financial literacy fuels the American Dream and helps secure our nation's future. As we approach America's 250th anniversary, ensuring the next generation can participate in our nation's prosperity is more important than ever.
Founded in 2012, Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) is a fintech company headquartered in California. The company offers digital banking services such as checking accounts, payment solutions, credit-building products, and mobile financial tools through partner banks.