1 day ago
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) recently issued its second guidance cut of the year, and investors responded immediately by sending shares down roughly 18%. That selloff came despite an EPS beat, but the headline result was heavily supported by a tariff refund rather than underlying business strength. Brand sentiment, traffic, and leggings sales are all weakening across the company's two largest markets. The key issue for investors is no longer whether the quarter was weak, but whether the stock's low valuation and new CEO can provide the catalyst for a meaningful recovery.
Lululemon shares dropped 18% after the company lowered its full-year guidance for the second time this year. Revenue is now projected to range from $10.35 billion to $10.5 billion, while EPS guidance was reduced to $9.48 to $9.73. Both represent sharp reductions from its earlier guidance ranges. Second-quarter revenue was particularly weak, falling 4% to $2.4 billion and coming in below consensus estimates, while comparable sales dropped 9%, or 10% on a constant-dollar basis. According to the company, negative commentary had affected traffic in both the U.S. and China, while leggings sales slowed more than expected. Although reported EPS beat estimates, nearly all of that upside came from an $0.86 per share tariff refund. For the third quarter, management expects revenue to decline another 10% to 11%.
Lululemon still has several financial advantages that could support the business through its current slowdown. The company has no outstanding borrowings and maintains $1.4 billion in cash. First-half operating cash flow climbed to $589 million, more than double the prior year. Inventory per unit also declined roughly 7% year over year, reducing the risk of a margin-damaging clearance event. Meanwhile, shares have fallen over 50% year-to-date and now trade at a historically depressed valuation, potentially creating an out-of-favor-setup for investors. At the same time, management continued its buyback program, repurchasing $330 million worth of shares during the quarter.
The weakness in traffic and leggings sales cannot be ignored, and both remain serious concerns. However, the company has a debt-free balance sheet, stronger cash generation, and a valuation that already reflects much of the recent bad news. That gives Lululemon room to prove that its current struggles are mainly execution-related rather than signs of a structural decline.
#year #shares #company
Lululemon shares dropped 18% after the company lowered its full-year guidance for the second time this year. Revenue is now projected to range from $10.35 billion to $10.5 billion, while EPS guidance was reduced to $9.48 to $9.73. Both represent sharp reductions from its earlier guidance ranges. Second-quarter revenue was particularly weak, falling 4% to $2.4 billion and coming in below consensus estimates, while comparable sales dropped 9%, or 10% on a constant-dollar basis. According to the company, negative commentary had affected traffic in both the U.S. and China, while leggings sales slowed more than expected. Although reported EPS beat estimates, nearly all of that upside came from an $0.86 per share tariff refund. For the third quarter, management expects revenue to decline another 10% to 11%.
Lululemon still has several financial advantages that could support the business through its current slowdown. The company has no outstanding borrowings and maintains $1.4 billion in cash. First-half operating cash flow climbed to $589 million, more than double the prior year. Inventory per unit also declined roughly 7% year over year, reducing the risk of a margin-damaging clearance event. Meanwhile, shares have fallen over 50% year-to-date and now trade at a historically depressed valuation, potentially creating an out-of-favor-setup for investors. At the same time, management continued its buyback program, repurchasing $330 million worth of shares during the quarter.
The weakness in traffic and leggings sales cannot be ignored, and both remain serious concerns. However, the company has a debt-free balance sheet, stronger cash generation, and a valuation that already reflects much of the recent bad news. That gives Lululemon room to prove that its current struggles are mainly execution-related rather than signs of a structural decline.
#year #shares #company
9 days ago
Billionaire technology investor Peter Thiel's hedge fund, Thiel Macro LLC, disclosed 372,755 shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) at the end of Q2 2026, worth about $59.1 million.
The position is interesting because Vistra sits directly in the argument over whether electricity, rather than GPUs, becomes the scarce ******* et in the next leg of the AI buildout. Data centers need large blocks of reliable power, and Vistra owns a broad generation fleet with exposure to fast-growing power markets. Wolfe Research has argued that the market may be underestimating Vistra's ability to convert data-center demand into sustained EBITDA and free-cash-flow growth.
Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay
There is also a valuation wrinkle though. Recent Insider Monkey ******* ysis put Vistra at roughly 15.8 times forward earnings, below Constellation Energy at about 22.9 times. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) does not have Constellation's same nuclear-heavy contracted profile, but that discount gives the stock room to rerate if data-center contracts make more of its future cash flows visible.
The caution is that Thiel Macro's Q2 filing says nothing about why the fund owns Vistra, or exactly when during the quarter it accumulated the position. The filing establishes the position at quarter end, not a same-day purchase and not Peter Thiel's reasoning for holding it. It would be sloppy to call it an AI bet on Thiel's behalf. Power prices, hedges, plant economics and capital allocation can matter as much as data-center headlines, and a cheap multiple versus Constellation can persist if investors continue to prefer nuclear ******* ets and long-duration contracts.
#constellation
The position is interesting because Vistra sits directly in the argument over whether electricity, rather than GPUs, becomes the scarce ******* et in the next leg of the AI buildout. Data centers need large blocks of reliable power, and Vistra owns a broad generation fleet with exposure to fast-growing power markets. Wolfe Research has argued that the market may be underestimating Vistra's ability to convert data-center demand into sustained EBITDA and free-cash-flow growth.
Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay
There is also a valuation wrinkle though. Recent Insider Monkey ******* ysis put Vistra at roughly 15.8 times forward earnings, below Constellation Energy at about 22.9 times. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) does not have Constellation's same nuclear-heavy contracted profile, but that discount gives the stock room to rerate if data-center contracts make more of its future cash flows visible.
The caution is that Thiel Macro's Q2 filing says nothing about why the fund owns Vistra, or exactly when during the quarter it accumulated the position. The filing establishes the position at quarter end, not a same-day purchase and not Peter Thiel's reasoning for holding it. It would be sloppy to call it an AI bet on Thiel's behalf. Power prices, hedges, plant economics and capital allocation can matter as much as data-center headlines, and a cheap multiple versus Constellation can persist if investors continue to prefer nuclear ******* ets and long-duration contracts.
#constellation
10 days ago
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.
Management characterizes the current period as the midpoint of a multi-quarter transformation, moving from a 'technical debt' cleanup phase toward a projected 'acceleration phase' in fiscal year 2028.
Performance was driven by a 'Bear Hug' strategy focused on enterprise retention, resulting in renewal rates improving and completed sales transactions increasing 30% year-over-year.
The company is seeing a strategic shift among large enterprises away from point solutions toward unified AI-native platforms to reduce complexity and lower costs.
Professional services underperformed due to partner cost overruns and execution challenges in one specific region following the completion of a massive implementation project.
#phase #NVIDIA #bear #analysts
Management characterizes the current period as the midpoint of a multi-quarter transformation, moving from a 'technical debt' cleanup phase toward a projected 'acceleration phase' in fiscal year 2028.
Performance was driven by a 'Bear Hug' strategy focused on enterprise retention, resulting in renewal rates improving and completed sales transactions increasing 30% year-over-year.
The company is seeing a strategic shift among large enterprises away from point solutions toward unified AI-native platforms to reduce complexity and lower costs.
Professional services underperformed due to partner cost overruns and execution challenges in one specific region following the completion of a massive implementation project.
#phase #NVIDIA #bear #analysts
11 days ago
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Upgrade options: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. With responsible use, such as not making late payments, you could earn your security deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver card.
Why we like it: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured makes it easy to earn cash-back rewards. You don't have to worry about different spending categories or earning rates; it's simply 1.5% unlimited cash back on all your eligible purchases.
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Secured review
Upgrade options: With responsible use, you can upgrade to a standard, unsecured Platinum card and receive your security deposit back.
#back #secured
Upgrade options: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. With responsible use, such as not making late payments, you could earn your security deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver card.
Why we like it: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured makes it easy to earn cash-back rewards. You don't have to worry about different spending categories or earning rates; it's simply 1.5% unlimited cash back on all your eligible purchases.
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Secured review
Upgrade options: With responsible use, you can upgrade to a standard, unsecured Platinum card and receive your security deposit back.
#back #secured
19 days ago
Target apologized Monday and removed a Halloween costume from sale after critics said it evoked Blackface imagery, sending Target stock down as much as 5% on Tuesday.
The product, sold under Target's Hyde and EEK Boutique brand as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," ignited social media criticism from shoppers who said its imagery recalled racist caricatures tied to the minstrel show tradition. "As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry," Target said in a statement. "The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our ******* ortment."
Target declined to comment on who designed the costume or to provide details about the product approval process, according to Reuters. In an internal email viewed by Reuters, Chief Merchandising Officer Cara Sylvester told employees the item "never should have been in our ******* ortment."
The apology did not satisfy some stakeholders. Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis entrepreneur who protested Target's DEI rollbacks last year, said Target "keeps showing us who they are." Brundidge, speaking to CNN, framed the costume as a consequence of those rollbacks: "You rolled back diversity," she said, "so who's in the room, now, to say 'hey, this is wrong?'" A post in the BlackPeopleofReddit community, which has 1.6 million members, urged a boycott of the retailer.
Tejal Patel, executive director of Target shareholder SOC Investment Group, called the costume "another example ... where Target has lost trust with its consumer base." Morningstar ******* yst Brett Husslein said the selloff exposed how precarious Target's market standing has become, pointing out that the chain must win customers through experience and goodwill rather than the low prices that drive shoppers to Walmart and Costco.
#target #brundidge #imagery #shoppers
The product, sold under Target's Hyde and EEK Boutique brand as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," ignited social media criticism from shoppers who said its imagery recalled racist caricatures tied to the minstrel show tradition. "As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry," Target said in a statement. "The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our ******* ortment."
Target declined to comment on who designed the costume or to provide details about the product approval process, according to Reuters. In an internal email viewed by Reuters, Chief Merchandising Officer Cara Sylvester told employees the item "never should have been in our ******* ortment."
The apology did not satisfy some stakeholders. Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis entrepreneur who protested Target's DEI rollbacks last year, said Target "keeps showing us who they are." Brundidge, speaking to CNN, framed the costume as a consequence of those rollbacks: "You rolled back diversity," she said, "so who's in the room, now, to say 'hey, this is wrong?'" A post in the BlackPeopleofReddit community, which has 1.6 million members, urged a boycott of the retailer.
Tejal Patel, executive director of Target shareholder SOC Investment Group, called the costume "another example ... where Target has lost trust with its consumer base." Morningstar ******* yst Brett Husslein said the selloff exposed how precarious Target's market standing has become, pointing out that the chain must win customers through experience and goodwill rather than the low prices that drive shoppers to Walmart and Costco.
#target #brundidge #imagery #shoppers
24 days ago
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has invested in plenty of dividend stocks over the years. Dividend stocks remain popular among investors as they allow you to create a passive income stream at a low cost.
"Dividend stocks deliver regular payments to investors and can be an essential part of portfolios," according to Charles Schwab's investing education team.
This is precisely what Chevron is doing for Berkshire Hathaway right now.
Between Chevron's rising payout and Berkshire's massive stake, the arrangement now sends more than half a billion dollars into Buffett's coffers every year.
Berkshire Hathaway owns 84,375,856 shares of Chevron. At Chevron's current annual dividend of $7.12 per share, the stake generates roughly $601 million in cash every year, paid out in quarterly installments.
#chevron #investors #warren
"Dividend stocks deliver regular payments to investors and can be an essential part of portfolios," according to Charles Schwab's investing education team.
This is precisely what Chevron is doing for Berkshire Hathaway right now.
Between Chevron's rising payout and Berkshire's massive stake, the arrangement now sends more than half a billion dollars into Buffett's coffers every year.
Berkshire Hathaway owns 84,375,856 shares of Chevron. At Chevron's current annual dividend of $7.12 per share, the stake generates roughly $601 million in cash every year, paid out in quarterly installments.
#chevron #investors #warren
25 days ago
Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Focused Growth Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the Baron Focused Growth Fund achieved a 13.26% gain, still trailing the Russell 2500 Growth Index's 24.02% return. The underperformance was driven by ongoing concerns about AI's impact on portfolio businesses and underexposure to AI infrastructure. The IPO of ******* eX provided a boost, but overall, the Fund's companies are generating robust revenue growth and strengthening margins through enhanced client engagement and product offerings. Many stocks remain historically undervalued, and companies are beginning accelerated share repurchases, bolstering investor confidence. The Fund is perceived as compelling, benefiting from favorable market conditions and strong balance sheets, while inflation and interest rates are expected to remain stable. The Fund has outperformed its Benchmark over the past 3, 5, and 10 years, showing significant excess returns with lower market risk, attributed to a research-driven investment approach. The Fund maintains a commitment to long-term investing in growth-oriented businesses, utilizing a balanced portfolio to mitigate risk and potentially enhance returns. Please review the Fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Focused Growth Fund highlighted Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR). Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) develops and operates casino and entertainment properties, contributing 0.67% to the Fund's performance. On August 19, 2026, Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) closed at $61.25 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $6.24 billion. Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) posted a one‑month return of -2.44%, while its shares gained 2.42% over the past 52 weeks.
Baron Focused Growth Fund stated the following regarding Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Las Vegas Locals casino operator Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) increased 22.4% in the second quarter and helped performance by 67 bps as construction disruption dissipated and investors looked ahead to the benefits of the company's recent investments in its resorts. This should result in increased earnings and cash flow and allow the company to continue to invest in its properties while returning capital to shareholders. The company's balance sheet remains strong with increased liquidity for further capital investment and shareholder returns. We believe the stock remains attractive compared to what we believe the business can become in time."
#resorts #baron #letter
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Baron Focused Growth Fund highlighted Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR). Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) develops and operates casino and entertainment properties, contributing 0.67% to the Fund's performance. On August 19, 2026, Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) closed at $61.25 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $6.24 billion. Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) posted a one‑month return of -2.44%, while its shares gained 2.42% over the past 52 weeks.
Baron Focused Growth Fund stated the following regarding Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Shares of Las Vegas Locals casino operator Red Rock Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:RRR) increased 22.4% in the second quarter and helped performance by 67 bps as construction disruption dissipated and investors looked ahead to the benefits of the company's recent investments in its resorts. This should result in increased earnings and cash flow and allow the company to continue to invest in its properties while returning capital to shareholders. The company's balance sheet remains strong with increased liquidity for further capital investment and shareholder returns. We believe the stock remains attractive compared to what we believe the business can become in time."
#resorts #baron #letter
26 days ago
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) received a major vote of confidence from Rothschild Redburn today, with the firm upgrading the stock from Neutral to "Buy" and raising its price target to $400 from $260. The upgrade rests on two major catalysts for Apple: its entry into premium foldables and a strategic reset to the Apple Intelligence platform.
Apple's bull case lies within its tight integration of premium hardware, proprietary silicon, and its rapidly expanding services layer. For the near future, **** yst James Cordwell anticipates iPhone sales to grow at a 12% five-year annual compound rate, roughly 3-14% above consensus expectations between fiscal 2026 and 2030.
This anticipated increase is backed by Apple's potential entry into the premium foldables market, particularly with the launch of iPhone Ultra. Not only will Apple gain a new product category with the launch, but will also be able to lift its average selling prices for the broader iPhone lineup.
This thesis is backed by numbers. The **** yst firm noted how Apple already boasts a base of 2.55 billion devices, supported by a degree of customer retention only few competitors can rival.
The second part of Apple's bull thesis, according to the firm, is its Services business. The firm believes that it is the most valuable part of Apple's franchise, growing at roughly three times the rate of Products. The business generates gross margins of roughly 75%, more than double of that earned on Product sales.
#firm #product #entry
Apple's bull case lies within its tight integration of premium hardware, proprietary silicon, and its rapidly expanding services layer. For the near future, **** yst James Cordwell anticipates iPhone sales to grow at a 12% five-year annual compound rate, roughly 3-14% above consensus expectations between fiscal 2026 and 2030.
This anticipated increase is backed by Apple's potential entry into the premium foldables market, particularly with the launch of iPhone Ultra. Not only will Apple gain a new product category with the launch, but will also be able to lift its average selling prices for the broader iPhone lineup.
This thesis is backed by numbers. The **** yst firm noted how Apple already boasts a base of 2.55 billion devices, supported by a degree of customer retention only few competitors can rival.
The second part of Apple's bull thesis, according to the firm, is its Services business. The firm believes that it is the most valuable part of Apple's franchise, growing at roughly three times the rate of Products. The business generates gross margins of roughly 75%, more than double of that earned on Product sales.
#firm #product #entry
1 month ago
SummaryView Transcript
Saia President and CEO, Fritz Holzgrefe, shares insights into the current LTL freight market, including customer sentiment and Saia's strategic network expansion. Discover how Saia's investment in new terminals and workforce is cutting transit times, offering unparalleled service, and driving growth in competitive markets across the U.S. Holzgrefe also discusses navigating inflationary costs and balancing wage increases while maintaining a focus on customer value. #LTL #FreightMarket #SupplyChain
Saia has opened 70 terminals since 2017 as part of a deliberate, multiyear organic expansion that CEO Fritz Holzreif says is still far from its full potential. Since 2023 alone, the carrier has added close to 40 new locations and replaced or relocated another 30 facilities — a pace of physical network transformation that Holzreif said no other LTL carrier has matched in the same period.
The buildout matters because it has unlocked transit lanes Saia could not previously offer. Customers can now ship freight from Trenton, N.J., to Texas markets in three days, Holzreif noted — a direct result of the denser footprint. "Customers are coming to us and say, 'Oh, fantastic, you can now get my freight from Trenton, New Jersey to Texas markets in 3 days,'" he said. "That's significant. We couldn't do that historically."
"We are early innings of tapping the full potential of this business," Holzreif said, adding that the roughly 40 facilities opened since 2023 have not yet reached the profitability or density levels the company believes they can achieve.
#saia #since #markets
Saia President and CEO, Fritz Holzgrefe, shares insights into the current LTL freight market, including customer sentiment and Saia's strategic network expansion. Discover how Saia's investment in new terminals and workforce is cutting transit times, offering unparalleled service, and driving growth in competitive markets across the U.S. Holzgrefe also discusses navigating inflationary costs and balancing wage increases while maintaining a focus on customer value. #LTL #FreightMarket #SupplyChain
Saia has opened 70 terminals since 2017 as part of a deliberate, multiyear organic expansion that CEO Fritz Holzreif says is still far from its full potential. Since 2023 alone, the carrier has added close to 40 new locations and replaced or relocated another 30 facilities — a pace of physical network transformation that Holzreif said no other LTL carrier has matched in the same period.
The buildout matters because it has unlocked transit lanes Saia could not previously offer. Customers can now ship freight from Trenton, N.J., to Texas markets in three days, Holzreif noted — a direct result of the denser footprint. "Customers are coming to us and say, 'Oh, fantastic, you can now get my freight from Trenton, New Jersey to Texas markets in 3 days,'" he said. "That's significant. We couldn't do that historically."
"We are early innings of tapping the full potential of this business," Holzreif said, adding that the roughly 40 facilities opened since 2023 have not yet reached the profitability or density levels the company believes they can achieve.
#saia #since #markets
1 month ago
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.
China just handed Deutsche Bank a bigger role in the renminbi's global rollout. That sounds technical, because it is. But the strategic message is simple: Beijing wants more trade and finance to move through its own currency pipes, not just the dollar's.
Deutsche Bank has been appointed by the People's Bank of China as a renminbi clearing bank in Frankfurt.
That makes the German lender the first European bank to receive the designation. Most offshore renminbi clearing has historically been handled by local branches of China's big state-owned lenders, including Bank of China, ICBC, Bank of Communications and China Construction Bank.
Deutsche said it will provide direct end-to-end processing, clearing and settlement services for cross-border renminbi transactions for European companies and financial institutions.
#tell #beijing
China just handed Deutsche Bank a bigger role in the renminbi's global rollout. That sounds technical, because it is. But the strategic message is simple: Beijing wants more trade and finance to move through its own currency pipes, not just the dollar's.
Deutsche Bank has been appointed by the People's Bank of China as a renminbi clearing bank in Frankfurt.
That makes the German lender the first European bank to receive the designation. Most offshore renminbi clearing has historically been handled by local branches of China's big state-owned lenders, including Bank of China, ICBC, Bank of Communications and China Construction Bank.
Deutsche said it will provide direct end-to-end processing, clearing and settlement services for cross-border renminbi transactions for European companies and financial institutions.
#tell #beijing
1 month ago
Emerald Wealth Partners, an independent ***** et and wealth management firm based in Zurich, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Focused Equity Strategy." A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Strategy reported a 0.8% gross return for the second quarter of 2026. Equity markets rallied after the first quarter's Iran shock faded and oil prices reversed their spike, but the advance remained narrow and concentrated in cyclical semiconductor and memory stocks benefiting from supply constraints. The letter warned that investors were treating peak-cycle earnings as durable, while FOMO, IPO demand, and a US cyclically adjusted P/E ratio near 40 pointed to late-cycle market behavior. Long-term fundamentals are currently undervalued by the market, leading to underperformance in the strategy, notably due to the portfolio's avoidance of low-quality momentum-driven semiconductor stocks, which boosted the benchmark this quarter. It remains focused on enterprise infrastructure, digital platforms, custom silicon, and networking businesses that hold customer relationships, workflow data, distribution, and efficiency advantages, which could allow them to monetize AI rather than be displaced by it. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings for its key selections.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW), noting its inclusion in the portfolio this quarter. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a cloud-based software company that provides a platform for automating and managing digital workflows. On August 04, 2026, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) closed at $118.14 per share. The one-month return of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) was 9.61% and its shares lost 35.25% over the past 52 weeks. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) has a market capitalization of $122.16 billion with a 52-week trading range between $81.24 - $194.73.
Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy stated the following regarding ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Finally, we added to ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW). As we explained last quarter, investors are drawing too few distinctions in the software sell-off. We believe businesses that sit at the operating core of large enterprises are far harder to displace than the market ***** umes, because what has to be replaced is not the code but everything built around it — years of configuration, shared investment and accumulated understanding of each customer's specificities. ServiceNow is the clearest illustration we own: its Now Platform has become the system of record for how large organizations manage work across IT, HR, finance, legal and customer operations, and the proprietary workflow data it holds is precisely what allows it to deliver AI tools that are immediately relevant — and what makes it a monetization vehicle for enterprise AI adoption rather than a casualty of it."
#wealth #focused #quarter #partners
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW), noting its inclusion in the portfolio this quarter. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a cloud-based software company that provides a platform for automating and managing digital workflows. On August 04, 2026, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) closed at $118.14 per share. The one-month return of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) was 9.61% and its shares lost 35.25% over the past 52 weeks. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) has a market capitalization of $122.16 billion with a 52-week trading range between $81.24 - $194.73.
Emerald Wealth Partners Focused Equity Strategy stated the following regarding ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Finally, we added to ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW). As we explained last quarter, investors are drawing too few distinctions in the software sell-off. We believe businesses that sit at the operating core of large enterprises are far harder to displace than the market ***** umes, because what has to be replaced is not the code but everything built around it — years of configuration, shared investment and accumulated understanding of each customer's specificities. ServiceNow is the clearest illustration we own: its Now Platform has become the system of record for how large organizations manage work across IT, HR, finance, legal and customer operations, and the proprietary workflow data it holds is precisely what allows it to deliver AI tools that are immediately relevant — and what makes it a monetization vehicle for enterprise AI adoption rather than a casualty of it."
#wealth #focused #quarter #partners
1 month ago
A $1,000 IRA withdrawal in the 22% bracket can trigger $407 in federal tax because it also makes $850 of Social Security newly taxable.
Middle-income retirees are most exposed to the torpedo, as frozen 1980s thresholds drag more households into the zone every year with each COLA increase.
Roth conversions before claiming Social Security, qualified charitable distributions, and delaying benefits to 70 can each reduce or eliminate torpedo zone exposure.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A band of retirement income exists in which each additional dollar withdrawn from a traditional IRA is subject to an effective federal tax rate above 40%, even when the household is nominally in the 12% or 22% bracket. Financial planners call it the Social Security "tax torpedo." A $1,000 IRA withdrawal that should cost $220 in tax can actually cost $407. That extra $187 stems from a rule most retirees never see on a tax table.
#security #federal
Middle-income retirees are most exposed to the torpedo, as frozen 1980s thresholds drag more households into the zone every year with each COLA increase.
Roth conversions before claiming Social Security, qualified charitable distributions, and delaying benefits to 70 can each reduce or eliminate torpedo zone exposure.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A band of retirement income exists in which each additional dollar withdrawn from a traditional IRA is subject to an effective federal tax rate above 40%, even when the household is nominally in the 12% or 22% bracket. Financial planners call it the Social Security "tax torpedo." A $1,000 IRA withdrawal that should cost $220 in tax can actually cost $407. That extra $187 stems from a rule most retirees never see on a tax table.
#security #federal
2 months ago
By Laura Matthews
NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) - Options traders expect a roughly $190 billion swing in Microsoft's market value after it reports earnings on Wednesday, an unusually large move that underscores investors' growing eagerness to see if billions of dollars in AI spending are beginning to pay off.
The tech company's options imply a move of about 6.6% in either direction after the company reports fourth-quarter results. By comparison, over the last 12 earnings cycles, Microsoft has averaged a 4.8% implied move and a 4.4% actual move, Option Research & Technology Services (ORATS) data showed.
The significantly higher pricing this quarter suggests that investors view Microsoft — one of the hyperscalers whose massive AI capital spending is at the heart of this year's AI rally and the broader bull market — as central to the AI earnings story.
With the AI trade now faltering, investors who flocked to technology stocks are growing wary of ever-rising costs.
#options #market #spending
NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) - Options traders expect a roughly $190 billion swing in Microsoft's market value after it reports earnings on Wednesday, an unusually large move that underscores investors' growing eagerness to see if billions of dollars in AI spending are beginning to pay off.
The tech company's options imply a move of about 6.6% in either direction after the company reports fourth-quarter results. By comparison, over the last 12 earnings cycles, Microsoft has averaged a 4.8% implied move and a 4.4% actual move, Option Research & Technology Services (ORATS) data showed.
The significantly higher pricing this quarter suggests that investors view Microsoft — one of the hyperscalers whose massive AI capital spending is at the heart of this year's AI rally and the broader bull market — as central to the AI earnings story.
With the AI trade now faltering, investors who flocked to technology stocks are growing wary of ever-rising costs.
#options #market #spending
2 months ago
European chipmaker STMicroelectronics (STM) early Thursday beat ***** yst estimates for the second quarter but disappointed with its Q3 sales guidance. STM stock fell on the news.
The Geneva, Switzerland-based company earned an adjusted 31 cents a share on sales of $3.49 billion in the June quarter. ***** ysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of 27 cents a share on sales of $3.46 billion. On a year-over-year basis, STMicro earnings jumped 417% while sales increased 26%.
For the current quarter, it forecast revenue of $3.7 billion, missing views for $3.79 billion. In last year's Q3, it posted sales of $3.19 billion. Its outlook translates to year-over-year sales growth of 16%.
However, it predicted Q4 revenue will be "above $4 billion," vs. estimates for $4 billion. In last year's Q4, it generated sales of $3.33 billion.
On the stock market today, STM stock plunged 18.7% to close at 53.49.
#Stock #estimates
The Geneva, Switzerland-based company earned an adjusted 31 cents a share on sales of $3.49 billion in the June quarter. ***** ysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of 27 cents a share on sales of $3.46 billion. On a year-over-year basis, STMicro earnings jumped 417% while sales increased 26%.
For the current quarter, it forecast revenue of $3.7 billion, missing views for $3.79 billion. In last year's Q3, it posted sales of $3.19 billion. Its outlook translates to year-over-year sales growth of 16%.
However, it predicted Q4 revenue will be "above $4 billion," vs. estimates for $4 billion. In last year's Q4, it generated sales of $3.33 billion.
On the stock market today, STM stock plunged 18.7% to close at 53.49.
#Stock #estimates
