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At US$37.26, Is It Time To Put Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWL) On Your Watch List?
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Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWL), which is in the electrical business, and is based in United States, led the NASDAQGS gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. As a small cap stock, which tends to lack high analyst coverage, there is generally more of an opportunity for mispricing as there is less activity to push the stock closer to fair value. Is there still an opportunity here to buy? Let’s examine Powell Industries’s valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if there’s still a bargain opportunity.
See our latest analysis for Powell Industries
The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my valuation model. It’s trading around 2.01% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Powell Industries today, you’d be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe the company’s true value is $36.52, then there isn’t really any room for the share price grow beyond what it’s currently trading. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Powell Industries’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company’s shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. In Powell Industries’s case, its earnings over the next year are expected to double, indicating an incredibly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to stronger cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.
Are you a shareholder?It seems like the market has already priced in POWL’s positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?
Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on POWL, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.
Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Powell Industries. You can find everything you need to know about Powell Industries inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Powell Industries, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Can We See Significant Institutional Ownership On The Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPBI) Share Register?
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The big shareholder groups in Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPBI) have power over the company. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership.
Pacific Premier Bancorp isn't enormous, but it's not particularly small either. It has a market capitalization of US$1.9b, which means it would generally expect to see some institutions on the share registry. In the chart below below, we can see that institutional investors have bought into the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about PPBI.
View our latest analysis for Pacific Premier Bancorp
Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.
We can see that Pacific Premier Bancorp does have institutional investors; and they hold 86% of the stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone, since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Pacific Premier Bancorp's earnings history, below. Of course, the future is what really matters.
Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Pacific Premier Bancorp. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.
While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board; and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board, themselves.
Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.
I can report that insiders do own shares in Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$57m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checkingif those insiders have been selling.
With a 11% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over PPBI. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.
It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Pacific Premier Bancorp better, we need to consider many other factors.
Many find it usefulto take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can accessthisdetailed graphof past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
But ultimatelyit is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look atthis free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.
NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Forex Daily Recap – Fiber Gained, Shrugging over Dovish ECB Stances
The Greenback that opened up near 96.10 levels on Monday kept the downtrend intact throughout the day. The Index had attempted to make jumps in the Asian trading session reaching near 96.20 levels. However, as the day was approaching closing, theUSD Indexwas found clinched near 96 levels. There was only one significant USD event in the economic docket today – Chicago May Fed National Activity Index. The market had expected the Index to report -0.37 points over -0.48 previous figures. Somehow, the actual reports came out as -0.05 points, shocking the analysts.
Meantime, Trump called the Fed as a “Stubborn Child”, quoting over Fed’s last announcement to keep rates unchanged. The US Presidenttweetedthat “Now they stick, like a stubborn child” when we need rate cuts, & easing, to make up for what other countries are doing against us. Blew it!”. Anyhow, the Fed has left the door opened for accommodative stance. As the pressure from Trump is increasing, the Central Bank might come up rate cuts in the next month. Despite that, the market attention was towards the upcoming G20 Meeting. Trump and Xi would have some constructive talks over resolving the trade dispute.
The Ninja was slightly lowered in the morning session reaching near 107.26 levels today. The early drop in the pair’s movements came amid positive JPY data released at 05:00 GMT. The April Japanese Leading Economic Index reported higher than market hopes. The Street analysts had estimated the Index to record 95.5 points this time. However, the April Index came around 95.9, 0.42% above the consensus estimates. Adding to that, April Coincident Index reported 102.1 over 101.9 forecasts. Hence, the pair was drifting in the bottom area in the Asian trading session as Japanese yen grew in value. TheUSD/JPYpair then showcased a slight upliftment marking the day’s high near 107.50 over Greenback upsurge. The minor jump in the USD Index had come after the release of higher-than-expected Chicago May Fed Activity Index.
This major rival that constitutes 50% of the overall Greenback composition kept benefiting out of weakness in the USD Index. Sound Euro-specific events allowed the pair to spread more bullish legs. The German June IFO reports came out at around 08:00 GMT. Out of these IFO reports, only the Expectations was lower than the estimates, reporting 94.2 points. Anyhow, the IFO Business Climate reported 97.4 points over 97.3 points estimates. Also, the Current Assessment recorded 0.8% higher than 100.0 estimates.
Hence, theEUR/USDpair was successful in scoring a three month high near 1.1395 levels. The picture remains pretty weak over the monetary policy front. Draghi had already mentioned his highly dovish stance over the economic outlook. Hence, traders await a near term rate cut mostly before Draghi’s departure by October end.
The Loonie pair continued to slump following the footprints of the stumbling Greenback. During the early hours, theUSD/CADpair was trading low extending last day’s downtrend. Anyhow, the pair took a bounce from 1.3176 levels, day’s lowest point. From there, the pair soared reaching 1.3214 levels marking daily high as positive USD data came out. Today, theCrudeprices slipped around 1% over demand concerns boiled out of escalating US-Iran tensions. “The oil market … is turning its attention to the upcoming G20 meeting and the (limited) prospect for a deal, and with that, a renewed focus on slowing demand growth,”saidSaxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy Ole Hansen. However, the pair appeared again to approach the day’s low at around 18:15 GMT.
Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire
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Fed's Kaplan: wise to wait before any change to rates
June 24 (Reuters) - Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan on Monday pushed back against dovish calls from some of his fellow U.S. central bankers, saying it is too early to judge if trade tensions and other uncertainties will hurt U.S. economic growth.
"I believe it would be wise to take additional time and allow events to unfold as we consider whether it is appropriate to make changes to the stance of U.S. monetary policy," Kaplan wrote in an essay released Monday that updates his views on the economy and policy. "Over the coming weeks and months, I will be closely monitoring developments in the U.S. and global economies as well as the status of financial conditions."
The Fed last week promised to do just that, leaving short-term rates on hold in the range of 2.25% and 2.5%. Several Fed policymakers on Friday called for rate cuts, as U.S. President Donald Trump has been advocating for months, in large part because of concerns about excessively low inflation.
But Kaplan, whose views are often aligned with those held by the Fed majority, expressed confidence that inflation will move higher over the next 12 months, buoyed by tight labor markets that are boosting prices and wages despite the inflation-dampening effects of technology.
A strong job market, he said, is also boosting consumer spending and confidence, helping the economy to grow at what he estimates will be a 2% pace this year.
Trade tensions are contributing to a softening in global growth, he said, adding to downside risks to U.S. economic growth. But in his view it is too soon to lower interest rates in response.
"I am concerned that adding monetary stimulus, at this juncture, would contribute to a build-up of excesses and imbalances in the economy which may ultimately prove to be difficult and painful to manage," Kaplan said. (Reporting by Ann Saphir Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) |
Does The The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO) Share Price Tend To Follow The Market?
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If you own shares in The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market.
Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk', beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta below one is either less volatile than the market, or more volatile but not corellated with the overall market. In comparison a stock with a beta of over one tends to be move in a similar direction to the market in the long term, but with greater changes in price.
View our latest analysis for GEO Group
Zooming in on GEO Group, we see it has a five year beta of 1.26. This is above 1, so historically its share price has been influenced by the broader volatility of the stock market. If the past is any guide, we would expect that GEO Group shares will rise quicker than the markets in times of optimism, but fall faster in times of pessimism. Many would argue that beta is useful in position sizing, but fundamental metrics such as revenue and earnings are more important overall. You can see GEO Group's revenue and earnings in the image below.
GEO Group is a fairly large company. It has a market capitalisation of US$2.6b, which means it is probably on the radar of most investors. It takes deep pocketed investors to influence the share price of a large company, so it's a little unusual to see companies this size with high beta values. It may be that that this company is more heavily impacted by broader economic factors than most.
Since GEO Group tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether GEO is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as GEO Group’s financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GEO’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GEO’s outlook.
2. Past Track Record: Has GEO been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of GEO's historicalsfor more clarity.
3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how GEO measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with thisfree list of prospective options.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Dallas Fed's Kaplan: 'Too early' to make a judgment on rates
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said Monday it may be “too early to make a judgment” on whether or not the central bank should cut rates.
In an essay published Monday afternoon, Kaplan wrote that heightened trade tensions and slowing global growth have increased risks to the U.S. economy, but said things could change in the near future.
“In this situation, I believe it would be wise to allow events to unfold a bit more before making judgments regarding the stance of monetary policy,” Kaplan wrote. Kaplan is not a voting member of this year’s Federal Open Market Committee.
Kaplan painted a positive picture of the U.S. economy, saying that the country is on pace for “solid” GD growth in 2019 and that the labor market is “at or past full employment.” Fed policymakers have struggled with its 2% inflation target, but Kaplan said the Dallas Fed’s “trimmed mean” measure - an alternative measure of core inflation - has the Fed running at about 2%.
Kaplan said policymakers need to be careful in providing more monetary accommodation, warning that it could build up leverage in the financial system. Over the past few months, economists have been watching leveraged loans, the market for large corporate debt that gained popularity when rates were near-zero.
“I believe that we currently are in the neighborhood of a neutral setting for monetary policy—that is, we are likely neither accommodative nor restrictive,” Kaplan wrote.
In the Fed’s June 19 meeting, the Fedkept rates unchangedin the target range of 2.25% to 2.5% but eight of 17 policymakers projected at least one rate cut by the end of the year. Markets have perceived that as a sign of a coming rate cut, and Fed funds futures contracts are currently pricing in a 100% chance of a cut at the end of the Fed’s July 31 meeting.
Taking additional time
Kaplan’s remarks come on the heels of amanufacturing surveyfrom his own district showing companies growing more nervous about where the economy is headed. Survey data released Monday morning reported that companies in Texas - the country’s largest exporter - have the gloomiest outlook on the economy in three years, and have held back on capital expenditures.
The reason? Tariffs. More respondents to the Dallas Fed’s survey are reporting a decrease in profit margins as a result of tariffs, which explains the darker outlook and pullback in capital expenditures.
But Kaplan appeared to hint that those trade tensions could be reduced. All eyes are on the G-20 Summit taking place in Japan this weekend, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Kaplan said that the heightened trade tensions are weighing negatively on companies, but said a resolution would prevent those headwinds from leading to persistent effects on the economy. He wrote Monday that he would be “highly vigilant” for indication that trade or domestic data spills “over into a material deterioration of the economy outlook.”
“In the meantime, I believe it would be wise to take additional time and allow events to unfold as we consider whether it is appropriate to make changes to the stance of U.S. monetary policy,” Kaplan wrote.
Brian Cheung is a reporter covering the banking industry and the intersection of finance and policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter@bcheungz.
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Malta's PM: Every Rent Contract to Be Registered on the Blockchain
Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has announced that all rent contracts in the island nation will have to be registered on the blockchain. | (Photo by JULIEN WARNAND / POOL / AFP) The Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, has announced that the island nation's upcoming rent law reforms will require all tenancy contracts to be registered on the blockchain. According to Malta Today, Muscat stated: "Every rent contract in Malta will be registered. The system we will be using to register the contracts is blockchain - distributed ledger technology." Blockchain Technology Will Make Rent Contracts Tamper-Proof According to Muscat, this will protect the tenancy agreements from being tampered with. Muscat also hinted that the island nation of slightly under half a million people will achieve this using a permissioned blockchain: "We will now be showing people the added value of this technology through applying it to something which they will use in their daily lives. Such a contract cannot be tampered with and only those authorized will be able to access it." The rent law reforms got the cabinet’s approval following a lengthy consultation period. They are expected to be unveiled in the coming days. The reforms on rent laws coincide with revisions to construction laws. This has been made necessary by a construction boom in the tiny island state, a situation which has been marked by an increasing number of accidents and deaths on construction sites. Read the full story on CCN.com . |
Tana Mongeau Engaged to Jake Paul -- See Her Massive Ring!
Tana Mongeau and Jake Paul are engaged! The YouTube stars took the next step in their relationship when Paul proposed to Mongeau in Las Vegas over the weekend. The pair was celebrating Mongeau's 21st birthday at Drai's Nightclub with friends when Paul, 22, brought Mongeau on stage to pop the question with a Ring Pop. After Mongeau accepted Paul's proposal, photos of the couple popped up on screens around the club and they were joined on stage with a three-tiered cake reading "Will you marry me, Tana?" When they sat back down at their table, Mongeau was spotted wearing her actual engagement ring. Drai’s Nightclub Instagram Instagram Mongeau showed off her giant ring on her Instagram Story, and then confirmed she and Paul were indeed engaged on Twitter. "JAKE JUST PROPOSED," she wrote early Monday morning. "I’m....... engaged.................." JAKE JUST PROPOSED — Tana Mongeau (@tanamongeau) June 24, 2019 i’m....... engaged.................. — Tana Mongeau (@tanamongeau) June 24, 2019 The pair's relationship has certainly been a whirlwind. Mongeau, who previously dated Bella Thorne and Brad Sousa, started dating Paul just two months ago. "It’s not [a joke]," she tweeted of her and Paul's engagement. "I’m engaged. holy f**k." it’s not. i’m engaged. holy fuck. https://t.co/dNIvGfOch1 — Tana Mongeau (@tanamongeau) June 24, 2019 It's been a big weekend for Mongeau, who received a Mercedes G-Wagon from Paul as a birthday present just one day before their engagement. "Never give up on your dreams, kids. THANK U BABY," she captioned a photo of herself and Paul posing with the car, which costs upwards of $125,000. Story continues View this post on Instagram never give up on your dreams, kids. THANK U BABY A post shared by tanamongeau (@tanamongeau) on Jun 23, 2019 at 12:47pm PDT In a recent interview with ET, Paul admitted that his older brother, Logan Paul, actually went on a date with Mongeau before they started dating. Watch below. RELATED CONTENT: Jake Paul Shares Emotional Vlog After Helping to Rescue Hurricane Victims From Their Homes Tana Mongeau Says Olivia Jade Is Staying Away From Social Media for a Year Bella Thorne Reveals Tana Mongeau Split on Twitter: We 'Aren't Together Anymore' Related Articles: Hollywood Bikini Bods Over 40 Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2019 -- So Far! Celebrities in Their Underwear |
You Might Like PQ Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PQG) But Do You Like Its Debt?
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Investors are always looking for growth in small-cap stocks like PQ Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PQG), with a market cap of US$2.2b. However, an important fact which most ignore is: how financially healthy is the business? Assessing first and foremost the financial health is vital, as mismanagement of capital can lead to bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. Let's work through some financial health checks you may wish to consider if you're interested in this stock. Nevertheless, this is not a comprehensive overview, so I recommend youdig deeper yourself into PQG here.
PQG has sustained its debt level by about US$2.2b over the last 12 months – this includes long-term debt. At this current level of debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at US$53m , ready to be used for running the business. On top of this, PQG has generated US$253m in operating cash flow in the last twelve months, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 12%, indicating that PQG’s current level of operating cash is not high enough to cover debt.
At the current liabilities level of US$263m, the company has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of US$570m, with a current ratio of 2.17x. The current ratio is the number you get when you divide current assets by current liabilities. For Chemicals companies, this ratio is within a sensible range as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments.
PQG is a highly-leveraged company with debt exceeding equity by over 100%. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. No matter how high the company’s debt, if it can easily cover the interest payments, it’s considered to be efficient with its use of excess leverage. A company generating earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) at least three times its net interest payments is considered financially sound. In PQG's case, the ratio of 1.55x suggests that interest is not strongly covered, which means that lenders may be more reluctant to lend out more funding as PQG’s low interest coverage already puts the company at higher risk of default.
Although PQG’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. Since there is also no concerns around PQG's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure PQG has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. You should continue to research PQ Group Holdings to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for PQG’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor PQG’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is PQG worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether PQG is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Indiana school firing gay teacher to keep archdiocese ties
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis archbishop has forced a Catholic high school to fire a gay teacher, just days after another school in the city defied a similar order despite church officials saying they would no longer recognize it as Catholic. Cathedral High School announced Sunday that it's terminating the teacher's contract to avoid a split with the archdiocese. Leaders of Cathedral High School, a private school affiliated with the Brothers of the Holy Cross religious order, said in a letter on the school's website that disobeying Archbishop Charles Thompson would cost the school its nonprofit status and its ability to have Mass celebrated on campus. "Archbishop Thompson made it clear that Cathedral's continued employment of a teacher in a public, same-sex marriage would result in our forfeiting our Catholic identity due to our employment of an individual living in contradiction to Catholic teaching on marriage," the school statement said. This is the third Indianapolis Catholic high school that's faced pressure from Thompson over employees in same-sex marriages since he became archbishop in July 2017. On Friday, Thompson issued a decree against Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School because it employed a teacher in a same-sex marriage. Brebeuf leaders said the teacher was a "longtime valued employee" who didn't teach religion. The archdiocese maintained that it considers all teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators to be ministers who must follow church teaching. Indiana is among about 30 states without state nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBT people, according to the gay-rights group Human Rights Campaign. A federal bill for such nationwide nondiscrimination protections passed the House of Representatives in May but appears doomed in the U.S. Senate because of Republican opposition. New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based advocacy group for LGBT Catholics, counts nearly 100 employees at Catholic institutions who've lost jobs because of sexual orientation issues across the country in the past decades. Story continues Cathedral administrators said Sunday that its decision to dismiss a gay teacher was "agonizing" but one that was necessary for the 1,100-student school. Cathedral, like Brebeuf, had been in talks with the archdiocese about the teachers for nearly two years. Neither school has identified the teachers involved. The Cathedral letter doesn't defend Thompson's decision, saying it hopes the action does not "dishearten Cathedral's young people." The actions have sparked online petitions and social media debate. The archdiocese said in a statement Monday that all Catholic schools have been directed to state in employment contracts that all employees must support church teachings. "This issue is not about sexual orientation; rather, it is about our expectation that all personnel inside a Catholic school — who are ministers of the faith — abide by all Church teachings," the statement said. "If and when a minister of the faith is publicly not doing so, the Church calls us to help the individual strive to live a life in accordance with Catholic teaching." Brebeuf is operated by the Midwest Province of Jesuits, independently of the archdiocese. Despite Thompson's decree, Brebeuf's principal says it will continue to call itself an "independent Jesuit Catholic school." Archdiocesan-operated Indianapolis Roncalli High School of Indianapolis has fired or suspended two female guidance counselors in the past year because they're in same-sex marriages. The women have filed federal employment discrimination complaints and have said they intend to file lawsuits. Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry's executive director, said he believed Cathedral's leaders responded out of fear to an order from Thompson that is teaching discrimination and creating more strife among Catholics. "It not only is unjust to the employees and the schools, but it's unjust to the whole church and it's only going to harm people in the church who are justifiably angry when an archbishop responds in such a totalitarian way by giving ultimatums," DeBernardo said. "Christ never gave ultimatums. Pope Francis does not give ultimatums." ___ Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com |
Those Who Purchased PRA Group (NASDAQ:PRAA) Shares Five Years Ago Have A 52% Loss To Show For It
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While not a mind-blowing move, it is good to see that thePRA Group, Inc.(NASDAQ:PRAA) share price has gained 10% in the last three months. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last half decade have been disappointing. In fact, the share price has declined rather badly, down some 52% in that time. So is the recent increase sufficient to restore confidence in the stock? Not yet. Of course, this could be the start of a turnaround.
View our latest analysis for PRA Group
In his essayThe Superinvestors of Graham-and-DoddsvilleWarren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.
Looking back five years, both PRA Group's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 18% per year. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 14% compound annual share price fall. So the market may previously have expected a drop, or else it expects the situation will improve.
The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).
Thisfreeinteractive report on PRA Group'searnings, revenue and cash flowis a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.
PRA Group shareholders are down 27% for the year, but the market itself is up 6.6%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 14% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. Is PRA Group cheap compared to other companies? These3 valuation measuresmight help you decide.
For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Cowen: Aurora Is 'Top Pick In Cannabis'
Several Wall Street analysts have come out bullish on cannabis stocks in recent months, but one analyst said Monday thatAurora Cannabis Inc(NYSE:ACB) is the clear top choice in the sector.
The Analyst
Cowen analystVivien Azerreiterated an Outperform rating on Aurora with a CA$15 ($11.38) price target.
Need more cannabis news?Check out all of our coveragehere.
The Thesis
While a number of Canadian cannabis producers are positioned to take advantage of a global boom in demand, Azer said Aurora is the only one of the top growers that is also on track to become profitable in the near-term. (See her track recordhere.)
Aurora is second toCanopy Growth Corp(NYSE:CGC) in terms of size, but the analyst said Canopy’s record CA$98-million loss in the first quarter was telling.
“While a number of peers have communicated a longer pathway to profitability, ACB has the opportunity to be among the few Canadian LPs to reach positive EBITDA as soon as 4Q19 (ending June 30), which is a particular standout as category leader WEED posted an expanded EBITDA loss in calendar 1Q19 (at -C$98 mm)."
Aurora's profitability and margins should get an additional boost from a mix shift toward extracts and novel form factors, Azer said.
Cowen first came out bullish on Aurora in March, telling investors the stock deserves to trade at a premium valuation due to its unique path to profitability.
In the long-term, Azer estimates the Candian adult-use cannabis market will be worth about CA$12 billion by 2025 and the international medicinal cannabis market will be worth $31 billion by 2024.
In the near-term, Azer said investors should expect Aurora to focus on vapor, adding that a major strategic partner could be announced in the next couple of quarters.
Price Action
Aurora shares were up 2.47% at $7.48 at the time of publication Monday.
Related Links:
Analyst: Canopy Growth Still A Top Cannabis Stock Despite Mixed Quarter
Canopy Shareholders Approve Acreage Deal, Legalization In Focus
Photo courtesy of Aurora Cannabis.
Latest Ratings for ACB
[{"Jun 2019": "Apr 2019", "": "", "Initiates Coverage On": "Initiates Coverage On", "Hold": "Buy"}, {"Jun 2019": "Apr 2019", "": "", "Initiates Coverage On": "Initiates Coverage On", "Hold": "Buy"}]
View More Analyst Ratings for ACBView the Latest Analyst Ratings
See more from Benzinga
• Tilson Says Wait For The Bust In Cannabis Stocks, Calls Bitcoin A 'Pure Speculative Investment'
• Stifel Cautious On Aurora Cannabis Given 'Lack Of A Definitive Strategy' In US
• Jefferies Sees 60-Percent Upside In Aphria Shares, Says Buy The Dip
© 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. |
You Might Like GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GDS) But Do You Like Its Debt?
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GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GDS) is a small-cap stock with a market capitalization of US$4.8b. While investors primarily focus on the growth potential and competitive landscape of the small-cap companies, they end up ignoring a key aspect, which could be the biggest threat to its existence: its financial health. Why is it important? Given that GDS is not presently profitable, it’s vital to understand the current state of its operations and pathway to profitability. The following basic checks can help you get a picture of the company's balance sheet strength. Nevertheless, this is not a comprehensive overview, so I’d encourage you todig deeper yourself into GDS here.
Over the past year, GDS has ramped up its debt from CN¥7.6b to CN¥14b , which accounts for long term debt. With this increase in debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at CN¥6.0b to keep the business going. Moreover, GDS has produced CN¥71m in operating cash flow in the last twelve months, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 0.5%, signalling that GDS’s debt is not covered by operating cash.
Looking at GDS’s CN¥3.2b in current liabilities, the company has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of CN¥7.1b, with a current ratio of 2.22x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. For IT companies, this ratio is within a sensible range as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments.
GDS is a highly-leveraged company with debt exceeding equity by over 100%. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. However, since GDS is currently unprofitable, there’s a question of sustainability of its current operations. Running high debt, while not yet making money, can be risky in unexpected downturns as liquidity may dry up, making it hard to operate.
GDS’s high cash coverage means that, although its debt levels are high, the company is able to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate cash flow. This may mean this is an optimal capital structure for the business, given that it is also meeting its short-term commitment. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure GDS has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. You should continue to research GDS Holdings to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GDS’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GDS’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is GDS worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether GDS is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
FOREX-Dollar slips on U.S. rate cut bets, bitcoin on fire
* Investors await outcome of Trump-Xi meeting at G20 summit * U.S.-Iran tension underpins safe-haven support for yen * Dollar remains pressured by bets on multiple U.S. rate cuts * Bitcoin breaks $11,000 for first time since March 2018 * Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh (Updates market action) By Richard Leong NEW YORK, June 24 (Reuters) - The dollar softened against a basket of currencies on Monday on bets the U.S. Federal Reserve may lower interest rates more than once this year, while tensions between Iran and the United States provided safe-haven support for the yen. Bitcoin extended its torrid weekend run, when it broke above $11,000 for the first time since March 2018. The world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency has risen nearly 200% this year as Facebook's plan to introduce its Libra digital coin stoked optimism about widening usage of virtual currencies. Investors awaited whether U.S. President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jinping would at least call a truce in their trade war at the G20 summit in Japan later this week. "Today's session is wedged between the Fed's dovish turn last week and the G20 later this week," said Brian Daingerfield, head of G10 FX strategy, Americas in Stamford, Connecticut. "With the G20, it's hard to have confidence in the direction for the market." Markets believe that if Washington and Beijing fail to dial back their heated rhetoric on trade, then the Fed will be forced to cut interest rates to prevent a wider economic slowdown resulting from higher U.S. tariffs on imports. Both China and the United States should make compromises in trade talks, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Monday. Interest rates futures implied traders priced in a 100% chance the Fed would cut rates at the end of July, while they are betting on a high probability it might lower rates two more times after that, according to CME Group's FedWatch program. Expectations of falling U.S. rates have weakened the greenback. An index that tracks the dollar against a group of six currencies fell 1.57% last week, its biggest weekly loss in four months. At 2:57 p.m. (1857 GMT), the dollar index dipped 0.24% at 95.985. The latest weekly positioning data confirmed the view of a weakening dollar. Hedge funds have turned mildly bearish on the greenback, and have increased bets on weakness in other currencies such as the Australian dollar as their outlook on the global economy has soured. Meanwhile, the yen retreated from its strongest levels against the dollar since January after Trump called off a U.S. military strike against Iran last week, but tensions between the two nations remain high. Trump on Monday imposed new sanctions on Iran in a bid to curb its nuclear program. The yen was steady at 107.31 per dollar after reaching 107.045 on Friday as nervous traders piled into the safe-haven currency. Among digital currencies, bitcoin rose 1.44% to $10,987.81 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 1457 EDT (1857 GMT): Description RIC Last U.S. Pct YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Close Change Change Previous Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1400 $1.1366 +0.30% -0.61% +1.1403 +1.1363 Dollar/Yen JPY= 107.2900 107.3000 -0.01% -2.69% +107.5300 +107.2600 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 122.31 121.98 +0.27% -3.10% +122.3900 +122.0000 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9719 0.9762 -0.44% -0.99% +0.9782 +0.9711 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2744 1.2740 +0.03% -0.10% +1.2766 +1.2709 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3188 1.3221 -0.25% -3.29% +1.3221 +1.3178 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6966 0.6923 +0.62% -1.18% +0.6968 +0.6929 ar Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1079 1.1099 -0.18% -1.56% +1.1130 +1.1066 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8943 0.8923 +0.22% -0.46% +0.8960 +0.8920 NZ NZD= 0.6617 0.6587 +0.46% -1.49% +0.6626 +0.6582 Dollar/Dollar Dollar/Norway NOK= 8.4761 8.4950 -0.22% -1.88% +8.5106 +8.4703 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.6619 9.6627 -0.01% -2.47% +9.6860 +9.6493 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.2764 9.3509 -0.52% +3.49% +9.3548 +9.2760 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.5757 10.6307 -0.52% +3.04% +10.6396 +10.5714 (Additional reporting by Saikat Chatterjee in LONDON Editing by Mark Heinrich, Nick Zieminski and Tom Brown) |
How Financially Strong Is GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GDS)?
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Investors are always looking for growth in small-cap stocks like GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GDS), with a market cap of US$4.8b. However, an important fact which most ignore is: how financially healthy is the business? Since GDS is loss-making right now, it’s vital to assess the current state of its operations and pathway to profitability. We'll look at some basic checks that can form a snapshot the company’s financial strength. Nevertheless, this is not a comprehensive overview, so I suggest youdig deeper yourself into GDS here.
Over the past year, GDS has ramped up its debt from CN¥7.6b to CN¥14b , which accounts for long term debt. With this growth in debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at CN¥6.0b to keep the business going. On top of this, GDS has produced CN¥71m in operating cash flow during the same period of time, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 0.5%, meaning that GDS’s operating cash is less than its debt.
Looking at GDS’s CN¥3.2b in current liabilities, it seems that the business has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 2.22x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Usually, for IT companies, this is a suitable ratio since there's a sufficient cash cushion without leaving too much capital idle or in low-earning investments.
With total debt exceeding equity, GDS is considered a highly levered company. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. However, since GDS is currently loss-making, sustainability of its current state of operations becomes a concern. Maintaining a high level of debt, while revenues are still below costs, can be dangerous as liquidity tends to dry up in unexpected downturns.
Although GDS’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. This may mean this is an optimal capital structure for the business, given that it is also meeting its short-term commitment. Keep in mind I haven't considered other factors such as how GDS has been performing in the past. I recommend you continue to research GDS Holdings to get a more holistic view of the small-cap by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GDS’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GDS’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is GDS worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether GDS is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Hotter Weather Trends Help Light a Fire Under Natural Gas ETFs
This article was originally published onETFTrends.com.
Natural gas futures and related ETFs surged Monday as hotter weather conditions helped stoke the electricity demand outlook for air cooling in more sweltering areas of the U.S.
TheUnited States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) gained 5.3% Monday after falling off 24.4% year-to-date. Meanwhile, Nymex natural gas futures were 5.4% higher to $2.31 per million British thermal units.
Bespoke Weather Services shifted its forecast to project a hotter first week of July, but the firm warned that trends in its weather models were mixed over the weekend,Natural Gas Intelligencereports.
The European model, “which had been the coolest model in terms of its surface temperature projection all of last week,” added several gas-weighted degree days (GWDD) over the weekend by “slowing down the retreat of heat back into the western U.S.,” Bespoke said. “It was joined by the Canadian ensemble, which made a similar shift.”
On the other hand, the American model showed a hotter last week but shifted cooler over the weekend, with changes on a three- to four-day period around the start of July.
“The weather component shifted a little more bullish over the weekend” because the European model showed “a little more heat into early July, but the overall weaker fundamentals data this morning keeps us neutral,” Bespoke added, pointing to an increase in the latest supply readings and somewhat weaker weather-adjusted power burns.
The more bullish outlook may have also fueled a knee-jerk rebound in an oversold natural gas market, which plunged last week after an updated larger-than-expected weekly increase in U.S. supplies. The U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed that domestic supplies of natural gas rose by 115 billion cubic feet for the week ended June 14, compared to average forecasts for about a 100 billion cubic feet gain. Total stockpiles were at 2.203 trillion cubic feet, or 209 billion cubic feet greater year-over-year.
For more information on the natgas market, visit ournatural gas category.
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How Does Investing In Perceptron, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRCP) Impact The Volatility Of Your Portfolio?
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Anyone researching Perceptron, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRCP) might want to consider the historical volatility of the share price. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market.
Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market.
See our latest analysis for Perceptron
As it happens, Perceptron has a five year beta of 1.02. This is fairly close to 1, so the stock has historically shown a somewhat similar level of volatility as the market. If the future looks like the past, we could therefore consider it likely that the stock price will experience share price volatility that is roughly similar to the overall market. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether Perceptron is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below.
Perceptron is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of US$46m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. Companies this small are usually more volatile than the market, whether or not that volatility is correlated. Therefore, it's a bit surprising to see that this stock has a beta value so close to the overall market.
It is probable that there is a link between the share price of Perceptron and the broader market, since it has a beta value quite close to one. However, long term investors are generally well served by looking past market volatility and focussing on the underlying development of the business. If that's your game, metrics such as revenue, earnings and cash flow will be more useful. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but it's well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Perceptron’s financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for PRCP’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor PRCP’s outlook.
2. Past Track Record: Has PRCP been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of PRCP's historicalsfor more clarity.
3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how PRCP measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with thisfree list of prospective options.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Be Page Boy and Bridesmaid in Their Teacher's Wedding to Prince William’s BFF
Prince William and his eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte , are getting ready for another wedding. On Sunday it was announced that Thomas van Straubenzee, the Duke of Cambridge’s lifelong friend, is tying the knot. According to the Sunday Times , the godfather to 4-year-old Charlotte proposed to Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe, an assistant head teacher at Thomas’ Battersea School in London, where George, who turns 6 on July 22, is currently enrolled. Charlotte will start at the prestigious school in September. William will take part in van Straubenzee’s wedding festivities and serve as usher for the ceremony, while George and Charlotte are expected to join the wedding party as pageboy and bridesmaid, the outlet reports. Max Mumby/Getty Prince William and Thomas van Straubenzee | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty RELATED: Prince William’s Sweetest Royal Dad Photos with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Van Straubenzee and his younger brother, Charlie, 31, are extremely close to the royal family. The brothers attended Berkshire’s Ludgrove School with William and Harry, along with their late brother, Henry, who died in a car crash at the age of 18. After Henry’s sudden death, the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund was set up in his honor. The charity, which was created by his parents, supports schools in Uganda and is the only charity for which William and Harry are joint patrons. Both van Straubenzee brothers served as ushers in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding at Windsor Castle last May. It was reported that Charlie even gave a speech at the reception, while Thomas also spoke at William and Kate’s royal Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011. Following their May wedding, Harry and Meghan attended Charlie’s wedding to Daisy Jenks in Surrey. The outing was the pair’s first public event since becoming husband and wife and also fell on Meghan’s 37th birthday. The Duke of Sussex served as usher for his friend’s big day. Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks | Mark Stewart Photography Ltd RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Hold Hands at Romantic Wedding on Her 37th Birthday The Times also reports that Charlie, who shares his own bond with Prince Harry is in the mix to be named one of Baby Archie ‘s godparents. Story continues Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! And similar to Meghan, who was married once before prior to her relationship with Harry, van Straubenzee’s upcoming nuptials will not be his first. The 36-year-old was previously married to Lady Melissa Percy, a daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, in 2013. They couple were married for 3 years before divorcing in 2016. According to the Times , Lanigan-O’Keeffe is the daughter of Carolyn and Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe. Her father is a lawyer and her brother, Arthur, is an Olympic pentathlete. |
Why We Like Goodrich Petroleum Corporation’s (NYSEMKT:GDP) 13% Return On Capital Employed
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Today we'll evaluate Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (NYSEMKT:GDP) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we're going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business.
Firstly, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Then we'll compare its ROCE to similar companies. Last but not least, we'll look at what impact its current liabilities have on its ROCE.
ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussinhas suggestedthat a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.
The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
Or for Goodrich Petroleum:
0.13 = US$20m ÷ (US$204m - US$47m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.)
So,Goodrich Petroleum has an ROCE of 13%.
See our latest analysis for Goodrich Petroleum
ROCE can be useful when making comparisons, such as between similar companies. In our analysis, Goodrich Petroleum's ROCE is meaningfully higher than the 7.4% average in the Oil and Gas industry. We consider this a positive sign, because it suggests it uses capital more efficiently than similar companies. Regardless of where Goodrich Petroleum sits next to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears satisfactory, and this company could be worth a closer look.
It is important to remember that ROCE shows past performance, and is not necessarily predictive. ROCE can be misleading for companies in cyclical industries, with returns looking impressive during the boom times, but very weak during the busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. We note Goodrich Petroleum could be considered a cyclical business. What happens in the future is pretty important for investors, so we have prepared afreereport on analyst forecasts for Goodrich Petroleum.
Short term (or current) liabilities, are things like supplier invoices, overdrafts, or tax bills that need to be paid within 12 months. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets.
Goodrich Petroleum has total assets of US$204m and current liabilities of US$47m. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 23% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE.
This is good to see, and with a sound ROCE, Goodrich Petroleum could be worth a closer look. Goodrich Petroleum looks strong on this analysis,but there are plenty of other companies that could be a good opportunity. Here is afree listof companies growing earnings rapidly.
If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
U.S. waives tariffs on Japanese aluminum for Tesla battery cells
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department has agreed to Tesla Inc's request to waive 10 percent tariffs on imported aluminum from Japan used in the manufacture of battery cells at Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory, government documents show.
The Palo Alto, California-based company made the request in documents posted in April and said the aluminum is produced by Nippon Light Metal Co Ltd and was seeking a tariff exclusion for 10,000 tonnes annually.
The Commerce Department said in a document dated June 5 and posted on a government website in recent days that the aluminum "is not produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or of a satisfactory quality." The waiver is good for one year. Tesla did not immediately comment.
The battery cells are assembled into packs which are the energy source for the Tesla Model 3 vehicle as well as energy storage products, Tesla said in its request. "Tesla is the only US manufacturer of these battery types and planned production of these batteries will increase exponentially over the next few years," the company's request said.
Tesla's exclusion request specified several different width and thickness for aluminum sheets. Tesla said U.S. manufacturers cannot "meet the alloy composition or thickness requirements. Domestic producers also cannot meet the annual volume requirement."
No objections were filed to Tesla's request.
Tesla previously sought other tariff exemptions from the U.S. Trade Representative's Office for Chinese-made parts, including the Model 3 car computer and the Autopilot "brain" that were rejected.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sandra Maler) |
Is Goodrich Petroleum Corporation’s (NYSEMKT:GDP) 13% ROCE Any Good?
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Today we'll evaluate Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (NYSEMKT:GDP) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires.
Firstly, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Then we'll compare its ROCE to similar companies. Last but not least, we'll look at what impact its current liabilities have on its ROCE.
ROCE measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. All else being equal, a better business will have a higher ROCE. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. Author Edwin Whitingsaysto be careful when comparing the ROCE of different businesses, since 'No two businesses are exactly alike.'
The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
Or for Goodrich Petroleum:
0.13 = US$20m ÷ (US$204m - US$47m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.)
Therefore,Goodrich Petroleum has an ROCE of 13%.
Check out our latest analysis for Goodrich Petroleum
One way to assess ROCE is to compare similar companies. Goodrich Petroleum's ROCE appears to be substantially greater than the 7.4% average in the Oil and Gas industry. I think that's good to see, since it implies the company is better than other companies at making the most of its capital. Independently of how Goodrich Petroleum compares to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears decent, and the company may be worthy of closer investigation.
It is important to remember that ROCE shows past performance, and is not necessarily predictive. ROCE can be misleading for companies in cyclical industries, with returns looking impressive during the boom times, but very weak during the busts. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. Remember that most companies like Goodrich Petroleum are cyclical businesses. What happens in the future is pretty important for investors, so we have prepared afreereport on analyst forecasts for Goodrich Petroleum.
Current liabilities are short term bills and invoices that need to be paid in 12 months or less. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To check the impact of this, we calculate if a company has high current liabilities relative to its total assets.
Goodrich Petroleum has total liabilities of US$47m and total assets of US$204m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 23% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE.
This is good to see, and with a sound ROCE, Goodrich Petroleum could be worth a closer look. Goodrich Petroleum looks strong on this analysis,but there are plenty of other companies that could be a good opportunity. Here is afree listof companies growing earnings rapidly.
For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Cory Booker Was a Rising Star. Inside His Plan to Become the Next Big Thing, Again
It’s more than an hour before the largest gathering of 2020 candidates in Iowa to date, and Cory Booker is getting mobbed on the streets of Cedar Rapids. Reaching over a low wall of signs spelling out his name, the New Jersey senator hugs supporters and shakes their hands. Sunlight bounces off his bald head. He jumps in the bed of a pickup and takes the microphone, roaring over the fans cheering him on, telling them it’s this kind of organization that will win the Democratic presidential nomination. Booker makes his way down a sidewalk his fans have decorated with chalk on his behalf, crosses the street and walks into a DoubleTree hotel, where he’ll soon be the first of 19 candidates to take the stage for the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame event. All of them are hoping to say something in their allotted five minutes that will resonate with Iowans—or, better yet, have a viral moment that goes national and gives their campaign a spark. Meantime, Booker shakes more hands. Takes more pictures. Gives more hugs. This is how Cory Booker thinks he can win the Democratic nomination. Months into the race and on the cusp of the first primary debates, Booker remains mired in the middle of the pack, drawing 3% or lower in most national and state polls, trailing several of his Senate colleagues. The talented senator, long billed as one of the party’s rising stars, has yet to have a breakout moment. He’s won fewer headlines than several other candidates. He’s pulling in plenty of money, but his first-quarter fundraising numbers were arguably disappointing , given his ties to big Democratic donors . But Booker believes national momentum is still built little by little, voter by voter, town hall by town hall. It’s a time-tested strategy. What’s not clear, however, is whether it’s the right one for the 2020 Democratic primary. Booker is competing for attention, money, and even staff with more than 20 other candidates—some of whom, like South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, have had A Moment that propelled them past Booker. Story continues For years, Democratic insiders and voters alike have tabbed Booker as a promising presidential candidate. Booker, 50, entered the race with a compelling backstory, a reputation of woke-ness, and a message of love. He’s a United States senator, a former mayor, a charismatic speaker, a vegan; he even dates a famous actress, Rosario Dawson. But there’s no laboratory, no secret formula, no focus group that can guarantee any of this is enough anymore. In some ways the predictions that Booker would be a formidable contender for the nomination have come to seem like the kind of conventional wisdom that belongs in the era before the 2016 election, whose takeaway was that what you thought you knew wasn’t really how the world worked at all. Booker stands for a portrait in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 8. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME And because of the way he has structured his campaign, with a “brick by brick” mentality encoded in its DNA, Booker’s bid is emerging as a test of whether the tried-and-true methods of presidential politics can prevail in modern America. “I don’t want to be breaking away in the polls right now,” Booker told me the day before the Hall of Fame event. “The people that are usually ahead this far out don’t go on to get the nomination. So I think that this is – these times the polls are meaningless and they deal a lot more with name recognition and popularity because a lot of folks haven’t even tuned in to this election. So the metrics that I pay attention to are really on the kind of organizations we’re building on the ground, the kind of response voters are having to your message.” On a clear , hot Saturday in early June, I rode with Booker in the back of a van traveling from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, a cooler rattling around behind us and multiple aides in the seats ahead of us. He had a packed agenda, and everything had run a little behind schedule, but Booker was full of energy. I asked if he got carsick and he said no, though he added he’d had a stomach bug while on the trail. “To have a stomach virus and have to get up and go in front of events when your stomach is telling you you would rather be praying to the porcelain urn,” he said, “took a level of grit that I had to muster that proved to me that I’ve got reservoirs of strength when I need them, physically.” Booker speaks with a community member in Des Moines' East Village neighborhood during the Capital City Pride Festival on June 8. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME How the New Jersey senator and former Newark mayor got here—in the running-for-president sense, not the back of the van—is a story that dates to shortly after Donald Trump’s election, when people started asking him about running for president. By 2017 he was seriously considering it. “I realized what was holding me back was fear,” Booker told me. “I was always taught very directly by my mother that you don’t make fear-based decisions when it comes to your life, I make faith-based decisions. And so I think that finally got me to the point where I decided to go.” On the trail, Booker often talks about love and unity. He says this election shouldn’t just be about Trump, and often says he’s running because of what he stands for — among his outlined policy positions are sweeping gun legislation including licenses for guns , an extension of the criminal justice reform legislation he’s already worked on, and a proposed White House Office of Reproductive Freedom —not just what he’s against. What I wanted to hear from Booker was the answer to a simple question: What exactly is his path forward? It’s clear that his path begins in Iowa, where Booker’s organization is consistently mentioned by unaffiliated Democratic operatives as one of the best in the state, on par with Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s. Joseph O’Hern and Mike Frosolone, Booker’s senior Iowa adviser and Iowa state director, are talented operatives with deep connections throughout the state. Booker’s rolled out an Iowa Steering Committee that includes several local endorsements. He’s also been known to call into house parties when not on the ground himself, which Iowa Democratic strategist Matt Paul points to as an example of how impressive their organization strategy has been. Pastor Dr. Damian Miguel Epps, Senator Cory Booker, and Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker pray before the Youth Empowerment Day service at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 9. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME “It’s follow up, and they’ve done really smart politics,” Paul says. “They’re finding unique ways to find a personal touch when they don’t necessarily have the candidate.” Booker has made a heavy investment here, both for strategic and personal reasons , he says. His grandmother was born and raised in Des Moines, and he has extended family in the state. (His campaign puts the number at 80 family members living in the Des Moines area.) He told me he grew up coming to family reunions in Iowa. At his events, his family is sometimes in the audience . Prior to running, he’d spent plenty of time building political goodwill, from headlining the Iowa Democrats’ Fall Gala last year to lending his star power to the man who challenged and came close to beating Iowa Rep. Steve King. But all these efforts haven’t translated yet to polling success. Even as we talked, The Des Moines Register released a poll with a 4-point margin of error that had Booker at 1%, tied with Andrew Yang, Jay Inslee, Tulsi Gabbard, John Delaney, Julián Castro, and Michael Bennet. At the same time, buried in that meager showing was a glimmer of hope. More than a third of respondents said they were “actively considering” Booker—a sign he has plenty of room to grow his support. Community members enjoy coffee and breakfast before the Youth Empowerment Day service on June 9. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME Talking to voters at his events lends credence to both figures. Democrats genuinely like Booker, who’s skilled at retail politics. He nerds out with fans about being a Trekkie, snaps selfies, and films clips saying hi to a family member who couldn’t be there. At the Capital City Pride festival in Des Moines, he took an HIV test as press impatiently waited outside the trailer, but didn’t grandstand about it. At a service at Cedar Rapids’ Mt. Zion the morning of the Hall of Fame event, he gave a recent high school graduate who led a class walkout after two teens died of gun violence his personal cell phone number. These are the kind of things Booker does without thinking twice about them; many presidential candidates wouldn’t think to do them at all. And yet support for Booker hasn’t calcified into the kind of coalition he needs to be competitive. Many voters say he’s on their shortlist. They could absolutely see him as president, and they would definitely get behind him. But Liz Warren has a plan. But Bernie Sanders is my guy. But Joe Biden is more electable. “He’s probably in the top five right now,” Pete Easton, a 33-year-old resident of Davenport, says of Booker. “I think it’s just there’s so many choices that are all good that it’s just hard to commit.” Booker had the advantage of being on the national stage prior to running for president, and therefore began the race with a higher national profile than some of the Democrats polling above him. Yet the senator believes he’s still introducing himself to the electorate. He told me that after a recent speech in California, a voter came up to him and said, “I didn’t know you were black.” He presented it as evidence that the campaign is still in its opening innings. A journalist records video before remarks by Senator Cory Booker in the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree Cedar Rapids Convention Complex during the Democratic Hall of Fame event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 9. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME “When they learn about who I am, what my message is, how much I believe in us, we’re gaining support every single day. Gaining online contributions, thousands of them every single week. People are liking what they see and we are building, building, building to win in Iowa, win in New Hampshire, win in Nevada and South Carolina,” Booker says. “And I’m very confident I’m going to be the nominee of the party.” It’s clear that Booker is breaking through in some ways. He was so swarmed with fans at a brewery on the edge of Ames that Saturday, where he was appearing between New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for a Story County Democrats event, that he had to be introduced three times before he finally appeared to take the microphone. And just days before the first Democratic debates, the candidate is drawing plenty of attention. He took a direct shot at Biden over the former vice president’s comments about working with segregationist lawmakers. The back-and-forth largely took place on June 19, or “Juneteenth,” a holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves, and after Booker had testified that same morning at a House of Representatives hearing on reparations. “Frankly, I’m disappointed that he hasn’t issued an immediate apology for the pain his words are dredging up for many Americans. He should,” Booker said in a statement, and tweeted an iconic Civil Rights Movement photo of black men holding “I am a man” signs during the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. “Apologize for what?” Biden shot back. “Cory should apologize. He knows better.” Booker speaks with supporters after the Democratic Hall of Fame event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 9. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME Maybe it turns out to be his moment; certainly Booker thought enough of the exchange to fundraise off it. Or maybe that moment is still to come. “We’re building this campaign brick by brick,” Booker told me. “And I’m pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished this far. And I know that we have things going on in my campaign that are the envy of people that might be having you know, so-called national media moments who would love to have what we have going on here in Iowa.” Booker’s gameplan doesn’t depend on a moment, but it certainly leaves room for one. The van arrived in Iowa City, where Booker was due to record a Political Party Live podcast in front of an audience. “I think I counted like eight ‘moment’ questions,” Booker said of our interview as he got out of the van. He argued that the only reason there’s talk of A Moment is because the press makes it so, and reiterated his belief that it’s the ground game that wins elections. My line of questioning seemed to stick with Booker. “I get the viability question all the time,” the senator told the podcast audience. “I just had a reporter ask me like nine times, about well, how are you gonna—you’re not doing well in the polls, and I’m like, please. This far out, the people winning in the polls were not the people that usually become the nominee.” The next morning at Mount Zion, Booker spotted me and motioned for me to come over. He put his arm around me, and as we walked to the nave, he apologized for putting me on blast during the recording the night before. “I wasn’t trying to attack you yesterday,” he said. It was a small, human moment that captured Booker’s sincerity, and a striking contrast to his refusal to apologize to Biden. Booker speaks with Iowa State Director Mike Frosolone after a day of campaigning in the Grand Ballroom of the Cedar Rapids Double Tree Convention Complex following the Democratic Hall of Fame event on June, 9. | Danny Wilcox Frazier—VII for TIME By luck of the draw, Booker ended up speaking first at the Hall of Fame event. He’d be setting the tone for the day, an opportunity to stand out. As he took the stage to Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” his supporters stood on the far side of the convention hall holding light-up signs. Booker gave a perfectly fine speech. He touched on mass incarceration, abortion, health care and the need for workers to earn a living wage. He told the audience that beating Donald Trump is the floor, the bare minimum of what the nation needs to do, but it was not the ceiling. It was an abbreviated version of his stump speech, but there was nothing that set Booker apart from his Democratic rivals. “This election is not a referendum on one person, in one office. It’s a referendum on who we are, and who we must be to each other and for each other,” he said. “Donald Trump wants this election to be about him, on his terms and his turf. That’s how he wins. We win when we rise. With grace and grit, rise. With patriotism—love for our country and love for one another. We will not stay in the valley of darkness and fear. We will rise. We will lift up our voices, we will raise our sights, we will win this election, and America, we will rise.” He wrapped up before the Oscars-like music had to be played to shoo him off the stage. His moment would have to wait for another day. |
8 premium perfumes we're loving for summer 2019
This summer, upgrade your signature scent from that old bottle ofperfumethat you've had on your dresser since high school (perfume expires, people!).
We're planning on kicking our morning routines up a notch by adding apremium perfumeto our beauty regimes. Whether you're looking for a fresh, floral or sweet scent for the summer months -- and are looking for a great deal -- you can't go wrong when heading to Walmart's fragrance department.
The retailer not only has a massive selection of perfumes for you to choose from (thinkGucciandMarc Jacobs), but a ton are currently marked down. Shop eight of our favorite options below! |
Here's Why I Think Perficient (NASDAQ:PRFT) Is An Interesting Stock
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Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. But as Peter Lynch said inOne Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.'
If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested inPerficient(NASDAQ:PRFT). Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing.
Check out our latest analysis for Perficient
If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS). That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Perficient managed to grow EPS by 4.7% per year, over three years. That might not be particularly high growth, but it does show that per-share earnings are moving steadily in the right direction.
Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. While we note Perficient's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 3.2% to US$511m. That's progress.
The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.
Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of Perficient'sfutureprofits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you cantake a peek at what the professionals are predicting.
It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests. As a result, I'm encouraged by the fact that insiders own Perficient shares worth a considerable sum. Indeed, they hold US$36m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that's only about 3.2% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.
One positive for Perficient is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. Just as polish makes silverware pop, the high level of insider ownership enhances my enthusiasm for this growth. The combination sparks joy for me, so I'd consider keeping the company on a watchlist. Of course, identifying quality businesses is only half the battle; investors need to know whether the stock is undervalued. So you might want to consider thisfreediscounted cashflow valuationof Perficient.
You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here isa list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Elon Musk is building a fleet of reusable rockets
A Falcon 9 rocket booster emerges from the fog to land on a ship in June 2019. SpaceX isnt just launching its third Falcon Heavy rocket tonightits also launching the second one. Two of the three rocket boosters on the US Air Force mission are being re-used after they carried a satellite into space in April. As recently as 2015, reusable rockets were derided as impractical or unnecessary. Now SpaceX has quietly, by Elon Musks standards, made them part of doing business. Plant-based meats sound healthy, but theyre still processed foods Musks space company flies two kinds of rockets: The Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy, which both use nine-engine first-stage boostersthe much-larger Heavy uses three. After most flights, the boosters fly back to Earth , arriving at landing sites or autonomous droneships at sea. Since 2017, SpaceX has flown new boosters 28 times, and has launched re-used, or flight proven, boosters 22 times. In the same period, it has only failed to recover two boosters. SpaceX is likely to use reusable boosters more often in the years ahead. Musk says his newest rockets can be flown as many as 10 times, though none has yet been flown more than three times. Facebooks Libra is spurring central banks interest in issuing cryptocurrency The savings provided by reusability, versus the expendable rockets used by competitors such as United Launch Alliance or Arianespace, remains unknown and hotly debated within the industry. The vehicles do require some refurbishment between launches, and the infrastructure for retrieving the rockets must be included in the final breakdownmost rocket-makers do not maintain a fleet of ocean-going vessels. Still, industry sources suspect that reusability likely saves SpaceX around ten million dollars compared with building an entirely new booster. The Falcon Heavy on its launch pad. The Falcon Heavy on its launch pad. One positive sign for SpaceX: Tonights reusable rockets flew just over 10 weeks ago, one of the faster turn-arounds for a booster so far. (Musk has said he wants to fly the same rocket twice in 24 hours , no word yet on how thats coming.) The company also laid off one in 10 workers earlier this year . This was possible, in part, because the company is manufacturing fewer boosters to fly the same number of missions. Musks company is currently the only rocket-maker to use reusable vehicles, one reason it has dominated the commercial market. Only Jeff Bezos Blue Origin is designing a large rocket booster intended to be reusable. It is unlikely to fly until 2021. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief , our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. Story continues More stories from Quartz: Google and Facebook are circling Africa with huge undersea cables to get millions online The new White House press secretary took on North Korean security for US reporters View comments |
Alphabet commits to data privacy in Toronto smart city master plan
By Tyler Choi
TORONTO (Reuters) - A high-tech smart city project proposed along Toronto's waterfront by Alphabet Inc unit Sidewalk Labs has pledged not to sell advertisers the personal data collected to serve residents and visitors, as part of a 1,500-page master plan released on Monday.
The proposal in Canada's biggest city is designed to provide affordable housing, alleviate traffic and fight climate change and inequality. But privacy advocates have expressed concerns.
The C$3.9 billion development proposes features such as a thermal grid to lower power use, traffic signals that use data to prioritize pedestrians who need more time to cross roads and a self-financing light rail transit that connects the Greater Toronto Area to the waterfront, among other features.
Privacy activists have insisted that Sidewalk Labs must guarantee that personal data used to run the project remains anonymous.
CEO Dan Doctoroff said at a press conference on Monday that Sidewalk Labs will not disclose personal information to third parties without explicit consent and will not sell personal information.
Sidewalk's proposed development encompasses 12 acres of land called the Quayside, and the River District, a 153-acre area that Sidewalk Labs plans tor develop.
Sidewalk Labs said in a statement it plans a C$900 million ($682.54 million) equity investment to support the C$3.9 billion project for "real estate and advanced systems" in Quayside and Villiers West.
The proposal says Sidewalk Toronto will add C$14.2 billion annually to Canada's GDP, C$4.3 billion in tax revenue, and create 44,000 permanent jobs by 2040.
Waterfront Toronto said it will open the plan for public consultation on July 15. Sidewalk Labs said the decision and voting will take place in the fall and winter of 2019/2020, and construction can begin on the Quayside before 2022, if the project receives sufficient public support.
The smart city project sparked controversy with concerns over sensors, which critics say will lead to excessive surveillance and unethical data collection.
The master plan is separated into three volumes, which cover the development plan with estimated economic impacts, proposed innovations for fields like mobility and sustainability, and a commercial proposal for governance and implementation.
A letter from Steve Diamond, chairman of Waterfront Toronto, outlined the group's concerns over the plan. Those include Sidewalk Labs' proposal of an "IDEA District" spanning 159 acres, worries over data privacy and use and how the proposals require future commitments from governments which Waterfront Toronto cannot make.
(Reporting by Tyler Choi; Editing by David Gregorio) |
Canonical backtracks on pulling 32-bit support from Ubuntu Linux
Last week, Ubuntuannouncedit would end support for 32-bit applications, starting with its next release. But the decision was not well-received, especially by the gaming community, and Valve announced plans todrop support for Ubuntu in Steam. In response, Canonical (which produces Ubuntu) has decided to support select 32-bit i386 packages for Ubuntu versions 19.10 and 20.04 LTS.
Rather than pull support altogether, Canonical will enable support for the applications where there's a specific need. It will work with WINE, Ubuntu Studio and gaming communities to address the ultimate end of life of 32-bit libraries. But gamers should still be able to run old applications on newer versions of Ubuntu.
Ina blog post, Canonical said it's been discussing whether or not to support 32-bit x86 internally since 2014. "None of those discussions raised the passions we've seen here," the company wrote, so it assumed it had consensus to drop support in newer versions. Apparently Ubuntu gamers felt otherwise. "Community discussions can sometimes take unexpected turns, and this is one of those," Canonical wrote.
Canonical does warn that running software that gets little testing is inherently risky, and since there are fewer eyes on 32-bit x86 packages, there's an increased chance that they'll develop bugs. While it's a bit of a play-at-your-own risk scenario, at least Linux users with extensive Ubuntu collections won't lose their Steam game libraries. |
Is Colabor Group Inc. (TSE:GCL) A Volatile Stock?
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If you're interested in Colabor Group Inc. (TSE:GCL), then you might want to consider its beta (a measure of share price volatility) in order to understand how the stock could impact your portfolio. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market.
Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market.
See our latest analysis for Colabor Group
Looking at the last five years, Colabor Group has a beta of 1.2. The fact that this is well above 1 indicates that its share price movements have shown sensitivity to overall market volatility. If the past is any guide, we would expect that Colabor Group shares will rise quicker than the markets in times of optimism, but fall faster in times of pessimism. Share price volatility is well worth considering, but most long term investors consider the history of revenue and earnings growth to be more important. Take a look at how Colabor Group fares in that regard, below.
Colabor Group is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of CA$90m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. Relatively few investors can influence the price of a smaller company, compared to a large company. This could explain the high beta value, in this case.
Since Colabor Group tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether GCL is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Colabor Group’s financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following:
1. Financial Health: Are GCL’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out ourfinancial health checks here.
2. Past Track Record: Has GCL been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of GCL's historicalsfor more clarity.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Does Colabor Group Inc. (TSE:GCL) Have A Volatile Share Price?
Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card!
If you're interested in Colabor Group Inc. (TSE:GCL), then you might want to consider its beta (a measure of share price volatility) in order to understand how the stock could impact your portfolio. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second sort is caused by the natural volatility of markets, overall. For example, certain macroeconomic events will impact (virtually) all stocks on the market.
Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta below one is either less volatile than the market, or more volatile but not corellated with the overall market. In comparison a stock with a beta of over one tends to be move in a similar direction to the market in the long term, but with greater changes in price.
Check out our latest analysis for Colabor Group
Given that it has a beta of 1.2, we can surmise that the Colabor Group share price has been fairly sensitive to market volatility (over the last 5 years). Based on this history, investors should be aware that Colabor Group are likely to rise strongly in times of greed, but sell off in times of fear. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether Colabor Group is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below.
Colabor Group is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of CA$90m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. It takes less money to influence the share price of a very small company. This may explain the excess volatility implied by this beta value.
Since Colabor Group has a reasonably high beta, it's worth considering why it is so heavily influenced by broader market sentiment. For example, it might be a high growth stock or have a lot of operating leverage in its business model. In order to fully understand whether GCL is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Colabor Group’s financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following:
1. Financial Health: Are GCL’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out ourfinancial health checks here.
2. Past Track Record: Has GCL been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of GCL's historicalsfor more clarity.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
14 Reasons Why You Should Be Following Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney
If Sydney Sweeney looks familiar, that’s because she is. Over the past few years, the 21-year-old actress has consistently been popping up on our favorite TV shows — The Handmaid’s Tale , Sharp Objects , and now, HBO’s latest drama-filled hit, Euphoria — and will soon appear in the celebrity-packed movie of the summer, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . Plus, remember when Blake Lively admitted she wore Forever 21 on the red carpet and lied about it? That answer came courtesy of Sweeney, who interviewed her for InStyle . (Clearly, this is a woman of many talents.) In short, Sweeney is someone to know, and before she shoots to super stardom, we figured we tell you a little bit about her (and, of course, her amazing style), straight from the actress herself. Whether you’re wrapped up in Cassie’s storyline on Euphoria , have been digging Sweeney's dreamy red carpet dresses, or are dying for any hints about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, check out these facts about the star on-the-rise, ahead. RELATED: Kathryn Newton Is the Breakout Star of Big Little Lies — and She’s Just Getting Started Courtesy 1. She’s Got an Intense Storyline on HBO’s Euphoria “Cassie hasn't really quite figured out who she is yet. She always falls in love with every boyfriend that she has and gets a sexual reputation that she doesn't know how to get out of. There's this whole storyline with nudes that many teenage girls deal with. Like, ‘Do I sent them?’ It’s like a form of currency. She has to figure out how to navigate the world.” 2. And You Probably Recognize Her from Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale “I'm so sad Eden had to have the ending that she did, because right now, I'm seeing all the season three Handmaid's Tale stuff and I'm like, ‘I miss that script so much.’ It was just such a good cast and crew to be a part of. Everyone's so nice.“ 3. Or Netflix’s Everything Sucks! “There was still so much to tell and a beautiful relationship to grow [before it was canceled].” Story continues 4. She Got to Work with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood “I can't share much, but it was one of those moments that you try to make sure you remember and take in every single part of it, because it's definitely a learning experience and very memorable part of my life. I just soaked it all up…and then went home and told my mom all about it!” 5. And Yes, She Loves Titanic “I've always been a huge fan of Leo in Titanic . One, it’s based on a true story, and I always love movies and TV shows that are based off of true stories. I also love the love story, and Kate Winslet's amazing. I love period pieces because I think the costumes and the art decoration is amazing. I've basically memorized that film.” FilmMagic/FilmMagic 6. Playing Cassie Has Helped Her Evolve Her Style “ Euphoria was a lot of fun wardrobe-wise because I actually got to wear clothing that I would regularly wear. Each character has such unique style — like Jules' style is unbelievable, and I don't even know how to describe it. She just pulls it off amazingly. Maddy's style is so fun, and she wears this Louis Vuitton workout set that I die for. Then [my character] Cassie, she loves pastel colors, so she wears a lot of baby blues and baby pinks. Baby blue is my favorite color, but I used to never like pink, and after wearing pink as Cassie, I've been adopting pink into my own closet. I've found items that I personally would like to wear more of, and I've learned more about my own style now through Cassie.” 7. But Nothing Compares to What She Wore on The Handmaid’s Tale “I got to work with Ane Crabtree, who is the most talented costume designer I've worked with. She just puts so much work and detail into every single piece that she makes, and from my undergarments to my socks to my hat, everything was handmade and thought through 150 percent. I honestly felt like I was stepping into Eden because of the wardrobe. She even built a corset for me, for my boobs, to make them smaller.” 8. Her Once Upon a Time In Hollywood Costumes Are a Hint “ It’s set in the ‘70s, which was a lot of fun because it was very hippie. I don't really know if I can say much about my character's clothes because it might give away some storyline. I'd also love to be in something more like in the ‘20s or ‘40s one day — really dive into period pieces — because it’s been a lot of fun.” 9. She’s a Big Gossip Girl Fan (as Evident by Her InStyle Interview With Blake Lively ) “Serena and Blair from Gossip Girl got to wear such awesome outfits and being on a show like that, where you're getting to wear incredible designers all the time, would be a lot of fun.” 10. She’s Still Figuring Out Her Signature Style “I honestly don't think I have one specific style. One day I could be wearing a workout track suit and another day I could be wearing overalls and a tank top. Or I love a slip with corset. It just honestly depends on where I am in the world and what I'm doing and how I'm feeling that day.” 11. Right Now, She's Loving Suits “I never thought I would be [into them] until recently. I want to wear fun, colorful suits. I want to wear them with cool corsets, or [suit] dresses. I love them all.” TheStewartofNY 12. She Finds Outfit Inspiration on Instagram “I go to my explore page and, because I look so many outfits and style icons, it's basically become just a way to look at clothing.” 13. She Isn’t Afraid to Ask For Career Advice “I've been able to work with so many people so I love asking advice from as many as possible. Whenever I see Amy [Adams, from Sharp Objects ] we always talk, and also Elisabeth [Moss]. They're always there for me, which is crazy to even think.” 14. No, She’s Not Slowing Down “I have another movie that I'm going to start filming this summer. I can't say what it is, but I'm very, very excited for this film because it's a completely different character than I've ever played before. I get to speak a whole other language and I get to film in a really awesome place in the world that I've never been to.” |
Judge allows Missouri's only abortion clinic to stay open for at least five more days
By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - A Missouri judge ruled on Monday the state's only abortion clinic can remain open for at least five more days, but he ordered Planned Parenthood to take its fight against closure to a state arbiter. Missouri health officials on Friday refused to renew the St. Louis clinic's license on the grounds that it failed to meet their standards. But Circuit Court Judge Michael Stelzer last week left in place an injunction blocking its closure. On Monday, Stelzer ruled the clinic can stay open until Friday but ruled that the case must go before the Administrative Hearing Commission, which serves as an independent arbiter in disputes between state agencies and individuals or groups. If Missouri officials succeed in closing the clinic, the state would become the only U.S. state without a legal abortion facility. Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States. Missouri is one of 12 states to pass laws restricting abortion access this year, some aimed at provoking a U.S. Supreme Court review of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that recognized a woman's constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy. The legal battle in Missouri over the fate of the clinic, which is called Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood, began on May 24 when Missouri's Republican governor, Mike Parson, signed a bill banning abortion beginning in the eighth week of pregnancy. Stelzer ruled Planned Parenthood, the national women's healthcare and abortion provider, had failed to exhaust its remedies before administrative officials and that, as a result, the case should not be heard in state court. The clinic will have to shut its doors if the commission does not act before the end of business on Friday, Planned Parenthood said in a statement. "The terrifying reality is that access is hanging on by a thread with a narrowing timeline," Dr. Colleen McNicholas, a physician at the clinic, said in a statement provided by Planned Parenthood. Story continues A representative for Parson declined to immediately comment on the judge's latest ruling. State officials have said one of their conditions for renewing the clinic's license was to be allowed to interview several physicians who were involved in what they said were multiple life-threatening abortions at the clinic. Planned Parenthood officials have said they do not directly employ all the clinic's staff and cannot force certain health workers to give interviews. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank McGurty and Cynthia Osterman) |
Missouri judge allows abortions to continue, for now
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on Monday ruled that the state's lone abortion clinic can continue performing abortions through Friday but kicked the clinic's lawsuit out of court. St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer extended a preliminary injunction he previously issued in order to give a Planned Parenthood affiliate in St. Louis time to take a licensing fight before an administrative panel. Stelzer ruled the clinic has not yet exhausted its options outside of court to handle the dispute over its license to perform abortions. The state health department on Friday declined to renew the clinic's abortion license. The judge directed Planned Parenthood to take the issue up with the Administrative Hearing Commission, a panel that typically handles disputes between state agencies and businesses or individuals. "We will continue this fight in the Administrative Hearing Commission, and we won't stop until every person can access the care they need when and where they need it," said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, an OB-GYN at Reproductive Health Services at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region. She said in a statement that if the commission doesn't act by Friday, "abortion access in the state of Missouri will be gone." Republican Gov. Mike Parson's spokesman Steele Shippy said the judge's ruling affirms the state's contention that the licensing dispute should be heard by the commission. "We look forward to trying the merits of this case in front of the AHC in our ongoing effort to ensure Planned Parenthood is following our state's health laws which are necessary to protect women's safety," he said in a statement. Cases before the commission can be appealed in court. The fate of the clinic has drawn national attention because Missouri would become the first state since 1974, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide, without a functioning abortion clinic if it closes. The battle also comes as abortion rights supporters raise concerns that conservative-led states are attempting to end abortion through tough new laws and tighter regulation. Story continues The state has said concerns about the clinic arose from inspections in March. Among the problems Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services investigators have cited were three "failed abortions" requiring additional surgeries and another that led to life-threatening complications for the mother, The Associated Press reported last week, citing a now-sealed court filing. Planned Parenthood has said Missouri is using the licensing process as a weapon aimed at halting abortions. Missouri is among several conservative states, emboldened by new conservative justices on the Supreme Court, to pass new restrictions on abortions in the hope that the high court will eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. Parson signed legislation on May 24 to ban abortions at or beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest. The number of abortions performed in Missouri has declined every year for the past decade, reaching a low of 2,910 last year. Of those, an estimated 1,210 occurred at eight weeks or less of pregnancy, according to health department data. More Missouri women are getting abortions in Kansas than in Missouri. Information from the state of Kansas shows that about 3,300 of the 7,000 abortions performed there last year involved Missouri residents. Kansas has an abortion clinic in Overland Park, a Kansas City suburb just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the state line. The nearest clinic to St. Louis is in Granite City, Illinois, less than 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. Illinois does not track the home states of women seeking abortions so it's unknown how many Missouri residents have been treated there. |
Why Caesars Entertainment Shares Jumped 17.4% Today
Shares of gaming giantCaesars Entertainment(NASDAQ: CZR) jumped as much as 17.4% in trading Monday after the company agreed to be acquired byEldorado Resorts(NASDAQ: ERI). Shares were still trading up 14.4% at 2 p.m. EDT.
Eldorado will pay $12.75 per share for Caesars, which amounts to an $8.58 billion buyout price. Payment will be made in the form of $7.2 billion in cash and 77 million Eldorado shares. The total deal including debt is worth $17.3 billion. As part of the acquisition,VICI Properties(NYSE: VICI) will buy $3.2 billion of real estate from the combined company, which will help pay down some of the debt.
This is clearly a very highly leveraged buyout, even with the VICI Properties acquisition, and makes Eldorado a new power player on the Las Vegas Strip. But we've seen leveraged gaming buyouts go bad, and if the economy slows in coming years, Eldorado may feel it first in the gaming industry.
Not surprisingly, Eldorado's stock has fallen 13.2% in trading today because investors now see it as a much higher-risk company with the Caesars announcement. Since it's only a small portion of the deal total, I don't think Eldorado's stock price will be a problem, unless the free fall continues.
What will be more important for investors to watch is the underlying financing of new Eldorado debt and any other necessary financing approvals from related parties. They're what could really derail a deal and potentially give back most of Caesars' gains today.
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Travis Hoiumhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. |
How Has Guardian Capital Group Limited's (TSE:GCG.A) Earnings Fared Against The Long Term Trend
Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card!
Assessing Guardian Capital Group Limited's (TSE:GCG.A) performance as a company requires looking at more than just a years' earnings data. Below, I will run you through a simple sense check to build perspective on how Guardian Capital Group is doing by comparing its most recent earnings with its historical trend, in addition to the performance of its capital markets industry peers.
View our latest analysis for Guardian Capital Group
GCG.A's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 March 2019) of CA$56m has declined by -1.5% compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 9.0%, indicating the rate at which GCG.A is growing has slowed down. Why could this be happening? Well, let's look at what's transpiring with margins and if the whole industry is experiencing the hit as well.
In terms of returns from investment, Guardian Capital Group has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 8.9% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 5.9% is below the CA Capital Markets industry of 9.3%, indicating Guardian Capital Group's are utilized less efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Guardian Capital Group’s debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 8.2% to 6.9%. This correlates with an increase in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio rising from 15% to 21% over the past 5 years.
While past data is useful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Companies that are profitable, but have unpredictable earnings, can have many factors influencing its business. You should continue to research Guardian Capital Group to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GCG.A’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GCG.A’s outlook.
2. Financial Health: Are GCG.A’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out ourfinancial health checks here.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 March 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Ryan Reynolds Wrote An Elaborate Fake Amazon Review For His Own Gin Brand
Photo credit: Steven Ferdman / Stringer and Getty Images / Ryan Reynolds and Twitter From Delish Ryan Reynolds is really into Aviation Gin . So much so that he bought the brand back in 2018. Now at the helm, he does so much more than just attend board meetings and work with buyers. He also writes elaborate fake Amazon reviews for his own product. Isn't that how most business owners...conduct business? On Saturday, the Deadpool actor shared the glowing commentary on Twitter, writing, "I loved this review of Aviation Gin someone sent me after I wrote it." Oh, Ry. Champ Nightengale (aka Reynold's alias) gave the Batch Distilled Gin a five star rating and captioned his response "Love this product...BUT..." What's the BUT? "As soon as I tried the Gin I knew right away, it was amazing," he wrote. "It was the smoothest Gin I'd ever tried and went down really easily." Then things got weird. In his very, uh, detailed response, Mr. Nightengale recounted the wild night out that followed. "I wish they'd provide some kind of warning about how much you're supposed to have," he continued. "I had a lot...and after a while I felt really great. Eventually, that bubbly and illusory sense of well-being turned into a bit of a blur." That blur turned into the fictional Champ waking up in Seattle (he's from Coral Gables, FL) with his new wife Linda (he doesn't remember meeting). I loved this review of Aviation Gin someone sent me after I wrote it. pic.twitter.com/YZN4KI0ATD - Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) June 22, 2019 Basically, the evening had some Hangover -esque shenanigans, and we really gotta commend Reynolds on the creativity. But also, who's down for a round of Aviation? Sounds like a good time. ('You Might Also Like',) Crave Carbs? We Created This 21-Day Keto Plan Just for You Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Week 29 Insanely Delicious Vodka Cocktails |
How Has Guardian Capital Group Limited's (TSE:GCG.A) Performed Against The Industry?
Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card!
Understanding Guardian Capital Group Limited's (TSE:GCG.A) performance as a company requires examining more than earnings from one point in time. Today I will take you through a basic sense check to gain perspective on how Guardian Capital Group is doing by evaluating its latest earnings with its longer term trend as well as its industry peers' performance over the same period.
View our latest analysis for Guardian Capital Group
GCG.A's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 March 2019) of CA$56m has declined by -1.5% compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 9.0%, indicating the rate at which GCG.A is growing has slowed down. What could be happening here? Let's examine what's transpiring with margins and whether the entire industry is facing the same headwind.
In terms of returns from investment, Guardian Capital Group has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 8.9% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 5.9% is below the CA Capital Markets industry of 9.3%, indicating Guardian Capital Group's are utilized less efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Guardian Capital Group’s debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 8.2% to 6.9%. This correlates with an increase in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio rising from 15% to 21% over the past 5 years.
While past data is useful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Companies that are profitable, but have unpredictable earnings, can have many factors impacting its business. You should continue to research Guardian Capital Group to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GCG.A’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GCG.A’s outlook.
2. Financial Health: Are GCG.A’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out ourfinancial health checks here.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 March 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Gold Price Prediction – Prices Soar into Extreme Overbought Levels
Gold prices continued to break out on Monday, as the US is poised to place new sanction on Iran, creating further tension. Geopolitical risks are on the rise, paving the way for higher gold prices. In Europe, German reported a disappointing German IFO survey, but the euro rallied as the dollar remains out of favor.
Gold prices surged higher on Monday and tested 6-year highs near the May 2013 peak at 1,433. Support on the yellow metal is seen near the 10-day moving average at 1,359. Momentum remains positive as the MACD (moving average convergence divergence) histogram prints in the black with an upward sloping trajectory which points to higher prices. Prices are overbought. The relative strength index (RSI) surged higher reflecting accelerating positive momentum. The current reading on the RSI is 86, well above the overbought trigger level of 70 which could foreshadow a correction. This is the second higher reading on the RSI in the past 10-years, which shows how quickly the market has accelerated.
The euro continued to move higher on Monday as the dollar failed to gain traction despite a weak German IFO survey. The IFO survey showed that the current assessment edged to 100.8 from 100.7 which is a 2-year low. The future expectations sub-component declined to 94.3 from 95.2 which was worse than expected. This is just above the 7-year low made in February at 94. US 10-year bonds are hovering near the 2% mark, as traders continue to price in multiple trade cuts in 2019. European yields are also moving lower but, they are already negative making it difficult for further declines. The German 10-year yield is -0.31 basis points, which means that you need to pay the German government 31-basis points to invest your money in a German 10-year bond.
Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire
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Here's How 2020 Democrats' Student Loan Debt Proposals Compare
Elizabeth Warren and Julían Castro want to help pay off student loan debt. Bernie Sanders wants to forgive it entirely. Student loan forgiveness has become a hot topic in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, with two of the top liberals putting forward competing plans. Here’s a closer look at the proposals. What are the plans? Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pauses while speaking during a forum on Friday, June 21, 2019, in Miami. | Brynn Anderson—AP Building on his plans to make community college tuition-and-fee free in his 2017 College for All proposal, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled a new plan on Monday to cancel all student loan debt in America , partnering with Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. On Monday, the group announced a new proposal that would relieve $1.6 trillion of debt for approximately 45 million people , regardless of income, including all private and graduate school debt as well. Sanders’ support for this latest plan represents an escalation in his policy arms race with Warren, who released a plan in April that would eliminate up to $50,000 of student loan debt for people earning less than $100,000 per year. In total, Warren’s proposal would cancel approximately $640 billion of student debt for approximately 42 million people . At a press conference on Monday morning, Sanders cut off a reporter who tried to ask a question about Warren’s proposal. Julian Castro, the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and San Antonio mayor, has also called for partial student loan debt relief as a part of his larger education plan. On his campaign website, he has said that monthly payments should be capped at $0 until borrowers are earning 250% of the federal poverty line. Sanders and Castro have both said they would aim to make public college, community college, and trade schools / technical and vocational programs tuition-free. The Sanders-backed bill would allocate $48 billion per year for this purpose. Warren, by contrast, has written that she would eliminate tuition and fees at two- and four-year public colleges. Story continues In addition, the Sanders bill would triple work study, expand Pell grants, and allocate $1.3 billion per year for low-income students at historically black colleges and universities. By comparison, Castro’s education plan would allocate more than double that amount to HBCUs, at $3 billion annually . How would they pay for it? Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks during the North American Building Trades Unions Conference at the Washington Hilton April 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. | Zach Gibson—Getty Images “Our proposal, which costs $2.2 trillion over 10 years, will be fully paid for by a tax on Wall Street speculation,” Sanders said at a press conference on Monday morning. The proposed taxes are a 0.5% tax on stock trades, 0.1% on bond trades, and 0.005% on derivative trades. Warren’s campaign estimates that her plans for debt relief and tuition-free college would cost $1.25 trillion over ten years. She would aim to pay for it with an “ultra-millionaire” tax : an annual 2% tax on wealth above $50 million, with an additional 1 percent on wealth exceeding $1 billion. Castro’s education plan — which includes other initiatives including universal pre-K, modernization of schools, and a federal tax credit to increase teacher pay — would cost approximately $1.5 trillion. His campaign told the Texas Tribune that he would pay for it by replacing the Republican tax overhaul of 2017 with an unspecified “more fair tax plan.” What do voters think? Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro speaks at a campaign appearance at Bell Gardens High School, in Los Angeles county, on March 4, 2019 in Bell Gardens, California. | Mario Tama—Getty Images Warren’s plan is popular, with a Politico/Morning Consult poll indicating that a majority of registered voters supported the idea, when it was presented to them with no attribution. It remains unclear how much approval the Sanders or Castro plans currently have with voters. |
Is Now The Time To Look At Buying Signature Bank (NASDAQ:SBNY)?
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Signature Bank (NASDAQ:SBNY), operating in the financial services industry based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $136.56 and falling to the lows of $113.81. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Signature Bank's current trading price of $117.12 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Signature Bank’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
Check out our latest analysis for Signature Bank
Good news, investors! Signature Bank is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $149.82, but it is currently trading at US$117 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Signature Bank’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of Signature Bank, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 6.3%, which doesn’t help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesn’t appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for the company, at least in the near term.
Are you a shareholder?Even though growth is relatively muted, since SBNY is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.
Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on SBNY for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its future outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy SBNY. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.
Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Signature Bank. You can find everything you need to know about Signature Bank inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Signature Bank, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
US Standard Products Proudly Announces the Release of Post-Secondary Scholarship Program
US Standard Products is dedicated to building a stronger, more united community and abetter world for those individuals and their families who are less fortunate. A major component of their commitment to charitable giving is to support deserving individuals with post-secondary academic aid
ENGLEWOOD, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2019 /US Standard Products, an industry leader in the distribution of high performance and safer chemicals, is honored to unveil their new scholarship program which is set to pair two deserving post-secondary students with individual financial support for education. The US Standard Products Scholarship Program will be awarded to two (2) worthy students totaled at $500 USD per scholarship winner.
The US Standard Products Scholarship Program is intended for relief of financial burden for post-secondary students. The scholarship program is exclusively available to American citizens who are currently enrolled in an American post-secondary institution as of Fall 2019. All years and programs are eligible for application, regardless of field of study.
If you meet the above criteria, US Standard Products will gladly accept your application which will consist of a 500-word essay and proof of enrollment to an American post-secondary institution or proof of acceptance at an American post-secondary institution. Suitable candidates are asked to answer the following question in their 500-word essay: "What practices can you follow to keep your workplace safe?"
To apply for the US Standard Products Scholarship Program please complete and submit your applicationonlineprior to the deadline, August 31st, 2019.
Application submissions will be eligible starting July 1, 2019 until the deadline, with the scholarship winner selection announcement taking place on September 3rd, 2019.
If you fit the eligibility requirements stated above, US Standard Products welcomes you to begin the application process.
For more information regarding US Standard Products Scholarship Program please visit:http://usstandardproductsscholarship.com/us-standard-products-scholarship/
About US Standard Products:US Standard Products provides American industries with the highest quality products available and strive to give back to the less fortunate communities throughout the United States. Everything that is sold through US Standard Products passes through a rigorous testing system to ensure that all products are effective and as cost efficient as possible. US Standard Products is committed to supporting our troops, our nation's veterans, and to children struggling against handicaps. A portion of revenues are designated for charitable giving to US Standard Products worthyCharitable Partners.
For more information regarding US Standard Products please visit:https://usstandardproducts.com/.
CONTACT:
US Standard Productsinfo@usstandardproductsscholarship.com
SOURCE:US Standard Products
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/549703/US-Standard-Products-Proudly-Announces-the-Release-of-Post-Secondary-Scholarship-Program |
Jason Rubin: Oculus Quest is seeing 'console-like usage'
Jason Rubin: Oculus Quest is seeing 'console-like usage' Oculus Quest software sales have topped $5 million, with user resistance to VR dropping thanks to the Quest's standalone form-factor. Mike Futter , Mon, 24 Jun 2019 19:40:00 Oculus has come a long way since its booth full of chairs and televisions at E3 2014 . The Facebook-owned VR company has fully embraced standing and movement in VR, an evolution from Rift’s “seated-only” beginnings. Five years after a terrifying Alien: Isolation demo (that never materialized into a full VR experience), Superhot’s outstanding first showing, and Lucky’s Tale’s humble beginnings, the Oculus booth is a tribute to full-body, full-motion VR. Large plexiglass enclosures exposed to the show floor put players on stage for anyone walking by to observe. The chairs are gone, as are the large televisions. Now, a small PC monitor operated by a demo guide is used to load up any number of previews on hardware. Players are given room to move around the space and interact with the immersive virtual worlds. “We need more space now,” said Jason Rubin, Facebook vice president of special gaming strategies told GameDaily at E3 2019. “With these inside out tracked headsets, even with the corded Rift S, more space is necessary, because you can move more. Back in those days, we didn't have three external trackers, we had two. So, you had to face forward, and you could only go a couple meters by a couple meters.” This year, Oculus was still showing off seated experiences --like Phantom , a game in which you row and shoot from a “tactical kayak.” It’s a strange pitch, especially if you see someone flailing wildly without understanding what they’re playing. “It was one of the weirdest pitches I've gotten,” Rubin said. “And it turns out it's awesome, because.. your brain just goes, yeah, I'm there. This is one of those where even if you're not a kayaker, because I'm not a big kayaker, it just works. You just forget the fact that you're not on the water. The locomotion just works. And again, you're seated.” I had the chance to preview two games designed for the Oculus Rift S, the company’s modest update to the original Oculus Rift. Unlike the original consumer headset released in March 2016, the Rift S does not require external tracking sensors. This means that players can move and turn. They are limited by the Rift S’ cable, as the new version is still tethered to a PC. Story continues “It's evolutionary. It's not revolutionary,” Rubin explained. “Think about consoles. You can update the console, smaller form factor, lower costs, all of that. If it plays the same software, same ecosystem. It's a different device, but it's the same ecosystem. PlayStation 5 may play software that you can't play on 4. That's a new ecosystem. This is the same ecosystem.” My first demo on the Rift S was an upcoming game from Sanzaru, Asgard’s Wrath. I immediately started getting God of War -meets- Skyrim vibes, as I walked into a tavern to meet the local color, including the trickster god Loki. The demo picked up after the fledgeling god protagonist slays a kraken in battle. Loki has taken an interest in the new deity, offering to counsel him on the ways of godhood. While we’re certain this will go bad in the long-run, the charming and mischievous god was on our side (for now). He tasked me with helping a shieldmaiden seek revenge on Tyr, who killed her brother. Source: Oculus Asgard’s Wrath isn’t quite open world, instead offering large hubs to explore. Each has their own human protagonist, puzzles to solve, and monsters to fight. The first step in aiding the shieldmaiden was figuring out how to inhabit her body and interact with the physical world. Once I had it solved, Asgard’s Wrath took on elements of SNES classic Actraiser. The fledgeling god can move between towering god mode—which allows the player to use powers like mutating animals into warrior companions—and human avatar mode, which is where I was able to explore the island. The blend of puzzles and action felt balanced for the 20 minutes or so I played, and using a direct movement option (rather than standard VR teleporting) presented only the most minor vestibular discomfort. This in itself is evidence of the growth of VR game development in the years since Oculus Rift first became available for pre-release demonstration. The second game I played, After the Fall from Arizona Sunshine developer Vertigo, I stepped into the shoes of an ice age survivor. Set in California in 2005, After the Fall is a cooperative zombie shooter. Instead of the typical zombie outbreak, the game’s “Snowbreed” are born from drugs developed during the 1980s. Source: Oculus Players can team up with a friend to scavenge civilization’s remains. A developer jumped in with me to show that the game was co-operative, but largely stepped back in an attempt to make me feel like I was a “natural.” While it was a strange demo decision, the game itself felt like a great evolution of Arizona Sunshine’s formula. After the Fall’s unique weapons, like an Iron Man-style, wrist-mounted rocket launcher were great fun to use. The one drawback was a platform limitation. After the Fall not only encourages, but requires 360 awareness. The Rift S is still a tethered head-mounted display, and I felt like the person handling my demo was constantly rearranging my cables like a bridal train as if he were my Maid of Honor in a zombie-themed wedding. Time in room-scale VR with the Oculus Rift S drives home the power of Quest’s untethered technology. After the Fall is the kind of game I want to play without having to worry about whether I’ll be tripping over cords. According to Rubin, Quest is catching on because of low barriers to entry and reasonable pricing. Accessibility has driven the Quest to achieve more than $5 million in software sales in the system’s first two weeks. Before Quest, walking into an electronics retailer looking for a virtual reality HMD was probably a disappointment, especially if you didn’t already have a capable PC. Your options before Quest for sub-$1,000 startup costs were PlayStation VR or Oculus Go. Despite the rapid adoption of Quest, Oculus still sees a two-product future. Quest isn’t a replacement for tethered VR. The software investment strategy mirrors that. “From Oculus's standpoint, we're going to push [developers] to make something that works on Quest and then looks as good as it can be on PC,” Rubin explained. “At the end of the day, the glory of VR is a lot in the being in a different world and doing different things, and for most people, it's not the graphic fidelity, right? So, something like Beat Saber could easily have come first on Quest. It wouldn't have looked any different than it does today. Vader Immortal is another great example. Came out first on Quest, because they focused on that for the launch. It's coming out on Rift. It's going to look so much more beautiful on Rift, because the PC is more powerful. It's the same experience, and you'll love it on either one when you play it. Phantom , I'm sure at some point will come out on PC, but it was built for Quest.” Rubin says that developers are free to focus solely on Quest or Rift S. It’s just that Oculus may not fund those projects right now. “I will not categorically say no to anything,” Rubin stated. “Some developer might come in and go, ‘Listen, we think the future of VR is this type of title. It won't work on Quest.’ Let's just pretend for a second it's entirely physics-based, and physics is a CPU-intensive process, and at least today, Quest can't do it. And we think about it, and we go, ‘That's genius. We'll fund that for PC,’ because if it works on PC, someday it's going to work on Quest, and that pushes VR forward. So, that's the title I would do for PC.” The same is true of Quest-focused titles. If a developer can evidence why it focusing exclusively on the Quest is the right decision for that project (and not just because of preference), Rubin will give it consideration for funding. Oculus has always heavily curated its software offerings. Adult content has typically been off-limits, for instance. During E3, Oculus made waves by shutting down the ability for Virtual Desktop users to stream content from Steam VR to the Quest. It has been largely seen as an anti-consumer move to protect Oculus’ own catalog. Rubin offered a different explanation, though declined to speak specifically about Virtual Desktop. Source: Oculus “We've made a decision on all of our platforms to curate to a certain extent, and keep a certain quality bar,” he told us. “If we didn't do that, even on the Rift—which the curation is pretty light on—you'd have things that just don't work at all, or they run at a few frames a second, because the developer was like, ‘I'm done. I can't optimize this. I'm putting it out.’ And it's uncomfortable. And it doesn't work. There are other things that would work on some people's PCs, but not other people's PCs, because they didn't want to QA it, or whatever. And so, we had to set a bar. On Quest, we've set a higher bar of curation than we set on Rift, and it's not because we're elitist and we don't like indies. That all is nonsense. Beat Saber is the indie-est of all indie titles. We've spent a lot of money on indies. In fact, 90% of what we ship is indie.” While Rift is often thought of as a PC peripheral, Quest’s standalone nature has created a different mindset and usage pattern. It doesn’t demand the level of tinkering that PC users are often used to and tolerant of. “It's about having a consumer pick this up—like they do a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo—knowing it's going to work, it's going to be a reasonable quality, and it's a reasonable price point,” Rubin explained. “And so, everything we do, from the day that we take a submission, to every update, needs to maintain that quality bar. If something's not working for a lot of users, not cool. If something is making users uncomfortable, not cool. If somebody, and this has happened, submits a video app, and the videos are all pretty cool, and then they put it in the store, and they update it with things that are against our policies, we'll make a stink about it. If somebody submits something in the store, and the app is fine, and the icon is fine, and then they change the icon to have some... whatever... to attract your eyeballs, yeah, we'll make a stink about it. “It's the right thing to do for consumers. It's also—and this is the hardest thing for people to understand—the right thing to do for developers, because what we're seeing with this device is console-like usage. That's hours of usage that you would have on a console. And we're also seeing buying habits that you would see on a console. And I believe that that is largely because everything's good. And so, every time something boils up, ask yourself, was this a high quality thing, or was it in other ways detrimental to the ecosystem, harming the consumer, or harming the developer ecosystem? Not an easy business to be in, but that's the answer.” Zynga celebrates Farmville's 10th anniversary Roberta Williams' legacy honored with $250,000 scholarship and internship program Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield to lead new PUBG Corp. studio Striking Distance Brazil Indie Games (BIG) Festival 2019 kicks off in Sao Paulo View comments |
How Financially Strong Is Formula One Group (NASDAQ:FWON.K)?
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Small-cap and large-cap companies receive a lot of attention from investors, but mid-cap stocks like Formula One Group (NASDAQ:FWON.K), with a market cap of US$8.7b, are often out of the spotlight. While they are less talked about as an investment category, mid-cap risk-adjusted returns have generally been better than more commonly focused stocks that fall into the small- or large-cap categories. This article will examine FWON.K’s financial liquidity and debt levels to get an idea of whether the company can deal with cyclical downturns and maintain funds to accommodate strategic spending for future growth. Note that this commentary is very high-level and solely focused on financial health, so I suggest you dig deeper yourselfinto FWON.K here.
Check out our latest analysis for Formula One Group
FWON.K has shrunk its total debt levels in the last twelve months, from US$5.6b to US$5.2b , which includes long-term debt. With this reduction in debt, FWON.K's cash and short-term investments stands at US$372m , ready to be used for running the business. Moreover, FWON.K has produced US$313m in operating cash flow during the same period of time, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 6.0%, indicating that FWON.K’s debt is not covered by operating cash.
At the current liabilities level of US$629m, it appears that the company may not have an easy time meeting these commitments with a current assets level of US$566m, leading to a current ratio of 0.9x. The current ratio is the number you get when you divide current assets by current liabilities.
With debt reaching 96% of equity, FWON.K may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is not uncommon for a mid-cap company given that debt tends to be lower-cost and at times, more accessible. But since FWON.K is currently unprofitable, there’s a question of sustainability of its current operations. Running high debt, while not yet making money, can be risky in unexpected downturns as liquidity may dry up, making it hard to operate.
FWON.K’s high cash coverage means that, although its debt levels are high, the company is able to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate cash flow. However, its low liquidity raises concerns over whether current asset management practices are properly implemented for the mid-cap. Keep in mind I haven't considered other factors such as how FWON.K has been performing in the past. You should continue to research Formula One Group to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for FWON.K’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor FWON.K’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is FWON.K worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether FWON.K is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Disney and Soros among super-rich urging US government: tax us more
More than a dozen prominent US billionaires are calling for a new government tax on extreme wealth to help combat income inequality, provide funding for climate change initiatives and range of public health issues.
Related:Bernie Sanders confronts Walmart bosses and urges $15 an hour minimum wage
Addressed to “2020 presidential candidates”, billionaire signatories to the letter include financier George Soros, heiresses Liesel and Regan Pritzker, Abigail Disney and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes.
The letter calls for a raise in federal wealth taxes to “substantially fund” new investment in sectors including clean energy, universal childcare, student loan debt relief, improvements in infrastructure, and tax relief for low-income families.
“America has a moral, ethical and economic responsibility to tax our wealth more,” the 19 signatories to the letter urged.
“Instituting a wealth tax is in the interest of our republic,” they added, arguing that a moderate tax on the wealthiest Americans enjoys the support of a majority of Americans. It is estimated the tax could generate nearly $3tn in revenue over 10 years.
The proposal is likely to draw broad support from Democratic candidates, among whom the idea of an extreme wealth tax has gained traction. Senator Elizabeth Warren has proposed a 2% tax on assets of $50m or more in assets – including stocks, bonds, yachts, cars and art – and a further 1% on assets over $1bn.
Warren estimates such a tax would affect 75,000 families, and raise $2.75tn over 10 years.
In a related move on Monday, Senator Bernie Sanders announced a plan to erase $1.6tn in outstanding student loan debt. Dubbed “The College for All Act”, the cost of releasing 45 million Americans from higher education debt would be met by new taxes on Wall Street transactions, not from the personal income of billionaires.
The proposal goes further than Warren’s student loanplan, which caps debt forgiveness at $50,000 and offers no relief to those earning more than $250,000.
The initiatives are established on the same premise: an inequitable distribution of wealth exacerbated by inequitable tax burden across the income spectrum.
The letter to presidential candidates follows public worries from America’s very rich about growing inequality.
Warren Buffett, founder of Berkshire Hathaway, published an essay in 2011 noting that his effective tax rate was “actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office”. That prompted the idea of a “Buffett Rule”, supported by then president Obama, mandating that millionaires pay at least a 30% rate.
In April,Ray Dalio,the founder of Bridgewater, the world’s biggest hedge fund, expressed fears about the income inequality gap.
The yawning gap between rich and poor is a “national emergency” that poses an “existential risk for the US”, Dalio wrote in an8,000-word blogpost on LinkedIn.
“I believe that all good things taken to an extreme can be self-destructive and that everything must evolve or die. This is now true for capitalism,” he wrote.
The JP Morgan bossJamie Dimon, investment chiefWarren Buffettand Blackstone chairmanStephen Schwarzmanhave all publicly worried that income inequality has become an impediment to a functioning society.
A recentanalysisof aFederal Reserve reportfound that the wealthiest 1% of Americans saw their net worth grow by $21tn over the past 30 years, while the wealth of the bottom 50% fell by $900bn. |
15 unusual ways to eat watermelon
Watermelon is undoubtedly everyone's favorite summer fruit. Of course, watermelon season peaks during summer (aka May through September) so it makes sense that the refreshing treat takes the lead for possibly the most popular, healthiest and sweetest snack of the season.
Plus, watermelon gives off a plethora ofhealth benefitsbecause of its magical antioxidant properties. The fruit is composed of nearly92% water, so not only does watermelon keep you hydrated, but it keeps you full longer too. Need we say more?
Take a look at these unique watermelon recipes:
But did you about these unusually delicious ways to eat (and drink) watermelon? Watermelon kegs, popsicles, pizza, hummus are all the rage the summer. You name it -- and there's probably an easy watermelon alternative for it.
At this point, we're basically a walking ad for watermelon -- and we don't hate it.
Related: Must-have gadgets for summer cooking |
Is Facebook's Libra Going to Disrupt the Payments Space?
Facebook FB expects its Libra to launch in the first half of 2020. Libra is a global digital currency that can be used to make payments on Facebook and WhatsApp and will be contained in its digital wallet called Calibra that will also be launched soon. Calibra is also a subsidiary company based in Switzerland that will develop products and services based on Libra (oh why doesn’t that inspire confidence!?). Facebook hopes that other companies will build their own wallets atop the Libra network and its currency will eventually be used more broadly.
The company’s focus seems to be on underdeveloped economies and the “unbanked” although it will be interesting to see what companies/organizations it intends to partner with in these regions, because this group will typically not be booking Ubers or buying sandwiches. The inability to bring value will actually make it a hard sell in these regions, especially because it will disrupt local players and reduce the government’s regulatory control over the banking system, particularly because of Facebook’s disregard for regulatory requirements (the company broadly tested WhatsApp payments in India without required approvals and didn’t say it would be stopping in July until it was required to appear before the apex court).
There are other regulatory problems, as well. Libra for instance will facilitate payments between individuals irrespective of whether they are criminals or not and irrespective of whether there are sanctions on them or not (as in Iran’s case at the moment). Facebook needs to offer very good proof that it won’t facilitate terrorism. This will be very hard to do considering the way it handles the social network.
The currency will be controlled and transactions vetted by a non-profit called the Libra Association operating out of Switzerland (a low-tax or no-tax zone). So users have to trust this group to grant necessary permissions and maintain proper records and balances. Facebook’s list of partners numbers 17 right now, and doesn’t include banks. But the company plans to change all that.
At launch, it will have -- according to David Marcus, the man behind the initiative at Facebook -- 100 partners including banks, those which stand to lose the most from all of this. And Facebook, which will gain the most from the initiative by virtue of its network, will have a single vote and so will be able to say that it alone isn’t responsible for any problems with Libra.
It’s hard to figure out what theory Facebook will peddle to banks about how good this will be for them, or if it will simply say that they can’t afford to not be a part of this, given Facebook’s reach and the success of WeChat’s competing model for payments within the chat app in China.
While the currency will literally remove a lot of middlemen (banks), it still needs to have banks in the loop because every time people want to use Libra, they have to convert cash into the digital currency. And if it wants to target the $500-billion-dollar remittances market, there also needs to be a smooth process to convert Libra back to local currency. These are areas where banks will be needed.
In exchange, banks will be giving up fees for processing credit card transactions (credit cards are relatively low in number in developing countries and come with collection hassles, as everywhere else). They will also be giving up direct contact with customers and the ability to collect data on them. They will, however, be making way for a company with mountains of information on the people being targeted, something the banks don’t have today anyway. So in a way, they will be able to make money from people that were earlier inaccessible to them.
So Facebook can’t do this on its own, without banks. It also needs banks because they are better trusted by people in general.
Reactions
Chris Hughes, a co-founder of Facebook, has warned that Libra could shift power into the wrong hands: “If even modestly successful, Libra would hand over much of the control of monetary policy from central banks to these private companies. If global regulators don’t act now, it could very soon be too late.”
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is concerned about reduction in competition, data privacy and destabilization of the banking system that has barely recovered from the 2008 crash. “The aim should be to respond to big techs’ entry into financial services so as to benefit from the gains while limiting the risks,” said Hyun Song Shin, economic adviser and head of research at BIS. “Public policy needs to build on a more comprehensive approach that draws on financial regulation, competition policy and data privacy regulation.”
Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House Financial Services Committee said, “Given the company’s troubled past, I am requesting that Facebook agree to a moratorium on any movement forward on developing a cryptocurrency until Congress and regulators have the opportunity to examine these issues and take action.”
Democrat senator Sherrod Brown tweeted, “Facebook is already too big and too powerful, and it has used that power to exploit users’ data without protecting their privacy. We cannot allow Facebook to run a risky new cryptocurrency out of a Swiss bank account without oversight.”
Republican Patrick McHenry said, “While there is great promise for this new technology in fostering financial inclusion and faster payments, particularly in the developing world, we know there are many open questions as to the scope and scale of the project and how it will conform to our global financial regulatory framework… We need to go beyond the rumors and speculations and provide a forum to assess this project and its potential unprecedented impact on the financial system.”
Bloomberg reports that the French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, has already asked the group of seven central bank governors to “prepare a report on Facebook’s project” especially with respect to privacy, money laundering and terrorism finance.
Markus Ferber, a German member of the European Parliament, has drawn the attention of regulators to Facebook’s attempt to become a “shadow bank”.
Conclusion
No matter what anyone says, investors like this move. For once, Facebook has shown them a strong alternative revenue source that will allow it to diversify beyond ads. If banks jump on board, it will be a huge validation of its technology and strategy to remain the biggest monopoly ever and make really big bucks while at it. As long as governments allow it that is.
Facebook shares carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Better stocks in the sector are Autohome ATHM, Marchex MCHX, Match Group MTCH, The Trade Desk TTD to name a few. For broader exposure, check outthe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportThe Trade Desk Inc. (TTD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFacebook, Inc. (FB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAutohome Inc. (ATHM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMarchex, Inc. (MCHX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMatch Group, Inc. (MTCH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research |
Are Insiders Buying Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (TSE:FVI) Stock?
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It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sellFortuna Silver Mines Inc.(TSE:FVI), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.
It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.
We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.'
Check out our latest analysis for Fortuna Silver Mines
In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when President Jorge Ganoza Durant bought CA$589k worth of shares at a price of CA$3.55 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of CA$3.87. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. Happily, the Fortuna Silver Mines insider decided to buy shares at close to current prices. Jorge Ganoza Durant was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.
Jorge Ganoza Durant purchased 247k shares over the year. The average price per share was CA$3.52. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!
There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).
Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Based on our data, Fortuna Silver Mines insiders have about 0.8% of the stock, worth approximately CA$5.2m. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.
It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Fortuna Silver Mines insiders are expecting a bright future. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check thisfreereport showing analyst forecasts for its future.
Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies.
For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
VivoPower Shares Rise More Than 100% After Update On Solar Portfolio Sale, New Contracts
VivoPower International PLC(NASDAQ:VVPR) shares traded sharply higher Monday after the company announced new parties have engaged in the company's U.S.solarportfolio sale.
VivoPower International also said that its Australian power services businesses, Kenshaw Electrical Pty Limited and J.A. Martin Electrical Pty Limited, have secured additional contracts relating to solar farms and data centers worth $22.6 million.
With these new contracts, VivoPower's forward order book for power services has now increased to $51.5 million on the back of this and the previous contract wins in the data center, solar, agriculture, transport, mining and utility sectors, according to the company.
This represents an increase of 53% in the last seven months and is another new all-time record high for the company's forward order book. VivoPower said it expects the contracts will be fulfilled within the next 12 months.
The stock was trading higher by 105.76% at $2.15 late in Monday's session.
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© 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. |
Are Insiders Buying Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (TSE:FVI) Stock?
Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card!
It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inFortuna Silver Mines Inc.(TSE:FVI).
It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.
Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Columbia Universitystudyfound that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.
See our latest analysis for Fortuna Silver Mines
President Jorge Ganoza Durant made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$589k worth of shares at a price of CA$3.55 each. That implies that an insider found the current price of CA$3.87 per share to be enticing. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. The good news for Fortuna Silver Mines share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. Jorge Ganoza Durant was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.
Jorge Ganoza Durant purchased 247k shares over the year. The average price per share was CA$3.52. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!
Fortuna Silver Mines is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at thisfreelist of growing companies with insider buying.
For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Based on our data, Fortuna Silver Mines insiders have about 0.8% of the stock, worth approximately CA$5.2m. We consider this fairly low insider ownership.
The recent insider purchase is heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Fortuna Silver Mines insiders are expecting a bright future. Of course,the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Fortuna Silver Mines, you should check out thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company.
Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies.
For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Bernie Sanders’ Student Loans Proposal: 7 Things to Know
Bernie Sanders’ student loans proposal is certainly winning him points with younger generations as the Democratic presidential candidate promises to cancel all student loan debt across the U.S.
Here are seven things to knowabout Sanders’ proposal:
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• The Vermont Senator unveiled the legislation that would cancel all student loan debt with no eligibility parameters.
• This means that every single one of the 45 million student loan borrowers who have both federal and private loans will have all of their debt forgiven.
• The move would cancel more than $1.6 trillion in student loan.
• Sanders plans on funding the plan through a new tax on financial transactions, which he predicts will raise more than $2 trillion over the next 10 years.
• The tax plan will include a 0.5% fee on all stock trades, as well as a 0.1% fee on all bond trades, plus a 0.005% fee on all derivatives trades.
• The presidential candidate will announce the legislation with his colleagues in the House of Representatives, which include Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
• Sanders also believes that four-year public colleges and community colleges should be free, which includes tuition and fees, while federal student loan interest rates should be lower. He also believes that student loan refinancing needs an overhaul to help save money for more borrowers.
What do you make of Bernie Sanders’ student loans proposal?
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5 Top Stock Trades for Tuesday: CELG, BMY, CZR
With the G20 summit right around the corner, stocks were relatively muted on Monday. Investors are trying to position themselves ahead of earnings next month, the Fed’s looming rate cut and trade headlines leading up and following the G20 summit. Let’s look at some top stock trades from Monday.
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Shares ofBristol-Myers Squibb(NYSE:BMY) took a spill, falling over 7% on Monday.The fall comes after two pieces of news. With the company looking to wrap up its acquisition ofCelgene(NASDAQ:CELG), the duo are apparently willing to divest Celgene’s Otezla unit.
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That unit represented about 10% of Celgene’s most recent quarter of sales and is a $1-billion-a-year drug. Investors obviously aren’t too happy about that. Negative news about BMY’s Opdivo isn’t helping sentiment either.
So what now?
The charts were just starting to look good for BMY, with the stock trying to climb north of $50 for the time since March. Instead, investors are now hoping that support in the $44 to $45 area holds up.
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It also bring up the question of Celgene. Shareholders are to receive $50 in cash plus 1 share of BMY for each share of CELG that they own. Currently, that puts the deal value at $95 for Celgene stock, not including the cash incentive to shareholders for future drug approvals.
However, because the deal is not expected to go through until Q4 2019 or Q1 2020 — unlike previously expected in in Q3 2019 — both stocks are still susceptible to big moves.
Below the 20-day and 50-day moving averages is not all that great for Celgene stock. However, still north of $92.50 means CELG is okay, technically speaking.
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Shares ofCaesars Entertainment(NASDAQ:CZR) are surging on Monday, up almost 15% on a$17.3 billion merger agreementwithEldoradoResorts(NASDAQ:ERI), which is down about 15% as a result.
With the exception of the size, the deal is somewhat similar to the BMY-CELG one above. Assuming regulatory approval, CZR stock could drift higher. At the time of the news release, it valued CZR stock at $12.75 apiece, more than $1 per share below current levels.
That said, CZR’s final value will depend on the value of ERI too. I want to see CZR stay north of the 200-day moving average. I also want to see ERI stock stabilize as well.
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New Relic(NASDAQ:NEWR) is a new one for the Top Stocks list, but its action warrants some attention.
$95 has been pretty solid support, as has the 200-day moving average. With Monday’s fall though, both levels gave way. Bears may be tempted to short NEWR on a retest of this area provided it now acts as resistance.
With support failing, a drop down to the $77.50 to $80 area is possible. Until it’s north of $95 again, bulls may need to wait for a better opportunity.
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Match Group(NASDAQ:MTCH) caught a big bounce on Monday, with shares jumping more than 7%.
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The move comes on a test of the 50-day moving average, which has buoyed the name for months now. Over $74 and MTCH stock can breakout out. If it acts as resistance again, look to see if the 50-day holds once more.
Bret Kenwell is the manager and author ofFuture Blue Chipsand is on Twitter@BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long CELG.
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Should You Investigate Presidio, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSDO) At US$13.58?
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Presidio, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSDO), which is in the it business, and is based in United States, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NASDAQGS over the last few months, increasing to $15.34 at one point, and dropping to the lows of $12.7. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Presidio's current trading price of $13.58 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Presidio’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
Check out our latest analysis for Presidio
Good news, investors! Presidio is still a bargain right now. According to my valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $23.33, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. What’s more interesting is that, Presidio’s share price is quite volatile, which gives us more chances to buy since the share price could sink lower (or rise higher) in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market.
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 78% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Presidio. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.
Are you a shareholder?Since PSDO is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.
Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on PSDO for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy PSDO. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.
Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Presidio. You can find everything you need to know about Presidio inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Presidio, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
'Toy Story 4' missed expectations, but 'any other studio would be thrilled'
Disney’s [DIS] “Toy Story 4” brought in an estimated $118 million domestically during its opening weekend — short of Disney's $140 million projection — and about $238 million globally.
That is technically a disappointment, but that’s still pretty good on a $200 million budget.
“They have set such a [high] bar for themselves,” Variety Reporter Rebecca Rubin said on Yahoo Finance’s YFi AM live show, “but that’s a number that any other studio would be thrilled to have in their opening weekend.”
Rubin notes that fans of the franchise may have been worried if the storyline could deliver.
“I think audiences were a little skeptical, is this just another cash grab?” says Rubin. “Is it actually a worthy sequel? So I think that might be where the difference in the actual numbers versus the projection came in because audiences were a little concerned.”
“Toy Story 4” is the third-biggest domestic opening weekend for Disney this year, following “Avengers: Endgame” ($357.1M) and “Captain Marvel” ($153.4M). And those are the only three films in 2019 so far to break $100 million on their opening weekends.
“Disney has had pretty consistent success with the well that they are pulling from,” says Rubin. “They have struggled a little bit with new material that is not from a pre-existing franchise, or Pixar, or Marvel, and so that’s a little bit of where they might be struggling moving forward.”
“Avengers: Endgame” was the culmination of the current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the forthcoming “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will end the Skywalker saga. “These are two huge properties where they are going to need to take a look at their slate and say, Are we going to keep dipping from this well again, or is there new material we can find?” Rubin says. “And Pixar has been a big source of that, and they do have original [Pixar] movies coming out next year.”
“Toy Story 4’” is also one of the first movies Disney will put on itsDisney+ OTT streaming service, set to launch in November, along with “Captain Marvel” and “The Lion King.”
Tracey Marx Bernstein is a senior producer for Yahoo Finance.
READ MORE:
• 'Avengers: Endgame' is willing to do whatever it takes to top 'Avatar' at the box office
• Disney’s upcoming streaming service is even hotter than expected
• Disney+ has a secret weapon: millennial nostalgia
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Oklahoma judge approves Teva's $85 million opioid settlement
By Nate Raymond
(Reuters) - An Oklahoma judge on Monday approved a revised $85 million (£66.7 million) settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd resolving claims by the state's attorney general that the drugmaker helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic.
The decision by Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman in Norman, Oklahoma came after the state's attorney general, governor and top lawmakers resolved a dispute over how the money should be deposited and spent.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter struck an initial settlement with Teva on May 26, just days before the Israel-based drugmaker was set to face trial alongside Johnson & Johnson, which is continuing to fight the case.
The settlement resolved claims that Teva and other drugmakers helped cause the epidemic by marketing opioids as safe and effective for everyday pain while downplaying their addictive qualities.
The case is one of around 2,000 by state and local governments seeking to hold drugmakers responsible for an epidemic the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says led to a record 47,600 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017.
Teva's deal came just days before the Israel-based drugmaker was set to face trial in the case, and two days after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that required funds recovered in lawsuits by the state to be deposited into the state's treasury.
The law followed criticism by state legislators that money from an earlier, $270 million settlement in the case with Purdue Pharma LP in March was not deposited in the state's coffers for lawmakers to determine its use.
Instead, nearly $200 million of that March settlement went towards creating an addiction treatment and research centre at Oklahoma State University.
Under Teva's initial settlement, the $85 million was to be deposited into a court-controlled account pending the outcome of J&J's trial.
Hunter's office argued Teva's settlement should be combined with any money J&J must pay to help remedy, or abate, what the state says is a public nuisance that will cost $17.5 billion to remedy over 30 years. J&J denies the allegations.
But Stitt and Republican leaders of the state's legislature argued any funds should be deposited directly with the state's treasury.
Under the revised accord, money from Teva's settlement would be deposited in a fund with the state and only be used to address the opioid epidemic, subjected to future legislation, according to court papers. Teva did not admit wrongdoing.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Susan Thomas) |
Should You Think About Buying Presidio, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSDO) Now?
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Presidio, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSDO), which is in the it business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $15.34 and falling to the lows of $12.7. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Presidio's current trading price of $13.58 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Presidio’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
See our latest analysis for Presidio
Good news, investors! Presidio is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $23.33, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Presidio’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. Presidio’s earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 78%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.
Are you a shareholder?Since PSDO is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.
Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on PSDO for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy PSDO. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.
Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Presidio. You can find everything you need to know about Presidio inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Presidio, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
These Factors Make Coronado Global Resources Inc. (ASX:CRN) An Interesting Investment
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I've been keeping an eye on Coronado Global Resources Inc. (ASX:CRN) because I'm attracted to its fundamentals. Looking at the company as a whole, as a potential stock investment, I believe CRN has a lot to offer. Basically, it is a company that has been able to sustain great financial health, trading at an attractive share price. Below, I've touched on some key aspects you should know on a high level. If you're interested in understanding beyond my broad commentary, take a look at thereport on Coronado Global Resources here.
CRN is financially robust, with ample cash on hand and short-term investments to meet upcoming liabilities. This implies that CRN manages its cash and cost levels well, which is a key determinant of the company’s health. CRN appears to have made good use of debt, producing operating cash levels of 4.71x total debt in the prior year. This is a strong indication that debt is reasonably met with cash generated. CRN's share price is trading at below its true value, meaning that the market sentiment for the stock is currently bearish. Investors have the opportunity to buy into the stock to reap capital gains, if CRN's projected earnings trajectory does follow analyst consensus growth, which determines my intrinsic value of the company. Also, relative to the rest of its peers with similar levels of earnings, CRN's share price is trading below the group's average. This further reaffirms that CRN is potentially undervalued.
For Coronado Global Resources, I've compiled three essential aspects you should further examine:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for CRN’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor CRN’s outlook.
2. Historical Performance: What has CRN's returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of our analysisfor more clarity.
3. Other Attractive Alternatives: Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of CRN? Exploreour interactive list of stocks with large potentialto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Hedge Fundsrsquo; 25 Favorite Blue-Chip Stocks
Getty Images Always keep one eye on the so-called smart money. Yes, hedge funds don't always live up to the hype, and they're renowned for charging an arm and a leg. But considering they represent more than $3 trillion in assets under management and have built a reputation of having stock-market savvy, it's good to know what they're putting their capital toward - and they're often putting it toward blue-chip stocks. The folks at WalletHub keep regular tabs on stocks that hedge fund managers are buying, selling and holding every quarter. Combing through regulatory filings, WalletHub looks at the positions of more than 400 hedge funds, tallies their positions in individual stocks, then ranks those stocks by their total holdings value. These stocks are massive in market value, ranging from the hundreds of billions of dollars to more than $1 trillion. Indeed, their very size helps attract more institutional interest. Unsurprisingly, then, most of these stock picks are household names - a number happen to belong to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway portfolio . Here are hedge funds' 25 favorite blue-chip stocks to buy now. All these stocks likely appeal to the "smart money" because of their size and strong track records. But we'll delve into a few specifics that make each company special. SEE ALSO: The 19 Best Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 25. Citigroup Getty Images Market value: $157.2 billion Dividend yield: 2.7% Analysts' opinion: 13 strong buy, 10 buy, 3 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell As the nation's fourth-largest bank by both assets and market value, Citigroup ( C , $67.97) is a natural fit for hedge funds looking for exposure to the financial sector. Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts have a "Buy" rating on Citigroup, noting that it "seems to be the one bank stock where the bad news is largely priced in." Wall Street expects the money-center bank to generate average annual earnings growth of nearly 14% over the next three to five years, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Their average price target of $79.24 gives C stock implied upside of about 17% in the next 12 months or so. Story continues The firm's massive market value, share liquidity and standing as one of the nation's biggest banks make it difficult for hedge funds to pass up. They're being handsomely rewarded for holding C shares in 2019 - Citigroup's stock is up more than 31% year-to-date vs. a gain of less than 18% for the S&P 500. SEE ALSO: The 19 Best Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 24. Thermo Fisher Scientific Getty Images Market value: $117.8 billion Dividend yield: 0.3% Analysts' opinion: 12 strong buy, 2 buy, 3 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO , $292.78), the world's largest maker of scientific instruments, cracked the top 25 most popular hedge fund stocks last quarter, helped by big buys on the part of Marshall Wace, Viking Global Investors and Citadel Advisors. Part of the allure for hedge funds could be simple price momentum; TMO stock is up 32% year-to-date to outpace most of the blue-chip stocks on this list. After number-crunching various technical indicators, StockReports+ from Refinitiv gives Thermo Fisher Scientific a price momentum rating of 9, which is significantly higher than the advanced medical equipment industry average rating of 5.6. The fundamentals look compelling too, given TMO's vast portfolio of laboratory equipment, applications and techniques it provides to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. "As the 'Amazon of Life Science Tools,' we believe that TMO should remain a core holding in any Life Science Tools portfolio as TMO will benefit from robust industry growth," say analysts at Janney, who rate shares at "Buy." SEE ALSO: 10 Top-Rated Mega-Cap Stocks to Buy Now 23. Pfizer Getty Images Market value: $242.8 billion Dividend yield: 3.3% Analysts' opinion: 6 strong buy, 4 buy, 6 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Pfizer ( PFE , $43.67) is the largest pure-play pharmaceutical company in the U.S. by market value and revenue, and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Both those traits make it a natural holding for institutional investors seeking a balance of income and growth. "We are bullish on the Pfizer new product story and see the stock as a Top Pick as a new day dawns following an extended period of facing various patent expirations," say Credit Suisse analysts, who rate shares at "Market Outperform" (equivalent of "Buy"). This blue-chip drug company has raised its dividend annually every year since 2010. At the same time, analysts expect steady (if unspectacular) bottom-line gains. They estimate Pfizer will generate average annual earnings growth of nearly 7% for the next three to five years, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Pfizer's massive market value - and related liquidity - as well as its long-term track record of outperformance should help maintain its popularity with the hedge fund crowd. SEE ALSO: 13 Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy on the Next Dip 22. Merck Getty Images Market value: $217.7 billion Dividend yield: 2.6% Analysts' opinion: 10 strong buy, 5 buy, 2 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Merck ( MRK , $84.57), just like fellow Dow pharma play Pfizer, is a hit with hedge funds. Its massive market cap, blue-chip status and attendant liquidity are no doubt part of the appeal. It also doesn't hurt that Merck has a bunch of blockbuster drugs on its hands. Cancer drug Keytruda is a runaway best-seller, having been approved for advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, classical Hodgkin's lymphoma and bladder cancer. The pharmaceutical giant is seeking additional approvals for Keytruda for a wide range of other cancers. Bulls also point to strength in Januvia for diabetes, as well as Gardasil, a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Merck has something else in common with rival Pfizer: Both pharma giants rank among the 50 best stocks of all time . Atlantic Equities in May upgraded Merck to "Overweight" (equivalent of "Buy") from "Neutral" (equivalent of "Hold"), citing its attractive valuation and low-risk growth profile. SEE ALSO: 20 More Best Stocks to Buy That You Haven't Heard Of 21. Salesforce.com Getty Images Market value: $121.8 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 29 strong buy, 11 buy, 3 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Salesforce.com ( CRM , $156.84) sells subscriptions to web-based applications to help companies increase and manage their sales. And it started delivering software-as-a-service long before cloud-based services became all the rage. Stifel analysts rate CRM shares at "Buy," thanks in part to the company's market-leading position in its industry and a focus on bringing new products to life. UBS analysts, who also consider the stock a "Buy," applaud Salesforce's $15.7 billion acquisition of analytics platform Tableau Software ( DATA ), which was announced in June. As a group, analysts have a "Strong Buy" rating on CRM. Their average target price of $184.18 gives shares implied upside of more than 19% in the next year or so. But what really gets hedge funds' blood flowing is the company's growth prospects. Analysts project Salesforce's earnings to rise at an average annual clip of more than 25% over the next three to five years. SEE ALSO: 25 Small Towns With Big Millionaire Populations 20. Boeing Getty Images Market value: $209.2 billion Dividend yield: 2.2% Analysts' opinion: 11 strong buy, 3 buy, 8 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell Boeing's ( BA , $371.84) stock is still well below where it was trading before airlines around the world grounded its popular 737 Max jets amid safety concerns. The aerospace giant has lost some hedge-fund fans - it was 13th place in the previous quarter - but it continues to be popular among the "smart money." Boeing's massive market value and blue-chip status - it's yet another member of the Dow - make it a natural home for hedge funds and other institutional investors. USB analysts, who rate BA at "Buy," point to surveys showing that nearly two-thirds of respondents seldom or never check what type of aircraft they will be flying. Those analysts expect the 737 Max "stigma" to fade with time and don't see Boeing losing significant market share. A long record of consistent share-price outperformance also helps explain why Boeing remains popular with the hedge-fund crowd despite its shorter-term woes. BA stock has beaten the broader market by wide margins over the last one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods. That makes it one of the best S&P 500 stocks of the past 25 years . The company is a dividend-growth fiend, too, having more than doubled its quarterly payout since 2015. SEE ALSO: 57 Dividend Stocks You Can Count On in 2019 19. Verizon Getty Images Market value: $238.9 billion Dividend yield: 4.2% Analysts' opinion: 7 strong buy, 4 buy, 18 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Hedge funds like big, blue-chip stocks. Check and check for Verizon ( VZ , $57.77), which also delivers defense and income. The only telecommunications stock in the Dow delivers a hefty dividend yield. It's also a Dividend Achiever, which requires a minimum of 10 consecutive years of dividend growth, versus 25 years for the Dividend Aristocrats. But it's still substantial. And VZ has improved its payout every year since 2007. Verizon isn't going to overwhelm you with growth, but it's hardly a slowpoke like, say, your average utility company. Analysts expect earnings to increase at an average annual pace of 2.7% for the next three to five years. At the same time, as a defensive telecom stock, it tends to hold up better when the market is in a downturn. With a five-year beta of 0.48, Verizon can be thought of as roughly half as volatile as the S&P 500. Verizon also has an enviable track record as an investment. From 1984 to 2016, VZ delivered an annualized return of 11.2%, which created $165.1 billion in wealth. SEE ALSO: 18 Consumer Staples Stocks to Take the Edge Off Your Portfolio 18. Home Depot Getty Images Market value: $230.4 billion Dividend yield: 2.6% Analysts' opinion: 17 strong buy, 5 buy, 10 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell Home Depot ( HD , $209.39) is an irresistible way for institutional investors such as hedge funds to bet on both the housing market and the health of U.S. consumers. Not only is Home Depot the nation's largest home improvement retailer, it's also one of the elite 30 members of the Dow. Blue-chip stocks don't get bluer than that. Guggenheim analysts, who rate HD at "Buy," write that the company was able to raise $1.4 billion in the debt market in June at low interest rates. The cash gives HD "greater near-term financial flexibility," says Guggenheim, which made no change to its interest expense forecast. Stifel analysts also rate shares in Home Depot at "Buy," citing "the company's continued demonstration of executing operational improvements while delivering strong top-line growth." Analysts surveyed by S&P Global Market Intelligence expect HD to deliver average earnings growth of more than 9.6% annually over the next three to five years. SEE ALSO: Millionaires in America 2019: All 50 States Ranked 17. Johnson & Johnson Getty Images Market value: $377.3 billion Dividend yield: 2.7% Analysts' opinion: 5 strong buy, 5 buy, 9 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell Why, yes, it's another Dow stock. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ , $142.09) is the largest health care company in the blue-chip index. In addition to pharmaceuticals, JNJ also makes medical devices and well-known over-the-counter consumer brands such as Listerine mouthwash, Tylenol pain reliever and Johnson's Baby Shampoo. Johnson & Johnson has been under stress lately. Recent reporting suggests JNJ had known for years that its talcum powder contained the known carcinogen asbestos, underscoring what many have suspected for quite some time now. It's also being sued for its alleged role in the opioid crisis. Nonetheless, analysts project long-term earnings growth to average 6.5% a year for the next three to five years, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. "We view Johnson & Johnson as a core healthcare holding and total return vehicle in any market environment for investors looking for relative safety and stability," write analysts at Stifel. "Still, we rate JNJ shares 'Hold' as we believe there could be more opportune entry points from both a timing and valuation standpoint." Hedge funds, however, are keeping the faith. JNJ's mega market value, central role in the health care sector and status as a top long-term holding make it difficult for hedge funds to ignore. SEE ALSO: 15 Stocks to Buy for an Activist Investor Boost 16. Adobe Systems Getty Images Market value: $146.1 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 12 strong buy, 6 buy, 11 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Adobe ( ADBE , $299.33) is the undisputed leader in making software for designers and other creative types. Its software arsenal includes Photoshop, Premiere Pro for video editing and Dreamweaver for website design, among others. Adobe's dominant position is partly why Argus analysts have a "Buy" rating on the stock. They note ADBE is well-positioned at the "center of the exploding market for digital video content" thanks to Creative Cloud apps such as Premiere Pro, the leading video editing software for film, TV and the web. Hedge funds clearly agree, no doubt lured by earnings growth that's forecast to rise at an average rate of 17% annually for the next three to five years. However, analysts' average target price of $313.50 gives ADBE implied upside of less than 5% over the next 12 months - which explains why 11 pros surveyed by S&P Global Market Intelligence rate shares at "Hold." SEE ALSO: 10 High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stocks and Funds to Buy 15. American Express Getty Images Market value: $104.2 billion Dividend yield: 1.3% Analysts' opinion: 9 strong buy, 4 buy, 16 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell If it's good enough for Warren Buffett, it's good enough for hedge funds. Buffett first took a stake in American Express ( AXP , $124.73) in 1963 and he has held on ever since. Today, Berkshire is AXP's largest shareholder with an 18.2% stake in the firm. The payments processor and credit card company accounts for 8.3% of Berkshire Hathaway's total portfolio value, making it Buffett's fifth-largest holding. Uncle Warren's ardor for American Express has been well-placed. Management is strong, AmEx is a dominant brand in the industry, and the company generates large amounts of free cash flow (the money left over after essential capital expenditures are made that can be used to finance dividends and stock buybacks). Analysts forecast AXP to deliver average annual earnings growth of more than 12% over the next three to five years. "We reiterate our 'Outperform' ('Buy') rating as we believe the strength of the AmEx franchise remains materially undervalued," analysts at William Blair & Co. write. "We believe AmEx is one of the premier global payments companies." Did we mention that American Express also happens to be a Dow stock? SEE ALSO: 12 Bank Stocks That Wall Street Loves the Most 14. Coca-Cola Getty Images Market value: $219.9 billion Dividend yield: 3.1% Analysts' opinion: 8 strong buy, 4 buy, 12 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell Dow stock alert! Coca-Cola ( KO , $51.55) - while struggling with shrinking interest in sugary drinks - has been a mainstay of Warren Buffett's collection of blue-chip stocks. He first bought shares in the fizzy drink maker in 1987; today, KO comprises fully 9.4% of Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio. As a massive stock and cornerstone of the consumer staples sector of the market, it's a natural fit for a wide swath of institutional investors too. It's also an income investor's dream come true. King Coke has paid a quarterly dividend since 1920, and that dividend has increased annually for 57 years. The dependable, rising dividend and comparatively low volatility make KO a way to add defensive ballast to a portfolio. Meanwhile, there's plenty of room for institutional investors to build large positions thanks to the stock's gargantuan market value and attendant liquidity. SEE ALSO: 11 Dividend Growth Stocks Flying Under the Radar (For Now) 13. Netflix Getty Images Market value: $161.4 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 22 strong buy, 8 buy, 9 hold, 1 sell, 2 strong sell Netflix ( NFLX , $369.21) is popular with hedge funds? You don't say! The streaming media and production company holds the pole position in its industry and boasts a torrid growth forecast. Analysts expect Netflix to generate average annual earnings growth of more than 40% over the next three to five years, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. That's remarkable for a company with a market value of $160 billion. Although some investors worry about new competing streaming services from the likes of Apple ( AAPL ) and Walt Disney ( DIS ), a plurality of analysts aren't too concerned. "Netflix has been successfully launching multiple new original TV series every year," says Credit Suisse, "something traditional TV networks increasingly struggle with, and representative of a clear scale, brand and engagement advantage for Netflix - something quite underestimated, in our view, by those fretting about upcoming competition." Credit Suisse analysts rate NFLX shares at "Market Outperform" (equivalent of "Buy"). SEE ALSO: The 25 Best Low-Fee Mutual Funds to Buy Now 12. Comcast Getty Images Market value: $197.7 billion Dividend yield: 1.9% Analysts' opinion: 19 strong buy, 7 buy, 6 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Cable, broadband and media giant Comcast ( CMCSA , $43.56) has a full load of "Strong Buy" ratings from Wall Street analysts, so it should come as no surprise that it's popular with hedge funds, as well. Comcast, which also owns NBC Universal, closed its $39 billion takeover of European pay-TV giant Sky in October. Jefferies Equity Research says Comcast is a "franchise pick" for investors' portfolios. Among other points in CMCSA's favor: Analysts say NBC Universal is undervalued by the market. Rosenblatt Securities initiated coverage of Comcast in mid-June at "Buy," citing the company's ability to take broadband market share and expand profit margins in its cable business. Analysts forecast the company to deliver average annual earnings growth of almost 10% over the next three to five years. Additionally, Comcast is a big hit with active mutual fund managers and happens to be one of the 50 best stocks of all time. CMCSA generated an annualized return of 12.4% from 2002 to 2016 - good for lifetime wealth creation of $147 billion. SEE ALSO: 11 Dividend Stocks With 55 or More Years of Payout Growth 11. Wells Fargo Getty Images Market value: $210.7 billion Dividend yield: 3.8% Analysts' opinion: 6 strong buy, 3 buy, 18 hold, 1 sell, 2 strong sell Wells Fargo ( WFC , $46.89) can't shake bad press, but the nation's third-largest bank by assets remains popular with hedge funds, analysts, and yes, a resolute Warren Buffett. We've been bullish on WFC on more than one occasion in the past. After all, it's one of Warren Buffett's top holdings and has been an exemplary stock for retirement. That said, shares have underperformed the broader market over the past one-, three- and five-year periods, hampered by the bank's phony accounts scandal and other issues. Perhaps hedge funds smell a bargain. Analysts at Sandler O'Neill highlighted WFC's cost controls and aggressive capital management when they assigned a "Buy" rating on the stock a few months ago. "We are quite cognizant of WFC's current challenges with regulators and that the shares may be range-bound in the near-term until the company names a permanent CEO," Sandler O'Neill analysts write. "But we continue to find the expense and capital management opportunities very compelling, and we see the naming of a new CEO as the next potential catalyst for the shares." The mega-sized market value, liquidity - and the fact that Buffett refuses to back down from Berkshire's 9.9% stake in the firm - make it tough for hedge funds to forgo WFC. SEE ALSO: 8 Stocks That Will Have You Investing Like Buffett 10. Mastercard Getty Images Market value: $270.1 billion Dividend yield: 0.5% Analysts' opinion: 24 strong buy, 12 buy, 2 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell It seems like everyone loves Mastercard ( MA , $264.47). The global payments processor is a favorite of analysts and active mutual fund managers, too. And then there's the imprimatur of the world's greatest long-term investor. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns 4.9 million shares in Mastercard worth about $1.2 billion. Analysts at William Blair rate MA at "Outperform," noting that the company's foray into business-to-business payments remains a multi-decade opportunity. Mastercard management estimates that the B2B market is $120 trillion globally, about $20 trillion of which is "cardable," the analysts say. Mastercard has proven to be among the top blue-chip stocks to buy in recent history. It has outperformed the broader market by wide margins over the past one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods. That may just continue. Analysts project earnings growth to average nearly 18% annually for the next three to five years. SEE ALSO: 33 Ways to Get Higher Yields (Up to 12%!) 9. Bank of America Getty Images Market value: $267.4 billion Dividend yield: 2.1% Analysts' opinion: 8 strong buy, 9 buy, 12 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Bank of America ( BAC , $28.12) is another blue-chip stock beloved by both hedge funds and Warren Buffett alike. The nation's second-largest bank by assets is a top Berkshire position. The holding company owns a stake worth about $24.7 billion, second in value only to its investment in Apple. BMO Capital Markets upgraded BAC to "Outperform" from "Market Perform" in mid-June, noting that higher fees, lower taxes, reduced loan-loss provisions and share buybacks should more than offset any hit to lending margins if the Federal Reserve does indeed cut interest rates later this year. As a massive money-center bank, BofA is almost unavoidable for hedge funds looking to make big bets on the financial sector. Analysts' average price target of $33.04 gives BAC stock implied upside about 17% over the next 12 months or so. SEE ALSO: The 45 Cheapest Index Funds in the ETF Universe 8. UnitedHealth Group Getty Images Market value: $239.8 billion Dividend yield: 1.7% Analysts' opinion: 16 strong buy, 9 buy, 1 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Large institutional investors looking to make big bets in the health insurance sector can't really avoid UnitedHealth Group ( UNH , $252.28). With a market value of $233.2 billion and a 2020 sales forecast of $264.8 billion, UNH is the largest publicly traded health insurance company by a wide margin. UNH stock has been dead money so far in 2019, prompting some analysts to call it a bargain. Citigroup upgraded shares to "Buy" from "Neutral" in May, citing an opportunity to snag "a bellwether name at discounted valuation." UnitedHealth's girth stems from a long history of mergers and acquisitions - including MetraHealth, HealthWise of America and AmeriChoice - and stock-price outperformance. In the past five years alone, UNH shares delivered a total return (price appreciation plus dividends) of 26%, according to Morningstar. The broad U.S. stock market generated a total return of just 10% over the same span. Analysts expect UnitedHealth's earnings to increase an average of 14.5% annually for the next five years, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. SEE ALSO: 20 of Wall Street's Newest Dividend Stocks 7. JPMorgan Chase Getty Images Market value: $355.0 billion Dividend yield: 2.9% Analysts' opinion: 7 strong buy, 6 buy, 14 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell What goes for BofA goes double for JPMorgan Chase ( JPM , $109.44) when it comes to hedge funds looking to make big bets on the financial sector. Not only is JPM America's largest bank by assets, it's a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average too. With its status among blue-chip stocks, huge market value and highly respected (if not occasionally controversial) CEO Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan is naturally a magnet for hedge funds. It also helps that Warren Buffett is a fan too. Berkshire Hathaway initiated a position in JPM in the third quarter of 2018 and has been boosting it ever since. The holding company upped its stake by 40% in the fourth quarter of last year and again by 18% in the first quarter of 2019. Berkshire Hathaway now owns 59.5 million shares worth about $6 billion. Analysts forecast average annual earnings growth of almost 10% over the next three to five years. Their average price target of $118.38 gives JPM stock implied upside of about 8% over the next year or so. SEE ALSO: The 25 Best Low-Fee Mutual Funds to Buy Now 6. Alphabet Getty Images Market value: $781.3 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 27 strong buy, 12 buy, 6 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell It should come as no surprise that hedge funds are big believers in Google parent Alphabet ( GOOGL , $1,125.37). The stock has been a key driver of the bull market's returns throughout its 10-year run, and Alphabet's growth prospects remain bright. As for concerns about Alphabet coming under antitrust fire, analysts at Jefferies, who rate shares at "Buy," say a breakup is unlikely. Jefferies adds that in a worst-case antitrust scenario, Alphabet's "sum-of-the-parts may be worth more than the whole." Analysts expect Alphabet to deliver average annual earnings growth of almost 16% over the next three to five years, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. That's a red-hot pace for a company already worth more than $750 billion. Revenue is forecast to rise almost 18% this year to $160.9 billion and 16% to $186.9 billion in 2020. Longer-term, it helps that Alphabet is no one-trick pony. True, thanks to Google, it owns commanding market share in the fast-growing digital advertising industry. But Alphabet also is a major player in cloud-based services. Additionally, it's home to self-driving car startup Waymo, as well as Nest Labs, a developer of gadgets for the Internet of Things. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and virtual reality are other major areas of investment. SEE ALSO: 10 Small-Cap Value Stocks Analysts Love the Most 5. Visa Getty Images Market value: $379.0 billion Dividend yield: 0.6% Analysts' opinion: 23 strong buy, 12 buy, 2 hold, 1 sell, 0 strong sell It's easy to see why Visa ( V , $173.44) is popular with hedge funds. As the world's largest payments network, the company is well-positioned to benefit from the growth of cashless transactions and digital mobile payments. Analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence expect Visa's profits to increase an average of 17% a year over the next three to five years. Wall Street is wildly bullish on Visa, too. Of the 38 analysts tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 23 call it a "Strong Buy," 12 have it at "Buy" and two say it's a "Hold." One analyst rates it at "Sell." "We continue to believe Visa remains uniquely positioned to benefit from several tailwinds, including growth in global consumption, the secular shift to electronic forms of payments, growth of B2B payments, and technological innovation," say William Blair analysts, who rate shares at "Outperform." But it's not just analysts and highflying hedge-fund managers who have taken a shine to Visa. It's also among the many blue-chip stocks held by Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett's holding company owns 10.6 million shares in Visa, worth roughly $1.7 billion. Including dividends, Visa has delivered a whopping annualized return of more than 21% over the past 10 years. SEE ALSO: The 25 Best S&P 500 Stocks of the Past 50 Years 4. Apple Getty Images Market value: $914.6 billion Dividend yield: 1.6% Analysts' opinion: 18 strong buy, 3 buy, 19 hold, 0 sell, 3 strong sell A gigantic Dow dividend-paying stock owned by Warren Buffett? Check. So naturally it follows that Apple ( AAPL , $198.78) is a hedge fund darling. Slower iPhone sales have knocked shares down from the 2018 highs that gave Apple a trillion-dollar market value. But hedge funds and Warren Buffett believe the company has plenty of growth left in it. Analysts see average annual earnings growth in excess of 12% over the next three to five years. The bull case for AAPL stock is that the company's customers, a famously loyal bunch, don't just buy a single gadget; they buy into an entire ecosystem of hardware, software and services. That includes things such as apps from the App Store, music on iTunes and financial services such as Apple Pay. AAPL accounts for 24% of the total value of Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio, which makes it Warren Buffett's single-biggest bet in the stock market. Although the U.S.-China trade war has made Apple more volatile, the stock market has hardly given up on the name. AAPL has gained 26% since the start of the year. Hedge funds are likewise standing firm. Apple slipped just one spot in the rankings of the blue-chip stocks most popular among the smart money since last quarter. SEE ALSO: The 50 Best Stocks of All Time 3. Facebook Getty Images Market value: $545.6 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 30 strong buy, 10 buy, 7 hold, 1 sell, 1 strong sell Facebook ( FB , $191.14) might be feeling increasing heat from critics and would-be regulators, but hedge funds don't much care. Such is the potential earnings power of the world's largest social network. Despite bad press and regulatory concerns, FB stock is up 46% year-to-date. Facebook forms a digital-advertising duopoly with Google, thanks to its 2.3 billion monthly active users. But there's more to the company than its eponymous network. It also owns Instagram, the increasingly popular photo-sharing platform, and mobile instant-messaging apps WhatsApp and Messenger. And don't forget about Oculus, a virtual reality company. Analysts forecast annual average earnings growth of almost 19% for the next three to five years, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. Their average price target of $218.86 gives FB implied upside of about 17% over the next 12 months or so. MoffettNathanson upgraded FB to "Buy" from "Neutral" on June 11, noting that "improving underlying fundamentals offsets the risk of greater regulatory scrutiny." SEE ALSO: 6 'Smart Money' Tech Stocks to Buy 2. Amazon.com Getty Images Market value: $940.1 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts' opinion: 35 strong buy, 12 buy, 0 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell From Wall Street analysts to mutual fund managers, it seems everyone loves Amazon.com ( AMZN , $1,911.30). No surprise, then, that hedge funds do too. The e-commerce giant, which did not prioritize profits for years, is forecast to generate average annual earnings growth of 43% for the next three to five years. That's an astonishing growth rate for a company of Amazon's size. And Amazon isn't just a retailer. The company has several additional drivers of revenue, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), its Echo smart speakers, even ads. Even Warren Buffett, a longtime admirer of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, is on board. Berkshire Hathaway lumped Amazon in with its other blue chips during the first quarter of 2019. Berkshire's 483,300 shares are worth roughly $860 million. Loop Capital, which rates AMZN at "Buy," says "Amazon's earnings power suggests the company's market cap could still triple over the next four to five years." SEE ALSO: 49 Companies Amazon Could Destroy (And 1 It Already Has) 1. Microsoft Getty Images Market value: $1.0 trillion Dividend yield: 1.3% Analysts' opinion: 22 strong buy, 9 buy, 2 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell Microsoft ( MSFT , $136.97) continues its reign as the stock most popular with hedge funds, as well as the world's most valuable company. Indeed, MSFT is the only publicly traded firm with a market value above $1 trillion. The folks at the software giant's Redmond, Oregon, headquarters should take a deep bow. The Dow stock has staged a remarkable run over the past half-decade, more than tripling on a price basis alone. For comparison's sake, the S&P 500 is up about 50% over the past five years. Credit the software giant's transition to subscription-based services and cloud computing. "Microsoft remains in an enviable position heading into the rest of 2019 and 2020 on the heels of its cloud success and is firing on all cylinders around its Office 365 and Azure strategic vision," write analysts at Wedbush, who rate shares at "Outperform." MSFT is one of just 18 names on the brokerage's "Best Ideas List." Analysts forecast average earnings growth of 13% a year for the next three to five years, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. That's pretty darn impressive for a trillion-dollar company. SEE ALSO: 101 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2019 and Beyond EDITOR'S PICKS The Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio: All 48 Buffett Stocks 25 Small Towns With Big Millionaire Populations 57 Dividend Stocks You Can Count On Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors |
Wilson Cruz On The Bravest Knight, Star Trek: Discovery And LGBTQ Legacy Of My So-Called Lifes Ricky Vasquez
Its been a long journey (25 years to be exact) since the days of his role as the groundbreaking Ricky Vasquez on My So-Called Life , but Wilson Cruz s advocacy and perseverance on screen and behind the scenes have been paying off. He has become and continues to be a humble trailblazer for the LGBTQ community who continues to champion inclusivity. For more than two decades, Cruz has been taking roles on the screen and stage, and his plate has been full as Dr. Hugh Culber on CBS All Access Star Trek: Discovery as well as Hulus recent animated fantasy series The Bravest Knight , another series that continues to move the needle with LGBTQ representation . The series follows a knight, Sir Cedric (voiced by T.R. Knight), who has grown up and married the prince of his dreams, Prince Andrew (Cruz). In addition to going on Sir Cedrics farmer-to-knight journey, the series introduces the couples adopted 10-year-old daughter Nia (Storm Reid), who is training to become a brave knight herself. With a cast that features the likes of RuPaul, Wanda Sykes, Christine Baranski, Dot Marie-Jones and others, the series is certainly continuing family series with LGTBQ elements. For Cruz, shows like The Bravest Knight and Andi Mack with LGBTQ characters in major roles have come out of the closet with marriage equality, providing more visibility for queer characters in family settings. Related stories 'Baby Driver' And 'Avatar 2' Actor CJ Jones Tells Hollywood That Disabled Are Able To Tell Their Own Stories - CAA Amplify Nahnatchka Khan, Hasan Minhaj And Chris Paul On Storytelling For People Of Color: "It's Better Than It's Ever Been" - CAA Amplify Filmmaker Creates First Gender Fluid Commercial Spec To Break Stereotypes In Advertising Ive been saying this about LGBTQ characters for decades, which is we long whether were LGBTQ or black or brown or Asian to see ourselves, Cruz told Deadline. When you dont see yourself depicted, when you dont see your stories being told in the media, its not just that youre not there, its not like theres just a void, its that you are invisible. Story continues He continued, You feel that your story isnt important, that its not as valued as the heterosexual, cisgendered norm. I think this generation of LGBTQ people and families are saying, No, we want to be visible, we want to be seen, and theyre demanding and urging networks and streaming services to tell these stories. Those streaming services and networks are doing it because its in their best interest to tell these stories because they know that there is an audience for them. Weve seen them succeed. Cruz has a special connection with family programming as he learned to speak English from shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company . With that, he stresses how important these types of shows are for kids. The lessons we teach our children at this young age stay with them forever, he pointed out. I learned a sense of community from those shows, I learned about the very basics of human interaction. If we teach these values to them now, they will take them with them into adulthood. He added, Imagine the world we can create when were talking about young people who were taught courage and inclusion and acceptance and perseverance at this young age. For many, Cruz is known for a specific role: Ricky Vasquez on the canceled-too-soon ABC series My So-Called Life, which ran for one season in 1994. Cruz made history as the first openly gay actor to play an openly queer character in a leading role on network primetime television series. At the time, he was about 20 years old, and he said that the character became a catalyst for more representation for LGBTQ stories to be told especially for young LGBTQ people of color. As the show closes in on its 25th anniversary, Cruz still recognizes the significance of Ricky and the impact he has had on television and the lives of many members of the LGBTQ community. For me now, at 45 years old, to look back after 25 years, and having worked not just on screen, but behind the scenes, to create an atmosphere where these stories can be told and where LGBTQ people of color are being hired to tell these stories, its a dream come true, he said. You know, Ive been saying for 25 years
Ive been building an army and when I look at the people who are now part of this rainbow of representation on TV and film people like Billy Porter, Mj Rodriguez and Sara Ramirez these are people that are telling three-dimensional stories about our real lives. The Hollywood landscape has been more open when it comes to LGBTQ representation, but during the days of Ricky, Cruz was one of a few and he felt an enormous amount of pressure to try and be all things for all people. That is an impossible feat, and he certainly shouldnt have felt that way but the pressure was there nonetheless. In 2019, however, things have changed. I was the most visible and the only one willing to talk about it, all the questions were coming to me, he said about the early career as an actor. Now, I dont have to answer the questions all by myself and I get to share this moment with all of these incredibly talented and diverse representatives of our community. I am elated that we have reached this point, and I cant wait, honestly, I cannot wait to see where we go from here. Cruz does not take Ricky for granted. It is still very much close to his heart and when people approach him about how the character has changed their lives, he gets emotional even while talking to us, he got choked up. Its overwhelming for me
Im a bit of an empath, so Im easily led to tears, he laughed. Theres this give and take now that I have with these people who were inspired by Ricky Vasquez who are now inspiring me and helping me in my work and the way I walk through the world. Im the luckiest man in the world and it brings me to tears every single time. After My So-Called Life was canceled, Cruz wanted to continue to telling LGBTQ stories and be a groundbreaking voice as a gay actor playing gay characters. He did a TV movie Seventh Avenue with Luis Guzman and Eileen Galindo that originally started as a CBS pilot, and also appeared in the indie All Over Me as well as Nixon. He then went on to play the role of Angel in Rent on Broadway, further showcasing his talent not only as an actor but as a singer and dancer. But it wasnt always an endless line of work for Cruz; he admits that it hasnt always been daisies and roses especially between 2000 and 2010 when he was struggling for roles just so that he can get medical insurance. Still, he persevered to be his authentic self as an actor and landed guest spots on shows as a trans prostitute on Ally McBeal (which he admits was a bit problematic now) as well as The West Wing and Greys Anatomy. Having recently been awarded a Vision Award by the Stonewall Community Foundation, Cruz continues to be a celebrated LGBTQ advocate. As an actor, he has a couple of plates spinning when it comes to stories he wants to tell (he remains tight-lipped on those), but right now, he continues to venture off to the final frontier as role as Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery. Admittedly, he is a Star Trek nerd specifically Next Generation . He said he was a huge Beverly Crusher fan and that he was over the moon to play a doctor on the franchise. Star Trek: Discovery continues Cruzs platform of inclusive storytelling because of the first same-sex relationship in the history of the franchise. The relationship echoes the basis of which Gene Roddenberry started Star Trek : an ideal world where our differences are celebrated rather than demonized. I think people turn to this show and maybe even all sci-fi and fantasy because sometimes the world that we actually exist in falls short of our dreams, and I think sci-fi and fantasy and Star Trek , in particular, gives us an opportunity to dream and dream big, right? he said. I think Star Trek offers us an opportunity to visualize the ideal, what it would look like and I know its trite and its been said over and over again, but if you can see it, you can be it. Cruz, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, also champions representation of Latino stories just as much as LGBTQ stories. In fact, some of the projects he is working on have Latino narratives (again, he remains tight-lipped on those). There seems to be somewhat of a void when it comes to Latino stories on film and Cruz points out that with the numbers the community can pull in at the box office, there should be more. He points out: Just like African-American women are the key to the election in 2020
Latinos are the people who are buying movie tickets. So they need to be speaking to us. With films like West Side Story and In the Heights on the horizon, he hopes that the doors will fling wide open for more nuanced stories beyond cartel and chola narratives. I think its an issue of a) us creating and being confident in the fact that our stories are worth being told and made, and access to the people who can get them made, he said of creating more Latino-centered films. We talk a lot about creating storytellers and supporting them, but are we giving them access to money? Are we giving them access to marketing? Are we giving them the access it takes to see the kind of success or give them the eyeballs and the opportunity to succeed?.. We need to be a bit more I was going to say assertive, but Im going to say aggressive. From My So-Called Life to Rent to guest spots on various TV shows and films to Star Trek: Discovery and the animated The Bravest Knight , Cruz has maintained a career and proved that advocacy does not have to be compromised in Hollywood. I literally blazed my own trail, he said. I had to knock my own doors down. I make no apologies for that, I think thats your job as an actor. You have to demand to be seen, no matter gay, straight, whatever. But you have to believe in yourself enough to demand to be seen. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . |
Republicans strike back at ActBlue, launch ‘WinRed’
On Monday, Republicans launched their own version ofActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform. Striking back at Democrats who raised roughly$175 million inthe first quarter, the GOP hopes to capitalize on the popularity of grassroots fundraising. While Democrats have seen a lot of success with small-dollar donors, it hasn’t translated broadly across the aisle.
Republicans still heavily rely on large-dollar donations from the wealthy who give generously to super-PACS like the Congressional and Senate Leadership Funds. President Donald Trump has been one of the few candidates to have bucked this trend. The president has been campaigning since the day after his 2016 election, and by the end of March, is headed into the 2020 elections with just under $41 million cash on hand, according to hiscampaign’s filingswith the election commission. He raised $30 million in the first quarter alone.
According to a statement from WinRed, Trump’s campaign and national party committees have started to migrate their online fundraising operations to WinRed.
“The Trump campaign will be the most innovative presidential campaign in American history, and WinRed is a critical component of our strategy,” Brad Parscale, campaign manager for the Trump campaign, said in a statement.
“Trump supporters are the most enthusiastic in American politics, and with WinRed, we will have the cutting-edge technology needed to translate grassroots enthusiasm into the resources we need to win in 2020.”
The Trump campaign won’t be alone on the WinRed platform. It is joined by the Republican National Committee (RNC), the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
“Working together with GOP candidates up and down the ballot, WinRed represents a game-changer for turning grassroots enthusiasm into online fundraising and then into votes. It is therefore a key component to a winning strategy for 2020 and elections to come,” WinRed said in a release.
But it is still unclear if Republicans will be able to replicate the same success with grassroots fundraising as Trump and the Democrats. Until the launch of WinRed, Republicans didn’t have one central location to donate to multiple candidates and campaigns. That became clear during the 2018 midterm elections, when ActBlue helped fuelunprecedented spendingfor Democrats.
“WinRed is building infrastructure to unify and modernize Republican fundraising for years to come,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. “WinRed will help Republicans up and down the ballot to more creatively and efficiently raise campaign dollars online, direct resources where they are needed most, and most importantly win elections in 2020 and beyond.”
If Democrats are worried about Republicans launching WinRed, they didn’t show it Monday. In atweet, ActBlue responded to WinRed’s launch.
“Trump & the GOP have decided they want in on the power of the grassroots,” the group wrote. “But you can’t manufacture the people power that small-dollar donors on the left have built over the last 15 years. We’re excited to help them continue to make change in 2019 & 2020.”
Kristin Myers is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow heron Twitter.
Read more:
• Minimum wage hasn't been raised for the longest time in history
• Abortion bans could cost American taxpayers billions of dollars each year
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Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance |
Milan-Cortina triumph highlights Italy's north-south divide
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Italy's winning bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics highlighted the growing gap between the north and the south of the country. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo won the vote Monday to stage the Games as International Olympic Committee members voted 47-34 for the long-favored bid over Stockholm-Are from Sweden. It is the third time an Olympic Games will be held in the north of Italy after Turin hosted in 2006 and Cortina staged in 1956 and comes shortly after two Rome bids for the Summer Games had to be scrapped. Rome, which hosted the Olympics in 1960, was forced to end its bid for the 2024 Games because of staunch opposition from the city mayor. And in 2012, then-premier Mario Monti scrapped the city's candidacy for the 2020 edition because of financial concerns. "Milan and Rome are so different," Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said. "But the most important thing is that the basic structure of services are different: in terms of public transport, in terms of waste collection, in terms of medicine and so on." The 2026 Games will be held in two of the wealthiest regions of Italy — and indeed Europe. They serve as a contrast to Italy's underdeveloped south, where youth unemployment runs 50 percent or higher, and the jobless rate among all ages is nearly double that in the north. While Rome is Italy's actual capital, Milan is the nation's business and financial capital as well as one of the world's leading fashion hubs. Milan has grown significantly over the past decade and was further boosted by hosting the Expo World Fair in 2015. Expos, which are held every five years, can last up to six months and cost millions of dollars to host, but can also help put a city on the global map by bringing in international visitors and attention — much like hosting an Olympics. "We made a progress in the last 20 years which is impressive and we had the opportunity with Expo to test (the progress)," continued Sala, who was the man responsible for delivering the Expo. Story continues "My hope is that we will see an improvement in Rome because we love Rome ... Milan is more solid at the end of the day." Italian Olympic president Giovanni Malago had a more concise explanation. "Simple," he said, speaking in English. "The mayor of Milan and the mayor of Cortina gave me faith and the mayor of Rome did not give me faith. This is the true." An emotional Malago was close to tears at the winner's news conference. The 60-year-old said it goes some way to easing the pain of the bid being scrapped in Rome — his home city. "There is no personal sense of revenge but just the really great win of a Olympic commitee of which I have the honor to be president," Malago said. "I think in life you have to risk things, responsibly, and our courage was rewarded. "The wound has closed completely but if you lift up the shirt you'll see the scar. The scar will always remain because Rome remains my city." ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Stocks mixed as investors await Trump-Xi meeting
U.S. stocks were mixed as investors digested a spate of concerns abroad and awaited signals of progress in U.S.-China trade talks.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) edged down 0.17%, or 5.1 points, as of market close. The Dow (^DJI) edged up 0.03%, or 8.68 points, led by advances in Dow Inc. (DOW). The Nasdaq (^IXIC) slipped 0.32%, or 26.01 points.
Despite stocks’ lack of conviction Monday, U.S. equities had surged through the beginning of June as central bankers around the world expressed a willingness to implement looser monetary policy to help support their respective economies. The S&P 500 rose 7.2% in June through Friday’s close, representing its best start to the month on record, based on data extending back to 1960.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions continued to test investors.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would impose sanctions on Iran, as a response to Iranian forces downing an unmanned U.S. drone last week, according tomultiplereports. Further impositions on the country would extend a pressure campaign the U.S. began last year, after Trump removed the U.S. from a 2015 nuclear deal and imposed sanctions to try and push Iran to accept limits to its nuclear program. The sanctions have hit Iran’s key oil sector, and are part of the Trump administration’s ambitions to send Tehran’s oil exports to zero.
Trump’s threats come after a spate of recent attacks on oil tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz, a major passageway for oil transit. The U.S. has pinned responsibility on Iran for these events. Last week, Iranian forces downed a U.S. spy drone, reportedly spurring Trump to order a military strike again Iran before reversing his decision. Crude oil prices fluctuated amid mounting tensions with one of the world’s top crude exporters.
China also remains in the crosshairs. The Trump administration is reportedly considering requiring that 5G cellular equipment to be used in the U.S. be designed and manufactured outside of China, Wall Street Journalreported Sunday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Such a move would require force companies that supply equipment to U.S. wireless carriers, such as Nokia and Ericsson, to move operations out of China, the WSJ noted.
Later this week, Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are set to meet at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, which takes place from June 28 to 29. Trump wrote in a Twitter post last week that he had spoke with Xi over the phone and intended to have an“extended meeting” with the leaderthis week.
While the meeting will be a focal point for investors, this week, it is not likely to yield a major breakthrough in the ongoing trade war. It may, however, lay the groundwork for future progress, some analysts said.
“Our expectation for the G20 meeting is that both sides will commit to re-engage to reach an eventual agreement,” Goldman Sachs’ Jan Hatzius wrote in a note. “This would likely involve a commitment by the U.S. to temporarily refrain from increasing tariffs.”
However, “some additional tariff escalation is more likely than not” even as talks continue, Hatzius added.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative isholding hearings through Tuesdayto discuss previously proposed tariffs on approximately $300 billion worth of Chinese products.
Eldorado Resorts (ERI) has agreed to buy Caesars Entertainment (CZR)in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $8.58 billion, which would create one of the largest gambling consortiums in the country. Eldorado is purchasing all of Caesar’s shares outstanding for $12.75 each in cash and Eldorado stock, representing a 28% premium from Caesar’s closing price Friday. The deal has an about $17.3 billion value including debt, according to astatement. Caesars will retain its name in the new combined company and will continue to trade on the Nasdaq.
Daimler AG (DAI.DE) issued its third downgrade to guidance in 12 months,saying Sunday that it expected its 2019 operating profit to come in near last year’s level, versus previous guidance for a modest earnings gain for the year. The automaker said it expects a return on sales for Mercedes-Benz Vans for the year to be negative 2% to negative 4%, down from previous guidance to flat to up 2%.Daimler saidthe dimmer outlook is a result of “an increase in expected expenses” as a result of ongoing proceedings stemming from allegations of distorting emissions tests.
Texas manufacturers reported a sharp declinein their perceptions of business conditions in June, according to the Dallas Federal Reserve’s monthly manufacturing activity survey. The index tracking manufacturers’ perceptions of broader business conditions fell to a three-year low of -12.1, from -5.3 in May. Consensus economists polled by Bloomberg expected the index to improve to a reading of -2.0 in June. The index measuring uncertainty in companies’ outlooks climbed to 21.6, the highest level since the question was added to the survey in January 2018.
Meanwhile, factory activity in Texas expanded in June. The index measuring production output rose by 1.6 points to 8.9 in June, pointing to slight growth acceleration from May.
The Chicago Federal Reserve’s National Activity Indexregistered a reading of -0.05 in May, an improvement from a downwardly revised -0.48 in April. The pickup in economic growth for the month was led by an advance in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed said in a statement. The index comprises a weighted average of 85 indicators of economic activity, including production and income, employment, personal consumption, and inventory data. Negative readings indicate below-average growth.
—
Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance.Follow her on Twitter: @emily_mcck
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• Don’t say ‘IPO’: What to know about Slack’s direct listing
• Buffett on the American economy, capitalism: ‘It works’
• Tech companies like Lyft want your money – not ‘your opinion’
• Levi Strauss shares jump more than 30% above IPO price at open
• Facebook sued by Trump administration for alleged ‘discriminatory’ ad practices
• Boeing 737 Max groundings ‘pressure’ U.S. economic data: Wells Fargo
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Disney Is Building a Full-Fledged Marvel Land...and Its Coming SOON
From Cosmopolitan Fresh off the heels of Disneylands Star Wars: Galaxys Edge opening, the L.A. Times reports the park fully intends to power through and open Marvel Land in its California Adventure park...next year. The news of Marvel Land isnt new nor is the fact that its expected open date is 2020, but the recent startling progress around it is. The paper continues: The city of Anaheim has approved a handful of building permits for projects such as a bathroom overhaul, a retail outlet, a microbrewery, a character meet-and-greet area, plus improvements to behind-the-scenes buildings. One of the permits, approved Wednesday, allows for a 2,071-square-foot merchandise outlet, with three attached canopies. For comparison, the average home in the Western U.S. is 1,800 square feet, according to census data. Another figure thatll blow you away? The permits approved by the city thus far will yield at least $14 million in construction work. Thats likely (1) the tip of the iceberg with the expansion costs to come and (2) going to be nothing for Disney, seeing as Avengers: Endgame has made around $2 billion worldwide so far. Thats just about all the info out there for now, although we do also know there are more Marvel Landrelated details to drop this summer. According to ABC 7 , the world can expect to know more come the annual D23 Expo this August in Anaheim. You can read more about the Disneyland expansion over at the L.A. Times . Or you can sit here with me in silence and think about how much quality shawarma is in our future. ('You Might Also Like',) 16 Unexpected Fashion Rules That the Royal Family Follows The 8 Best Clarifying Shampoos for Getting Rid of Product Buildup Here's How to Flawlessly Conceal Your Acne |
Markets Right Now: Stocks slip, led by health care
NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
4 p.m.
Health care companies helped pull the broader market slightly lower in a day of listless trading as investors focused on upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and China.
Bristol-Myers Squibb fell 7.4% Monday.
Caesar's rose 14.5% after Eldorado Resorts said it would buy the casino operator for $17.3 billion.
Major indexes drifted between small gains and losses for much of the day, though smaller company stocks fell sharply relative to the rest of the market.
The S&P 500 index fell 5 points, or 0.2%, to 2,945.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 8 points, less than 0.1%, to 26,727. The Nasdaq lost 26 points, or 0.3%, to 8,005.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.02%.
___
11:45 a.m.
Stocks are trading mixed at midday on Wall Street as gains for technology companies are offset by losses in health care and other sectors.
Western Digital rose 2.4% in midday trading Monday, while Bristol-Myers Squibb fell 6.7%.
Caesar's rose 15.4% after Eldorado Resorts said it would buy the casino operator for $17.3 billion.
Investors are looking ahead to a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this week at the Group of 20 summit in Japan.
The S&P 500 edged up 2 points, or 0.1%, to 2,953.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52 points, or 0.2%, to 26,772. The Nasdaq edged up 3 points to 8,036.
Small-company stocks fell.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.02%. The price of oil fell slightly.
___
9:35 a.m.
Stocks are off to a mixed start on Wall Street as gains for technology companies are offset by losses in health care and other sectors.
Western Digital rose 2.2% in early trading Monday, while Bristol-Myers Squibb fell 5.8%.
Caesar's rose 14% after Eldorado Resorts said it would buy the casino operator for $17.3 billion.
Investors will be looking ahead to a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this week at the Group of 20 summit in Japan.
The S&P 500 was little changed at 2,951.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52 points, or 0.2%, to 26,772. The Nasdaq edged up 3 points to 8,036.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.04%. The price of oil rose slightly. |
What Do Analysts Think About Metcash Limited's (ASX:MTS) Growth?
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On 30 April 2019, Metcash Limited (ASX:MTS) released its earnings update. Generally, the consensus outlook from analysts appear somewhat bearish, with profits predicted to rise by 3.4% next year relative to the higher past 5-year average growth rate of 4.7%. With trailing-twelve-month net income at current levels of AU$193m, we should see this rise to AU$199m in 2020. In this article, I've outline a few earnings growth rates to give you a sense of the market sentiment for Metcash in the longer term. Readers that are interested in understanding the company beyond these figures shouldresearch its fundamentals here.
Check out our latest analysis for Metcash
The 10 analysts covering MTS view its longer term outlook with a positive sentiment. Generally, broker analysts tend to make predictions for up to three years given the lack of visibility beyond this point. To get an idea of the overall earnings growth trend for MTS, I’ve plotted out each year’s earnings expectations and inserted a line of best fit to determine an annual rate of growth from the slope of this line.
This results in an annual growth rate of 4.2% based on the most recent earnings level of AU$193m to the final forecast of AU$213m by 2022. EPS reaches A$0.23 in the final year of forecast compared to the current A$0.21 EPS today. With a current profit margin of 1.5%, this movement will result in a margin of 1.6% by 2022.
Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Metcash, I've put together three pertinent aspects you should look at:
1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk.
2. Valuation: What is Metcash worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? Theintrinsic value infographic in our free research reporthelps visualize whether Metcash is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Metcash? Exploreour interactive list of stocks with large growth potentialto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Should student loan debt be canceled?
The 360 is a feature designed to show you diverse perspectives on the days top stories. Speed read What's happening: The rising cost of education and the increasing necessity of a college degree in many professions have led to an explosion in student loan debt in the U.S. Americans now owe $1.56 trillion a figure some experts have called a "crisis" for the economy. Many 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have proposed measures to alleviate the financial burdens that come with higher education, plans that include free college, more favorable loan agreements and moves to rein in for-profit universities. On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, unveiled the most radical measure: an aggressive proposal to eliminate all student loan debt . The measure would be funded by a proposed tax on Wall Street speculation. Sanders' plan goes a step further than the one from Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass., which would vary the amount of loan forgiveness based on the borrower's income and be funded by an "ultra-millionaire tax". Why there's debate: Despite its trillion-dollar scale, Sanders' proposal would directly help only 45 million people, or roughly 14 percent of Americans. Individuals who chose not to go to college and those who have already paid off their loans would be left out. Although there's relatively broad agreement on both sides of the aisle that the problem of student loan debt needs to be addressed, The plans from Sanders and Warren represent a substantial redistribution of wealth that may prove far too ambitious for conservatives and more moderate liberals. Some progressives have also expressed concern that student loan forgiveness plans would disproportionately benefit people from upper- and middle-class families, since they are more likely to go to college or pursue expensive advanced degrees. Others argue that an investment of that size would have a greater impact if it were spent on other initiatives such as anti-poverty programs. Story continues What's next: Polling suggests that a significant majority of Americans believe reducing student debt is important. But support for loan forgiveness is more split along demographic lines like age and race, with young people and people of color largely in favor. Both Republicans and Democrats have proposed more incremental bills to change the student loan system, though it appears unlikely any of them will advance through a divided Congress. The possibility of a broad student loan forgiveness program becoming a reality is almost certainly on hold until after the 2020 election. In the short term, Sanders's proposal establishes the progressive flank on a subject that is broadly important to voters, especially in the Democratic base, just days before the first primary debate. Whether it results in a shift to the left on the issue among her rivals in the 2020 field, or the Democratic Party as a whole, remains to be seen. PERSPECTIVES: Canceling student debt would provide a major economic boost "Almost no degree guarantees a decent job these days. Yet society still pushes that lie. As a result, our economy will never thrive with so many people under the boot of predatory education lending and collection." Esther J. Cepeda, Houston Chronicle "Indeed, student debt abolition and free college would be a win-win for the entire country. Not only would debtors get relief, academic research shows it would be a significant stimulus that might 'supercharge' the economy and help address the racial wealth gap. Money currently used to pay back loans with interest would be redirected to other goods and services." Astra Taylor, The Guardian America needs to invest in education. Student loan forgiveness would help. "The Warren plan is squarely on target for recognizing real threats of student debt and for-profit colleges and proposing sweeping investments in the countrys intellectual armed forces. Derek Newton, Forbes "It is complicated and potentially fraught and has many specifics that will have to be more thoroughly vetted, and some groups will benefit more than others, but as a statement of values, it is clear. It is a vision that says higher education should be accessible to people regardless of race, class, or place of origin." John Warner, Inside Higher Ed People would be unfairly rewarded for failing to pay off their debts "This pander will not only be incredibly costly, but it will be a slap in the face to those who have already struggled to pay off their student loans without government assistance." Philip Klein, Washington Examiner "A lot of people have sacrificed for years to pay back the money they borrowed from their fellow citizens for their education. Theyd be justified in asking: If I had to pay it back, why dont others?" Editorial, Chicago Tribune Freeing vulnerable people from debt would reduce inequality "I dont know if Id personally place a debt-forgiveness plan like she has proposed at the very center of a left-wing agenda (the very poor could use some help first). But there are certainly much more appalling things than a transfer from the ultra-wealthy to the middle class." Jordan Weissmann, Slate The plans offer help to those who least need it "If some politician had suggested canceling my debt, I might have signed on to the movement. But it would have been a silly movement, one that conflated the real struggles of poor and working-class young adults with the mild discomforts of the professional class." David Leonhardt, New York Times "People with college degrees in the United States tend to be the most well-off members of our society. But many on the left are insistent on the notion that this group needs a bailout." Beth Akers, New York Daily News The plans are unrealistically expensive "I think that even though the taxes on the wealthy are probably enough to pay for this one specific thing, you can only tap that wealth this many times. And in the aggregate, what shes proposing is probably not feasible." Policy expert Ben Ritz quoted by Newsweek Read More 360s Parkland student loses Harvard offer: Fair or unjust? Do body cameras make the police and the public safer? Should sex offenders be chemically castrated? |
Financial Cheat Day: Treat Yourself Without Blowing Your Budget
The occasional splurge doesn't have to ruin your budget. Here's how to treat yourself responsibly.
Image source: Getty Images
When you're living on a budget, it can seem as though you never get to do anything fun with your cash. You don't want to live in a state of constant deprivation, so it's important to reward yourself with some little treats now and then. The key is to splurge responsibly and make sure you get the most value from your fun money.
This is easier said than done, but the tips below can help you to make the most of the treats you give yourself when you're trying to put most of your money toward big financial goals.
When you treat yourself as a reward for financial responsibility, the last thing you want to do is undo all that hard work by overspending. So make sure you budget for your splurge and know how much you can afford to spend withoutgoing into debtor having too little cash for your other financial goals.
As you decide what to do with your splurge money, consider using it to fund an experience you'll enjoy, rather than buying more stuff. Research has shown that investing in experiences can often bring more long-term happiness than investing in material possessions.
When you use your money to head to the beach, see a play, or go white water rafting, you get the joy of planning and anticipating the event, the experience itself, and the lifelong memories of it. Chances are, those memories will keep you happier long after the item you could've purchased started gathering dust on the shelf.
If youaregoing to buy stuff, it helps to have an idea of what you want long before you actually get the cash in your hand. By keeping a wish list, you get the joy of anticipating buying the item and planning for it. You also can make sure you're using your money for something you've really wanted for a long time, rather than buying something in the spur of the moment.
Unless you're shopping off of a wish list you've had for a long time, don't rush into making a big purchase with your splurge money. You may feel happiness in the moment, but you may come to regret the purchase later if it doesn't bring you long-term satisfaction.
The 24-hour rule will give you time to consider whether you actually want the item you're thinking of buying. Plus you can use the time to shop around for the best price and the best model of whatever it is you're buying.
You want your splurge money to stretch as far as possible, so always take advantage of bargains on the items you hope to buy. You can search for coupons to print or promo codes to enter in online checkout. You can also seek out discounted gift cards for the place you plan to shop, or you can look forcash-back offersthat will allow you to recoup some of the money you spend.
If you use these five tips when it comes to your financial splurges, you can relish spending money on things you enjoy -- without worrying about blowing your budget and setting back your efforts to hit major financial milestones. You're more likely toreallyenjoy the money you spend on yourself when you use the cash wisely.
The Motley Fool owns and recommends MasterCard and Visa, and recommends American Express. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule. If we wouldn’t recommend an offer to a close family member, we wouldn’t recommend it on The Ascent either. Our number one goal is helping people find the best offers to improve their finances. That is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. |
MassChallenge FinTech and The Financial Revolutionist Announce Strategic Partnership
BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2019 /MassChallenge FinTech, a program matching enterprise-ready fintech startups with industry-leading corporate partners, today announced its partnership withThe Financial Revolutionist. The FR is a digital community for financial institutions and fintechs to access resources to thrive in the new era of financial innovation. This partnership signifies an aligned mission to further transform the financial services landscape through innovative technologies and solutions.
"Innovation has become central to the success of institutional financial services," said Harvey Hudes, CEO of The Financial Revolutionist. "What we're witnessing isn't garden-variety industry disruption. That's why we're excited about our collaboration with MassChallenge FinTech, because the program is focused on creating partnerships for financial services stalwarts to assist startups in rapidly transitioning from walk to run. This will foster the evolution of financial services, as well as better products and services for end users, which is central to our mission."
Launched in May 2018, MassChallenge FinTech is supported by a public-private partnership that includes founding partners Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Putnam Investments, Fidelity Investments, Citizens Bank, John Hancock, and the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP), challenge partners Eastern Bank, AARP, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Walmart, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and community partners FinTech Sandbox, Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator, and Brandeis International Business School. The program matches several of their partners with cutting-edge fintech startups to solve pressing challenges such as AI-powered research assistance, big data for small businesses, and student finances. Partners and startups work together from January through June, with the goal of continuing partnerships well beyond the program.
MassChallenge FinTech is excited to welcome The Financial Revolutionist to its diverse group of partners in asset management, insurance, retail and commercial banking, e-commerce, transportation, and education. Together, The Financial Revolutionist and MassChallenge FinTech will work to inspire innovation across financial services through driving results and sharing actionable insights with the greater community.
"The Financial Revolutionist is a like-minded, forward-thinking organization, and we have always admired their thoughtful, relevant content," said Devon Sherman, Program Director of MassChallenge FinTech. "We're excited to combine forces to continue to build and unite the fintech community through shared insights and knowledge."
MassChallenge FinTech is wrapping up its inaugural year and looks forward to celebrating its top startups with $200K in equity-free cash prizes this week. Both organizations anticipate a fruitful partnership for the 2020 program.
For more information on MassChallenge FinTech and how to apply or become a partner, visithere. To learn more about The Financial Revolutionist, this partnership, and how to subscribe,visit the website.
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, and Texas, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than 2,300 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $5 billion in funding, generated more than $2.7 billion in revenue, and created more than 136,000 total jobs. Learn more about MassChallenge atmasschallenge.org.
About The FR
The Financial Revolutionist arms its community of financial institutions and fintechs with resources to thrive in the new era of financial innovation. Launched in 2015, The FR's mission is to drive the conversation through editorial perspectives and create invaluable insights from proprietary software intelligence products. Members benefit from: The Weekly Briefing, a best-in-class tech newsletter according to Business Insider, which reaches 180,000+ readers every Saturday; and access to SaaS products, including Event Analyzer, a first-of-a-kind platform to help users make data-driven decisions about their investments for more than 250 fintech and financial services events. To become a member, visitthefr.comtoday, and follow The FR onTwitterandLinkedIn.
Media Contact
Luke LennonMassChallenge FinTech781-588-6964luke@masschallenge.org
SOURCE:Caliber Corporate Advisers
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/549709/MassChallenge-FinTech-and-The-Financial-Revolutionist-Announce-Strategic-Partnership |
What Kind Of Shareholders Own Sietel Limited (ASX:SSL)?
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The big shareholder groups in Sietel Limited (ASX:SSL) have power over the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Warren Buffett said that he likes 'a business with enduring competitive advantages that is run by able and owner-oriented people'. So it's nice to see some insider ownership, because it may suggest that management is owner-oriented.
Sietel is not a large company by global standards. It has a market capitalization of AU$58m, which means it wouldn't have the attention of many institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions are not on the share registry. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about SSL.
See our latest analysis for Sietel
Small companies that are not very actively traded often lack institutional investors, but it's less common to see large companies without them.
There are many reasons why a company might not have any institutions on the share registry. It may be hard for institutions to buy large amounts of shares, if liquidity (the amount of shares traded each day) is low. If the company has not needed to raise capital, institutions might lack the opportunity to build a position. It is also possible that fund managers don't own the stock because they aren't convinced it will perform well. Sietel's earnings and revenue track record (below) may not be compelling to institutional investors -- or they simply might not have looked at the business closely.
We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Sietel. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.
The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.
I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.
It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Sietel Limited. Insiders own AU$7.1m worth of shares in the AU$58m company. I would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You canclick here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.
With a 11% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over SSL. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.
Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 77%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.
I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too.
I always like to check for ahistory of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart ofhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph.
Of coursethis may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreefreelist of interesting companies.
NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
KeyBanc Likes HMS, But Is Awaiting A Better Entry Point
HMS Holdings Corp’s(NASDAQ:HMSY) stock provides a way for investors to gain exposure to the growing use of artificial intelligence and robotic process automation for improving health management and reducing payment errors and fraud in the U.S. healthcare industry, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets.
The Analyst
KeyBanc’sDonald Hookerinitiated coverage of HMS Holdings with a Sector Weight rating.
The Thesis
HMS Holdings has a strong presence in the Medicaid space, given that it's the incumbent provider of third-party liability services for more than 40 state Medicaid programs and over 325 associated Managed Medicaid plans. This gives the company a “somewhat recession resistant profile,” Hooker said in a note.
The company generates around 80% of its revenues from Medicaid programs. Over the past 20 years, state government spending on Medicaid entitlement programs has grown at an annual rate of more than 6%, and KeyBanc’s projections for HMS Holdings are based on this trend.
Hooker said multiple states are likely to add benefits and expand the eligibility criteria in their Medicaid programs. Moreover, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 has provided a small boost to HMS Holdings in states where Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits are administered separately from Medicaid.
While HMS Holdings is likely to generate high-single-digit organic revenue growth and expand its operating margins going ahead, Hooker said its stock appears fairly valued at the current levels.
Price Action
Shares of HMS Holdings fell 3.3% Monday to close at $30.81.
Latest Ratings for HMSY
[{"Jun 2019": "Apr 2019", "": "", "Initiates Coverage On": "Initiates Coverage On", "Sector Weight": "Buy"}, {"Jun 2019": "Apr 2019", "": "Neutral", "Initiates Coverage On": "Upgrades", "Sector Weight": "Overweight"}]
View More Analyst Ratings for HMSYView the Latest Analyst Ratings
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© 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. |
Janelle Monae on racial and gender inclusion: “I want us to have a seat at the table”
As Janelle Monáe continues to advance in her career as a musician, actress, and social activist, she wants more for the intersectional female communities that she identifies with. “I want us to be included on the front end,” the singer, nominated for multiple Grammy awards and known for her roles in the Academy Award acclaimed films “Hidden Figures” and “ Moonlight,” told Yahoo Finance’s On The Move. “I want us to have that seat at the table on the front end where we’re coming up with these ideas around inclusion, around hiring more women. We’re here. We just have to have the opportunity to express our gifts and our talent.” It’s part of what led Monáe to further expand her partnership with Polish vodka brand Belvedere Vodka. They teamed up to launch a limited-edition bottle in the beginning of June designed around the theme of global integration, everyone coming together and “saying hey we may be from different parts of the world but this is how i see the world, let’s talk about a beautiful future that works for both me and you.” It celebrates Monáe and Belvedere’s shared vision of the importance of “diversity, self-expression, and inclusion.” Janelle Monáe poses with her limited-edition bottle of Belvedere Vodka. Credit: Belvedere Vodka The bottle is the latest addition to the ongoing collaborative relationship between Monáe and Belvedere Vodka. The partnership kicked off last year after Belvedere hosted a brunch for Monáe’s “Fem the Future” movement, which was created “to provide women and people that identify as women with opportunities through mentorship and educational programs. Another brunch will take place later this year in November. “It’s not just about sticking my name to a brand,” Monáe said. She went on to emphasize that genuine discussions getting to know and relating to Belvedere Vodka President and CEO Rodney Williams and his team was what confirmed that this was the right partnership to further her goals of improving diversity and inclusion for women and African-Americans. “We can perform at a high level. We’re capable. We’re smart. We’re brilliant. We have the ideas,” said Monáe. “It’s about making sure that those who are in the position of power are looking back and really pulling us in on the front end of those conversations.” Story continues Marabia Smith is a producer for Yahoo Finance On the Move. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , Flipboard , SmartNews , LinkedIn , YouTube , and reddit . |
Why These Innovative Biotech ETFs Soaring
We have seen very strong M&A activity in the biotech space this year and the trend is expected to continue as big pharmaceutical companies are trying to gain an edge in the increasingly competitive cancer treatment market.
Last week, Pfizer (PFE) announced that it would buy cancer drug maker Array BioPharma (ARRY) for about $11 billion. Pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers (BMY) is acquiring rival Celgene (CELG) for $74 billion,which however may be delayed due to FTC’s anticompetitive concerns about the merger.
Merck (MRK) is acquiring cancer drug developer Peloton Therapeutics for $1.05 billion. The announcement came as Peloton was preparing for its IPO. Earlier this year, Eli Lilly (LLY) bought Loxo Oncology for $8 billion.
ETFs that focus on smaller biotech companies are outperforming the broader, market-cap weighted biotech ETFs this year.
Investors should however remember that small biotech companies can be quite volatile. Further, many companies have products in clinical trials where chances of failure are high so these should be seen as high-risk, high-growth potential investments.
The ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF (ARKG) is an actively managed ETF that focuses on companies involved in the genomics industry. The product is up more than 36% this year. Its top holdings include Illumina (ILMN) and Invitae (NVTA).
The ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO) holds mid cap and small cap biotech companies with one or more drugs in Phase II or III of FDA clinical trials. FibroGen (FGEN) and ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) are its top holdings. The fund has gained about 28% in 2019.
The Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF (BTEC) invests in mid cap and small cap healthcare companies developing innovative medicines, therapies, equipment, and facilities. It is up more than 22% year-to-date.
To learn more about these ETFs, please watch the short video above,
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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free reportInvitae Corporation (NVTA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportPfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMerck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis ReportEli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportPrincipal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF (BTEC): ETF Research ReportsALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO): ETF Research ReportsIllumina, Inc. (ILMN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportArray BioPharma Inc. (ARRY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCelgene Corporation (CELG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG): ETF Research ReportsTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report |
EMERGING MARKETS-Brazil, Mexico currencies slip, Latam stocks mostly gain
(Updates prices) By Susan Mathew June 24 (Reuters) - Mexico's peso and the Brazilian real fell on Monday, while most other Latin American currencies firmed against a weaker dollar as investors awaited the G20 summit where the U.S. and Chinese presidents are expected to meet to revive trade talks. Argentina's peso rose 0.9% as the dollar weakened on bets the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates more than once this year, while currencies in Chile and Peru gained 0.1% and 0.4% respectively, with Chile's peso on track to post gains for a fifth straight session. Investors are watching for the outcome of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit that begins on Friday, when they are expected to revive trade discussions. "We anticipate that a pledge to return to negotiations will be more likely - an outcome that should continue to support risk in the coming weeks and exacerbate USD momentum to the downside," wrote Mazen Issa, a senior FX analyst at TD Securities. Brazil's real fell 0.1% after four days of gains, while Mexico's peso slipped 0.3%, in a week that will culminate in a Bank of Mexico interest rate meeting on Friday. "We expect little dovish bias from Banxico due to developments in the core inflation and inflation expectations complex," wrote Sacha Tihanyi, deputy head of emerging markets strategy at TD. "Any dovish messaging will come via the growth outlook, however these concerns will not dominate inflation expectations and core price dynamics, which currently do not imply rates cuts at this point in time," he said, adding that an unexpectedly dovish statement may push fixed income inflows and bolster the currency. Data on Monday showed that Mexican inflation rose at a slightly slower-than-expected pace in the first half of June. Another set showed the country's economy grew only slightly in April, and contracted by 1.4 percent compared to a year ago. In Brazil, a central bank survey showed that the outlook for Brazil's economy continued to deteriorate. Separate data showed that the current account swung back into surplus from a deficit the prior month, albeit below expectations. May foreign capital flows, however, rose to the highest in years. Among stocks, Argentine shares slipped 0.6%, while those in Chile and Mexico gained. Brazil shares traded flat, having scaled fresh life highs earlier in the session. Airline stocks Gol Linhas and Brazil listed shares of Azul SA lost 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively. Brazil's antitrust regulator said it wants new rules for allocating airplane landing and departure rights in Sao Paulo's crowded domestic airport, saying they are too concentrated among two main airlines - LATAM Airlines and Gol. LATAM Airlines shed almost 1%. Markets in Colombia were closed for a local holiday. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2003 GMT: Stock indexes Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 1054.06 0.08 MSCI LatAm 2876.74 -0.09 Brazil Bovespa 102100.01 0.09 Mexico IPC 43727.09 0.46 Chile IPSA 5092.48 0.64 Argentina MerVal 40053.77 -0.6 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 3.8263 -0.01 Mexico peso 19.1904 -0.37 Chile peso 680.6 0.46 Peru sol 3.301 -0.03 Argentina peso 42.4200 0.90 (interbank) (Reporting by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by Susan Thomas) |
John Stamos Breaks Silence on Lori Loughlin's College Admissions Scandal: 'Difficult Situation'
John Stamos has addressed his longtime friend and costar Lori Loughlin s alleged involvement in the nationwide college admissions scandal . Speaking to Entertainment Tonight , Stamos, 55, did not clarify whether a final decision has been made about Loughlins involvement in the upcoming season of Fuller House . The Netflix series, a reboot of the original Full House , was picked up for a fifth and final season in January. The series began filming three months after Loughlin, 54, was accused of allegedly paying to have her daughters admitted to college as crew recruits despite the fact that they do not participate in the sport. I havent been on the show yet and it hasnt come up, so Im going to talk to some people about it this week and see whats going on, said Stamos, who is producing the season. Im just going to wait a little longer before I talk about it. Its a difficult situation for everyone involved, he added. I dont mean just on our side. RELATED: Fuller House Producers Want to Protect the Shows Child Stars After Lori Loughlins Arrest According to Stamos, the final season will be split into two parts, with nine episodes each. A premiere date has not yet been announced. The Hallmark Channel severed ties with the actress after the scandal broke, and The Hollywood Reporter reported in March that Loughlin would not return to Fuller House . (She was not a series regular.) A source also recently told PEOPLE that the star is not working . RELATED: Lori Loughlins Full House Character Once Chastised John Stamos Uncle Jesse Over Preschool Scam Jerod Harris/WireImage Earlier this month, Candace Cameron Bure also said she had no idea what would happen to Loughlins character Aunt Becky on the show. It hasnt been discussed, she told Entertainment Tonight . I have absolutely no answer for it, and Netflix has not even spoken about it, so I have no answer. Story continues RELATED: Bob Saget Avoids Commenting on Lori Loughlins College Admission Scandal: Its a Strange Time On March 12, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts announced that it had charged 50 people, including Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli , in the cheating scandal. Along with coaches, admissions counselors and fellow parents, they were accused of alleged crimes such as falsifying SAT scores and lying about the athletic skills of their children. Prosecutors alleged that Loughlin and her husband paid $500,000 to admissions consultant William Rick Singer and his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), which prosecutors said was actually a front for accepting bribes, to have their daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team despite the fact that they did not participate in crew thereby facilitating their admission to USC. (Neither Olivia Jade , 19, and Isabella Rose, 20, were listed on the USC womens rowing roster.) RELATED: Amid the College Admissions Scandal, Here Are 8 Organizations Helping Disadvantaged Students Singer has since admitted his role as the ringleader of the scam and has pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Loughlin and Giannulli were indicted on an additional charge of fraud and money laundering in April. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for each charge. The couple pleaded not guilty after turning down a plea deal because it included jail time. Their attorneys have not returned PEOPLEs requests for comment. A source told PEOPLE earlier this month that the couple is attempting to maintain some sense of normalcy as they await their fate. Its just a strange situation when you are used to working, and all you do instead is focus on court dates and your legal defense, the source said. Its not the happiest situation. RELATED: Lori Loughlins Daughter Olivia Jade Moves Out of Family Home to Focus on Her Own Life: Source The couples next court date is set for Oct. 2, and according to another source, the long wait has been excruciating for the actress and her husband. People who are not in the legal field often dont understand how long these things take, the source said. Lori and Mossimo are seeing firsthand that court cases move slowly. Theyre having to come to terms with the fact that this isnt going away anytime soon, added the source. This will be over their heads all summer long, and it could still be pending during the holidays. At this point, they have to get used to the new normal. |
Natural Gas Price Prediction – Prices Surge on Short Covering
Natural gas prices surge on Monday, rising more than 5%, as traders covered short positions. According to the most recent commitment of traders report released for the date ending June 18, 2019, managed money increased short position in futures and options by 23K contracts while reducing long positions by 7K contracts. Managed money traders who are short outnumber those who are long by 150K contracts, which is the most seen in more than 3-years. This could lead to another short squeeze. Supply of natural gas was flat this week while demand fell slightly.
Natural gas prices moved higher on Monday, and are poised to test the former breakdown level near 2.46, which coincides with the 10-day moving average. Support is seen near the June lows at 2.16. Short term momentum has turned positive as the fast stochastic generated a crossover buy signal in oversold territory. The current reading on the fast stochastic is 23, just above the oversold trigger level of 20 which could foreshadow a correction.
Supply is flat despite declining Canadian imports. Data from the IEIA shows that the average total supply of natural gas remained the same as in the previous report week, averaging 93.8 Bcf per day. Although dry natural gas production remained constant week over week, average net imports from Canada decreased by 9% from last week as the Alliance Pipeline issued a force majeure on Tuesday, June 18, halting deliveries into the United States. The pipeline, which is expected to resume operations on June 22, was flowing at capacity (1.77 Bcf/d) before the outage.
Demand falls slightly, driven by declining natural consumption in the electric power sector. Total U.S. consumption of natural gas fell by 1% compared with the previous report week, according to data from the EIA. Natural gas consumed for power generation declined by 1% week over week. Industrial sector consumption decreased by 2% week over week. In the residential and commercial sectors, consumption increased by 3%. Natural gas exports to Mexico increased 2%
Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire
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Why a Group of Billionaires Want Their Taxes Raised
At basically every level―local, state, federal―the tax codes in the U.S. help the already-wealthy get even richer . But a group of billionaires are on the record saying that shouldn't be the case. In an open letter posted to Medium on Monday, 19 billionaires ask all presidential candidates to raise taxes on the richest of the rich: We are writing to call on all candidates for President, whether they are Republicans or Democrats, to support a moderate wealth tax on the fortunes of the richest 1/10 of the richest 1% of Americans—on us. The next dollar of new tax revenue should come from the most financially fortunate, not from middle-income and lower-income Americans. No matter how magnanimous these billionaires are though, they're up against fierce opposition from inside their own tax bracket, including Donald Trump and the activist Koch brothers . Still, raising taxes on the super-wealthy is a popular policy. Fox News's own polling found 65 percent of respondents support raising taxes on anyone making over $1 million per year. In the letter, the co-signers call such a policy "patriotic" and "moral," adding that the revenue could fund things "like clean energy innovation to mitigate climate change, universal child care, student loan debt relief, infrastructure modernization, tax credits for low-income families, public health solutions, and other vital needs." "We thought it would be a good idea," Ian Simmons, whose family started the Montgomery Ward department store chain, told the New York Times . Simmons's wife, Liesel Pritzker Simmons, is an heiress to the Pritzker family, which is worth an estimated $29 billion and is one of the wealthiest families in the country according to Forbes . "Liesel and I decided to reach out to some other folks to see if they thought it was a good idea, too." Other signatories include financier George Soros, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, Disney heiress Abigail Disney, venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, and one "Anonymous" who could have at least included their net worth if they were withholding their name. Hanauer wrote his own open letter , titled "To My Fellow Zillionaires," in 2014, where he warned that the super-rich needed to support more egalitarian policies, saying, "No society can sustain this kind of rising inequality. In fact, there is no example in human history where wealth accumulated like this and the pitchforks didn’t eventually come out." Originally Appeared on GQ |
US STOCKS-S&P 500 slips as healthcare drags, investors eye G20 summit
(For a live blog on the U.S. stock market, click or type LIVE/ in a news window.)
* Healthcare hit by losses in Celgene, Bristol-Myers
* Energy stocks down as crude prices slip
* FedEx drops on Huawei delivery mix-up
* Dow up 0.03%, S&P 500 off 0.17%, Nasdaq down 0.32% (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments to market close)
By Stephen Culp
NEW YORK, June 24 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 edged lower on Monday as losses by healthcare companies overshadowed gains in the technology sector, while investors awaited U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit this week.
The Nasdaq slipped but tariff-sensitive industrials, headed up by Boeing Co, led the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average to a nominal advance.
While the bellwether S&P 500 ended the session in the red, it remained within a hair's breadth of its all-time closing high reached last Thursday as markets reacted to a dovish statement from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Market players hope Trump and Xi will de-escalate the trade war that has been blamed for a global economic slowdown.
"Today's very quiet," said Bruce Monrad, chairman and trustee at Northeast Investors Trust in Boston. "People are digesting the Fed and looking forward to possible outcomes of the G20 and how that could in turn affect the Fed going forward."
A Fed rate cut in July "may be locked and loaded but could be somewhat contingent on what happens at the G20," Monrad added.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 8.41 points, or 0.03%, to 26,727.54, the S&P 500 lost 5.11 points, or 0.17%, to 2,945.35 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 26.01 points, or 0.32%, to 8,005.70.
Six of the 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 lost ground, with the biggest percentage drop for energy stocks as crude prices fell.
In the latest trade-related squabble, FedEx Corp apologized for mistakenly returning a Huawei phone to its sender, after misrouting packages from the Chinese tech firm last month. The move provoked the ire of Chinese authorities and raised the prospect of FedEx being added to China's "unreliable entities" list. The package delivery firm's shares slid by 2.7%.
Caesars Entertainment Corp jumped 14.5% on news that rival Eldorado Resorts Inc had agreed to buy the casino operator for $8.5 billion. Eldorado dropped 10.6%.
United Technologies Corp advanced 1.1% after Cowen & Co upgraded it to "outperform" from "market perform."
Celgene Corp slipped 5.5% after Bristol-Myers Squibb Co announced that its planned $74 billion deal to buy the drugmaker was expected to close at the end of 2019 or beginning 2020, later than expected. Bristol-Myers fell 7.4%.
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.44-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.27-to-1 ratio favored decliners.
The S&P 500 posted 35 new 52-week highs and 5 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 42 new highs and 82 new lows.
Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.31 billion shares, compared to the 7.05 billion average over the last 20 trading days. (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Editing by David Gregorio) |
Why NRC Group Holdings, PCM, and Krystal Biotech Jumped Today
Market participants appeared to play a waiting game on Monday, with major benchmarks making small moves to begin the week. Investors hope that the G-20 summit in Japan that starts this Friday will answer some long-held questions about whether the U.S. can improve its trade relations with key partners like China, and the event could also help central banks around the world unify their strategy with respect to supporting the global economy. Even though the overall market was stuck in early summer doldrums, some stocks had big moves to the upside.NRC Group Holdings(NYSEMKT: NRCG),PCM(NASDAQ: PCMI), andKrystal Biotech(NASDAQ: KRYS)were among the top performers. Here's why they did so well.
Shares of NRC Group Holdings jumped 23% after the waste management company received a buyout bid from an industry peer.US Ecology(NASDAQ: ECOL)offered to give NRC Group investors 0.196 shares of US Ecology for every NRC share they own, working out to an implied price of roughly $12 per share based onrecent trading of US Ecology's stock. The move should help the combined company offer a more comprehensive set of services to its customers, and in particular, NRC's status as one of two oil spill removal specialists will give the post-merger US Ecology valuable business in key energy areas like the Permian Basin, the Eagle Ford shale play, and the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the premium price will have NRC Group investors happy whether they choose to stick with US Ecology or sell their shares.
Image source: NRC Group.
PCM's stock soared 43%following the company's announcement thatInsight Enterprises(NASDAQ: NSIT)will acquire the provider of tech products and services. Under the agreement, Insight will pay $35 per share to PCM investors, putting an enterprise value of $581 million on the acquisition target. Insight believes that buying PCM will help it build market share in key areas that include supply-chain optimization, the connected work force, cloud computing and data center adoption, and digital innovation. The acquirer also believes that buying PCM will boost its earnings by 2020. Given the cutthroat competition in key IT growth areas, it's not surprising to find small companies banding together to fight off larger rivals.
Finally, shares of Krystal Biotech skyrocketed 41%. The gene therapy company released data from its phase 2 study of its KB103 treatment for rare dermatological diseases, and the results were favorable, with positive findings on endpoints including percentage of patients seeing their wounds close properly, the time to 100% wound closure, and the length of time the wound remained closed. Krystal also reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted KB103 its designation as a regenerative medicine advanced therapy, which will give it an opportunity to gain expedited review. Krystal isn't the first company to winRMAT status, but shareholders are happy that the biotech will have a chance to move quickly toward what they hope will be a positive outcome.
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Starbucks (SBUX) and GrubHub (GRUB) Surge This Month: Which is the Better Buy?
Millennial stocks have been on the rise this past month, with trendy names such as GrubHub GRUB, Starbucks SBUX, Snap SNAP, and Canada Goose GOOS up 10% or more.
This recent trend has some analysts betting big on some of these stocks. Mark Tepper, president of Strategic Wealth Partners, is going with GrubHub to be the stock that uses this recent surge to breakthrough and grow substantially this year. Tepper believes consumer behavior is changing and changing quickly. He owes this change to millennials becoming a larger part of the economy and believes it’s time to pay attention to millennial spending habits. Nearly two-thirds of people aged 18-29, and half of those aged 30-44, have used a food delivery service over a three-month period, according to marketing and public relations firm Zion & Zion. The people who were surveyed reported using GrubHub as the service they used most often.
Todd Gordon, founder of TradingAnalysis.com, is picking an alternative contemporary stock. Gordon stated, “Starbucks is actually the largest holding in my portfolio,” going on to comment on the strong run Starbucks has had this year. Starbucks shares have surged more than 30% in 2019, which has been the company’s best run since 2015. The coffee giant also hit a record high last Thursday, which has been its 38th all-time high of the year.
Starbucks and GrubHub have been able to post solid gains and look to use the momentum to carry on their recent growth throughout the fiscal year. With both stocks experiencing strong growth and investors raving about their potential to sustain the expansion, which stock is the better buy? Let’s take a more in-depth look into how the stocks match up.
Starbucks
Starbucks is currently sitting at a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) with a Style Score of B in Growth. Our Zacks Consensus Estimates are currently calling for 17.74% earnings growth with a 5.82% sales growth for the current quarter. Starbucks is projected to see double digit earnings growth through the fiscal year of 2020. The company has seen a year-to-date price increase of 11.48% relative to the S&P 500. On the other hand, the beverage giant has experienced an EPS growth decline of 20% compared to the previous quarter.
GrubHub
GrubHub is listed at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Our Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for a revenue increase of 32.58% for the current quarter, and we are projecting to keep on seeing double digit sales increases through the next fiscal year. On the earnings side of estimates, we are currently expecting to see a decline through the current year but are projecting to see 50% earnings increase for the upcoming year. GrubHub has a Zacks expected surprise prediction of 5.5%. When a stock with a Zacks Rank of 3 or better is accompanied by positive ESP the stock produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Furthermore, the delivery service company also has an expected long-term earnings growth (3-5 years) of 23.16%.
Bottom Line
While both stocks have their individual upsides, Starbucks seems to show stronger short-term growth potential. Starbucks shows strong earnings estimates for the current fiscal quarter which could provide positive returns for potential investors faster than GrubHub can. On the other hand, GrubHub did come out with a larger earnings surprise in the previous quarter with a 20% surprise. GrubHub can potentially use this momentum along with the growing purchasing power of millennials to expand their business. For the time being, Starbucks seems like the stock with the sound growth potential at a valuation that can attract potential investors looking to ride the millennial wave. Starbucks has also been able to outperform its industry year-to-date, a feat that GrubHub was not able to accomplish.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.Click here for the 6 trades >>
Click to get this free reportSnap Inc. (SNAP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportGrubhub Inc. (GRUB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCanada Goose Holdings Inc. (GOOS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportStarbucks Corporation (SBUX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research |
Is There Now An Opportunity In Aveo Group (ASX:AOG)?
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Aveo Group (ASX:AOG), which is in the real estate business, and is based in Australia, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the ASX, rising to highs of A$2.16 and falling to the lows of A$1.86. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Aveo Group's current trading price of A$1.97 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Aveo Group’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
See our latest analysis for Aveo Group
The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my relative valuation model. In this instance, I’ve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock’s cash flows. I find that Aveo Group’s ratio of 6.69x is trading slightly below its industry peers’ ratio of 11.4x, which means if you buy Aveo Group today, you’d be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that Aveo Group should be trading at this level in the long run, then there’s not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. Furthermore, it seems like Aveo Group’s share price is quite stable, which means there may be less chances to buy low in the future now that it’s fairly valued. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta.
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. However, with an extremely negative double-digit change in profit expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth is certainly not a driver of a buy decision. It seems like high uncertainty is on the cards for Aveo Group, at least in the near future.
Are you a shareholder?Currently, AOG appears to be trading around its fair value, but given the uncertainty from negative returns in the future, this could be the right time to de-risk your portfolio. Is your current exposure to the stock optimal for your total portfolio? And is the opportunity cost of holding a negative-outlook stock too high? Before you make a decision on AOG, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.
Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on AOG for a while, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. The price seems to be trading at fair value, which means there’s less benefit from mispricing. Furthermore, the negative growth outlook increases the risk of holding the stock. However, there are also other important factors we haven’t considered today, which can help gel your views on AOG should the price fluctuate below its true value.
Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Aveo Group. You can find everything you need to know about Aveo Group inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Aveo Group, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
India imposing increased, retaliatory tariffs on US exports including apples, almonds
India is now imposing increased tariffs on 28 U.S. products including apples, almonds and walnuts, a move seen as a retaliatory act.
The new tariffs on $240 million worth of goods went into effect Sunday and include levies of up to 70%.
In early June, President Donald Trump announced India would lose its trade privileges with the country as a beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences.
On Saturday, India amended a previous order “to implement the imposition of retaliatory duties on 28 specified goods originating in or exported from USA,” according to a government notification, which noted the existing rate would be preserved on goods for other countries.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to visit India this month, said this week the United States is open to resolving trade differences with the country if there's greater access for U.S. firms to its markets, according to Reuters.
Department of Agriculture data show that India is the largest buyer of the nation's almonds, paying $543 million for more than half of the imports. It's also the second-largest buyer of the nation's apples, buying $156 million worth in 2018.
Other exports included in the higher tariffs include lentils and some chemical products.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter:@KellyTyko
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:India imposing increased, retaliatory tariffs on US exports including apples, almonds |
How tariffs on Mexican imports could affect what you pay for vegetables and cars
An American economy and shopper already bracing for an escalation in the U.S. trade war with China was hit by an equally damaging blow this week when President Donald Trump unexpectedlyratcheted up his battle with Mexico.
From produceto cars, a wide variety of Mexican goodscould become more expensive if Trump follows through on his threat to hit Mexican imports with tariffs that soon could climb to 25%. Trump wants to pressure Mexico into doing more to halt the flow of Central American migrants to the U.S. via the Mexican border.
The tariffs, set to begin June 10, would gradually climb to 25% on Oct. 1 if Mexico doesn’t take steps “to dramatically reduce or eliminate” the number of migrants, Trump said Thursday. Such a strategy would hurt American shoppers, the economy and stocks, experts say, just as U.S. growth is slowing and the threat of more tariffs on Chinese imports looms larger.
After the first 5% tariff in June, tariffs would increase by 5 percentage points each month before reaching 25% on Oct. 1
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USA TODAY economics reporter Paul Davidson breaks down the potential impact.
Mexico is the second-largest exporter to the U.S. behind China, shipping $346.5 billion in goods to the country in 2018, up 10.3% from 2017. Top imports are vehicles, machinery, TVs, furniture, appliances and agricultural products such as avocados and other vegetables, and beer and wine.
The International Emergency Economic Powers act of 1977 does give the president the authority to impose tariffs in a national emergency. Trump has said he regards the influx of migrants through Mexico as such a crisis, using it to justify a shutdown of the Mexican border earlier this year. But Fred Bergsten, co-founding president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, says that claim is dubious and almost certainly would be challenged in court. Even if the border crossings represent an emergency, it’s highly questionable that Mexico could stop them, he says. A federal judge could order the tariffs removed while the case is hashed out in court, Bergsten says.
A 5% tariff would likely be absorbed by retailers and manufacturers. But much of a 25% tariff likely would be passed on to shoppers, Bergsten figures, increasing costs by up $86 billion across the economy. The Trade Partnership, a research group, thinks the overall total of tariffs will be less simply because U.S. retailers and manufacturers will buy less product from Mexico because of the duties.
While a 5% tariff could have no effect, prices could go up by several thousand dollars per model in the worst case scenario – permanent 25% tariffs, says Jeff Schuster, president of global vehicle forecasting at LMC Automotive.
For example, a $30,000 vehicle imported from Mexico would suddenly be hit with $7,500 in duties. How much automakers pass on to car buyers depends on how long the tariffs last, he says.
Key models imported from Mexico to the U.S. include, for example, the second- and third-most popular models in America: Fiat Chrysler’s Ram pickup and GM’s Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Automakers would want to avoid major spikes in individual models, choosing instead to spread out the costs across their entire lineup.
All told, Deutsche Bank projected an average price increase of about $1,300 per vehicle.
“For the consumer I think initially it’s a wait and see, but it could become costly,” Schuster said.
And car parts would be affected, too. “So even holding on to an existing vehicle will become more expensive,” according to the Center for Automotive Research.
One of the first places is the supermarket. Mexico sold U.S. grocers $26.2 billion worth of food in 2017. The produce section is especially vulnerable. Half of Mexican food imports are fruits and vegetables. Produce has a shorter shelf life than items like beer, so U.S. supermarkets will start paying them faster than products that may be sitting in a warehouse.
Supermarkets may try to mitigate higher Mexican imports by buying some imports from other countries – but that’s harder to do for some categories: Almost 95% of imported strawberries come from Mexico. Supermarkets may also try to blunt the higher costs of some items by raising prices of higher-volume staples that are less affected. So even though 7% of banana imports come from Mexico, a grocer might raise those prices slightly to keep from raising avocado prices (almost 90% of imports from Mexico) too sharply.
Beer. Mexico is a top exporter of beers thanks to the popularity of brands like Corona, Modelo and Dos Equis. The U.S. imported $3.2 billion worth of Mexican beer in 2017. Mexico also exported more than $1.3 billion in Tequila and other liquors.
Avocados imported from Mexico have become a mainstay of the American diet. For example, of the 51 million pounds in the U.S. the week of May 19, almost 37 million came from Mexico, according to the most recent data from the marketing group Avocados from Mexico.
Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group in Chicago, said that while the proposed tariff is 5%, shoppers would end up paying 10% more at stores and, at least at the beginning, California avocados could cover some of it.
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It depends on what you serve. The U.S. imports plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables besides avocados, including cucumbers, berries, tomatoes, lemons and limes.
Phil Lempert, founder of supermarketguru.com, which tracks industry news and trends, says prices for all foods from Mexico could catapult to more than 20% higher.
“What we’re going to see happen is Mexico, as we’ve seen with China, will find other partners (to sell) produce to, beer to, tequila to,” he said. “What I think will happen is that resource for us will dry up. We’ll have scarcity, so prices will go much higher than 5%.”
“A lot of parts come out of China but a lot of production and assembly go on at the Mexican border,” says Sage Chandler, vice president for international trade policy at the Consumer Technology Association.
Top consumer tech imports include desktop PCs and servers ($24.3 billion in 2018), TVs, ($8 billion) and refrigerators and freezers ($3.8 billion), the CTA says.
Chandler says there’s a lot of confusion coming out of the White House. Would tariffs apply to products made in Mexico that come into the U.S. or anything that ships from Mexico regardless of its country of origin? And some tariffs could be applied, she says, on multiple occasions, as products or parts move back and forth across the border.
Consumers are price sensitive when it comes to tech products, and consumer electronics companies could even cancel planned back-to-school promotions or deals tied to Amazon Prime Day, says Bernie Thompson, CEO of Plugable, a leading developer of docking stations and other computer peripherals.
It's unclear which goods would see the biggest price hikes as retailers often shy away from sharing pricing strategies for specific items in advance. However, Mexico’s textile exports to the U.S. are sizable. Produce, appliances and electronics and clothiers could be affected heavily if the tariffs were to occur, according to Daniel Martins, the founder of DM Martins Research.
A 25% tariff would reduce economic growth next year by seven-tenths of a percentage point, says economist Greg Daco of Oxford Economics. It would mean 600,000 fewer jobs. And that doesn't include the impact of the tariffs Mexico would impose on U.S. exports in retaliation. Throw in that and proposed tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese imports later this year and the spreading trade war could tip the country into recession.
Besides pressuring Mexico on illegal immigration, Goldman Sachs says Trump hopes the gambit prods Congress into finally passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as the new NAFTA. The administration earlier Thursday submitted the text of the deal to Congress, launching a process for lawmakers to vote on it.
Bergsten says it could work by forcing Mexico to take more aggressive steps to curb immigration. After all, exports to the U.S. make up about 30% of the Mexican economy, according to Oxford, and 25% tariffs are likely to topple that country into recession. It’s not clear, though, how well Mexico will respond to such a brass-knuckled approach, Bergsten says. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have indicated the tariffs will only make them less likely to pass USMCA.
“It’s very risky,” Bergsten says. “It could blow up the whole” trade agreement while burdening Americans with higher prices.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 354 points Friday, or 1.4%, as investors blindsided by the tariffs worried they could undercut the trade deal or even lead to a recession.
Mexican officials said they will respond strongly. So expect tariffs on virtually all U.S. goods exported to Mexico if the U.S. hits Mexico with a 25% duty. U.S. exports to Mexico totaled $265 billion last year. Among the leading products are machinery, cars and plastics. Mexico is the nation’s second-largest market for agricultural products, especially corn, soybeans, dairy and pork. That would compound the struggles of American manufacturers and farmers already hobbled by China’s tariffs.
Contributing: Edward C. Baig, Dalvin Brown and Zlati Meyer in New York: Nathan Bomey in Virginia; and Alexander Coolidge in Cincinnati.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How tariffs on Mexican imports could affect what you pay for vegetables and cars |
World Cup: USWNT's winner was all kinds of Megan Rapinoe
REIMS, France It was, possibly and unexpectedly, the most Megan Rapinoe of moments. Knockout round here, tie game, 1-1, against Spain, and the United States was awarded a late penalty kick courtesy of a trip of Rose Lavelle. The Americans have a plan for moments like this the coaching staff ranks the players on penalty kicks and it involves Rapinoe stepping up to the dot. Rapinoe isnt just the most adept at hitting them. At 33 and with nerves of steel, shes the ideal for what coach Jill Ellis calls the pressure cooker of such a situation. Yet it was Alex Morgan who was holding the ball. It was Alex Morgan who was going to take the shot. It was Alex Morgan who wanted the ball and the game. And it was Rapinoe who was fine with that. Shed already scored on one penalty, in the seventh minute, and rather than demand her rightful chance to score again or grab her chance for glory, she was willing to step back into the shadows and let Morgan shine. She even figured it was a good idea. I thought, maybe just change it up for the goalkeeper and make her think about it a little more," Rapinoe said. "Alex is obviously very good at them." During a delay for VAR review though, the coaches restored order. Morgan may be the biggest star and most prolific goal-scorer on the team, but with everything on the line, they want Megan Rapinoe shooting. The coaches said we have a ranking for a reason, Rapinoe said. Get back in there and take it. Its ultimately the coaches decision, Morgan said. So the ball went back to Rapinoe. Take the penalty, or let Alex Morgan do it. Either way, Megan Rapinoe was good. And because of that, so was the USWNT. (Reuters) Rapinoe took it, scored it and the Americans advanced 2-1 over a tough, physical Spanish team. Up next, a mega-matchup with France in the quarterfinals Friday (3 p.m. ET) in Paris. For about a decade now Megan Rapinoe has been one of the very best players in the world. Yet shes also been more than comfortable playing somewhat of a supporting role on the worlds consistently best and most high-profile team, or at least as much of a supporting role as a player of her magnitude can. Story continues When it comes to her on-field performance, she defers to teammates, talks them up in the media, makes more of the memorable crosses and set-up plays. Its not that her play is missed. Shes too good for that. Besides, her often jet-white or in the case of Monday, purple hair is iconic. She isnt Morgan though. Or Carli Lloyd. Or Hope Solo. Or whomever. At least not with many fans. And yet
in an unusual spin, this is not someone afraid of the spotlight or someone seeking to be overlooked. While she may be the ultimate team player, she is a fearless and outspoken figure when it comes to equality, politics or anything she deems an injustice worth fighting against. She will gladly stand out for that. If anything, her unwavering statements on Donald Trump, FIFA powerbrokers, U.S. Soccers own leadership and what to do during the national anthem have colored public perception so deeply that her actual game may not be fully appreciated. Some love it. Some hate it. Shes good with that. It comes with the territory and she isnt backing down. Ever. Yet she is far more than the activist athlete that some see her as . It may make more sense that a person willing to challenge the powerful would be the one wrestling that ball out of Morgans hand, but Rapinoe is true to herself, always. Shell step up. Shell step back. Despite the fact she scored both USWNT goals, Megan Rapinoe did not turn in her best performance against Spain. (Getty) Many of the greatest wins U.S. Soccer has produced have come, in part, because of Rapinoes skill and focus. Its why in these lonely moments, she gets the call and her teammates are happy to see her with the game on her foot. I couldnt be more confident, Samantha Mewis said. Trust her 100 percent. Shes clutch, Lavelle said. Ive watched it my whole life and to now be out on the field with her is incredible. Mewis is 26. Lavelle is 24. Theyve come to expect everything Rapinoe brings even on a night when she admittedly wasnt at her best, there remained relentless effort, notable battles won and finally a sense of calm when it mattered most. We practice these a lot, Rapinoe said. ... Obviously you can never replicate having a knockout round game on the line. Thats exactly why there was never a doubt from the coaches, even if there was from Rapinoe, who should take the shot. That mental piece, Ellis said. You can have all the tactics in the world, [but] that essence of self-belief is critical. And these players like Rapinoe and these guys who have been around a bit longer have lived in those moments and I think its fair to say they want those moments, they embrace those moments. When the game is on the line, you want to feel like it is a changing moment that you are in, Ellis continued. And I think that is a big part in terms of embracing that moment. Game on the line, Rapinoe was willing to fade back, be the supportive teammate and let someone else win it. Then, when told it was her responsibility and ordered to shoot, she buried another one in the back of the net like she never had a doubt. On a hot, tense, potential knockout night in France, it was Megan Rapinoe, somehow all rolled into one. More from Yahoo Sports: Sources: Kawhi to become free agent; Raptors favorite Paul denies trade request: Happy to stay in Houston After profane tirade, Mets have to fire manager Callaway France beats Brazil, keeps possibility of dream QF alive |
What Western Game Publishers Need To Know About Gamers In Asia [Industry Contributor]
Daniel Ahmad,Mon, 24 Jun 2019 20:42:00
When global companies headquartered in the West conduct worldwide segmentation analyses, they often find the data misleading or ineffective when using it in a strategy for growth in China or Greater Southeast Asia. Why? Because Asian gamers are motivated by different things than Western gamers are.
Niko Partners conducted two gamer segmentation studies this year:Chinese Gamers Segmentation AnalysisandGSEA (Greater Southeast Asia) Gamers Segmentation Analysis. In these studies, we surveyed gamers across China and Greater Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China Taiwan).
Our study partner, Quantic Foundry, and their data analysts applied quantitative techniques, such as cluster analysis, against their baseline gamer motivation model to identify distinct player segments within the audience. We allowed the data analytics to create the segments, instead of formulating them ourselves. The output is analysis that supports strategies for investment in Asia’s game markets.
The surprising outcomes of our studies is how not only similar Chinese and Greater Southeast Asian gamers are to each other, but how different Asian gamers are from western gamers.
Quantic Foundry’s Gamer Motivation Modelcontains the motivational preferences of gamers from the West. Our joint studies looked at gamers in GSEA and China. This enabled the comparison of U.S. and Chinese gamers and an exploration of how gaming motivations vary across cultures. The initial comparison was between US and Chinese gamers, however Chinese and GSEA gamers are extremely similar in their motivations.
Chinese gamers are most driven by completion and competition, and Gamers in Greater Southeast Asia are primarily motivated by competition, completion, community and challenge. We refer to them as the 4 Cs.
The average Chinese gamer cares more about Competition: duels, arena matches, and leaderboard rankings, than 75 percent of gamers in the U.S. Similarly, Chinese gamers are also more interested in completion — the appeal of collecting points/stars/trophies, completing quests/achievements/tasks. Chinese gamers are less interested in being immersed in a compelling game world (Fantasy), interacting with an elaborate story and large cast of NPCs (Story), exploration and experimentation (Discovery), and customizing their avatar/town/spaceship (Design) relative to U.S. gamers.
Greater Southeast Asia in this report includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China Taiwan. Overall, Southeast Asian gamers consistently prefer games that foster community, teamwork, and competition. community, competition, and completion. They score lowest for story, discovery and design
Gender differences are also much smaller in Asia. According to Quantic Foundry’s model, male gamers in the West tend to be more driven by Competition, Destruction, and Challenge, whereas female games tend to be more driven by Design, Fantasy, and Completion. Among Asian gamers male gamers in China care more about Destruction, Discovery, and Competition. Overall, the only significant difference is that female gamers in China are less interested in guns, explosions, and mayhem than male gamers.
Age differences are also much smaller. In the U.S., theappeal of Competition declines dramaticallywith age, and it’s the motivation that changes the most with age. The appeal of Excitement also declines with age in the US. Age-related differences in gaming motivations are much more muted among Chinese gamers. So while the appeal of Competition and Excitement drop rapidly among U.S. gamers as they get older, these effects are much smaller among Chinese gamers.
The Chinese gamer segmentation analysis surfaced six distinct sets of gamers:
• Hardcore mobile gamersThese gamers play 40+ hours per week, primarily complex games on their smartphones.
• Hardcore PC gamersHardcore PC gamers play 30+ hours per week, playing primarily challenging match-based games on high end PCs.
• Casual gamersCasual gamers average 11 hours per week, across platforms but with the majority of their time spent on mobile, playing casual games.
• Casual demolitionistsThese gamers play an average of 12 hours a week. They love competition and excitement, but prefer less complex gameplay.
• Super consumersWith the highest income of all segments, Super Consumers are voracious digital consumers and early adopters. They rack up more than 49 hours of gaming, across all platforms
• Core gamersThe largest segment, core gamers are true gaming enthusiasts. They average 18 hours of play per week, and also like to talk about and interact with gaming-related content.
Almost all gamers in China spend significant time playing games on their smartphones, even hardcore PC gamers.
The Greater Southeast Asia study surfaced seven distinct gamer segments:
• Story Socializersare looking for highly-social and often collaborative gaming experiences with interesting stories and characters.
• Casual Challengersare more casual, detached gamers who primarily play games to challenge others in relaxed, low-stress gameplay.
• Skill Mastersenjoy skill-based mechanics that they can practice over time, mastering the game, and unlocking trophies and collectibles.
• Strategistslike to play games that require lots of practice to master as well as games that require strategic thinking and planning.
• Arena Gamersgamers enjoy MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games that emphasize fast pacing, teamwork, competition, and lots of weapons.
• Fantasy Arena Gamersgamers enjoy fast-paced team-based arenas in high fantasy or abstract settings.
• Competitive Arena GamersThese gamers are the most highly engaged and competitive, and enjoy a broad range of game mechanics. They are most likely found in fast-paced, skill-based team arenas.
The primary motivations of Asian gamers competition, completion, community and challenge are also These are also the most essential values of esports – which explains why China is the world’s largest (by far) market for esports, and GSEA is the fastest growing. More than 60% gamers in China and more than 60% of gamers in Greater Southeast Asia gamers are strongly drawn to esports. The vast majority of gamers across both regions engage with esports in some way.
In China, four of the seven segments, hardcore mobile gamers, hardcore pc gamers, core gamers, and super consumers, are key segments for esports. In Greater Southeast Asia, Arena Gamers, Fantasy Arena Gamers, and Competitive Arena Gamers are the key segments for esports. The highest spending gamer segment, Competitive Arena Gamers are also the most important segment for esports, and the largest segment in the survey.
In 2018, Chinese gamers spent $32 billion and those in Greater Southeast Asia spent $4.4 billion, primarily on mobile and PC games. Considering that this represents about half of the global market for mobile and PC games, it's important to consider how to appeal to their tastes beyond guesswork, no matter how educated. Refer to the 4 Cs (Competition, Completion, Community, and Challenge) whenever considering building a game -- whether it's a brand-new IP, a port, or otherwise -- for an Asian gamer.
Motivation matters and there's enough disparity between the East and the West that you can't rely on what you think you know. You have to look at the data, too.
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Uber IPO was hurt by 'president's tariff wars,' CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi blamed the company's disappointing initial public offering (IPO) on market timing and said the company remains an "opportunity machine" for drivers despite recent protests over compensation.
In a discussion at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., moderated by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, Khosrowshahi said Uber's long-term financial prospects remain strong despite a weak start for the company's stock.
The company priced its stock at $45 for its IPO in May, but its share price dropped sharply out of the gate. The stock has since recovered some of those losses and was trading in the $43 range on Tuesday.
"The timing of our IPO was very much aligned with our president’s tariff wars – the same day," Khosrowshahi said. "So I think we got caught up a bit in the market swirl. And there’s nothing you can do about it."
Although Uber lost about $1 billion in the first quarter of 2019, Khosrowshahi said the company is still on solid ground.
"The business itself can be quite profitable, we’re confident of that," he said.
His appearance at the Economic Club came days after he announced the departure of the company's chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, leaving Khosrowshahi with more responsibility to turn the ride-hailing company into a profitable venture.
Khosrowshahi said he wanted to "get closer" to those essential elements of the company's business.
"Circumstances change, and you really have to consistently take a look at building your team based on what you expect for the next five years, not based on what got you here," he said.
Khosrowshahi also said:
• Uber drivers "typically" make more than $20 per hour. The company has come under scrutiny from protesters for what they describe as insufficient compensation.
• Some injuries on the company's electric scooters are unavoidable, but Uber is "working on technologies to modulate those issues," including throttling speed in certain areas. He said "people will learn" how to ride them safely.
• The American dream may be evolving to a point where some citizens don't want to own any assets, such as a car, because of the freedom it provides them.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Uber IPO was hurt by 'president's tariff wars,' CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says |
Jada Pinkett Smith says she's been in a non-sexual throuple with Will Smith's ex-wife for years
When she walked down the aisle more than 20 years ago, Jada Pinkett Smith signed on for a life with more than just Will Smith . That’s because the Independence Day star husband already shared a young son with his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino. Jada spoke about their relationship on the latest episode of her Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk , which is titled “Unconventional Relationships” and prominently features the term “throuple,” which is defined on the episode as “three people having a consensual romance.” Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith attend the premiere of Aladdin on May 21 at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) “You know what’s so interesting, though? Why it’s so not foreign to me too is that I’ve had a non-sexual throuple for years with Sheree,” Jada said. “When you have your husband that is taking care of another woman and spending time with another woman, it’s the same thing.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapinkettsmith) on Jun 24, 2019 at 9:01am PDT |
One Thing To Remember About The New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX:NHC) Share Price
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Anyone researching New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX:NHC) might want to consider the historical volatility of the share price. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second sort is caused by the natural volatility of markets, overall. For example, certain macroeconomic events will impact (virtually) all stocks on the market.
Some stocks see their prices move in concert with the market. Others tend towards stronger, gentler or unrelated price movements. Beta can be a useful tool to understand how much a stock is influenced by market risk (volatility). However, Warren Buffett said 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk' in his 2014 letter to investors. So, while useful, beta is not the only metric to consider. To use beta as an investor, you must first understand that the overall market has a beta of one. A stock with a beta below one is either less volatile than the market, or more volatile but not corellated with the overall market. In comparison a stock with a beta of over one tends to be move in a similar direction to the market in the long term, but with greater changes in price.
See our latest analysis for New Hope
Zooming in on New Hope, we see it has a five year beta of 1.09. This is above 1, so historically its share price has been influenced by the broader volatility of the stock market. If the past is any guide, we would expect that New Hope shares will rise quicker than the markets in times of optimism, but fall faster in times of pessimism. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether New Hope is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below.
New Hope is a small cap stock with a market capitalisation of AU$2.3b. Most companies this size are actively traded. It's not particularly surprising that it has a higher beta than the overall market. That's because it takes less money to influence the share price of a smaller company, than a bigger company.
Since New Hope has a reasonably high beta, it's worth considering why it is so heavily influenced by broader market sentiment. For example, it might be a high growth stock or have a lot of operating leverage in its business model. In order to fully understand whether NHC is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as New Hope’s financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following:
1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for NHC’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor NHC’s outlook.
2. Past Track Record: Has NHC been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of NHC's historicalsfor more clarity.
3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how NHC measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with thisfree list of prospective options.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
Vietnam says that China is mislabeling products as Vietnamese to avoid U.S. tariffs
WASHINGTON – Vietnamese officials say China is intentionally mislabeling its products as "made in Vietnam" to avoid American tariffs, and have ordered offices to more aggressively examine products' certificates of origin. Chinese firms first export products to Vietnam, then change the labeling on packages before exporting the goods to the United States, Japan or Europe, they said. "Dozens" of products have been identified, Hoang Thi Thuy, a Vietnamese Customs Department official, told state-run media , and goods like textiles, fishery products, agricultural products, steel, aluminum, and processed wooden products were most vulnerable to the fraud. More: Donald Trump rips U.S. Chamber of Commerce for attacking his tariff strategy Vietnamese state media noted that in 2017, the Customs Department exposed a company called INTERWYSE for trying to rebrand 600 Chinese-made speakers and phone chargers with a "Made in Vietnam" label. "It will sabotage Vietnamese brands and products and it will also affect consumers. We could even get tariff retribution from other countries, and if that happens, it will hurt our economy," Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told the Vietnamese National Assembly last week. Vietnam does not have any legal requirements for certification of the "Made in Vietnam" label. The country's current regulations require that goods be produced partly or completely in Vietnam, but does not provide a mechanism for determining the veracity of the label. More: As trade battle escalates, Chinese newspaper to US: 'Don't say we didn't warn you' More: China warns travelers of harassment by United States authorities Amid President Donald Trump's escalating trade war with China, international firms have shifted some of their supply chains to Vietnam in an effort to avoid American tariffs. The United States is currently Vietnam largest export partner. The trade war shows few signs of slowing down. On Monday morning, Trump threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese products unless Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to meet with him at the G20 summit later in May. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vietnam says that China is mislabeling products as Vietnamese to avoid U.S. tariffs |
US Stock Market Overview – Stocks Slip on Weak Manufacturing Data
US stocks finished the session lower on Monday and hovered between positive and negative territory for most of the trading session. US yields continued to head south with the US 10-year yield flirting with 2%. Gold prices surged higher on Monday rising 1.5% and helping to buoy mining stocks. The National Association of Manufacturers reported a gloomy outlook on US manufacturing which helped weigh on yields. President Trump on Monday signed an executive order of new sanctions on Iran which helped buoy oil prices. Most sectors were lower, led down by cyclicals and energy, while consumer staples bucked the trend.
The National Association of Manufacturing Outlook Index fell to 53.2 from 59.7. The NAM conducted the survey between May 22 and June 5; during that time President Donald Trump threatened to slap new tariffs on imports from Mexico unless the country took steps to stop the flow of Central American migrants to the U.S. border. The NAM reported lowered expectations for sales growth. The survey participants forecast their sales would rise 3.4% over the next 12 months, down from the forecast of 4.4% made in March. That in turn was a likely contributor to manufacturers reporting they expect to hire fewer people; the expected growth rate for full-time employment over the next 12 months was 1.6%, down from 2.1% in the March survey.
President Trump signed an executive order imposing new sanctions on Iran. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, where he signed the order, Mr. Trump described the sanctions as hard-hitting and said they would deny Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and others access to financial instruments.
While earnings expectations remain stable the decline in US interest rates are helping to buoy riskier assets. The markets have now fully priced in 2-interest rate cuts of 50-basis points into 2019, and see an additional cut of 25-basis points in 2020. While yields on the US 10-year remain above 2%, yields on the German counter part the bund are below -31 basis points. Traders now see a lot further for the US 10-year to fall and with this in mind are pricing in several more cuts by the Federal Reserve. The corporate earnings picture continues to deteriorate, with companies exposed to tariffs taking a particularly strong hit. As profit reports just start to trickle in, the expectations are getting worse. Forecasters already were indicating negative earnings growth for the second quarter, but the outlook also has swung into red numbers for the third quarter.
Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire
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Muslim women protest burkini ban at pool
Seven Muslim women and thirty supporters protested a burkini ban at a local swimming pool in France. (Credit: Citizen Alliance/Twitter) A group of Muslim women in France says they have a dream—a dream to “have fun in public swimming pools like all other citizens.” That’s why they defied a burkini ban at a swimming pool in Grenoble, France on Sunday to stand up for the rights of Muslim women. "We have a dream, to have fun in public swimming pools like all other citizens, to accompany our children whenever they want to have a swim while it is very hot in the summer here in Grenoble,” Hassiba, one of the Muslim women involved in the protest, told BBC , echoing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech demanding equal rights. Désobéissance civique des musulmanes grenobloises pour des piscines publiques qui respectent la liberté de conscience. @_Pourquoi @EricPiolle #burkini #islamoféminisme pic.twitter.com/nyAvjsryKK — AllianceCitoyenne (@alliancecitoyen) June 23, 2019 In a protest called “Operation Burkini,” seven women, joined by 30 supporters in solidarity, swam at the Jean Bron public pool in Grenoble, community organizing group Citizen Alliance of the Greater Grenoble Area posted on Facebook . Some of the women proudly waded into the pools sporting swimsuits that covered nearly all of their body except their hands, face and feet. Although lifeguards warned the Muslim women that their swimsuits broke the pool’s dress code, fellow community members cheered and applauded the women when they defiantly bathed in the pool anyway. Taous Hammouti, one of the female protesters, said the women did not want to accept "another summer deprived of access to public pools," Sky News reported. Story continues Police later came to question the women disobeying the pool’s dress code, fining each of them €35 euros, which is roughly $40, France Bleu reported . The demonstration was part of a larger campaign that began in May 2018 in which more than 600 Muslim women signed a petition imploring the Grenoble mayor tochange the restrictive dress code at the city’s public swimming pools, according to a Citizen Alliance Facebook post . A combination of the word “burqa” and “bikini,” the burkini is a swimsuit for women designed to allow women to swim in public while respecting the Islamic traditions of modest dress. However, the swimsuit has been controversial since its inception. While many cities in France have banned the swimming garment altogether, this isn’t the first time French authorities have prohibited Muslim garb. In 2010, France became the first European country to ban women from wearing the niqab, a full-face veil worn by some Muslim women, in public. However, there has been pushback from the international community on such discriminatory laws, with the U.N. calling France’s ban a human rights violation . Protesters told Sky News the act of civil disobedience was inspired by black civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who catalyzed one of the largest civil rights movements in history by refusing to give up her seat to white passengers on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Her courageous act of defiance would end the segregation on buses in the U.S. More than six decades after Parks’ demonstration, these Muslim women are standing up for their civil right to access public swimming pools and abide by the traditions of their Islamic faith. "We must fight against discriminatory policies and prejudice in France, as we are actually deprived of our civil rights of access to public services and city-owned infrastructures," a protester named Latifa told BBC . Citizen Alliance of the Greater Grenoble Area did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: • Muslim soldier says command sergeant major forced her to remove hijab: ‘I feel violated' • Burkinis are 'still beautiful': Muslim model Halima Aden sends message with 'Sports Illustrated' shoot • Why Malaysian singer Yuna refused to remove her hijab to sell music Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. |
UPDATE 1-U.S. does not respect international law, atmosphere not right for talks -Iran's UN envoy
(Adds detail throughout)
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS, June 24 (Reuters) - Iran's United Nations ambassador accused the United States on Monday of showing no respect for international law by imposing new sanctions on Iran, describing tensions between the pair as "really dangerous" and not the right atmosphere for talks.
"You cannot start a dialogue with somebody who is threatening you, who is intimidating you," Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told reporters. "How can we start a dialogue with somebody whose primary occupation is to put more sanctions on Iran? The atmosphere of such a dialogue is not ready yet."
He spoke as the U.N. Security Council met behind closed doors at the request of the United States to discuss Iran.
Earlier on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump targeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials with new U.S. sanctions, looking for a fresh blow to Iran's economy after Tehran downed an unmanned American drone.
"The situation is really dangerous and all we should do is try to de-escalate," said Ravanchi, calling on the United States to withdraw its naval ships from the Gulf region and "move away from economic warfare against the Iranian people."
Iran said on June 17 that it would breach internationally agreed curbs on its stock of low-enriched uranium in 10 days, but that European nations could still save a nuclear deal that sets those limits.
"We have been discussing how to move forward with our European colleagues," Ravanchi said. "It is incumbent on them to compensate what we have lost as a result of the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal."
Most U.N. sanctions imposed on Iran were lifted in January 2016 when the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Tehran fulfilled commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the United States. The Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the deal last year.
Under the nuclear deal there is a process culminating at the U.N. Security Council that can trigger a so-called snapback of all sanctions if Iran violates the agreement.
When asked if the Europeans had threatened a sanctions snapback if Iran breaches the cap on its stock of low-enriched uranium, Ravanchi said: "Our discussions with our European colleagues are ongoing, we discussed a number of issues, but ... we cannot accept any intimidation or any threat from anybody." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann and James Dalgleish) |
K-Pop's BTS now in your pocket with mobile game
(This June 24 story, corrects title of Simon Sim to president of the U.S. arm of Netmarble Corp instead of president of the South Korean mobile gaming company, paragraph 5.) By Rollo Ross LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - K-Pop stars BTS have conquered the charts with their music and the box office with documentary "Burn the Stage: The Movie," and now they're aiming for mobile phones with the game BTS World. The seven-member boy band, which has led a wave of Korean pop music in the United States and beyond, spent two years recording exclusive photos, videos and music for the game. BTS World, out on Wednesday, allows players to go back in time, take the role of the band’s manager and make choices that lead BTS to global stardom. Fans can also find out what would have happened if the band members failed to find success and went back to their other dreams, like being a strawberry farmer or Taekwondo champion. The game comes with 10,000 new images and 100 video clips of BTS. “Those alternate realities are based on some of the members’ interviews, and they said, ‘If I wasn’t in BTS band, my vision was this’,” Simon Sim, president of the U.S. arm of South Korean mobile gaming company Netmarble Corp [251270.KS], which developed the game, told Reuters Television. The game allows fans to be involved in video calls and texts with BTS members, including cheering them up if they are feeling down. BTS first formed in Seoul in 2013 and broke through in the U.S. pop market in 2017, becoming the first Korean group to win a Billboard music award. Three new songs from the game - "All Night", "Dream Glow" and "A Brand New Day" - were released earlier in June. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) View comments |
Kushner says Israeli-Palestinian deal will not adhere to Arab Peace Initiative
DOHA, June 25 (Reuters) - Reaching an Israeli-Palestinian deal along the lines of the Arab peace initiative will not be possible and instead requires a stance between that and the Israeli position, White House adviser Jared Kushner said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
"I think we all have to recognise that if there ever is a deal, it's not going to be along the lines of the Arab peace initiative. It will be somewhere between the Arab peace initiative and between the Israeli position," Kushner told Al Jazeera in an interview that will air on Tuesday.
As part of the Arab Peace Initiative Arab, states led by Saudi Arabia have called for a Palestinian state drawn along borders that pre-date Israel's capture of territory in a 1967 war as well as a capital in east Jerusalem and the right of return for refugees. (Reporting by Eric Knecht Editing by Leslie Adler) |
Oxbridge Re Reports Successful Placement of Reinsurance Contracts & Capital Raise in its Side Car
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2019 /Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:OXBR), a provider of reinsurance solutions to property and casualty insurers primarily in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, has reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited, recently reported successful placement of reinsurance contracts for the treaty year June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.
In addition, Oxbridge Re NS (side-car) issued its Series 2019-1 Participating Notes due June 1, 2022 in a private placement and subsequent deployed the proceeds into a quota-share reinsurance agreement with Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited.
"We are happy to report that we have successfully raised funds through our reinsurance side-car as well as deployed capital allocated in accordance with our underwriting strategy," said Jay Madhu chairman and chief executive officer of Oxbridge Re.
About Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
Oxbridge Re (www.oxbridgere.com) is a Cayman Islands exempted company that was organized in April 2013 to provide reinsurance business solutions primarily to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Through Oxbridge's licensed reinsurance subsidiaries, Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited and Oxbridge Re NS sidecar, it writes fully collateralized policies to cover property losses from specified catastrophes. Oxbridge intends to specialize in underwriting medium frequency, high severity risks, where it believes sufficient data exists to analyze effectively the risk/return profile of reinsurance contracts. The company's ordinary shares and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols "OXBR" and "OXBRW," respectively. The company's ordinary shares are included in the Russell Microcap Index.
CONTACT:
Company Contact:Oxbridge Re Holdings LimitedJay Madhu, CEO345-749-7570jmadhu@oxbridgere.com
Media Contact:Suzie BolandRFB Communications Group813-259-0345sboland@rfbcommunications.com
SOURCE:Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/549722/Oxbridge-Re-Reports-Successful-Placement-of-Reinsurance-Contracts-Capital-Raise-in-its-Side-Car |
Sidewalk Labs Plans $980 Million Investment In Toronto Hub
(Bloomberg) -- Sidewalk Labs LLC., the urban innovation unit of Alphabet Inc., is proposing to team up with local partners to invest C$1.3 billion ($980 million) to get its vision for a high-tech city in Toronto off the ground.
Part of that would be a C$900 million equity investment to finance the C$3.9 billion development of a five-hectare neighborhood on Lake Ontario that will include tall-timber housing, adjustable curbs and heated bike lanes. It will also include the Canadian headquarters for sister company Google, Sidewalk said in its development plan released Monday.
“Our plan puts the public sector in the driver’s seat in ways that’s not the norm for a lot of tech companies in the world,” Dan Doctoroff, the company’s chief executive officer said at media briefing. “Sidewalk aims to partner with the government in order to create the conditions for real estate developers, civic organizations, tech companies, and residents, workers and visitors to build a great community in the decades to come.”
The proposal comes 20 months after Sidewalk won the mandate to build the community with Waterfront Toronto, a public corporation created to revitalize a scrappy expanse of old industrial lands along Lake Ontario. Kicked off with much fanfare by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt, the project has since become mired in controversy over how data from the site will be used, how it will be financed and just how much control a giant tech company should have over public lands.
Doctoroff, who was previously CEO of Bloomberg LP and deputy mayor of New York City under Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg’s founder, has been waging a public relations battle to win over a skeptical public ever since. Sidewalk Labs said it consulted more than 21,000 Torontonians and invested more than $50 million to develop the 1,500-plus-page draft.
New York-based Sidewalk advocated the creation of an independent, government-sanctioned Urban Data Trust to oversee all collection and use of data from the region.
“We understood that we were going to have to be held at a higher standard,” Doctoroff said. “The approach we’re proposing vests complete control of urban data in government-sanctioned independent data trusts. It would be consistent with and in addition to existing and future privacy laws in Ontario and Canada.”
It reiterated it wouldn’t sell or use any personal information for ads, or share it with any of Alphabet’s companies, including Google, without consent. Like any other company, it would apply to use data collected to improve infrastructure or technology. For example, to create an advanced power grid they would apply to collect data on temperatures in apartments.
Bond Funding
The company is also proposing an optional “credit enhancement” of as much as C$400 million to help fund the development of infrastructure and a C$1.2 billion, 6.5-kilometer light-rail link to the Toronto development. This would accelerate completion and save the government C$1.8 billion, according to Sidewalk which wouldn’t take a stake in the line or operate it.
Sidewalk said the transit link project could include the establishment of a government-sponsored special purpose vehicle to issue debt with proceeds going to construct the infrastructure. The resulting tax revenue growth will then go back to repay the bonds.
The entire eastern waterfront project, if successful, would be one of Canada’s biggest developments and has a project value of close to C$23 billion over a 20-year time frame. Sidewalk will only lead the development of Quayside and Villiers Island, the proposed area for Google’s headquarters, which makes up less than 7% of the area.
The company hasn’t yet established who its local partners would be, but said it has been talking to many parties including developers and investors.
To address housing affordability, Sidewalk said half of all its housing units would be purpose-built rentals, with 40% catered to larger apartments with two-bedrooms or more. The plan includes below-market rates for 40% of all housing units with half of those dedicated to affordable ones. This could generate more than 1,700 units that are cheaper than market-rate ones, Sidewalk said.
Quayside will be the first neighborhood built entirely of mass timber, engineered material that is as strong and fire-resistant as concrete or steel but more sustainable and easier to manufacture, Sidewalk said. With its partners, it plans to invest up to C$80 million in a mass-timber factory in Ontario to jump start the industry.
It also plans to spend C$20 million in seed funding to create a new urban innovation institute and a new venture fund for local startups, anchored by the Google HQ.
The firm has said the project would be a test-bed for technological development and proposed a 10% profit sharing plan with the Canadian government for 20 years regarding certain technology first deployed in the district.
Outside of market-rate returns from the rents and sales from its property development and returns from its support for the transit infrastructure, Sidewalk is also proposing to receive compensation at the end of the project tied to economic activity, government revenues and success in the development. It did not specify what type of compensation it expects to receive.
“There are a number of very exciting ideas we face, particularly related to environmental sustainability and economic development,” Waterfront Toronto chairman Stephen Diamond said in a statement Monday, emphasizing it didn’t participate in the plan. “There are also proposals where it is clear that Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs have very different perspectives about what is required for success.”
Waterfront Toronto raised several concerns including Sidewalk’s proposals on data and on being the lead developer for core sites. Diamond said Waterfront will begin the review and evaluation process to see if the plan will go through. “Whether the Quayside project proceeds or not, the conversation we are having is important for all of Toronto,” he said.
(Updates with Waterfront Toronto statement at the end.)
To contact the reporters on this story: Natalie Wong in Toronto at nwong133@bloomberg.net;Simran Jagdev in Toronto at sjagdev1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Debarati Roy at droy5@bloomberg.net, ;David Scanlan at dscanlan@bloomberg.net, Jacqueline Thorpe
For more articles like this, please visit us atbloomberg.com
©2019 Bloomberg L.P. |
Slurpees incoming! 7-Eleven begins delivery in public spaces
NEW YORK (AP) Craving a Slurpee but lacking the motivation to get off a park bench? No worries. 7-Eleven launched a delivery service Monday that will send a Slurpee or almost anything else carried by the chain to public places ranging from parks to beaches. The company told The Associated Press that more than 2,000 7-Eleven "hot spots" including New York's Central Park and Venice Beach in Los Angeles will be activated Monday. Customers need to download 7-Eleven's 7NOW app and select "Show 7NOW Pins" to find a hot spot close by. 7-Eleven believes it will eventually be able to deliver to 200,000 hot spot locations, said Gurmeet Singh, the company's chief digital information and marketing officer. Dominos launched a similar service last year, delivering pizzas and more to over 200,000 public locations. 7-Eleven had begun delivering to homes last year when it started getting delivery requests to places away from home where getting a bottle of water may be more tricky, Singh said. "We've been on this journey to redefine convenience," said Singh. "This makes it easy for people to stay in the moment." The jury is still out on how successful public delivery will be. Jon Reily, vice president and global commerce strategy lead at Publicis Sapient, says he thinks Domino's pizza delivery hasn't created much of a buzz. "It's a neat idea on paper, sort of Ubering pizza to your location, but I suspect that the logistics of the process is pretty complicated in the real world," Reily said. The use of drones, however, might be a game changer, Reily said. There's no minimum order required for a delivery from 7-Eleven. The chain charges a flat delivery fee of $3.99. And for orders under $15, customers pay an extra $1.99. For all orders, it promises average wait time of 30 minutes. 7-Eleven is partnering with Postmates for delivery to public areas. ____ Follow Anne D'Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio |
Aurora Cannabis in 5 Charts
Aurora Cannabis(NYSE: ACB)has captured investors' imaginations. Due in part to its aggressive acquisition strategy, the Canadian marijuana company has placed itself on track to become the largest producer in the world -- at a time when the global cannabis market is enjoying explosive growth. In turn, Aurora's stock is up more than 1,800% in the past three years, earning fortunes for its shareholders along the way.
If you'd like to learn more about Aurora Cannabis, the following five charts can help you quickly get up to speed on the core aspects of its business.
Image source: Getty Images.
Image source: Aurora Cannabisinvestor presentation.
Worldwide cannabis sales will reach$75 billionby 2030, according to investment firmCowen.Bank of Americaanalysts, meanwhile, believe the marijuana market could eventually reach$166 billionin annual sales. AndCanopy Growth(NYSE: CGC)Co-CEO Bruce Linton says cannabis could one day disrupt markets totaling a staggering$500 billion.
Aurora Cannabis, for its part, is targeting a total global cannabis market opportunity of approximately $200 billion. The company believes that cannabis will increasingly be used in place of other products currently produced by industries such as pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and tobacco. As the leading producer of marijuana, Aurora Cannabis stands to benefit more than perhaps any other company from this booming demand for cannabis.
Image source: Aurora Cannabis.
No other company can match Aurora Cannabis' peak production capacity. Aurora is on track to produce more than 625,000 kilograms of cannabis annually by 2020. Among its rivals, only Canopy Growth can claim even half that amount inpeak production potential.
As such, Aurora Cannabis should enjoy scale advantages over its smaller competitors. Perhaps most importantly, the ability to spread its costs over a larger revenue base should help Aurora generate superior profit margins over time.
Image source: Aurora Cannabis.
Aurora's best-in-class production capacity has also allowed it to establish operations in 24 international markets spanning five continents. By comparison, Canopy Growth has operations inroughly a dozen countries.
By getting a jump-start on the competition in key markets such as Germany and Latin America, Aurora has established beachheads from which it can advance its operations in the years ahead. That's important, since the great majority of cannabis sales will take place outside of Aurora's home market of Canada in the coming decade.
Image source: Aurora Cannabis.
Aurora Cannabis has used acquisitions to press its advantage. The company has made more than two dozen acquisitions and strategic investments in recent years to boost its production capacity, expand its international presence, and broaden its product lineup. In turn, Aurora has become one of the most powerful players in the global cannabis industry.
Yet unlike some of its competitors, Aurora has not yet sold a significant equity stake to a larger partner. By contrast, Canopy Growth has received$4 billionin investments from alcohol giantConstellation Brands, whileCronos Grouphas seen its coffers swell thanks to a$1.8 billioninvestment by tobacco titanAltria. These investments have provided Canopy Growth and Cronos Group with all the capital they need to expand their operations.
Aurora, on the other hand, has needed to use its stock to finance its acquisitions. While these deals could conceivably produce tremendous value for Aurora and its shareholders, the resultingdilutionis likely to make it difficult for Aurora to generate meaningful per-share profits in the near term.
Image source: Aurora Cannabis.
Although sustained profitability may be a ways away, Aurora is enjoying torrid production and revenue growth. The company's cannabis production volume surged 99% sequentially and 1,200% year over year to 15,590 kilograms in the third quarter. Aurora's net revenue, meanwhile, soared 305% compared to the year-ago period, to $65 million.
And while Aurora's growth investments will continue to weigh on its earnings, profitability may come sooner than many investors currently expect. Management says rising production volumes and declining per-unit costs will help Aurora generate positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) beginning in the fourth quarter.
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Joe Tenebrusohas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. |
Have Multiple Job Offers? Consider These 4 Things.
Sometimes you hit the jackpot. You're searching for a job and get more than one offer. That's generally not the plan, but it's a nice side benefit of a very strongmarket for workers.
Sometimes, however, more than one offer can create confusion. If you get multiple offers that are roughly equal, it's not always easy to decide on which one to take.
Assuming the salaries are close, consider these four factors before making your choice. Also, remember that sometimes there's no perfect choice and no clear right answer.
Getting multiple job offers allows you to be choosy and figure out what matters most to you. Image source: Getty Images.
If a large percentage of the workforce has been at the company for multiple years, that's a very good sign. It's OK to ask this question during an interview or to ask around after you get an offer.
In a strong job market, people leave bad companies, and even in weak economies, people leave when they can. If a company holds on to its workers for a long time, then it may well be a place you want to work.
Health insurance, retirement plans, andother benefitscan mean very different things even when they look similar. Find out exactly what the company offers and what your out-of-pocket expenses might be. Consider things like deductibles and whether the company matches 401(k) contributions.
If you're looking for a career, not just a job, it's important to know whether a company routinely promotes from within. When that's not the case, it's a major red flag that shows the company either doesn't value its own workers or that they don't stay long enough to move up the chain.
Nobody plans on getting sick or having to care for an ill child, parent, or significant other. It happens, though, and some companies do everything they can to make it possible for workers to balance life's unexpected disasters.
There are also life changes you may actually plan for. Find out how parental leave is handled. It might be different for mom compared to dad -- or it might not.
Ask about how time off for funerals or other unplanned situations work. Good companies support their employees when things go wrong. The best ones have flexible policies that can be adapted to whatever reality someone faces.
Getting paid a little more money to work someplace terrible may not be the best idea. Dig as deep as you can to figure out which of your multiple job offers will give you the best life experience. It's not about today or even a few months from now. You want to know which job will have the best chance of making you happy in the long run.
Dig in and figure out what's most important to you. Once you understand that, you can figure out which company seems to offer the most of what you want.
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Men's fertility irreversibly damaged by age of 18 thanks to Western junk food diet, study finds
File photo dated 09/07/14 of a pile of cheeseburgers and french fries - PA Male fertility is being irreversibly damaged by a diet of western junk food by the time men reach 18, a study has found. A groundbreaking investigation has established that teenagers who favour high-fat and processed foods like pizzas, chips and snacks are killing off sperm-producing cells that can never be replaced. It showed that a diet dominated by fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit is best is for protecting those cells and ensuring healthy levels of sperm. Sperm counts have been declining in recent decades and various studies have pointed to poor diet as a significant cause. However, they have tended to focus on older men - those in their late 20s, 30s and 40s who are struggling to conceive. By contrast, the new Harvard University investigation shows for the first time that poor diet while growing up may reduce a man’s chances of fathering children for the rest of his life. Experts believe processed food starved of antioxidants places sperm-producing cells under “oxidative stress”, ultimately killing them. Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield, a leading authority on sperm, said: “This just shows the power of diet to the way that testicles function. “The concern would be that poor diet younger in life makes a change that sticks with you.” The Harvard researchers accessed the data of nearly 3,000 men who underwent a medical examination upon starting national service in the Danish armed forces. The average age was 19. From the responses to a dietary questionnaire, four types of diet were identified: a “Western” diet characterised by red meat, processed meat, fatty and sugary food and drink; a “prudent” diet comprising mainly chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit; a “Smørrebrød” diet cold processed meats, whole grains, mayonnaise, cold fish, condiments, and dairy; and a traditional vegetarian diet, involving lots of vegetables, soya milk and eggs. Sperm health, as measured by concentration, volume and motility, was best in those following the prudent diet, followed by the vegetarian and then Smørrebrød diets, with those adhering to a western diet yielding the worse readings. Story continues The scientists also conducted hormonal tests indicating the health of sperm-producing Sertoli cells, again finding that these were depleted in the young men who favoured junk food. While a person can boost their sperm health over time by improving their diet, it is thought they cannot recover Sertoli cells killed by oxidative stress. That has implications for the amount of sperm they can produce at any one time. Dr Jorge Chavarro, who led the research, said the perceived threat to young men’s masculinity may prompt them into eating healthier food. “You would be surprised to see how sensitive young men are to things that might affect sperm count, because it’s a perceived measure of masculinity,” he said. The research is being presented at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) annual conference in Vienna. It came as scientists called for men with a poor diet to be screened for DNA damage to their sperm. DNA damage is a factor in up to half of miscarriages. Meanwhile Dr Roy Farquharson, an NHS consultant and president of ESHRE, said: “Most men think they’re invincible until their first big health event occurs, which is often either miscarriage or infertility. “Then their partner will quite rightly ask them, ‘what are you doing?’ Because the sperm is just as important as the egg.” He said improvements in lifestyle can begin to benefit sperm quality within two to three months. The new research follows a study presented last October which indicated that men produce the strongest sperm in spring and autumn, which could be linked to hours of daylight during those months and the fact men tend to exercise more. |
If You Had Bought New Hope (ASX:NHC) Shares Three Years Ago You'd Have Made 99%
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WhileNew Hope Corporation Limited(ASX:NHC) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 12% in the last quarter. But don't let that distract from the very nice return generated over three years. To wit, the share price did better than an index fund, climbing 99% during that period.
Check out our latest analysis for New Hope
To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.
During three years of share price growth, New Hope achieved compound earnings per share growth of 238% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 26% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time.
You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).
We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of New Hope'searnings, revenue and cash flow.
It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, New Hope's TSR for the last 3 years was 130%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!
While the broader market gained around 11% in the last year, New Hope shareholders lost 6.1% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 5.0%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. It is all well and good that insiders have been buying shares, but we suggest youcheck here to see what price insiders were buying at.
If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. |
FDA Type A Meetings: What You Need To Know
Nabriva Therapeutics PLC – ADR(NASDAQ:NBRV) shares traded higher last week after the micro-cap biotech said it requested a Type A meeting with the FDA regarding the complete response letter for the new drug application for its investigational compound Contepo to treat complicated urinary tract infections, including acute kidney infections.
The FDA shot down theregulatory applicationin early May, citing issues related to facility inspections and manufacturing deficiencies at one of Nabriva's contract manufacturers.
Why is the news of the Type A meeting request triggering renewed interest in Nabriva shares?
Type A Meetings
The FDA and the applicants of regulatory filings interact with each other during the review period regarding advice relating to the development and review of investigational new drugs and biologics. Four formal meetings occur during the PDUFA review period: Type A, Type B, Type B (end-of-phase) and Type C.
Type A meetings are necessary for proceeding with a stalled product development program or addressing an important related safety issue, according to the FDA.
Usually, the sponsor of a drug requests a Type A meeting to discuss clinical holds, seeking inputs as to how resolve the issue, or following the submission of a response to the hold — if the FDA and the sponsor deem that the development is stalled and a new path forward is to be discussed.
Before submitting a request, the sponsor has to contact the review division to discuss the appropriateness of the request.
The FDA schedules a Type A meeting with the sponsor within 30 days of receiving a request.
When aCRLis issued, companies usually file a resubmission. Nabriva has said it sought a Type A meeting to discuss and gain clarity on the issues outlined in the CRL.
Path Forward
Following a Type A meeting, companies typically take the feedback from the meeting and use it to address the issues impeding drug development or approval.
Nabriva said it will resubmit the NDA after it receives the minutes of the Type A meeting, which will be issued within 30 days of the meeting being held.
Once the resubmission is complete, the FDA will communicate its response within 30 days.
The resubmissions will be classified either as Class I or Class II resubmissions, with the decision coming through in two months for the former and six months for the latter.
Price Action
Nabriva shares closed Monday's session down 4.98% at $2.10. The stock turned positive in after-hours trading and was higher by 2.86% at the time of publication, on positive news from the European market.
The company announced after the close that the European Medicines Agency validated its marketing authorization application for intravenous and oral lefamulin, an antibiotic targeting community-acquired pneumonia.
The validation means the company's submission is sufficient to begin the formal review process, according to Nabriva, adding that an EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use opinion is expected in the next 12-15 months.
Related Links:
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The Daily Biotech Pulse: Positive Readouts From Adamas And Ironwood, Sesen Bio To Offer Shares, Stoke Therapeutics Debut
See more from Benzinga
• The Week Ahead In Biotech: Conferences, Clinical Trial Readouts, Earnings And IPOs
• Nabriva Shares Tumble After FDA Issues CRL For Antibiotic Candidate
• The Daily Biotech Pulse: Nabriva Stumbles At FDA Hurdle, Gilead CFO To Retire, Eisai Ends Collaboration With Purdue
© 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. |
UPDATE 1-Conatus Pharma to explore options as liver disease drug fails trial
(Adds details on restructuring, share price, background)
June 24 (Reuters) - Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday it plans to explore options and implement a restructuring plan after its liver disease drug failed in a mid-stage trial.
The drug developer's shares halved to 48 cents after the bell.
The company said its drug emricasan failed to meet the main goal in a mid-stage trial and it will be discontinuing further treatment of patients in the trial.
The drug was being developed to treat patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a fatty liver disease where fat accumulation and inflammation can lead to scarring, or fibrosis, that impairs liver function.
Novartis AG in 2017 had exercised its option with Conatus to develop emricasan. Positive mid-stage trial results would have lead to Novartis conducting late-stage studies of the drug.
Conatus said on Monday it will work with Novartis to ensure that all remaining obligations related to the emricasan program are fulfilled.
The results follow another failed mid-stage trial of the drug in March, which caused shares to plunge 56%.
Conatus said it will reduce its staff by 40% and suspend the development of its drug candidate CTS-2090, as part of its restructuring plan. The company had 31 employees as of Feb. 26. (Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Shounak Dasgupta) |
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