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Wayfair Employees Walked Out to Protest Furniture Sale to Detention Center for Migrant Children Employees at online home furnishings retailer Wayfair walked out Wednesday to protest the company’s decision to sell $200,000 worth of furniture to a government contractor that runs a detention center for migrant children in Texas. The protest triggered a broader backlash against the company, with some customers calling for a boycott. Several hundred people joined the protest at a plaza near the company’s Boston headquarters, a mix of employees and people from outside the company. More than 500 employees at the company’s Boston headquarters signeda protest letterto executiveswhen they found out about the contract. Wayfair refused to back out of the contract but told employees Wednesday morning that it would donate $100,000 to the Red Cross. “Last week, we found out about the sale and that we are profiting from this. And we are not comfortable with that,” said Tom Brown, a Wayfair engineer at the protest. “For me personally, there is more to life than profit.” Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both said they stood by the Wayfair employees who are protesting, as did Congressional Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Wayfair‘s stock initially slipped more than 5% Tuesday as word of the walkout spread and remained flat Wednesday. The protest comes amid a new uproar over revelations ofterrible conditions at a Border Patrol facilityin Clint, Texas, first reported by The Associated Press, including inadequate food, lack of medical care, no soap, and older children trying to care for toddlers. Emotions were also running high one day after photos published by the Mexican newspaper La Jornada and distributed worldwide by AP showed the bodies of amigrant father and young daughter who drownedwhile trying to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico to enter the United States without legal permission. The unprecedented surge of migrant families has left U.S. immigration detention centers severely overcrowded and taxed the government’s ability to provide medical care and other attention. Six children have died since September after being detained by border agents. As the controversy grew, the acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection resigned Tuesday, though he did not give a reason for leaving. In a letter to the employees, Wayfair leaders said that it’s standard practice to fulfill orders for any customer acting within the law. “We believe it is our business to sell to any customer who is acting within the laws of the countries within which we operate,” said the letter. Wayfair said it would have no further comment on the protest. Wayfair sold the beds to Baptist Children’s Family Services, a non-profit with federal contracts to manage some of the camps along the border. “We believe youth should sleep in beds with mattresses,” the organization said in a brief statement. Madeline Howard, a product manager at Wayfair, said company leaders had held a town hall earlier this week to listen to employee concerns but would not budge on their stance. She said the company’s donation to the Red Cross did not satisfy the demands of the employees, who had asked that the profit from the sale—about $86,000—be donatedRAICES, a non-profit that is the largest immigration legal services provider in Texas. Brown, the engineer, said there is no one answer on what the company policy should be, with some employees calling for the company to stop providing for the detention centers altogether, and others arguing it would be enough for Wayfair to forego profits from such sales. Mimi Chakravorti, executive director of strategy at the brand consulting firm Landor, said Wayfair must decide whether the damage to their brand from the controversy will ultimately prove more costly than foregoing a $200,000 contract. “Unfortunately, they are not going to able to get out of this without being burned on one side or the other,” said Chakravorti. “Is it about moral standards? Or is it about the bottom line dollars, and being able to sell to anyone in a legal way?” Other companies have also been drawn into the controversy over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Last year,American Airlinesand United Airlines said they asked the government not to put migrant children who have been separated from their parents on their flights. Employees have protested work byAmazonandMicrosoftto assist police agencies and federal immigration agents withfacial recognitionand other tools. Microsoft executives defended the company’s immigration contract despite a protest letter that circulated through the company over the summer. The children’s magazineHighlightsjumped in Tuesday, with CEO Kent Johnson posting astatementon Twitter condemning the separation of families at the border and calling for “more humane treatment of immigrant children” at detention centers. The country’s politically polarized atmosphere has become a minefield for many businesses as workers increasingly take on their employers for issues they care about. AtGoogle, employees walked out of their offices last year to protest the tech company’smishandling of sexual misconduct allegationsagainst executives. And workers at Amazon publicly published a letter addressed to CEO Jeff Bezos earlier this year to push the online shopping giant to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Anne Gilson, a human resources expert at the employee benefits agency OneDigital, said companies have been traditionally more accustomed to handling employee discontent about internal workplace problems, not politics. “This is new territory for many organizations,” Gilson said, adding that companies need to strive to ensure employees feel they are heard before a controversy spills out into public view. “Why do people feel they have to take drastic action?” Gilson said. “How was the conversation initially managed? Is the culture, ‘Yeah, thanks Johnny,’ and eye-rolling and sighs?”
ETF Flows Reflect the Shifting Market Trends This article was originally published onETFTrends.com. ETFs have become a go-to investment vehicle for many investors across a range of backgrounds, revealing the shifting trends in investors' habits and thoughts in a changing market environment. "One of the things is how popular fixed-income ETFs have been to start the year," Todd Rosenbluth, Head of ETF & Mutual Fund Research, CFRA, said at the Morningstar Investment Conference. "We saw a bit of a downturn in the equity markets heading into 2019. People were moving into safety, but fixed-income is really punching above its weight, and we've seen a number of firms gathering assets with both lower risk and higher risk products. That's quite compelling to us." There are now about 393 U.S.-listed fixed-income ETFs on the market with $732.1 billion in assets under management, according to ETFdb data. Among the most popular ETF plays this year, U.S. Treasury-related ETFs remain among the top picks, withiShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) seeing $5.5 billion in net inflows,iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) attracting $4.5 billion andiShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) adding $4.3 billion. Investors also shifted back into corporate and international debt, withVanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) bringing in $5.2 billion and theiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD)attracting $4.3 billion whileVanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) saw $4.5 billion in inflows. Watch the full interview between ETF Trends CEO Tom Lydon and Todd Rosenbluth: For more ETF-related commentary from Tom Lydon and other industry experts, visit ourvideo category. POPULAR ARTICLES AND RESOURCES FROM ETFTRENDS.COM • SPY ETF Quote • VOO ETF Quote • QQQ ETF Quote • VTI ETF Quote • JNUG ETF Quote • Top 34 Gold ETFs • Top 34 Oil ETFs • Top 57 Financials ETFs • As Bitcoin Surges Past $13K, Calls to Embrace Crypto Grow • GLDM Marks One Year Anniversary Today, Leads Gold-Backed ETF Flows • ROBO Global Healthcare Technology ETF Debuts on NYSE • Gold And Silver Rally On Unusual Options Activity • Save On Starbucks And Invest It In Starbucks READ MORE AT ETFTRENDS.COM >
Is Now An Opportune Moment To Examine Nexteer Automotive Group Limited (HKG:1316)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Nexteer Automotive Group Limited (HKG:1316), which is in the auto components business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$12.78 and falling to the lows of HK$9.06. 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 Nexteer Automotive Group's current trading price of HK$9.24 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 Nexteer Automotive 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 Nexteer Automotive Group Great news for investors – Nexteer Automotive Group is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is HK$12.58, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Another thing to keep in mind is that Nexteer Automotive Group’s share price may be quite stable relative to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. This means that if you believe the current share price should move towards its intrinsic value over time, a low beta could suggest it is not likely to reach that level anytime soon, and once it’s there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range again. 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. However, with a relatively muted profit growth of 7.0% expected over the next couple of years, growth doesn’t seem like a key driver for a buy decision for Nexteer Automotive Group, at least in the short term. Are you a shareholder?Even though growth is relatively muted, since 1316 is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of 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 1316 for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its future outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy 1316. 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 Nexteer Automotive Group. You can find everything you need to know about Nexteer Automotive Group inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Nexteer Automotive 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.
U.S., Dominion Energy ask Supreme Court to hear Atlantic Coast natgas pipe case June 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Solicitor General and Dominion Energy Inc asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a decision that stopped Dominion from building the Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline across the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Solicitor General Noel Francisco and Dominion argued in their filings on Tuesday that the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Cowpasture v. U.S. Forest Service case impedes energy infrastructure development on the East Coast. In December, the appeals court vacated a permit that allowed the Atlantic Coast pipe to cross the Appalachian Trail on National Forest land because the court said the Forest Service lacks authority to grant pipeline rights-of-way across the trail on federal land. Dominion said the decision could turn the Appalachian Trail into a 2,200-mile (3,541-kilometer) barrier separating resource-rich areas to its west from consumers to its east. The company noted there were already approximately 56 pipelines across the Appalachian Trail. Some energy analysts think there is a good chance the Supreme Court will hear the case and have warned Dominion may cancel the project if the court refuses to hear it. "After reading the Solicitor General's arguments, we're increasing our odds to just under 50% that the Supreme Court decides to hear the case," Josh Price, senior analyst at Height Capital Markets in Washington said in a note on Wednesday. "We believe the Court may view this as an issue of national importance," Price said, noting "if the court declines to take up the case or upholds the ruling, we anticipate (Atlantic Coast) owners may cancel the projects." Dominion, however, said it plans to complete the project and believes it has a good chance of getting the Supreme Court to hear the case and support its view. Dominion has said it hopes to overcome other legal challenges that will allow it to resume construction of the $7.0-$7.5 billion pipeline later this year and complete it in 2021. Dominion suspended construction in early December after the Fourth Circuit in another case stayed a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit that authorized Dominion to build the pipe in areas inhabited by threatened or endangered species. When Dominion started work on the 600-mile pipe from West Virginia to North Carolina in the spring of 2018, the company estimated it would cost $6.0-$6.5 billion and be completed in late 2019. (Reporting By Scott DiSavino; editing by Grant McCool)
TransferWise launches US debit card that cuts costs when spending abroad U.K.-based fintech company TransferWise launched a Mastercard (MA) debit card in the U.S. Wednesday, that allows travelers to spend in 40 different currencies with one card. “If you are traveling with a card from your bank you would typically be subject to foreign fees and additional exchange rates...so we developed the TransferWise card which would keep the exchange rate at a very low markup,” TransferWise Co-Founder Taavet Hinrikus told Yahoo Finance’sThe Final Round. The card mirrors the debit card the company originally launched in the U.K. and E.U. in 2018. There have been over 15 million transactions on U.K. and E.U. TransferWise cards to date. In order to keep costs low, unlike traditional banks, TransferWise focuses on just one service and one branch. “We only work with one branch, which is your smartphone, that’s the only bank branch that matters nowadays,” Hinrikus said. “We offer a very limited set of services...and by doing it this way we’re able to run a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars and that is profitable.” TransferWise says it is now valued at $3.5 billion but following the path of other fintech giants like Robinhood and Coinbase, don’t expect it to go public any time soon. “We’ve thought about it long and hard and we have one goal today which is to continue to grow TransferWise, continue to grow it globally as fast as we can and we kind of felt that being public would be a distraction for us,” Hinrikus said. “It wouldn’t help us do it any faster.” Over 5 million people use TransferWise and the company processes over $5 billion in payments every month, saving customers over $1 billion a year. Sara Dramer is a producer for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on twitter@saradramer. • Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
What to Make of Constellation Brands (STZ) Stock Heading into Q1 Earnings Constellation Brands Inc STZ, a leading producer and marketer of alcoholic beverage brands, including Corona, Kim Crawford, and Svedka, is expected to release its Q1 fiscal 2020 earnings results before the bell this Friday, June 28. Our Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for quarterly EPS of $2.07. Recently, analysts have been adjusting their yearly earnings estimates down, taking STZ from a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) to a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the last 30 days. This is likely due to a softening in the 2020 outlook in the wine and spirits market, with total U.S alcohol volumes down 0.8% last year and beer sales down 4% over the past three years, according to IWSR.  However, STZ’s stock price is up 15.4% this year, right on par with the market. High Hopes Last August, Constellation announced that it would take a 38% stake in Canopy Growth Corporation CGC, one of the largest cannabis producers in the world. The deal was worth $4 billion and gave Constellation warrants to lift its ownership to over 50%. These warrants must be exercised within the next five to eight years at a price of $58.45 a share. The firm’s Canopy bet made Constellation the first alcoholic beverage maker to invest in the emerging cannabis market, and gave Canopy the capital to pursue its goals of global expansion. Since then, AB InBev S.A. BUD partnered with Tilray Inc. TLRY to produce CBD infused drinks, and tobacco giant Altria Group Inc. MO invested $1.8 billion in Cronos Group Inc. CRON. STZ’s stock price took a hit after this announcement, but has since bounced back. This diversification is likely to make investors less nervous about slacking alcohol sales, as the cannabis industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. Cannabis is already legal in 11 states, D.C., and Canada, and a bill in Congress was recently passed by the House to prevent federal authorities from interfering with state legalizations. Interestingly, a collaborative study published by three universities showed that alcohol sales decreased by 15% where medical marijuana is legal. Canopy already did an impressive $171 million in sales this past year, and is projected to grow 208% to $528 million in sales this year. It is a young company focused on pulling off international growth in a very short time frame, but in spite of this, is projected to increase EPS by 10% this quarter and 49% this fiscal year. Performance Constellation has performed well over the last three months, up 9.7% on its peer group and up 6.3% on the market. Over the past year, STZ is down on average from its peer group but has been responding positively to earnings surprises. The stock has jumped after every positive earnings surprise in the last year, as we can see below. And Constellation has pulled off a positive earnings surprise in 23 of the past 26 quarters. Valuation STZ is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 20.6x, lower than the alcoholic beverages market average of 23.1x. In the past, STZ has also generally traded at a lower forward P/E relative to its industry, except for a few jumps. It is possible that the market hasn’t fully priced in Canopy Growth’s potential since STZ has still traded at a discount since the acquisition. However, only two months of Canopy’s performance were included in last quarter’s earnings report. Take Away Constellation is currently in a tough spot with alcohol sales declining across the country. The company has also seen its earnings estimate revisions turn in the wrong direction. With that said, STZ stock has climbed in the past three months and boasts a strong history of EPS beats. If Constellation tops EPS estimates on Friday, look for the trend of price jumps after earnings beats to continue. And if Canopy Growth shows strong revenue numbers in this earnings report, investors will likely price the huge potential growth this company has into STZ. 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 reportAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportConstellation Brands Inc (STZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAltria Group, Inc. (MO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCanopy Growth Corporation (CGC) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCronos Group Inc. (CRON) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTilray, Inc. (TLRY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Winners and losers of college sports' decade of realignment The UConn Huskies are ditching the AAC to move back to the Big East. Is that a positive for the school? (USAT) When the University of Connecticut is officially announced Thursday as a new/repeat member of the Big East Conference, it will provide a fitting full-circle moment to what has been the Decade of Realignment in college athletics. In 2010, Nebraska agreed to join the Big Ten. Then Colorado and Utah announced their moves to the Pac-12. Over the next couple of years, every conference joined in — radically rewiring the circuitry nationwide. Geography was flouted, rivalries were extinguished, revenues have spiked and a new power grid was established. As the 2010s wind down, it’s time to ask: How has the Decade of Realignment played out? College sports are richer than ever, but it’s debatable whether they’re better than ever. While there is more money, there also is far less lockstep acceptance of the college model. All those massive media rights deals spawned by realignment came with an unintended cynicism tax that has been quite costly. But that’s the macro level. The question here today is micro: Who has the Decade of Realignment blessed, and who has it punished? A list of winners and losers: LOSERS UConn Despite the news of the week, wherein the Huskies wisely reclaimed their basketball identity and moved back to a league that will nurture it, this is still a school that blew its big chance. UConn was on the cusp of Atlantic Coast Conference membership in 2011 and ’12, circling and waiting for an opening — yet when Maryland left and the opportunity was there, the school’s football program had cratered at precisely the wrong time. Louisville swooped into The Power Five Club, UConn was outflanked and the damage appears to be permanent. After playing in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, the school made arguably the most costly football hire in history (Paul Pasqualoni), and what followed has been two more bad hires and eight straight losing seasons. Last year’s 1-11 football squad was literally the worst defensive team in FBS history. Now the football future appears to be a test drive of independence — spoiler alert: It won’t go well — with no good fallback options. UConn can reconnect with its hoops DNA, but it could have had much more to go along with it. Story continues Pac-12 Leagues starting their own TV networks has been a key element of Power Five realignment. The Pac-12 Network’s distribution failure has been a persistent anchor, and the combination of lagging revenue distribution with big expenses (commissioner Larry Scott is the highest paid in college athletics, at $5.3 million) has created a widening Power Five money gap. That coincides with an extended run of revenue-sport futility: The league has missed the College Football Playoff two straight years and three of the past four; it hasn’t won a men’s basketball title since 1997; and it has placed just one team in the men’s hoops Final Four this decade. This isn’t directly attributable to the additions of Utah or Colorado, of course, but the Decade of Realignment has become a Decade of Retreat in marquee sports. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has been under fire for the conference's revenue and his exorbitant salary. (Credit: USAT) Nebraska The decade’s first domino hasn’t created much of an impact since falling. After an extended run at the forefront of the Big Eight, the Cornhuskers were always an uneasy fit in the Texas-centric, hybrid Big 12. But changing conference addresses has failed to restore the school’s football prominence. After making the 2012 Big Ten title game — and surrendering 70 points to Wisconsin — Nebraska hasn’t won a division title since. The Huskers’ football record the past four years is 23-27, their worst 50-game record since 1957-61. Brigham Young There is only one flourishing football independent, and BYU isn’t it. The Cougars announced their intention to leave the Mountain West in 2010, and what followed has been a mediocre decade of treading water (and a near-drowning in 2017). Hopes of joining the Big 12 fizzled a couple years ago, and a lot of BYU’s drawbacks then will be drawbacks come future realignment. The program is free of Group of Five limitations, but also lacking its potential bonus — a guaranteed New Year’s Six bowl bid for the top team in that group. Scheduling is an adventure, as this year’s slate indicates: An opening gauntlet against Utah, Tennessee, USC and Washington, followed by a hodgepodge of opponents that make sense (Boise State, Utah State, San Diego State) and those that don’t (Liberty, Idaho State and UMass on successive November Saturdays). Maryland You could argue that Rutgers has been the biggest dumpster fire of the Big Ten’s eastward expansion, and you’d be 100 percent right. But the Scarlet Knights were admitted to The Club by the Big Ten, whereas Maryland already had Club membership and chose to abandon its ACC niche for more money, less identity and roughly identical competitive struggles. The Terrapins’ football record their final five years in the ACC: 24-38. Their record the first five years in the Big Ten: 25-37. Basketball has fared slightly better in the Big Ten than the latter years in the ACC, but the lather produced by Tobacco Road rivalries cannot be replicated by playing Iowa and Minnesota. Texas The Longhorns bullied their way to a splintering of the Big 12, and have virtually nothing to show for it other than some Longhorn Network loot. The football team has lost at least four games every season this decade, after never losing four in a single season the previous decade. The basketball team has not made the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 a single time this decade, after advancing at least that far five times the previous decade. Meanwhile, rival Texas A&M’s move to the Southeastern Conference — derided as a doomed venture by many Texas fans from the moment it was conceived — has elevated the Aggies to revenue peers with the school in Austin. Tom Herman may be on the verge of bringing the ‘Horns back in football, but that looks more like a story for the 2020s. Texas Longhorn mascot Bevo enters before the Orange-White Texas Spring game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 13. (Credit: USAT) Mountain West Conference A league that once had TCU, Utah, BYU and Chris Petersen-led Boise State has lost its spot at the top of the Group of Five food chain to the American Athletic Conference. (The average Sagarin Rating for the AAC has been better than the MWC four straight seasons.) The high end of the conference isn’t as good as it was a decade ago, and the low end is worse as well. Louisville The Cardinals make both lists — first, the bad. The climb into The Club came at a cost: architect Tom Jurich was forced out after financial controversies and successive basketball scandals; the hoops dirt also cost Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino his job and the school a national championship banner; another NCAA investigation is ongoing; and Bobby Petrino 2.0, a hire that earned nationwide mockery, ended in a 2-10 debacle. What price ambition? Central Florida/Houston They’re both on great football runs, but they’re also both stuck outside The Club with their noses pressed to the glass. Both schools quickly lost the coaches who took them to their best seasons — Tom Herman to Texas and Scott Frost to Nebraska, because that’s how it works when playoff access is a long shot. UCF has seen (and complained about) the limitations placed on an undefeated G5 team. Life can be good at the top of the AAC, but only so good. Dan Beebe The commissioner of the Big 12 was ousted in 2011 after that league ruptured, and has maintained a low profile ever since. Even the great Dan Beebe parody Twitter account has gone dark for the past two years. WINNERS Big East Diaspora Not Named UConn First, Syracuse and Pittsburgh escaped a crumbling football league for the stability and revenue of the ACC. Then, West Virginia evacuated for the Big 12. And then Louisville landed its ACC membership. Taking each separately: Syracuse Syracuse transitioned its heavyweight basketball program from one great league to another and experienced a football breakthrough in 2018. Life After Boeheim looms as an unsettling venture, but that would be the case in any league. Pitt The Panthers rode the Orange’s coattails to a destination they scantly deserve, given the futility of the overall athletic program, but don’t ask the Panthers to apologize. If The Club is dumb enough to take you, accept. Football did win the Coastal Division in 2018 (while going 7-7) and basketball should be crawling out of the smoking crater that was the Kevin Stallings Era. West Virginia The Mountaineers are geographic outliers in the Big 12, but it beats being stuck in the AAC. Revenue checks, playoff access and better bowl tie-ins make trips to Ames and Stillwater more tolerable than trips to Tulsa and Greenville, North Carolina. Revenue-sport credibility has been quickly established within the league, although Year One looks like a challenging one for football coach Neal Brown. Louisville As mentioned above, the Cardinals are not without baggage accrued during their status climb. But they enhance the ACC basketball product, are very good in several non-revenue sports and should be on the rebound in football after the 2018 implosion. Texas A&M The Aggies gave a defiant Gig ‘Em salute to Texas on the way out of the Big 12, and have done fine outside the Longhorns’ shadow. Revenue has flowed in massive amounts to fund the football arms race and inflate the overall athletic budget to something commensurate with Texas’ at the top of the college sports heap. Now all A&M has to do is dethrone Alabama and actually win something bigger than Johnny Manziel’s Heisman. Notre Dame Which football program went nowhere during realignment and still won big? This one. The Fighting Irish got everything they wanted out of the shuffling: a quality ACC home for basketball; enhanced competitiveness for Olympic sports; academic compatibility with the elite schools in the league; continued football independence; and continued NBC money it doesn’t have to share with anyone. No wonder Jesus is still signaling touchdown. Mar 20, 2019; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly smiles during Notre Dame Pro Day at the Loftus Center. (USA TODAY Sports) TCU Not only did the Horned Frogs jump into The Club, they have done very well since arriving. Three times in the last five years TCU has won at least 11 football games, including a 12-1 season in 2014 that arguably should have earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. The men’s basketball program scored a coup by hiring alum Jamie Dixon, who has delivered three straight 20-win seasons for the first time this century. And it’s much easier selling Metroplex recruits on staying home when the road schedule doesn’t feature Laramie, Albuquerque and Fresno. Utah See TCU. This Mountain West refugee has not been quite as successful in football as the Frogs, but the Utes have been a solid contender in the Pac-12 and won the South Division last year. This season they could do it again. Men’s basketball has been better than average in a conference that is wildly underperforming. Recruiting in California, always a priority, is certainly easier as a member of the Pac-12. Missouri The Tigers stunningly won SEC East titles in their second and third seasons after joining the conference, and have never played the football stepchild role many expected. Were Florida, Georgia and Tennessee complicit in this by underachieving at various points this decade? Sure. But Mizzou was ready to capitalize on the opportunity. Barry Odom has been a .500 coach in three seasons with a 12,000-yard career passer, so there are some questions still to answer. The men’s basketball program has underachieved, but has at least revived after the Frank Haith desertion and dreadful Kim Anderson Era. Big East No league was put through the realignment grinder quite like this one, and yet it has emerged with its soul intact — perhaps reassembled would be the better word. A conference built on basketball found itself abandoned by football, then regrouped and went back to what made it great to begin with. The Big East owes a lot to Villanova for winning two national titles this decade and providing some heavyweight clout, but the rest of the lineup includes relevant modern programs in major media markets. And now UConn comes back to add another major player. More from Yahoo Sports: Rapinoe: ‘I’m not going to the f---ing White House’ Machado feels the love in his return to Baltimore Iggy says Warriors called fractured leg a ‘bruise’ Women’s World Cup is succeeding, no thanks to FIFA
Is Baguio Green Group Limited's (HKG:1397) Balance Sheet Strong Enough To Weather A Storm? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Baguio Green Group Limited (HKG:1397) is a small-cap stock with a market capitalization of HK$241m. 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? Assessing first and foremost the financial health is crucial, since poor capital management may bring about 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 suggest youdig deeper yourself into 1397 here. 1397's debt levels surged from HK$151m to HK$242m over the last 12 months . With this growth in debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at HK$39m , ready to be used for running the business. We note it produced negative cash flow over the last twelve months. As the purpose of this article is a high-level overview, I won’t be looking at this today, but you can take a look at some of 1397’soperating efficiency ratios such as ROA here. With current liabilities at HK$423m, it seems that the business has been able to meet these commitments with a current assets level of HK$454m, leading to a 1.07x current account ratio. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. For Commercial Services companies, this ratio is within a sensible range since there's a sufficient cash cushion without leaving too much capital idle or in low-earning investments. With debt reaching 96% of equity, 1397 may be thought of as relatively highly levered. 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 1397's case, the ratio of 4.29x suggests that interest is appropriately covered, which means that lenders may be inclined to lend more money to the company, as it is seen as safe in terms of payback. Although 1397’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. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure 1397 has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. I suggest you continue to research Baguio Green Group to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 1397’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor 1397’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has 1397'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 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.
Mika Brzezinski calls out Melania and Ivanka for not helping migrant children "Morning Joe" co-host, Mika Brzezinski, called out Melania and Ivanka Trump for their inaction regarding migrant children detention centers. (Photo by: Zach Pagano/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) During a Wednesday segment on the U.S. immigration policy , “ Morning Joe ” co-host Mika Brzezinski called out both Melania and Ivanka Trump for their inaction and seemingly feigned sympathy when it comes migrant children and the conditions they are currently enduring in U.S. detention centers. "Melania went to the border to check on the children when the separations first came out," Brzezinski said, referencing the First Lady's controversial trip in 2018 to tour a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children ages 12 to 17 in Texas near the border of Mexico. While en route to her destination , Melania shocked many by wearing a jacket that featured graffiti on the back reading, "I really don't care, do u?" "Ivanka went publicly because of course her brand is women and children, but she's taken that off her brand, children,” Brzezinski continued. “She said this was a ‘low point’ for her, this situation with the separations.” In 2018 , Ivanka said, regarding to her father's immigration policies, "That was a low point for me as well. I feel very strongly about that. And I am very vehemently against family separation and the separation of parents and children." Brzezinski asked on air on Wednesday: "What do you think this is? When you have children in squalor with the flu spreading rampantly around them. With children in danger, on your watch." WATCH: @morningmika has a message for Melania and Ivanka Trump on the neglect of migrant children at detention centers: "This is not a good look, and history will show. You will go down in history as having done nothing about this. I hope that you can live with that." pic.twitter.com/lE8VxDB8tw — MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 26, 2019 "This is not being best," Brzezinski continued, referring to Melania's " Be Best " campaign, which intended to advocate against cyberbullying and drug use while focusing on the wellbeing of children. "This is not a good look, and history will show. You will go down in history as having done nothing about this. I hope that you can live with that." Story continues The segment, and the public call out of Ivanka and Melania by Brzezinski, follows reports in which lawyers dubbed a Clint, Texas, detention center as "inhumane." According to the lawyers who visited the detention center, older children were allegedly taking care of younger children, and there was inadequate access to food, water, soap, and toothbrushes. Some children, reportedly, had not showered since they arrived in the United States. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Woman arrested after allegedly trying to kidnap 2 children at airport in incident captured on video Teens paint blackface, use N-word in viral video: 'Ooga booga' Former anchor sues news station for $10M over pay inequality: 'I was at the top of my game' Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
What Investors Should Know About Vinda International Holdings Limited's (HKG:3331) Financial Strength Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Vinda International Holdings Limited (HKG:3331) is a small-cap stock with a market capitalization of HK$16b. 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? Understanding the company's financial health becomes vital, as mismanagement of capital can lead to bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. The following basic checks can help you get a picture of the company's balance sheet strength. Nevertheless, this is just a partial view of the stock, and I’d encourage you todig deeper yourself into 3331 here. 3331 has sustained its debt level by about HK$5.2b over the last 12 months including long-term debt. At this constant level of debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at HK$677m to keep the business going. Moreover, 3331 has produced cash from operations of HK$1.3b over the same time period, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 25%, indicating that 3331’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. At the current liabilities level of HK$5.6b, the company has been able to meet these commitments with a current assets level of HK$5.8b, leading to a 1.02x current account ratio. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Generally, for Household Products companies, this is a reasonable ratio since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. 3331 is a relatively highly levered company with a debt-to-equity of 60%. 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 3331's case, the ratio of 5.08x suggests that interest is appropriately covered, which means that lenders may be willing to lend out more funding as 3331’s high interest coverage is seen as responsible and safe practice. Although 3331’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 3331's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for 3331's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. I suggest you continue to research Vinda International Holdings to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 3331’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor 3331’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is 3331 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 3331 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.
Beth Chapman's Stepdaughter 'Baby Lyssa' Posts Photo Of Memorial Site Beth Chapman's stepdaughter Lyssa posted a lovely tribute following her passing. Beth Chapman's Passing After being hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma over the weekend, reality star Beth Chapman passed away on Wednesday after a three-year fight with throat cancer. She was 51. A Tribute From Dog Her husband and Dog The Bounty Hunter costar Duane "Dog" Chapman posted a tribute to his late wife on Twitter. Many fans are reaching out to offer their condolences and encouraging messages about Beth. Lyssa Reveals A Memorial Site Chapman's stepdaughter "Baby Lyssa" posted an Instagram photo of the memorial site that has been set up to honor Beth in Hawaii. A Terrible Loss Fans were very kind on Instagram, singing Beth's praises and celebrating her life. "The world has lost a phenomenal woman! She was admired and adored by many!!! Another angel in Gods army. My heart is broken...all my love to her family!" "She will be missed around the world. She may not have been related to her many fans but they related to her and your family in many ways. Our thoughts are with your family at this time. Celebrate her life the way she would have wanted you too."
Report: Seeking Butler, Rockets shopping Capela, Gordon Looking to clear the way for a sign-and-trade for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Jimmy Butler, the Houston Rockets are shopping center Clint Capela, guard Eric Gordon and forward P.J. Tucker to cap-abundant teams, ESPN reported Wednesday. Citing league sources, ESPN reported the Rockets are shopping those players individually, seeking the best available first-round pick that they could then include in a deal for Butler. If the 76ers and Butler are amenable to the deal, the Rockets would need to move two or all three of those players to Philadelphia or another team in order for the salaries to match a max contract for Butler, which would be $140 million over four years. Capela has four years, $66 million left on his contract; Gordon has $14 million over two years; and Tucker $16 million over two years, with only $2.6 million of his second year guaranteed. The Rockets lack the salary-cap space to sign Butler without a deal. The 76ers are confident they can sign Butler and free agent Tobias Harris to new deals, league sources told ESPN, though Butler's level of interest is unclear as free agency is set to begin Sunday. Philadelphia hasn't ruled out re-signing Butler to a contract of four or five years with the intention of keeping him. Butler, 29, averaged 18.2 points in 55 regular-season games with the 76ers after being acquired from Minnesota in November. Capela, 25, averaged career highs of 16.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game in 67 starts last season, his fifth in Houston. Gordon, 30, averaged 16.2 points while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range, and Tucker averaged 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 37.7 percent from deep. --Field Level Media
ETF Flows Reflect the Shifting Market Trends ETFs have become a go-to investment vehicle for many investors across a range of backgrounds, revealing the shifting trends in investors’ habits and thoughts in a changing market environment. “One of the things is how popular fixed-income ETFs have been to start the year,” Todd Rosenbluth, Head of ETF & Mutual Fund Research, CFRA, said at the Morningstar Investment Conference. “We saw a bit of a downturn in the equity markets heading into 2019. People were moving into safety, but fixed-income is really punching above its weight, and we’ve seen a number of firms gathering assets with both lower risk and higher risk products. That’s quite compelling to us.” There are now about 393 U.S.-listed fixed-income ETFs on the market with $732.1 billion in assets under management, according to ETFdb data. Among the most popular ETF plays this year, U.S. Treasury-related ETFs remain among the top picks, with iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEFA-) seeing $5.5 billion in net inflows, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLTB-) attracting $4.5 billion and iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVTA-) adding $4.3 billion. Investors also shifted back into corporate and international debt, with Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCITA+) bringing in $5.2 billion and the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQDA-) attracting $4.3 billion while Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDXA-) saw $4.5 billion in inflows. For more ETF-related commentary from Tom Lydon and other industry experts, visit ourvideo category on ETF Trends. Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.
FEATURE-Democratic but deadlocked, Mongolia braces for "inevitable" political change * President Battulga seeking to make changes to constitution * Frustration grows over lack of progress despite resource riches * Most Mongolians support democracy but unhappy with current system - poll By David Stanway ERDENE, Mongolia, June 27 (Reuters) - An hour's drive from Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar, a lavish monument to national hero Genghis Khan could provide a salutary lesson to the man who built it a decade ago: champion wrestler, businessman and current president, Battulga Khaltmaa. Beneath a giant stainless steel statue, portraits of the 13th century warlord's successors line the corridors of a museum. Nearly all of them saw their lives cut short during vicious fights for supremacy in medieval Mongolia's royal courts. Mongolia is at a political crossroads as public frustration mounts over disputes holding back vital mining and infrastructure projects, and President Battulga is preparing for a power struggle. Following a 1990 revolution, the former Soviet satellite has been regarded as an "oasis of democracy" sandwiched between the authoritarian regimes of Russia and China. But power sharing between an elected president and a government appointed by parliament has left the country in near-permanent deadlock, unable to make progress on major projects or tackle chronic problems including choking air pollution. Battulga said last year Mongolia was incapable of solving what he described as a "systemic crisis". He is now trying to change the constitution, raising fears he is trying to usher in an era of "strongman" politics. Battulga says he is not seeking to erode Mongolia's 29-year old democracy. "More than a quarter of a century has passed, but we still haven't been able to achieve all the expectations we had in 1990," Battulga told Reuters in his office in the State Great Khural, Mongolia's parliament. "What we all know is that change is inevitable," he said. "All we need to resolve right now is how to carry it out." Sumati Luvsandendev, a political analyst and head of the Sant Maral Foundation, a polling group, said Mongolians were crying out for a "strong" leader like Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev or Russia's Putin. But with parliament likely to resist any erosion of democracy and its role, Battulga would struggle to make changes, he said. "Battulga is desperately trying to play this role but definitely he cannot," Sumati said. "I don't think that there is anyone in Mongolia to play this role." RESOURCE NATIONALISM Mongolia's rich mineral deposits dominate its political discourse. Many citizens have grown increasingly frustrated by the country's inability to convert resources into concrete gains for anyone but the privileged few. With polls showing strong support for the public ownership of strategic assets, Mongolia's mines have long served as political weapons, and Battulga is one of many politicians accused of using suspicions about foreign investment to win votes. Distrust towards foreign miners was reinforced last year after a military operation to strip Chinese investors of a silver mine in Salkhit in northern Mongolia after they were accused of corrupting local courts. Attempts to reach the investors were unsuccessful and the site remains under government control. The government has also been involved in a legal dispute concerning the nationalisation of a 49% stake in the massive Erdenet copper project, sold to a private company by the Russian government. With 2020 elections looming, some politicians are also questioning the benefits of the country's biggest foreign investment project, the giant Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project run by Anglo-Australian mining conglomerate Rio Tinto . A parliamentary working group has made fresh calls to change the terms of the deal behind Oyu Tolgoi, which is 66% owned by the Rio Tinto-controlled Turquoise Hill Resources and 34% by the Mongolian government. In May, some legislators complained the mine had brought nothing but debt, with Mongolia only scheduled to receive dividends after 2039. Rio did not respond to requests to comment. Battulga told Reuters he fully supported foreign firms which complied with local laws, but said the constitution was clear that strategic assets discovered using Mongolian capital - including the coveted Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit - should remain in Mongolian hands. Battulga was elected in 2017 on a populist platform, warning about threats from China and Mongolia's economic dependence on its giant neighbour, earning comparisons along the way to U.S. President Donald Trump. But he has been unable to reduce Mongolia's vulnerability to Chinese pressure. Shortly after his election victory, a slowdown in customs clearances at the Chinese border created a tailback of coal trucks stretching more than 100km (60 miles), slashing export earnings. China's customs authority said it was upgrading its monitoring equipment. Battulga did not comment on the issue. "We are close to two dictatorships and their influence is huge," said Erdene Sodnomzundui, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, referring to China and Russia. "Neither country likes democracy. It is in their interest to break (Mongolia's) democratic system. They both want to increase their economic influence over Mongolia as well." China's foreign ministry said in a statement that China respected Mongolia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and urged both sides to be on "high alert" against any attempt to disrupt the bilateral relationship. Russia's foreign ministry did not respond. "NOTHING HAS CHANGED" Near the dust-blown township of Yaarmag on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, an unpaved road connects dozens of small brick houses to a highway lined with luxury apartment complexes where well-off Mongolians escape the capital's asphyxiating winter smog. Nearby is a Porsche dealership. In ramshackle Yaarmag itself, Battulga's childhood home, angry residents say politicians have failed to keep promises. In a tenement insulated with thick red carpet, Erdenebulgan Badarch, 56, blamed the government for soaring meat prices, high interest rates, poor housing and worsening pollution. "Nothing has changed for the better," said Erdenebulgan, whose husband was a classmate of the president. "We had very big expectations when Battulga was elected, but in two years we haven't seen anything. It is not about whether he is good or bad, or what he could or should have done, but he is alone." A recent poll by Sumati's Sant Maral shows more than 70% of Mongolians would prefer a "strong leader who does not have to bother with the parliament or elections". While three quarters of respondees said they still supported "democracy", more than half disapproved of the existing system. "I think it will be better if we have a presidential rule. The other countries with powerful presidents are actually doing better," said local resident Amarzaya Batbayar, 34, during an anti-government protest in Sukhbaatar Square in late May. Battulga said ordinary people "have suffered the most from the model we have chosen". He also said he would seek public approval for any proposed constitutional changes, rather than leave it to parliament to decide. But the president is not necessarily going to benefit from any changes. Constitutional reforms aimed at breaking the deadlock are under discussion, and one option is to turn the presidency into a figurehead and strengthen the position of the prime minister instead, according to a lawyer familiar with the plans. "Because parliament is in position to control the situation in the country, what we are observing is still the same struggle for power, but usually in most cases the president is losing," said Sumati, the political analyst. At the Genghis museum built by Battulga's company, Sumati said the president should take note of how long Mongolia's old Khans lasted in power. "It was two or three years and then they were killed or poisoned," he said. "There was only one guy who managed to sit on his throne for close to 20 years, but it was a miracle." (Additional reporting by Munkhchimeg Davaasharav in ULAANBAATAR. Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Eric Decker swears by these 'well-tailored' workout clothes (Exclusive) If you're going to take workout advice from anyone, Eric Decker's a pretty safe bet. The formerNFLplayer, who played wide receiver for theDenver Broncos,New York JetsandTennessee Titansfor eight total seasons before retiring last summer, has cemented himself as one of the most influential football players to also cross over into pop culture. SEE ALSO:Eric Decker reveals what he found 'surprising' about life after football Recently, Decker partnered with the mens activewear brandRhonefor Father's Day, where he shared some of his favorite products from the ever-growing brand. Though it's too late to order the comfortable clothing that he picked out in time for Father's Day, it's still shoppable online -- and the products have some passionate fans. TheElement V-Neck teewas described by buyers as "comfy," "well-tailored" and having the "perfect fit," while fans ofthe Swift Shortcalled them a "very comfortable and supportive pair of running shorts, with just the right amount of coverage." Check out all of Eric Decker's top workout picks below: Rhone Commuter Dress Shirt, $118 Rhone Swift Lined Shorts, $88 ​​​​​​ Rhone Element V Neck Tee, $54 Rhone Commuter Pant, $128
'Dog the Bounty Hunter' co-star Beth Chapman dies at 51 HONOLULU (AP) — Beth Chapman, who co-starred with her husband on the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" reality TV show and later spoke out against some bail reform measures as a leader of a national bail agents' organization, has died. Chapman died early Wednesday at Queen's Medical Center after an almost 2-year battle with cancer, Mona Wood-Sword, a family spokeswoman, said in a statement. She was 51. Chapman was diagnosed with throat cancer in September 2017 after getting a nagging cough checked out. A tumor was removed, and she was declared cancer-free. But in November 2018, she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. "This is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain," her husband, Duane "Dog" Chapman, posted on Twitter early Wednesday. "Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side." Celebrities also took to Twitter to express their condolences. Jeanine Pirro, the host of Fox News' "Justice with Judge Jeanine" posted two photos of her with Beth Chapman and one with the couple on Twitter. Pirro added: "Rest in peace Beth Chapman. a good lady and a great American." Actor Scott Baio tweeted: "RIP Sweet @MrsdogC. Sending our deepest sympathy and prayers to @DogBountyHunter and his family." "Inside Edition" special correspondent Rita Crosby tweeted, "No words to describe this huge loss of my heroic and dear friend #BethChapman. Prayers needed for @DogBountyHunter and all of us who loved Beth so very much and her indomitable spirit." On Friday, Chapman had difficulty breathing and passed out momentarily, Wood-Sword said. She was taken to a hospital, and doctors put her in a medically induced coma to spare her pain while treating her, the spokeswoman said. Born Alice Elizabeth Smith in Denver, Chapman had lived in Honolulu since 1989. In 2006, she and Duane Chapman, the self-proclaimed world's best bounty hunter, married during a sunset ceremony at a Big Island resort after being together for 16 years. Story continues "I've already been cuffed and shackled by Beth anyway," he told The Associated Press at the time. The wedding took place a day after the death of Duane Chapman's 23-year-old daughter, Barbara Katy Chapman, who was killed in a car accident near her home in Fairbanks, Alaska, Wood-Sword recalled. The couple decided to go forward with the wedding to celebrate her life. The wedding was featured in an episode of the A&E series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," which followed the duo's exploits in apprehending people who have avoided arrest warrants. The couple met when he posted her bond for a shoplifting arrest, she told Rosie O'Donnell on "The Rosie Show." "He came walking out there, I said: 'Oh yes he will be mine,' " Chapman said. There are 12 children between the couple. They had 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Wood-Sword said. In 2007, Hawaii lawmakers honored the couple for their work capturing criminals. "It's kind of extraordinary to be called a crime fighter," she said at the time. "I'll have to go home and get my Wonder Woman outfit." Duane Chapman gained fame after he nabbed serial rapist and Max Factor heir Andrew Luster in Mexico in 2003. "Dog the Bounty Hunter" was canceled in 2012. The show was pulled in 2007 following a racial outburst by Duane Chapman and then returned to the air in 2008. He was heard in a taped phone conversation using a racial slur in reference to his son's black girlfriend. He apologized and said he received counseling. They later starred in Country Music Television's "Dog & Beth: On the Hunt." WGN America is in production on "Dog's Most Wanted." A trailer for the show was released earlier this month. Chapman was elected president of the Professional Bail Agents of the United States and opposed some bail reform measures nationwide. She opposed eliminating the cash bail system, saying it would put the public at risk. "People are not in jail because they are poor," she said in 2017. "They're in jail because they broke the law." She boasted of being the youngest ever to receive a bail license in Colorado at 29. That record was beat by her stepdaughter Lyssa Chapman who became licensed at age 19, she said. Funeral services are expected to be held in Honolulu and Colorado, Wood-Sword said. __ This version corrects that the couple wed a day after the death of Duane Chapman's daughter. __ Associated Press journalist Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Anchorage, Alaska.
2 in 5 brands with Pride campaigns not donating to LGBT+ causes in 2019 Two in five companies with Pride campaigns are donating no proceeds to LGBT+ causes in 2019, research shows. Whether it’s banks, mouthwash or alcohol, many brands are using rainbows and other LGBT+ symbols to market their products this Pride Month. But analysis of 250 companies with Pride campaigns this year, by marketing experts Reboot Online , shows that despite a 29% spike in “corporate Pride,” just 64% of brands are donating money to any relevant charities. READ MORE: Over two thirds of LGBT people have been sexually harassed at work This has caused a stir in the LGBT+ community. In a representative survey, 87% of queer people told Reeboot all brands should donating LGBT+ organisations. What’s more, a quarter of LGBT+ people said brands “use” Pride month to sell products, causing one in 10 to actively avoid purchasing Pride tie-in products out of the belief that they are being exploited. According to Reboot, this belief is perhaps justified – 12% of companies with Pride campaigns this year were rated under 80% by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for their equality policies. READ MORE: These are the top 10 LGBT-inclusive employers in the UK right now The majority fail to provide equal domestic partner medical and soft benefits for LGBT+ people, and show a “lack of equal health coverage for transgender individuals without exclusion for medically necessary care,” the HRC said. In particular, clothing brand H&M was given a meagre Corporate Equality Index score of 45% by the HRC. Yet they have participated in “corporate pride” this year, with a “pride collection.” However, H&M is donating 10% of its proceeds to the United Nations' Free & Equal campaign – unlike 46% of other brands “jumping on the rainbow bandwagon without giving back,”said Reeboot. READ MORE: The top 10 brands for LGBT Americans Despite this, the survey found 84% of the LGBT+ community feels “positively” about branded Pride campaigns. But almost all LGBT+ people – a whopping 96% – said companies need to do more to help LGBT+ causes throughout the year, as opposed to just during Pride month. View comments
A clown, an opportunist, Europe's own Trump: German media takes a dim view of Boris Johnson Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party. Photo: Reuters/Peter Nicholls Peter Wittig, the German ambassador to London penned a lengthy opinion piece in Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper on Monday, saying that while Germany also bears responsibility for a smooth Brexit, reaching a free-trade agreement after a no-deal Brexit would be “enormously difficult” as “trust would be destroyed.” While Wittig implored for sensible behaviour on both sides, the German media is puzzling over Boris Johnson, the top contender to become the next UK prime minister and lead his country out of the EU. Overall, political writers are not impressed. Johnson’s bust-up with his girlfriend, his gung-ho promises that Britain will leave the bloc on 31st October come what may, and his character flaws are causing consternation and no little disgust amongst media commentators in Europe’s biggest economy. "Will Europe soon have its own Donald Trump?" asked Bild , Germany’s leading tabloid. “Like Donald Trump, Johnson cultivates a decidedly unconventional political style,” wrote Alexander von Schönburg for Bild. He goes on to say that the idea of Johnson becoming prime minister triggers “nervous twitching” in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris, noting that Johnson had already threatened to withhold the UK’s €44 billion exit payment to the EU as a negotiating tool. “When EU Council President Donald Tusk said there was a ‘special place in hell’ for the Brexit leaders, he also had Johnson in mind,” Bild says. The paper catalogues Johnson’s history, including his alleged fabrication of quotes whilst working at the Times, cheating on his wives, his “legendary laziness,” and his comment that women in burkas looked like “mailboxes.” The Reichstag building which houses the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin, Germany. Photo: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung broadsheet asked on Monday: “ What does Boris Want ?“ The paper calls him “the hero of the English nationalists and a “talented charlatan who still does not have a true plan for Brexit.” Boris’s core supporters love him because he cheers and defends Brexit with the greatest relish, the paper says, “because he is a clown and an opportunist.” Story continues Der Spiegel, Germany’s influential weekly current affairs magazine, today wrote “ Seriously? “Boris Johnson has just one rival to beat, then he is head of the British Tories and new prime minister. But for someone so favoured, things are going disastrously.” Spiegel focuses on how Johnson has not only refused to discuss the reported fight between him and his girlfriend but also his extreme vagueness over how he would solve the huge Brexit issue of the Irish border — save to say that "many technical solutions" exist. “It was classic Johnson … he is used to making eloquent announcements that often dissolve when it comes to details,” Spiegel sums up.
Is It Too Late To Consider Buying Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited (HKG:881)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited (HKG:881), which is in the specialty retail business, and is based in China, saw a significant share price rise of over 20% in the past couple of months on the SEHK. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stock’s share price. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Zhongsheng Group Holdings’s outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists. View our latest analysis for Zhongsheng Group Holdings The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my relative valuation model. I’ve used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because there’s not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stock’s ratio of 11.54x is currently trading slightly below its industry peers’ ratio of 11.61x, which means if you buy Zhongsheng Group Holdings today, you’d be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that Zhongsheng Group Holdings should be trading at this level in the long run, then there’s not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Zhongsheng Group Holdings’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. 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 70% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Zhongsheng Group Holdings. 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?It seems like the market has already priced in 881’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 881? 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 tabs on 881, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for 881, which means it’s worth further examining 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 Zhongsheng Group Holdings. You can find everything you need to know about Zhongsheng Group Holdings inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Zhongsheng Group Holdings, 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.
Bernie Sanders launches Twitch account and is set to live stream before and after Democratic debate Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has launched an account on the streaming platform Twitch as part of his strategy for the 2020 campaign. Twitch, known for users streaming live sessions playing video games like Fortnite and Overwatch, receives an average of around 1.3m views a day. Mr Sanders, known for having more 18 to 44-year-olds as part of support base than any other candidate according to recent polls, is seeking to exploit as many platforms as possible in a crowded Democratic field. “This campaign is about bring new people into the political process,” Mr Sanders’ digital communications director, Josh Miller-Lewis, said. “There’s a huge audience on Twitch that has been ignored by our political leaders,” he added. “As one of the first presidential campaigns ever to join Twitch, we hope to reach people who may not otherwise be involved in politics and speak with them about the issues that matter most to them.” The Sanders campaign is planning a recurring rollout of live videos on Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube, in which Mr Sanders and staffers will discuss the news of the day and provide campaign updates. With Mr Sanders appearing at a Democrat primary debate on Thursday, there is expected to be a pre- and post-debate show with a more regular slate of programming to follow later. The Sanders Twitch page currently has more than 21,000 subscribers so far, although the account itself only subscribes to one other channel as it stands – The Washington Post . Fellow Democrat 2020 candidate, entrepreneur Andrew Yang , joined Twitch in July last year, having announced his bid for the presidency in late 2017. However, Mr Yang who is polling around eighth on average of the two-dozen perspective Democrat candidates only has 345 subscribers.
Elon Musk says he knows why Falcon Heavy’s core booster missed its landing Click here to read the full article. SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket in the early hours of Tuesday morning, delivering 24 satellites into orbit and making many of its clients very happy in the process. The company nailed the landing of both side boosters, but the center core booster narrowly missed its landing and splashed down in the ocean instead. In the hours following the launch, SpaceX boss Elon Musk weighed in on the unfortunate fate of the core booster, offering a bit of an explanation as to why it missed its mark. Related Stories: SpaceX finally caught one of its rocket's nose cones Watch SpaceX's Falcon Heavy center booster narrowly miss its mark Watch SpaceX launch its Falcon Heavy rocket live right here In a response to a question on Twitter, Musk explained that the booster was likely damaged early in its descent back to Earth, and that this damage ultimately caused a failure and prevented the booster from being able to control itself enough to make a safe landing. If the booster was indeed damaged as it began to head back towards Earth, it’s actually rather impressive that it managed to make it as close to the drone ship as it did. At one point it appeared that it might come down perfectly, only to drift off to the side at the very last moment. SpaceX has now failed to successfully recover the core booster in all three of its Falcon Heavy launches. It’s not the end of the world, but securing that component could save the company a lot of cash in the long run and they’d like to be able to pull off the landing consistently. It’s hardly a worst-case scenario for SpaceX if it has to spend a few boosters while it perfects its technique, especially since the rockets are consistently delivering their payloads as planned. If nothing else, it’s something SpaceX can continue to work on over the next year as it prepares for its next scheduled Falcon Heavy launch in late 2020. Story continues BGR Top Deals: Get an ASUS 2-in-1 touchscreen Chromebook for $279 on Amazon, today only This top-rated fast wireless charger is somehow only $6.99 right now on Amazon Trending Right Now: No, it’s not just you: Half of the internet is down, including Google, Amazon, and Reddit Apple was right again: Here’s why a Galaxy Note 10 without a microSD slot isn’t a big deal Fresh Pixel 4 leak gives us another look at Google’s unreleased flagship See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Rescue ship with 42 migrants defies Italy order to stay out MILAN (AP) — A private sea rescue ship carrying 42 migrants it took aboard off Libya two weeks ago entered Italian waters Wednesday despite an explicit ban from Italy's interior minister, who has threatened to seize the ship operated by a German aid organization and to arrest its captain. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the captain of the Sea-Watch 3 broke the law both by disobeying direct orders not to cross into Italy's territorial waters and by flouting measures that bar the migrant rescue ships of nonprofit groups from entering Italian jurisdiction. "The right to defend our borders is sacred," Salvini said. Italian media played a recording of the ship's captain informing port authorities Wednesday she was heading to Italy "because I cannot guarantee the safety of the people on board anymore." The response from the port was "You are not authorized to enter Italian waters." Salvini has insisted the ship belonging to German group Sea-Watch and sailing under a Dutch flag should have continued on to Malta, Tunisia or northern European ports instead of remaining near Italy. The crew insisted that Italy's Lampedusa island had the safe port nearest to migrants' point of rescue north of Libyan waters. Hours after Sea-Watch 3 arrived off the coast of Lampedusa on Wednesday, there was no sign the migrants would be allowed to get off the ship in Italy or any other move to end the standoff. Given the boat's Dutch flag, Italy requested "formal steps" from the Netherlands through its embassy in The Hague, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. Meanwhile, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte met with Salvini and Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi in Rome to discuss the situation. The captain of Sea-Watch 3, Carola Rackete, said in a video posted on Twitter that Italian authorities had boarded the ship to check documentation and the crew's passports. The authorities "are waiting for further instructions from their superiors," she said. "I really hope they will take the rescues off the ship soon." Story continues In a separate post, she said she knew she risked arrest "but the 42 rescued are exhausted. I need to bring them to safety." Sea-Watch spokesman Ruben Neugebereger said the crew had previously requested permission to port in Malta and was turned down. Sea-Watch also asked the European Union's executive commission to intervene and help find a port that will allow the ship, Neugebauer said. The European Commission had been in touch with "several member states" by midday to identify a port where the migrants could disembark and countries willing to take the passengers in after that, spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said. She said no decisions were made. Sea-Watch said that the migrants had become desperate after the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday rejected their appeal to be allowed to disembark in Italy. Those on board are among 53 that the group said it rescued June 12 from a rubber boat off Libya in international waters. In the meantime, 11 have been evacuated to Italy for medical reasons. The remaining 42 include a 12 year old and two other children traveling alone. The group's cultural mediator, Haidi Sadik, said many on board have been tortured in Libya. "But even if this was not the case, any person rescued at sea, by law has to be brought to a place of safety. These are people with basic needs and basic rights. A rescue operation is not finished until every single person rescued has both feet on the ground," Sadik said. It is the latest standoff since Italy's populist government began refusing port last year to humanitarian rescue ships. Salvini claims the boat's aid migrant traffickers by waiting off the Libyan coast to pick up migrants from unseaworthy vessels that couldn't make it all the way to Europe. He also is trying to push the European Union to find a way to take the pressure of dealing with migrants off Italy, a main entry point due to its southern Mediterranean location. EU rules require the country asylum-seekers reach first to consider applications for protection, a process that has kept new arrivals in Italy for extended periods. But at the same time, the mayor of Lampedusa told broadcaster Sky TG24 that migrants continue to arrive on other boats, often from Tunisia, that aren't operated by private groups. He said eight migrants arrived Tuesday evening on a boat that a police vessel towed to port. In Turkey, where an EU agreement with the government has stem the number of Europe-bound migrants, officials said Wednesday that a van carrying dozens of migrants ignored orders to stop and sped past a police checkpoint before crashing into a wall. Ten migrants were killed and about 30 others were injured in the crash. Many migrants try to enter European Union member Greece from Turkey by sea, making a relatively short crossing to nearby Greek islands. Others take a northern land route.
Why IPE Group Limited’s (HKG:929) Return On Capital Employed Looks Uninspiring Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll look at IPE Group Limited (HKG:929) and reflect on its potential as an investment. Specifically, we're going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business. First, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. Then we'll determine how its current liabilities are affecting its ROCE. ROCE measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. 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'. Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) Or for IPE Group: 0.066 = HK$113m ÷ (HK$2.3b - HK$551m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) So,IPE Group has an ROCE of 6.6%. View our latest analysis for IPE Group ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. We can see IPE Group's ROCE is meaningfully below the Machinery industry average of 10%. This performance is not ideal, as it suggests the company may not be deploying its capital as effectively as some competitors. Aside from the industry comparison, IPE Group's ROCE is mediocre in absolute terms, considering the risk of investing in stocks versus the safety of a bank account. Investors may wish to consider higher-performing investments. When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. ROCE is only a point-in-time measure. You can check if IPE Group has cyclical profits by looking at thisfreegraph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. 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 check the impact of this, we calculate if a company has high current liabilities relative to its total assets. IPE Group has total assets of HK$2.3b and current liabilities of HK$551m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 24% of its total assets. This very reasonable level of current liabilities would not boost the ROCE by much. If IPE Group continues to earn an uninspiring ROCE, there may be better places to invest. Of course,you might also be able to find a better stock than IPE Group. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. I will like IPE Group better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out thisfreelist of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. 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.
Bitcoin suddenly plummets by $1,350 Bitcoin took a massive tumble tonight as the celebrated high of $13,880 and a remarkable push towards $14k collapsed in a heap at $12,400. The sudden dump coincided with Coinbase going down following rumours that a $100m transaction into the San Francisco-based exchange was taking place. After starting the week with impressive momentum following Sunday’s successful punch through $10,000, BTC had been attracting a lot of attention as it began a strong ascent. Reaching out to the underside of $14,000, it had analysts across the globe tipping the original cryptocurrency to quickly lurch for almost unimaginable figures like $20k over the next few days. However, unconfirmed news that 8,884 Bitcoins were on the move to Coinbase coincided with what became one of the sharpest drops in the crypto’s ten-year history. Social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit were awash with all manner of unfounded rumours and conspiracy theories about Coinbase and its connection to BTC’s price. Earlier today, though, Coinbase did notify users via Twitter that some important scheduled maintenance work to its website would be taking place, backing up the suggestion that its going offline was purely coincidental at the time of Bitcoin’s dramatic plunge. At the time of going to press, BTC had arrested its freefall somewhat at around $12,500. Did deVere Group’s Nigel Green predict the recent BTC rise? Looks that way here… https://coinrivet.com/bitcoin-bull-run-imminent-expert-says/ The post Bitcoin suddenly plummets by $1,350 appeared first on Coin Rivet .
CBS, Viacom bring in bankers as merger talks on terms, management advance BankersrepresentingCBS Corp. and Viacom Inc.have begun to hammer out terms and management structure in their latest attempt tomerge the two media propertiescontrolled by Sumner Redstone’s National Amusements Inc. And if progress continues, a formal deal could be announced in the coming weeks that would finally merge the two sister companies, FOX Business Network has learned. Of course, the talks are fluid and they could hit a snag and breakdown, as they have over the three years that the merger of the outfits has been considered. Possible snafus could arise over who will be named chief executive officer of the combined companies, and how much shareholders of each company will receive in the newly combined entity, according to people with knowledge of the matter. But at least for now, the merger discussions appear to be proceeding toward a resolution that could be announced possibly in the next month, these people add. The exact nature of the deal terms could not be determined, though it appears that Viacom chief Robert Bakish has the inside track to become chief executive of the new company given his close relationship with Shari Redstone, the de facto chief of National Amusements. Since 2016, Shari Redstone has been running National Amusements for her ailing father, Sumner, who is at the end of a long career as one of the most prolific dealmakers in the media business. The fate of CBS chief Joseph Ianniello, is less clear. Ianniello is an experienced financier, who could be invaluable in cobbling together the new outfit that faces significant downsizing and management turmoil. Analysts say Ianiello’s experience also lends itself to the eventual likely sale of the combined company — a move that media observers say Shari Redstone considers as her end game in order to monetize the Redstone family fortune for future generations. But people close to the deal talks say Ianniello may stay just through a transition period following the merger, or he could leave immediately. If the deal falls through, Ianniello will likely remain as CBS CEO and seek another buyer, these people say. His contract was recently extended through the end of the year. Press officials from CBS, Viacom and National Amusements would not comment on the matter, but they would not deny the nature of the ongoing talks. In April, FOX Business wasfirst to reportthat CBS and Viacom have renewed merger talks following the ouster of long-time CBS chief Les Moonves over sexual misconduct allegations. Moonves had been against the merger that was supported by Shari Redstone, and sued National Amusements in Delaware Chancery court to both prevent the deal and also dilute the Redstones’ controlling interest in CBS. The two sides eventually reached an agreement that gave CBS until September 2020 to possibly find another merger partner before it would consider merging with Viacom. However, with Moonves' exit and a lack of interest in CBS from deep-pocketed tech companies that are building their own content, discussions of the merger with Viacom began to gather steam and reach a more formal stage in April, according to people with knowledge of the matter. As FOX Business was first to report, members of the CBS board met earlier in the month to discuss moving forward with a Viacom deal. And as deal talks have progressed in recent weeks, both sides are said to have retained their long-time bankers to put together a transaction. Lazard Group will represent CBS, and Morgan Stanley Group Inc., will represent Viacom, according to sources familiar with the matter. Other firms are involved as well. Press representatives for Lazard and Morgan Stanley had no comment. At least for now, Shari Redstone and National Amusements’ bankers at Evercore Inc., are not directly involved in the negotiations, but that will change as the transaction starts to take shape, these people add. In 2006, Viacom and CBS were spun out of National Amusements, which retains a controlling interest in both. Over the years, Sumner Redstone gave the companies significant autonomy. But that changed in 2016, when Shari Redstone took de facto control of National Amusements and proposed merging the two companies as a way to deal with media industry challenges such as cord-cutting, which has depressed ratings throughout the industry. But Moonves feared that Viacom, with its relatively weaker programming lineup of Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV, would be a drag on CBS, a news, sports and television powerhouse. Bakish, a long-time Viacom executive, was named CEO in November 2016 following the ouster of Philippe Dauman. Bakish was initially considered a dark horse to head a joint CBS-Viacom venture, but his star has risen inside the Redstone empire following Moonves’s departure and as Viacom produced strong financial results since he took over. While no decision has been made about the possible CEO of the new company, if a deal is reached, Ianniello is regarded as being too close to Moonves to get the top job. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP Meanwhile, the combined outfits could have a market value of around $30 billion, making it a sizable competitor in the media space, but still digestible for a buyout by deep-pocketed tech outfits that are looking for content as they expand into the streaming media. 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We're Not Going To Find Out Tonight Who 'Won' The Debate The 2020 election ’s debate season is officially getting underway, which means it’s time for a quick refresher on why this week’s Democratic primary debates won’t necessarily end with clear winners ― and why, even if they do, we won’t immediately know who they are. Twenty of the Democratic candidates will take the stage Wednesday and Thursday night in Miami. Debates aren’t necessarily game-changing events , but the circumstances surrounding these ones gives them a better-than-usual shot at having at least some impact. As political scientist Julia Azari notes , debates seem to hold more importance in situations exactly like this: early on in a primary election with a crowded field of candidates, many of whom are unknown to voters. Who's going to win? The magic eight ball says: "Ask again later." (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) But the most immediate data we’ll have on hand ― things like social media reactions or focus groups ― aren’t really cut out to tell us how Democratic voters are going to respond, because they’re rarely an accurate reflection of the electorate in its entirely. To wit: Reactions on social media like Facebook and Twitter are not representative of what voters think. Twitter users, according to one recent Pew study , are younger, more highly educated and higher-income than the population of the U.S. at large. In another study , Democrats who posted political content online were found to be more liberal, more educated and less diverse than those who didn’t do so. Focus groups are not representative of what voters think. Back in the first debates of the 2016 presidential primaries, focus groups concluded that Republicans had turned against Donald Trump and that Democrats were deserting Hillary Clinton . “While these discussions make for far more compelling television than dry survey statistics, they have important limitations,” Mark Blumenthal, formerly the polling editor at HuffPost, wrote in a 2008 column. “Every group is a small, non-random sample, and it is hard to know the degree to which the views of participants may be influenced by the atmospherics of the telecast, the probes of the moderator or the opinions expressed by others in the group.” Story continues “Reader polls” that anyone can take online are not representative of what voters think. These polls ― the type you see posted on Twitter, or embedded in news articles ― don’t attempt to properly weight their responses along demographic lines and may allow people to vote multiple times. That makes them, at best, unrepresentative, and at worst, subject to intentional manipulation ― which is why they often end up rewarding candidates with enthusiastic online fan bases over those with more widespread support. (Note: the problem with these polls isn’t that they’re online ― there are plenty of scientific web-based pollsters with procedures in place to conduct representative surveys. The problem with reader polls is the lack of any provisions for sampling or weighting and the lack of even basic safeguards against being gamed by online mobs.) Even after more reliable polling on the debates starts coming in, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, what happens after the candidates leave the stage may matter at least as much as what happens during the debate. Not everyone in the Democratic electorate is going to tune in ― per one recent poll , 43% of Democrats said that they didn’t plan to watch the debates or that they weren’t sure if they would. Partly because of that, how the media covers a debate is likely to have a significant effect. “Debates don’t just affect those who watch them; they can also influence the political environment by how they are covered in the media,” Azari writes , adding: “A breakout moment is more likely to happen if the news media agrees that it happened. … If the post-debate media narrative is more muddled, we’re less likely to see a big shift in the race.” Second, sampling error means that horse-race polling numbers naturally fluctuate to some extent, even in the absence of an underlying change in the campaign they’re tracking. (As a case in point, one poll HuffPost conducted recently found Joe Biden’s name recognition to be 4 points lower than it had been in a survey taken two weeks earlier. It wasn’t because people had forgotten who he was.) “In presidential elections, even the smallest changes in horse-race poll results seem to become imbued with deep meaning,” Pew Research’s Andrew Mercer explained in a post about sampling error. “But they are often overstated.” Complicating matters further, people are sometimes temporarily more reluctant to answer surveys after their preferred candidate has a bad day. It’s not at all a given that any candidate will clearly “win” or “lose” the debate, or that a particularly strong or weak performance will translate into movement at the polls. But if a candidate truly surges or plummets, by the very nature of those words, it probably won’t be subtle. The best way to figure out if that happens? Wait a few days, then watch for significant shifts in support that hold consistently across multiple different surveys. Related Coverage Democratic Voters Still Care A Lot About Electability Here Are The Lineups For The First Democratic Debates Here's Why Impeachment Polling Is All Over The Place Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost .
Micron Surprises Investors The "this time is different" mentality can be catastrophic in investing. But sometimes things are different, or at least different enough. Memory chip maker Micron Technologies (NASDAQ: MU) is proof of that -- or at least it has been so far during the current digital memory bear market . The company's fiscal 2019 third quarter was a bad one on all counts except one: It was better than investors feared. And while the outlook would indicate the bottom hasn't been reached yet, Micron shareholders can take comfort in an outlook that keeps the company in profitable territory -- a key difference from past chip industry nosedives. Three down, one to go... A number of headwinds have conspired recently to work against the memory chip industry. In what is a cyclical business at best, oversupply of product crops up from time to time, lowering demand and pricing until excess inventory is worked through. That is the current situation, which is coming up on a year in the making. A silhouette of a person filled in with digital data. If the dreaded digital memory downcycle wasn't bad enough, adding in a U.S.-China trade war made things look downright dreadful. Since China is a major customer for the U.S. semiconductor industry, tariffs and other manufacturing process disruptions have only agitated the bears. The latest strike in the battle was the U.S. crackdown on Chinese tech titan Huawei, which adversely affected other chip companies as well. Micron was no exception. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra had this to say on the June 25 quarterly call : As you know, effective May 16th, the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security or BIS added Huawei and 68 of its non-US affiliates to the BIS entity list. To ensure compliance, Micron immediately suspended shipments to Huawei and began a review of Micron products sold to Huawei to determine whether they are subject to the imposed restrictions. Through this review, we determined that we could lawfully resume shipping a subset of current products ... We have started shipping some orders of those products to Huawei in the last two weeks. Story continues Thus, the fiscal 2019 third quarter , which ended in late May, saw a sequential acceleration in sales decline, but the slide was not as bad as many had feared. With three-fourths of the fiscal year in the books, Micron is on track to deliver a forgettable performance, but it's not as distressing as in past downturns, when rampant operating losses were the headline. Metric 9 Months Ended May 30, 2019 9 Months Ended May 31, 2018 Change Revenue $18.5 billion $22.0 billion (16%) Gross profit margin 50.2% 58.0% (7.8 pp) Operating income $6.73 billion $10.6 billion (37%) Adjusted earnings per share $5.73 $8.42 (32%) Data source: Micron Technologies. pp = percentage point. Cloudy with a chance of anyone's guess On one hand, there's hope for the immediate future. Micron continues to repurchase shares at a torrid pace (it has reduced share count by 8% in the last 12 months, which has propped up earnings); management said it has resumed shipping some products to Huawei that are not included in the recent trade ban; and a possible trade deal with China by year's end, or at least a trade war reprieve, has also been teased. But up to this point, a tease is all it's been. Until there is more solid evidence of relief, the business environment for chipmakers will continue to be a challenging one. With that as a backdrop, Micron management offered up more negative guidance for the current quarter. At the midpoint of expectations, revenue was forecast to be down 47% year over year to $4.5 billion. Adjusted earnings should be $0.45, compared to $3.53 a year ago. Yikes. Since I'm all about the silver lining, here it is: Micron is still profitable in spite of all sorts of bad news being hurled at it. That could change in subsequent quarters, especially if the current downtrend doesn't ease up, but for now, that is far enough in the future that bottom-line red is just speculation. The digital memory maker is far from perfect, but it has done much better than expected during this last downturn. More From The Motley Fool 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) What Is an ETF? 5 Recession-Proof Stocks How to Beat the Market Nicholas Rossolillo  and his clients own shares of Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
Should IPE Group Limited’s (HKG:929) Weak Investment Returns Worry You? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll look at IPE Group Limited (HKG:929) and reflect on its potential as an investment. Specifically, we're going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business. First, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Next, we'll compare it to others in its industry. Then we'll determine how its current liabilities are affecting its ROCE. ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. All else being equal, a better business will have a higher ROCE. 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 IPE Group: 0.066 = HK$113m ÷ (HK$2.3b - HK$551m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) Therefore,IPE Group has an ROCE of 6.6%. View our latest analysis for IPE Group One way to assess ROCE is to compare similar companies. In this analysis, IPE Group's ROCE appears meaningfully below the 10% average reported by the Machinery industry. This performance could be negative if sustained, as it suggests the business may underperform its industry. Setting aside the industry comparison for now, IPE Group's ROCE is mediocre in absolute terms, considering the risk of investing in stocks versus the safety of a bank account. Readers may find more attractive investment prospects elsewhere. When considering this metric, keep in mind that it is backwards looking, and not necessarily predictive. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. If IPE Group is cyclical, it could make sense to check out thisfreegraph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Short term (or current) liabilities, are things like supplier invoices, overdrafts, or tax bills that need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets. IPE Group has total assets of HK$2.3b and current liabilities of HK$551m. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 24% of its total assets. It is good to see a restrained amount of current liabilities, as this limits the effect on ROCE. With that in mind, we're not overly impressed with IPE Group's ROCE, so it may not be the most appealing prospect. But note:make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). 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.
What's Next for Micron (MU) Stock After Q3 Earnings as Huawei Shipments Resume? Micron MU posted stronger-than-projected Q3 fiscal 2019 financial results Tuesday. The beats, coupled with news that the chip power began shipping some products to Huawei again, helped lift MU shares. The question for investors is what’s next for Micron in the near-term amid a downturn in the broader semiconductor market? Top & Bottom-Line Overview Micron has been hit by a significant decline in DRAM and NAND pricing. On top of that, the historically cyclical chip market is in the midst of a downturn that has been exacerbated by the on-going U.S.-China trade war. Demand from giants like Apple AAPL is down, and the U.S. ban on Huawei scared investors since Micron’s sales to the Chinese powerhouse had climbed in recent years. With this in mind, MU reported third-quarter fiscal 2019 revenue of $4.79 billion. This topped our $4.66 estimate, but marked an approximately 38% downturn from the year-ago period’s $7.8 billion. Investors should also note that Q3’s revenue drop came in much worse than second quarter’s 20.5% fall. “While we are seeing early signs of demand improvement, we plan to reduce our capital expenditures in fiscal 2020 to help improve industry supply-demand balance,” Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said in prepared remarks. At the bottom end of the income statement, the company posted adjusted earnings of $1.05 per share, which destroyed our $0.78 per share estimate. Once again this marked a massive fall from the year-ago period’s earnings of $3.15 a share. Price Movement Micron shares surged 13.34% to close regular trading Tuesday at $37.04 per share. Despite the climb, MU stock rests roughly 37% below its 52-week intraday high of $58.15 per share. And based on the chart below, we can see just how rough the last 12 months have been for Micron stock. But the firm is not alone, with Nvidia NVDA and others down big as well. Huawei & China Many on Wall Street were likely in search of reasons to get excited about the downtrodden Micron heading into Tuesday’s release. But more than the beats, investors were pleased to hear the company speak positively about Huawei. Micron, like most firms, halted its shipments to the Chinese telecom giant after the U.S. banned exports to the company. The memory chip behemoth then began to review the products it sells to Huawei after the initial suspension. “Through this review, we determined that we could lawfully resume shipping a subset of current products because they are not subject to export administration regulations and entity list restrictions,” Micron’s CEO said on the company’s earnings call. “We have started shipping some orders of those products to Huawei in the last two weeks. However, there is considerable ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Huawei situation and we are unable to predict the volumes or time periods over which we will be able to ship products to Huawei.” Despite the uncertainty, the fact that MU has been able to at least continue some of its business with Huawei is a great sign for investors since 13% of Micron’s first half 2019 revenue came from the Chinese firm. On top of that, according to S&P Global data, roughly 57% of Micron’s total revenue comes from China. Qualcomm QCOM and Intel INTC also both resumed shipments of products to Huawei, according to a newWall Street Journalreport. Q4 & Fiscal 2020 Outlook The Boise, Idaho-based firm guided fourth quarter fiscal 2019 revenue in the $4.3 to $4.7 billion range. The mid-point of $4.5 billion is above the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.48 billion, which would still represent a nearly 47% downturn from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, MU projects earnings between $0.38 and $0.52 per share. This is significantly below our current $0.59 Zacks Consensus Estimate. Overall, the company’s fiscal 2019 revenue is projected to fall 24.5% from $30.39 billion to $22.93 billion. Plus, the chip firm’s fiscal 2020 top-line is expected to sink 13% below our 2019 estimate to $19.95 billion. MU’s earnings picture looks even worse. Micron’s full-year fiscal 2019 EPS figure is projected to tumble 49%. On top of that, Micron’s adjusted 2020 earnings are expected to sink 40% below our current-year projection. And Micron’s earnings estimate revisions have turned even more negative over the last seven days. Bottom Line Micron is currently a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) that sports an “F” grade for Momentum in our Style Scores system. Investors should also note that Micron’s outlook could change over the next several days as more and more analysts assess its Q3 report and updated guidance. It is not too hard to imagine MU stock riding a bit of a wave over the next serval days. But based on the uncertainty and dismal outlook, it would seem investors might want stay away from the DRAM and NAND memory chip firm until Micron shows signs of a more sustained comeback. 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 reportQUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportApple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIntel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Reddit Quarantines Pro-Trump Message Board, Citing Threats to Police Officers Reddit said it restricted access Wednesday to “The_Donald,” a controversial subreddit frequented by some supporters of President Trump, after some of its members posted threats against police officers. Reddit’s policiesprohibitcontent that “encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence or physical harm.” The company “quarantined” the The_Donald forum after Media Matterspublisheda story with screenshots showing several users discussing a political showdown in Oregon in which Gov. Kate Brownordered state policeto retrieve legislators who fled the capitol to avoid voting on a climate-change bill. “No problems shooting a cop trying to strip rights from Citizens,” one such post said. “None of this gets fixed without people picking up rifles,” read another, while a third user wrote, “I have seen my beloved state turn into North California. The only way to get it back is to burn Portland and Eugene to the ground.” The posts have since been removed by a Reddit moderator. “We are clear in our site-wide policies that posting content that encourages or threatens violence is not allowed on Reddit,” a Reddit spokesperson said in a statement. “Recent behaviors including threats against the police and public figures is content that is prohibited by our violence policy. As a result, we have actioned individual users and quarantined the subreddit.” Reddit did not specify what actions were taken against individual users. Last week, Reddit alsobanned r/frenworld, an alt-right subreddit with 60,000 members, for engaging in hate speech that violated its policies on violent content. During the past two years, the site has banned other communities for similar reasons, including /r/altright, /r/nationalsocialism, /r/farright, /r/Nazi, and /r/cringeanarchy. For years, Reddit hasstruggled to balanceits passion for free speech with behavior that violates its policies. In 2012, then-CEO Yishan Wongwroteto Reddit employees, “We stand for free speech. This means we are not going to ban distasteful subreddits. We will not ban legal content even if we find it odious or if we personally condemn it.” Since then, the polarized political rhetoric in the U.S. has tested that resolve. Last September, Reddit revised its quarantining policies “to prevent its content from being accidentally viewed by those who do not knowingly wish to do so.” Quarantining a Reddit forum doesn’t ban the subreddit, butrequiresa verified email to view it and limits its ability to generate ad revenue. One longtime moderator of the The_Donald forum told NBC News thatthe move didn’t come as a surprise. “They’ve wanted us gone. Pretty much the rest of Reddit wants us gone,” the moderator said. “I want to be unbiased when I say this, but the fact is that we aren’t treated the same way other subs are treated.” More than 750,000 accounts are members of The_Donald subreddit, described by its moderators as a “never-ending rally dedicated” to Trump, who held a Q&A with its members during the 2016 Presidential campaign. Last year, Buzzfeed reported that Russia’s Internet Research Agency appeared to betargeting the forumwith propaganda. While the quarantining of The_Donald may defuse the current controversy, it’s unlikely to keep the subreddit from being a lightening rod. Earlier this month, CEO Steve Huffman and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden staged a joint Q&A with Reddit users, during which Wydensaid, “The_Donald is home to messages that cross the line toward inciting the hatred that is eroding our democracy and it would be good to see Mr. Huffman and Reddit to do more work to moderate such behavior.” Huffmanrepliedthat Reddit had removed several moderators of The_Donald in recent years. “We watch them closely,” he wrote. “I wish there was a solution that was as simple as banning the community—certainly it would make some things easier—but the reality is that banning a large political community that isn’t in violation of our policies would be hugely problematic, not just for Reddit, but for our democracy generally.” —The fall and rise of VR: The struggle tomake virtual reality get real —“It’s just lazy”: Current’s CEO onFacebookCalibra’s similar logo —Slack went publicwithout an IPO. Here’s how a direct offering works —Welcome to the next generation ofcorporate phishing scams —Listen to our new audio briefing,Fortune500 Daily Catch up withData Sheet,Fortune‘s daily digest on the business of tech.
What Are Analysts Saying About The Future Of I.T Limited's (HKG:999)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! I.T Limited's (HKG:999) released its most recent earnings update in May 2019, which showed that the business experienced a slight tailwind, leading to a single-digit earnings growth of 2.8%. Below, I've laid out key numbers on how market analysts predict I.T's earnings growth trajectory over the next couple of years and whether the future looks even brighter than the past. I will be looking at earnings excluding extraordinary items to exclude one-off activities to get a better understanding of the underlying drivers of earnings. Check out our latest analysis for I.T Analysts' outlook for the upcoming year seems positive, with earnings climbing by a robust 18%. This growth seems to continue into the following year with rates arriving at double digit 57% compared to today’s earnings, and finally hitting HK$696m by 2022. While it is informative understanding the rate of growth each year relative to today’s value, it may be more insightful analyzing the rate at which the earnings are rising or falling every year, on average. The pro of this approach is that it removes the impact of near term flucuations and accounts for the overarching direction of I.T's earnings trajectory over time, which may be more relevant for long term investors. To compute this rate, I've inserted a line of best fit through the forecasted earnings by market analysts. The slope of this line is the rate of earnings growth, which in this case is 16%. This means that, we can anticipate I.T will grow its earnings by 16% every year for the next couple of years. For I.T, I've put together three important factors you should further examine: 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 999 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 999 is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of 999? 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.
Tyreek Hill meets with NFL investigators in Kansas City Embattled wide receiver Tyreek Hill met with NFL investigators on Wednesday. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) A daylong meeting between Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill and NFL investigators came to a close on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting, which took place in Kansas City, started at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. local time, sources told Yahoo Sports. Wednesday’s meeting gave Hill and his legal team an opportunity to provide further clarity in regards to the four-page rebuttal his counsel sent the NFL in May against child abuse charges. The Johnson County district attorney had stated publicly weeks ago that the criminal child abuse case involving Hill, who is still suspended from all team activities, is no longer active. However, the NFL — which has yet to rule in the case regarding potential discipline — has proven in past cases that a player doesn’t need criminal charges brought against him to invoke discipline . Depending on when the NFL makes its ruling, Hill could be available to suit up for training camp, which starts in late July. If the NFL does decide to punish Hill, he will fly to New York to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell. A Kansas Children and Families spokesman told Yahoo Sports this week that the child protective services investigation involving the family is ongoing. More from Yahoo Sports: Rapinoe: ‘I’m not going to the f---ing White House’ Machado feels the love in his return to Baltimore Iggy says Warriors called fractured leg a ‘bruise’ Women’s World Cup is succeeding, no thanks to FIFA View comments
Multi-Chem Limited (SGX:AWZ) Has Attractive Fundamentals Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! As an investor, I look for investments which does not compromise one fundamental factor for another. By this I mean, I look at stocks holistically, from their financial health to their future outlook. In the case of Multi-Chem Limited (SGX:AWZ), it is a highly-regarded dividend payer that has been able to sustain great financial health over the past. In the following section, I expand a bit more on these key aspects. For those interested in understanding where the figures come from and want to see the analysis, read the fullreport on Multi-Chem here. AWZ's strong financial health means that all of its upcoming liability payments are able to be met by its current cash and short-term investment holdings. This implies that AWZ manages its cash and cost levels well, which is a key determinant of the company’s health. AWZ appears to have made good use of debt, producing operating cash levels of 0.76x total debt in the prior year. This is a strong indication that debt is reasonably met with cash generated. For those seeking income streams from their portfolio, AWZ is a robust dividend payer as well. Over the past decade, the company has consistently increased its dividend payout, reaching a yield of 6.3%, making it one of the best dividend companies in the market. For Multi-Chem, there are three pertinent factors you should further examine: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AWZ’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor AWZ’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has AWZ'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 AWZ? 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.
3 Top Stocks That Aren't on Wall Street's Radar With a seemingly never-ending torrent of analyst upgrades, downgrades, and ratings reiterations, it seems small investors are left reacting to the buzz that Wall Street creates around the market's most popular stock tickers. But there's also no shortage of opportunity for people who know how to look at the businesses most other investors are ignoring. So we asked three top Motley Fool contributors to each find a stock that's flying under Wall Street's radar. Read on to learn why they pickedQ2 Holdings(NYSE: QTWO),Changyou.com(NASDAQ: CYOU), andGM(NYSE: GM). IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. Steve Symington(Q2 Holdings):Q2 Holdings certainly isn't the most widely followed stock on Wall Street -- though there's no denying itison some analysts' radar, considering shares have nearly quintupled since their IPO at $13 per share five years ago. Currently, Q2 stocktrades near all-time highsas the $3.5 billion e-banking solutions leader continues to take business from competitors and capitalize on what management estimates is its $8 billion total addressable market. But shareholders should also keep in mind that Q2 isn't afraid to move aggressively to increase that addressable market -- which stood at just $3.5 billion at the time of its IPO -- whether that means expanding its product portfolio through organic investments or striking complementary acquisitions. On the latter, Q2 only recently closed on its purchases of aptly named lending leader Cloud Lending and account-opening technology specialist Gro Solutions late last year. And more deals could be coming down the pike; earlier this month, Q2 followed by raising more than $500 million in capital through a combination of convertible bonds and newly issued shares. Of course, there's some risk in that busy acquisitive approach as it relates to the dilution, increased debt, and business integrations the purchases require. But if Q2 can continue its streak of investing wisely to both expand its markets and solidify its current industry leadership, I suspect its stock price will continue to respond accordingly. Keith Noonan(Changyou.com):A quick look at Changyou's stock performance in 2019 could easily give the impression that its business has gone off the rails. Shares are down roughly 45% in 2019, and it's true that the company has faced challenges in recent years stemming from the slowdown of its biggest video game franchise, but that surface-level decline is actually the result of a special dividend of $9.40 per share that the company paid out in May. It seems likely that the dividend payment was made in order to move cash back toSohu, Changyou's parent company and its largest stakeholder. This could make it easier to take Changyou private -- and potentially Sohu as well. While Sohu's gaming-focused offshoot was regularly profitable and had been sitting on a pile of cash, American investors rarely mounted much enthusiasm for Changyou stock, likely due to having little familiarity with its titles. Changyou's market cap has dipped below its book value multiple times over the last year -- a good sign that a profitable business is undervalued -- and its chairman (who also chairs Sohu) has previously made attempts to take the company private. Take into account the fact that Sohu needs cash and the added possibility that a third party likeTencentmight be interested in the business, and there is a multitude of ways that Changyou stock could reward shareholders. If the gamemaker is taken private or sold, there's a good chance it will happen at a premium. If it stays publicly traded, the company looks cheap trading at just five times 2019's expected earnings. With new games launching this year, somewhere around10 titles in its development pipeline, and new updates to keep players engaged in its main franchise, Changyou still isn't getting its due. Chris Neiger(GM):General Motors hasn't impressed Wall Street lately. The company's share price is down about 10% over the past year, compared to theS&P 500's 7% gains. But the company's recent stumbles don't mean that investors should write off this stock just yet. For one thing, GM is trading at a discount right now. The automaker's shares can be had for less than six times the company's forward earnings. Why does that sound like a good deal? Because despite some of the company's setbacks, GM had asolid first quarter, and the company is transforming its business to focus onelectric and autonomous vehicles. It'll take time for GM to see the benefits from this shift, but there are already some clear indicators that it's making progress, at least with self-driving cars. The company's autonomous-vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, is building self-driving tech, forging partnerships, andraising fundsat a rapid pace. The company is already valued at around $19 billion and will help GM transition into the coming$7 trillion self-driving-vehicle market(by 2050). Investors will likely have to be patient as GM turns things around, but the company's big steps forward in autonomous driving and its recent focus on electric vehicles could pay off years down the road. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market Chris Neigerhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Keith Noonanowns shares of Changyou.com.Steve Symingtonhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Q2 Holdings. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Change Healthcare Inc. Prices IPO and Concurrent Offering of Tangible Equity Units NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Change Healthcare Inc. (“Change” or “the Company”), a leading independent healthcare technology platform, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 42,857,142 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share and its concurrent offering of 5,000,000 of its 6.00% tangible equity units (“Units”), with a stated amount of $50. The offerings are expected to close on July 1, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. The completion of the Units offering is conditioned upon the completion of the common stock offering, but the completion of the common stock offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Units offering. Change has granted the underwriters in the common stock offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 6,428,571 shares of common stock. Change has granted the underwriters in the Units offering an option to purchase, within a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date of the initial issuance of the Units, up to an additional 750,000 Units. The shares and the Units are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 27, 2019 under the symbols “CHNG” and “CHNGU,” respectively. Unless earlier settled, each stock purchase contract will automatically settle on June 30, 2022 (subject to postponement in limited circumstances) for between 3.2051 and 3.8461 shares of the Company’s common stock per purchase contract, subject to adjustment, based upon the applicable market value of the common stock, as described in the prospectus relating to the Unit offering. Change intends to use the net proceeds from both the common stock offering and the Units offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its senior secured term loan facility. Barclays, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan are acting as lead book-running managers for the offerings. BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets are also acting as joint bookrunners for the offerings. Blackstone Capital Markets, Baird, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Cowen, First Liberties Financial, Guggenheim Securities, Piper Jaffray, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, SVB Leerink, Wells Fargo Securities, William Blair, Drexel Hamilton and Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., LLC are acting as co-managers for the offerings. Each offering is being made only by means of a prospectus relating to such offering. When available, copies of each prospectus may be obtained from: Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 888-603-5847, email:Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, email:prospectus-ny@ny-email.gs.com; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, email:prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com. A registration statement, including separate prospectuses, relating to these securities was filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Change Healthcare Inc. Change Healthcare is a leading independent healthcare technology company that provides data and analytics-driven solutions to improve clinical, financial and patient engagement outcomes in the U.S. healthcare system. We are a key catalyst of a value-based healthcare system, accelerating the journey toward improved lives and healthier communities. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “trends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements include any statements regarding the commencement of trading of Change’s common stock and Units on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the anticipated settlement dates of the offerings and the use of proceeds from the offerings. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described under “Risk Factors” in Change’s registration statement relating to the offerings. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the registration statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Source: Change Healthcare Inc.CHNG-IR Contacts Evan SmithInvestor Relations404-338-2225Evan.Smith@changehealthcare.com
Estimating The Intrinsic Value Of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX:QC7) Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX:QC7) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This is done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in theSimply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: [{"": "Levered FCF (SGD, Millions)", "2019": "SGD18.46", "2020": "SGD15.95", "2021": "SGD17.25", "2022": "SGD18.32", "2023": "SGD19.23", "2024": "SGD20.04", "2025": "SGD20.77", "2026": "SGD21.44", "2027": "SGD22.07", "2028": "SGD22.68"}, {"": "Growth Rate Estimate Source", "2019": "Analyst x1", "2020": "Analyst x1", "2021": "Analyst x1", "2022": "Est @ 6.18%", "2023": "Est @ 5.01%", "2024": "Est @ 4.2%", "2025": "Est @ 3.63%", "2026": "Est @ 3.23%", "2027": "Est @ 2.95%", "2028": "Est @ 2.76%"}, {"": "Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4%", "2019": "SGD17.19", "2020": "SGD13.83", "2021": "SGD13.93", "2022": "SGD13.77", "2023": "SGD13.46", "2024": "SGD13.06", "2025": "SGD12.60", "2026": "SGD12.12", "2027": "SGD11.61", "2028": "SGD11.11"}] Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF)= SGD132.68m "Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (2.3%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2029× (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = S$23m × (1 + 2.3%) ÷ (7.4% – 2.3%) = S$456m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= SGDS$456m ÷ ( 1 + 7.4%)10= SGD223.20m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is SGD355.88m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding.This results in an intrinsic value estimate of SGD0.45. Compared to the current share price of SGD0.49, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.855. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn’t be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Q & M Dental Group (Singapore), There are three additional aspects you should further examine: 1. Financial Health: Does QC7 have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Future Earnings: How does QC7's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with ourfree analyst growth expectation chart. 3. Other High Quality Alternatives: Are there other high quality stocks you could be holding instead of QC7? Exploreour interactive list of high quality stocksto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every SG stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock justsearch 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.
UPDATE 4-France's Casino to overhaul Latam holdings, GPA shares soar * GPA shares rise 10.5%, Almecenes Exito up 12% * Plan to simplify, improve value of Latam business - CFO * Casino selling assets to cut debt * AMF continues probe on Casino, Muddy Waters (Recasts with share reaction to the Latam restructuring) SAO PAULO/PARIS, June 27 (Reuters) - Casino Guichard Perrachon on Thursday unveiled a plan to simplify the complex shareholding structure for its Latin American operations, sending shares in its Brazilian and Colombian units soaring. The restructuring would result in Casino controlling its Latin American business in Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina through a 41.4% stake in Brazilian unit Grupo Pao de Acucar (GPA). Casino, which has been grappling with high debt, has been trying to address investor criticism over the complex and sometimes opaque structure of its business. Casino's Chief Financial Officer David Lubek told Reuters the move would "help improve the value of the Latin American assets." This could thus make it easier for Casino to later sell GPA shares to investors, added analysts. Latin America, and particularly Brazil, is a key contributor to Casino's sales and profit, helping offset weaker performance in France where the retailing group has faced price wars among supermarket companies. Last month Casino's parent companies including Rallye were placed under protection from creditors in an effort to save the indebted French group from collapse. GPA will use cash to acquire all shares in Almacenes Exito with a potential purchase price of 16,000 to 18,000 Colombian pesos ($5.03 to $5.66) per share. Casino would acquire all controlling shares in GPA indirectly owned by Exito. By 1437 GMT, Casino shares were up 4.7% as investors welcomed the long-awaited move, which Jefferies analysts said "could allow the French group a greater monetisation of the re-rated equity" and "help the deleverage process." GPA's shares would migrate to the Novo Mercado segment of Brazil's stock exchange as part of the overhaul, a move that requires it to comply with stricter governance standards. GPA's shares soared 10.5% on the Sao Paulo stock exchange while those of Colombia's Almacenes Exito SA were up more than 12% after the proposal by GPA to buy out its shareholders. Analysts at BTG Pactual said the new structure "improves corporate governance" for GPA. Bradesco BBI analysts raised their target price for GPA from 110 to 112 reais, saying the migration to the Novo Mercado segment may increase earnings per share by 11% through next year. Earlier this month, GPA sold its 36% stake in Brazilian appliance and electronics seller Via Varejo in an auction, raising 2.3 billion reais ($598 million). FRENCH REGULATOR INVESTIGATION Investors have long lamented the complexity of various holding company structures set up by Casino Chairman and CEO Jean-Charles Naouri and have urged him to simplify them. In 2015, short-seller Muddy Waters criticized Casino’s structure and accounting practices, saying it was “dangerously leveraged” and managed for the short-term. Casino has consistently rejected Muddy Waters’ accusations. French market regulator AMF launched a probe into the criticism in early 2016 and the investigation, which is looking into both Casino and Muddy Waters, is expected to reach a conclusion soon. Muddy Waters has already rejected the preliminary findings of the AMF probe after Le Monde newspaper said the regulator suspected Muddy Waters of "deception" regarding Casino, whose shares have been hurt by Muddy Waters' comments. On Thursday, French paper Les Echos said the AMF preliminary report also criticised Casino's financial communication. Casino said it would not comment on an "ongoing procedure" An AMF spokeswoman said on Thursday that the regulator regretted "the release in the press of elements that are presented as being part of the investigation, a release which hurts the measured process of the investigation procedure." ($1 = 3,183.0000 Colombian pesos) ($1 = 3.8433 reais) (Reporting by Paula Laier and Alberto Alerigi in Sao Paulo, Jake Spring in Brasilia and Dominique Vidalon, Inti Landauro, Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris Editing by Sandra Maler, Jonathan Oatis, Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Keith Weir and Cynthia Osterman)
How Controversy Over the Photo of a Drowned Migrant Father and Daughter Captured the Profound Cost of the Border Crisis In a photograph receiving a great deal of attention, a toddler’s arm can be seen draped around her father’s neck as they both lie face down in the Rio Grande River. Valeria, who was 23-months-old, and her father, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, drowned trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States, according to the Associated Press . After trekking from El Salvador, they attempted to swim across, with tragic consequences. The photo, taken on June 24 by Julia Le Duc, has been shared widely by news outlets and on social media, and has incited a debate about its use. There has been international outrage from migrant advocates who argue that such a shocking photo will galvanize action and from those who consider sharing the photo unethical and exploitative. For an activist like Fernando Garcia, director of the Border Network for Human Rights, the photo is a turning point in the immigration debate and he compared it to the photo of drowned Syrian child, Alan Kurdi . “People have become numbers, they’ve become statistics,” Garcia tells TIME. “People talk about immigrants in the absence of their humanity. As sad as it is, I think we need to show the photo.” Novelist Luis Alberto Urrea, who has written about migration, called the photo humanizing. “I have avoided those kinds of photos all my career and in all my books,” Urrea tells TIME. “At a moment like this, maybe this step has to be taken. To me this is the official Stephen Miller portrait.” View of the bodies of Salvadoran migrant Óscar Martínez Ramírez and his daughter, who drowned while trying to cross the Rio Grande -on their way to the U.S.- in Matamoros, state of Tamaulipas on June 24, 2019. | STR—AFP/Getty Images But not all agree that publishing the photograph is right. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) condemned the use of the image , calling the Associated Press’s publication “exploitative.” “Men, women and children cross the border daily, often escaping terror with hopes of a better life, knowing the peril that awaits them as they attempt to make the long journey to America,” the group said in a statement. Story continues For Luis Hernández, a multimedia journalist at Univision in El Paso, the photographer was doing her job. “You need to get all the information,” Hernández tells TIME. “Show people that this person had a name, had a history, had context, had loved ones.” Mark Lubell, executive director of the International Center of Photography said photos like this have had the power to change policy and says it should be published. “It’s a brutal picture to look at but it then forces us to have the conversations about what is happening,” Lubell tells TIME. “From an ICP standpoint, I think the more images like this that show up, that forces us to have these kinds of conversations, I think in the end it does lead to resolutions that will ultimately benefit everyone.” In fiscal year 2018, 283 migrant deaths were recorded at the Southwest border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol . Correction, June 27 The original version of this story misstated Mark Lubell’s place of work. It is the International Center of Photography, not the International College of Photography.
Gold Prices Slip Amid Mixed Signals Ahead of G-20 Summit Investing.com - Gold prices slipped on Thursday in Asia as the U.S. sent mixed signals on a trade deal with China ahead of the upcoming G-20 summit. Gold futures for August delivery, traded on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, were down 0.2%, at $1,410.55 per ounce by 11:28 PM ET (03:28 GMT). U.S. Treasury Steven Mnuchin told CNBC overnight that “we were about 90% of the way there (on reaching a trade deal) and I think there’s a path to complete this”. He also showed confidence that the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 summit on Saturday could achieve progress. Mnuchin’s remarks came after reports that the U.S. is willing to delay the next round of tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods as goodwill gestures to bring Beijing back to the negotiating table, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. However, Trump warned that substantial additional U.S. tariffs could be placed on China if no progress in trade talks is made this weekend. “My Plan B with China is to take in billions and billions of dollars a month and we’ll do less and less business with them,” Trump said Wednesday during an interview with Fox Business Network. The White House announced his meeting with Xi would take place at 11:30 AM ET on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. Gold’s rally came to an end earlier this week after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized that politics won’t be a consideration in its decision to reshape rate policy. Additionally, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said in an interview with Bloomberg Television that he didn’t see the necessity of a half-point, or 50 basis points, rate cut. Related Articles Weaning U.S. power sector off fossil fuels would cost $4.7 trillion: study Oil Prices Down Despite Fall in U.S. Crude Stockpiles Oil prices fall, shrugging off U.S. inventory drop, amid G20 uncertainty
Winas (SGX:5CN) Shareholders Received A Total Return Of 43% In The Last Three Years Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! One of the frustrations of investing is when a stock goes down. But no-one can make money on every call, especially in a declining market. TheWinas Limited(SGX:5CN) is down 52% over three years, but the total shareholder return is 43% once you include the dividend. And that total return actually beats the market return of 26%. In the last ninety days we've seen the share price slide 58%. View our latest analysis for Winas While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Winas became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. So it's worth looking at other metrics to try to understand the share price move. It's quite likely that the declining dividend has caused some investors to sell their shares, pushing the price lower in the process. The revenue decline, at an annual rate of 87% over three years, might be considered salt in the wound. You can see how revenue and earnings have changed over time in the image below, (click on the chart to see cashflow). Thisfreeinteractive report on Winas'sbalance sheet strengthis a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Winas the TSR over the last 3 years was 43%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! We're pleased to report that Winas shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 57% over one year. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 15% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. Keeping this in mind, a solid next step might be to take a look at Winas's dividend track record. Thisfreeinteractive graphis a great place to start. Of courseWinas may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG 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.
Does The Pa Shun International Holdings Limited (HKG:574) Share Price Tend To Follow The Market? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! If you own shares in Pa Shun International Holdings Limited (HKG:574) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. 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 type is company specific volatility. Investors use diversification across uncorrelated stocks to reduce this kind of price volatility across the portfolio. 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. 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 greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. View our latest analysis for Pa Shun International Holdings Given that it has a beta of 1.56, we can surmise that the Pa Shun International Holdings share price has been fairly sensitive to market volatility (over the last 5 years). If this beta value holds true in the future, Pa Shun International Holdings shares are likely to rise more than the market when the market is going up, but fall faster when the market is going down. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether Pa Shun International Holdings is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. Pa Shun International Holdings is a rather small company. It has a market capitalisation of HK$192m, which means it is probably under the radar of most investors. 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 Pa Shun International Holdings 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 574 is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Pa Shun International Holdings’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 574’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor 574’s outlook. 2. Past Track Record: Has 574 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 574's historicalsfor more clarity. 3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how 574 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.
Man facing backlash for repeatedly calling police on black women at pool blames his autism A man facing backlash online for repeatedly calling police on black women at his apartment complex’s pool claims his actions were driven by his autism — and not racism . “I’m autistic and lack a gauge that goes anywhere but 0 and 100,” Nick Starr-Street wrote on Facebook . “When I see a lease violation, I call it out and do everything in my power to make sure it is resolved, no matter who is the person violating.” Starr-Street reportedly called police on two separate groups of black women at The Edition Apartments in Hyattsville, Md., for having glassware by the pool — a lease violation, according to Street-Starr. Then 5 minutes later.. who pulls up but the ACTUAL PG COUNTY POLICE FOR SEVEN WOMEN WHO ARE LITERALLY JUST SITTING BY A POOL!!! I see this stuff online but having this happen in person like BLATANT racism for NO reason at ALLLLLLLLL pic.twitter.com/cbEFCOhUfv — Lil Fort Wash Posh (@SuggSavage) June 23, 2019 In the first incident tweeted about on June 22, Felecia Soso claims her friends were hanging out at the pool when a man, later identified as Starr-Street, made a complaint about their glassware and music. He allegedly yelled at her friend and later recorded her friend on camera admitting that she had glassware. Although a video shows that her friend agreed to get rid of the glassware, adding, "What else do I need to do for you to be comfortable?" Starr-Street immediately stopped the recording to show the video to the leasing office. When the leasing office took no action, Starr-Street then reported the women to the Hyattsville Police Department. They sent two officers to the scene and later left after speaking with Soso and her friends, who shared their side of the story. “I see this stuff online but having this happen in person like BLATANT racism for NO reason at ALLLLLLLLL,” Soso wrote on Twitter . “I’ve honestly seen SO MANY TYPES of racism...but we weren’t doing ANYTHING BUT EXISTING.” Story continues This white man literally stalked us from his apartment for damn near a mile just cause we were at the pool drinking wine and taking pictures. Called the police and all...I cannot make this up smh pic.twitter.com/96tGTSykUZ — sodium. (@BestFlaws) June 23, 2019 In the second incident tweeted on June 23, a woman named Gaëlle Claude posted a video of Starr-Street allegedly “stalking” her and her friend while they were walking away from the apartment for “near a mile.” In the video, Starr-Street goes on to accuse Claude and her friend of being racist while on the phone with local police. However, according to Starr-Street’s accounts, he was simply following the pair after they had allegedly attacked him. “I called 911 and chased after my attackers as I wasn’t going to let someone get away with physically assaulting me, again the autism thing where my sense of justice and right and wrong go right to 100 percent,” Starr-Street writes on his Facebook . According to his version of events detailed on Facebook, he approached the women with his phone to document they were breaking pool area rules with their glassware. “Without a single word being uttered I was punched by a woman at the pool. She left a now purple bruise on my chest, and my phone went out of my hands,” Starr-Street recalled. He later posted a video on YouTube of the encounter. Starr-Street says that when he and his husband called 911, the group of women fled the pool. According to local station WUAS9 , “he was only following the women because they were trying to leave before police could arrive.” Two different women documented their accounts of what took place on Twitter, claiming his actions were racially motivated, and receiving thousands of likes and comments. But Starr-Street tells a different story on his Facebook and to local news station WUSA9 . In an interview, he told WUSA9 explains that his behavior in the incidents can be attributed to his autism, insisting that "I don't see race,” gender or color. "I'm autistic. I just see right and wrong," Starr-Street said, insisting he never made any racial slurs towards the women. "I think because of the way that my mind works, I don't always click with other people," Starr-Street told WUSA9. "I don't understand when people get upset over the things that I say or do. To me, that’s just how I feel." “It is a sad day that people choose to jump to a ‘card’ to further their cause when they know deep down they are simply lying,” Starr-Street wrote on Facebook , also adding that he doesn’t consider himself a part of the LGBTQ community — and even lists “ anti-LGBTQ ” on his Instagram description — despite being happily married to a man. However, Starr-Street reportedly has a history of expressing contentious anti-LGBTQ and racially-charged sentiments on social media. Following the deadly 2016 Pulse Night Club mass shooting, Starr-Street received vicious backlash for making an insensitive comment on Twitter to a drag queen just days after the incident. The tweet read, "Seriously @RoxxxyAndrews? Isn't she a has-been not a star? Where her people at? I thought they were all shot." His Twitter account was later suspended. After the tweets of both Claude and Soso went viral, Starr-Street says he has become the victim, receiving death threats, and the front door of his home has been vandalized, WUSA9 reported . However, people online seem to have little sympathy for Street-Star despite living with autism spectrum disorder. The suspected white supremacist in this video goes by the name of "Nick Starr-Street" and he has other videos where he deliberately harass and provoke Black people, and then call the police when Black people respond to him. This man is VERY dangerous, and he needs to be charge pic.twitter.com/Fq8bk1Q2Mb — Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) June 24, 2019 Tariq Nasheed, an American film producer who says in his Twitter profile that he “bait[s] racists & expose[s] them,” tweeted a portrait of Starr-Street and screenshots of his Instagram account after the viral incidents. Nasheed called Starr-Street a “suspected white supremacist” and “VERY dangerous.” Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Activist feels 'unsafe' after Confederate flag, note are left for him at community center High school teacher arrested for using fake diploma, transcripts to get hired Community outraged after district moves to change schools' Native American mascots: 'Political correctness run amok!' Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
R.I.P. Billy Drago, iconic character actor and The Untouchables villain, has died at 73 Billy Drago , legendary character actor perhaps best known for playing the villainous Frank Nitti in The Untouchables , died on Monday in Los Angeles, according to The Hollywood Reporter . He was 73. Born on July 18th, 1946 in Hugoton, Kansas, Drago started out as a journalist for The Associated Press and later became a popular voice on radio. After a brief stint with a touring theater group, he eventually made his way to Hollywood. Drago appeared in over 100 films throughout his career. Among his many highlights were roles in Clint Eastwood’s Pale Rider , Brian De Palma’s aforementioned The Untouchables , and television series such as The X-Files and Charmed . He also infamously appeared alongside the late Marlon Brando in Michael Jackson’s music video for “You Rock My World”. He is survived by his sister Patty, his brother Steve, and his two sons, actor Darren Burrows and Derrick Burrows. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XT8_07Qk8?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=806&h=454] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSm68IEDDT0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=806&h=454] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4tpuu-Up90?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=806&h=454] R.I.P. Billy Drago, iconic character actor and The Untouchables villain, has died at 73 Michael Roffman
Bitwise to Launch Another Crypto Exchange-Traded Product Cryptoasset manager Bitwise haspartneredwithSwissfintechstartup Amun AG to launchanothermulti-crypto-based exchange-traded product (ETP), according to apress releaseon June 26. Bitwise’s index calculation subsidiary, Bitwise Index Services, has licensed “The Bitwise 10 Select Large Cap Crypto Index” to Amun AG to bring a diversified crypto ETP, the announcement says. The index will act as the benchmark index for an ETP product called “Amun Bitwise Select 10 Large Cap Crypto Index ETP” operating under the ticker symbol KEYS, according to areportby crypto media outlet The Block. The new ETP product will reportedly trade on Switzerland's principal stock exchange SIX Swiss Exchange, and will be only accessible by investors residing outside theUnited States, the press release notes. The Bitwise 10 Select Large Cap Crypto Index allows to track the performance of up to 10 of top global crypto assets by “free-float and inflation-adjusted market capitalization,” Bitwise wrote in the press release, adding that the index is rebalanced and reconstituted on a monthly basis. As such, as of the May 31 rebalance, the index included eight cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH),XRP, bitcoin cash (BCH), litecoin (LTC),EOS, stellar (XLM), and cardano (ADA). At the time, bitcoin was evaluated at the “weight” of 67.8%, while ether was weighted at 11.5%. The Bitwise 10 Select Large Cap Crypto Index as of May 31 rebalance. Source:PR Newswire Matt Hougan, Global Head of Research at Bitwise, said that the new initiative is an attempt to assist non-U.S. investors in obtaining “diversified exposure to the crypto markets.” He added that the  index is designed for Swiss investors who “want to be sure they gain and maintain exposure to the most important crypto projects in the world.” To date, SIX exchange has listed four crypto ETPs by Amun AG, including bitcoin ETP (ABTC), ethereum ETP (AETH), XRP ETP (AXRP), as well as its multi-crypto-based ETP Crypto Basket Index ETP (HODL), according to SIX’s officialwebsite. Launchedin April 2019, AXRP is the second biggest ETP by daily trading volume of about 440,000 Swiss francs ($450,000), following Invesco Physical Gold ETC, according todataprovided by SIX. • You Can Now Get Bitcoin Rewards When Booking at Hotels.Com • Overstock’s tZero Launches Mobile Crypto App Touted as Hack-Resistant • Survey: 27% of UK Residents Want to See Crypto in More Real-World Applications • Former Visa Exec-Led Startup Ships Nearly 4,000 Crypto Cards in a Week
What Kind Of Share Price Volatility Should You Expect For Pa Shun International Holdings Limited (HKG:574)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Anyone researching Pa Shun International Holdings Limited (HKG:574) 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 type is company specific volatility. Investors use diversification across uncorrelated stocks to reduce this kind of price volatility across the portfolio. 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. Check out our latest analysis for Pa Shun International Holdings Looking at the last five years, Pa Shun International Holdings has a beta of 1.56. The fact that this is well above 1 indicates that its share price movements have shown sensitivity to overall market volatility. Based on this history, investors should be aware that Pa Shun International Holdings are likely to rise strongly in times of greed, but sell off in times of fear. 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 Pa Shun International Holdings fares in that regard, below. Pa Shun International Holdings is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of HK$192m. 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. Beta only tells us that the Pa Shun International Holdings share price is sensitive to broader market movements. This could indicate that it is a high growth company, or is heavily influenced by sentiment because it is speculative. Alternatively, it could have operating leverage in its business model. Ultimately, beta is an interesting metric, but there's plenty more to learn. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but it's well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Pa Shun International Holdings’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 574’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor 574’s outlook. 2. Past Track Record: Has 574 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 574's historicalsfor more clarity. 3. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how 574 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.
Exclusive: How 1 Scrappy All-Business-Class Airline Carved Out a Niche for Itself In recent years,Delta Air Lines(NYSE: DAL),American Airlines, andUnited Continentaland their European joint-venture partners havedominated the trans-Atlantic travel market. On many key routes, a single alliance controls a huge share of the market. The New York-Paris route is no exception. Delta and joint venture partnerAir Franceoperate about half of the nonstop flights on this route, with six daily flights this summer. The other big carriers fly the route just once or twice a day. Yet over the past five years, boutique French airline La Compagnie has been able to elbow its way into the New York-Paris travel market with a 100%-business-class offering. With a new fleet ofAirbus(NASDAQOTH: EADSY)A321neos arriving this year, the airline's outlook is brighter than ever. I recently spoke with La Compagnie co-founder Jean-Charles Perino, who provided some additional context on how this little airline has managed to hold its own against much bigger rivals. La Compagnie began operations in July 2014 -- nearly five years ago. Initially, it operated a single daily flight between Newark International Airport (just outside New York City) and Paris. Perino said that the airline's founders thought there was room for a carrier dedicated to providing affordable all-business-class service in the trans-Atlantic market. Of course, incumbents like Delta and Air France have lots of business-class seats on their long-haul jets. But they often charge thousands of dollars each way for business-class tickets. La Compagnie undercuts its rivals with round-trip fares as low as $1,000 (and frequently below $2,000). La Compagnie offers cheaper business-class fares than its larger rivals. Image source: La Compagnie. Initially, La Compagnie's service appealed more to well-to-do leisure travelers and cost-sensitive business travelers from small and medium-sized businesses. However, as La Compagnie proved its staying power -- and particularly after it added a second daily Newark-Paris flight a few years ago -- it started to get more business from larger corporations. Today, the carrier has a balanced customer mix, with 60% of passengers traveling for business and 40% for leisure. Furthermore, despite La Compagnie being based in France, Perino noted that U.S.-based travelers account for 60% of its traffic. A growing piece of its business comes from travelers who "self-connect" by buying a separate ticket on a different airline to connect to a La Compagnie flight, either in Newark or in Paris. This indicates that many customers are willing to endure a bit of extra hassle to get an affordable trans-Atlantic ticket in business class. For the past several years, La Compagnie's fleet has consisted of a pair ofBoeing757s, each configured with 74 angled-flat business-class seats. (In other words, the seats can recline to a flat but not fully horizontal position.) The airline offers customers tablets with a variety of digital media in lieu of a traditional in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. However, La Compagnie received its first Airbus A321neo last month. A second A321neo will arrive in September, after which the airline will retire one of its two 757s. (The other 757 also will be retired within the next 18 months, according to Perino.) La Compagnie is upgrading its fleet to the fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo. Image source: La Compagnie. La Compagnie should be able to dramatically improve its profitability by upgrading from the Boeing 757 to the Airbus A321neo. Most obviously, it costs much less to operate the A321neo. Airbus says the new model is 30% more fuel-efficient than the 757 and cheaper to maintain. There could also be significant revenue benefits from switching to the A321neo. For one thing, the new planes have two extra seats compared to the 757s, for a total of 76. La Compagnie has also upgraded its product offering on the A321neos, to compare more favorably to the amenities offered by legacy carriers like Delta and Air France. Improvements include lie-flat seats that go fully horizontal (for more comfortable sleep), a built-in IFE system with 15.7-inch touchscreens at each seat, and free high-speed satellite Wi-Fi. These should help the carrier boost its average fare over time. Perino said that customers are responding well to the A321neo, but that it's too early to tell what the impact will be on average fares. Between April 2015 and September 2016, La Compagnie flew between London and Newark, before suspending the route due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Perino acknowledged that the airline might have been too quick to expand into a new market following its mid-2014 launch. Since then, La Compagnie has focused on its core Newark-Paris service. However, the airline finally added a new route last month, introducing seasonal Newark-Nice service operating five times a week. With Delta Air Lines offering the only other nonstop flights between New York and Nice, half of the passengers traveling between those two cities were taking connecting flights. La Compagnie also saw an opportunity to grow the market and entice more travelers to opt for business-class service. The new route is performing well, according to Perino, attracting a surprisingly high amount of business traffic in addition to leisure travelers headed for the French Riviera and Monaco. Nevertheless, La Compagnie has no plans for other new routes in the near future. Instead, it will add a third daily flight on its core Newark-Paris route on certain days after the Newark-Nice route ends for the season. In the long run, Perino said the airline may look to expand to more cities in the U.S., as well as destinations in the Middle East and Africa. Start-up airlines have anotoriously high failure rate. However, La Compagnie looks like it may be in a position to beat the odds. The ongoing fleet transition to the Airbus A321neo will reduce the airline's costs dramatically while also potentially boosting unit revenue. That may be enough to make La Compagnie sustainably profitable. To be fair, La Compagnie hasn't had to survive a downturn yet. But management thinks that the carrier will be just fine during periods of economic weakness: The decline in overall business traffic could be offset by market-share gains, as business travelers look for cheaper options. Of course, there are no guarantees, but with a new fleet of Airbus A321neos and a unique value proposition, La Compagnie should be able to thrive for many years to come. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market Adam Levine-Weinbergowns shares of Delta Air Lines and is long January 2020 $20 calls on American Airlines Group. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Do You Know What Spindex Industries Limited's (SGX:564) P/E Ratio Means? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Spindex Industries Limited's (SGX:564) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months,Spindex Industries has a P/E ratio of 5.83. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying SGD5.83 for every SGD1 in prior year profit. Check out our latest analysis for Spindex Industries Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Spindex Industries: P/E of 5.83 = SGD0.90 ÷ SGD0.15 (Based on the year to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to paya higher pricefor each SGD1 the company has earned over the last year. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Spindex Industries's earnings made like a rocket, taking off 120% last year. Having said that, if we look back three years, EPS growth has averaged a comparatively less impressive 14%. One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. If you look at the image below, you can see Spindex Industries has a lower P/E than the average (8.8) in the machinery industry classification. This suggests that market participants think Spindex Industries will underperform other companies in its industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitordirector buying and selling. It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Spindex Industries has net cash of S$36m. This is fairly high at 35% of its market capitalization. That might mean balance sheet strength is important to the business, but should also help push the P/E a bit higher than it would otherwise be. Spindex Industries has a P/E of 5.8. That's below the average in the SG market, which is 12.5. The net cash position gives plenty of options to the business, and the recent improvement in EPS is good to see. The relatively low P/E ratio implies the market is pessimistic. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assessthis data-rich visualizationof earnings, revenue and cash flow. You might be able to find a better buy than Spindex Industries. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out thisfreelist of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). 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.
Francis Ngannou, Junior Dos Santos seeking champ-champ status Francis Ngannou and Junior Dos Santos face off during a news conference inside State Farm Arena on April 12, 2019 in Atlanta. (Getty Images) Though it remains a remarkable accomplishment and one that is indicative of being among the handful of the most elite fighters in the world, the “champ-champ” era in the UFC is already sort of passé. Conor McGregor became the first to do it in 2016 when he added the lightweight belt to the featherweight belt he’d won when he needed just 13 seconds to knock out the great Jose Aldo . Light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic to become the heavyweight champion last year at UFC 226. Amanda Nunes knocked out Cris “Cyborg” Justino in 51 seconds at UFC 232 in December to become the first woman to pull the trick and earlier this month, flyweight champion Henry Cejudo stopped Marlon Moraes to win the bantamweight title . Because it’s been done three times in less than a year and four times overall, while it remains a titanic achievement, it is no longer enough to shock the fighting world. Unless, we put a real twist on things and suggest that someone becomes a “champ-champ” by winning a belt in both boxing and MMA. MMA fighters practice numerous disciplines and the best have to be good at all of them in order to succeed. Boxers practice one discipline and because of that, are usually far more skilled at that discipline than any MMA fighter. Floyd Mayweather conclusively proved that to McGregor in 2017. While it’s a long shot, if there are any UFC fighters who have the raw ability to win a boxing world title, chief among them would probably be Francis Ngannou and Junior Dos Santos, who meet Saturday in the main event of UFC Minneapolis (9 ET, ESPN). Now, before we get too far ahead of ourselves here, there are a couple of things to consider: Ngannou came up well short in his first bid to win the UFC heavyweight title, and he has a significant matchup against ex-champion Junior Dos Santos. Dos Santos has won three in a row and four of his last five heading into the bout with Ngannou and is showing the form that enabled him to put together a 10-fight winning streak and led him to the top of the UFC mountain. Story continues So before Ngannou can think of winning a belt in another sport, he has to get past a difficult fight on Saturday and then would have to beat whoever held the UFC belt at that stage. Cormier is going to defend it at UFC 241 in August against Miocic. But both Ngannou and Dos Santos believe it could happen, and Dos Santos tried to make it happen. Junior dos Santos, shown here in 2012, previously called out Wladimir Klitschko. Now he says he'd call out Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury if he becomes UFC heavyweight champ again. (Getty Images) Dos Santos called out then-boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko when he held the UFC belt, but said when he lost his UFC title, it didn’t make any sense to pursue a boxing versus MMA match. But the Brazilian, who recently became a father for the second time, said it has never left his mind. “One hundred percent I believe I can [beat a world champion boxer],” Dos Santos said. “I believe so much in my abilities as a boxer. I trained with a lot of the top guys already. It’s natural for me, and not having to worry about kicks or takedowns would be amazing for me. I challenged Wladimir Klitschko when I was the champion because I believed that then, and I still do.” Like Dos Santos, Ngannou’s first love is boxing. He was inspired by ex-heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, and dreamed of winning the heavyweight title in that sport. He discovered MMA and got sidetracked from boxing, but said he’s still very much interested in the sport. “I think it makes a lot of sense to try [to fight a boxing heavyweight champion], because there are a lot of guys in MMA who are like me who have a boxing background,” Ngannou said. “I didn’t know MMA six years ago. I grew up with a lot of boxing and I wanted to be the boxing champion of the world. I got into MMA and I got into the UFC very quickly and into the Top 10 very quickly and this is what I have done, but I never stopped loving boxing. “That’s what I love to do, to box. That would be a great opportunity to try to do that.” Dos Santos said if he wins the UFC title back, he’d look to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as the guys he’d call out. “Those two guys, they don’t care, they’ll fight anybody,” Dos Santos said. Fury is 6-foot-9 and roughly 250 pounds, while Wilder is 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds. Dos Santos is 6-foot-4, 245. He’s not a small guy, but said if he landed a fight with one or both of them, he’d crowd them. He said he liked the strategy that Andy Ruiz Jr. used when he upset Anthony Joshua to win three of the four major boxing belts on June 1. “I’m not saying it’s going to be exactly the same, but I think of how Andy Ruiz did with Joshua,” Dos Santos said. “Andy Ruiz had the type of strategy and the type of skill that bothered this guy. [Joshua] needs distance to punch. Ruiz didn’t give him the distance, so he was at a point where he could land but Joshua didn’t have room to punch. I would do kind of the same thing. “I don’t have the same kind of promotional power like McGregor has, but if the UFC champion says he wants to fight the boxing champ, I think Wilder and Fury are like me. They’ll accept a fight against anybody, anytime anywhere. So why not? Let’s do it.” More from Yahoo Sports: Rapinoe: ‘I’m not going to the f---ing White House’ Machado feels the love in his return to Baltimore Iggy says Warriors called fractured leg a ‘bruise’ Women’s World Cup is succeeding, no thanks to FIFA
Can 2020 Dems Do More Than Just Decry Trump on Immigration? Democratic presidential hopefuls face a challenge as they gather in Miami for the opening round of primary debates: presenting immigration ideas that go beyond simply bashing the Trump administration. Most of the proposals that the contenders have advanced combine long-held Democratic priorities — such as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of people in the country illegally — with lofty rhetoric and plenty of knocks on President Donald Trump. But many of the candidates have simply scratched the surface of a far deeper issue. Immigrant advocates say they worry that the Trump administration’s hard-line tactics, including a publicized but later delayed plan for a nationwide sweep to deport people living in the U.S. illegally, simply leave Democrats reacting to the White House rather than advancing their own priorities. They hope the debate will be an opportunity for Democrats to own the issue. “It is hard to avoid seeming reactive when your opponent is caging children, separating families and sending storm troopers into the Hispanic communities,” said Glenn W. Smith, a longtime Democratic political operative and senior strategist to the nonprofit Progress Texas. “Those things have to be loudly opposed, and you can’t pretend they’re not happening.” But it’s not going to be easy for the candidates to break through, even withtwo nights of debateslated to bebroadcast on three national television networksstarting Wednesday. Trump sees immigration as an issue that riles his base and reminds supporters of why they voted for him in the first place. During his reelection launch last week, the Republican president reiterated his pledge to build a wall along the southern border and left the crowd in a Florida stadium cheering. That could make it more difficult for Democrats to advance the issue. Sometimes, they even struggle to decry the Trump administration’s actions in real time. When 20-plus Democrats running for president addressed the South Carolina state party convention this weekend, there was little mention of reports that immigrant children being held at a detention center near the Texas-Mexico border said they didn’t have access to adequate food and water and sometimes couldn’t shower, wash their clothes or get toothpaste and soap. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke highlighted the situation in his convention speech and at a forum sponsored by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, saying, “This cannot be us. This cannot be America.” The other Texan running for president, Obama administration housing chief Julián Castro, said, “This is not how the United State of America should treat people.” The other candidates mostly stuck to more general criticisms of Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policies. Federal authorities on Monday moved most of the children who were at the facility in Clint, Texas, where they reported a lack of access to basic amenities, only to transport more than 100 back a day later. And those developments followed a Trump administration lawyer suggesting in federal court that officials weren’t required to provide items like toothbrushes, soap and blankets at border detention centers. That something like denying basic services to detained children didn’t more galvanize Democratic presidential hopefuls during the South Carolina convention suggests there may be only so many lines of attack they can lob at Trump given the time and logistical constraints of such a crowded field. It won’t be much easier to dive into substance on a debate stage with 10 candidates and several moderators. “The human rights violations and basic violations of human decency are topics that should always be at the top of our list as Democrats, and, with this president, you do have to kind of pick the greatest hits because there’s so much,” said Colin Strother, a strategist who has worked with Texas border Democrats in Congress. “But, as a party, if we won’t speak out about the horrendous treatment of children on our southern border, I don’t know what we’re doing.” Strother noted that the issue could prove problematic for Vice President Joe Biden — currently leading polls among Democratic presidential candidates — since holding children in border detention facilities began during the Obama administration amid a surge of unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border and seeking asylum in 2014. Separating families, however, was never the Obama administration’s policy. Biden released part of his immigration plan on Monday, proposing that Congress grant immediate citizenship to 800,000-plus U.S. residents who were brought to the country illegally as children. But his outline was heavier on barbs at Trump, accusing the president of an “assault on the dignity” of the Latino community through policies and rhetoric designed to “scare voters.” Trump has said his immigration policies are meant to keep the country safe. Smith said one way the Democratic presidential candidates could effectively seize control of immigration as a policy would be to explain how the Trump administration’s tougher stances have affected the whole country, not just those residing illegally. He noted labor shortages in some industries and said some communities were less safe since some people stop reporting crimes — or serving as witnesses to wrongdoing — for fear of being deported. “Get the attention on the broad, negative consequences for everybody,” he said. O’Rourke is planning to meet Thursday with local leaders and activists opposing a detention center in Homestead, Florida, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Miami, where immigrant teenagers are being held. That could draw attention to the issue similar to how O’Rourke did when he toured a tent city that federal officials erected for detained immigrant children last summer in Tornillo, near his native El Paso, which he then represented in Congress. Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Jessika Mucarsel-Powell has invited other 2020 candidates to make similar visits. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said she is planning to go to Homestead on Wednesday. “Sometimes showing up matters,” Warren said in Miami. “It is a way to draw attention to what’s happening to children who came here with hope and who are being treated like criminals. It’s just wrong.” —Democratic debate watch parties—and drinking games—are a thing —Meet the2020 Democratic presidential candidatesyou’ve (probably) never heard of —Issues that divide 2020 candidates going into thefirst Democratic debate —These are thetop-polling Democratic candidates —The2019 Democratic debate clashesyou won’t get to see —What to know About the2019 Democratic debate: start time, schedule, format
What is the Discount Rate and Why Does It Matter? The discount rate is a financial term that can have two meanings. In banking, it is the interest rate the Federal Reserve charges banks for overnight loans. In investing and accounting, it is the rate of return used to figure what future cash flows are worth today. Federal Reserve Discount Rate When the discount rate comes up in financial news, it usually refers to theFederal Reserve discount rate. This is the rate the Fed charges commercial banks for short-term loans of 24 hours or less. Sometimes, banks borrow money from the Fed to prevent liquidity issues or cover funding shortfalls. Those loans come from one of 12 regionalFederal Reservebanks. Banksuse these loans sparingly, since loans fromother bankstypically come with lower rates and less collateral. Meanwhile, asking the Fed for money may be seen as a sign of weakness, which banks want to avoid. Banks that do borrow from the Fed fall into three discount programs, or “discount windows.” 1. Primary credit, which makes overnight loans to banks that are in good financial shape. 2. Secondary credit, which lends at a higher interest rate to banks that don’t qualify for primary credit. 3. Seasonal credit, for banks with seasonal needs in places like farming or resort communities. Who Sets The Discount Rate? The board of directors of each regional Federal Reserve Bank sets the interest rate for primary credit window loans. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System then approves the discount rate, which looksawfully similarin each region. The primary rate of 3% is accompanied by a secondary rate of 3.5%.  The seasonal rate is based on market conditions and is generally the highest. Importance of Discount Rate The discount rate helps steerthe Fed’s monetary policy. At the beginning of the last recession, the Fedlowered the discount rateto helpstressed financial institutionscover costs. In those situations, short-term loans tend to get a bit longer. At the height ofthe financial crisisin 2008, loans with the discount rate were as long as 90 days. Discounted Rate of Return The discounted rate of return — also known as the discount rate — is the expected rate of return for an investment. Also known as the cost of capital or required rate of return, it estimates current value of an investment or business based on its expected future cash flow. Taking into account thetime value of money, the discount rate describes the interest percentage that an investment may yield over its lifetime.  For example, an investor expects a $1,000 investment to produce a 10% return in a year. In that case, the discount rate for valuing this investment or comparing it to others is 10%. The discount rate allows investors and other to consider risk in an investment and set a benchmark for future investments. The discount rate is what corporate executives call a “hurdle rate,” which can help determine ifa business investmentwill yield profits. Businesses considering investments will use the cost of borrowing today to figure out the discount rate, For example, $200 invested against a 15% interest rate will grow to $230. Working backwards, $230 of future value discounted by 15% is worth $200 today. This is helpful if you want to invest today, but need a certain amount later. Discount Rate Limits The discount rate is often a precise figure, but it is still an estimate. It often involves making assumptions about future developments without taking into account all of the variables. For many investments, the discount rate is just an educated guess. While, some investments have predictable returns, future capital costs and returns from other investments vary. That makes comparing those investments to a discount rate even harder. Often, the best the discounted rate of return can do is tilt the odds slightly in favor of investors andbusinesses. Bottom Line While the Fed’s discount rate can help out your bank, the discounted rate of return can directly affect your investments. Make sure you know which one you’re looking for when considering either a bank orinvestments. Discount Rate Tips • Wondering how the Federal Reserve discount rate is affecting your holdings? Figuring out the discounted rate of return on a potential investment. A financial advisor may be able to help. Finding the right financial advisor thatfits your needsdoesn’t have to be hard.SmartAsset’s free toolmatches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals,get started now. • Still concerned about investment risk? SmartAsset’sAsset Allocation Calculatorcan help determine your risk tolerance and help you minimize risk without negating reward. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Xesai, ©iStock.com/manfeiyang, ©iStock.com/ juststock The postWhat is the Discount Rate and Why Does It Matter?appeared first onSmartAsset Blog. • What Are the Hours of the Stock Market? • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) • How to Buy Amazon Stock
IndusInd Bank Limited's (NSE:INDUSINDBK) 0.5% Dividend Yield Looks Pretty Interesting Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll take a closer look at IndusInd Bank Limited (NSE:INDUSINDBK) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter. A slim 0.5% yield is hard to get excited about, but the long payment history is respectable. At the right price, or with strong growth opportunities, IndusInd Bank could have potential. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying IndusInd Bank for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on IndusInd Bank! Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. IndusInd Bank paid out 12% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. We like this low payout ratio, because it implies the dividend is well covered and leaves ample opportunity for reinvestment. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of IndusInd Bank's latest financial position,by checking our visualisation of its financial health. From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of IndusInd Bank's dividend payments. During this period the dividend has been stable, which could imply the business could have relatively consistent earnings power. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was ₹1.20 in 2009, compared to ₹7.50 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20% a year over that time. Dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period. While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. IndusInd Bank's earnings per share are up 22% on last year. We're glad to see EPS up on last year, but we're conscious that growth rates typically slow as companies increase in size. Earnings per share have grown rapidly, and the company is retaining a majority of its earnings. We think this is ideal from an investment perspective, if the company is able to reinvest these earnings effectively. Any one year of performance can be misleading for a variety of reasons, so we wouldn't like to form any strong conclusions based on these numbers alone. When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. We're glad to see IndusInd Bank has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Next, growing earnings per share and steady dividend payments is a great combination. IndusInd Bank fits all of our criteria, and we think there are a lot of positives to it from a dividend perspective. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 28 IndusInd Bank analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with ourfreereport on analyst estimates for the company. We have also put together alist of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. 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.
NRA Shut Down NRATV and a Top Executive Resigned in the Same Day. Here's What to Know About the Group's Troubles On the same day that the National Rifle Association announced that they were halting production for their 24-hour live streaming platform, NRATV, their top lobbyist resigned. On Wednesday, the NRA severed ties with its advertising partner, Ackerman McQueen, and ended programming for the online streaming service. The two have worked together for 38 years, and the ad agency oversaw NRATV’s production and worked to shape the NRA’s public image. It has been a rocky few months for the relationship between the gun rights advocacy group and the agency. The conflict also brought about today’s resignation of the NRA’s Chief Lobbyist Chris Cox, as confirmed to TIME by NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. Cox has worked with the NRA since 1995 and served as chief lobbyist and principal political strategist for its lobbying arm since 2002. He was suspended for his involvement in a power struggle against CEO and Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre, in June before resigning today. The downfall of an online streaming service and a top lobbyist are connected in a web of lawsuits and threats that has recently surrounded the group. In April, the NRA filed suit against the ad agency, saying that the NRA felt Ackerman McQueen might be “overcharging for certain items” and invoicing salaries for time spent consulting other companies, the Wall Street Journal reported . After the lawsuit was filed, former group President Oliver North told LaPierre of a letter that Ackerman McQueen was planning on sending to the NRA board, according to The Hill . It detailed a “ devastating account ” of the NRA’s financial status, sexual harassment allegations levied against a staff member and extravagant expenses. LaPierre informed NRA’s board that North tried to blackmail him into resigning, threatening the release of Ackerman McQueens’ information, according to the Wall Street Journal. North stepped down as President in April and information about the NRA’s finances was leaked earlier this month . Story continues In June, the NRA filed a lawsuit against North. It accused him of his alleged involvement in the attempt to oust LaPierre through extortion. Cox, thought by many to be the next in line to take LaPierre’s place, was also implicated in the new set of lawsuit allegations. Ackerman McQueen has counter-sued the NRA for $50 million saying that it did, in fact, provide enough financial information to the NRA, and that the NRA’s claims are damaging to their reputation . NRATV, launched in 2016, has been known to promote a hard-line, right-wing agenda. In a message on the NRA website homepage, LaPierre called the move away from the ad agency and NRATV an attempt to create a “significant change in our communications strategy.” LaPierre’s message said “many members expressed concern about the messaging on NRATV becoming too far removed from our core mission: defending the Second Amendment.” While on-air personalities like Dana Loesch and Grant Stinchfield will no longer host live shows, LaPierre explained in the statement that they will continue to show “new and archived videos” on their other media platforms. Loesch faced heat in September 2018 after a NRATV segment criticized the children’s show Thomas & Friends for its inclusion of diverse characters, the New York Times reported. The segment proceeded to show images of the trains wearing Ku Klux Klan hoods . This incident sparked controversy within the NRA ranks, and NRATV’s continuing controversial content prompted an “internal review” by NRA board members, the New York Times reported. Ackerman McQueen released a statement to TIME today calling the NRA’s actions an attempt to “smear” their company with “false allegations to excuse their non-payment.” They feel that “it is time to move on to a new chapter without the chaos that has enveloped the NRA.” When asked for comment, NRA directed TIME to LaPierre’s message on its homepage.
Dog the Bounty Hunter's History of Family Tragedy: How He's Overcome Past Heartbreak Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter, is mourning the death of his wife , Beth, after a years-long battle with cancer. Beth died at age 51 on Wednesday morning, Duane confirmed on Twitter. "It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain," he wrote. "Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side." The reality star is no stranger to heartbreak and hardship, having faced tragic losses, complicated family strife and various accusations throughout his years in the public eye. Here's a look back at some of the turmoil the 66-year-old reality star has faced in his life. Jail Time Duane dropped out of school at age 13 and lived a rough life as a member of a motorcycle gang, with several arrests for armed robbery and other crimes. In 1976, when he was 23 years old, Duane was waiting in a car when a friend shot and killed a man during a drug deal gone wrong. Despite the fact that he claimed to be merely an accomplice to the crime, Duane was convicted of first-degree murder. "I should not have been there, that's that," he said of his involvement when the conviction later barred him from entering the U.K. While he served his time at the Texas State Penitentiary, Duane's first wife, La Fonda Sue Honeycutt -- the mother of his sons Duane Lee Chapman II and Leland Chapman -- divorced him and married his best friend. He also later served time in a federal prison related to bounty-hunting charges in Mexico after tracking down Max Factor heir Andrew Luster, who was convicted of multiple sexual assaults. Family Strife Duane has been married five times and is a father to 12 children. However, his relationship with some of his children has been strained at times. The reality star's first child, Christopher Michael Hecht, was born after Duane's teenage relationship with a woman named Debbie White. But Duane didn't know of his son's existence until after White died by suicide, and the father-son pair reconnected when Christopher was an adult. The bounty hunter also lost another son, Zebediah, one of three children he had with his second wife, Anne M. Tengell. Zebediah died shortly after his birth in 1980. In October 2007, family issues led to public controversy when tapes leaked of Duane having a phone conversation with his son, Tucker, in which he used the n-word in reference to Tucker's girlfriend. The reality star issued a public apology, but on Nov. 2, A&E announced they were pulling his show for the "foreseeable future." About four months later, the network announced Dog the Bounty Hunter would return to production. Story continues Duane also worked alongside two of his sons, Duane Lee and Leland, on the reality show. However, personal and professional tensions in the family caused his sons to walk off the show and quit in 2012. They have since reconciled. In 2011, Duane and Beth were awarded temporary custody of their 9-year-old grandson -- the son of Duane's daughter, Barbara -- after alleged abuse by the boy's father, Travis Mimms Sr. "I know Travis Sr. loves his son, and I know it's very difficult to be a single parent at such a young age, but I love my grandson and only want what's best for him," Duane said in a written statement at the time. "During the last phone call I had with my daughter, Barbara, she said to me, 'Please, Daddy, take care of [your grandson]. Don't ever let anything happen to him.'" "To hear the audiotape of my grandson being abused was torture. We all hope and pray that Travis Sr. will be able to raise his son with the love and respect he deserves, because it's in everyone's best interest for them to have a proper father-son relationship," the statement continued. Tragedy Strikes On the night before his wedding to Beth in May 2006, Duane's estranged daughter, Barbara, died in a car accident near her home in Fairbanks, Alaska. Barbara and a friend, who was driving, were reportedly killed when their stolen SUV went off the road, rolled, hit some trees and landed upside down. Hawaii News Now reported at the time that Duane learned of his daughter's death just before the wedding ceremony in Kona, Hawaii, the next day. He reportedly consulted with a minister and everyone agreed the wedding would go on as planned. They decided to break the bad news to wedding guests at the reception. Publicist Mona Wood said the reality star was very emotional as he informed his guests of the tragedy, and many wedding guests were visibly upset by the shocking news. Death Threats In spring 2012, Duane and his family were the targets of multiple death threats via email, leading to an FBI investigation. The threats were graphic and included references to sexual assault and Duane's time in jail. "I'm going to murder you. I'm going to come to Hawaii and murder you and your family in cold blood," read one message obtained by RadarOnline . "You are next on my list and are the bane of society. I will deliver you to God." The family released a statement at the time saying, "The Chapmans are taking these threats seriously and are very concerned about the safety of their family. Duane Chapman said that when the person responsible is found, he will prosecute to the full extent of the law for the threats made against his family. A referral of the case has been made to the FBI in Honolulu." Alleged Addiction In 2013, Lyssa Chapman -- Duane's daughter from his third marriage to Lyssa Rae Brittain -- released a memoir, Walking on Eggshells , that detailed claims of her troubled childhood, alleging that her mother was an alcoholic and Duane was addicted to drugs. “I [falsely] accused my father of raping me when I was 11," she wrote in the book . "I had been molested by a friend of his. It was a horrible life that I never wanted to go back to, living with him and Beth and the fighting and the drugs. When I got to my mother’s, although she drank, it was much more peaceful. I was in school, I had friends, I was willing to do anything to not go back.” Beth's Cancer Battle In 2017, Beth was diagnosed with stage 2 throat cancer, which was documented in the A&E special, Dog & Beth: Fight of Their Lives. She endured a 13-hour surgery to have a tumor excised, and the family shared that the cancer had been removed in November 2017. However, in November 2018, Beth's attorney confirmed to ET that her cancer had returned. She had another surgery that month to remove a mass from her throat, and began chemotherapy in December, but was hospitalized again in April. A rep for the Chapman family confirmed to ET over the weekend that Beth was admitted to Hawaii’s Queen’s Medical Center on Saturday, and placed in a medically-induced coma in “very grave condition." A source told ET that Beth was “heavily sedated” after being admitted to the hospital and that her mother had flown to Hawaii to be by her daughter’s side. Duane and the couple’s children were also by her side “around the clock" prior to her death, the source added. See more on Beth's life and legacy in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Inside Beth and Duane 'Dog' Chapman's Complex Love Story and 13-Year Marriage Beth Chapman's Family and Friends Pay Tribute to Reality Star Following Her Death Beth Chapman, 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Star, Dead at 51 Related Articles: Hollywood Bikini Bods Over 40 Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2019 -- So Far! Celebrities in Their Underwear View comments
The Guts of An Apple iPhone Show Exactly What Trump Gets Wrong About Trade This article was written by Jason Dedrick, Professor of Information Studies, Syracuse University, Greg Linden, Research Associate, University of California, Berkeley, and Kenneth L. Kraemer, Research Professor of Business, University of California, Irvine. It originally appeared onThe Conversation, a not-for-profit news site dedicated to unlocking ideas and knowledge from academic experts. Crack open an iPhone and you'll begin to see why President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war with China doesn't make sense. On paper, imports of the popular smartphone and other goods from China look like a big loss to the U.S. The president certainly thinks so and has often cited the massive U.S.-China bilateral trade deficit – US$420 billion in 2018 – as a reason to fight his trade war. When an iPhone X arrives in the U.S., it adds about $370 – its factory cost – to the deficit. All told, iPhones add tens of billions of dollars a year to the U.S. deficit with China, which is the gap between imports and exports. But, thanks to the globe-spanning supply chains that run through China, trade deficits in the modern economy are not always what they seem. Our research on the breakdown of an iPhone's costs – where all its components and labor come from and who actually benefits – shows that China gets less value from its iPhone exports than you might think. As part of his escalating trade war, Trump says he may soon slap 25% tariffs on $300 billion in imports from China. That would mean virtually all products shipped to the U.S. from China are subject to high tariffs. Apple's(NASDAQ: AAPL)iPhone, which is assembled in China, would be among those affected by the new tariffs. Apple is urging the administration to halt its plans, which the company says would hurt its sales. Trump seems to believe that imports of iPhones, televisions and everything else from China represent money it's "taking out" of the U.S. and using to "rebuild" China. To see how much value China is actually getting, let's examine an older model of the iPhone – the iPhone 7 – a little more closely. Start with the most valuable components that make up an iPhone: the touch-screen display, memory chips, microprocessors and so on. They come from a mix of U.S., Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese companies, such as Intel, Sony, Samsung andFoxconn. Almost none of them is manufactured in China. Apple buys the components and has them shipped to China; then they leave China inside an iPhone. So what about all of those famous factories in China with millions of workers making iPhones? The companies that own those factories, including Foxconn, are all based in Taiwan. Of the factory-cost estimate of $237.45 fromIHS Markitat the time the iPhone 7 was released in late 2016, we calculate that all that's earned in China is about $8.46, or 3.6% of the total. That includes a battery supplied by a Chinese company and the labor used for assembly. The other $228.99 goes elsewhere. The U.S. and Japan each take a roughly $68 cut, Taiwan gets about $48 and a little under $17 goes to South Korea. And we estimate that about $283 of gross profit from the retail price – about $649 for a 32 GB model when the phone debuted – goes straight to Apple's coffers. We believe you'd get a similar a breakdown from newer iPhones as well. In short, China gets a lot of low-paid jobs, while the profits flow to other countries. A better way of thinking about the U.S.-China trade deficit associated with one iPhone would be to only count the value added in China, $8.50, rather than the $240 that shows up as a Chinese import to the U.S. Scholars have found similar results for the broader U.S.-China trade balance, although the disparity is less extreme than in the iPhone example. Of the 2017 trade deficit of $375 billion, probably one-third actually involves inputs that came from elsewhere – including the U.S. The use of China as a giant assembly floor has been good for the U.S. economy, if not for U.S. factory workers. By taking advantage of a vast, highly efficient global supply chain, Apple can bring new products to market at prices comparable to its competitors, most notably the Korean giantSamsung. Consumers benefit from innovative products, and thousands of companies and individuals have built businesses around creating apps to sell in the app store. Apple uses its profits to pay its armies of hardware and software engineers, marketers, executives, lawyers and Apple store employees. And most of these jobs are in the U.S. If the next round of tariffs makes the iPhone more expensive, demand will fall – hence Apple's plea to the administration. Meanwhile Samsung, which makes over half its phones in Korea and Vietnam, with a lower share of U.S. parts, will not be affected as much by a tariff on goods from China and will be able to gain market share from Apple, shifting profits and high wage jobs from the U.S. to South Korea. Put another way, research has shown globalization hurt some Americans while it made life better for many others. Putting globalization in reverse with tariffs will also create winners and losers – and there could be far more of the latter. When we discuss these topics with policymakers and the media, we're often asked, "Why can't Apple just make iPhones in the U.S.?" The main problem is that the manufacturing side of the global electronics industry was moved to Asia in the 1980s and 1990s. Companies like Apple have to deal with this reality. As the numbers we've cited make clear, there's not much value to be gained for the U.S. economy or its workers from simply assembling iPhones here from parts made in Asia. While it's possible to do so, it would take at least a few years to set it up, cost more per unit than production in Asia, and require a lot of carrots and sticks from policymakers to get the many companies involved to do so – like the potential $3 billion in subsidies Wisconsin gave to Foxconn to build an LCD factory there. Given that the tariffs are aimed specifically at China, it's more likely that Apple's suppliers would move assembly to third-party countries where they already have production. While this would reduce the United States' trade deficit with China, its trade deficit with the world would stay exactly the same. There is, of course, plenty for the U.S. to complain about when it comes to China's high-tech industry and policies, whether it's the lack of intellectual property protection or nontariff barriers that keep major tech companies such asGoogleandFacebookout of the huge Chinese market. There is room for much tougher and more sophisticated bargaining to address these issues. Trump's trade war is based on a simplistic understanding of the trade balance. Expanding tariffs to more and more goods will weigh on U.S. consumers, workers and businesses. And there's no guarantee that the final outcome will be good when the dispute ends. This is a war that should never have been started. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Apple, and Facebook. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Does Accelya Solutions India Limited (NSE:ACCELYA) Have A Good P/E Ratio? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Accelya Solutions India Limited's (NSE:ACCELYA) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer.What is Accelya Solutions India's P/E ratio?Well, based on the last twelve months it is 12.78. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 7.8%. See our latest analysis for Accelya Solutions India Theformula for P/Eis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Accelya Solutions India: P/E of 12.78 = ₹872.7 ÷ ₹68.27 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to paya higher pricefor each ₹1 the company has earned over the last year. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Most would be impressed by Accelya Solutions India earnings growth of 25% in the last year. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 3.3% per year over the last five years. This could arguably justify a relatively high P/E ratio. We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Accelya Solutions India has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the it industry average (12.8). Accelya Solutions India's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. So if Accelya Solutions India actually outperforms its peers going forward, that should be a positive for the share price. I inform my view byby checking management tenure and remuneration, among other things. Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. The extra options and safety that comes with Accelya Solutions India's ₹410m net cash position means that it deserves a higher P/E than it would if it had a lot of net debt. Accelya Solutions India trades on a P/E ratio of 12.8, which is below the IN market average of 15.4. The net cash position gives plenty of options to the business, and the recent improvement in EPS is good to see. One might conclude that the market is a bit pessimistic, given the low P/E ratio. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.' Although we don't have analyst forecasts, shareholders might want to examinethis detailed historical graphof earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of courseyou might be able to find a better stock than Accelya Solutions India. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. 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.
As Workplace Burnout Gets More Attention, Could More Tech Actually Be the Answer? Ever since May 2019, when the World Health Organization’s 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includeda more detailed description of burnout,the term has increasingly made headlines. The new definition calls burnout syndrome the results of chronic workplace stress that have not been successfully managed. WHO characterizes it as having three dimensions: feelings of low energy and exhaustion, negative feelings toward or disengagement from the job, and reduced professional effectiveness. But WHO stopped short of classifying burnout as a medical condition. Instead, it’s listed as an “occupational phenomenon,” and included it in a chapter of reasons for which people contact health services—but are not considered illnesses or health conditions. That’s good news for individuals and a possible area of concern for employers, says Russell Thackeray, Ph.D., a U.K.-based licensed clinical psychologist and organizational development consultant. “The move by the WHO represents, in my view, an acknowledgement of the seriousness of mental health conditions, long under-appreciated because of the lack of physical proof,” Thackeray says. “For example, break a limb and the evidence is there for all to see. However, anything that’s more ‘in the mind’ can often be attributed to being moody, lazy ,or even a strategy.” Having a respected world health organization recognize burnout brings awareness to the issue’s misconceptions and provides further support for it, says Michelle Lee Flores, a Los Angeles-based employment litigator and partner with Ackerman, LLP. But burnout’s higher profile also raises new questions for employers, she says. “I think [most] employers are mindful that serious medical conditions that can either trigger coverage under leave policies, or coverage under the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] and accommodation requirements can also come in different forms, including this,” Lee Flores says. “By documenting the condition and its symptoms—which directly affect the workplace—WHO has also helped employers understand why burnout isn’t something to be ignored,” Flores says. Burnout is also a concern because of its ubiquity. Research from Gallup in 2018 found 44% of people surveyed said they “sometimes” experience burnout on the job. Meanwhile, 23% said they felt it “very often.” “This is a wake-up call and can lead to further areas of defined employee risk,” Thackeray says. “Companies will need to factor in burnout into all areas of corporate life without becoming ‘hysterical’ about the whole subject.” While the “always-on” culture fueled by technology has been partially blamed for increases in burnout, the reasons are more complex. The 2017 Employee Engagement Series conducted by Kronos Incorporated and Future Workplace found that the topthree reasons respondents for burnoutincluded unfair compensation (cited by 41% of respondents), unreasonable workload (32%), and too much overtime/after-hours work (32%). “Burnout can be produced from being overly cosseted, because organizations are frightened to challenge and develop people,” Thackeray says. “So a proper adult conversation needs to be had between the leadership and workforce to deliver results.” Some companies are taking those conversations seriously. In September 2018, Scott Shute became LinkedIn’s head of mindfulness and compassion, after having served as the company’s vice president of global customer operations for more than six years. In this role, Shute focuses on programs that improve employee wellness and engagement. He’s launched 30-day meditation challenges, produced meditation-related content, and co-hosted The Compassion and Leadership Summit in June 2019 along with Wisdom 2.0 in Mountain View, California. “We know there’s tons of research that shows that mindfulness is great for our ability to have better relationships,” Shute says. “It’s great for our ability to reduce stress, reduce anxiety, reduce depression. I’m interested in doing some research over time on how it affects heart metrics like productivity.” The role is relatively new and the program’s impact is currently being measured by consumption, he adds. The rise of well-being apps that help monitor everything from how much water you’re drinking to how much sleep and exercise you’re getting may also help employees take better care of themselves, Thackeray says. In addition to cultural aspects, 20% of human resources leaders who responded to the Kronos research cited insufficient technology for employees to do their jobs as another primary cause of burnout. At organizations with more than 2,500 employees, 27% of respondents felt this way. Some organizations are turning to platforms like Glint to enable feedback and monitor engagement, performance, and growth. Such tech tools may help organizations spot areas that contribute to burnout and address them, says Jim Barnett, co-founder, CEO, and chair of the software platform. Both Flores and Thackeray think that kind of awareness is important. As burnout levels climb, companies stand to face greater consequences in terms of lost productivity and turnover, and possibly worse. “Too little action now could easily lead to more frequent and onerous legislation in the future,” Thackeray says. “This is a slippery slope for organizations, so start fixing things now.” —The fall and rise of VR: The struggle tomake virtual reality get real —“It’s just lazy”: Current’s CEO onFacebookCalibra’s similar logo —Slack went publicwithout an IPO. Here’s how a direct offering works —Welcome to the next generation ofcorporate phishing scams —Listen to our new audio briefing,Fortune500 Daily Catch up withData Sheet,Fortune‘s daily digest on the business of tech.
Apcotex Industries Limited (NSE:APCOTEXIND) Is An Attractive Dividend Stock - Here's Why Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Could Apcotex Industries Limited (NSE:APCOTEXIND) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter. While Apcotex Industries's 1.3% dividend yield is not the highest, we think its lengthy payment history is quite interesting. Before you buy any stock for its dividend however, you should always remember Warren Buffett's two rules: 1) Don't lose money, and 2) Remember rule #1. We'll run through some checks below to help with this. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Apcotex Industries! Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Apcotex Industries paid out 33% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. One of the risks is that management reinvests the retained capital poorly instead of paying a higher dividend. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. Apcotex Industries paid out 74% of its cash flow as dividends last year, which is within a reasonable range for the average corporation. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Apcotex Industries's latest financial position,by checking our visualisation of its financial health. From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. Apcotex Industries has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was ₹1.00 in 2009, compared to ₹7.50 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 22% per year over this time. It's rare to find a company that has grown its dividends rapidly over ten years and not had any notable cuts, but Apcotex Industries has done it, which we really like. Dividend payments have been consistent over the past few years, but we should always check if earnings per share (EPS) are growing, as this will help maintain the purchasing power of the dividend. It's good to see Apcotex Industries has been growing its earnings per share at 29% a year over the past 5 years. Earnings per share have rocketed in recent times, and we like that the company is retaining more than half of its earnings to reinvest. However, always remember that very few companies can grow at double digit rates forever. Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. Above all, we're glad to see that Apcotex Industries pays out a low fraction of its earnings and, while it paid a higher percentage of cashflow, this also was within a normal range. That said, we were glad to see it growing earnings and paying a fairly consistent dividend. Apcotex Industries performs highly under this analysis, although it falls slightly short of our exacting standards. At the right valuation, it could be a solid dividend prospect. Are management backing themselves to deliver performance? Check their shareholdings in Apcotex Industries inour latest insider ownership analysis. We have also put together alist of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. 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.
A Spotlight On Lexus Granito (India) Limited's (NSE:LEXUS) Fundamentals Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Building up an investment case requires looking at a stock holistically. Today I've chosen to put the spotlight on Lexus Granito (India) Limited (NSE:LEXUS) due to its excellent fundamentals in more than one area. LEXUS 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. For those interested in digger a bit deeper into my commentary, read the fullreport on Lexus Granito (India) here. LEXUS is financially robust, with ample cash on hand and short-term investments to meet upcoming liabilities. This implies that LEXUS manages its cash and cost levels well, which is an important determinant of the company’s health. LEXUS appears to have made good use of debt, producing operating cash levels of 0.71x total debt in the prior year. This is a strong indication that debt is reasonably met with cash generated. LEXUS's share price is trading at below its true value, meaning that the market sentiment for the stock is currently bearish. According to my intrinsic value of the stock, which is driven by analyst consensus forecast of LEXUS's earnings, investors now have the opportunity to buy into the stock to reap capital gains. Also, relative to the rest of its peers with similar levels of earnings, LEXUS's share price is trading below the group's average. This further reaffirms that LEXUS is potentially undervalued. For Lexus Granito (India), there are three essential factors you should further examine: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for LEXUS’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor LEXUS’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has LEXUS'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 LEXUS? 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.
Climate fight lays bare a divide between rural, urban Oregon PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The divide in Oregon between the state's liberal cities and its conservative and economically depressed rural areas has made it fertile ground for the political crisis unfolding over a push by Democrats to enact sweeping climate legislation. Eleven Republican senators were in theseventh day of a walkoutWednesday to deny the supermajority Democrats the number of lawmakers needed to vote on a cap and trade bill, which would be the second of its kind in the U.S. The stalemate has drawn international attention, in part because right-wing militias have rallied to the GOP cause. One Republican lawmaker said state troopers dispatched to hunt down the striking lawmakers should "come heavily armed" if they want to bring him back to the Capitol. "This is not the Oregon way and cannot be rewarded," Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said. "The Republicans are driving us away from the values that Oregonians hold dear, and are moving us dangerously close to the self-serving stalemate in Washington, D.C." Experts say the standoff was inevitable given the state's political makeup. Oregon has a national reputation as a liberal bastion best known for its craft beer, doughnuts and award-winning wine. But while its cities lean left, about 40% of residents — mostly those in rural areas — consistently vote Republican, said Priscilla Southwell, a University of Oregon professor who wrote "Governing Oregon." "The reality is that it is a much more divided state than people realize," she said. "It's kind of like a perfect storm for this kind of thing to happen." That political divide also translates to an economic chasm for many. As Portland has boomed, huge swaths of the state have been left without enough money to keep libraries open or fully staff sheriff's departments. Logging, which once thrived, has been significantly reduced because of environmental restrictions and a changing global economy. Rural voters worry the climate legislation would be the end for logging and trucking. "It's going to ruin so many lives, it's going to put so many people out of work," said Bridger Hasbrouck, a self-employed logger from Dallas, Oregon. "If the guys that I'm cutting for can't afford to run their logging companies, then I have to figure out something different." The proposal would dramatically reduce greenhouse gases over 30 years by capping carbon emissions and requiring businesses to buy or trade from an ever-dwindling pool of pollution "allowances." Democrats say the legislation is critical to make Oregon a leader in the fight against climate change and will ultimately create jobs and transform the economy. Republicans say it will kill jobs, raise the cost of fuel and other goods and gut small businesses. They also say they've been left out of policy negotiations, an assertion the governor called "hogwash." Yet that sense of rural alienation gives right-wing groups such as the Oregon Three Percenters a way into the conversation by portraying the climate bill as a stand-in for a number of concerns held by rural, conservative voters nationally, said Chris Shortell, chairman of Portland State University's political science department. "It highlights the ways in which local politics have become nationalized," he said. "It's not just about the climate change bill in Oregon. Now it's about, 'Are Democrats legitimate in acting this way?'" Some worry the climate standoff could put Oregon back in the crosshairs of an anti-government movement that in 2016 used the federal prosecution of two ranchers to mobilize an armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. One militia member was killed and another injured in a weekslong standoff protesting the U.S. government's management of vast swaths of the American West. In the current standoff, one militia group offered safe passage to the GOP senators and the Capitol shut down last Saturday because of what police called a credible "militia threat." Right-wing and nationalist groups have been increasingly visible in Oregon over the past five years as rural voters get more disillusioned, said Eric Ward, executive director of the Portland-based Western States Center. "In frustration, there are organizations and individuals who have stepped into a leadership gap and are attempting to provide parallel leadership," he said. "But that leadership is led by ... bigotry and threats of violence." For more than 50 years, the rural U.S. West has undergone tremendous change as federal protections for forests and endangered species reshaped residents' relationship with the land, said Patty Limerick, faculty director at the Center of the American West at the University of Colorado, Boulder. "Sometimes a historical shakeup takes a couple of decades for people to adjust, and sometimes it takes a couple of centuries," Limerick said. "I think we ought to understand that this is a really different world from 50 years ago — and no wonder that some people feel that it's time for acts of desperation and dramatically staged opposition." For now, it's unclear how that drama will play out. The Senate president said Tuesday that the Democrats no longer have the votes needed to pass the bill even if Republicans were to return, but the GOP still stayed away. ___ Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/gflaccus ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Senate president, not the governor, said the climate legislation doesn't have enough votes to pass.
A Holistic Look At Lexus Granito (India) Limited (NSE:LEXUS) Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! I've been keeping an eye on Lexus Granito (India) Limited (NSE:LEXUS) because I'm attracted to its fundamentals. Looking at the company as a whole, as a potential stock investment, I believe LEXUS 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 is a brief commentary on these key aspects. For those interested in digger a bit deeper into my commentary, take a look at thereport on Lexus Granito (India) here. LEXUS's ability to maintain an adequate level of cash to meet upcoming liabilities is a good sign for its financial health. This suggests prudent control over cash and cost by management, which is a crucial insight into the health of the company. LEXUS's has produced operating cash levels of 0.71x total debt over the past year, which implies that LEXUS's management has put its borrowings into good use by generating enough cash to cover a sufficient portion of borrowings. LEXUS is currently trading below its true value, which means the market is undervaluing the company's expected cash flow going forward. According to my intrinsic value of the stock, which is driven by analyst consensus forecast of LEXUS's earnings, investors now have the opportunity to buy into the stock to reap capital gains. Compared to the rest of the consumer durables industry, LEXUS is also trading below its peers, relative to earnings generated. This further reaffirms that LEXUS is potentially undervalued. For Lexus Granito (India), I've compiled three relevant aspects you should further research: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for LEXUS’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor LEXUS’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has LEXUS'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 LEXUS? 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.
An Independent Contractor’s Guide to Taxes If you’reself-employedor a freelancer, you likely get paid as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The IRSdefines an independent contractoras someone who performs work for someone else, while controlling the way in which the work is done. In other words, someone pays you to perform a service or deliver a product, but they only have a say in the final outcome. As an independent contractor, there are some unique responsibilities where taxes are concerned. Understanding the guidelines for filing and paying taxes as an independent contractor can help you avoid issues with the IRS. Who Qualifies as an Independent Contractor? The key characteristic of an independent contractor is retaining control of how the work they’re being paid to do is performed. With that guideline in mind, there are a variety of careers that offer the ability to work as an independent contractor, such as: • Accountants • Freelance writers • Hairstylists • Lawn care providers • Electricians • Physicians • Dentists • Attorneys Independent contractor status can apply regardless ofhow your business is structured. You could be considered an independent contractor if you operate as a sole proprietor, form alimited liability company, or LLC, or adopt a corporate structure. As long as you’re not classified as an employee, you can be considered an independent contractor. Take note: If you hire people to work for you in your business, you’ll have to decide whether to classify those people as independent contractors or employees. Incorrectly classifying an employee as an independent contractor could trigger a tax penalty. The IRS considers someone to be an employee if the person who’s paying them to work can control what will be done by that employee and how it will be done. How Is Independent Contractor Income Paid And Reported? Employees typically get paid on a consistent schedule, such as weekly, biweekly or monthly. As an independent contractor, it’s up to you and the payer to come to an agreement on when you’ll be paid and how that transaction will take place. For example, the payer may mail you a check, pay you viawire transferor send payment through an ACH deposit. These payments are not considered a salary or wages for tax purposes because the payer doesn’t deduct any money for taxes from the payment. That means no federal income taxes,Social Security taxesor Medicare taxes are taken out before you receive the money. Be mindful of how you decide to receive the payment though – some services like PayPal may charge a fee. Come income tax season, the payer is required to send you a Form 1099-MISC reporting all of the income they paid you the previous calendar year. This Form 1099-MISC takes the place of a W-2, which traditionally employed individuals receive from their companies. There is one exception to this rule though. If you earned less than $600, you’re still required to report the income, but the payer doesn’t have to send you a Form 1099-MISC. If you work with multiple people or businesses throughout the year, you may receive multiple copies of this form. Payers are required to have these completed and postmarked by the end of January each year. Paying Taxes as an Independent Contractor For tax purposes, the IRS treats independent contractors as self-employed individuals. That means you’re subject to a different set oftax payment and filing rulesthan employees. You’ll need to file an annual tax return to pay federal income tax if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. Along with your Form 1040, you’ll file aSchedule Cto calculate your net income or loss for your business. You can file a Schedule C-EZ form if you have less than $5,000 in business expenses. You’ll also be required to payself-employment tax, which covers the amounts you owe for Social Security and Medicare taxes for the year. As of 2019, theself-employment tax rateis 15.3%. Self-employment tax is calculated using Schedule SE on Form 1040. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to high-income earners. For 2019, theMedicare surtaxapplies to single filers and heads of household whose income exceeds $200,000, married couples filing jointly whose income exceeds $250,000 and married couples filing separately with income of $125,000 or more. If you’re self-employed as an independent contractor and you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes when you file your annual return, you’re required to makeestimated quarterly tax payments. These payments are designed to cover your self-employment tax and your income tax liability for the year. The first quarterly tax payment for each tax year is due in April. Subsequent payments are due in June and September, and then January of the following year. Failing to pay your estimated quarterly taxes or underpaying them may result in a tax penalty. If a penalty is owed, it will be calculated when you file your annual return in April. And remember, you’ll have to pay income tax and estimated quarterly taxes at the state level, too. Failing to pay state income taxes or quarterly taxes, or underpaying each quarter, can also result in a tax penalty. Tax Deductions for Independent Contractors Deductionslower your taxable income for the year and there are several deductions that you may be able to claim as an independent contractor. Depending on the kind of business you own, your deductible expenses might include: • Advertising costs • Business insurance • Vehicle-related expenses • Legal expenses • Home office expenses • Rent or lease payments • Equipment purchases Independent contractors can also claim a deduction forhealth insurance premiumsthey pay out of pocket. That includes premiums paid for medical, dental and long-term care insurance. If you’re married and/or have children, and pay for their insurance too, you may be able to deduct premiums paid on their behalf, as well. The exception to the rule is that you can’t deduct premiums for health insurance if you’re eligible to be covered by a spouse’s insurance plan. As an independent contractor, you can alsodeduct personal expenses, such as mortgage interest paid, interest paid to student loans and real estate taxes. You can also get a tax break for contributing to a self-employed retirement plan or a traditional IRA. If you’re looking for aretirement plan option, consider a SIMPLE IRA,SEP IRA or a solo 401(k). These plans allow for deductible contributions, with qualified withdrawals taxed at your ordinary income tax rate in retirement. Filing Your Taxes: DIY or Hire a Pro? If you’re debating between filing your own taxes as an independent contractor or hiring a tax professional, consider your business income and expenses. If you have a fairly straightforward tax situation and don’t claim many personal or business deductions, then it may be easier and less expensive to use a tax filing software to do them yourself. On the other hand, if you have multiple business expenses to deduct, are a high-income earner or subcontract work to other independent contractors in your business, it may be worth the investment to hire a tax pro to avoid any mistakes or errors in your filing. The Bottom Line The tax rules for independent contractors and self-employed individuals are designed to ensure that you’re paying an appropriate amount in taxes, based on what you earn. While they’re different from what a traditional employee experiences, they’re not overly complicated. Getting familiar with the basics can make filing your taxes as an independent contractor easier to navigate. Tax Tips for Independent Contractors • Develop a good record-keeping system for your business. Make sure you have accurate records of both your income and expenses for the year. Consider using an expense app to keep tabs on receipts, charitable donations and other deductible expenses. And if you receive a Form 1099 for the year, match it against your own income records to check for accuracy. • Consider working with a financial advisor to better manage your independent contractor income. Finding the right financial advisor thatfits your needsdoesn’t have to be hard.SmartAsset’s free toolmatches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals,get started now. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/mapodile, ©iStock.com/SchulteProductions, ©iStock.com/Deagreez The postAn Independent Contractor’s Guide to Taxesappeared first onSmartAsset Blog. • Fiscal Year (FY): Definition and Importance • Can You Deduct Medical Expenses on Your Taxes? • What Is a Tax Abatement?
Huawei loses trade-secret case, but jury awards no damages DALLAS (AP) — A Texas jury ruled Wednesday that Chinese technology giant Huawei stole trade secrets from a Silicon Valley startup, but jurors declined to levy damages, saying Huawei didn't benefit from the theft. The jury in U.S. District Court in Sherman, Texas, also rejected Huawei's claims that Cnex Labs Inc. co-founder Yiren Huang stole its technology while he worked at a Huawei subsidiary. Huawei Technologies Co. is embroiled in a trade dispute between China and the U.S., which has accused Chinese companies such as Huawei of committing forced technology transfers and stealing trade secrets. The Cnex case isn't directly related to that trade dispute, though it's overseen by the same federal judge, Amos Mazzant III, who is assigned to a Huawei lawsuit against the U.S. government. Huawei says that a ban on federal agencies and contractors buying its equipment is unconstitutional. Cnex General Counsel Matthew Gloss called Huawei a "bully," saying, "We're a small company. We didn't seek this fight .... They wanted to shut us down." In a statement, Huawei called the Cnex ruling a "mixed verdict" and said it was considering its next steps. Cnex, which has financial backing from Microsoft and Dell Technologies, works on solid-state drives, the types of storage common in smartphones and other popular devices. They start faster and are more reliable than traditional hard disks, though they are typically more expensive. Huawei said Huang started Cnex three days after leaving Huawei's Futurewei unit in 2013 and began filing patent applications less than a month later based on work he did there. Huawei also accused Huang of poaching its employees and alleged that one was caught downloading thousands of pages of confidential Huawei documents. The jury found that Huang did violate a contract provision regarding disclosing patent applications, but it awarded no damages after concluding Futurewei didn't prove harm. Story continues Lawyers for San Jose, California-based Cnex countered that Futurewei hired Huang in 2011 as a pretext to steal his ideas. In court documents, Cnex accused Huawei Deputy Chairman Eric Xu of directing an effort to reverse-engineer Cnex technology. Huawei lawyers denied the accusation. ___ This story has been corrected to read that Cnex is based in San Jose, not Santa Clara, California.
A Spotlight On Sarda Energy & Minerals Limited's (NSE:SARDAEN) Fundamentals Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! I've been keeping an eye on Sarda Energy & Minerals Limited (NSE:SARDAEN) because I'm attracted to its fundamentals. Looking at the company as a whole, as a potential stock investment, I believe SARDAEN has a lot to offer. Basically, it is a highly-regarded dividend-paying company that has been able to sustain great financial health over the past. Below, I've touched on some key aspects you should know on a high level. For those interested in digger a bit deeper into my commentary, take a look at thereport on Sarda Energy & Minerals here. SARDAEN's strong financial health means that all of its upcoming liability payments are able to be met by its current cash and short-term investment holdings. This indicates that SARDAEN has sufficient cash flows and proper cash management in place, which is a crucial insight into the health of the company. SARDAEN seems to have put its debt to good use, generating operating cash levels of 0.23x total debt in the most recent year. This is also a good indication as to whether debt is properly covered by the company’s cash flows. Income investors would also be happy to know that SARDAEN is one of the highest dividend payers in the market, with current dividend yield standing at 2.1%. SARDAEN has also been regularly increasing its dividend payments to shareholders over the past decade. For Sarda Energy & Minerals, I've put together three important factors you should further research: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for SARDAEN’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor SARDAEN’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has SARDAEN'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 SARDAEN? 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.
Senate passes $4.6B border aid measure; Pelosi seeks talks WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-held Senate on Wednesday passed a bipartisan $4.6 billion measure to deliver aid to the southern border before the government runs out of money to care for thousands of migrant families and unaccompanied children. The sweeping 84-8 vote came less than 24 hours after the Democratic-controlled House approved a similar measure backed by liberals. The House bill , which contained tougher requirements for how detained children must be treated, faced a White House veto threat and was easily rejected by the Senate. As a result, it remained unclear how the two chambers would resolve their differences and send President Donald Trump a compromise measure that he would sign. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Democrats would propose changes to the Senate legislation on Thursday, and spokesman Drew Hammill said they planned to quickly push the amended measure through the House. That still left questions about whether the Senate and Trump would accept the revisions and how quickly the Senate could act. "We pray that the White House and the Senate will join us in embracing the children and meeting their needs," Pelosi said in a written statement after meeting privately with other top House Democrats. Pelosi's statement called for inclusion of provisions setting standards of care for children and limiting how long they could be detained. They would block Trump from shifting the bill's money to programs Congress has not specifically approved, tighten reporting requirements and let lawmakers visit immigration facilities without providing advance notice. Pelosi called Trump Wednesday afternoon to discuss the measure. "There's some improvements that we think can be reconciled," Pelosi told reporters. Trump said passing the legislation was urgent as he left the White House for Japan and he appeared to leave the door open for negotiations. "We are moving along very well with a bipartisan bill in the Senate," Trump said. "It's very far along and I believe the House is also going to also be getting together with the Senate to get something done. It's humanitarian aid. It's very important." Story continues The final outcome isn't clear. Congress plans to leave Washington in a few days for a weeklong July 4 recess, and pressure is intense to wrap up the legislation before then. Failure to act could bring a swift political rebuke and accusations of ignoring the plight of innocent immigrant children who are living in overcrowded, often inadequate federal facilities. The Senate vote comes less than 24 hours after the House passed its version largely along party lines. The funding is urgently needed to prevent the humanitarian emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border from worsening. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blasted the House bill earlier Wednesday. "They had to drag their bill way to the left to earn the support of most Democrats," McConnell said. "As a result, the House has not made much progress toward actually making a law, just more resistance theater." Asked Wednesday if he's open to adding some language sought by the House, McConnell said, "We're working on finishing up this week and getting it to the president." The Senate rejected the House bill by 55-37. Both House and Senate measures contain more than $1 billion to shelter and feed migrants detained by the border patrol and almost $3 billion to care for unaccompanied migrant children who are turned over the Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate measure is not as strict in setting conditions on the delivery of funding to care for unaccompanied children and contains funding opposed by House Democrats for the Pentagon and to ease a payroll pinch at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The House and Senate bills ensure funding could not be shifted to Trump's border wall and would block information on sponsors of immigrant children from being used to deport them. Trump would be denied additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds. Lawmakers' sense of urgency was amplified by a widely circulated, horrid photo of the bodies of a migrant father and toddler daughter who perished on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Also building pressure were recent reports of gruesome conditions in a windowless Border Patrol station in Clint, Texas, where more than 300 infants and children were being housed. Many were kept there for weeks and were caring for each other in conditions that included inadequate food, water and sanitation. The Border Patrol reported apprehending nearly 133,000 people last month — including many Central American families — as monthly totals have begun topping 100,000 for the first time since 2007. Federal agencies involved in immigration have reported being overwhelmed, depleting their budgets and housing large numbers of detainees in structures meant for handfuls of people.
Pedevco Corp (PED) CEO Simon G Kukes Bought $157,926 of Shares CEO of Pedevco Corp (PED) Simon G Kukes bought 77,037 shares of PED on 06/24/2019 at an average price of $2.05 a share.
Should You Worry About Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited's (NSE:SHRIPISTON) CEO Pay? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The CEO of Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited (NSE:SHRIPISTON) is Ashok Taneja. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. Check out our latest analysis for Shriram Pistons & Rings At the time of writing our data says that Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited has a market cap of ₹21b, and is paying total annual CEO compensation of ₹131m. (This number is for the twelve months until March 2019). Notably, that's an increase of 202% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at ₹6.0m. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of ₹14b to ₹55b. The median total CEO compensation was ₹23m. As you can see, Ashok Taneja is paid more than the median CEO pay at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited is paying too much. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Shriram Pistons & Rings has changed from year to year. On average over the last three years, Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 13% each year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 13% over last year. This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assessthis data-rich visualizationof earnings, revenue and cash flow. With a total shareholder return of 24% over three years, Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited shareholders would, in general, be reasonably content. But they would probably prefer not to see CEO compensation far in excess of the median. We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by Shriram Pistons & Rings Limited, and compared it to remuneration at a group of similar sized companies. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. We also think investors are doing ok, over the same time period. While it may be worth researching further, we don't see a problem with the CEO pay, given the good EPS growth. So you may want tocheck if insiders are buying Shriram Pistons & Rings shares with their own money (free access). If you want to buy a stock that is better than Shriram Pistons & Rings, thisfreelist of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. 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.
Tesla is quietly developing its own EV battery cells Tesla has powered its electric cars using Panasonic's battery cellsfor years, but it may ready for a greater degree of independence going forward. EmployeestalkingtoCNBCclaim that Tesla is developing its own "advanced" lithium-ion battery cells as well as the processes to manufacture them at scale. The company reportedly conducts some of its research at a "skunkworks" facility minutes away from its Fremont plant. It's not hard to divine the reasoning behind the move. In-house cells would let Tesla optimize its battery packs for its cars, whether it's longer range, more acceleration or better sustained performance. This could also cut costs by eliminating go-betweens like Panasonic, making that$25,000 EVmore feasible. Moreover, it might provide a failsafe in case the relationship between Tesla and Panasonic goes south. The Japanese firm recentlyfroze its investmentsin Tesla's Gigafactories, however temporarily, and it recently reached anagreement with Toyotato make car batteries. Elon Musk alsoblamedPanasonic for serving as a "constraint" on Model 3 production. Internally-designed cells could ensure that Tesla isn't held back and, as technology VP Drew Baglino put it, make the company the "masters of our own destiny." This doesn't mean Tesla is about to drop Panasonic completely. It still needs its partner in the short term, and Panasonic's capacity might be crucial as Teslaexpands its reach. Panasonic might just want to have a backup plan in case it's no longer the center of Tesla's universe. VideoPresenter: Dana WollmanScript: Terrence O'BrienScript Editor: Dana WollmanEditor: Kyle MaackProducer/Camera: Michael Morris
Vaibhav Global Limited (NSE:VAIBHAVGBL): Has Recent Earnings Growth Beaten 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! Examining Vaibhav Global Limited's (NSE:VAIBHAVGBL) past track record of performance is a valuable exercise for investors. It enables us to understand whether the company has met or exceed expectations, which is a powerful signal for future performance. Below, I will assess VAIBHAVGBL's latest performance announced on 31 March 2019 and weigh these figures against its longer term trend and industry movements. See our latest analysis for Vaibhav Global VAIBHAVGBL's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 March 2019) of ₹1.5b has jumped 37% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 3.5%, indicating the rate at which VAIBHAVGBL is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Let's take a look at if it is merely owing to an industry uplift, or if Vaibhav Global has experienced some company-specific growth. In terms of returns from investment, Vaibhav Global has invested its equity funds well leading to a 22% return on equity (ROE), above the sensible minimum of 20%. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 17% exceeds the IN Luxury industry of 6.3%, indicating Vaibhav Global has used its assets more efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Vaibhav Global’s debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 12% to 28%. This correlates with a decrease in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio declining from 53% to 9.5% over the past 5 years. While past data is useful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. While Vaibhav Global has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I suggest you continue to research Vaibhav Global to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for VAIBHAVGBL’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor VAIBHAVGBL’s outlook. 2. Financial Health: Are VAIBHAVGBL’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.
Easy Come, Easy Go: How Ankit Metal & Power (NSE:ANKITMETAL) Shareholders Torched 96% Of Their Cash Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We're definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. We don't wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. Anyone who heldAnkit Metal & Power Limited(NSE:ANKITMETAL) for five years would be nursing their metaphorical wounds since the share price dropped 96% in that time. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 59% over the last twelve months. We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway. Check out our latest analysis for Ankit Metal & Power Because Ankit Metal & Power is loss-making, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. In the last five years Ankit Metal & Power saw its revenue shrink by 45% per year. That puts it in an unattractive cohort, to put it mildly. So it's not altogether surprising to see the share price down 47% per year in the same time period. We don't think this is a particularly promising picture. Ironically, that behavior could create an opportunity for the contrarian investor - but only if there are good reasons to predict a brighter future. Depicted in the graphic below, you'll see revenue and earnings over time. If you want more detail, you can click on the chart itself. Take a more thorough look at Ankit Metal & Power's financial health with thisfreereport on its balance sheet. Ankit Metal & Power shareholders are down 59% for the year, but the market itself is up 2.9%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 47% 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. You might want to assessthis data-rich visualizationof its earnings, revenue and cash flow. 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 IN 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.
Morphic Announces Pricing of Upsized Initial Public Offering WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Morphic Holding, Inc.(“Morphic”), a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing oral small-molecule integrin therapeutics, today announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $15.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on The Nasdaq Global Market on June 27, 2019 under the symbol “MORF.” The offering is expected to close on July 1, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Morphic, are expected to be approximately $90.0 million. In addition, the underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares of common stock. Jefferies LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on June 26, 2019. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the final prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 877-821-7388 or by email atprospectus_department@jefferies.com, from Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Attn: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (631) 592-5973 or by email atPostSaleManualRequests@broadridge.com; from BMO Capital Markets Corp. at 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, by telephone at (800) 414-3627 or by email tobmoprospectus@bmo.com; or from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, or by calling (800) 326-5897, or by emailingcmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Morphic Morphic Therapeutic, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company applying its proprietary insights into integrins to discover and develop a pipeline of potentially first-in-class oral small-molecule integrin therapeutics for the treatment of serious chronic diseases, including autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, fibrosis and cancer. Morphic has developed an exclusive technology platform by leveraging its unique understanding of integrin structure and biology to develop novel product candidates designed to achieve the potency, high selectivity and pharmaceutical properties required for oral administration. Morphic Therapeutic, Inc. is the wholly-owned operating unit of Morphic Holding, Inc. Contacts Morphic ContactRobert E. Farrell, Jr., VP Finance and Ops and Treasurerbob.farrell@morphictx.com781-996-0955 Media ContactTom Donovan, Ten Bridge Communicationstom@tenbridgecommunications.com857-559-3397
To dodge trade war, Chinese exporters shift production to low-cost nations * Chinese exporters long battled with rising domestic labour costs * China-U.S. trade war was the final straw * Guangdong bulletproof vest maker moved production to Myanmar * Shandong tyre maker moved capacity to Thailand By Joyce Zhou and Ann Wang GUANGZHOU, China/YANGON, June 27 (Reuters) - Pressured by a labour crunch and rising wages in China, Shu Ke'an, whose company supplies bulletproof vests, rifle bags and other tactical gear to the United States, first considered shifting some production to Southeast Asia a few years ago, but nothing came of it. When trade tensions flared into a tariff war last year, however, it was the final straw. A day after U.S. President Donald imposed additional tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods in September, Shu, 49, decided to start making vests for his U.S. clients in Myanmar instead. Since then, the Trump administration has further hiked tariffs on Chinese imports, raising the U.S. taxes on Shu's Guangzhou-made bulletproof vests to 42.6%. With more than half of his company's income reliant on orders from the United States, Shu was happy with his Myanmar decision. "The trade war was actually a blessing in disguise," he said. With Trump poised to slap 25% tariffs on another $300 billion-plus of Chinese goods, no exporter in China will be unscathed. In recent years, some Chinese manufacturers had already started to relocate some of their capacity to countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia, due to high operating costs at home. The trade war is now pushing more to follow suit, especially makers of low-tech and low-value goods. A few Chinese exporters have also tried to dodge the trade war bullet by quietly transhipping via third countries. CHOICE DESTINATION Nine months on, Shu's firm, Yakeda Tactical Gear Co, is relying on his new Myanmar factory, which started operations in December, to produce new orders for its U.S. clients. The 220 workers at his original Guangzhou plant, in China's Pearl River Delta manufacturing powerhouse, now mostly supply clients in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Story continues In Yangon, meanwhile, Shu's Myanmar factory turns raw materials imported from China into backpacks, kit bags and pouches for rifles and pistols - all labelled "Made in Myanmar" - almost all of which are exported to the United States. "Our factory is receiving many orders. The products are being exported to the U.S. and Europe. So, I believe our future will be improved from working in this factory," said Marlar Cho, 36, a supervisor at the factory. The factory manager, 40-year-old Jiang Aoxiong from eastern China, said they were constantly rushing to keep up with orders, despite its 600-strong workforce. Though international criticism of Myanmar's handling of the Rohingya crisis has crimped Western investment, the Southeast Asian nation has become the choice destination for some Chinese firms, drawn to its cheap and abundant labour. The former British colony, located on China's southwestern border, exports some 5,000 products to the United States duty-free under a U.S. trade programme for developing nations - another big plus. In the 12 months through April, approved Chinese projects increased by $585 million, the latest data from Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration shows. The infusion of Chinese capital has helped fuel expansion in Myanmar's fledging industrial sector. In May, firms saw the fastest rise in workforce numbers since 2015, while production scaled a 13-month high, the latest Nikkei Myanmar Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index survey showed. STAY OR GO? ACMEX Group, a tyre maker based in China's coastal Shandong province, already had some experience with offshoring when the trade war began. About two years ago, it started manufacturing some tyres in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia to take advantage of lower labour and raw material costs and avoid U.S. anti-dumping duties. With fresh tariffs in the trade war, the company plans to boost the proportion of tyres made abroad to 50% from 20%, and build its own factories instead of outsourcing to existing factories, Chairman Guan Zheng said. "The time is ripe now," he said, adding that supply chain infrastructure had improved. The experience of companies like ACMEX and Shu's Yakeda Tactical Gear underlines how the trade war has put Chinese exporters on the back foot, needing to either diversify their client base, increase domestic sales or move production to a third country. But all those options require time and money, which are not necessarily available to China's legion of small exporters grappling with thinning profit margins. Even locations such as Vietnam and the Philippines have grown too dear for some. While China has encouraged the relocation of some heavy industry overseas to ease overcapacity and support its ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure plan, Beijing is less supportive of a broader move to shift manufacturing offshore. Liang Ming, director of the Institute of International Trade at the Ministry of Commerce's Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, rejected the idea that Chinese firms were leaving China in droves. "Few companies are actually moving. If they move, they risk losses if there is a China-U.S. deal," Liang told reporters earlier this month, adding that any relocation back to China would be expensive. As trade pressures intensify, analysts say China will loosen policy further in months ahead to shore up economic growth. Investors are also watching to see how much Beijing allows the yuan to weaken to offset higher U.S. tariffs. The tightly-managed currency has depreciated about 2% against the dollar since trade tensions worsened in early May. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet in Osaka at a G20 summit at the end of this week in a bid to reset ties poisoned by the trade war. And though costs and labour may be cheaper, some Chinese firms with experience of offshoring say there are downsides too. Factory manager Jiang complained about lower worker productivity in Myanmar compared with China, flooded roads during the rainy season, and power cuts of eight to nine hours every day. "If there is no trade war between China and the U.S., we definitely would not have come to Myanmar to open our factory," he said. (Reporting by Joyce Zhou and Ann Wang; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis in YANGON, John Ruwitch in SHANGHAI and Irene Wang and Michael Martina in BEIJING; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Alex Richardson)
After Hours: Rite Aid, Pier 1 Both Hit by Poor Q1s Wednesday's post-stock market close news was, as in weeks past, dominated by quarterly results figures released late in the afternoon. The stocks of two companies reporting, furniture retailerPier 1(NYSE: PIR)and pharmacy chain operatorRite Aid(NYSE: RAD), are seeing plenty of action... although probably not the kind of action they'd like to see. Image source: Getty Images. Rite Aid's stock could use a fresh bandage. It's getting hammered in the aftermarket; just now it's down 11% from its closing price today. This follows the post-market release of its Q1 of fiscal 2020 results. During the quarter the company booked revenue of just under $5.4 billion, a slight decline from the same period last year. Same-store sales inched up by 1.4%. Net loss, however, deepened to $99 million ($1.88 per share) from the year-ago figure of nearly $42 million ($0.79). The Q1 2020 result, though, was affected by over $43 million in what the company termed "pre-tax restructuring-related costs." Regardless, that bottom-line deficit was wider than the average analyst estimate of $0.90 per share. At least revenue broadly met projections -- analysts had been expecting around $5.4 billion. Rite Aid, the country's No. 3 pharmacy retail chain, has really fallen out of favor with investors since its failed merger withWalgreens Boots Alliance. On a fundamental level, it has struggled to compete with the ever-more powerful Walgreens andCVS Health. Another retailer fighting to remain relevant isPier 1(NYSE: PIR), which also unveiled its Q1 2020 figures after market close. For the period, Pier 1's total net sales fell by almost 16% to $314 million, on the back of same-store sales that suffered a 14% decline. The news wasn't much better on the bottom line, with net loss deepening to nearly $82 million ($19.97, although this is after a recent1-for-20 reverse stock split) from the Q1 2019 shortfall of almost $26 million. Those results were significantly worse than expected by analysts. On average, the prognosticators figured the company would absorb a per-share loss of $11.50 on net sales a bit north of $345 million. Pier 1 is a poster-boy victim of the dreaded retail apocalypse. It hasn't adjusted well to the modern retail climate, and what's more, it operates in the always-competitive furniture and home furnishings segment. Aftermarket investors are not in a tolerant mood with Pier 1 stock tonight. They're collectively trading the retailer's shares down by a steep 15% as of this writing. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market Eric Volkmanhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends CVS Health. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Such Is Life: How Andhra Cements (NSE:ANDHRACEMT) Shareholders Saw Their Shares Drop 64% Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But no-one is immune from buying too high. For example, after five long years theAndhra Cements Limited(NSE:ANDHRACEMT) share price is a whole 64% lower. That's an unpleasant experience for long term holders. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 56% in the last year. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 22% in the last 90 days. Check out our latest analysis for Andhra Cements Because Andhra Cements is loss-making, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. The graphic below shows how revenue and earnings have changed as management guided the business forward. If you want to see cashflow, you can click on the chart. We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Thisfreeinteractive report on Andhra Cements'searnings, revenue and cash flowis a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. Investors in Andhra Cements had a tough year, with a total loss of 56%, against a market gain of about 2.9%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 19% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. You might want to assessthis data-rich visualizationof its earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you are like me, then you willnotwant to miss thisfreelist of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on IN 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.
Introducing Andhra Cements (NSE:ANDHRACEMT), The Stock That Slid 64% In The Last Five Years Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. Zooming in on an example, theAndhra Cements Limited(NSE:ANDHRACEMT) share price dropped 64% in the last half decade. That's an unpleasant experience for long term holders. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 56% over the last twelve months. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 22% in the last three months. Check out our latest analysis for Andhra Cements Given that Andhra Cements didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. The graphic below shows how revenue and earnings have changed as management guided the business forward. If you want to see cashflow, you can click on the chart. It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at ourfreereport on Andhra Cements's earnings, revenue and cash flow. While the broader market gained around 2.9% in the last year, Andhra Cements shareholders lost 56%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 19% 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. Shareholders might want to examinethis detailed historical graphof past earnings, revenue and cash flow. 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 IN 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.
Why Mattel's Failed Merger Talks Could Be a Good Thing Shares ofMattel(NASDAQ: MAT)have plunged nearly 40% over the past year, hurt most recently by the company's failed merger talks with privately held industry peer MGA Entertainment, owner of brands such as Bratz, Little Tykes, and L.O.L. Surprise. Make no mistake -- these weren't friendly talks. Earlier this month, Mattel effectivelyrejected a second buyout offerfrom MGA that, based on subsequent comments from MGA founder and CEO Isaac Larian, reportedly not only included an underwhelming buyout premium but also came with the condition that Mattel's entire board of directors resign without further compensation and allow Larian to take over as its new chairman and CEO. Shortly thereafter, Larian suggested he was "looking at other options" to make a merger happen, a seeming hint that he wouldpursue a hostile takeoverif Mattel didn't play nice. But it all camecrashing down last weekwhen Larian issued a statement arguing that Mattel "cannot be salvaged" because of its "hostile board and management," its $4 billion in debt, and significant legal liabilities stemming from lawsuits over selling its faulty Fisher Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper product. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. Call me crazy, but it seems MGA Entertainment would have been well aware of those risks before exhausting virtually every avenue it had to combine forces with Mattel. Of course, even excluding the recent M&A-centric swings, it's an understatement to say Mattel shareholders have endured a roller coaster through their ownership of the toy maker over the past year. After plunging more than 30% in 2018 -- including anearly 16% droplast December alone -- following the bankruptcy of Toys R Us, the company initially started 2019 on a high note. Sharessoared more than 20%in a single day in February as Mattel's cost-cutting efforts helped pave the way for its second straight profitable quarter, only to give up much of that gain weeks later, when the company provided tepid full-year guidance calling for flat gross sales at constant-currencies for all of 2019. Mattel stock onlydriftedlowerover the next few months, as investors worried over escalating trade tensions and the potential impact of tariffs on its bottom line. All told, those concerns overshadowed a slightly better-than-expected first-quarter 2019 report in late April, which saw its turnaround begin to take shape. For that, the company credited both early sales ofToy Story 4products and therelative strength of legacy brandssuch as Barbie and Hot Wheels. Undoubtedly sensing the opportunity to pick up Mattel at a discount as the market ignored its progress toward sustained, profitable growth -- and keeping in mind that MGA previously took an unsuccessful shot at acquiring Mattel in 2015 --that'swhen we saw Larian and MGA try their hand yet again. With that additional perspective, MGA today seems less like an acquirer that walked away from an unsalvageable business, and more like a spurned suitor now trying to damage the goods it can't have. If Mattel can sustain last quarter's momentum in the face of broader macroeconomic concerns, something tells me MGA will be quietly lamenting its missed chance as Mattel shareholders rejoice. More From The Motley Fool • 10 Best Stocks to Buy Today • The $16,728 Social Security Bonus You Cannot Afford to Miss • 20 of the Top Stocks to Buy (Including the Two Every Investor Should Own) • What Is an ETF? • 5 Recession-Proof Stocks • How to Beat the Market Steve Symingtonhas 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.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg: The government shouldn’t ‘take a big hammer’ to Facebook Facebook (FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pushing back against calls for a company breakup. During a conversation with Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein at the Aspen Ideas Festival on Wednesday, the CEO said that dismantling the social media behemoth wouldn't solve the company’s problems — including election interference, privacy matters, or misinformation. Zuckerberg said keeping Facebook intact would actually allow it to better deal with its many challenges. Moreover, he said, the social network has actually fostered technological innovation by scooping up companies like Instagram and WhatsApp. "I can kind of get why politically saying that you want to break up the companies feels nice, right. It's like, 'Okay, there are issues. Let's just take a big hammer and go do it.' But I just think the reality is we want to make sure the things we do actually address the problems," he said. Facebook has been under ever-increasing scrutiny on topics ranging from election interference, misinformation campaigns, and data privacy since it emerged that the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analyticaused Facebook user datato aid in the election of Donald Trump without users’ consent. The Cambridge Analytica scandal — combined with efforts by the Russian government to sow discord among American voters and several other privacy mishaps — have spurred calls for Facebook to be regulated. With the public's trust in Big Tech shattered, politicians have swept in with calls to break up some of the largest tech companies to curb their influence. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a presidential contender,has already laid out a planthat would see tech companies dismantled, which Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has echoed in his own right. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), meanwhile, have called for an examination of the tech industry and whether larger companies should face antitrust regulators. Former Vice President Joe Biden has also said that Big Tech needs to be looked at through the lens of potential antitrust measures. But Zuckerberg argues that the calls to dismantle Facebook won't address the core issues of privacy, election interference, and misinformation. "Look at Twitter, look at Reddit, all of these different services—Youtube is not much smaller than us, but you know Twitter and Reddit are. They have hundreds of millions of people instead of billions, but do they face qualitatively different issues or the same misinformation questions or election interference? Are they not suffering from that too? They absolutely are," Zuckerberg said. In his estimation, the CEO believes that breaking up Facebook would leave it, and whatever companies spawn from its breakup, less equipped to handle the threats they face. "So it's not the case that if you broke up Facebook into a bunch of pieces you suddenly wouldn't have those issues. You would have those issues — you would just be much less equipped to deal with them." Instead, Zuckerberg believes uniform government regulation should be enacted to maintain election integrity across all of the internet. He also believes Congress should enact rules that would better govern free speech on social platforms, as well as deal with privacy and user data questions. Zuckerberg also addressed criticisms that Facebook has stifled competition in the social media space by acquiring or crushing its competitors. And while he never mentioned Facebook's ongoing campaign to take down Snapchat by mimicking its services on Instagram, the CEO did detail why he believes Instagram and WhatsApp are better off now that Facebook purchased them than before. Zuckerberg explained that when the company first acquired Instagram it still hadn't launched an Android app, had an ongoing spam issue, and only employed 13 people. Since then, the photo-sharing app has grown to be one of the most important social networks in the world, and has made "influencers" more than simply salespeople, he noted. In her proposal, Warren explicitly states that Facebook would be broken apart from both WhatsApp and Instagram. Doing so, she explains, would give Facebook a greater amount of competition and feed innovation in the social media space. Zuckerberg, meanwhile, explained that while he understands that some mergers can hinder innovation, he believes regulators should be careful when looking at something like Facebook. "Yes, some mergers can be bad for innovation. These weren't," Zuckerberg said. "And I think it would be very hard to make the case that any kind of innovation or kind of competition in the broader ecosystem was decreased because of the work and the innovation that we've brought to bear on this." More from Dan: • Breaking up Google isn’t the answer • Lenovo’s and Google's Smart Alarm Clock might make you hate mornings less • Tim Cook on tech: ‘If you built a chaos factory, you can’t dodge responsibility for the chaos.’ Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com; follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley. Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
Jacob Wohl Says He’ll Enlist if Trump Attacks Iran Joshua Roberts/Reuters Energetic but ineffectual young conservative operative Jacob Wohl is all-in on the prospect of war with Iran. Wohl is so into the idea, he told Right Richter that he’ll enlist in the military if the United States goes to war. “If we go to war with Iran, I will enlist within 10 days,” Wohl said in an Instagram direct message. Wohl says he’ll consider the United States at war with Iran if Congress authorizes the war or Trump uses a previous military authorization to attack. As for what branch he’ll join, Wohl says “probably the Army.” Wohl’s hypothetical future platoon-mates might want to be aware that Wohl has a reputation for failing spectacularly. Last year, he teamed up with lobbyist Jack Burkman to smear Special Counsel Robert Mueller with a sexual assault allegation that completely collapsed when the alleged victim failed to show, then accused Wohl of making it all up. In April, The Daily Beast caught Wohl and Burkman trying to manufacture a similar allegation against Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg. Any military recruiters, meanwhile, might be interested in Wohl’s history of faking death threats against himself, then reporting the bogus threats to law enforcement. In March, Wohl was caught faking threats with a dummy Twitter account during a trip to Minneapolis. Wohl’s support for war with Iran puts him out of step with many of his fellow provocateurs in the pro-Trump “New Right,” many of whom have claimed Trump is being led by his advisers into war. Conservative personality and brain pill entrepreneur Mike Cernovich and One American News reporter Jack Posobiec, for example, have criticized the push for war with Iran. While Wohl claims he’s ready to go to war, he’s been now with various 2020 plans. After telling Right Richter about his promise to enlist, Wohl pivoted to bragging about his new plan: getting dirt on Joe Biden. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Delta testing ability to talk to customers with Messages app via Apple Business Chat Delta Air Linesis testing out a new way to communicate with its customers through “their channel of choice” – a messaging app. Customers with an iOS device can chat with a live airline representative or a Delta Virtual Assistant through the Messages app via Apple Business Chat, Delta said ina news releaseWednesday. The option – which will be available for certain fliers this summer – will offer customers “in-the-moment assistance” or responses to common questions. The company plans to expand the method into the Fly Delta app in the fall, it said. In explaining how the service will work, Delta said messaging a representative will be akin to chatting with their friends or family. “During the phased roll out, some customers receiving Delta’s summer travel tips email prior their trip will see a ‘Need Help’ link at the bottom of their email,” the news release said. “When the link is tapped from their iOS device, the Messages app will automatically launch and connect customers with Delta — the same way they message with friends and family.” If customers are using a different type of device, they’ll instead be sent to “the delta.com ‘Need Help’ messaging interface,” the company said. “Delta will also perform limited tests of Apple Business Chat from directly inside the Fly Delta iOS app this summer,” it added. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX BUSINESS APP Tori Forbes-Roberts, Delta’s vice president of reservation sales and customer care, said customer feedback revealed a preference for messaging versus other modes of communication. “This is about connecting with our customers where they are — and many have told us that they’d rather message with us than engage on other channels like the phone, email or social media,” Forbes-Roberts said. “Messaging is fast, it’s easy and it empowers our customers to connect with us on their terms — messages will even be saved and remain available so customers have a lifeline to Delta when they need it most.” Related Articles • Bellhops Makes the Back-to-School Move Bearable • Brexit Boosting Cross Border M&A • Under Armour Outsmarts Olympics In Phelps Promos
Need To Know: A and M Jumbo Bags Limited (NSE:AMJUMBO) Insiders Have Been Selling Shares Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. 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 before you buy or sellA and M Jumbo Bags Limited(NSE:AMJUMBO), 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, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. 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.' See our latest analysis for A and M Jumbo Bags While there weren't any large insider transactions in the last twelve months, it's still worth looking at the trading. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! I will like A and M Jumbo Bags better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out thisfreelist of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. 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. A and M Jumbo Bags insiders own about ₹56m worth of shares (which is 74% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. An insider sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But since A and M Jumbo Bags is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company.I like to dive deeperinto how a company has performed in the past. You can findhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. 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.
Facebook CEO says delay in flagging fake Pelosi video was 'execution mistake' (Reuters) - Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said his social media company took too long to flag as false an altered video of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that appeared to show the Democratic Representative slurring and tripping through a speech. Zuckerberg, speaking at a conference in Aspen, Colorado, said the slow response was "an execution mistake on our side." The video, a type of realistic alteration known as a "deepfake," was slowed to make Pelosi's speech seem slurred and edited to make it appear that she repeatedly stumbled over her words. After the video surfaced last month, it was widely shared on Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc's YouTube. YouTube took down the video, citing policy violations, but Facebook did not remove the clip, only limiting its distribution and telling users trying to share it that it might be misleading. "It took a while for our system to flag the video and for our fact checkers to rate it as false... and during that time it got more distribution than our policies should have allowed," Zuckerberg said. Pelosi criticized Facebook's refusal to remove the video and said the incident had convinced her the company knowingly enabled Russian election interference. Misinformation through altered videos is a rising concern in the run-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) is now being used to produce clips that look genuine and realistically appear to show people saying words they have not spoken. The term "deepfake" is a combination of "deep learning" and "fake." After the Pelosi video, Zuckerberg himself was portrayed in a spoof deepfake video on Instagram in which he appears to say "whoever controls the data, controls the future." Facebook, which owns Instagram, did not to take down the video. Zuckerberg said Facebook is considering developing a specific policy on deepfakes. "This is a little bit of sausage making here because we are going through the policy process of thinking through what the deepfake policy should be," he said. "This is certainly an important area as the AI technology gets better." (Reporting by Uday Sampath and Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru, Katie Paul in San Francisco; Editing by Bill Rigby)
Why Amcor plc (ASX:AMC) Is A Financially Healthy Company Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Amcor plc (ASX:AMC), a large-cap worth AU$26b, comes to mind for investors seeking a strong and reliable stock investment. Most investors favour these big stocks due to their strong balance sheet and high market liquidity, meaning there are an abundance of stock in the public market available for trading. In times of low liquidity in the market, these firms won’t be left high and dry. They are also relatively unaffected by increases in interest rates. Assessing the most recent data for AMC, I will take you through the key ratios to measure financial health, in particular, its solvency and liquidity. Check out our latest analysis for Amcor A debt-to-equity ratio threshold varies depending on what industry the company operates, since some requires more debt financing than others. Generally, large-cap stocks are considered financially healthy if its ratio is below 40%. For Amcor, investors should not worry about its debt levels because the company has none! This means it has been running its business utilising funding from only its equity capital, which is rather impressive. Investors' risk associated with debt is virtually non-existent with AMC, and the company has plenty of headroom and ability to raise debt should it need to in the future. Given zero long-term debt on its balance sheet, Amcor has no solvency issues, which is used to describe the company’s ability to meet its long-term obligations. However, another measure of financial health is its short-term obligations, which is known as liquidity. These include payments to suppliers, employees and other stakeholders. At the current liabilities level of US$34.0, the company has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 3.82x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Having said that, a ratio above 3x may be considered excessive by some investors, yet this is not usually a major negative for a company. AMC has zero debt in addition to ample cash to cover its near-term liabilities. Its strong balance sheet reduces risk for the company and shareholders. Keep in mind I haven't considered other factors such as how AMC has performed in the past. You should continue to research Amcor to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AMC’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor AMC’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is AMC 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 AMC 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.
Stocks gain on U.S.-China trade hopes, dollar flat By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global equity markets gained and the dollar held steady on Thursday ahead of the G20 summit where a scheduled meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has stirred hopes that trade tensions could ease. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News there were no preconditions and nothing was agreed before the Trump-Xi meeting on Saturday. Earlier, a Hong Kong report indicated a truce had been reached, which eased worries Trump would impose new tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods. The trade war has crimped manufacturing and begun to slow growth, so hopes for a truce rekindled investor interest in riskier assets and weighed on safe havens. Optimism was tempered by a Wall Street Journal report that Xi planned to present Trump with a set of terms Washington should meet before Beijing is ready to settle. "I continue to be very skeptical that the U.S., at least this current administration, will reach a deal with China," said Kristina Hooper, chief global market strategist at Invesco in New York. "I can't find any compelling reasons why China would make real concessions to the U.S.," Hooper said. The dollar index <.DXY>, which tracks the dollar against the euro, Japanese yen, sterling and three other currencies, traded slightly lower at 96.200. The dollar was little changed against the euro <EUR=> and the yen <JPY=>. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe <.MIWD00000PUS> gained 0.42%, while both the pan-European STOXX 600 index <.STOXX> and the FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> of leading regional shares closed basically at break-even. Stocks on Wall Street mostly gained, though the Dow industrials closed slightly lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average <.DJI> fell 10.24 points, or 0.04%, to 26,526.58. The S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 11.14 points, or 0.38%, to 2,924.92 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 57.79 points, or 0.73%, to 7,967.76. Healthcare <.SPXHC> rose 0.62% and financials <.SPSY> gained 0.92%, with big lenders leading the charge ahead of results of the second part of the Federal Reserve's annual stress test for banks. Semiconductor companies, which have a sizable revenue exposure to China, traded higher, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor index <.SOX> rising 1.47%. U.S. Treasury debt yields fell on concerns that trade discussions between the United States and China on Saturday may be more complicated than previously expected. News headlines suggest that "the meeting in Osaka is going to be a lot more tense than some of the initial optimism suggested," said Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets in New York. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note <US10YT=RR> rose 10/32 in price to push its yield lower to 2.0140%. German government bond yields fell back toward record lows after data showed annual inflation in the euro zone's biggest economy remained well below the European Central Bank's target. Germany's 10-year bond yield was down 1.2 basis points at minus 0.32% <DE10YT=RR>, nearing Tuesday's record low of minus 0.336%. Oil prices settled little changed, weighed by concerns over whether the G20 summit will produce a breakthrough on trade and perceptions that supply is ample despite prospects for continued curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Brent crude <LCOc1>, the global benchmark, rose 6 cents to settle at $66.55 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude <CLc1> settled up 5 cents to $59.43. U.S. gold futures <GCcv1> settled 0.2% lower at $1,412 an ounce. (Reporting by Herbert Lash in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
Zuckerberg defends Facebook's decision to keep up Pelosi ‘deepfake’ video Facebook (FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday defended the decision to keep a doctoredvideo of House Speaker Nancy Pelosilive on its site — but he admitted the social networking giant should have labeled it a fraud more quickly. During a conversation with Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Zuckerberg said that while he doesn't want Facebook to control whether users can share inaccurate information with each other, the company is looking at new policies to deal with so-called deepfake videos. "I think that what we want to be doing is improving execution. But I do not think we want to go so far toward saying that a private company prevents you from saying something it thinks is actually incorrect to another person," he said. Deepfakes are videos using artificial intelligence to make individuals appear to do and say things they haven't. Examples include clips that show former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush making statements they never gave, and another that shows a researcher moving his mouth and eyebrows to manipulate a video of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While deepfakes have caught on in recent years, they didn't truly explode onto the national stage until a video altered to make Pelosi appear drunk was uploaded to Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter in May. That video wasn't a true deepfake since it was simply slowed down to make Pelosi look inebriated and didn’t use sophisticated AI technologies. However, it still managed to raise the specter of deepfakes being used to manipulate elections and spread misinformation. While Google took down the YouTube version of the video, both Facebook and Twitter left it up. Zuckerberg said they left the video up because he believes it’s better to let people see false information like the Pelosi video called out as fraudulent rather than hiding it from users. "I feel like that is important, because if you are just hiding things that are rumors then how would you refute them? I do think it would be an overreach to say, 'Hey you shouldn't be able to say something that is not correct to your friends.' " But deepfakes, Zuckerberg admitted, represent a new frontier for misinformation, and likely need to be treated as such. "I do think saying deepfakes are different from misinformation is a reasonable perspective," the CEO said. "I think that we need to make sure in doing this that we need to define what a deepfake is very clearly." Zuckerberg says he fears that if Facebook's policies are too broad, individuals who dislike the way certain interviews or videos with them are cut will petition to have them taken off Facebook. Though Zuckerberg doesn’t believe the Pelosi video should have been taken down, he said the company didn't act quickly enough to identify it and label it as a fake. "One of the issues in the example of the Pelosi video that you mentioned, which was an execution mistake on our side, was it took a while for our systems to flag it and for the checkers to rate it as false." The fear behind deepfakes is that, unlike a text article, they could prove too realistic to be proven false for viewers. There's also the worry that a deepfake of a world leader could create or exacerbate global conflicts. Then there's the notion that if a politician or other leader doesn't like how a comment he or she made is received, they would be able to use the existence of deepfakes as a means to deny they ever said anything at all. For now, though, Facebook's policy is that it won't tell users when they can and can't lie. And videos like the one depicting Pelosi will stay up. • Lenovo’s and Google's Smart Alarm Clock might make you hate mornings less • Tim Cook on tech: ‘If you built a chaos factory, you can’t dodge responsibility for the chaos.’ • How Huawei’s loss could be Apple’s gain • The coolest games of E3 2019 Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com; follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley. Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
Is Trump Watching Tonight's Democratic Debate? He Says He's 'Off to Save the World!' Update 10:16 p.m. E.T.:Trump appears to be watching, and tweeting about, the debate on Air Force One as he wrote hosts MSNBC and NBC “should be ashamed” of the “horrible” technical difficulties with the microphones as moderators changed shifts. He then threw out his favorite media insult, calling them “fake media” organizations, in all capital letters. President Donald Trump started his characteristic bombastic tweeting ahead of the firstDemocratic primary presidential debateswith the words “FACT CHECKING” in all capital letters, perhaps setting the tone for how he and the White House will react to the 10 candidates on stage tonight. Trump tagged several accounts in the tweet including one for his own 2020 re-election campaign called @TeamTrump and campaign staff: manager Brad Parscale, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, director of communications Tim Murtaugh, and director of strategic communications Marc Lotter. He wrote that there would be “rapid response” and “truth,” all in all capital letters, as they seemingly will be reacting in real-time to comments made by the likes of Senators Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, and frontrunner Elizabeth Warrentonight. The president also wrote he is “on Air Force One, off to save the Free World” as he heads to the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, where he will have bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, among others. The president then launched into a series of issues-based tweets, all likely to be covered by tonight’s moderators. Of course, the first included a mention of “Crooked Hillary Clinton.” He tweeted that “Democrats have tried and failed to pass Criminal Justice Reform,” and mentioned the Super Predator Crime Bill. Trump claimed the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, passed when former Vice President Joe Biden served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, “inflicted great paid on many, but especially the African American community.” The bill had funded an additional 100,000 police officers and provided $14 billion in grants for community policing efforts, among other measures. Crime rates did drop in the years following the bill; however, critics argued it led to the mass incarceration problem the U.S. is facing now and disproportionately targeted poor, minority communities. While Biden has defended the legislation, in 2015 former Bill Clinton laterapologizedfor passing the bill, remarking it “made the problem worse.” Trump tweeted he, and “nobody but President Trump,” helped Democrats pass a crime reform bill and tasked moderators to “ask why THEY failed to the candidates.” The president then tweeted about one of the most controversial topics to be discussed over the next two nights: immigration. He retweeted anop-edfrom the Washington Examiner regarding “those who denied a ‘crisis’ at the” U.S.-Mexico border. The administration has come under heavy fire as reports of migrant children held in facilities after crossing the border have been denied blankets, soap, access to showers, heating during the cold desert nights, and cramped conditions. A Trump official, Department of Justice lawyer Sarah Fabian, was evenarguingthat the children do not need these items in an appeals court a few days ago. Several members of Congress weighed in, calling the facilities “concentration camps” and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in particular has been criticized by the president, his supporters like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and even prominent Democrats for the use of the term. Look for candidates to take a stance on this tonight. The president capped off his tweet storm by writing “much can be learned” from Australia’s stance on “illegal immigration” with no mention that seeking asylum is not against the law in the U.S. —Democratic debate watch parties—and drinking games—are a thing —Meet the2020 Democratic presidential candidatesyou’ve (probably) never heard of —Issues that divide 2020 candidates going into thefirst Democratic debate —These are thetop-polling Democratic candidates —The2019 Democratic debate clashesyou won’t get to see —What to know About the2019 Democratic debate: start time, schedule, format
Does Amcor plc's (ASX:AMC) P/E Ratio Signal A Buying Opportunity? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Amcor plc's (ASX:AMC) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Based on the last twelve months,Amcor's P/E ratio is 13.16. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 7.6%. See our latest analysis for Amcor Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share (in the reporting currency) ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Amcor: P/E of 13.16 = $11.39(Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, USD )÷ $0.87 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to paya higher pricefor each A$1 the company has earned over the last year. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Amcor's earnings made like a rocket, taking off 59% last year. Even better, EPS is up 31% per year over three years. So we'd absolutely expect it to have a relatively high P/E ratio. The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. As you can see below Amcor has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the packaging industry, which is 13.5. Amcor's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. So if Amcor actually outperforms its peers going forward, that should be a positive for the share price. Further research into factors such asmanagement tenure, could help you form your own view on whether that is likely. The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores. Amcor has net cash of US$130. That should lead to a higher P/E than if it did have debt, because its strong balance sheets gives it more options. Amcor's P/E is 13.2 which is below average (15.8) in the AU market. It grew its EPS nicely over the last year, and the healthy balance sheet implies there is more potential for growth. The below average P/E ratio suggests that market participants don't believe the strong growth will continue. Because analysts are predicting more growth in the future, one might have expected to see a higher P/E ratio.You can taker closer look at the fundamentals, here. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So thisfreevisual report on analyst forecastscould hold the key to an excellent investment decision. But note:Amcor may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). 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.
Huawei employees worked with China military on research projects: Bloomberg (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies Co employees worked on at least 10 research projects with Chinese armed forces personnel over the past decade, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, collaborations the Chinese company said it was not aware of. Huawei workers teamed up with members of various organs of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in projects spanning artificial intelligence to radio communications, Bloomberg said . "Huawei is not aware of its employees publishing research papers in their individual capacity," Huawei spokesman Joe Kelly told Reuters, adding the company does not have any research and development collaboration or partnerships with PLA-affiliated institutions. "Huawei only develops and produces communications products that conform to civil standards worldwide, and does not customize R&D products for the military." Huawei has come under mounting scrutiny for over a year, led by U.S. allegations that "back doors" in its routers, switches and other gear could allow China to spy on U.S. communications. The company has denied its products pose a security threat. The U.S. government last month effectively banned its agencies from buying Huawei telecommunications equipment and put severe restrictions on U.S. firms doing business with Huawei. The research projects are part of a few publicly disclosed studies, Bloomberg said, adding it culled the papers from published periodicals and online research databases used mainly by Chinese academics and industry specialists. China's defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang told Reuters the ministry does not comment on academic research. "As everyone knows, Huawei is a private company that has developed on its own. There is no so-called Chinese military background," he said. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru, Sijia Jiang in Hong Kong, Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Himani Sarkar)
Toni Braxton's Niece's Cause of Death Revealed Nearly two months after the passing of Toni Braxton's niece, Lauren Braxton , her cause of death has been determined. A representative of the medical examiner's office in Maryland tells ET the 24-year-old's death was caused by heroin and fentanyl intoxication. The manner of death is undetermined. Law enforcement officers found Lauren unresponsive in her home on April 29. She was then pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics. Lauren's father -- Toni's younger brother, Michael Conrad Braxton Jr. -- told TMZ at the time that her death was related to a heart condition. A rep for the Braxton family told ET at the time, "We ask that you please respect the Braxton family's privacy in this time of sadness and loss." Aside from Toni, Lauren is also survived by her aunts Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar. Trina shared a picture of Lauren on Instagram the day after her passing, memorializing her niece. "God sent me another angel!" Trina wrote. "Rest in Heaven Lauren 'LoLo' Braxton." Toni herself shared a tribute mourning the loss with an Instagram post that included a photo of herself and Lauren. "R.I.P to my amazing niece Lauren 'Lo Lo' Braxton...I'm still in disbelief and so very heartbroken," she wrote. "Love you...always auntie 'Te Te.'" RELATED CONTENT: Toni Braxton Opens Up About the Shocking Death of 24-Year-Old Niece: I'm 'Heartbroken' Toni Braxton's Niece Lauren Braxton Dead at 24 'Braxton Family Values': Why Tamar Thinks Trina Eloped! (Exclusive) Related Articles: Hollywood Bikini Bods Over 40 Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2019 -- So Far! Celebrities in Their Underwear
Australian Potash Limited (ASX:APC): Is Breakeven Near? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Australian Potash Limited's (ASX:APC): Australian Potash Limited operates as a minerals exploration company in Australia. The AU$35m market-cap company’s loss lessens since it announced a -AU$5.0m bottom-line in the full financial year, compared to the latest trailing-twelve-month loss of -AU$3.5m, as it approaches breakeven. The most pressing concern for investors is APC’s path to profitability – when will it breakeven? I’ve put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for APC, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate. See our latest analysis for Australian Potash APC is bordering on breakeven, according to Metals and Mining analysts. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2020, before turning a profit of AU$4.4m in 2021. Therefore, APC is expected to breakeven roughly 2 years from now. In order to meet this breakeven date, I calculated the rate at which APC must grow year-on-year. It turns out an average annual growth rate of 88% is expected, which is extremely buoyant. Should the business grow at a slower rate, it will become profitable at a later date than expected. Given this is a high-level overview, I won’t go into details of APC’s upcoming projects, but, keep in mind that by and large a metal and mining business has lumpy cash flows which are contingent on the natural resource mined and stage at which the company is operating. This means that a high growth rate is not unusual, especially if the company is currently in an investment period. One thing I’d like to point out is that APC has no debt on its balance sheet, which is quite unusual for a cash-burning metals and mining company, which typically has high debt relative to its equity. This means that APC has been operating purely on its equity investment and has no debt burden. This aspect reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. There are too many aspects of APC to cover in one brief article, but the key fundamentals for the company can all be found in one place –APC’s company page on Simply Wall St. I’ve also compiled a list of essential aspects you should further examine: 1. Historical Track Record: What has APC's performance 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. 2. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business – take a look atwho sits on Australian Potash’s board and the CEO’s back ground. 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.
Boxing: Joseph Parker out to make statement vs. Alex Leapai Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker prior to the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight championship fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Getty Images) There was a time in the not too distant past when if you discussed the prominent rising stars in the heavyweight division, the discussion must have included Joseph Parker. When he won the vacant WBO heavyweight title in a tougher than anticipated bout with Andy Ruiz Jr. on Dec. 10, 2016, in Auckland, New Zealand, Parker was 21-0 with 18 knockouts and generally regarded at the same level as Tyson Fury , Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder . Parker’s majority decision win over Ruiz that night might have been the first step in a fall from grace for the affable Kiwi, who lost his belt to Joshua in a lackluster 2018 affair. A loss to Dillian Whyte followed closely on the heels of the loss to Joshua, and by last fall, when the top heavyweights were mentioned, Parker’s name was rarely among them. “A lot of people have mentioned the heavyweight division is on fire at this stage, but we’re not really in the mix, or a part of the conversation, at the moment,” Parker told Yahoo Sports. “Listen, I get it. We lost those fights, very close fights, but just because they were losses, it doesn’t mean that, I don’t know, how do I put this? I feel like, there is a lot more I can give to the division. I have a lot more drive and I want to be champion more than ever now.” By virtue of his stunning June 1 upset over Joshua in New York, Ruiz has turned the “Big Three” into the Big Four, joining Wilder, the WBC champion; Fury, the lineal champion and Joshua. Below them are a stunningly deep class of prospects, which includes 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka; 2016 Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce; powerful Efe Ajagba as well as Daniel Dubois, Guido Vianelloa and Filip Hrgovic. Parker returns to the ring on Saturday against Alex Leapai at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, looking to make a statement about his position in the division. “My opinion is that the difference between the top guys, the guys who are right there now, and guys like myself, is that there isn’t a lot of difference,” Parker said. “There are many factors that play into it. No excuses, [but I was] coming into camp overweight and there were injuries and this and that. Story continues “There are many things I have taken from those experiences that I think will be beneficial. Having been at the top, I feel like I have a good understanding of the level I need to be at or aiming for, and I feel I can get even another level above that.” Parker is not a lost cause by any stretch. He’s only 27 and is two years younger than Ruiz and Joshua, nearly four years younger than Fury and almost seven years younger than Wilder. Even Joyce, who turned pro late and is regarded as a prospect, is nearly seven years older than Parker. So while he isn’t hearing the glowing praise he heard at one stage of his professional career, it’s not out of the question that he puts it back together and makes a lengthy run at the top. He wants to stay active and hopes to fight by October if he defeats Leapai on Saturday. But he said he’s better now than he’s ever been, even if fans aren’t recognizing it at this point. “From 2016 to now, there’s no comparison: I’m a better fighter than I was then,” Parker said. “I’m above the level I was then, and there are still other levels I can get to. There’s a lot to work on and a lot to learn but I feel I’m going to be making a statement in the heavyweight division that will make people take notice.” More from Yahoo Sports: Rapinoe: ‘I’m not going to the f---ing White House’ Machado feels the love in his return to Baltimore Iggy says Warriors called fractured leg a ‘bruise’ Women’s World Cup is succeeding, no thanks to FIFA
Billie razor brand's new ad tells women to stop shaving Razor company Billie is suggesting women don't need to shave for bikini season. (Photo: Getty Images) A razor company is daring to suggest that women can stop shaving before bathing suit season — and that message is not OK with some people. Billie , which taglines itself a “female-first shave and body brand,” posted a new Instagram ad on Wednesday that looks very much like a typical swimsuit promo, except the models are sporting obvious overgrowth in their bikini and armpit areas. “Hang on, why is there so much pressure to be ‘summer ready?’” reads Billie’s Instagram caption. “Magazines tell us to stop eating carbs in February, follow a 12-step routine to get the perfect beach bod, and to remove every last strand of hair before squeezing into a bathing suit. The 4th unofficially kicks off summer. So this summer, you do you. Let your hair down, maybe even out… we hope you’ll enjoy the breeze.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Billie (@billie) on Jun 26, 2019 at 5:31am PDT Many of Billie’s Instagram followers applauded the body-positive message. One fan wrote, “This is fearless,” while another commented, “The removal of body hair is a personal choice, NOT a social obligation! I love this campaign & love this company.” But many others were less than thrilled. One commenter wrote: “That’s gross. Come on girls, just keep up with yourself a little bit.” Another one wrote: “What the hell.” Added another: “Can’t believe people like this.” And when the video was shared by the meme Instagram page Beige Cardigan , no one held back: “Wow appalling;” “Just don't go getting all mad when nobody wants to get with your hairy bikini line;” and “It’s just tacky.” The ad, called “Red, White, and You Do You,” is a summery sequel to a 2018 campaign called Project Body Hair starring women modeling hair growth in taboo areas: bikini lines, armpits, stomaches, and toes. A Billie representative did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. Georgina Gooley, who co-founded Billie, told Glamour in 2018, "When brands pretend that all women have hairless bodies, it’s a version of body shaming. It’s saying you should feel ashamed of having body hair." Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Woman with 'disgusting' hairy armpits in Nike Instagram sparks debate: 'STOP DEGRADING HER' Cardi B Is Being Shamed for Her Stomach Hair and It's Not OK This Is The Only Razor I Travel With — Here’s Why Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Can Socialism Win in 2020? Democrats Aren't Embracing It Bernie Sanders is leading the charge to mainstream democratic socialism in the 2020 Democratic race. But some of his opponents want to distance themselves from the label. Sanders has been talking about democratic socialism for decades, but the ideology has seemingly gained more traction—particularly among younger voters—since the Senator’s 2016 run for president. As the movement continues to grow, the Vermont Senator recentlygave a speech about democratic socialismat George Washington University. Sanders defined the ideology as a matter of economic rights. “Today in the 21st century, we must take up the unfinished business of the New Deal and carry it to completion,” he said. “In other words, the issue of unfettered capitalism is not just an academic debate, poverty, economic distress and despair are life-threatening issues for millions of working people in the country,” the senator told the crowd, while arguing that democratic socialism is about economic freedom for all people. Since his last campaign, Sanders’s political movement and democratic socialism have become more popular among some Americans, as activists and representatives are increasingly identifying with the ideology. But it has also created a dividing line within the party. Probably. Sanders has openly labeled himself a socialist, while backing policies that are also deemed as such. Other Democrats are rallying behind similar ideas, just without embracing the terminology. At least four 2020 candidates—Senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren—signed onto Sanders’sMedicare-for-all legislation, a campaign that has been championed by theDemocratic Socialists of America. The organization boasts more than 55,000 members nationwide. Still, these Democrats don’t want to be labeled as socialists, but the ideology is popular enough among some Democratic voters to become an important point of debate this election cycle. A2018 Gallup pollfound that most Democrats had a positive view of socialism, while less than half of young Americans between ages 18 to 29 had a positive view of capitalism. Christine Riddiough, Chair of the DSA’s National Political Committee toldFortunedemocratic socialism has become popular to younger voters because they “see very few opportunities for themselves. If they get to go to college, they leave with mountains of debt; if they don’t get to go, they’re stuck in low-paying generally menial jobs with no future.” According to Riddiough, “Socialism offers an alternative with some hope.” Sanders is currently the only 2020 candidate to embrace democratic socialism and he’s doing it in a big way. The senator said his policies aren’t even that “radical,” he just wants to “make sure everyone appreciates why economic rights are human rights.” The Sanders campaign could not be reached for comment for this story. Some lower-polling candidates have been outspoken about the Democratic Party not embracing socialism. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper who is running against Sanderstold the audienceat an event for the California Democratic Party earlier this month that “Socialism is not the answer.” He added, “If we’re not careful, we’re going to end up reelecting the worst president in American history.” Hickenlooper was booed by some attendees. He will join Sanders on stage during Thursday night’s debate. Others, like Warren, Booker, and Harris haveshied away from the labelwhile supporting more progressive, and even socialist, policies. Warren has maintained over the years thatshe is a capitalist, even while putting out some of themost progressive economic policy platforms. But the Massachusetts Senator won’t criticize socialists outright, likely so as not to isolate an important and growing base of the Democratic Party. But the party is still pushing back, partly because they see Republicans warning thatsocialism is dangerous. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier has continuously rejected the ideology. Shearguedin an interview with “60 Minutes” that Democratic lawmakers “know that we have to hold the center.” She added that if people in her party support socialism, “that’s their view. That is not the view of the Democratic Party.” More recently, Jon Cowan, president of the centrist think tank Third WaytoldTimethat the debate around democratic socialism has created a dividing line within the party. Democratic strategists, activists, union leaders, and members of Congress met in South Carolina last week for a strategy session following Sanders’s speech. Some party members fear that embracing democratic socialism would isolate independent voters, swing voters, and Republicans who are dissatisfied with President Trump. Democratic socialists are building a movement that’s reported wins at every level of government. At least 46 democratic socialists running in the 2018 midtermswon their primaries, while others were elected to public office in various local jurisdictions. Three democratic socialistswon aldermanic wardsin Chicago’s elections earlier this year, and most recentlyTiffany Cabán ran a successful primary campaignfor Queens District Attorney in New York. While some centrist Democrats continue to distance themselves from democratic socialists, the party’s further left base sees an opportunity to keep winning in 2020. “Red scare tactics won’t work the way they did in the 1950s,” Riddiough said. “The real menace now is not communism but the rise of totalitarianism. Democratic socialism offers real solutions to the problems facing us.” —Democratic debate watch parties—and drinking games—are a thing —Meet the2020 Democratic presidential candidatesyou’ve (probably) never heard of —Issues that divide 2020 candidates going into thefirst Democratic debate —These are thetop-polling Democratic candidates —The2019 Democratic debate clashesyou won’t get to see —What to know About the2019 Democratic debate: start time, schedule, format
Should We Worry About Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited's (NSE:ALKYLAMINE) P/E Ratio? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited's (NSE:ALKYLAMINE) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price.Alkyl Amines Chemicals has a P/E ratio of 19.9, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying ₹19.9 for every ₹1 in prior year profit. Check out our latest analysis for Alkyl Amines Chemicals Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Alkyl Amines Chemicals: P/E of 19.9 = ₹801.35 ÷ ₹40.26 (Based on the year to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that investors are payinga higher pricefor each ₹1 of company earnings. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.' P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Alkyl Amines Chemicals increased earnings per share by an impressive 24% over the last twelve months. And earnings per share have improved by 14% annually, over the last five years. With that performance, you might expect an above average P/E ratio. The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Alkyl Amines Chemicals has a higher P/E than the average (13.3) P/E for companies in the chemicals industry. That means that the market expects Alkyl Amines Chemicals will outperform other companies in its industry. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So investors should delve deeper. I like to checkif company insiders have been buying or selling. Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). Alkyl Amines Chemicals has net debt worth just 6.6% of its market capitalization. So it doesn't have as many options as it would with net cash, but its debt would not have much of an impact on its P/E ratio. Alkyl Amines Chemicals's P/E is 19.9 which is above average (15.4) in the IN market. The company is not overly constrained by its modest debt levels, and its recent EPS growth very solid. Therefore, it's not particularly surprising that it has a above average P/E ratio. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So thisfreevisual report on analyst forecastscould hold the key to an excellent investment decision. But note:Alkyl Amines Chemicals may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). 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.
Trump-Xi trade meeting set for Saturday morning in Osaka: White House By Roberta Rampton ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold much-anticipated trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Osaka at 11:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) on Saturday, a White House spokesman told reporters on Wednesday. The bilateral meeting, aimed at heading off a ratcheting up of U.S. tariffs on imports of consumer and other goods from China, is likely to be the most closely watched event at the G20 summit, hosted by Japan. Trump - known for preferring one-on-one deal-making over multilateral discussions - is set to hold a total of nine bilateral meetings during his time in Japan, including one with Russian President Vladimir Putin at 2 p.m. on Friday (0500 GMT), White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters traveling with Trump. The meetings are set to begin on Thursday when Trump lands and has dinner with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Gidley said. On Friday, Trump will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and then with Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before meeting separately with Modi. Trump also added a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday to his schedule. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Did Hedge Funds Drop The Ball On Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA) ? Is Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) a good place to invest some of your money right now? We can gain invaluable insight to help us answer that question by studying the investment trends of top investors, who employ world-class Ivy League graduates, who are given immense resources and industry contacts to put their financial expertise to work. The top picks of these firms have historically outperformed the market when we account for known risk factors, making them very valuable investment ideas. Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA)has experienced a decrease in hedge fund sentiment in recent months.CPAwas in 14 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of March. There were 15 hedge funds in our database with CPA positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that CPA isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. We're going to review the latest hedge fund action regarding Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of -7% from one quarter earlier. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in CPA over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. The largest stake in Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) was held byOrbis Investment Management, which reported holding $87.9 million worth of stock at the end of March. It was followed by Renaissance Technologies with a $62.5 million position. Other investors bullish on the company included Polar Capital, Diamond Hill Capital, and Two Sigma Advisors. Seeing as Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) has witnessed bearish sentiment from the aggregate hedge fund industry, it's safe to say that there were a few funds that decided to sell off their positions entirely heading into Q3. Interestingly, David Costen Haley'sHBK Investmentssold off the largest position of all the hedgies followed by Insider Monkey, valued at an estimated $1.4 million in stock, and Matthew Hulsizer's PEAK6 Capital Management was right behind this move, as the fund dumped about $0.3 million worth. These transactions are interesting, as total hedge fund interest dropped by 1 funds heading into Q3. Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) but similarly valued. These stocks are Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI), TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE:TCF), Semtech Corporation (NASDAQ:SMTC), and Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GBCI). All of these stocks' market caps are closest to CPA's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position MMSI,17,244449,-1 TCF,22,245330,-1 SMTC,19,139258,0 GBCI,12,57597,2 Average,17.5,171659,0 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 17.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $172 million. That figure was $263 million in CPA's case. TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE:TCF) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GBCI) is the least popular one with only 12 bullish hedge fund positions. Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on CPA as the stock returned 21.8% during the same time frame and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Why Dividend Hunters Love Apex Frozen Foods Limited (NSE:APEX) Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll take a closer look at Apex Frozen Foods Limited (NSE:APEX) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments. Apex Frozen Foods has only been paying a dividend for a year or so, so investors might be curious about its 0.8% yield. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Apex Frozen Foods for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Looking at the data, we can see that 10% of Apex Frozen Foods's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. We like this low payout ratio, because it implies the dividend is well covered and leaves ample opportunity for reinvestment. We update our data on Apex Frozen Foods every 24 hours, so you can always getour latest analysis of its financial health, here. Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. This company has been paying a dividend for less than 2 years, which we think is too soon to consider it a reliable dividend stock. Its most recent annual dividend was ₹2.00 per share, effectively flat on its first payment one years ago. We like that the dividend hasn't been shrinking. However we're conscious that the company hasn't got an overly long track record of dividend payments yet, which makes us wary of relying on its dividend income. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. It's good to see Apex Frozen Foods has been growing its earnings per share at 28% a year over the past 5 years. The company is only paying out a fraction of its earnings as dividends, and in the past been able to use the retained earnings to grow its profits rapidly - an ideal combination. We'd also point out that Apex Frozen Foods issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Regularly issuing new shares can be detrimental - it's hard to grow dividends per share when new shares are regularly being created. Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. First, we like that the company's dividend payments appear well covered, although the retained capital also needs to be effectively reinvested. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, although its dividend history is not as long as we'd like. Overall we think Apex Frozen Foods scores well on our analysis. It's not quite perfect, but we'd definitely be keen to take a closer look. Are management backing themselves to deliver performance? Check their shareholdings in Apex Frozen Foods inour latest insider ownership analysis. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at ourcurated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%. 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.
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Qualys Inc (QLYS) Billionaire hedge fund managers such as David Abrams, Steve Cohen and Stan Druckenmiller can generate millions or even billions of dollars every year by pinning down high-potential small-cap stocks and pouring cash into these candidates. Small-cap stocks are overlooked by most investors, brokerage houses, and financial services hubs, while the unlimited research abilities of the big players within the hedge fund industry can easily identify the undervalued and high-potential stocks that reside the ignored corners of equity markets. There are numerous small-cap stocks that have turned out to be great winners, which is one of the main reasons the Insider Monkey team pays close attention to the hedge fund activity in relation to these stocks. IsQualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS)ready to rally soon? Prominent investors are selling. The number of bullish hedge fund bets decreased by 3 lately. Our calculations also showed that QLYS isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.QLYSwas in 14 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 17 hedge funds in our database with QLYS positions at the end of the previous quarter. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. Let's take a peek at the fresh hedge fund action regarding Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of -18% from the previous quarter. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in QLYS over the last 15 quarters. With hedge funds' positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists a few key hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes substantially (or already accumulated large positions). More specifically,Renaissance Technologieswas the largest shareholder of Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS), with a stake worth $52 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing Renaissance Technologies was Alkeon Capital Management, which amassed a stake valued at $41.7 million. AQR Capital Management, Gotham Asset Management, and Two Sigma Advisors were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. Because Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS) has experienced declining sentiment from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, it's easy to see that there exists a select few hedge funds who were dropping their full holdings in the third quarter. It's worth mentioning that Dmitry Balyasny'sBalyasny Asset Managementdropped the biggest stake of the "upper crust" of funds monitored by Insider Monkey, valued at about $0.9 million in stock, and George McCabe's Portolan Capital Management was right behind this move, as the fund said goodbye to about $0.7 million worth. These transactions are important to note, as total hedge fund interest dropped by 3 funds in the third quarter. Let's go over hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS). These stocks are Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:ATI), AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN), Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW), and Green Dot Corporation (NYSE:GDOT). This group of stocks' market caps resemble QLYS's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position ATI,25,209165,1 AN,21,458504,-1 WWW,19,124564,7 GDOT,27,233849,8 Average,23,256521,3.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 23 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $257 million. That figure was $145 million in QLYS's case. Green Dot Corporation (NYSE:GDOT) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) is the least popular one with only 19 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS) is even less popular than WWW. Hedge funds clearly dropped the ball on QLYS as the stock delivered strong returns, though hedge funds' consensus picks still generated respectable returns. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. A small number of hedge funds were also right about betting on QLYS as the stock returned 7.5% during the same period and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (KW) Hedge Funds and other institutional investors have just completed filing their 13Fs with the Securities and Exchange Commission, revealing their equity portfolios as of the end of March. At Insider Monkey, we follow nearly 750 active hedge funds and notable investors and by analyzing their 13F filings, we can determine the stocks that they are collectively bullish on. One of their picks is Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW), so let’s take a closer look at the sentiment that surrounds it in the current quarter. Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW)investors should be aware of an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds lately. Our calculations also showed that KW isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Let's view the fresh hedge fund action regarding Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 8% from one quarter earlier. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards KW over the last 15 quarters. So, let's find out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. According to Insider Monkey's hedge fund database,Fairfax Financial Holdings, managed by Prem Watsa, holds the biggest position in Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW). Fairfax Financial Holdings has a $284.8 million position in the stock, comprising 11.8% of its 13F portfolio. The second most bullish fund manager isElkhorn Partners, managed by Alan S. Parsow, which holds a $93.5 million position; 56.1% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the company. Remaining peers that hold long positions comprise Chuck Royce'sRoyce & Associates, Richard S. Meisenberg'sACK Asset Managementand Eric Sprott'sSprott Asset Management. Consequently, key hedge funds were breaking ground themselves.AQR Capital Management, managed by Cliff Asness, assembled the largest position in Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW). AQR Capital Management had $0.6 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Matthew Tewksbury'sStevens Capital Managementalso made a $0.4 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Jeffrey Talpins'sElement Capital Management, Matthew Hulsizer'sPEAK6 Capital Management, and Gavin Saitowitz and Cisco J. del Valle'sSpringbok Capital. Let's go over hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW) but similarly valued. These stocks are Core Laboratories N.V. (NYSE:CLB), RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE:RLJ), Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOLD), and Tegna Inc (NYSE:TGNA). This group of stocks' market caps are closest to KW's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position CLB,15,278565,0 RLJ,21,192850,-4 FOLD,30,1046575,4 TGNA,26,470360,4 Average,23,497088,1 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 23 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $497 million. That figure was $504 million in KW's case. Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOLD) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Core Laboratories N.V. (NYSE:CLB) is the least popular one with only 15 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE:KW) is even less popular than CLB. Hedge funds dodged a bullet by taking a bearish stance towards KW. Our calculations showed that the top 20 most popular hedge fund stocks returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately KW wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was very bearish); KW investors were disappointed as the stock returned -0.5% during the same time frame and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in the second quarter. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Here’s What Hedge Funds Think About Finisar Corporation (FNSR) The first quarter was a breeze as Powell pivoted, and China seemed eager to reach a deal with Trump. Both the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 delivered very strong gains as a result, with the Russell 2000, which is composed of smaller companies, outperforming the large-cap stocks slightly during the first quarter. Unfortunately sentiment shifted in May as this time China pivoted and Trump put more pressure on China by increasing tariffs. Hedge funds' top 20 stock picks performed spectacularly in this volatile environment. These stocks delivered a total gain of 18.7% through May 30th, vs. a gain of 12.1% for the S&P 500 ETF. In this article we will look at how this market volatility affected the sentiment of hedge funds towards Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR), and what that likely means for the prospects of the company and its stock. IsFinisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR)undervalued? Prominent investors are getting more bullish. The number of bullish hedge fund positions improved by 1 in recent months. Our calculations also showed that FNSR isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.FNSRwas in 14 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2019. There were 13 hedge funds in our database with FNSR positions at the end of the previous quarter. In the financial world there are a lot of gauges market participants have at their disposal to grade publicly traded companies. Two of the less utilized gauges are hedge fund and insider trading sentiment. Our experts have shown that, historically, those who follow the top picks of the top investment managers can outclass the market by a solid margin (see the details here). Let's review the key hedge fund action surrounding Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR). At the end of the first quarter, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of 8% from one quarter earlier. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards FNSR over the last 15 quarters. So, let's check out which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. Among these funds,Alpine Associatesheld the most valuable stake in Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR), which was worth $128.7 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Magnetar Capital which amassed $123.1 million worth of shares. Moreover, Fisher Asset Management, Renaissance Technologies, and Royce & Associates were also bullish on Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. With a general bullishness amongst the heavyweights, key money managers were breaking ground themselves.Millennium Management, managed by Israel Englander, initiated the biggest position in Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR). Millennium Management had $11.1 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Andrew Feldstein and Stephen Siderow'sBlue Mountain Capitalalso initiated a $10.3 million position during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Nancy Havens-Hasty'sHavens Advisors, Andre F. Perold'sHighVista Strategies, and Michael Platt and William Reeves'sBlueCrest Capital Mgmt.. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR) but similarly valued. These stocks are Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY), Antero Resources Corp (NYSE:AR), BRP Inc. (NASDAQ:DOOO), and Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ:COKE). All of these stocks' market caps resemble FNSR's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position CATY,14,39293,0 AR,27,924872,5 DOOO,10,112063,-1 COKE,9,8866,2 Average,15,271274,1.5 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 15 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $271 million. That figure was $406 million in FNSR's case. Antero Resources Corp (NYSE:AR) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ:COKE) is the least popular one with only 9 bullish hedge fund positions. Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately FNSR wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); FNSR investors were disappointed as the stock returned -2.8% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Hedge Funds Have Never Been More Bullish On Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) Most investors tend to think that hedge funds and other asset managers are worthless, as they cannot beat even simple index fund portfolios. In fact, most people expect hedge funds to compete with and outperform the bull market that we have witnessed in recent years. However, hedge funds are generally partially hedged and aim at delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns rather than following the ups and downs of equity markets hoping that they will outperform the broader market. Our research shows that certain hedge funds do have great stock picking skills (and we can identify these hedge funds in advance pretty accurately), so let’s take a glance at the smart money sentiment towards Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY). Hedge fund interest inCathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY)shares was flat at the end of last quarter. This is usually a negative indicator. The level and the change in hedge fund popularity aren't the only variables you need to analyze to decipher hedge funds' perspectives. A stock may witness a boost in popularity but it may still be less popular than similarly priced stocks. That's why at the end of this article we will examine companies such as Antero Resources Corp (NYSE:AR), BRP Inc. (NASDAQ:DOOO), and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (NASDAQ:COKE) to gather more data points. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. Let's analyze the new hedge fund action surrounding Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 0% from the fourth quarter of 2018. By comparison, 10 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in CATY a year ago. With hedgies' sentiment swirling, there exists a select group of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were boosting their stakes significantly (or already accumulated large positions). Among these funds,GLG Partnersheld the most valuable stake in Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY), which was worth $11.7 million at the end of the first quarter. On the second spot was Adage Capital Management which amassed $7 million worth of shares. Moreover, Renaissance Technologies, AQR Capital Management, and Two Sigma Advisors were also bullish on Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. Due to the fact that Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY) has faced falling interest from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, it's safe to say that there is a sect of hedgies who were dropping their entire stakes by the end of the third quarter. At the top of the heap, Israel Englander'sMillennium Managementdropped the largest investment of all the hedgies monitored by Insider Monkey, valued at close to $2 million in stock. Paul Marshall and Ian Wace's fund,Marshall Wace LLP, also said goodbye to its stock, about $1.2 million worth. These moves are intriguing to say the least, as aggregate hedge fund interest stayed the same (this is a bearish signal in our experience). Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY). We will take a look at Antero Resources Corp (NYSE:AR), BRP Inc. (NASDAQ:DOOO), Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ:COKE), and The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG). All of these stocks' market caps are similar to CATY's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position AR,27,924872,5 DOOO,10,112063,-1 COKE,9,8866,2 ENSG,17,83609,-1 Average,15.75,282353,1.25 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 15.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $282 million. That figure was $39 million in CATY's case. Antero Resources Corp (NYSE:AR) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ:COKE) is the least popular one with only 9 bullish hedge fund positions. Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately CATY wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); CATY investors were disappointed as the stock returned 2.5% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index
Hedge Funds Have Never Been This Bullish On YETI Holdings, Inc. (YETI) At Insider Monkey we follow nearly 750 of the best-performing investors and even though many of them lost money in the last couple of months of 2018 (some actually delivered very strong returns), the history teaches us that over the long-run they still manage to beat the market, which is why it can be profitable for us to imitate their activity. Of course, even the best money managers can sometimes get it wrong, but following some of their picks gives us a better chance to outperform the crowd than picking a random stock and this is where our research comes in. YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI)shareholders have witnessed an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds lately. Our calculations also showed that YETI isn't among the30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 40 percentage points since May 2014 through May 30, 2019 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. Let's take a glance at the new hedge fund action surrounding YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI). Heading into the second quarter of 2019, a total of 14 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on this stock, a change of 40% from the fourth quarter of 2018. On the other hand, there were a total of 0 hedge funds with a bullish position in YETI a year ago. So, let's examine which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves. More specifically,Oaktree Capital Managementwas the largest shareholder of YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI), with a stake worth $19.2 million reported as of the end of March. Trailing Oaktree Capital Management was Citadel Investment Group, which amassed a stake valued at $9.8 million. Arrowstreet Capital, Citadel Investment Group, and Driehaus Capital were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. With a general bullishness amongst the heavyweights, some big names were leading the bulls' herd.Arrowstreet Capital, managed by Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell, created the largest position in YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI). Arrowstreet Capital had $6.8 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Ken Griffin'sCitadel Investment Groupalso made a $3.1 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The following funds were also among the new YETI investors: Richard Driehaus'sDriehaus Capital, Daniel S. Och'sOZ Management, and Dmitry Balyasny'sBalyasny Asset Management. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI). These stocks are Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RETA), Dana Incorporated (NYSE:DAN), SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SAIL), and Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (NYSE:ELP). This group of stocks' market values resemble YETI's market value. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position RETA,18,255693,1 DAN,27,342929,-1 SAIL,27,258676,5 ELP,10,52781,2 Average,20.5,227520,1.75 [/table] View table hereif you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 20.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $228 million. That figure was $50 million in YETI's case. Dana Incorporated (NYSE:DAN) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (NYSE:ELP) is the least popular one with only 10 bullish hedge fund positions. YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. Our calculations showed thattop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds returned 6.2% in Q2 through June 19th and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by nearly 3 percentage points. Unfortunately YETI wasn't nearly as popular as these 20 stocks (hedge fund sentiment was quite bearish); YETI investors were disappointed as the stock returned -6.5% during the same time period and underperformed the market. If you are interested in investing in large cap stocks with huge upside potential, you should check out thetop 20 most popular stocksamong hedge funds as 13 of these stocks already outperformed the market so far in Q2. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published atInsider Monkey. Related Content • How to Best Use Insider Monkey To Increase Your Returns • Billionaire Ken Fisher’s Top Dividend Stock Picks • 30 Stocks Billionaires Are Crazy About: Insider Monkey Billionaire Stock Index