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What Do Analysts Think About The Home Depot, Inc.'s (NYSE:HD) Future? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In May 2019, The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) announced its earnings update. Overall, it seems that analyst expectations are fairly bearish, with profits predicted to rise by 0.4% next year relative to the higher past 5-year average growth rate of 13%. Presently, with latest-twelve-month earnings at US$11b, we should see this growing to US$11b by 2020. Below is a brief commentary on the longer term outlook the market has for Home Depot. Readers that are interested in understanding the company beyond these figures shouldresearch its fundamentals here. See our latest analysis for Home Depot Over the next three years, it seems the consensus view of the 30 analysts covering HD is skewed towards the positive sentiment. Since forecasting becomes more difficult further into the future, broker analysts generally project out to around three years. To reduce the year-on-year volatility of analyst earnings forecast, I've inserted a line of best fit through the expected earnings figures to determine the annual growth rate from the slope of the line. By 2022, HD's earnings should reach US$13b, from current levels of US$11b, resulting in an annual growth rate of 6.9%. EPS reaches $12.37 in the final year of forecast compared to the current $9.78 EPS today. Margins are currently sitting at 10%, which is expected to expand to 11% by 2022. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Home Depot, I've put together three relevant aspects you should look at: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Home Depot 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 Home Depot is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Home Depot? 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.
Iron Mountain's Rating Affirmed, Outlook Upgraded by Moody's Iron Mountain Incorporated’s IRM ratings have been reiterated by Moody’s Investors Service — the rating division of Moody’s Corporation MCO. Additionally, the company’s rating outlook has been revised to stable from negative. Specifically, the rating agency affirmed the corporate family rating (CFR) of Iron Mountain at Ba3. The rating for the company’s existing senior and subordinate debt have also been maintained at Ba3 and B2, respectively. Why has the Outlook been Upgraded? The reiteration of the rating and the outlook revision reflect the company’s geographically-diversified and large-scale property portfolio. In addition, leading market position in the North American storage and information management market as well as significant amount of recurring storage rental revenues were the key reasons which led to the outlook upgradation. Strategic acquisitions in the secure storage space and higher investments in its global data-center business have enabled the company to expand the portfolio size and scale in recent years. In fact, Iron Mountain’s gross asset base on a book value basis, has increased from $10 billion at year-end 2014 to nearly $16.9 billion (Moody's adjusted) as of first-quarter 2019. Further, the rating agency views Iron Mountain's leverage and coverage metrics to be strong, relative to other real estate investment trust (REIT) peers. Moreover, adequate liquidity, decent balance in its secured revolving credit facility and a well-laddered debt profile also remain positives for the company. The stable outlook underpins Moody's expectation that Iron Mountain will continue to expand and diversify its portfolio, and gradually lower leverage levels. Conclusion This upgraded outlook boosts Iron Mountain’s creditworthiness in the market and is likely to boost investor confidence in the stock. In fact, such moves provide companies an opportunity to enjoy favorable costs on debts and solid access to capital, and are therefore encouraging. However, the competitive landscape of the storage and information management services industry is anticipated to result in aggressive pricing, which may adversely impact Iron Mountain’s margins in the near term. Also, falling activity rates and the projected decline in recycled paper prices will hinder the company’s top-line growth. Furthermore, shares of this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company have declined 12.6% over the past three months as against the industry’s growth of 1.3%. Key Picks Investors can consider better-ranked stocks from the same space like Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. HST and Lamar Advertising Co. LAMR, both carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), currently. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Host Hotels & Resorts’ funds from operations (FFO) per share estimates for 2019 moved marginally north to $1.82 over the past two months. Lamar Advertising’s FFO per share estimates for the ongoing year have been revised slightly upward to $5.83 over the past 30 days. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportIron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMoody's Corporation (MCO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportLamar Advertising Company (LAMR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportHost Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Best Banks for Retirees, 2019 Getty Images Retirees can find a lot to like about these accounts and institutions--low or no minimums, free checks and paper statements, and ample access to financial advice and investment options, to name a few. Here's a look at our top picks for senior-friendly banks. SEE ALSO: The Best Banks for You, 2019 BEST: TD Bank Courtesy Why it won: TD's checking option for customers 60 and older is an attractive choice compared with other big banks' accounts for this age group. Standout account: 60 Plus Checking comes with complimentary services well-aimed at retirees. The six-month Choice Promotional CD recently offered a 2% rate on a deposit of at least $100,000 or 1.65% on $50,000 (you must have an active personal checking account). Where it is: More than 1,200 branches in 15 eastern and southern states (and Washington, D.C.). With 60 Plus Checking--keep a $250 minimum daily balance to waive the $10 monthly fee--you get free standard checks, money orders, cashier's checks and paper statements. Plus, anyone with a personal checking account is eligible for a 0.25 percentage point discount on a TD home-equity line of credit or personal loan. The 60 Plus Checking account pays a 0.05% interest rate, and TD charges $3 each time you use an out-of-network ATM. The Simple Savings account yields just 0.05%, but it's free for those who are 62 or older or who are younger than 18 (otherwise, keep a $300 balance to skip a $5 monthly fee). Rates are for customers in Orlando, Fla. TD offers private banking for those with at least $750,000 to invest. As a private client, you'll get a dedicated relationship manager and investment adviser, as well as access to advice on retirement, philanthropic and estate planning. IRAs, brokerage accounts and other investment options are available through TD Ameritrade. SEE ALSO: 7 Habits of People With Excellent Credit Scores RUNNER-UP: Fidelity Investments Getty Images Why it won: Retirees who don't mind banking online can combine a compelling checking option with a breadth of investment and advisory services from Fidelity. Story continues Standout account: The no-fee Cash Management account holds a lot of appeal for retirees looking to earn respectable interest on big balances. Fidelity also offers brokered CDs with a $1,000 minimum deposit. The Cash Management account comes with a debit card and free checks, and it yields 0.79% on the entire balance of $100,000 or more, or 0.37% on smaller balances. It provides up to $1.25 million in Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage against bank failure--five times the standard $250,000 limit--thanks to a program that "sweeps" your cash into one or more partner banks' accounts. Out-of-network surcharges are refunded for most ATMs worldwide, and paper statements are free. You don't need to have other Fidelity accounts to use Cash Management, but you can connect it to a Fidelity brokerage account for free overdraft transfers. You can also park some savings in one of Fidelity's money market mutual funds, which invest in low-risk securities but don't provide FDIC coverage. Recently, Fidelity Money Market Fund (symbol SPRXX ) yielded 2.2%. On brokered CDs, which are FDIC-insured and issued by banks for Fidelity, yields recently ranged from as much as 2.2% on a newly issued one-year CD to as much as 2.55% on a new five-year CD (you can also buy and sell brokered CDs in the secondary market). Fidelity offers wealth-management services (minimum $250,000 in managed assets), as well as a robo adviser, Fidelity Go . SEE ALSO: 9 Things You'll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box The Best Banks and Credit Unions for You, 2019 These stellar banks and credit unions are making all the right moves to win satisfied customers: Best National Banks Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Families Best Internet Banks Best Banks for Families With Students Best Banks for No-Fee, No-Fuss Best Credit Unions Best Banks for Frequent Travelers Best Regional Banks Best Banks for Retirees EDITOR'S PICKS The Best Banks for You, 2019 The Best Rewards Credit Cards, 2019 6 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score -- Fast Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Don't Sell Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (NYSE:GWR) Before You Read This 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 for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Genesee & Wyoming Inc.'s (NYSE:GWR) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity.Genesee & Wyoming has a P/E ratio of 28.05, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 3.6%. Check out our latest analysis for Genesee & Wyoming Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Genesee & Wyoming: P/E of 28.05 = $100 ÷ $3.56 (Based on the year to March 2019.) The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Companies that shrink earnings per share quickly will rapidly decrease the 'E' in the equation. That means unless the share price falls, the P/E will increase in a few years. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings. Genesee & Wyoming saw earnings per share decrease by 63% last year. And it has shrunk its earnings per share by 3.2% per year over the last five years. This growth rate might warrant a below average P/E ratio. The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Genesee & Wyoming has a higher P/E than the average (17) P/E for companies in the transportation industry. That means that the market expects Genesee & Wyoming will outperform other companies in its industry. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such aswhether company directors have been buying shares. The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. 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. Genesee & Wyoming has net debt equal to 42% of its market cap. You'd want to be aware of this fact, but it doesn't bother us. Genesee & Wyoming's P/E is 28.1 which is above average (18.1) in the US market. With a bit of debt, but a lack of recent growth, it's safe to say the market is expecting improved profit performance from the company, in the next few years. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. 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:Genesee & Wyoming 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.
Best National Banks, 2019 Getty Images Large nationwide banks offer customers extensive networks of branches, a range of advisory and wealth-management services, and digital tools for account management. Here's a look at our top picks for national banks. SEE ALSO: The Best Banks for You, 2019 BEST: TD Bank Courtesy Why it won: It offers low-minimum accounts that should make almost any customer happy. Standout account: The Beyond Checking account serves up perks with wide appeal, and travelers may be especially pleased. Where it is: More than 1,200 branches in 15 eastern and southern states (and Washington, D.C.), extending from Maine to Florida. For the third year running, TD Bank tops our national ranking. Calling itself "America's Most Convenient Bank," TD opens most of its branches on Saturdays and Sundays, and it often keeps them open until 6:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. on weekdays. To make branch visits a little more pleasant, the bank provides customers with freebies such as pens, lollipops and biscuits for their dogs, which are allowed to tag along. Beyond Checking waives the $25 monthly fee if you hold a reasonable $2,500 daily balance (or meet certain other requirements), and perks include free standard checks, money orders, cashier's checks and overdraft transfers. Plus, all ATM surcharges are reimbursed for both domestic and international transactions if you keep $2,500 in the account, one domestic or international outgoing wire transfer is free per statement cycle, and the bank charges no foreign-transaction fee when you use your debit card abroad. And if you let TD cover the transaction in the event you overdraw your Beyond account, the bank will reimburse you for two overdraft fees per year. (TD recently lowered its overdraft transfer fee from $10 to $3. But the bank is reportedly settling a lawsuit involving excessive overdraft fees, paying $43 million to customers and canceling $27 million in account fees.) TD's basic Convenience Checking requires a low $100 minimum daily balance to waive a $15 monthly fee--and the account is free for customers ages 17 through 23. (TD also has a strong checking account for those 60 and older; for more on it as well as TD's other savings and wealth-management options.) Preferred Savings (a $20,000 balance is needed to avoid the $15 fee) offers 1.25% on $50,000 up to $100,000 if you have a linked loan or active checking account (the rate is for customers in Orlando, Fla.). Story continues SEE ALSO: 7 Habits of People With Excellent Credit Scores RUNNER-UP: PNC Getty Images Why it won: PNC has accounts that help you stick to the basics or integrate budgeting into banking. Standout accounts: Standard Checking offers free ATM usage, up to certain limits, and it's easy to avoid minimum-balance fees. Promotional CD rates (you must have a linked checking account) recently included 2.25% on a 13-month term with a $25,000 minimum deposit. Where it is: About 2,400 branches in 21 states in the Midwest, South and Mid Atlantic, plus Washington, D.C. Standard Checking (which requires a minimum $500 average monthly balance or a $500 monthly direct deposit to avoid a $7 monthly fee; it's free if you're 62 or older) provides up to $5 monthly in refunds for out-of-network surcharges from ATM owners, plus reimbursement of two non-PNC ATM fees monthly. Performance and Performance Select checking require larger minimums to waive the monthly fee but come with higher ATM reimbursements and other perks, such as a free money market or savings account, free cashier's checks, and a safe-deposit box discount. The Virtual Wallet system combines a primary "Spend" checking account with an interest-bearing, secondary "Reserve" checking account--designed to set aside funds for near-term expenses--and a "Growth" savings account for longer-term goals. The program also includes digital tools, such as one that categorizes your spending. You can earn a decent yield on your money with the Premiere Money Market account if you have Performance Select checking and meet certain activity requirements--for example, the rate was recently 1.65% on a balance of $50,000 to $100,000. (Interest rates listed are for customers in Pittsburgh.) PNC offers wealth-management services including retirement, tax and estate planning and investment management. Its Private Client program comes with a relationship management team offering financial guidance, and you get priority customer service. SEE ALSO: 9 Things You'll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box The Best Banks and Credit Unions for You, 2019 Getty Images These stellar banks and credit unions are making all the right moves to win satisfied customers: Best National Banks Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Families Best Internet Banks Best Banks for Families With Students Best Banks for No-Fee, No-Fuss Best Credit Unions Best Banks for Frequent Travelers Best Regional Banks Best Banks for Retirees EDITOR'S PICKS The Best Banks for You, 2019 The Best Rewards Credit Cards, 2019 6 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score -- Fast Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
UK Brexit stockpiling: the big dilemma for manufacturers Many British firms face a difficult dilemma after stockpiling goods on an unprecedented scale in the run-up to Britains now-delayed Brexit date in March. Fears of delays and shortages if Britain left without a deal sparked what ING called a stockpiling frenzy, as warehouses filled up across the UK with more than £6.6bn of goods. But UK prime minister Theresa Mays decision to delay exit day until 31 October has left companies with tough choices to make about what to do with the huge build-up of supplies. James Smith, an economist at ING, said many companies were trying to shift the surplus stock, resulting in a fall in new orders that dragged manufacturing output to a six-year low last month. READ MORE: Pound slides as UK manufacturing slides to six-year low The decision to extend Article 50 has meant firms are grappling with how best to deal with all this extra stock and first and foremost this has resulted in a fall in new orders and therefore production, Smith said. He said the trend would probably continue into the summer, and predicted the UK economy would see little or no growth in the second quarter. But he said firms could also be increasingly tempted to hold their stock the closer Britain gets to the new Brexit deadline in the autumn under Theresa Mays replacement as prime minister. Tory leadership rivals Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have both talked up their willingness to lead Britain out of the EU without a deal if necessary to get Brexit over the line as soon as possible. UK prime minister Minister Theresa May arrives for an EU summit in Brussels. Photo: Francois Lenoir/AP READ MORE: British Steel workers await their fate after deadline passes for bids That growing threat could seem firms start trying to maintain rather than shift their current stocks, despite the large costs of storage and missed opportunity for sales. But Smith said the timing of the new Brexit date in the run-up to Christmas could make maintaining stocks even more difficult than it was in the months before the previous March deadline. Companies may also find it harder to source the necessary warehousing space, with much of it reportedly already booked up ahead of Christmas, he wrote on INGs Think blog. Story continues This means many firms will be forced to destock now and rebuild again as we move into the autumn. READ MORE: Jeremy Hunt plans £6bn no-deal Brexit war chest
Is a Hold Strategy Apt for Cousins Properties (CUZ) Now? Cousins Properties IncorporatedCUZ enjoys robust rent and top-line growth, with a portfolio of office realties located in premium Sun-Belt markets. However, a significant development pipeline increases operational risks and exposes the company to rising construction costs. Amid robust job growth in the Sun Belt region, the area is witnessing strong influx of population. This favorable migration trend and pro-business environment are spurring demand for office spaces. Hence, assets in these markets are expected to command higher rents compared with the broader market. Steady revenues over different economic cycles also remain a positive for the company. In fact, its revenues have witnessed a CAGR of 28% over the five-year period ended 2018, while cash net operating income (NOI) have improved for 29 consecutive quarters. Further, the company has been focused on growth, aided by development and value creation. Importantly, strategic acquisitions and opportunistic developments in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets have enabled the company to build a stronger platform of trophy assets. Additionally, timely non-core dispositions help Cousins Properties prune its portfolio. Moreover, adequate liquidity, strong balance sheet, sufficient balances in its secured revolving credit facility and a well-laddered debt profile also aids the company to pursue its growth plans. Cousins Properties’ development pipeline is pivotal for its growth. Nevertheless, an extensive development pipeline, with an estimated project cost of $199.9 million (at the company’s share), escalates operational risks by exposing it to construction cost overruns, entitlement delays and lease-up risks. In fact, pressure on construction cost over the last five years is anticipated to dent development returns. Additionally, focus to increase its land bank requires huge capital outlays. Also, an increase in construction activity is resulting in new supply. Although demand for office space should keep pace with the new supply, it is likely to result in moderation in rent growth and occupancy. Further, geographic concentration of assets makes the company’s performance vulnerable to any unfavorable economic or political development in the region. This apart, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 16.2% over the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 20.9%. Nonetheless, the trend in estimate revisions of 2019 funds from operations (FFO) per share indicates an upbeat outlook for the company as it has witnessed upward revisions over the past month. Key Picks Investors can consider better-ranked stocks from the same space like Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. HST, Duke Realty Corporation DRE and Lamar Advertising Co. LAMR, each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), currently. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Host Hotels & Resorts’ FFO per share estimates for 2019 moved marginally north to $1.82 in two months’ time. Duke Realty’s FFO per share estimates for the ongoing year have been revised slightly upward to $1.42, in the past 30 days. Lamar Advertising’s FFO per share estimates for the current year have been revised slightly upward to $5.83, over the past 30 days. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportLamar Advertising Company (LAMR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportHost Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) : Free Stock Analysis ReportDuke Realty Corporation (DRE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
The Best Bank for You, 2019 Think your bank could be a better fit? Just as styles change over time, so do bank accounts and services--and the features you use most. To settle on the kind of bank that suits you now, ask yourself a few questions: Do you prefer to interact with tellers and advisers at a branch, or are you fine handling transactions with a computer or smartphone? Do you chase the best yields on deposit accounts, or do you prioritize features such as an extensive ATM network and access to wealth-management services? Do you keep enough money deposited that you don't worry about meeting balance minimums, or are free, no-minimum accounts a must? SEE ALSO: 7 Best Ways to Earn More on Your Savings Once you've taken stock of your preferences, look over our list of banks that shine. With the help of Informa Financial Intelligence, we've crunched the data on interest rates, fees, minimum-balance requirements, free perks and other features for a variety of deposit accounts to see which banks rise to the top. Although big brick-and-mortar banks aren't known for offering high yields and low fees to lure customers, they are starting to reveal an appetite for competing with online institutions. Two of our top banks, Citibank and PNC, are now peddling high-rate savings accounts--recently yielding 2.36% and 2.35%, respectively--to customers outside their standard markets. In recent years, Chase and U.S. Bank have dropped fees to have money transferred to checking from a linked deposit account in case of an overdraft. TD Bank--our winner among national banks and for retirees--no longer charges a fee for transferring funds to another bank (even next-day delivery is free). Although branches are becoming less numerous and physically smaller, banks are striving to push the ones they have left into the 21st century. Fifth Third Bank, for example--one of our regional bank winners--is redesigning branches with a more modern and friendly feel, featuring entryways with open spaces where clients meet with bankers. Capital One is making its banks inviting places to hang out with its cafés, where customers can buy a latte and connect to the bank's Wi-Fi. Story continues Here, we've named the top institutions in four general categories-- national banks , internet banks , credit unions and regional banks --as well as the ones that are best for five customer profiles: high-net-worth families , retirees , frequent travelers , families with students , and those who want no fees or fuss . Pick one bank that checks all the boxes, or cobble together accounts from a few institutions for a tailor-made package. Best National Banks Large nationwide banks offer customers extensive networks of branches, a range of advisory and wealth-management services, and digital tools for account management. These two banks offer patrons plenty of perks at a variety of locations . Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Families Banks court customers who can keep big balances by dangling lots of free and discounted benefits, preferred rates on loans and deposit accounts, and financial guidance, such as investment and wealth-management services. Here's a look at our top picks . Best Internet Banks Our picks have low fees, solid savings accounts and slick digital tools that make online-only banking easy. See which online banks made the cut . Best Banks for Families With Students These two banks include accounts tailored to kids and teens that give them the freedom to manage their own money. Take a look . Best Banks for No-Fee, No-Fuss These banks suit tech-savvy customers in their twenties, thirties and beyond who want a bank that's simple to navigate and is easy on fees. Take a look at our top bank picks that offer customers a hassle-free experience . Best Credit Unions Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions owned by their members, so they can reward account holders with higher rates and lower fees. Our top credit unions are open to anyone in the U.S. Best Banks for Frequent Travelers The ideal bank for travelers eliminates sneaky ATM and foreign-transaction fees. Here are two of our favorites . Best Regional Banks Many regional banks (by our definition, those with branches in fewer than 15 states) offer accounts and services that are just as robust as those of nationwide institutions--and they may be more involved in their communities. These three banks are all contenders for top regional bank but operate in different regions. How We Chose the Top Financial Institutions With data from Informa Financial Intelligence, as well as information from financial institutions and other sources, we studied 44 national and regional banks, 14 credit unions, and 15 online banks (including online accounts from brokerage firms) to choose winners and runners-up. We included standard and interest-bearing checking accounts, savings and money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit. Among the criteria we considered were interest rates; minimum-balance requirements; monthly maintenance fees and ease of waiving the fees; ATM benefits (such as waived or refunded out-of-network surcharges); availability of free or discounted perks, such as personal and cashier's checks, money orders, identity-theft protection, overdraft protection and wire transfers; and certain miscellaneous fees, such as for external transfers. Informa Financial Intelligence compiled the data as reported by the financial institutions that it tracks; the information is subject to change. SEE ALSO: The Best Rewards Credit Cards, 2019 EDITOR'S PICKS Best States to Retire 2018: All 50 States Ranked for Retirement The Safest Used Cars for $20,000 or Less 2020 Election: Tax Plans for All 24 Democratic Presidential Candidates Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Is New York Community Bancorp a Buy? On the surface,New York Community Bancorp(NYSE: NYCB)may look like a compelling opportunity. The bank has one of the highest asset qualities in the entire industry, pays one of the highest dividends in banking, and hasdramaticallyunderperformed its peers. In fact, over the past three years, the financial sector has risen by 59% while New York Community Bancorp has plunged by more than 30%. However, like most "looks too good to be true" stocks, there's a lot more than meets the eye. With that in mind, here's a look at some of these compelling reasons to look at the bank as well as some of the reasons to avoid it. Image source: Getty Images. If you aren't familiar, New York Community Bancorp is a large regional bank that focuses on the New York City metropolitan area. The company's primary focus is making loans on rent-controlled and rent-regulated multifamily buildings in New York City, and this makes up about three-fourths of the bank's loan portfolio. Since its 1994 IPO, the bank has grown rapidly -- mainly through acquisitions -- and now has about $52 billion in total assets. There are certainly some reasons to like New York Community Bancorp, so let's go over some of the positive attributes of the bank. First, New York Community Bank hastremendousasset quality. Rent-controlled apartment buildings are a very stable form of commercial real estate, as their tenants often pay below-market rent and continue to pay their rent even in tough times. In fact, the bank's nonperforming loan (NPL) rate of 0.14% is far below the peer group average of 0.75%. And the bank has had virtually no loan losses since 2013. That's definitely an impressive statistic. Second, New York Community Bank has a strong presence in its markets, with the third-largest deposit market share in Queens, Nassau, and Richmond counties, and the number 10 market share in the overall New York Metro area. New York Community Bank is also one of the highest-paying bank stocks. The current annualized dividend of $0.68 per share translates to a 6.8% yield, and it's well covered by the bank's earnings. Finally, New York Community Bank is a cheap stock. Shares trade for a roughly 25% discount tobook value, and as I mentioned, the stock has been one of the worst performers in the sector in recent years. However, there are two sides to the story. For one thing, New York Community Bank has some of the worst profitability metrics in the sector. A return on assets of 0.76% and return on equity of 5.9% are far below what most other banks are producing. The industry benchmarks have typically been 1% and 10%, respectively, and that wasbeforethe benefits of tax reform made it easier for banks to make money. Second, while New York Community Bank used to be one of the most efficiency operations in the industry, that competitive advantage has faded in recent years. To be clear, the 52.2%efficiency ratiothe bank generated in the first quarter isn't bad -- it's right in line with peers -- but is a big change from the efficiency numbers in the 30s that the bank was formerly known for. Also, it's worth noting that New York Community Bank doesn't enjoy the same low cost of capital that many other banks do. The bulk of its deposits are interest-bearing CDs, money market, and savings accounts. Only about 8% of the deposit base doesn't bear interest. For reference,Bank of America's deposit base is about 30% noninterest bearing, and its average cost of its interest-bearing deposits is just 0.74% versus 1.80% for New York Community Bancorp. That's abigdisadvantage and makes the bank highly sensitive to rising short-term interest rates. To be sure, there are some things to like about New York Community Bank. And I have a generally positive opinion of the banking sector as a whole. However, in this case, the bad has really started to outweigh the good. This is why I finally sold the stock from my own portfolio a few months ago and why I think investors would be better off putting their money to work elsewhere in the banking industry. 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 Matthew Frankel, CFPowns shares of Bank of America. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
FTI Consulting (FCN) to Snap Up German-based Andersch AG FTI Consulting, Inc.FCN announced on Friday that it has agreed to acquire leading German restructuring advisory firm Andersch AG. The financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition, subject to German regulatory approval and other closing conditions, is anticipated to be completed during the third quarter of 2019. Founded in 2012, Andersch serves German-based companies and their stakeholders facing operational, financial and strategic challenges. It has offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. Andersch’s Tammo Andersch, Mirko Liebthal, Christian Säuberlich, Karsten Schulze, Sebastian Philipp, Ralf Winzer and Mike Zöller will join FTI Consulting as Senior Managing Directors. How Will FTI Consulting Benefit? The acquisition will improve the company’s established strategic communications, economic consulting and construction solutions offerings in Germany. It will expand FTI Consulting’s restructuring and business transformation capabilities to Germany, Austria and Switzerland, benefiting its Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment. The segment did well in the last reported quarter with revenues increasing 12.6% year over year. Michael Eisenband, Global Co-Leader of the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment at FTI Consulting stated, “With the addition of the Andersch team, we will extend our geographic reach in Continental Europe, with deep functional experience and broad industry expertise.” Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Currently, FTI Consulting carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Navigant Consulting NCI, NV5 Global NVEE and FLEETCOR Technologies FLT, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Long-term expected EPS (three to five years) growth rate for Navigant Consulting, FLEETCOR and NV5 Global is 13.5%, 15.4% and 20%, respectively. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportFleetCor Technologies, Inc. (FLT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNavigant Consulting, Inc. (NCI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNV5 Global, Inc. (NVEE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
How Much is Somero Enterprises, Inc.'s (LON:SOM) CEO Getting Paid? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Jack Cooney became the CEO of Somero Enterprises, Inc. (LON:SOM) in 1997. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. 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. See our latest analysis for Somero Enterprises Our data indicates that Somero Enterprises, Inc. is worth UK£159m, and total annual CEO compensation is US$746k. (This is based on the year to December 2018). Notably, that's an increase of 24% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$464k. We examined companies with market caps from US$100m to US$400m, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was US$690k. So Jack Cooney receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Somero Enterprises has changed over time. Somero Enterprises, Inc. has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 20% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 9.8%. Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's nice to see a little revenue growth, as this is consistent with healthy business conditions. Shareholders might be interested inthisfreevisualization of analyst forecasts. I think that the total shareholder return of 112%, over three years, would leave most Somero Enterprises, Inc. shareholders smiling. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. Jack Cooney is paid around what is normal the leaders of comparable size companies. Few would be critical of the leadership, since returns have been juicy and earnings per share are moving in the right direction. Indeed, many might consider the pay rather modest, given the solid company performance! Whatever your view on compensation, you might want tocheck if insiders are buying or selling Somero Enterprises shares (free trial). If you want to buy a stock that is better than Somero Enterprises, 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.
Is VINCI SA's (EPA:DG) CEO Salary Justified? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In 2006 Xavier M. Huillard was appointed CEO of VINCI SA (EPA:DG). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other large companies. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. View our latest analysis for VINCI According to our data, VINCI SA has a market capitalization of €50b, and pays its CEO total annual compensation worth €4.6m. (This is based on the year to December 2018). Notably, that's an increase of 8.5% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at €1.1m. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations over €7.0b and the median CEO total compensation was €3.4m. (We took a wide range because the CEOs of massive companies tend to be paid similar amounts - even though some are quite a bit bigger than others). As you can see, Xavier M. Huillard is paid more than the median CEO pay at large companies, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean VINCI SA 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 VINCI has changed from year to year. Over the last three years VINCI SA has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 13% per year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 8.0%. This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. It's nice to see a little revenue growth, as this is consistent with healthy business conditions. You might want to checkthis free visual report onanalyst forecastsfor future earnings. Boasting a total shareholder return of 53% over three years, VINCI SA has done well by shareholders. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by VINCI SA, and compared it to remuneration at a group of other large companies. As discussed above, we discovered that the company pays more than the median of that group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. On top of that, in the same period, returns to shareholders have been great. As a result of this good performance, the CEO remuneration may well be quite reasonable. Whatever your view on compensation, you might want tocheck if insiders are buying or selling VINCI shares (free trial). Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies. 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.
Do Sonova Holding's (VTX:SOON) Earnings Warrant Your Attention? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But as Peter Lynch said inOne Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies likeSonova Holding(VTX:SOON), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed. See our latest analysis for Sonova Holding As one of my mentors once told me, share price follows earnings per share (EPS). Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. Sonova Holding managed to grow EPS by 11% per year, over three years. That growth rate is fairly good, assuming the company can keep it up. One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. While we note Sonova Holding's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 4.4% to CHF2.8b. That's a real positive. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image. Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want tocheck this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Sonova Holding. We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a CHF14b company like Sonova Holding. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. Notably, they have an enormous stake in the company, worth CHF2.3b. That equates to 16% of the company, making insiders powerful and aligned with other shareholders. So it might be my imagination, but I do sense the glimmer of an opportunity. It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but I find myself wondering if remuneration policies are shareholder friendly. Well, based on the CEO pay, I'd say they are indeed. I discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like Sonova Holding, with market caps over CHF7.8b, is about CHF4.2m. The Sonova Holding CEO received CHF3.3m in compensation for the year ending March 2019. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies, and seems pretty reasonable to me. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. I'd also argue reasonable pay levels attest to good decision making more generally. One important encouraging feature of Sonova Holding is that it is growing profits. The fact that EPS is growing is a genuine positive for Sonova Holding, but the pretty picture gets better than that. Boasting both modest CEO pay and considerable insider ownership, I'd argue this one is worthy of the watchlist, at least. Once you've identified a business you like, the next step is to consider what you think it's worth. And right now is your chance to view our exclusivediscounted cashflow valuationof Sonova Holding. You might benefit from giving it a glance today. Although Sonova Holding certainly looks good to me, I would like it more if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, too, then thisfreelist of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Read This Before Buying D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) For Its Dividend Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Dividend paying stocks like D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. 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. A 1.4% yield is nothing to get excited about, but investors probably think the long payment history suggests D.R. Horton has some staying power. The company also bought back stock equivalent to around 1.7% of market capitalisation this year. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding D.R. Horton for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis 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. D.R. Horton paid out 13% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. We'd say its dividends are thoroughly covered by earnings. In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. D.R. Horton paid out 828% of its free cash flow last year, suggesting the dividend is poorly covered by cash flow. Paying out more than 100% of your free cash flow in dividends is generally not a long-term, sustainable state of affairs, so we think shareholders should watch this metric closely. While D.R. Horton's dividends were covered by the company's reported profits, free cash flow is somewhat more important, so it's not great to see that the company didn't generate enough cash to pay its dividend. Were it to repeatedly pay dividends that were not well covered by cash flow, this could be a risk to D.R. Horton's ability to maintain its dividend. Consider gettingour latest analysis on D.R. Horton's financial position 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. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of D.R. Horton's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.30 in 2009, compared to US$0.60 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.2% a year over that time. Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate, but with at least one substantial cut in the payments, we're not certain this dividend stock would be ideal for someone intending to live on the 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. Over the long term, dividends need to grow at or above the rate of inflation, in order to maintain the recipient's purchasing power. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see D.R. Horton has grown its earnings per share at 24% per annum over the past five years. 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. To summarise, shareholders should always check that D.R. Horton's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Firstly, the company has a conservative payout ratio, although we'd note that its cashflow in the past year was substantially lower than its reported profit. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, but it was concerning to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Ultimately, D.R. Horton comes up short on our dividend analysis. It's not that we think it is a bad company - just that there are likely more appealing dividend prospects out there on this analysis. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 14 D.R. Horton analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with ourfreereport on analyst estimates for the company. 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.
Should You Worry About Nordson Corporation's (NASDAQ:NDSN) CEO Salary Level? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Mike Hilton has been the CEO of Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) since 2010. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. View our latest analysis for Nordson Our data indicates that Nordson Corporation is worth US$8.1b, and total annual CEO compensation is US$7.0m. (This figure is for the year to October 2018). We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at US$925k. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of US$4.0b to US$12b. The median total CEO compensation was US$6.9m. That means Mike Hilton receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a company that size. This doesn't tell us a whole lot on its own, but looking at the performance of the actual business will give us useful context. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Nordson has changed over time. Nordson Corporation has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 13% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). It saw its revenue drop -3.0% over the last year. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. The lack of revenue growth isn't ideal, but it is the bottom line that counts most in business. It could be important to checkthis free visual depiction ofwhat analysts expectfor the future. I think that the total shareholder return of 72%, over three years, would leave most Nordson Corporation shareholders smiling. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size. Remuneration for Mike Hilton is close enough to the median pay for a CEO of a similar sized company . Few would be critical of the leadership, since returns have been juicy and earnings per share are moving in the right direction. Although the pay is a normal amount, some shareholders probably consider it fair or modest, given the good performance of the stock. Whatever your view on compensation, you might want tocheck if insiders are buying or selling Nordson shares (free trial). Important note:Nordson may not be the best stock to buy. You might find somethingbetterinthis list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. 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.
How Do Analysts See Sonova Holding AG (VTX:SOON) Performing In The Next 12 Months? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Based on Sonova Holding AG's (VTX:SOON) earnings update in March 2019, the consensus outlook from analysts appear fairly confident, with profits predicted to increase by 17% next year compared with the past 5-year average growth rate of 4.9%. By 2020, we can expect Sonova Holding’s bottom line to reach CHF530m, a jump from the current trailing-twelve-month of CHF454m. I will provide a brief commentary around the figures and analyst expectations in the near term. Readers that are interested in understanding the company beyond these figures shouldresearch its fundamentals here. View our latest analysis for Sonova Holding The view from 17 analysts over the next three years is one of positive sentiment. Broker analysts tend to forecast up to three years ahead due to a lack of clarity around the business trajectory beyond this. I've plotted out each year's earnings expectations and inserted a line of best fit to calculate an annual growth rate from the slope in order to understand the overall trajectory of SOON's earnings growth over these next few years. By 2022, SOON's earnings should reach CHF634m, from current levels of CHF454m, resulting in an annual growth rate of 8.8%. EPS reaches CHF10.35 in the final year of forecast compared to the current CHF6.98 EPS today. Margins are currently sitting at 16%, which is expected to expand to 19% by 2022. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Sonova Holding, I've put together three essential aspects you should look at: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Sonova Holding 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 Sonova Holding is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Sonova Holding? 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.
How a dog bite in India almost cost me my life By the time I realised the dog was about to bite me, it was too late. I’d seen the gaunt canine milling around, but feral dogs seemed to congregate on every corner in India , so one more roaming the grounds of Amritsar’s Partition Museum didn’t garner any special attention. At least not until it sunk its incisors into my knee, leaving two bloody puncture marks. It could have been worse, but in a country where rabies kills thousands of people each year, it could have been so much better. According to the World Health Organization, 36 per cent of all rabies deaths occur in India . And while any mammal can transmit the rabies virus , 99 per cent of all human cases result from contact with an infected dog. Post-exposure vaccinations are required to prevent the virus from taking hold. Without early treatment, rabies is almost always fatal. And travellers are not immune. In 2018, a British man died after contracting rabies after being bitten by an asymptomatic cat in Morocco. This year, a 24-year-old Norwegian woman died after attempting to rescue a puppy in the Philippines that bit her. In 2017, a Virginia woman succumbed to rabies after a dog bite in India. She rescued a puppy during her vacation. The dog’s bite proved deadly. Instinctively, after being bitten, I slathered my knee in hand sanitiser as locals in the northwestern India city directed my partner and me to a small lean-to with a faded red cross painted on it. A man in a quasi-military uniform led us to an English-speaking doctor who prescribed antibiotics and a tetanus booster. So far, so good. But the wound wasn’t bad enough to transmit rabies, he said. I disagreed and asked the doctor to prescribe the vaccine . He refused. Panic gurgled into my throat – the doctor was terrifyingly wrong. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers puts a finer point on it. “Rabies can be transmitted through any sort of open wound,” Claire Westmacott, a health researcher with the organisation, later told me. “So, if you’re bitten, even if you’re scratched or licked...there can still be rabies transmission. So that becomes a really dire medial emergency very quickly.” Story continues Several hours post-dog bite, hasty research and an English-speaking driver landed us at a private hospital in Amritsar where doctors politely explained they didn’t carry the rabies vaccine. Neither did the next hospital we visited. Rabies is not a profitable disease for India’s private healthcare facilities, I later learned. At about $6 per dose, the rabies vaccination is still too expensive for many Indians who are exposed to the virus – assuming they even know they need the vaccine in the first place. A stray dog rests in a hole to cool down at Deer Park during a hot day in New Delhi (Getty) The sun was low when our driver parked his car under an overpass so we could dash across traffic to yet another healthcare facility. Nurses there noted my blood pressure was high. I was not surprised. “Do you study medicine ?” one asked. No, I said. “Then how did you learn about rabies?” The on-duty doctor prescribed one shot, and pointed me toward a waiting nurse and an injection room. It was a far cry from the series of shots needed to fight the virus’ progress and confer immunity. The days of treating rabies exposure with a dozen or more abdominal injections are long gone, but the treatment process remains a prolonged one. Before we left, a harried young pharmacist pulled us aside with crucial information: post-exposure injections must be given on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21, he said. (The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends even tighter regimen for people who have been bitten or scratched that includes one dose of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a 14-day period.) Eight hours had now passed since the bite and we had to consider our options. Being Canadian , the thought of flying home had crossed our minds, but we were worried we couldn’t make it back in only 72 hours. We’d first have to get to New Delhi and find a last-minute flight to some Canadian city – most likely Toronto , which was a nearly 17-hour flight away. Then we’d have to find a hospital there that had rabies vaccines or possibly continue on to my hometown of Winnipeg , where my provincial health coverage would be guaranteed. Either way, it’d be very close. A dog walks past damaged fishing boats along the seafront in Puri in the eastern Indian state of Odisha (Getty) Instead, we decided to travel north to Himachal Pradesh as planned. We knew organisations there were working to eradicate rabies, and I was confident clinics near hubs such as Dharamshala would carry the vaccine. Wrong. We soon learned only government hospitals regularly stock the vaccine. So, with assistance from friends, strangers and the Canadian High Commission, I joined the crushing sea of humanity at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda. After being misdirected for hours, I was finally called into a crowded room to explain my problem. I handed the doctor a printout of a prescription sent by a friend in New Delhi, on which I’d carefully added the words “rabies immunoglobulin”. Immunoglobulin is what is recommended by the WHO, and I wasn’t going to be shy about it. The doctor’s English was perfect, but he searched online the same websites I’d searched earlier for information. He wrote a new prescription, then directed us back to the collection of rusty gurneys known as the emergency room, where I was told to wait next to a bloody, unconscious man being gently caressed by a sobbing woman. A nurse pointed to a filthy exam table and instructed me to lie face down. I didn’t know whether to be terrified or elated as she injected the vaccine and immunoglobulin in the back of my knee and both arms. And that was it. I left the hospital gutted, relieved and deeply ashamed by my own revulsion directed at the very institution that just provided me with free, lifesaving, medical treatment. An Indian veterinary clinic employee gives a rabies vaccination to a pet dog at a free vaccination camp at the Government Super Speciality Veterinary Hospital (Getty) The cost of post-exposure treatment is usually covered in Canada , but the price is steep in the United States. In the widely reported case of Crystal Edwards, a woman bitten by a fox , post-exposure treatment cost more than $22,000. After the government hospital in Himachal Pradesh, we re-evaluated our strategy. I’d need the day-seven injection in a mere three days. I contacted my doctor’s office in Winnipeg for advice but was rebuffed. “Liability,” the receptionist said, explaining that policy prevented them from giving medical advice over the phone. I tried Health Links next. Surely staff members at this infoline could advise me on where to get the vaccine if I returned to Winnepeg. They could not and suggested I present myself at the nearest ER upon arrival. Meanwhile, I was told to buy a thermometer to better predict the likelihood of my own death . Fever is often one of the first symptoms of rabies. Feeling I’d finally cracked the Indian healthcare system and lined up a doctor for the remaining injections, we decided to stay for the last two weeks of our trip as planned. Shannon VanRaes poses for selfies in India (Chris Procaylo) Ultimately, I received injections on days 0, 3, 7, 11, 14 and 20 for a total of seven including the immunoglobulin. Irregularities with the first shots resulted in a new doctor setting a fresh day 0 on what would have been day 7 and one last shot was given in Canada. Six weeks later, a Winnipeg doctor checked my blood for a rabies titer and that ended the ordeal – it showed I’d acquired immunity. With regular booster shots, I can maintain that immunity for future travel. But it was knowing the risks that saved my life. I was acutely aware of the danger long before being bitten. I’d spent years reporting on animal agriculture – including zoonosis, which are infectious diseases that spread between animals and humans – while working as a reporter for Glacier FarmMedia, and my sister, father and grandfather had all received post-exposure treatment in the past following bites from animals ranging from barn cats to a beef cow. Many doctors, however, are unaware that rabies poses a real risk to travellers to certain countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia, and fail to adequately arm their travelling patients with knowledge before departure. The CDC and WHO have rabies warnings that advise people to speak to a doctor about their travel plans, and pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for travellers “living in or travelling to countries or areas at risk,” says WHO, particularly if they will have “extensive outdoor exposure in rural areas, even if the duration of travel is short”. Pre-exposure vaccination is also recommended for children because they tend to play with animals and might not report a bite. Before I set off for India, I’d visited a travel doctor in Winnipeg to make sure my tetanus, hepatitis and typhoid vaccinations were up to date and to ask whether I should get the pre-exposure rabies vaccine. His useless advice still rings in my ears. “Just don’t get bitten by a dog,” he’d said. © Washington Post
Ivanka Trump meeting with Kim Jong-Un revealed in North Korea footage, as excruciating G20 intervention prompts questions over her role Ivanka Trump joined her father at his historic meeting at the Korean border with Kim Jong-Un , a North Korean documentary has revealed. The “first daughter” can be seen in images broadcast on North Korean TV of the discussion between the US president and Mr Kim. The revelation Ms Trump was included in the talks will further fuel a growing controversy about the 37-year-old’s role in the White House. Officially, she is only an advisor to the president and has said her focus is on women’s economic empowerment and skills development in the workplace. But her participation in the high-level diplomacy of the North Korean summit came only days after she was seen taking part in the G20 conference in Osaka, Japan. A video released by the French presidency showed Ms Trump attempting to butt into a conversation between Theresa May, Emmanuel Macron and Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund. Some new footage of Kim meeting @IvankaTrump and @USAmbROK pic.twitter.com/Pr7iwbdRJH — Oliver Hotham (@OliverHotham) July 1, 2019 Ms Trump also featured prominently in official leaders’ photographs and was dispatched to speak to journalists after her father’s meetings with some of the heads of government present. Her G20 appearances have prompted widespread derision, with many questioning why Mr Trump had brought someone with no diplomatic or foreign policy experience to the summit and ridiculing her attempts to join discussions between world leaders. The excruciating exchange rapidly became a viral meme that saw Twitter users photoshopping pictures of the first daughter into iconic moments in history – including the Yalta conference where the Allies carved up post-war Europe and Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech in Washington DC – under the hashtag #UnwantedIvanka. Firebrand Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also attacked Ms Trump’s outsized influence. Commentators ridiculed Ms Trump's presence at the G20 summit, where she joined the official leaders' photograph (PA) Tweeting the G20 video, she wrote: “It may be shocking to some, but being someone’s daughter actually isn’t a career qualification. “It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on. The US needs our President working the G20. Bringing a qualified diplomat couldn’t hurt either.” A former US ambassador to South Korea , Christopher Hill, said Ms Trump’s presence gave the impression America was a “constitutional monarchy”. Story continues “It says to our allies, to everyone we do business with, that the only people who matter are Trump and his family members," he said. Despite her governmental inexperience and lack of qualifications, Mr Trump frequently hails his daughter as one of his most trusted and skilled advisors. He has publicly mooted the idea of nominating her to become US ambassador to the United Nations or head of the World Bank, and said she would be “very hard to beat” if she chose to run for president. Before Mr Trump appointed her to her poorly-defined White House post, Ms Trump had mostly worked for the Trump family company and run her own Ivanka Trump fashion brand. Her father’s trip to Asia ended with an appearance at an army base in South Korea, where he called up Ms Trump to the join him and the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on stage and described them as a “beautiful couple”. View comments
U. S. Antimony Announces the Start of Gold and Silver Production From the Los Juarez Mine and Results of the New Furnaces in Mexico THOMPSON FALLS, MT / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019 /United States Antimony Corporation ("USAC", NYSE American "UAMY") announced that the Puerto Blanco flotation mill in Guanajuato, Mexico will commence milling the 30,000 metric ton stockpile of Los Juarez gold/silver/antimony ore in July 2019. The decision has come after exhaustive testing of the recovery of gold and silver from legacy flotation concentrates. The concentrate that was tested was produced from approximately 415 metric tons of Los Juarez ore and represents about 50% of the total value of the precious metals (it does not include most of the antimony value or any of the precious metal values that will be recovered from the mill tailings by the CIL circuit). The concentrate was caustic leached at the Madero smelter to remove most of the antimony. Subsequently, 8.03 metric tons of the leach residue were shipped to Montana to recover the gold, silver, and remaining antimony. After processing, 8.464 ounces of gold and 846.1 ounces of silver were sold. The recovery of both the gold and silver from the flotation concentrates was 98%. The ratio of gold to silver in the flotation concentrate was 1 ounce of gold per 126 ounces of silver. Historically in smaller samples, the ratio has been on the order of 1ounce of gold per to 250 to 500 ounces of silver. This lower ratio could mean that there may be coarse gold that went undetected in the periodic sampling of the concentrates and only appeared when the total concentrate was smelted. In addition, the higher gold values are likely a result of higher-grade gold areas in the ore body. The shallow drilling program revealed many areas where the gold was in the 0.10 to more than 1.0 ounce per metric ton. The CIL circuit will be started as soon as the flotation mill and caustic circuits have been shaken down. The recovered values of Los Juarez after flotation, caustic leaching of the flotation concentrates and cyanide leaching of the flotation tailings are estimated below: [{"Metal": "Gold", "Assay": "0.035 opmt", "Recovery": "90%", "Recovered": "0.0315 oz", "Value": "$1,350/oz", "Value /mt": "$42.53"}, {"Metal": "Silver", "Assay": "3.27 opmt", "Recovery": "85%", "Recovered": "2.88 oz.", "Value": "$15.00/oz", "Value /mt": "$41.69"}, {"Metal": "Antimony", "Assay": "0.652%", "Recovery": "70%", "Recovered": "10.06 #", "Value": "$3.57/lb", "Value /mt": "$35.91"}, {"Metal": "Total", "Assay": "", "Recovery": "", "Recovered": "", "Value": "", "Value /mt": "$120.13"}] A shipment of precious metals made on June 24, 2019 from testing of the Los Juarez flotation circuit that included 8.464 ounces of gold and 846.1 ounces of silver. The installation of the two new LRF furnaces at the Madero smelter in Mexico has materially increased the capacity of the plant and significantly reduced costs. Coal consumption has been reduced from 30% to 12.5% of the feed to each LRF. Natural gas, electricity, and manpower have been reduced, and the cost benefits will show up in Q3. One LRF has replaced six SRF furnaces for roasting slags. A third LRF is now installed. The Madero smelter will now produce crude metal for the Montana Smelter to make oxide or finished metal to be sold directly to the consumer which will also cut costs significantly. LRF Number 3 installed with cooling ducting, baghouse, and stack Estimated sales for June 2019 are as follows: [{"Product": "Antimony pounds", "June": "121,451"}, {"Product": "Zeolite short tons", "June": "1,211"}, {"Product": "Gold ounces, North America", "June": "9.669"}, {"Product": "Silver ounces, North America", "June": "2,680.8"}, {"Product": "Gold ounces, Mexico", "June": "8.464"}, {"Product": "Silver ounces, Mexico", "June": "846.1"}] The average Rotterdam price for antimony metal during June 2019 was $6,481.57 per metric ton or $2.94 per pound. USAC sales of antimony averaged $3.44 per pound. CEO John Lawrence said "After many years, we are happy to announce the start of production of gold and silver from Los Juarez. USAC will move cautiously during the start up to not make any mistakes. Management believes the deposit is a major Company builder and we are very excited." About U.S. Antimony US Antimony is a growing, vertically-integrated natural resource company that has production and diversified operations in precious metals, zeolite and antimony. Forward Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, including matters related to the Company's operations, pending contracts and future revenues, ability to execute on its increased production and installation schedules for planned capital expenditures and the size of forecasted deposits. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent filings, including Form 10-KSB with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: United States Antimony CorporationPO Box 643 47 Cox Gulch Rd.Thompson Falls, Montana 59873-0643406-827-3523 FAX: 406-827-3543E-Mail:tfl3543@blackfoot.net SOURCE:United States Antimony Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550355/U-S-Antimony-Announces-the-Start-of-Gold-and-Silver-Production-From-the-Los-Juarez-Mine-and-Results-of-the-New-Furnaces-in-Mexico
10 Credit Card Words You Should Understand Do you know these important credit card terms? If not, you might not understand what you're paying to use your credit card. Image source: Getty Images The world of credit cards is filled with technical-sounding terms. You'll come across them when you’re looking for anew credit card. You'll see them in the terms and conditions of the cards you already have. APR, EMV, variable interest… what does it all mean? It's important to understand these credit card terms -- they impact how you can use your card, the costs you pay, who can use your card, and a host of other important issues. So we put together this credit card term glossary. If you know these terms, you'll understand exactly what you’re agreeing to as a cardholder -- and exactly what costs you’ll incur when charging to your credit card. Here are 10 of the most important credit card terms. You need to know them when choosing a card, reviewing your current card agreement, or figuring out how to best use your card. Annual percentage rateis the total cost of borrowing on your card for a year, including both interest and fees. The higher the APR, the more it costs to borrow. For example, if you borrow $1,000 on a card with a 20% APR -- and make no payments -- at the end of one year you'll owe $1,200. With credit cards, you pay interest if you don’t pay your statement balance by the due date. When you do pay interest, it’s usually compounded daily. So the interest is added to your principal balance at the end of every day and you pay interest on that interest. This compounding interest can add up very quickly. An authorized user is a person who can use your credit card account but isn’t legally responsible for charges they incur. You can add anyone as an authorized user, although some cards charge for authorized users or limit how many you can have. Many parents make theirchildren authorized usersso they have a credit card for emergencies. The credit account shows up on authorized users' credit reports, so being an authorized user can help build credit. But the primary cardholder is responsible forallcharges incurred by the authorized user. Average daily balance is calculated by totaling the balance due on your card each day during a statement period and dividing that number by the total number of days in that period. Your average daily balance is used by some credit card issuers to calculate the amount of interest due on your credit card. Here's an example. Let's say you charged nothing on your card during the first 29 days of a 30-day billing cycle. On the last day, you charge $10,000. Your average daily balance for the 30-day period would be $10,000 / 30 days = $333. This is the amount you’d be charged interest on. Your average daily balance is low because you’re factoring in 29 days of a $0 balance. Abalance transfertransaction occurs when you transfer the balance of a credit card onto another card. With many credit cards, you pay a small fee to transfer a balance. Some cards also offer a promotional 0% APR for balance transfers for a limited time. Transferring a balance may reduce the interest you pay on the transferred debt. But be aware: you’ll pay interest at the full rate once the 0% promotional APR expires. A cash advance is when you get cash from your credit card issuer instead of making a purchase. Some cards let you get cash from an ATM or bank teller. With others, you need to use cash advance checks you deposit into a bank account. There's often a fee for a cash advance, as well as a different, higher APR for cash advances. EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa. These companies agreed on security standards for a computerized chip implanted in some credit cards. The chip creates a unique one-time-use transaction code every time your card is used. Cards with an EMV chip are more secure than cards with a magnetic strip. At the end of 2018,60% of cards in the US had an EMV chip(while most of the rest of the world had over 80%). A finance charge is the fee charged by your card issuer for using credit. It's determined by your APR and any other fees assessed by your issuer. Finance charges apply to credit card balances not paid in full by the end of the grace period each billing cycle. Some cards have special 0% promotional rates for a certain time period, such as 12 months from account opening. If you have a0% promotional APRin effect, you won't pay a finance charge until the promotional period ends. A grace period is the time between the end of your billing cycle and the payment due date. If you repay your purchases in full during the grace period, you won't be charged interest on the purchases made during that billing cycle. The prime rate is the base rate at which money can be borrowed commercially. Many credit cards base their interest rate on the prime rate. The prime rate generallychanges as the federal funds rate changes. The Federal Reserve sets the federal funds rate. If your credit card interest is based on the prime rate, your interest rate could go up and down as the federal funds rate and prime rate change. Variable interest rates change over time, so you can't always predict what they'll be. Credit cards typically charge a variable interest rate. For many cards with variable rates, the rate is set based on the prime rate. Other cards use different benchmarks or tie their interest rate to a different financial metric than the prime rate. The definitions of these credit card terms help you better understand what you pay to borrow money on a credit card. They can also help you determine the cost of borrowing if you open a new account. Dig into the terms and conditions of every card before you start borrowing. Make informed choices about how to use your card based on those terms and conditions. And bookmark this page so you can come back to it when you find a new term you're not familiar with! The Motley Fool owns and recommends MasterCard and Visa, and recommends American Express. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule. If we wouldn’t recommend an offer to a close family member, we wouldn’t recommend it on The Ascent either. Our number one goal is helping people find the best offers to improve their finances. That is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
5 Successful New ETFs of 1H The ETF industry has been growing by leaps and bounds and issuers have been coming up with products to meet the demand. This year appears to have solid momentum too, with about 127 new funds on board. All these have taken the tally to 2,285 ETFs so far (up 2.01% year to date), with an average market cap of $3,971.7 billion (up 16.8% year to date). There was net asset flow of $114.74 billion, which marks 20.1% year-to-date growth. Here are five ETFs launched in the first half that have amassed a decent asset base within days of hitting the market. iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETFSUSL — $1.41 billion – May 7 The fund hit the market on May 7, amassing a huge asset base within a short span. The underlying MSCI USA Extended ESG Leaders Index comprises U.S. large and mid-capitalization stocks of companies with high environmental, social, and governance performance relative to their sector peers. The fund charges 10 bps in fees (read: May ETF Asset Report: Quality U.S. Equities Win). Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF USSG– $1.19 billion – Mar 7 The underlying MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index is a capitalization weighted index that provides exposure to companies with high Environmental, Social and Governance performance relative to their sector peers. The fund charges 10 bps in fees. Global X Cloud Computing ETF Global X Cloud Computing ETFCLOU — $425.6 million – Apr 12 The fund entered the market in April. It looks to invest in companies positioned to benefit from the increased adoption of cloud computing technology, including companies whose principal business is in offering computing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), managed server storage space and data center real estate investment trusts, and/or cloud and edge computing infrastructure and hardware. The fund charges 68 bps in fees (read: 5 Successful New ETFs of Q2). Virtus Real Asset Income ETF VRAI – $222.3 million– Feb 7 The underlying Indxx Real Asset Income Index comprises income-producing, U.S. equity securities across three real asset categories — real estate, natural resources and infrastructure. Each real asset category includes the top 30 dividend growers systematically picked from the 60 highest dividend-paying securities in the category. It charges 55 bps in fees. Virtus Private Credit ETF VPC – $189.7 million– Feb 7 The underlying Indxx Private Credit Index seeks to track the performance of U.S.-listed, registered closed-end investment companies that have elected to be regulated as BDCs as well as U.S.-listed, non-BDC registered closed-end funds that provide significant exposure to private credit. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >> 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 reportiShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL): ETF Research ReportsVirtus Private Credit Strategy ETF (VPC): ETF Research ReportsXtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG): ETF Research ReportsVirtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI): ETF Research ReportsGlobal X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU): ETF Research ReportsTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Nathalie Emmanuel struggles with love in exclusive 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' trailer When love gets you down, you turn to your friends. Unless of course you fall for someone your friend is dating. That’s the problem Maya ( Nathalie Emmanuel ) is facing in Hulu’s upcoming limited series Four Weddings and a Funeral . EW has the exclusive first trailer for the series, which was co-created by Mindy Kaling and follows best friends Maya, Ainsley (Rebecca Rittenhouse), Craig (Brandon Mychal Smith), and Duffy (John Reynolds) as they attempt to find their individual happily-ever-afters. But that’s easier said than done, particularly after Maya meets a handsome stranger named Kash (Nikesh Patel) at the airport and later realizes that he’s dating Ainsley. The series is a reimagining of the 1994 film of the same name , in that it will contain — you guessed it! — four weddings and a funeral. Otherwise, Kaling took the opportunity to put her own twist on the story. “I wanted to take the themes and the essence of the movie and apply it through my eyes of what I would like to see that I haven’t seen yet,” Kaling previously told EW. The 10-episode series hits Hulu on July 31. Watch the trailer above, and check out an exclusive poster below. Hulu Related content: First look at the friends and lovers of Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral series How Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral series spins a modern, diverse twist on the traditional rom-com Dermot Mulroney unveils first look at his role in Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral
In 15 years we’ll be able to upload education to our brains. So can I stop saving for my kids’ college? In the midst of a gubernatorial debate at Sacramento State University in late 2017, I was asked about the future of the state university system over the coming 20 years. I was running for governor of California and campaigning, among other things, for people’s right to access better technology that can drastically enhance how we share and store information—and stave off death as we know it. Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune is built on fraud, a former mentor says “I’m not sure there’s going to be a future,” I replied. That’s because if Elon Musk and other brainwave technology entrepreneurs have their way, brick and mortar colleges will no longer be relevant in the coming few decades. We will be able to download education from computers directly into our brains. As I began explaining that I believe brainwave technology could dominate much of our formal education system by 2038, I watched the audience stir with skepticism. Hong Kong’s protesters put AirDrop to ingenious use to breach China’s Firewall But the age of downloading experience and expertise directly into our brain mainframe is coming. So is downloading professional training, including everything from becoming a police officer to practicing medicine or investigative journalism. Initiate download For many in the audience, I think that was the first time considering this could become a reality in our lifetime. But in plenty of instances, brainwave tech is already here. People fly drones using mind-reading headsets . Parkinson’s disease patients can use brain chips to calm shaking attacks . Machine interfaces let people silently communicate mind-to-mind with one another, or with devices . Brainwave technology works by recording the brain’s thought patterns—configurations of neurons that fire in distinct ways for different thoughts—and replicating those patterns back into the brain via electrical stimulation from a nonbiological device. The amount of money being poured into electroencephalogram technology and other brainwave science is up in the last few years, especially in the state of California where entrepreneurs have poured a few hundred million dollars into startups. That amount of funding is likely to increase dramatically now that the FDA has created guidelines for regulating brainwave interface technology . Story continues Google , Apple, and Facebook have people on staff to gauge how this type of technology works and will affect the world. Entrepreneurs like Brian Johnson, founder of Los Angeles brainwave tech company Kernel, think this technology will eventually end up inside our heads . Elon Musk has said he believes his Silicon Valley brainwave tech company Neuralink will have a consumer product that lets humans wander the cloud in their minds on the market within 10 years . Lead Google engineer Ray Kurzweil forecasts that we will be able to download educational information into our minds in the near futures. At my home, the coming brainwave age is a personal issue. I told my wife last year that there’s a significant probability our five- and eight-year-old daughters will be able to download education off the internet by the time they hit college. I also told my wife that I rather not sock away money every month for our daughters’ college funds like millions of Americans do . My wife is an OB-GYN with four higher education degrees. She disagrees with me, and insists we save. Our opinions are further complicated by the fact that my wife recently signed an informal pledge promoted by the parents from my our children’s grade school in Marin County, promising our peers to not allow our daughters to have personal phones with internet access until they reach eighth grade. A high school teacher who supports the project recently emailed me saying she thinks this anti-smartphone commitment should be kept until students reach age 18. If some parents are afraid of their children having too much screen time, how will they feel about their young adult children’s brains being connected to the cloud 24 hours a day? As a transhumanist, I have long supported using technology in my body to improve the human experience. If I could have a robotic arm that’s better than my biological arm, I would electively amputate my biological arm and surgically attach the bionic one. The same goes for my brain. The moment I can afford to improve it via implants and brainwave headsets, I will do it. To me, the idea of being connected in real time to the cloud sounds amazing. I want Google in my brain, iMaps on demand, and a dictionary always open in my mind. I want to know what the weather is when I wake up, just by thinking about it. I want to communicate directly with my driverless car, home robot, and alarm system. I want to hold conference calls with my colleagues in my mind. But it’s not just saving for college that brainwave technology challenges: My wife and I discuss whether our eldest daughter should continue with piano lessons. Why play for 10 years to master Mozart’s Fifth Symphony, when my daughter will be able to download how to play it perfectly by the time she’s 25 years old? My wife insists learning to play the piano is also about learning how to be disciplined. I agree, but I also believe that discipline as a trait will be downloadable in the future, too. This begs the question: What won’t we be able to download in the future? No one has the answer to that yet, but already today, we’re able to implant memories in mice that allow them to find food based on a maze they’ve never seen before. I have no doubt that in the coming decades we will be able to download memories of reading entire books on algebra, philosophy, and history. We’ll also be able to download how to swing a baseball bat, perform the Heimlich maneuver, and distinguish a Merlot from a Cabernet. Many people say they will refuse this technology, and I firmly believe that that is their right. But once capitalism gets hold of a phenomenon like downloadable education, insights, traits, and experiences, people may have to get downloads in order to be competitive—or compatible—in the job market. A firefighter knowledgeable of the entire history of every fire ever fought will be more valuable than a firefighter who only has his limited career experience. Tech entrepreneurs and transhumanists like myself are betting in the future we’ll be able to download just about anything our brains can normally do now. Before we drag and drop Of course, downloading anything into your brain involves more than just pressing a button. And education is far more than just memorizing text books. Where you go to school and how education is taught—whether it’s an Ivy League university, a small religious college, or even Trump University—can significantly alter how and what you learn. It also matters who does the teaching: whether it’s a Nobel prize-winning scholar or an inexperienced teacher’s assistant or a boring AI passing on code into your head. Money will be an issue, too. My wife has asked me if downloading a Columbia University education will be more expensive than a community college download. The answer is likely yes. But if we’ve learned anything from the internet and college students, it’s that students—and their parents—will try to save money. Illegal downloading of textbooks is ubiquitous . And many students—along with Democratic presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders —think education should be free. Some states have made college free for people with qualifying incomes. Would a generation of people download the education of free schools instead of paying top dollar for fee-based schools? Again, the answer for most people will probably be yes. Beyond the price of downloading education and experiences, we do have to consider the costs of hardware, access and and amenities required to get that information into your head in the first place. The brainwave devices available for purchase now are all over the map, from $99.99 for the NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 on Amazon to the $19,995.00 Freedom 24D Wireless EEG Headset . None can download education or specific experiences that I know of yet, though some headsets facilitate calm and concentration . When the tech does come out to download education and experience, it’s likely it will be very expensive at first—maybe even millions of dollars, given the recent scandals that show how much some wealthy parents will pay to have their children get a degree. But the market for such technology is massive, and I surmise the price of the tech will likely come down quickly as it becomes standard for nearly every person on Earth to download free education and experiences with inexpensive brainwave devices. There was a time when we were surprised that even the poorest people in the world have cell phones . I think downloading devices will go the same way, and become just as ever-present, sooner than we think. My wife doesn’t buy the downloading argument yet, especially when it comes to education. But brainwave tech is here to stay, and once it evolves far enough, the possibilities feel endless. Billions of humans could end up with dozens of PhDs a piece, the mastery of multiple musical instruments, and just about any skill we can think of. I’ve told my wife I would rather invest our kids’ college savings into the tech industry, with an emphasis on those companies that specialize in brain downloading technology. If I’m wrong, they can always do what she and I did to get through college: take out school loans, and carry debt for decades like most Americans. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief , our free daily newsletter with the world’s most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Tip your delivery worker in cash, not via an app A “Go Back to Africa” media campaign uses AI to boost African American tourism
Woman bans her in-laws from mentioning her unborn baby - here's why A pregnant woman has delivered a 'harsh' ultimatum to her 'controlling' in-laws. Photo: Getty Images An expectant mum has laid down the law to her parents-in-law, after the name of her unborn baby sparked a heated debate. Any major family event tends to be ripe ground for ruffling a feather or two, but when this mum’s relatives began weighing in on her baby’s name, she put her foot down. Taking to Reddit the pregnant woman explained that early in the pregnancy, her and her husband decided to name their baby ‘Keiran’, after an arduous process of elimination. Her in-laws however, had other ides. READ MORE: Mother-in-law wears wedding dress to bride's big day They began to call the baby ‘Findlay’, their preferred name, ignoring the couple’s requests to stick with the name they had chosen. “Every time we see them, they shout "Hi, Finlay! Grandma/grandpa loves you so much, Finlay!" at my stomach at every opportunity,” the woman wrote. “This has been going on for about 3 months now, and both my husband and I have voiced several times that we really don't appreciate it.” Now in her third trimester, the fed-up mum issued an ultimatum: use our name or don’t talk about the baby at all. The woman decided to put her foot down after months of the behaviour. Photo: Getty Images “I finally snapped and told them they are not to speak to me about my son until they can either call him Kieran or something less personal such as "the baby" or "the bump.",” she explained. The grandparents-to-be were ‘really offended’, and even accused their daughter-in-law of ‘ruining their experience’ but she stuck to her guns, and the family unti has been frosty ever since. Online reaction The woman was met with overwhelming support online, with people praising her decision to establish boundaries before the baby arrived. “Naming a child is a very special thing, and it is decided between the parents, not outsiders,” one woman wrote. “If they can't respect that, then they can't respect you.” “I'm glad you actually said something to them. It's your kid so your rules!” another said. READ MORE: Husband moves dates to avoid family holiday with his mother-in-law “You are carrying the kid. You get to call him what you like. They are wrong,” was how one user summed up the situation. Story continues Navigating the complexities of new parenthood and a new family is never easy, but would you be able to put your foot down like this? It’s not the first time parents have raised eyebrows with some seriously bad behaviour.
Sir Tony Robinson in dark about 'Blackadder' reunion rumours Sir Tony Robinson played sidekick Baldrick in hit sitcom 'Blackadder' (Credit: PA) Sir Tony Robinson has poured doubt on the rumours of a Blackadder reboot. It had been reported that the stars of the hit BBC sitcom - written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton and starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role - recently met in London to discuss a potential new series. But a spokeswoman for Sir Tony, who played Blackadders hapless sidekick Baldrick thoughout the comedy told Yahoo UK: It sounds lovely but Im afraid neither we nor Tony know anything about this. And Sir Tony, 72, also tweeted to say the rumour was not true. One of these rumours is probably true, the other isnt!! https://t.co/lteNlj8ggu Tony Robinson (@Tony_Robinson) July 1, 2019 The Sun newspaper reported that Robinson, Atkinson, 64, Stephen Fry, 61, and Hugh Laurie, 60, had met up at London members club Soho House to discuss bringing back Blackadder for a new series in which he would be university lecturer in a modern day setting. A source told the newspaper Atkinson had told friends he was very excited about the prospect of playing Blackadder once again. Read more: Blackadder Star Sir Tony Robinson Knighted Historical sitcom The Black Adder first aired in 1983, featuring the title character as set in medieval times starring Atkinson as Richard IV's unfavoured second son Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, who gives himself the nickname The Black Adder. Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson as Captain Blackadder and Private Baldrick in 'Blackadder Goes Forth' in 1989 (Photo by Photoshot/Getty Images) The second series was set in the Elizabethan era, featuring Stephen Fry and Queen Elizabeths Lord Chamberlain, Melchett while Black Adder the Third took place in the Regency period and co-starred Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent, with Blackadder as his butler. Black Adder Goes Forth was set on the French battlefield of the First World War and aired in 1989. One-off specials included the Blackadder's Christmas Carol in 1988, Blackadder: The Cavalier Years for Red Nose Day 1988 and Blackadder: Back & Forth, which was made to celebrate the Millennium in 2000. Read more: Stephen Fry spotted on the set of the new 'Doctor Who' series Atkinson last played the part in 2002 as part of a sketch advertising the Queens public concert held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to mark her Golden Jubilee.
Are Insiders Selling D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) Stock? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sellD.R. Horton, Inc.(NYSE:DHI), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia Universitystudyfound that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. See our latest analysis for D.R. Horton The Director, Michael Hewatt, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$156k worth of shares at a price of US$41.28 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of US$43.13. As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. We note that the biggest single sale was only 35.4% of Michael Hewatt's holding. Over the last year, we note insiders sold 11773 shares worth US$462k. In the last year D.R. Horton insiders didn't buy any company stock. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It's great to see that D.R. Horton insiders own 9.2% of the company, worth about US$1.5b. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. It's heartening that insiders own plenty of stock, but we'd like to see more insider buying, since the last year of D.R. Horton insider transactions don't fill us with confidence. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check thisfreereport showing analyst forecasts for its future. Of courseD.R. Horton may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
What Do Analysts Think About Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CASY) Future? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! On 30 April 2019, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) released its earnings update. Generally, it seems that analyst expectations are fairly bearish, with earnings expected to grow by 6.4% in the upcoming year against the higher past 5-year average growth rate of 13%. With trailing-twelve-month net income at current levels of US$204m, we should see this rise to US$217m in 2020. Below is a brief commentary on the longer term outlook the market has for Casey's General Stores. Readers that are interested in understanding the company beyond these figures shouldresearch its fundamentals here. See our latest analysis for Casey's General Stores The longer term expectations from the 12 analysts of CASY is tilted towards the positive sentiment. Given that it becomes hard to forecast far into the future, broker analysts tend to project ahead roughly three years. To get an idea of the overall earnings growth trend for CASY, I’ve plotted out each year’s earnings expectations and inserted a line of best fit to determine an annual rate of growth from the slope of this line. This results in an annual growth rate of 6.2% based on the most recent earnings level of US$204m to the final forecast of US$245m by 2022. EPS reaches $6.72 in the final year of forecast compared to the current $5.55 EPS today. This high rate of growth of revenue squeezes margins, as analysts predict an upcoming margin contraction from the current 2.4% to 2.2% by the end of 2022. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Casey's General Stores, I've compiled three fundamental aspects you should look at: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Casey's General Stores 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 Casey's General Stores is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Casey's General Stores? 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.
BitMEX Hits $1 Trillion Annual Trading as Bitcoin Futures Explodes BitMEX, a bitcoin derivatives exchange, has surpassed $1 trillion in annual trading volume, according to a tweet by founder Arthur Hayes. It comes as bitcoin futures trading volumes explode to record highs on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) platform. Demand for bitcoin derivatives, which allow users to open up long and short positions on bitcoin’s price movement, is booming. BitMEX is popular for its high-leverage margin trading. Users can execute 100x leveraged trades on bitcoin futures and perpetual swaps On June 26th, the exchange boasted a record day as the bitcoin price shot to almost $14,000. Open interest for perpetual swaps hit $1 billion while total volumes hit $16 billion across the board. Cumulatively, the exchange has now seen more than $1 trillion traded in the last year. It’s a stunning feat, considering bitcoin languished at bear-market lows for most of the 365 trading days. TheCME bitcoin futuresplatform, which launched in late 2017, has also seen record interest. The exchange traded arecord notional value of $1.7 billionon Wednesday last week on the day bitcoin hit a 2019 high. Read the full story on CCN.com.
Is Korian's (EPA:KORI) CEO Salary Justified? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In 2016 Sophie Boissard was appointed CEO of Korian (EPA:KORI). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. See our latest analysis for Korian Our data indicates that Korian is worth €2.7b, and total annual CEO compensation is €1.0m. (This is based on the year to December 2018). That's below the compensation, last year. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at €450k. We examined companies with market caps from €1.8b to €5.6b, and discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was €1.5m. Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Sophie Boissard takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Korian has changed over time. On average over the last three years, Korian has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 32% each year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 6.5%. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. It's nice to see a little revenue growth, as this is consistent with healthy business conditions. You might want to checkthis free visual report onanalyst forecastsfor future earnings. With a total shareholder return of 21% over three years, Korian shareholders would, in general, be reasonably content. But they probably don't want to see the CEO paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. It appears that Korian remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies. Many would consider this to indicate that the pay is modest since the business is growing. While some might be keen on seeing higher returns, our short analysis has not produced any evidence to suggest Sophie Boissard is overcompensated. It's great to see a company that pays its CEO reasonably, even while growing. But for me, it's even better if insiders are also buying shares with their own cold, hard, cash. So you may want tocheck if insiders are buying Korian shares with their own money (free access). Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies. 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.
Global shares rise on hopes for US-China trade negotiations LONDON (AP) — Global markets rose sharply Monday after President Donald Trump's meeting with China's Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Japan raised hopes of progress in stalled trade talks between the two countries. The Trump-Xi meeting in Japan marked the first time the two leaders had met since the dispute over trade and technology escalated following 11 rounds of negotiations. While the agreement to resume talks forestalls a worsening in the conflict, it remains unclear whether there will be a resolution. For now, though, investors have breathed a sigh of relief that there may be some progress in the days and weeks ahead. "The G-20 meeting managed to deliver for markets, as Donald Trump avoided levying any further tariffs and instead laid out a plan to get the U.S.-China trade talks back on track," said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at IG. "Sharp gains throughout Asia certainly provided European markets with a guide, while the S&P 500 futures point towards a record high open this afternoon." Germany's DAX rose 1.1% to 12,542 while Britain's FTSE 100 climbed 1.3% to 7,525. France's CAC 40 gained 0.8% in midday trading to 5,584. U.S. shares were also set to open higher with Dow futures rising 1.0% to 26,847 and S&P 500 futures gaining 1.1% to 2,977. Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 2.1% to finish at 21,729.97. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.4% to 6,648.10. South Korea's Kospi was marginally lower at 2,129.74. Hong Kong's markets were closed for a holiday. The Shanghai Composite rose 2.2% to 3,044.90. Despite the positive news on the trade front, the latest data were less upbeat. A closely watched survey by Japan's central bank, released Monday, showed confidence among major manufacturers in the economy worsened for the second straight quarter. The Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey of major companies showed confidence deteriorated in June compared with March, with the main index for major manufacturers fell to 7 in June from 12 in the previous quarterly survey in March. Story continues Meanwhile, another indicator, the purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector, remained stable but still in contractionary territory at 49.4 in June, even with May's reading, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. Readings above 50 indicate expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction. ENERGY: Oil prices continued to climb as OPEC meets to decide whether to extend its current deal to cut production for six to nine months. The oil cartel faces a weakening demand outlook due to waning global growth. Monday's decision is complicated by tensions between the U.S. and Iran that have sent prices higher. Benchmark crude oil rose $1.52 to $59.99 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell 96 cents to $58.47 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude, the international standard, rose $1.66 to $66.40 a barrel. CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 108.28 Japanese yen from 107.87 on Friday. The euro inched down to $1.1347 from $1.1371.
Will Korian's (EPA:KORI) Earnings Grow Over The Next Year? Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Based on Korian's ( EPA:KORI ) earnings update in December 2018, analyst forecasts seem fairly subdued, with earnings expected to grow by 13% in the upcoming year relative to the higher past 5-year average growth rate of 31%. Presently, with latest-twelve-month earnings at €123m, we should see this growing to €139m by 2020. I will provide a brief commentary around the figures and analyst expectations in the near term. For those interested in more of an analysis of the company, you can research its fundamentals here . View our latest analysis for Korian How is Korian going to perform in the near future? The view from 13 analysts over the next three years is one of positive sentiment. Since forecasting becomes more difficult further into the future, broker analysts generally project out to around three years. To reduce the year-on-year volatility of analyst earnings forecast, I've inserted a line of best fit through the expected earnings figures to determine the annual growth rate from the slope of the line. ENXTPA:KORI Past and Future Earnings, July 1st 2019 By 2022, KORI's earnings should reach €192m, from current levels of €123m, resulting in an annual growth rate of 14%. EPS reaches €2.35 in the final year of forecast compared to the current €1.51 EPS today. With a current profit margin of 3.7%, this movement will result in a margin of 4.7% by 2022. Next Steps: Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Korian, I've put together three essential factors you should further examine: Financial Health : Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Valuation : What is Korian worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether Korian is currently mispriced by the market. Other High-Growth Alternatives : Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Korian? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large growth potential to 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 at editorial-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. View comments
Trump claim Obama begged for Kim Jong Un meeting dismissed by former US intelligence chief: 'I don't know where he's getting that' The former director of national intelligence for Barack Obama has dismissed Donald Trump s claims that the former president was begging to meet Kim Jong-un . James Clapper laughed after he was shown a clip of Mr Trump telling reporters that Mr Obamas requests to meet with the North Korean leader were refused. Speaking on CNNs State of the Union programme on Sunday morning, Mr Clapper said: "I don't know where he's getting that. In all the deliberations that I participated in on North Korea during the Obama administration, I can recall no instance whatever where president Obama ever indicated any interest whatsoever in meeting with chairman Kim. That's news to me. Later in the interview, Mr Clapper acknowledged that Mr Trumps visit to North Korea was a great historic moment as he became the first US president to enter the country . But the former intelligence chief, who also served under president George W Bush, said he did not think the US presidents visit was a breakthrough moment in nuclear talks between the two countries. I personally dont believe the North Koreans have long term any intent to denuclearise, he said. Why should they? Its their ticket to survival, and theyre just not going to do that. An hour after meeting with Mr Kim on Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters: "President Obama wanted to meet and Chairman Kim would not meet him. "The Obama administration was begging for a meeting they were begging for meetings, constantly and Chairman Kim would not meet with him, and for some reason we have a certain chemistry or whatever." Mr Trumps claim was also disputed by Mr Obamas deputy national security adviser. Trump is lying. I was there for all 8 years. Obama never sought a meeting with Kim Jong Un, Ben Rhodes tweeted. Foreign policy isnt reality television its reality.
Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY): What's The Analyst Consensus Outlook? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! The latest earnings update Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) released in June 2019 showed that the company experienced a major headwind with earnings deteriorating by -36%. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways on how market analysts perceive Casey's General Stores's earnings growth trajectory over the next couple of years and whether the future looks brighter. Note that I will be looking at net income excluding extraordinary items to get a better understanding of the underlying drivers of earnings. See our latest analysis for Casey's General Stores Analysts' expectations for the coming year seems rather subdued, with earnings increasing by a single digit 6.4%. The growth outlook in the following year seems much more optimistic with rates reaching double digit 14% compared to today’s earnings, and finally hitting US$245m by 2022. Even though it is helpful to be aware of the growth rate each year relative to today’s level, it may be more valuable analyzing the rate at which the earnings are rising or falling on average every year. The advantage of this technique is that it ignores near term flucuations and accounts for the overarching direction of Casey's General Stores's earnings trajectory over time, which may be more relevant for long term investors. To calculate this rate, I put a line of best fit through analyst consensus of forecasted earnings. The slope of this line is the rate of earnings growth, which in this case is 6.2%. This means, we can presume Casey's General Stores will grow its earnings by 6.2% every year for the next couple of years. For Casey's General Stores, I've compiled three key factors you should further research: 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 CASY 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 CASY is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of CASY? 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.
Bikini-clad Elizabeth Hurley shares swimming pool video Elizabeth Hurley is famed for her bikini moments. (Photo: Gary Mitchell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Elizabeth Hurley is upping the ante with her latest bikini moment. The actress is famed for dazzling fans with selfies starring curve-hugging designs from her own bikini line . Now the 54-year-old Brits followers can really catch her in action thanks to an Instagram video which shows her blissfully, and rather sensuously, floating in a swimming pool while modeling an aqua blue bikini. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1) on Jun 30, 2019 at 5:12pm PDT While her video had pal David Furnish husband to Elton John and one of six godfathers to Hurleys teen son, Damian joking nice pool, her fans couldnt help but once again marvel at her appearance. God you look amazing, gushed one. Absolutely incredible, killer body. You made the same deal with the devil that Paul Rudd has to never age again, haven't you?! one fan joked to the Bedazzled star. Body goals, read one comment. You continue to get more and more gorgeous as you age! added a commenter. You are beautiful, love! Hurley launched her Elizabeth Hurley Beach collection in 2005. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Girl, 11, dress coded on last day of school for wearing leggings: 'They put a target on her back' New black Barbie doll wears natural hair, uses a wheelchair: 'Representation like this is so important' Fans defend Meghan Markle from 'haters' over baby Archie's private christening plans Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. View comments
Portland police provide no evidence for claim milkshakes thrown at far-right groups contained quick-drying cement Police have provided no evidence that antifascist protesters threw milkshakes mixed with quick-drying cement during violent clashes in Portland over the weekend. Conservative writer Andy Ngo was one of a number of people injured when he was attacked by masked antifascists during demonstrations in the Oregon capital on Saturday. Members of Antifa were counter-protesting a march in the city by the Proud Boys , a male chauvinist group known for street fighting. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said on Saturday it had received reports of individuals throwing “milkshakes” with “a substance mixed in that was similar to a quick drying cement”. The claim quickly generated headlines in the US, but the bureau failed to provide any evidence and it emerged the claim was based on one officer’s assumption, according to the Portland Mercury . Police have received information that some of the milkshakes thrown today during the demonstration contained quick-drying cement. We are encouraging anyone hit with a substance today to report it to police. — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 29, 2019 The vegan milkshakes were reportedly provided by a left-leaning group called Popular Mobilization, which handed out hundreds of the drinks to demonstrators. A number were thrown at officers and protesters associated with the far-right. "A Lieutenant in the field broadcast information of his observation of a cup which appeared to have material on it consistent with quick drying cement," PPB spokesperson Tina Jones told the local newspaper. "We put out the tweet to bring attention to this potential hazard and to encourage people to contact us if they were the victim of a crime." A number of people who said they drank the milkshakes posted on Twitter insisting they were not mixed with anything else. I drank one of the milkshakes and I haven’t died yet so pic.twitter.com/6wolAJVfiU — NEVER DESERT THIS LP by Good I’m Glad OUT NOW (@prettyboypop) June 30, 2019 “Milkshaking” right-wing figures started in the UK last month , when the British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson was targeted, and has since spread to the US. Story continues The trend has led to an increasingly polarised debate as to the limits of legitimate protest, and whether throwing drinks at divisive political figures could lead to more dangerous tactics in future. Local media reported that only 30 people turned up for the original protest – a “patriot prayer” rally – in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday afternoon. Police attempted to keep them apart from a larger counter-demonstration in Lownsdale Square, but disorder broke out when a group of antifascist protesters left their designated area and marched towards the Proud Boys rally, repeatedly trying to get around police blockades. One banner read “f*** Nazis and fascists”, while some protesters waved a banner for the Satanic Portland Antifascists and chanted: “Not hate, no fear, Proud Boys are not welcome here.” Footage showed scuffles between opposing protesters, while several antifascists were wearing face coverings or helmets, and carrying homemade shields, bats and weapons. PBB said two protests from Chapman Square and Lownsdale Park Square merged and started an unpermitted march towards Pioneer Square that stopped traffic. A right-wing protester after being attacked in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square on 29 June (Moriah Ratner/Getty Images) “There were multiple assaults reported, as well as projectiles thrown at demonstrators and officers,” a statement added. “There were also reports of pepper spray and bear spray being used by people in the crowd. Officers deployed pepper spray during the incident.” Two officers were pepper sprayed, another was punched and a colleague was hit in the head with a projectile during what police labelled a “civil disturbance”. After issuing a dispersal order, three people were arrested. A 23-year-old man was charged with second-degree assault and assault of a police officer, a 21-year-old man was charged with harassment and a 23-year-old woman with disorderly conduct and harassment. Assistant police chief Chris Davis said: “There are hundreds of peaceful free speech events in the city in a given year that do not result in violence. Unfortunately, today some community members and officers were injured. “We are actively investigating these incidents to hold those responsible accountable.” Police are appealing anyone who witnessed or filmed violence to contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov. PBB has been contacted for comment.
Beto O’Rourke: ‘Remain In Mexico’ Asylum Policy Is ‘Inhumane,’ Causes ‘Suffering and Death’ Beto O’Rourke labeled the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy “inhumane” and said it causes “suffering and death” during a Sunday appearance on CBS News’s Face the Nation . The Remain in Mexico policy, otherwise known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, require that certain asylum-seekers remain in Mexico while their claims are being adjudicated. The Trump administration, in an effort to alleviate the ongoing crisis at the border, announced an expansion of the program last month as part of a trade deal with Mexico. O’Rourke, who had just returned from visiting asylum-seekers in Ciudad Juarez who were then awaiting entry into the U.S., lambasted the Trump administration for not allowing the migrants to enter the country and remain until their respective hearings. “Me going over to Ciudad Juarez today, our — our sister city across the border from El Paso — to meet with asylum seekers who have traveled hundreds, in some cases thousands, of miles fleeing the deadliest countries on the face of the planet coming to this country trying to follow our asylum laws and through a program that effectively shuts them out of this country and our laws are forced to stay in Ciudad Juarez, where they are prey to criminal organizations, where they are penniless and where they are suffering and where too many feel like they are forced to try to cross in between our ports of entry,” O’Rourke told Margaret Brennan. “As we saw earlier this week, a picture of Oscar and Valeria, who died trying to do that from what the Matamoros to Brownsville,” he continued. “This inhumane policy is causing suffering and death, and I want to call attention to what we are doing. So going to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and meeting with these asylum seekers is a great way for the American public to know what is being done in our name right now.” Story continues The comments came after acting homeland-security secretary Kevin McAleenan credited the expansion of the MPP with reducing the flow of asylum-seekers that has overwhelmed holding facilities in recent months. Migrant apprehensions fell to 87,000 in June after reaching 144,000 in May. There have been 600,000 apprehensions at the border this fiscal year, the highest number of any fiscal year in a decade. More from National Review Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration’s Attempt to Tighten Asylum Process Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Effort to Tighten Asylum Rules Record Number of Families Apprehended at Southern Border in December
Can You Imagine How DistIT's (STO:DIST) Shareholders Feel About The 38% Share Price Increase? Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. For example, long term DistIT AB (publ) ( STO:DIST ) shareholders have enjoyed a 38% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 19% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 29% in the last year, including dividends. See our latest analysis for DistIT There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. 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). Over half a decade, DistIT managed to grow its earnings per share at 11% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 6.7% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). OM:DIST Past and Future Earnings, July 1st 2019 We know that DistIT has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts . What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for DistIT the TSR over the last 5 years was 134%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that DistIT has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 29% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 19% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. Before spending more time on DistIT it might be wise to click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling shares. We will like DistIT better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SE 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 at editorial-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.
Hong Kong riot police fire tear gas at protesters after they storm legislature on anniversary of handover to China Violence erupted in Hong Kong on Monday as protesters stormed the Legislative Council on the anniversary of the citys return to Beijing, amid growing anger over a plan to allow extraditions to China. Hundreds of masked demonstrators ran riot inside the building, forcing their way into the chamber, and smashing up doors, walls and paintings. Portraits of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and Chinese President Xi Jinping were torn down. On Monday night, Hong Kong police moved in to clear the hundreds of protesters who stormed the legislature, and fired tear gas at protesters outside parliament. Hours earlier, they had streamed into the legislature after shattering windows with metal trolleys and poles and wrenching open metal shutters. The council issued a red alert, ordering them to leave. But the riot police who had previously been pushing them back appeared to have retreated. Earlier, police had raced toward protesters, beating some with batons and using pepper spray to thin the crowds. As the day wore on, more people turned out to participate in a planned rally to mark the date the former British colony was given back to China in 1997. The organisers said some 550,000 attended. Anti-government protesters stormed Hong Kong's parliament building Credit: VIVEK PRAKASH/AFP/Getty Images Jeremy Hunt, the British Foreign Secretary, tweeted in support of the demonstrations, saying: "No violence is acceptable but HK people must preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law." Away from campaigning want to stress UK support for Hong Kong and its freedoms is UNWAVERING on this anniversary day. No violence is acceptable but HK people MUST preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law, as hundreds of thousands of brave people showed today. Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 1, 2019 I wanted to add to the crowd numbers so that the government could hear the dissatisfaction of so many people, said Gary, 35, a teacher, who declined to give his surname. Story continues Ming, 50, a business owner, told The Daily Telegraph: I have marched all three times. I completely support the young people and their ideals and ambitions, which is for the good of Hong Kong. "Seeing these young people like this, if I didnt come out, I couldnt have that on my conscience. Im in my fifties, what can we do for these young people? One thing we can do is come out and march." Pro-democracy activists use the handover anniversary every year to march through Hong Kong calling for greater freedoms, though have failed to win any concessions from Beijing. Coming after three weeks of ongoing rallies, this year's rally took on even greater significance. Hundreds of protesters poured into the building after hours of trying to break through windows Credit: Vivek Prakash/AFP Marches since June 9 have seen crowds swell to over one million with people demanding Hong Kongs Beijing-backed leader, Ms Lam, withdraw a controversial extradition bill. Rights activists argue that, if passed, it would see suspects face unfair trials in mainland China where the courts are controlled by the ruling Communist Party and authorities use torture to extract forced confessions. The proposed bill, which has been delayed but not scrapped since protests intensified, adds to growing fears that China is gradually snuffing out the citys freedoms, which were guaranteed for at least 50 years in a handover agreement between Britain and Beijing. China has become more willing to openly intervene in politics, barring individuals from running for the citys legislature, forcing elected lawmakers to step down, and jailing young activists. As fears over human rights have grown, Germany has recently granted asylum to two Hong Kong dissidents. Riot police had pushed protesters back earlier in the day but later retreated Credit: Anthony Kwan/ Getty Images The government is doing so much to threaten our way of life, said Jessica Yeung, 50, a university professor who left a family holiday in York early to come home and join the protests. We have to stand and safeguard our values. Mrs Ho, a manual worker in her fifties, said: Ive come out to all the marches. I am not just supporting the students, I am supporting our Hong Kong spirit. They said it was one country two systems, but its not like that anymore. As for the glass breaking, we dont know who they are. The latest rallies in Hong Kong represent the biggest popular challenge to Chinese president Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. The extradition issue has re-united Hong Kongs previously fractured anti-Beijing resistance movement which had been riven with in-fighting and squabbles between different camps. Police officers use baton to disperse anti-extradition protesters during a clash outside the Legislative Council Complex Credit: Getty Its a matter of a raw nerve having been touched for both the political groups and parties, as well as for the general public, so people came out, said Steve Tsang, director of the University of Londons SOAS China Institute. It didnt matter who was asking them, he said. They voluntarily and proactively went out to show how much they care about the consequences of allowing those laws to be passed. Protest organisers hope to transform our power from the streets into the political system, Bonnie Leung, vice-convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, told The Telegraph, looking ahead to elections for the citys legislature next year. Its an opportunity for the resistance camp to win more seats and whittle down the current pro-Beijing majority, she said. As it stands, 43 of 70 seats are currently held by Beijing supporters in Hong Kongs Legislative Council. Then the government can no longer ignore our voices as they are doing now, said Ms Leung. Hong Kongers have also criticised the UK, urging London to do more to pressure China to uphold its end of the handover agreement, the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Anti-extradition protesters push barricades toward police on a street during a stand-off outside the Legislative Council Complex Credit: Getty The British suck, said Alex, a designer, 25, who declined to give his real name. They abandoned us and only paid us lip service. Protesters have been increasingly wary of their identities being revealed over fears of future backlash. Many have used umbrellas or donned face masks as a way to obscure their faces, as well as to defend against tear gas. On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged the Hong Kong authorities to respect the rights and freedoms ahead of anniversary date, reiterating the UKs support for the declaration. It is a legally binding treaty and remains as valid today as it did when it was signed and ratified over thirty years ago, he said. It is imperative that Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy, and the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people, are fully respected in line with the joint declaration and the Hong Kong basic law. Two years ago, China said the joint declaration was a historical document that no longer had any practical significance. Beijing reiterated its stance on Monday, calling on the UK to stop gesticulating and interfering in its former colony and that Britains rights and obligations under the joint declaration had ended. Police officers pepper spray during a clash with anti-extradition protesters Credit: Getty Britain has no so-called responsibility for Hong Kong, said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry. Hong Kong matters are purely an internal affair for China. No foreign country has a right to interfere. We urge Britain to know its place and stop interfering in any form in Hong Kong matters and do more for its prosperity and stability rather than the opposite, he added. Aside from Mr Gengs comments there was no mention of the protests in Hong Kong on Monday in China, where censors tightly control news and information. State media instead carried remarks from Mr Xi extolling the virtues of the Communist Party on the 98th anniversary of its founding coincidentally the same day as the handover anniversary. Protesters have indicated no plans of backing down unlike past demonstrations, the latest wave have coalesced through a groundswell from many groups political parties, labour unions, business groups, schools rather than one main convenor. This is a pretty organic movement; there is not one single organizer like in 2014, where everyone was looking to the student leaders, Dennis Kwok, a politician who opposes the extradition bill, told the Telegraph. There are no leaders in this one. Additional reporting by Yiyin Zhong Are you participating in the Hong Kong protests? Or have you been watching them unfold? Are you Hong Kongese or an expat? We want to hear from you about your reasons for taking part, what you hope the outcome will be and how it will impact the future of Hongkongers. Send us an email to yourstory@telegraph.co.uk including your name, location and any images or video of the protests for the chance to be featured in the Telegraph. 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5 States With the Highest (and Lowest) Financial Literacy Rates Everyone likes to think that they know how to manage their money, but the truth is that most people don't know as much as they think they do. Only around 34% of people could answer four out of five questions correctly when asked to take a quiz about basic financial concepts, according to a report from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, down from 42% in 2009. What's more troubling, however, is that a whopping 71% of those same survey participants gave themselves a high rating when it came to how much they think they know about financial topics. Image source: Getty Images The quiz tested participants' knowledge about concepts such ascompound interest, interest rates, mortgages, inflation, and diversification. While on average participants shined in the areas of mortgages and interest rates (with around three-quarters of respondents answering correctly), they struggled in other areas -- particularly regarding compound interest and bond prices, with less than a third of people answering those questions correctly. The report also broke down the results by state, demonstrating that there is a distinct gap between the states with the highest and lowest financial literacy rates. In this context, a passing grade means participants were able to answer at least four of the five questions correctly, and the report examined the percentage of participants in the state who earned a passing grade. In these states, nearly half of those who took the quiz earned a passing grade, answering at least four questions correctly. 1. South Dakota: 43% 2. Utah:43% 3. Montana:42% 4. Minnesota: 41% 5. Nebraska: 41% (Honorable Mention):North Dakota: 41%, New Hampshire: 41% Somewhat surprisingly, however, having high rates of financial literacy doesn't necessarily equate to better overall financial health. In Utah, for instance, although the state is tied for having the highest financial literacy rate in the country, 22% of survey participants admitted to spending more money than they earned over the past year -- higher than the national average of 19%. And in South Dakota, only around 48% of individuals have anemergency fund-- compared to 49% of all U.S. adults. In other words, simply knowing more about finance doesn't always mean people are better off financially. Having a lot of knowledge about these topics is only one piece of the puzzle, and it's just as important to use that knowledge to make smart decisions with your money. In the states with the lowest rates of financial literacy, the vast majority of survey participants answered less than four out of five questions correctly. However, that doesn't mean there weren't bright spots in the data. 1. Alabama: 24% 2. Mississippi:28% 3. Georgia:28% 4. Texas: 29% 5. West Virginia:29% Although these states didn't fare as well in the financial literacy department, they still shine in other areas. Alabama, for instance, has a higher-than-average percentage of people who shop around for credit cards before choosing one -- with 43% of people saying they compare offers to find the best deals, compared to just 38% of all U.S. adults who do the same. And in Georgia, only 16% of people admitted to spending more than they earned in the last year, compared to the 19% national average. These statistics may imply that financial literacy really isn't all that important. After all, it's one thing to know a lot about financial concepts, but it's another to actually put that knowledge to good use. If you know what you're supposed to do to make the most of your money but you don't do it, you may not be better off than someone who doesn't have as much financial knowledge. That said, financial literacy is the key to making better decisions. You can choose whether or not to take full advantage of that knowledge, but it never hurts to learn as much as you can about various financial concepts. In many cases, learning more about topics related to finance -- and especially retirement -- can help you save money in the long run. For example, 72% of Americans admit they don't fully understand how Medicare works, and 53% mistakenly believe coverage is completely free, according to a survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute. If you go into retirement thinking you won't pay a dime for healthcare, you're going to be in for a rude awakening. But understandingwhat Medicare coversand what costs you'll be responsible for can help you prepare your retirement budget accordingly. Or, for another example, consider the number of people who have no idea what they're paying in 401(k) fees. Everyone pays retirement account fees, but only 27% people say they know how much they're paying, a survey from TD Ameritrade found. Considering the average worker will pay around $138,000 over their lifetime in retirement account fees, according to a study from the Center for American Progress, having some basic knowledge aboutwhat you're paying in feescould save you some money. There are several components to living a healthy financial lifestyle, and a strong grasp on basic financial concepts is the foundation for success. You don't need to be an expert, but the more you know, the better prepared you'll be to tackle all of life's financial challenges. 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 The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Brave web browser is really fast at blocking ads Google recentlyunveiled"Manifest V3," a new suite of proposed Chromium browser changes that would make it a lot harder to block ads. Now, the third-party browserBrave, which uses Chromium technology, has essentially defied Google by unveiling extremely rapid ad-blocking tech (in beta) that's much, much faster than before, but without the Manifest V3 limitations. Nowadays, a large number of browsers including Opera, Brave and even Microsoft's Edge run on Google's Chromium engine. As such, Google gets to dictate terms, and launched the Manifest V3 proposal. That would help speed up browsing by blocking an API called webRequest, but would also have the effect of making most third-party ad-blockers unusable. That in turn would have a positive effect on Google's ad business, of course. Brave (along with Opera and Vivaldi)declaredthat it would stick with webRequest in defiance of Google, however, so that it's own ad-blocker would continue to work. In order to address the concerns about speed, it decided to rebuild its ad-blocker with the aim of making it more efficient using Mozilla's Rust language instead of C++. The results are now available to try out on the company'sDevandNightlychannels. Taking inspiration from the popular ad-blockers Ghostery and uBlock Origin, Brave rebuilt its algorithms and boosted speeds by up to 69 times. That in turn reduced request classification times down to 5.6 microseconds (millionths of a second). "Although most users are unlikely to notice much of a difference in cutting the ad-blocker overheads, the 69x reduction in overheads means the device CPU has so much more time to perform other functions," Brave said. In other words, it should make ad-free browsing a lot faster and less punishing on your computer.
Cabot Concludes Divestment of Specialty Fluids Business Cabot CorporationCBT successfully closed the earlier-announced transaction for the divestiture of Specialty Fluids business to Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals Resources Co. Limited — a fully-owned subsidiary of Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd.Cabot stated that it received $135 million at closure of the deal along with additional cash considerations. This included royalties of up to $5 million for lithium products, which is payable over a 10-year period. Moreover, the company does not expect any material cash tax impact related to the proceeds from the transaction.Notably, Cabot’s EBITDA for the Specialty Fluids segment in fiscal 2018 was $10 million. The transaction enables the company to focus efforts on growth opportunities in core businesses and execute the ‘Advancing the Core’ strategy.Shares of Cabot have lost 22.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s 33% decline. In May 2019, the company stated that it is witnessing improvement in the business environment. However, the pace is slower than what it had originally expected. The company expects adjusted earnings in the range of $4.05-$4.30 per share for fiscal 2019, down from the previous projection of $4.20-$4.60. The company will continue to focus on managing costs.Cabot sees results in Reinforcement Materials and Performance Chemicals to improve sequentially in the fiscal third quarter, driven by recovery in volume and margin. The company expects the unfavorable impact from the timing of raw material flow-through to discontinue in the third quarter. Moreover, it envisions improvement in Reinforcement Materials and Performance Chemicals to be offset by the impact of the divestiture of the Specialty Fluids segment in the third quarter.Zacks Rank & Key PicksCabot currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Materion Corporation MTRN, Flexible Solutions International Inc. FSI and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. FSUGY. These stocks currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 27.3% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 22.5% in the past year.Flexible Solutions has projected earnings growth rate of 342.9% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged 170.7% in a year’s time.Fortescue Metals has an estimated earnings growth rate of 230.4% for the current year. Its shares have rallied 98.4% in the past year.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportCabot Corporation (CBT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFlexible Solutions International Inc. (FSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMaterion Corporation (MTRN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
3 Small-Cap Biotech Stocks That Soared Last Week What do platelets, wounds, and blindness have in common? Treatments for all three helped these stocks climb 26% last week. Do any of these small-cap biotechs have what it takes to keep climbing? Here's what you need to know. [{"Company (Symbol)": "Dova Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: DOVA)", "Gain During the Week Ended June 28, 2019": "58%", "Gain in the Year to Date": "86%", "Market Cap": "$398 million"}, {"Company (Symbol)": "Krystal Biotech(NASDAQ: KRYS)", "Gain During the Week Ended June 28, 2019": "38%", "Gain in the Year to Date": "93%", "Market Cap": "$579 million"}, {"Company (Symbol)": "MeiraGTx Holdings(NASDAQ: MGTX)", "Gain During the Week Ended June 28, 2019": "26%", "Gain in the Year to Date": "178%", "Market Cap": "$894 million"}] Data source: Yahoo! Finance! Shares of Dova Pharmaceuticals jumped last week, thanks to an FDA approval that will boost sales of the company's platelet-bolstering therapy, Doptelet. This thrombopoietin receptor agonist has already earned its first FDA approval, but the initial launch wasso disappointingthat the company appointed a new CEO last year. Doptelet's first indication was limited to chronic liver disease patients scheduled for surgery that could lead to uncontrollable bleeding. The recent label expansion brings Doptelet to people with treatment-resistant chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a bleeding disorder that affects roughly 60,000 Americans. While the ITP community will appreciate a new treatment option,Novartis(NYSE: NVS)markets a drug from the same class that will be hard to compete with. First-quarter sales of Promacta rose 24% compared with last year and are on pace to top $1.2 billion in 2019. Image source: Getty Images. The FDA doesn't play favorites, but Krystal's topical gene therapy clearly has the regulator's attention. Krystal stock popped like a champagne cork after the agency designated its lead candidate, KB103, a regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT). The RMAT designation will allow the company to engage more frequently with the FDA while planning a largerphase 3study. Results from aphase 2study released last week were eye-opening, despite involving just a few patients with a rare skin disorder. People born with generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) can't produce collagen type 7 on their own, which leads to recurring wounds that don't heal for months at a time, and some never close completely. Investigators treated three wounds on each patient, one with a placebo and the other two with KB103, a topical gene therapy that inserts a functional collagen 7 gene. The experimental treatment clearly spurred production of the collagen the patients were missing because five out of six wounds treated with KB103 closed completely and zero placebo-treated wounds fully closed during the 90-day observation period. The only treated wound that didn't close got two-fifths of the way shut at the 90-day checkup after being open for four solid years. On the safety side, there weren't any serious adverse events during the 90-day study, and no drug-related side effects among the three patients treated. That's a terrific first look, but the FDA's going to need to see results from a larger study that will probably start before the end of the year. Image source: Getty Images. MeiraGTx made its stock market debut in June 2018, and this January,Johnson & Johnson(NYSE: JNJ)gave the clinical-stage start-up $100 million up front to collaborate on gene therapies for the treatment of genetic causes of blindness. The stock has been soaring since the clinical-stage start-up reported posted positive top-line data from its first J&J-partnered candidate, and it could have much further to climb. After a single injection of AAV-RPE65 in one eye, the time to navigate a maze with the treated eye open was significantly shorter than when running with an untreated eye open. Patients' retinal sensitivity also improved significantly from one eye to another, and it's just a matter of time before the company and its mighty collaboration partner meet with the FDA to plot the shortest path to approval. Image source: Getty Images. If Dopetelet can gain popularity among treatment-resistant ITP patients who can't use Promacta, Dova shares could more than double before the year's over. Before diving in, though, be aware that Novartis isn't going to make it easy for Dova. There's a good chance that Dova will struggle to make a dent in the ITP space and drag your portfolio down in the process. Despite big surges already this year, Krystal Biotech and MeiraGTx probably have a better chance to deliver market-beating gains than Dova and their chances look pretty good. Krystal's topical collagen type 7 booster could be on its way to a speedy approval for an underserved population. There are probably fewer than 200 patients with generalized RDEB in the U.S., but Krystal is developing KB103 for the broad DEB population, which could boost its addressable patient population up to a few thousand down the line. Although AAV-RPE65 is aimed at the same tiny patient population asa competing gene therapy, investors will be watching MeiraGTx for signs that Johnson & Johnson wants to increase its ownership stake in the gene therapy developer and help expand its pipeline. 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 Cory Renauerowns shares of Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Can We See Significant Institutional Ownership On The Prudential plc (LON:PRU) Share Register? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! If you want to know who really controls Prudential plc (LON:PRU), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. We also tend to see lower insider ownership in companies that were previously publicly owned. Prudential has a market capitalization of UK£44b, so it's too big to fly under the radar. We'd expect to see both institutions and retail investors owning a portion of the company. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it's seems that institutions own shares in the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about PRU. Check out our latest analysis for Prudential Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors own 87% of Prudential. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Prudential, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Prudential. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Prudential plc in their own names. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amount to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own UK£53m worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting tosee if those insiders have been buying or selling. With a 13% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over PRU. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Prudential better, we need to consider many other factors. Many find it usefulto take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can accessthisdetailed graphof past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Ultimatelythe future is most important. You can access thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
'Avengers: Endgame' now tantalisingly close to Avatar's box office record Avengers: Endgame (Credit: Disney) Thanks to its cunning re-release, Avengers: Endgame is now just inches from Avatar's decade-long record of being the highest-grossing movie of all time. It brought in another $5.5 million - around £4.3 million - in the US over the weekend, after Marvel re-issued the film with some additional footage (though in many locations, it hadn't actually left screens) over the weekend. The footage includes a short scene introducing 'Professor Hulk', which adds a little more detail to how Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner managed to successfully combine Banner with his green alter-ego. Read more: Robert Downey Jr really want Avatar’s box office record There's also a tribute to Marvel founder Stan Lee, who died before he could see the final movie in the MCU's 22 film arc, as well as a preview from Spider-Man: Far From Home . But this extra bump in revenue means that in all, Endgame has made $2.76 billion, leaving it around $26 million to go before it breaks Avatar's $2.78 billion haul from 2009. Of course, as ever with talk of highest box office hauls, there are a few caveats to put in place. Read More: 'Avengers: Endgame': 7-year-old who played Tony Stark's daughter is being 'bullied' When accounting for inflation over the past decade, Avatar would have made something like $3.2 billion, a figure which could well prove just that little bit out of reach for Endgame , despite it breaking the record for hitting $1 billion over its opening weekend alone. Avatar was far slower out of the blocks, making its record-breaking sum over many months on release worldwide. When the matter of inflation comes into play, Endgame is actually placed at number five in the top 10, behind Star Wars ($3.06 billion), Titanic ($3.09 billion) and Avatar . Gone With The Wind is in the top spot, having made $3.7 billion in 1939, a gargantuan feat, considering that ticket prices were a fraction of what they are now.
Only This Type of Investor Should Try to Game EA Stock Electronic Arts(NASDAQ:EA) shares have done little since news of the initial success of its battle royale game,Apex Legends,back in February. At that point, it traded at around $97 per share. Today, the EA stock price sits at a little over $101 a pop. Source:Electronic Arts The company continues to release new games, the success of which could send EA higher. Still, unless one knows this industry well beyond the financials, I see only difficulty in profiting from Electronic Arts stock. EA stock also has shown a long history of rangebound trading. It settled in a range between 2003 and 2008 and again from 2009 to 2012. Yes, EA has risen by nearly ten-fold from the lows of 2012. Still, the equity first reached the $100-per-share range more than two years ago. Since then, it has seen no net gain. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips The financials offer little incentive to break the pattern. Analysts expect earnings 7.1% higher this year and 12.3% the next. Even with a forward price-earnings ratio of around 19.5, EA offers little reason to buy or sell based on metrics. It also makes the rangebound patterns of EA stock over the last four months understandable. However, I don’t just have an issue with Electronic Arts stock. Its peers, such asActivision Blizzard(NASDAQ:ATVI) andTake-Two Interactive(NASDAQ:TTWO) also worry me. Yes, traders need to closely follow the metrics of EA stock. However, predicting its next move involves understanding both the games and the electronic-gaming industry at large. • The 7 Top Small-Cap Stocks Of 2019 A successful game could change the game (pardon the pun) for EA. The company may get another crack atApex Legends-driven euphoria when it releasesApex Legendsenters its Season 2 in early July. It could also receive a boost from new releases ofMadden NFLorFIFAsoccer franchises. My colleagueLuke Lango predicts$110 per share for Electronic Arts stock if a game release succeeds. His prediction could easily prove correct. The problem is that $110 takes the EA stock price to the top of the recently established range. What EA truly needs is the catalyst that will bring it above that level. Longer term, Electronic Arts stock also needs an impetus that will take it past last year’s record high of $151.26 per share. Knowing that means understanding the games. More importantly, the rise of device-based games from companies such asZynga(NASDAQ:ZNGA) andGlu Mobile(NASDAQ:GLUU) brings more competition from PC or console-based games. Furthermore, companies such asTencent(OTCMKTS:TCEHY) prove the industry faces additional threats from China. I have not owned a gaming console for years. Plus, more than a decade has passed since I last played my old favorite,Madden NFL.Consequently, I no longer possess any intuitive understanding of games. Also, the EA stock price trading in the middle of its range, it does not interest me. However, investors that know the games and can quickly assess whether a given release will resonate with consumers could see opportunity at these levels. EA stock investors have to understand not only financials and stock patterns, but electronic gaming itself. Like many points in its history, EA has again established a pattern of rangebound trading. The equity now trades in the middle of its range. Hence, barring a range-breaking event, investors have as much to gain as they have to lose right now. However, an understanding of such events changes the buy proposition. Investors with more intimate gaming-industry knowledge possess a better understanding of the releases that will resonate, both with them and consumers. As a result, knowing the games places a trader in a better position to know when EA stock could surge. As of this writing, Will Healy did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks. You canfollow Will on Twitterat @HealyWriting. • 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid • The 7 Top Small-Cap Stocks Of 2019 • Critical Levels to Watch in 7 Marijuana Stocks • 5 Smaller Cloud Stocks That Have Plenty of Potential Compare Brokers The postOnly This Type of Investor Should Try to Game EA Stockappeared first onInvestorPlace.
The Best Marijuana Stocks in the First Half of 2019 With the first half of the year officially coming to a close, we can now say that, despite somehiccups during the second quarterand ongoing supply issues throughout Canada and the U.S., pot stocks "kicked some bud." For instance, theHorizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF, a basket fund that holds more than four dozen pot stocks of various weightings, rose 37% in the first six months of 2019. On my personal watchlist, of the 57 pure-play and ancillary marijuana stocks that were publicly listed through the entirety of the first half of 2019, 36 of them, or 63%, headed higher. Image source: Getty Images. Although many U.S. pot stocks showed weakness in overall performance during the first half of 2019, Canadian marijuana stocks, cannabinoid (CBD)-based drug developers, and anything having to do with CBD derivatives, tended to do quite well. Here's a rundown of the best marijuana stocks through the first six months of the year, which'll be followed by a brief discussion on what's been working for these stocks, and, in some instances, what investors might expect in the second half of the year. • Zynerba Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: ZYNE): Up 358% • Village Farms International(NASDAQ: VFF): Up 253% • MediPharm Labs: Up 217% • Valens GroWorks(NASDAQOTH: VGWCF): Up 188% • Innovative Industrial Properties(NYSE: IIPR): Up 171% • Shopify: Up 117% • Flower One Holdings: Up 107% • Enwave Corp.: Up 87% • Planet 13 Holdings(NASDAQOTH: PLNHF): Up 84% • OrganiGram Holdings: Up 80% • GW Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: GWPH): Up 77% • Neptune Wellness Solutions(NASDAQ: NEPT): Up 71% Better than one of five of the pot stocks I followed in the first half of the year ended higher by at least 71%, with seven cannabis stocks more than doubling. An additional eight pot stocks, includingpopular playsCanopy Growth,Aurora Cannabis,Cronos Group, andHEXO, ended the quarter between 50% and 65% higher. So, that's 20 out of 57 cannabis stocks rising by at least 50% in the first half of the year. Image source: Getty Images. If there's one theme that best describes why more companies on this list rocketed higher in the first half of the year, it's the idea of extracting cannabinoids --more specifically, CBD-- for the creation of derivatives, such as oils, edibles, infused beverages, topicals, tinctures, and so on. As a reminder, CBD, the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid best known for its perceived medical benefit, can be extracted from the cannabis plant or hemp plant, but is often found in abundant amounts in the latter. Extraction-service providerswere easily some of the best performers, with MediPharm Labs, Valens GroWorks, and Neptune Wellness Solutions, among the 12 best marijuana stocks in the first six months. Valens snagged a major partner in April when it signed a two-year agreement to provide resins and distillates to HEXO for an aggregate of 80,000 kilos of cannabis and hemp biomass. But Neptune Wellness one-upped Valens by securing a 120,000 kilo-in-aggregate three-year extraction deal withTilrayon June 7, then a 230,000 kilo-in-aggregate three-year deal withThe Green Organic Dutchmanjust days later. Growers got in on the action, too. Although Village Farms' joint venture withEmerald Health Therapeutics, known as Pure Sunfarms, is capable of producing at least 150,000 kilos of marijuana per year when at full capacity, it's the company'shemp operations that are creating the buzz. Village Farms aims to plant 920 acres of hemp in 2019 through two joint ventures, and has 5.7 million square feet of greenhouses in West Texas that it could choose to convert to hemp production, now that Texas has passed a law legalizing production of hemp containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid that gets users high. Image source: Getty Images. Building on the CBD craze, investors and consumers are really excited to see what pharmaceutical companies may be able to do with cannabinoid-based medicines. GW Pharmaceuticals, which is behind Epidiolex, the only cannabis-derived drugcurrently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA), had an excellent start to the year, in large part because of its first-quarter operating results. After a sluggish first two months of sales, GW Pharmaceuticals' oral CBD-based therapy delivered $33.5 million in sales. Even though GW Pharma is nowhere near profitability yet, the rapid rise in Epidiolex sales suggests strong physician, insurer, and consumer uptake, and that its runway in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is being realized. However, the top-performing marijuana stock in the first half of the year was small-cap Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a transdermal CBD gel known as Zygel for the treatment of Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In May, Zynerba received afast-track designationfor Zygel in FXS, which could expedite the FDA's review of this experimental therapy following the release of top-line data from the pivotal Connect-FX study in the second half of this year. Then, in June, Zynerba received a boost when it was given a patent for treating ASD using Zygel. Image source: Planet 13. Pot stocks that focus on a very specific area of the cannabis market also tended to do well during the first six months of the year. For instance, vertically integrated dispensary operator Planet 13 Holdings was one of the top-performing U.S.-focused weed stocks, trailing only Flower One in the return department in its home state of Nevada. Planet 13 is in the midst of building out the Disneyland of cannabis stores in Las Vegas, which when complete will span 112,000 square feet. Since opening 16,200 square feet to the public at the beginning of November, the company's average customer count -- not to be confused with paying customers -- has nearly doubled, with the average ticket rising by more than $10 in seven months. As someone who'svisited the store personally, I can speak of Planet 13's efforts to incorporate technology to ease the buying experience, as well as provide personal budtenders to normalize the cannabis-buying process. If Planet 13 can translate its early Las Vegas success into the40,000-square-foot dispensaryit plans to open in Santa Ana, Calif., this small-cap niche dispensary could prove to be the real deal. Image source: Getty Images. Lastly, just in case you'd forgotten, sales and profit results actually matter now that Canada has legalized recreational marijuana and 33 U.S. states have OK'd medical marijuana in some capacity. Though most marijuana stocks have been losing money in recent quarters, cannabis real estate investment trust (REIT) Innovative Industrial Properties has been piling on the profits. As a cannabis REIT, Innovative Industrial Properties acquires land and facilities for the medical pot industry, then it leases these properties out for an extended period of time. Since the year began, the company has doubled the number of properties in its portfolio to 22 and increased its dividend twice. The payout investors will be receiving in mid-July is140% higherthan what they netted in the year-ago quarter. While there's plenty of volatility to be had in the marijuana industry, it's also evident that opportunity abounds. More From The Motley Fool • Beginner's Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks • Marijuana Stocks Are Overhyped: 10 Better Buys for You Now • Your 2019 Guide to Investing in Marijuana Stocks Sean Williamshas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends HEXO, Innovative Industrial Properties, Enwave, and OrganiGram Holdings. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
EQT's largest shareholder sides with Rice nominees in proxy fight (Reuters) - Natural gas producer EQT Corp's <EQT.N> largest shareholder on Monday extended its support for the nominees of Toby and Derek Rice, the two brothers who sold their company to EQT more than a year ago and are pressing for changes to its board. T Rowe Price Associates Inc, which owns 10% of the company, said it intends to vote for the slate of nominees of Rice brothers at the annual shareholders' meeting on July 10. Proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis came up with contrasting reports last week with ISS supporting nominees of Rice brothers and Glass Lewis backing the company's management. The Rice brothers were part of the founding team at Rice Energy, which was bought by EQT in November 2017. They say EQT management is responsible for the company's underperformance since the deal and have pushed for an overhaul of its board. The Rice brothers already have the support of DE Shaw Group and Kensico Capital Management Corp, EQT's fourth and sixth largest shareholders, respectively. These two shareholders have a combined 8.2% stake in the company, according to data from Refinitiv. Shares of the company were up 1.2% at $16 in premarket trading. EQT did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. (Reporting by Debroop Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by James Emmanuel)
Is Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CALM) ROE Of 15% Impressive? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALM). Over the last twelve monthsCal-Maine Foods has recorded a ROE of 15%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each $1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made $0.15 in profit. Check out our latest analysis for Cal-Maine Foods Theformula for return on equityis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Cal-Maine Foods: 15% = US$146m ÷ US$1.0b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) Most readers would understand what net profit is, but it’s worth explaining the concept of shareholders’ equity. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule,a high ROE is a good thing. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Cal-Maine Foods has a superior ROE than the average (9.8%) company in the Food industry. That's clearly a positive. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. One data point to check is ifinsiders have bought shares recently. Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. While Cal-Maine Foods does have a tiny amount of debt, with debt to equity of just 0.0031, we think the use of debt is very modest. The fact that it achieved a fairly good ROE with only modest debt suggests the business might be worth putting on your watchlist. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. So I think it may be worth checking thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Of courseCal-Maine Foods may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see thisfreecollection of other companies that have high ROE and low debt. 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.
Intelsat (I) to Enhance Indonesia's Broadband Capabilities Intelsat S.A.I recently secured a plum contract for an undisclosed amount from PT. Aplikanusa Lintasarta to augment the broadband capabilities of Indonesia. Lintasarta is a data communication and IT services provider in the Asian nation. The deal will facilitate the fourth largest populous country in the world to offer reliable, consistent and affordable connectivity to the masses, thereby fulfilling the government initiative of developing a digitally inclusive society by 2023.Per the five-year agreement, Lintasarta will leverage two of Intelsat’s high-throughput satellites – Intelsat 33e and Horizons 3e – to offer unmatched data and voice coverage across the Asia Pacific and Pacific Ocean region. The satellites utilize C-, Ku- and Ka-bands, and wide beams to provide a host of customer-centric benefits and deliver high-throughput technology without sacrificing user control of service elements and hardware.Based on an open architecture, the satellites are programed to work on Intelsat EpicNG platform that delivers carrier-grade, dedicated high-throughput capacity with three to five times more capacity than the traditional fleet. Consequently, the satellites will offer unrivalled efficiency levels with high resiliency and redundancy for a wide range of applications and bandwidth requirements.The Indonesian government aims to foster social development and accelerate equitable economic growth by connecting 150,000 sites across the country by the end of 2023. The collaboration of Intelsat with Lintasarta is a positive step in this regard.Intelsat aims to leverage its expansive ground networks, growing managed services platform and strong government and commercial business relationships to improve its top line. At the same time, the company intends to lead the industry through seamless integration of satellite-based telecommunication solutions with the global telecommunications infrastructure. It is focusing more on software-defined satellite designs to lower costs and streamline manufacturing process.The company is specifically targeting lower capital investments over a three-year period from 2018 due to replacement of bigger satellites with smaller ones. Incorporating innovative designs, the new fleet will enable the company to remain commercially flexible, maintain a strong competitive position at lower operating costs.However, increased uncertainty over the implementation of its policy goals, including the launch of newly-designed satellites has clouded the earnings picture. Earnings estimates for the company have decreased 56.8% over the past year and are currently pegged at a loss of $2.90. Year to date, the stock has declined 9% while the industry has rallied 2.6%. Intelsat currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader industry are Ubiquiti Networks Inc. UBNT, Harris Corporation HRS and Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Ubiquiti has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.8%. It beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 22.3%.Harris has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%. It beat earnings estimates in each of the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 3%.Motorola has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.7%. It beat earnings estimates in each of the preceding four quarters, the average surprise being 9.1%.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportUbiquiti Networks, Inc. (UBNT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMotorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIntelsat S.A. (I) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Does Dometic Group AB (publ)'s (STO:DOM) Debt Level Pose A Problem? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Small-caps and large-caps are wildly popular among investors, however, mid-cap stocks, such as Dometic Group AB (publ) (STO:DOM), with a market capitalization of kr28b, rarely draw their attention from the investing community. While they are less talked about as an investment category, mid-cap risk-adjusted returns have generally been better than more commonly focused stocks that fall into the small- or large-cap categories. Let’s take a look at DOM’s debt concentration and assess their financial liquidity to get an idea of their ability to fund strategic acquisitions and grow through cyclical pressures. Note that this information is centred entirely on financial health and is a top-level understanding, so I encourage you to look furtherinto DOM here. View our latest analysis for Dometic Group DOM has built up its total debt levels in the last twelve months, from kr11b to kr14b , which accounts for long term debt. With this rise in debt, DOM currently has kr3.4b remaining in cash and short-term investments , ready to be used for running the business. Additionally, DOM has produced cash from operations of kr2.8b in the last twelve months, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 20%, meaning that DOM’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. With current liabilities at kr4.5b, it seems that the business has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 2.37x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Generally, for Auto Components companies, this is a reasonable ratio since there's a sufficient cash cushion without leaving too much capital idle or in low-earning investments. With a debt-to-equity ratio of 79%, DOM can be considered as an above-average leveraged company. This is not uncommon for a mid-cap company given that debt tends to be lower-cost and at times, more accessible. 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 after interest and tax at least three times its net interest payments is considered financially sound. In DOM's case, the ratio of 5.93x 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. DOM’s high cash coverage means that, although its debt levels are high, the company is able to utilise its borrowings efficiently in order to generate cash flow. This may mean this is an optimal capital structure for the business, given that it is also meeting its short-term commitment. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for DOM's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Dometic Group to get a more holistic view of the mid-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for DOM’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor DOM’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is DOM 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 DOM 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.
Blockchain Startup Fetch.AI Releases AI-based Synergetic Smart Contracts CAMBRIDGE, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019/Fetch.AI, a Cambridge-based technology startup, has released Antlia, the next version of its intelligent blockchain platform. This release delivers a unique, first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) functionality - Synergetic Smart Contracts with a decentralized search functionality. This feature will allow Fetch.AI users access to an open-source, decentralized AI service that can help to optimize their operations and processes. Synergetic Smart Contractsare an enhancement to the original functionality of the smart contract. Thus far in the evolution of blockchain technology, smart contracts have been used for relatively straightforward functionality. This typically involves "if-this-then-that" logic, as illustrated in theoriginal vending machine smart-contract exampletheorized by Nick Szabo. Synergetic smart contracts enable decentralized solutions to complex coordination problems using off-chain computation to be included in agreements involving any number of parties. This game-changing release from Fetch.AI provides the keys to disrupt billion-dollar industries by giving users unprecedented access to cutting-edge AI techniques previously only available to big corporations. For example, Synergetic Smart Contracts offer the potential to manage an entire network of ride-sharing taxis in a similar way that Uber does today using a centralized algorithm. The Uber system coordinates its network of taxis and passengers, optimizing each journey for maximum efficiency according to the location of each party. If standard smart contract functionality were applied to this problem, each trip would be treated as an isolated event with no opportunity to optimize for location or passengers willing to pool. Using Synergetic Smart Contracts, taxi drivers can plan more efficient ride sharing collection and delivery of passengers . The Fetch.AI platform will optimize their journey, ensuring maximum profit and minimum costs and travel time for the benefit of the driver and their passengers. There is no need for users to belong to a centralized organization such as Uber or Lyft, significantly reducing the substantial fees that these companies levy on their users. Ride-sharing is just one example - Fetch.AI offers far-reaching applications across other sectors. Other use cases include the shipping industry, matching delivery trucks with suppliers that need to deliver their goods, or the hotel industry, matching visitors with available rooms. The functionality extends even further into the concept ofSmart Markets. A Smart Market is effectively an auction where users can bid for combinations of items with interdependencies on one another. For example, a user going on holiday could place a bid on combinations of airport transfer taxis and particular hotels. When a particular bid is won, the Smart Market will automatically cancel out their other bids. The launch represents a significant step forward in the convergence of blockchain and AI. There are currently many enterprises and individuals who would benefit from optimizing operations, speeding up delivery times, and making more efficient use of resources with Synergetic Smart Contracts on the Fetch.AI platform. Fetch.AI CEO Humayun Sheikh said of the launch: "We are proud of the team for delivering such an incredible technological milestone, on target with the commitments in our roadmap. This development will enable multiple businesses to start building real-world solutions using the machine learning and AI techniques and tools that Fetch.AI provides. To accommodate the launch, Fetch.AI is offering smart contract developers the opportunity to win a share of 100,000 FET tokens by building a decentralized ride sharing smart contract, with registration set to open on Wednesday 10th July. About Fetch.AI Fetch.AI delivers a groundbreaking economic Internet that enables emergent solutions to complex problems. It does this by enabling the deployment of complex multi-agent systems (MAS) over a decentralized network and provides tools to enable the construction of intelligent agents. Fetch.AI delivers a unique, decentralized digital world that adapts in real-time to allow effective, friction-free value exchange. Powered by innovations such as the smart ledger, Fetch.AI has digital intelligence at its heart: delivering actionable predictions, instant trust information, enabling the construction of powerful collaborative models, improving efficiencies and streamlining processes. Website:https://fetch.ai/Telegram:https://t.me/fetch_aiTwitter: @Fetch_AILinkedIn: Fetch-AI Contact press@fetch.ai SOURCE:Fetch.AI View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550499/Blockchain-Startup-FetchAI-Releases-AI-based-Synergetic-Smart-Contracts
Estimating The Fair Value Of Dometic Group AB (publ) (STO:DOM) 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 Dometic Group AB (publ) (STO:DOM) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. I will use 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. View our latest analysis for Dometic Group 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. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: [{"": "Levered FCF (SEK, Millions)", "2019": "SEK2.4b", "2020": "SEK2.6b", "2021": "SEK2.8b", "2022": "SEK2.9b", "2023": "SEK3.0b", "2024": "SEK3.1b", "2025": "SEK3.1b", "2026": "SEK3.1b", "2027": "SEK3.2b", "2028": "SEK3.2b"}, {"": "Growth Rate Estimate Source", "2019": "Analyst x5", "2020": "Analyst x5", "2021": "Analyst x5", "2022": "Est @ 4.08%", "2023": "Est @ 2.99%", "2024": "Est @ 2.22%", "2025": "Est @ 1.69%", "2026": "Est @ 1.31%", "2027": "Est @ 1.05%", "2028": "Est @ 0.86%"}, {"": "Present Value (SEK, Millions) Discounted @ 9.15%", "2019": "SEK2.2k", "2020": "SEK2.2k", "2021": "SEK2.1k", "2022": "SEK2.0k", "2023": "SEK1.9k", "2024": "SEK1.8k", "2025": "SEK1.7k", "2026": "SEK1.6k", "2027": "SEK1.4k", "2028": "SEK1.3k"}] ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF)= SEK18.3b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the intial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. 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 (0.4%) 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 9.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2029× (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = kr3.2b × (1 + 0.4%) ÷ (9.2% – 0.4%) = kr37b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= SEKkr37b ÷ ( 1 + 9.2%)10= SEK15.40b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is SEK33.73b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding.This results in an intrinsic value estimate of SEK114.02. Relative to the current share price of SEK92.98, the company appears about fair value at a 18% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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. The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. 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 Dometic Group 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 9.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.463. 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. Although the valuation of a company is important, 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 Dometic Group, I've compiled three important factors you should look at: 1. Financial Health: Does DOM 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 DOM'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 DOM? 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 SE 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.
Celanese to Shut Down Mexico Facility to Reduce Fixed Costs Celanese CorporationCE recently announced further consolidation of production operations of its global acetate manufacturing operations by shutting the production facility in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico. The move is aimed to strengthen the company’s competitive position, align production capacities with expected industry demand and reduce fixed costs.In June 2018, the company stated that it will cease the production of acetate tow at the Ocotlan facility. Now, Celanese will also discontinue production of acetate flake at the facility, essentially shutting all production operations at the site by Oct 31, 2019.Per management, manufacturers in China are undertaking plans to boost acetate flake capacity in 2020. As such, the demand for imported flake is likely to decline considerably. This along with the company’s ability to source additional volumes from the Narrows, VA site, supports the decision of completely shutting operations at the Ocotlan facility. Moreover, the decision enables the company to optimize cost and footprint, which are part of the long-term strategy for acetate business for maintaining competitive position in the market.Notably, the company has undertaken steps to strengthen competitive position in the acetate tow market. Initiatives like reducing fixed costs, lowering raw materials cost and aligning with demand trends have enabled the company to achieve the same.Celanese’s shares have lost 3.2% in the past year, against the industry’s 9.8% rise. In April 2019, the company backed adjusted earnings per share guidance of roughly $10.50 for 2019, considering that underlying fundamentals will improve later in the year.The company does not expect improvement in demand in the second quarter. It anticipates second-quarter performance to be similar to first-quarter levels. Celanese will continue to invest in its businesses and further expand capability to boost growth and shareholders’ value.Zacks Rank & Key PicksCelanese currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Materion Corporation MTRN, Flexible Solutions International Inc. FSI and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. FSUGY. These stocks currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 27.3% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 22.5% in the past year.Flexible Solutions has projected earnings growth rate of 342.9% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged 170.7% in a year’s time.Fortescue Metals has an estimated earnings growth rate of 230.4% for the current year. Its shares have rallied 98.4% in the past year.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportCelanese Corporation (CE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFlexible Solutions International Inc. (FSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMaterion Corporation (MTRN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Norwegian Cruise Gains From Expansion Despite Cuba Travel Ban Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.’s NCLH expansion strategies and modest demand-supply growth are likely to persistently aid top-line growth. However, high costs, debt burden and Trump’s travel ban to Cuba are likely to hurt the company. Notably, Norwegian Cruise’s shares have gained 26.5% so far this year, outperforming the industry’s rally of 8.4%. Let delve deeper into factors that suggest investors to retain the stock for the time being. Fleet Expansion & Overall High Demand Aid Higher demand for cruises has led Norwegian Cruise to expect a record book position in 2019. The company has worked diligently in improving book revenues. It has changed its payment policies and deposit structure, which in turn is driving revenues. Further, air travel services booked through Norwegian's Air program are bolstering demand. In fact, in the first quarter of 2019, revenues grew 8.5% year over year, driven by an improvement of 9.4% in passenger ticket revenues. Total revenues were also favored by the addition of Norwegian Bliss and robust growth in organic pricing across all core markets. Strong onboard spending also had positive bearings on quarterly revenues. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise is constantly looking to expand fleet size, which is currently at 26, following the launch of Norwegian Bliss in April 2018. It has plans to introduce 11 more ships through 2027. Most of them are on order for Norwegian Cruise Line, while the rest are for Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Moreover, it introduced Norwegian Joy (cruise ship designed for Chinese travelers) in 2017. The ship, which can accommodate more than 3,500 passengers, started sailing from Shanghai in June 2017. The company will take delivery of Norwegian Encore in fall 2019. The company has Allura Class Ships on order for delivery in the winter of 2022 and spring of 2025. With the project Leonardo, Norwegian Cruise will have an additional six ships with expected delivery dates from 2022 through 2027. This addition is likely to take the total berth count to roughly 82,000. Concerns Norwegian Cruise has been bearing the brunt of high expenses for quite some time. Fuel costs and net cruise costs are rising persistently. Moreover, by strengthening the international distribution system the company may improve yields, but incur higher expenses. In the first quarter, total cruise operating expenses increased 7.6% year over year. Meanwhile, Trump administration's policy change on travel to Cuba is concerning. Travel ban to Cuba will have a huge impact on cruise industry affecting Norwegian Cruise, Royal Caribbean RCL and Carnival CCL. It is likely to negatively affect 2019 earnings by 35 to 45 cents. Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider Norwegian Cruise currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the leisure space is SeaWorld Entertainment SEAS, which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. SeaWorld Entertainment’s earnings for 2019 are expected to increase 184.6%. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportCarnival Corporation (CCL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (SEAS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
How Much Did Pinnacle West Capital Corporation's (NYSE:PNW) CEO Pocket Last Year? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Don Brandt has been the CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) since 2009. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other large companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. Check out our latest analysis for Pinnacle West Capital According to our data, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation has a market capitalization of US$11b, and pays its CEO total annual compensation worth US$12m. (This figure is for the year to December 2018). That's a notable increase of 15% on last year. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$1.4m. We took a group of companies with market capitalizations over US$8.0b, and calculated the median CEO total compensation to be US$11m. There aren't very many mega-cap companies, so we had to take a wide range to get a meaningful comparison figure. That means Don Brandt receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a large company. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Pinnacle West Capital has changed over time. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 6.2% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 4.4% over last year. I'm not particularly impressed by the revenue growth, but I'm happy with the modest EPS growth. It's clear the performance has been quite decent, but it it falls short of outstanding,based on this information. You might want to checkthis free visual report onanalyst forecastsfor future earnings. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation has served shareholders reasonably well, with a total return of 28% over three years. But they probably don't want to see the CEO paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. Don Brandt is paid around the same as most CEOs of large companies. The company isn't showing particularly great growth, and shareholder turns haven't been particularly inspiring in the last few years. While the CEO may not be underpaid, we don't think the pay is too generous either. If you think CEO compensation levels are interesting you will probably really likethis free visualization of insider trading at Pinnacle West Capital. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. 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.
Taking A Look At Pinnacle West Capital Corporation's (NYSE:PNW) ROE Want to participate in a short research study ? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation ( NYSE:PNW ). Our data shows Pinnacle West Capital has a return on equity of 10% for the last year. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each $1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made $0.10 in profit. Check out our latest analysis for Pinnacle West Capital How Do I Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Pinnacle West Capital: 10% = US$526m ÷ US$5.4b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does Return On Equity Mean? ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one . That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. Does Pinnacle West Capital Have A Good Return On Equity? By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. The image below shows that Pinnacle West Capital has an ROE that is roughly in line with the Electric Utilities industry average (10%). Story continues NYSE:PNW Past Revenue and Net Income, July 1st 2019 That isn't amazing, but it is respectable. ROE can give us a view about company quality, but many investors also look to other factors, such as whether there are insiders buying shares. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Pinnacle West Capital's Debt And Its 10% ROE Pinnacle West Capital has a debt to equity ratio of 1.00, which is far from excessive. Its ROE isn't particularly impressive, but the debt levels are quite modest, so the business probably has some real potential. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. In Summary Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company . Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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 at editorial-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.
Tech Leads S&P 500 to Post Best 1H in 22 Years: 6 Top Picks Wall Street completed a record-breaking first half of 2019. Three major stock indexes --- the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite --- are up 14%, 17.4% and 20.7%, respectively. The performance of U.S. stocks in the first half of 2019 marked one of the best turnarounds in Wall Street’s history after a pathetic 2018, when all three indexes ended in the red.The S&P 500 Index scored several records during the first half of 2019. The primary driver of the broad-market index was none other than the technology sector. Notably, tech stocks are likely to push the S&P 500 to cross the 3,000 mark for the first time.S&P 500 Posts Blockbuster Performance in 1H 2019The S&P 500 gained 17.4% in the first half of 2019, marking its best first-half performance in any year since 1997. The broad-market index witnessed an impressive turnaround this year after finishing last year in negative territory, with its worst-ever yearly performance since 2008. Notably, all 11 broad sectors of the index were in positive territory in the first half 2019, with ten recording significant double-digit growth.During this time period, the S&P 500 touched all-time highs twice, the latest being on Jun 20, when the index closed at 2,954.18 after an intraday high of 2,958.06. In five out of six months this year, the benchmark index posted positive returns.From January to April, the S&P 500 Index gained 7.9%, 3%, 1.8% and 3.9%, respectively. In May the market’s benchmark plunged 6.6% due to an abrupt break down of the U.S.-China trade talks, only to witness an impressive rebound of 6.9% in June. Notably, the S&P 500 logged the best June performance since 1955.Technology Leads S&P 500 RallyThe biggest catalyst for the S&P 500’s rebound in 2019 is the technology sector, which has rallied 25.9% year to date. And from the eve of Christmas last year, when the benchmark index hit rock bottom, the sector has gained nearly 36%.In a major boost to the tech sector, the first genuine ray of hope for a potential solution to the U.S.-China trade spat which stalled in May came from the just-concluded G-20 summit in Japan. On Jun 29, President Donald Trump and China’s president Xi Jinping agreed to continue negotiations for an amicable solution.Moreover, both sides have decided to restrain from imposing further tariffs on each other for the time being. So far, the United States has imposed 25% tariff on $250 billion Chinese goods while China has retaliated with 25% tariff on $160 billion U.S. goods. President Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariff on another $300 billion of Chinses goods.Additionally, the U.S. government has decided to ease some restrictions on Chinese telecom behemoth Huawei. The Trump administration has decided to allow U.S. tech companies to sell products that will not harm U.S. national security to Huawei. Will Technology Sector Push S&P 500 to 3,000?A trade deal with China will benefit the technology sector the most. China is the largest market for high-tech products of U.S. companies. At the same time, China plays the role of a low-cost supplier of intermediary products and other inputs to high-tech U.S. industries. Moreover, clinching a lasting agreement with China, which will strictly protect U.S. intellectual properties, will be immensely beneficial for the homegrown tech behemoths.At present, the S&P 500 is around 2% away from a landmark 3,000 level. Positive developments on the trade war front and a dovish monetary policy of the Fed can easily push the broad market index to 3,000 for the first time.According to FedWatch, most of the respondents are looking for a rate cut by the central bank in July or may by twice by September. Yet again, the technology sector is set to be the primary driver.Our Top PicksAt this stage, it will be prudent to invest in technology stocks within the S&P 500 Index for solid gains. We have been able to narrow down our search on six stocks, which soared in the first half and still have upside left. All the six stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.The chart below shows price performance of our six picks year to date. Keysight Technologies Inc.KEYS provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, and electronic industries in the Americas and Asia Pacific. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 30.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 8.2% over the last 60 days. The stock price has surged 44.6% year to date.Cisco Systems Inc.CSCO designs, manufactures and sells Internet Protocol-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 18.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.7% over the last 60 days. The stock price has surged 26.3% year to date.Akamai Technologies Inc.AKAM provides cloud services for delivering, optimizing and securing content and business applications over the Internet in the United States and internationally. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 15.2% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.2% over the last 60 days. The stock price has surged 31.2% year to date.Harris Corp.HRS provides technology-based solutions that solve government and commercial customers' mission-critical challenges in the United States and internationally. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 25.4% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.9% over the last 60 days. The stock price has soared 40.4% year to date.AMETEK Inc.AME is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 24% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.2% over the last 60 days. The stock price has soared 34.1% year to date.Intuit Inc.INTU provides financial management and compliance products and services for small businesses, consumers, self-employed and accounting professionals. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 19.4% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 2% over the last 60 days. The stock price has surged 32.7% year to date.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportCisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAkamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIntuit Inc. (INTU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKeysight Technologies Inc. (KEYS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAMETEK, Inc. (AME) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Israeli spymaster sees 'one-time' chance for peace with Arabs sharing Iran worries By Dan Williams HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) - Israel and U.S.-aligned Arab countries have a unique chance to forge a regional peace deal given their shared worries about Iran, the chief of Israel's Mossad spy service said on Monday. In a rare public appearance, Joseph (Yossi) Cohen said his agency had formed a task force designed to spot peacemaking opportunities in a region where only two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, have full diplomatic relations with Israel. "The Mossad today espies a rare opportunity, perhaps for the first time in Middle East history, to arrive at a regional understanding that would lead to a comprehensive peace accord," he told the Herzliya Conference, an annual international security forum near Tel Aviv. "Common interests, the fight against rivals such as Iran and jihadist terrorism, the close relations with the White House, and channels of communication with the Kremlin all combine to create what might be a one-time window of opportunity," he said. The United States convened Arab and other dignitaries in Bahrain last week to encourage investment in the Palestinian economy that might help renew peace talks with Israel. The Palestinians, seeing a pro-Israel bias in the Trump administration and a ruse to deny them their goal of full statehood, boycotted the Manama meeting. Israel, which sent only a non-official delegation, saw in the event a chance to bolster its wider ties to the Arab world. Cohen, whose speech alluded to the Palestinians only in the context of threats against Israel from the armed factions, said many Arab countries "cannot stand Iran's thuggish behavior". He cited Iran's nuclear program, assistance for guerrillas in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, and alleged responsibility for a recent spate of sabotage strikes on oil tankers in the Gulf. Iran denies any role in those incidents. RAPPROCHEMENT PUSH Cohen said Israel's warming of relations with Oman, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited last October, followed "a lengthy covert effort by the Mossad" to seek out closer ties. Story continues He pointed to what he termed "an expanding group of responsible, serious countries" - which he did not name - in the region that have channels of communication with Israel despite no formal relations, and cooperate with it in various ways. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz made a rare visit to Abu Dhabi, which does not have officials ties with Israel, for a two-day U.N. climate meeting on Sunday and Monday. While there, he met with an unnamed Emirati official to discuss bilateral ties as well as the Iranian threat, his office said. Iran announced on Monday it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under its 2015 deal with major powers, its first major step in violation of the deal since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago. Cohen reaffirmed Israel's policy that it would not allow its arch-foe to get a bomb. "The Mossad or the State of Israel did not sign the nuclear deal (and) will do everything to ensure that Iran will never have nuclear weaponry," he said. Iran denies ever seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb. "Currently, it's about uranium enrichment at a relatively low percentage, and in amounts that are not large. The threat is to step up enrichment and increase the amounts," Cohen said, speaking before news of the enrichment breach. "Just imagine what will happen if the material stockpiled by the Iranians becomes fissionable, at military-enrichment grade, and then an actual bomb. The Middle East, and then the entire world, will be a different place. Therefore, the world must not allow this to happen." (Editing by Jeffrey Heller, William Maclean and Andrew Cawthorne)
KushCo Holdings to Report Third Fiscal Quarter 2019 Earnings on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 GARDEN GROVE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019 /KushCo Holdings, Inc. (KSHB) ("KushCo" or the "Company") today announced it will issue its fiscal third quarter 2019 results press release on July 9, 2019 after U.S. markets close. The company will also host a conference call on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Participant Dial-In Numbers: Toll-Free: 1-877-407-9039 Toll / International: 1-201-689-8470 *Participants should request the KushCo Holdings Earnings Call or provide confirmation code 13692223 The call will be webcast, with an accompanying slide deck, on the KushCo Events page of the Company website atwww.kushco.com. Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available on the KushCo Events page approximately two hours after the conference call has ended. Nick Kovacevich, Chief Executive Officer of KushCo, Jason Vegotsky, President and Chief Revenue Officer, and Chris Tedford, Chief Financial Officer, will be conducting a question and answer session following their prepared remarks. To be added to the distribution list, please emailir@kushco.comwith "Kush" in the subject line. About KushCo Holdings, Inc. KushCo Holdings, Inc. (KSHB) (www.kushco.com) is the premier producer of ancillary products and services to the cannabis and hemp industries. KushCo Holdings' subsidiaries and brands provide, product quality, exceptional customer service, compliance knowledge and a local presence in serving its diverse customer base. Founded in 2010, KushCo Holdings has now sold more than 1 billion units to growers, processors and producers across North America, South America, and Europe. The Company has been featured in media nationwide, including CNBC, Los Angeles Times, TheStreet.com, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine. While KushCo Holdings provides products and solutions to customers in the cannabis and CBD industries, it has no direct involvement with the cannabis plant or any products that contain THC or CBD. For more information, visitwww.kushco.comor call (888)-920-5874 Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking within the meaning of applicable securities laws. While these forward-looking statements represent the Company's current judgments, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the Company's management only as of the date of this release. Please keep in mind that the Company is not obligating itself to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. When used herein, words such as: "potential,""look forward,""expect," "believe,""dedicated,""building," or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by the Company herein are often discussed in filings the Company makes with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), available at:www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website, at:www.kushco.com. KushCo Holdings Contacts Media Contact:Anne Donohoe / Nick OpichKCSA Strategic Communications212-896-1265 / 212-896-1206adonohoe@kcsa.com/nopich@kcsa.com Investor Contact:Phil Carlson / Elizabeth BarkerKCSA Strategic Communications212-896-1233 / 212-896-1203ir@kushco.com SOURCE:KushCo Holdings, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550494/KushCo-Holdings-to-Report-Third-Fiscal-Quarter-2019-Earnings-on-Tuesday-July-9-2019
uBid Holdings Expands its Board of Directors New Appointees Add Strategic and Public Company Experience ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019 /uBid Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:UBID) (the "Company" or "uBid"), a diversified holding company, today announced the appointments of Paul Danner and Scot Wingo to its Board of Directors. The additions expand the Board to four members and strengthen its experience in e-commerce and public companies. uBid Chief Executive Officer Ketan Thakker, commented, "We welcome Paul and Scot to our Board and look forward to working closely with them in creating long-term shareholder value for uBid. Their relationships and experience in e-commerce and in the public capital markets will be valuable assets to our management team and company." Mr. Danner is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Pepex Biomedical. His business leadership background includes serving as the Chief Executive Officer of three NASDAQ-listed companies, including most recently with Alliance MMA, Inc., a sports promotion and media firm. Seasoned, broad-based industry experience features marketing service offerings, securing product placement, increasing market share and growing revenue for an array of Fortune 500 organizations, mid-market companies and start-up ventures for over 30 years. Mr. Danner served as a Naval Aviator flying the F-14 Tomcat, and subsequently as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer supporting the Naval Air Systems Command, for 8 years on active duty plus 22 years with the reserve component of the United States Navy. He retired from the Navy in 2009 with the rank of Captain. Mr. Danner received his BS in Business Finance from Colorado State University, and holds an MBA in Marketing from the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University. Mr. Wingo is Executive Chairman of ChannelAdvisor, and has served as chairman of our board of directors since our inception in 2001. Prior to founding the company, he served as general manager of GoTo Auctions, chief executive officer and co-founder of AuctionRover.com, which was acquired by GoTo.com, and as chief executive officer and co-founder of Stingray Software, which was acquired by Rogue Wave. Scot sets the strategic direction for the company, and works closely with the management team to align product direction with market trends. He is an industry thought leader, contributing regularly to several ChannelAdvisor blogs and speaking often at industry events. Scot received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Computer Engineering degree from North Carolina State University. Scot has received numerous awards including Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year and Triangle Business Journal's Businessperson of the Year. About uBid Holdings, Inc. uBid Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:UBID) is a diversified holding company whose strategic plan is to acquire interests in young businesses, and provide financing, advice and guidance to assist them in realizing their potential. It continues to identify and evaluate potential acquisitions that its management believes will create shareholder value and a return on investment. For more information, visit:ubidholdings.com Ubid, Uwin, Usave, it is all about U! It isn't just a clever tag line it spells out exactly how uBid feels about what it does. Whether it is computers, memorabilia or a trip to Orlando, uBid has a single-minded focus on saving you money by allowing you to determine how much you pay for any item. uBid makes the process easy to understand, engaging and fun. Its customers are its inspiration; they motivate uBid to seek out better, more valuable products, allowing uBid more opportunities to save money by determining what its customers want to pay for it. Its online marketplace provides the perfect outlet for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and other suppliers to sell all types of products to a base of highly motivated consumers. For more information, visit:http://www.ubid.com Forward-Looking Statements Press Releases may include forward-looking statements. In particular, the words "believe," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "propose," "plan," "intend," and similar conditional words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements made in this news release about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The company takes no obligation to update or correct its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law or those prepared by third parties that are not paid by the company. Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although uBid Holdings, Inc. believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, uBid Holdings, Inc. is unable to give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the company's ability identify a suitable business model for the corporation. Media and Investors Contacts:p212-486-1250IR@ubid.com SOURCE:uBid Holdings, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/550474/uBid-Holdings-Expands-its-Board-of-Directors
Don’t Buy Dewhurst PLC (LON:DWHT) Until You Understand Its ROCE 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 evaluate Dewhurst PLC (LON:DWHT) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. First up, we'll look at what ROCE is and how we calculate it. Next, we'll compare it to others in its industry. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Author Edwin Whitingsaysto be careful when comparing the ROCE of different businesses, since 'No two businesses are exactly alike.' 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 Dewhurst: 0.13 = UK£6.1m ÷ (UK£54m - UK£8.5m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) So,Dewhurst has an ROCE of 13%. Check out our latest analysis for Dewhurst When making comparisons between similar businesses, investors may find ROCE useful. Using our data, Dewhurst's ROCE appears to be around the 14% average of the Electrical industry. Independently of how Dewhurst compares to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears decent, and the company may be worthy of closer investigation. You can see in the image below how Dewhurst's ROCE compares to its industry. Click to see more on past growth. Remember that this metric is backwards looking - it shows what has happened in the past, and does not accurately predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in ourfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Current liabilities include invoices, such as supplier payments, short-term debt, or a tax bill, that need to be paid within 12 months. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets. Dewhurst has total assets of UK£54m and current liabilities of UK£8.5m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 16% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE. Overall, Dewhurst has a decent ROCE and could be worthy of further research. Dewhurst shapes up well under this analysis,but it is far from the only business delivering excellent numbers. You might also want to check thisfreecollection of companies delivering excellent earnings growth. For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
5 Top Stocks to Buy for 2H19 It has been a superb year for equities so far, with the S&P 500 seeing the best first half in 22 years. It’s all because of Fed’s abrupt reversal of a plan to raise rates, followed by strong signals to trim rates in the near future. And with the United States and China agreeing to pause their tariff war, things are rosier for the stock in the second half. Given the bullishness, it seems prudent to invest in stocks that can make the most of the market’s upward journey. Best June in Decades, Strong First Half Wall Street recorded its best June in a decade. The broader S&P 500 has risen 17% so far this year, displaying its best first-half performance since 1997. The S&P 500 also registered its best June since 1955, rising 6.89%. The Dow also recorded its best first half since 1999 and best June since 1938. Tech-heavy Nasdaq did not lag behind. The index posted its best June since 2000. So, what’s behind this stellar performance? The apparent shift in Fed’s stance over interest rate cuts has helped the stock market reach record highs and defy odds, including trade war jitters, a slowdown in global economy, a partial government shutdown and lackluster corporate earnings. The Fed did keep rates steady but gave indications of a cut in the near term if the global economic outlook doesn’t improve. After all, prolonged trade issues between the United States and its trading partners have raised concerns about global economic growth. By the way, the long-term interest rates are currently lower than short-term interest rates, which is a tell-tale sign that recession is imminent. Needless to say, stocks tend to rise in an environment when rates decline as it eventually leads to cheaper borrowing costs for both corporate houses and individuals. What’s more, U.S. consumer spending increased moderately in May giving hopes that the Fed will trim rates.It’s also worth pointing out that the stock market rally was sparked by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, who said that ECB will roll out fresh stimulus to boost the Eurozone economy in its next policy meeting in July. And if we look at individual sectors, tech stocks have gained immensely. In fact, high tech dominance during the several years of the bull market made headlines, with Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple overshadowing legacy names like General Electric, Walmart and Exxon. Many of these tech behemoths quite successfully overcame regulators and politicians scrutiny over the past several months. Market Has More Room to Run in 2H Wall Street is expected to gain traction in the second half of this year as well. And why not? Steady job addition and wage growth continue to boost consumer outlay. Most importantly, the recent resolution of the trade war that dissolves business uncertainty could improve demand for new equipment and factories. President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping have agreed to a tariff war cease-fire. Trump categorically mentioned that the additional tariffs he threatened to impose on billions of dollars of Chinese goods will not be implemented for the “time being.” Trump confirmed that relation with China is “right back on track” during his lengthy meeting with Xi in the G20 summit in Osaka. And when it comes to July, in particular, the stock market tends to experience the so-called summer rally. As a matter of fact, July is the best of the worst months (May-October) in a year. Also, July’s first trading day is the most bullish day of the year. The S&P 500 has been up 84.2% of the time since 2000, and has gained on average 0.35%. The Dow and the Nasdaq have also been up 79% and 74% of the time, respectively. 5 Solid Choices With equities set to gain, it makes sense to invest in stocks that are fundamentally strong enough to cash in on the uptrend throughout this year. We have, thus, zeroed in stocks that have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a VGM Score of A. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three metrics. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. Fly Leasing LimitedFLY leases commercial aircraft under multi-year contracts to various airlines. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has increased 24.8% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 36.5%, higher than the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry’s protected rally of 9.6%. The company has outperformed the broader industry so far this year (+64.8% vs +19.6%). First Business Financial Services, Inc. FBIZ provides commercial banking products and services for small and medium-sized businesses, business owners, executives, professionals, and high net worth individuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has increased 2.3% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 22%, higher than the Banks - Midwest industry’s estimated rise of 8.4%. The company has outpaced the broader industry on a year-to-date basis (+20.5% vs +9.7%). Malibu Boats, Inc.MBUU designs, manufactures, distributes, markets, and sells recreational powerboats. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has risen 4.3% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 40%, higher than the Leisure and Recreation Products industry’s expected rally of 10.7%. The company has outperformed the broader industry over the past two years (+45.0% vs -0.8%). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Sanmina CorporationSANM provides integrated manufacturing solutions, components, products and repair, logistics, and after-market services. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has increased 8.7% over the past 60 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 47.5%, higher than the Electronics - Manufacturing Services industry’s protected rally of 23.5%. The company has outpaced the broader industry on a year-to-date basis (+25.9% vs +18.2%). OSI Systems, Inc.OSIS designs, manufactures, and sells electronic systems and components. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has increased almost 5% over the past 90 days. The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 16.9%, compared with the Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry’s protected decline of 6.4%. The company has outpaced the broader industry so far this year (+53.7% vs +27.5%). The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportFly Leasing Limited (FLY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFirst Business Financial Services, Inc. (FBIZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportOSI Systems, Inc. (OSIS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMalibu Boats, Inc. (MBUU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSanmina Corporation (SANM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
What Kind Of Investor Owns Most Of Dewhurst PLC (LON:DWHT)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Every investor in Dewhurst PLC (LON:DWHT) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. I quite like to see at least a little bit of insider ownership. As Charlie Munger said 'Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.' Dewhurst is a smaller company with a market capitalization of UK£76m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it's seems that institutions own shares in the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about DWHT. Check out our latest analysis for Dewhurst Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors own 43% of Dewhurst. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Dewhurst, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Dewhurst. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. We can see that insiders own shares in Dewhurst PLC. In their own names, insiders own UK£6.5m worth of stock in the UK£76m company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though I generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checkingif those insiders have been selling. The general public, with a 48% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. I always like to check for ahistory of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart ofhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can checkthis free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
3 Reasons People Don't Use Annuities the Way They Were Meant to Be Used It's tough tosave for retirementeffectively. Finding savings at all is a tough job, and once you've accumulated some investment capital, putting it to the best possible use is always a challenge. With many different investment options available, it's easy for ordinary Americans to get lost among them all, and that can lead to procrastination. Even if you do pick something, you might not use it effectively if you don't understand it completely. Annuities are a controversial topic inretirement planning, with some advisors promoting them heavily while others seemopposed to their use in all cases. Yet most people agree that in their simplest form, annuities can be extremely helpful as part of a smart retirement plan. The problem is that most people who buy annuities don't end up using them the way they were intended: by annuitizing them and taking a stream of payments lasting for the rest of your life. Choosing never to start taking annuitized payments can take away much of the benefit while leaving you with many of the disadvantages of annuities. Below, we'll look at the three reasons behind why so many people don't use annuities that way. Image source: Getty Images. One reason so few people end up annuitizing their annuities is that they don't buy them for that particular purpose. Marketing of annuities comes in several different forms that vary by thetype of annuity. For fixed annuities, the focus is often on the interest rate, making it easy to compare levels of income with what you'd get from a bank certificate of deposit. Meanwhile, for variable annuities, sales often focus on some of the unique protective elements that annuities can provide, including guaranteed lifetime income or other benefits that can effectively put a cap on potential loss of principal. Moreover, most annuities offer multiple methods for taking withdrawals. If you have the right to take a portion of your principal out of an annuity without penalties or surrender charges, then that can seem a whole lot simpler than committing to a lifetime stream of income. The biggest risk of annuitizing an annuity is that if you die prematurely relative to your life expectancy, then you can end up having made a poor financial choice. For example, if you buy an immediate annuity and then pass away after just a single year, then the odds are good that you'll end up getting back only a tiny fraction of the up-front premium you paid for the annuity contract. The pain of that potential loss exceeds the possible benefit you get from outliving your life expectancy with an annuitized stream of lifetime payments. Annuity providers understand this aversion, and so they typically make it possible for you to choose alternative payout methods. These can include joint and survivor plans to pay both you and a spouse or other loved one for as long as you live, as well as plans with a guaranteed term of years that lets your selected heirs receive payments for a set minimum amount of time even after your death. Yet again, once you make a specific selection, you're generally locked into it, and the possibility of leaving your heirs with the short end of the stick stops many people from looking into annuities more deeply. Committing all of your money to an annuity also takes away the ability to handle unexpected large one-time costs. If you pay $500,000 for an annuity that pays you $2,000 monthly, and then a $50,000 expense arises, then you're basically out of luck. If you'd hung on to the $500,000, however, then you could withdraw $50,000 of it and then make different choices with the remaining $450,000 to make it last longer. Yet there's no requirement to putallyour retirement savings into an annuity. Immediately annuitizing a portion of your retirement assets can boost other fixed-income sources like Social Security while still leaving the remainder of your retirement nest egg to handle financial emergencies. Yet even with that balanced approach, it's rare to see people use annuities that way. Annuities can be good or baddepending on how you use them and what your needs are. But it's important to consider the most important element of an annuity: the right to receive a lifetime stream of income. Annuitizing your annuity holdings can make them a lot more valuable of a tool in your retirement planning. 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
Can Deutsche Wohnen SE's (ETR:DWNI) ROE Continue To Surpass The Industry Average? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Deutsche Wohnen SE (ETR:DWNI). Over the last twelve monthsDeutsche Wohnen has recorded a ROE of 16%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each €1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made €0.16 in profit. Check out our latest analysis for Deutsche Wohnen Theformula for ROEis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Deutsche Wohnen: 16% = €1.8b ÷ €12b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets. ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else being equal,a high ROE is better than a low one. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Deutsche Wohnen has a superior ROE than the average (12%) company in the Real Estate industry. That is a good sign. I usually take a closer look when a company has a better ROE than industry peers. For example,I often check if insiders have been buying shares. Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking. Deutsche Wohnen has a debt to equity ratio of 0.78, which is far from excessive. The combination of modest debt and a very respectable ROE suggests this is a business worth watching. Conservative use of debt to boost returns is usually a good move for shareholders, though it does leave the company more exposed to interest rate rises. Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to take a peek at thisdata-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. But note:Deutsche Wohnen may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. 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.
July 4: Ford is set to debut GT mystery car on Independence Day With the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed just days away, Ford released a shadowy silhouette teaser of its next GT supercar. While the annual hill climb is set to take place in the UK, Ford is unveiling the new car on the ultimate American holiday – the Fourth of July. Details in the company's press release are scant, however, you can make out the car's roof scoop and massive rear wing in the teaser photo – features that are similar to what's found on racing versions of the GT. So, perhaps the mystery car will be a track-ready racer version of a supercar that will be sold to customers. The Blue Oval's 216-mph GT LM GTE has raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship three years in a row, so it’s not too far-fetched for Ford to release a second-gen version. Plant closures:Ford confirms 12,000 job cuts in Europe Mustang Shelby GT500:Ford reveals the ‘most powerful street-legal Ford ever’ Or, it could also be an aggressive, street legal GT. People on Twitter have their speculations. Looking at an enhanced version of the photo, Road & Track contributor Bozi Tatarevic says he thinks it's a street car. As for what Ford will be showing exactly, you'll have to wait and see. The announcement and press conference will be held by Hermann Salenbauch, the global director of Ford Performance, and Larry Holt, the chief technical officer of Multimatic. Other Ford cars that will be making the 1.16-mile hill climb include: 1. The all-new Focus ST and all-new 760 hp Mustang Shelby GT500 2. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing #66 Ford GT race car, fresh from the Le Mans 24 Hours 3. The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Ford Fiesta WRC car – also appearing on the Goodwood rally stage 4. The 2018 NASCAR Championship-winning Team Penske Ford Fusion race car 5. The 1980 Ford Zakspeed Turbo Capri race car 6. Gymkhana TEN star Ken Block’s Hoonitruck and Escort RS Cosworth 7. Champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Ford Mustang RTR Drift car Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter:@Dalvin_Brown. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:July 4: Ford is set to debut GT mystery car on Independence Day
Iran's nuclear energy agency to issue report on exceeding uranium stockpile limit- Fars GENEVA, July 1 (Reuters) - Iran's Atomic Energy Organization will soon issue a report about exceeding the stockpile limit of enriched uranium set out in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday. Fars did not provide any additional information on what the report may contain or when it might be issued. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed on Monday that the Islamic Republic had exceeded the relevant limit of 300 kg of uranium hexaflouride (UF6). (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Here's How P/E Ratios Can Help Us Understand Public Joint Stock Company Perm Energy Supplying Company (MCX:PMSB) 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 introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. To keep it practical, we'll show how Public Joint Stock Company Perm Energy Supplying Company's (MCX:PMSB) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months,Perm Energy Supplying has a P/E ratio of 6.57. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 15%. View our latest analysis for Perm Energy Supplying Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Perm Energy Supplying: P/E of 6.57 = RUB92.1 ÷ RUB14.03 (Based on the year to December 2018.) The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Notably, Perm Energy Supplying grew EPS by a whopping 32% in the last year. And earnings per share have improved by 17% annually, over the last five years. So we'd generally expect it to have a relatively high P/E ratio. One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. The image below shows that Perm Energy Supplying has a lower P/E than the average (7.2) P/E for companies in the electric utilities industry. Perm Energy Supplying's P/E tells us that market participants think it will not fare as well as its peers in the same industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. You should delve deeper. I like to checkif company insiders have been buying or selling. 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). 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. Perm Energy Supplying has net cash of RUруб1.4b. This is fairly high at 42% 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. Perm Energy Supplying trades on a P/E ratio of 6.6, which is below the RU market average of 7.6. 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. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. 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.' We don't have analyst forecasts, but shareholders might want to examinethis detailed historical graphof earnings, revenue and cash flow. But note:Perm Energy Supplying 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.
Italy's 10-year bond yield below 2% for first time since May 2018 LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - Italy's 10-year government bond yield fell below 2% for the first time since May 2018 on Monday, returning to yields not seen since last year's political crisis and fall out with the European Union over its budget deficit. Italy's 10-year bond yield fell over nine basis points to 1.996% as the resumption of trade talks between the U.S. and China fuels market optimism, while falling Italian unemployment figures point to some bright spots in its economic outlook. The spread over safe German Bund yields narrowed to 231 basis points, nearing its tightest levels since late last year. (Reporting by Virginia Furness; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe)
The Perm Energy Supplying (MCX:PMSB) Share Price Is Up 94% And Shareholders Are Holding On Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. For example,Public Joint Stock Company Perm Energy Supplying Company(MCX:PMSB) shareholders have seen the share price rise 94% over three years, well in excess of the market return (44%, not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 37%, including dividends. View our latest analysis for Perm Energy Supplying In his essayThe Superinvestors of Graham-and-DoddsvilleWarren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Perm Energy Supplying was able to grow its EPS at 34% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. The average annual share price increase of 25% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 6.57. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). Dive deeper into Perm Energy Supplying's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Perm Energy Supplying'searnings, revenue and cash flow. The share price return figures discussed above don't include the value of dividends paid previously, but the total shareholder return (TSR) does. In some ways, TSR is a better measure of how well an investment has performed. Perm Energy Supplying's TSR over the last 3 years is 167%; better than its share price return. Although the company had to cut dividends, it has paid cash to shareholders in the past. It's good to see that Perm Energy Supplying has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 37% in the last twelve months. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 28% 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. Is Perm Energy Supplying cheap compared to other companies? These3 valuation measuresmight help you decide. Of coursePerm Energy Supplying 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 RU 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.
Volatility 101: Should Broadway Financial (NASDAQ:BYFC) Shares Have Dropped 33%? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! It's nice to see theBroadway Financial Corporation(NASDAQ:BYFC) share price up 12% in a week. But that is minimal compensation for the share price under-performance over the last year. In fact the stock is down 33% in the last year, well below the market return. See our latest analysis for Broadway Financial 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 imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Broadway Financial managed to increase earnings per share from a loss to a profit, over the last 12 months. When a company has just transitioned to profitability, earnings per share growth is not always the best way to look at the share price action. So it makes sense to check out some other factors. In contrast, the 4.3% drop in revenue is a real concern. If the market sees the weak revenue as jeopardising EPS, that could explain the lower share price. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Take a more thorough look at Broadway Financial's financial health with thisfreereport on its balance sheet. Investors in Broadway Financial had a tough year, with a total loss of 33%, against a market gain of about 7.6%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 1.6% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. Is Broadway Financial cheap compared to other companies? These3 valuation measuresmight help you decide. Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
What Polypipe Group plc's (LON:PLP) ROE Can Tell Us 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 best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Polypipe Group plc (LON:PLP). Our data showsPolypipe Group has a return on equity of 15%for the last year. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each £1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made £0.15 in profit. View our latest analysis for Polypipe Group Theformula for ROEis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Polypipe Group: 15% = UK£49m ÷ UK£331m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the yearly profit. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else equal,investors should like a high ROE. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Polypipe Group has a similar ROE to the average in the Building industry classification (15%). That's neither particularly good, nor bad. ROE doesn't tell us if the share price is low, but it can inform us to the nature of the business. For those looking for a bargain, other factors may be more important. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Polypipe Group has a debt to equity ratio of 0.64, which is far from excessive. Its very respectable ROE, combined with only modest debt, suggests the business is in good shape. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREEvisualization of analyst forecasts for the company. But note:Polypipe Group may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. 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 Bellway p.l.c.'s (LON:BWY) 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! Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use Bellway p.l.c.'s (LON:BWY) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity.Bellway has a P/E ratio of 6.34, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 16%. View our latest analysis for Bellway Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Bellway: P/E of 6.34 = £27.85 ÷ £4.39 (Based on the year to January 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to paya higher pricefor each £1 the company has earned over the last year. 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.' Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company's P/E multiple. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Bellway increased earnings per share by an impressive 10% over the last twelve months. And earnings per share have improved by 30% annually, over the last five years. So one might expect an above average P/E ratio. The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Bellway has a lower P/E than the average (9.9) P/E for companies in the consumer durables industry. Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Bellway shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitordirector buying and selling. One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. 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. Bellway's net debt is 0.8% of its market cap. The market might award it a higher P/E ratio if it had net cash, but its unlikely this low level of net borrowing is having a big impact on the P/E multiple. Bellway's P/E is 6.3 which is below average (16.4) in the GB market. The company does have a little debt, and EPS growth was good last year. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So thisfreevisualization of the analyst consensus on future earningscould help you make theright decisionabout whether to buy, sell, or hold. Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates.So take a peek at thisfreelist of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E 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.
2019 NFL preview: Sam Darnold gives Jets a good foundation Yahoo Sports is previewing all 32 teams as we get ready for the NFL season, complete with our initial 2019 power rankings. (Yahoo Sports graphics by Paul Rosales) If you want an idea how excited the New York Jets are for the Sam Darnold era, let’s check in with receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. “Excuse my French when I say say this, but he’s a f------ dude,” Jefferson said, according to NJ.com . “He’s a f------ dude with a f------ arm and he’s accurate as s---. So excuse that." Jefferson went on to describe Darnold in more family-friendly ways, talking about how the second-year quarterback carries himself like a veteran, working constantly to master his craft. Jefferson was a 13-year NFL veteran with four different teams and he has been an NFL assistant coach since 2006 with four teams. He has seen a lot of quarterbacks. “I haven’t been around a guy like that and it’s awesome to be around a guy like that,” Jefferson said, according to NJ.com. “He’s a dude." [Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Football league for free today] When the Jets paid a significant price to move up in the 2018 draft, the highest they could get was the third pick. To get Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold they needed one of the two teams ahead of them to pass on a potential franchise quarterback, and the Giants passed on Darnold to take Saquon Barkley. That decision could change the trajectory of both New York teams. Darnold’s rookie season was rough at times. He dealt with injuries. He threw 15 interceptions. He had really bad games against the Browns and Dolphins, in which he posted ratings under 40. But go find some Darnold highlights from last season. His best throws are jaw-dropping . To understand why Jefferson is raving about Darnold being “a dude,” watch his impeccable deep pass to Robby Anderson in Week 5. He has remarkable potential and showed it at times last season. Now it’s on the Jets to not screw Darnold up, and for most of the Jets’ existence, they couldn’t be trusted to not screw things up. This offseason wasn’t exactly comforting in that regard. Story continues Adam Gase was hired, mostly still on the fumes of him being the offensive coordinator of the 2013 Denver Broncos, an offense led by the great Peyton Manning. Nothing Gase did with the Miami Dolphins indicated he deserved an immediate second chance as a head coach. But, by May, he was given the run of the franchise. Gase won an apparent power struggle when general manager Mike Maccagnan was fired, after Maccagnan ran almost all of the offseason (CEO Christopher Johnson said Gase had nothing to do with the firing). Reports said Gase didn’t agree with Maccagnan’s moves, including spending a lot on running back Le’Veon Bell and linebacker C.J. Mosley — immediately making the relationship between Gase and the Jets’ two biggest free-agent additions an awkward one. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News said Gase positioned himself to be out of the view of television cameras in the team’s draft war room, to apparently send a message about his lack of involvement in the draft. That’s the dysfunctional Jets in one sentence. Joe Douglas is the team’s new general manager, and while Gase insisted he wasn’t involved in the hire, it’s hard to believe he had no say in it. The two worked together with the Chicago Bears and Douglas said he has a “special bond” with Gase. The combination of Douglas and Gase could work very well, it was just a very Jets way to get to that point. The weirdness of the general manager firing and all the stories that came out of that shifted the spotlight from the fact that the Jets seem to be making progress. The Jets have a star defensive player in safety Jamal Adams and good veterans around him. They might have grabbed the best player in this year’s draft, Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, with the third pick. While there was some disagreement about Bell’s value and Gase might not have been on board, Bell still is one of the great running backs of this era. And Mosley has made four Pro Bowls in five seasons and just turned 27 years old. Other young players like tight end Chris Herndon, safety Marcus Maye, receiver Robby Anderson and defensive end Leonard Williams either have arrived already or have shown promise. Everyone seemed to love the hire of Douglas, and Gase still has a reputation that survived some unimpressive years in Miami. And, it’s quite possible the Jets have finally found their quarterback. Darnold was once considered a potential generational prospect . The shine came off a little bit during his final season at USC, but you could still see that upside in his best plays as a rookie. He needs a lot of work, and that’s where Gase comes in. If he’s really an offensive genius who was just stuck with a bad hand in Miami, that will be a perfect match for the Jets. The Jets’ quarterback history since Joe Namath, and their history in general since Namath, has been pretty bad. There are signs the franchise is moving in a good direction, if the Jets can stay out of their own way. That hasn’t been a strength of theirs through the years. New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is the franchise's best hope to return to glory. (AP) As usual, the Jets made big splashes. Running back Le’Veon Bell is undeniably talented but plays a position that most teams have devalued; the Jets gave Bell $52.5 million over four years. Off-the-ball inside linebackers aren’t valued like they once were either, but the Jets paid C.J. Mosley $85 million over five years. They also paid slot receiver Jamison Crowder $28.5 million over three years. That’s a lot of money to splash around, and the Jets didn’t address spots like edge rusher, center or No. 2 cornerback, but those are three good players. The Jets did lose Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers and All-Pro kick returner Andre Roberts, which will hurt their special teams. The Jets traded former first-round pick Darron Lee, who was a disappointment at linebacker, but got guard Kelechi Osemele from the Raiders for practically nothing in a deal. The draft pick of Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was a no-brainer. The rest of the draft wasn’t great unless one of their two third-round upside plays pays off big (edge rusher Jachai Polite and offensive tackle Chuma Edoga). The offseason as a whole looks pretty good, even if it was really expensive. GRADE: B-plus The Jets should feel they landed an instant star in Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm had Williams as his top prospect in this year’s class and it’s easy to see why. Williams is big, athletic and was unblockable in college. Here’s part of Edholm’s profile : “His 2018 production – 19.5 tackles for loss – doesn’t even begin to demonstrate how active and disruptive he was. It’s hard to find a game tape last season where Williams wasn’t double-teamed frequently. Turn on the tape of the CFB playoffs against Oklahoma and you see Williams, according to Bill Belichick, “basically ruining their scheme right now.” When you draft a player this gifted, it’s OK to dream big. Could Williams be a Pro Bowl player right away for the Jets? Sure, why not? And if Williams hits the high end of his potential, and does it right away, the Jets defense gets a big boost. The Jets still have a big post-Nick Mangold question at center and cornerback depth is an issue too, especially if big 2018 free-agent addition Trumaine Johnson doesn’t play better than last season. But let’s focus on edge rusher, which has been a question seemingly for forever. On the line of the Jets’ 3-4 defense, Quinnen Williams, Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson are a great foundation. Passing on edge rushers like Kentucky’s Josh Allen for Williams was smart, but there’s still not much coming off the edge. Jordan Jenkins did have seven sacks at outside linebacker last season and Brandon Copeland had five. Neither appears to be a big difference maker. The Jets did try to land Anthony Barr to help, but he changed his mind after agreeing to a deal and stayed with Minnesota. The Jets won’t have a great rush off the edge unless some players surprisingly emerge. The question with Sam Darnold before the draft is the same one he faces after his rookie NFL season: Can he cut down on turnovers? One reason Darnold slipped a bit as a prospect in his last USC season was ball security. Darnold threw 15 interceptions last season and fumbled five times in 13 games. It’s not unusual for a rookie to turn the ball over too much, but combine it with Darnold’s ball security issues in college and it’s troubling. Darnold has the ability to be a very good quarterback, but turnovers could derail that. Adam Gase’s biggest job is to get Darnold into better ball security habits. The last time we saw Le’Veon Bell on a football field was Jan. 14, 2018. Bell wants everyone to know he’s still a world-class running back. "Maybe people forgotten a little bit because they haven't seen it in a long time. It's normal. That's what humans do," Bell said, according to the team’s site . "But I feel like once I get here and play, first game coming up, people will be reminded.” It’s hard to know what a year off does for Bell. Maybe he’ll be rusty, or perhaps rested. We do know his Jets career got off to a weird start. Before Bell ever showed up for a Jets practice — and there was a delay because he made the curious decision to not show up for voluntary work — there was a report from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News that Adam Gase “did not want to sign” Bell. It was a signing that CEO Christopher Johnson pushed, the report said. The Bell issue seemed to be a big part of the Gase-Mike Maccagnan rift that ended with Maccagnan fired. Gase had to deny a report that Bell could be traded before the season. That possibility never made sense, but it summed up how awkward the situation is. Even if Gase wasn’t fully on board with the Bell signing, presumably he understands Bell is an incredible talent and will use him to his fullest. Though, after Gase practically ignored Kenyan Drake for some weird reason in Miami, who knows. Bell should be a centerpiece, hopefully he didn’t lose anything after a year off, and will help Sam Darnold and the rest of the Jets offense. From Yahoo’s Scott Pianowski: “There doesn’t have to be a ‘this year’s George Kittle’ — and there probably won’t be — but Chris Herndon deserves our attention into his second year. Herndon caught 69.6 percent of his targets as a rookie and averaged 12.9 yards per reception, swanky numbers at a position where it’s notable simply if the player in question isn’t overwhelmed. If we focus on the second half of the year, when Herndon really got going, he grades out tenth in fantasy points at tight end (including seventh in catches, sixth at yards). “Scouts fell in love with David Njoku at Miami, not Herndon, and perhaps that’s carried over to the pros. And maybe it’s going to allow us a tidy discount at the draft table. Herndon is currently the TE15 in Yahoo drafts, and one slot pricier in NFFC rooms. We can make a profit at those slots, especially if Sam Darnold takes a very plausible second-year leap.” [ Yahoo fantasy preview: New York Jets ] The Patriots aren’t the only team that could take advantage of a soft AFC East schedule. According to Warren Sharp , who calculates strength of schedule using Las Vegas’ projected win totals, the Jets have the second easiest schedule in the NFL. The Patriots, of course, have the easiest. The Jets have a league-high five games against teams projected to be in the bottom five of the NFL, and also have the most games against bottom 10 teams (eight). That’s a lot of winnable games. WAS GREGG WILLIAMS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO LEAD JETS DEFENSE? Williams, the Jets’ new defensive coordinator, has run five defenses since his reemergence from the Saints’ bounty scandal. The ranks in yards per game allowed: 17th, 23rd, 9th, 14th, 30th. The ranks in points allowed: 16th, 13th, 23rd, 31st, 21st. His ranks in Football Outsiders’ DVOA per-play metric were better those first three years when he was with the Rams, so perhaps the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. Still, there were questions about whether he used his Browns personnel to its best. For example, Williams strangely told defensive end Myles Garrett to only use two pass-rush moves , according to Garrett. “The reason I keep getting hired is culture,” Williams said, according to the team’s site . “Culture beats strategy any day of the week.” Ummm, OK. Williams had a good, long run as an NFL defensive coordinator, but he comes in with questions. Perhaps his fiery personality plays well with the Jets players and his scheme is more conducive to pressuring the quarterback. Williams always draws attention, and that will definitely be the case in New York. Let’s get a little crazy here ... is it that unrealistic to think the Jets have a shot to be the team that finally knocks off the Patriots in the AFC East? If Tom Brady slips (it’ll happen at some point) without Rob Gronkowski, and if Sam Darnold takes a big leap with Le’Veon Bell and an offensive skill group that isn’t too bad, and the Jets defense with its stars becomes a top-five unit under Gregg Williams, maybe it could happen. Nobody should rush to Las Vegas to put a mortgage payment on the Jets winning the AFC East or anything, but there is real potential with this group if Darnold becomes a stellar quarterback. And he might. We have enough of a track record to know the Jets could mess up a cup of coffee. Maybe what we saw from Adam Gase in Miami, when he went 23-25 and some players seemed happy when he was fired , is actually what he is. Perhaps he can’t help Sam Darnold become a good quarterback, and Darnold just remains a physically gifted player who can’t get out of his own way. Maybe paying fortunes to a running back and inside linebacker won’t work out because the Jets have no cornerbacks or edge rushers. There are a handful of dysfunctional franchises in the NFL, and the Jets are firmly on that list. It’s hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. The Jets are interesting. They have some true blue-chip defensive talent. Sam Darnold has all the tools to be very good, and Le’Veon Bell will help him. So could receiver Robby Anderson, who has the ability to take yet another step this season. People seem to think Adam Gase is still a very good coach who failed for reasons out of his control in Miami. I believe Darnold will take a nice step this season, the Jets will take a small step as a team and they’ll be a team we’re all tracking for the 2020 season. 32. Arizona Cardinals 31. Miami Dolphins 30. Oakland Raiders 29. New York Giants 28. Cincinnati Bengals 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26. Washington Redskins 25. Detroit Lions 24. Buffalo Bills – – – – – – – Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
Kawhi Leonard, don't go to the Lakers Kawhi, please don't do it. Don't go to L.A. and ruin the NBA. Here are six very good reasons. 1. You rule. You are the board man...the board man who gets paid. You're the dude who turned working-man humility into superstardom. The Lakers, on the other hand, suck. They are about glitz and glamour and wouldn't know a lunch pail if it starred in an overrated Oscar-winning movie. You are the antithesis of the Lakers. 2. Their coaching situation is an unmitigated disaster , and LeBron is going to make it worse because the only thing he loves than being extremely good at basketball is sabotaging his coaches. Their management is also hot garbage, and on the verge of mortgaging the future for nothing. That would be ideal! You shouldn't bail them out on their series of very bad decisions by letting them form a super-team. Speaking of.... 3. You are the super team killer. You killed the Miami Heat in the NBA finals. You killed the Warriors in the NBA finals. You are the iceberg that sinks the Titanic. Don't become the Titanic, Kawhi. Stay frozen. 4. The NBA is awesome right now, and part of that awesomeness is how wide open everything seems. We have no idea who will win next year's title, and you can make a good argument for at least a half dozen teams. If you go to the Lakers with LeBron and Anthony Davis, that goes away. It was vaguely exciting when it happened with Durant and the Warriors, but look at the result: It stole the drama from the playoffs, and then Durant got hurt and left unhappy. 5. You can go to Brooklyn and electro-shock an entire franchise into prominence. The Nets have been something less than little brothers since they were in New Jersey, but the Knicks are so godawful that the basketball-loving people of NYC are dying to shift loyalties. If you end up in Brooklyn, you get all the benefits of living in a great city while also singlehandedly carrying a team to city-wide and national prominence. That's the Kawhi brand! You'd be the messiah! Story continues 6. There are three terrible driving cities in America: Dallas, Boston, and Los Angeles. Don't go to one of them unless you love highways. The "We're Sorry For Exporting the Worst Possible Example of Our Product" Apology of the Week: America to England Playing a two-game Yankees-Red Sox set in London seemed like a great idea, but there was always a potential pitfallunder the right circumstances, these two teams can play extremely long games. Unfortunately, the stars aligned perfectly and our mates in Merry Old England got the nightmare scenario on Saturday: An endless, grueling 17-13 blowout that lasted almost five hours, involved 16 pitchers, and just draggggggged. Plus, it was stupidly hot. Sunday wasn't much better: A second 12-8 blowout win for the Yankees, a four-hour run time, and more scorching weather. Not an ideal showcase! Now, I've voiced my criticisms of soccer, but when the Brits sit down for their national sport, at least they know that it's going to be over in two hours, scintillating or dull. And if we're talking cricket, at least they get cucumber sandwiches and tea. This was some monstrous, ugly hybrid of the two, and all we can say is: Sorry, guys. It's not usually like this. The "Wait a second, it's YOUR Fault" Apology Retraction of the Week: America, again, also to England It turns out, a ton of pitchers on both teams advanced a theory that the "aerodynamics" or "air flow" was somehow off in the London Stadium, to the extent that dominant relievers like Zach Britton said he couldn't "snap off" his breaking pitches. He wasn't alone: https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1145287232439365632 So there you have it: The London air is to blame, somehow. Physics don't work the same way across the pond, and every breaking ball becomes a fat, hanging changeup. If baseball had started in the U.K., all the games would be like this, and 170 years later they'd play an exhibition in America, and there'd be a bunch of British pitchers going "blimey, me ole curve dives like a bloody heron 'ere, it does! I'm chuffed, mate!" And the hitters would be crying about the American air. So I take back my previous apology, Brits: Your dumb air ruined our baseball. I will miss this narrative. British Baseball Fan of the year: This Bloke What's a foul ball? Here's a great explanation from some British guy: https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1145049557375565825 The Fabulous Athlete We Need In Our Lives...Of the Week: Megan Rapinoe Looks, let's not get into politics. Let's just say that someone who is unapologetically (and sometimes hilariously) outspoken, but who delivers every time on the field, is a welcome addition to the American sports scene. FIFA is ridiculous about allowing auto-play goal videos on Twitter (you can see hers here and here if you want to get clicking), so instead, check out this excellent pose she struck after her first goal in the World Cup quarterfinals against France: https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1145049557375565825 I've been on a Rapinoe Internet binge lately, and there's plenty to read about her "audacity," but what's really special about her is that she seems to have a strong moral center that precludes her from being quiet when she has the spotlight. Also, this quote from after the France win is pure gold: Go gays. You cant win a championship without gays on your team, its pretty much never been done before ever. Science, right there. Plus, never forget, she delivered the most important pass in the history of American women's soccer, and we were lucky enough to have Ian Darke on hand to call it: https://twitter.com/MarkDondero/status/1144966278056165377 The U.S. plays England next, on Tuesday, and even though we're definitely going to win, it will probably be less painful for the Brits than five hours of terrible baseball. Originally Appeared on Golf Digest
Working Dads Are Desperate for Better Parental Leave, Data Shows When we hear or read about insufficientparental leave, we tend to picture new moms struggling to manage recovery and child care, all the while ramping back up at work. But it's not just mothers who want, or need, better parental leave; fathers find it just as important. In fact, according to Indeed.com, upon learning that they were expecting, 44% of fathers were concerned about the amount of paternity leave they'd get. Furthermore, while the average new dad was able to take seven weeks of parental leave, 10 weeks was the average amount of time fathers felt theyneeded. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. And let's not confuse general leave with paid leave. On average, fathers received just 48% of their pay while out on parental leave. If your company's parental leave policy leaves much to be desired for dads, it's time to rethink that benefit. Otherwise, you may end up losing out on valued employees, or alienating the new fathers whodostick around. Clearly, fathers of newborns don't go through the same physical effects as the women who actually birth children. But that doesn't mean they have it easy. According to the parents surveyed by Indeed.com, dads work 16 weeks on average before their new babies begin sleeping through the night. And dragging through the workday on a couple of hours of sleep (and not necessarily consecutive ones at that) hardly makes for a pleasant or productive experience. Furthermore, dads are often needed at home in the weeks following the arrival of a baby to help care for that child, other children, or moms whose recoveries don't go so smoothly. Additionally, not all babies come home from the hospital within a few days of being delivered. Those with health issues often require hospital stays, which can be taxing from a scheduling perspective. That's why it's important for companies to recognize that fathers need time to adjust to their new family dynamic, and to offer parental leave policies that reflect that. This means giving dads ample time off immediately following the birth of a child, but also giving them some flexibility once that leave wraps up. In fact, 80% of first-time dads say they'd really benefit from more flexibility on what time they're allowed to show up at work in the morning, and it stands to reason that a father who was kept up the entire night might appreciate the option to come into the office a bit later than usual. Also, let's be clear: The last thing new parents need is a decline in income at a time when they're introducing a new baby -- and a host of expenses -- into their personal mix. As such, aim to offer as muchpaidtime off as your company can swing. In addressing the needs of new fathers, your company can not onlyretain key talent, but also attract new talent as the need arises. So take a long, hard look at your current parental leave policy, and if it's not up to par, institute a revamp -- before you lose out on employees you can't afford to part with. 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 The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Beer drinking 'isn't dead': Corona maker CEO Long live the iced cold cerveza. “Beer [drinking] is not dead,” said Constellation Brands (STZ) CEO Bill Newlands in an interview with Yahoo Finance. Newlands — who leads the maker of the well-known high-end suds Corona and Modelo and a sizable top-shelf wine portfolio — certainly has data on his side to prove 21-year-olds drinking hard seltzer and canned rosé haven’t derailed the beer industry. That is provided the beer is on the premium side of the equation (sorry, Bud Light fans) and plays into some form of health and wellness trend. Constellation Brands is fresh off reporting its first fiscal quarter sales and operating profit in its beer business rose 7.4% and 11.7%, respectively. The company said shipment volume growth was above its expectations in the quarter, fueled by interest in premium options such as Modelo and new lower carb Corona Premier. Meanwhile, the company was successful in passing through higher prices to offset its increased costs. The beer segment’s performance was far away better than Constellation Brands’ wine and spirit portfolio. The stock popped 5% on Friday in response to the better-than-expected quarter and outlook. According to Newlands, Constellation Brands is just out-working rivals such as Anheuser-Busch (BUD), Boston Beer (SAM), and Molson Coors (TAP) to win with fickle consumers. “Our beer business is performing well. I think one of the key reasons around it is our share of voice and advertising. We are spending more on advertising year on year against our business. But not everyone in the category is doing that. So our share of voice with beer drinking consumers is going up,” Newlands explained. Count this proud millennial as one who has been inundated in recent months with TV spots for Modelo and Corona Premier. Newlands points to growth in Modelo outside of its core hispanic community as a key driver. Corona Premier, Newlands says, is “on trend” with health-conscious consumers who are looking for a low-carb option. “We are really broadening our reach,” Newlands adds. That much is for sure. Constellation Brands’ overall beer portfolio sales for the 52 weeks ended June 15 has increased an impressive 10.6%, according to Nielsen data. That ranks it first in terms of growth among all its rivals in the beer industry, powered by strong growth in Modelo, Corona Premier and Pacifico. No small feat in such a competitive consumer category. Sales for the beer category as a whole during that same stretch has fallen 0.1%, per Nielsen data. Anheuser-Busch, Miller Coors, Heineken, Pabst, and the once mighty craft beer king Boston Beer have seen sales decline during the past 52 weeks. “We continue to be impressed by Constellation Brands’ beer performance (especially Modelo Especial), illustrating Constellation’s command of the high-end beer segment, which drives the lion’s share of category growth,” wrote veteran Wells Fargo beverage analyst Bonnie Herzog following Constellation’s latest results. The next frontier for Newlands and his team: getting the word out about the new Corona ReFresca. Think hard seltzer meets tropical wine cooler from the early ‘90s, but with a name everyone knows. Step aside, White Claw. Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-host of ‘The First Trade’ at Yahoo Finance. Follow Brian Sozzi him on Twitter@BrianSozzi Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance • Why Shake Shack CEO is testing a 4-day workweek • Trump's trade war with China may shock investors this summer • 2 black swans could come out of nowhere and kill stocks this summer • Why scrapping Trump's corporate tax cuts could crush businesses Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
Bigger than the Kardashians: Bitcoin searches top Kim K, study says Bitcoin is more popular than the royal wedding, and the world’s biggest reality television star? Those are essentially the findings of a newstudyby cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. According to the data, not only have more than half of Americans heard of bitcoin (BTC-USD), but more of them have searched for it this year on Google than Kim Kardashian this year. In fact, three times more. “We look at Google searches of Kim Khadashian, of election results, of the royal wedding, and Bitcoin topped all of those,” said Nina Willdorf, Coinbase’s director of content & editorial on “YFi PM.” “We found that awareness is quite high: 60% of Americans say they’ve heard of bitcoin,” she said. “When you compare that to other broad phenomenon, it’s great.” Bitcoin has been on a seesaw, rallying to 2019 highs near $13,000 but retracing some of those gains in the last few sessions. Still the cryptocurrency has more than tripled since the start of the year. That could be because there is a high correlation between Google searches for bitcoin and its price action, according to anoteby research firm SEMrush. It’s not surprising that California, a wealthy coastal state, has the highest percentage of the population owning cryptocurrency. However, the Coinbase study also revealed a few surprises. “We saw broad swaths of the United States showing up. You see states like Colorado, Utah, Alaska in that top 10 list. That was a very interesting indicator for us,” said Willdorf. Coinbase also looked at states with the largest average value of cryptocurrency owned per person. Surprisingly, Delaware residents hold the highest average value of cryptocurrency per person, followed by California and Nevada. Wyoming (No. 6) and New Hampshire (No. 10) also made the list. So why are so many retail investors betting on bitcoin? “We spoke to one person, he’s saying that he’s looking to it as a way to drive his own economic freedom. He says this is something for ‘my generation’ this is something that’s giving us a new form of access,” said Willdorf. For others, having access to buy cryptocurrency without an “accredited investor” designation is also a motivator. Also, some like its association with technology, and the shape of things to come. “A young woman in New York tells us that this is really interesting and she thinks it’s going to be the wave of the future,” said Willdorf. Crypto is here to stay Even big banks are getting in on the digital currency hype. Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO David Solomon told France’s Les echos newspaper that he’s looking into ways to transform currencies or assets into tradeable digital contracts with blockchain. Also, JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM) said earlier this year it developed its own stable coin called JPM Coin. Lawmakers also want in on cryptocurrency, with more than 70% of U.S. states having enacted regulations governing cryptocurrency or blockchain technology, according to Coinbase. Cryptocurrencies may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but Willdorf says the numbers reveal it still has a lot of room to grow. “When you see 60% of Americans telling us in this survey that they’ve heard of Bitcoin, that number shows it’s both big and it also shows room to grow. When you see 15% across the country are saying they are interested in purchasing cryptocurrency,” she said. Grete Suarez is producer at Yahoo Finance for YFi PM and The Ticker. Follow her on Twitter:@GreteSuarez Read more: • 'Canopy is playing the long game': MGO-ELLO CEO • Wyndham Destinations preps for record summer as US vacationers eye local travel • Amazon drone delivery is still ‘a couple years out,’ drone CEO says • With Google and Facebook under the microscope, Apple could emerge a winner: Analyst Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit.
BlackBerry to Support Indigenous Communities Across Canada BlackBerry LimitedBB has announced its plans of helping Indigenous communities across Canada deploy modern technologies with a mission to improve their welfare, per media reports.In collaboration with Microsoft Corp. MSFT and Forrest Green, a data quality and professional services firm, the Canadian company intends to bring a mix of avant-garde communication, cybersecurity, cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to Chiefs and Grand Chiefs across the country.Moreover, the companies will facilitate residents to take part in skills-based education programs so that they are well positioned to participate in the digital economy. BlackBerry is providing the Indigenous communities with its secure Internet of Things communications and artificial intelligence expertise that will provide the security and privacy First Nations can believe in.Further, focusing both on organic and inorganic initiatives, BlackBerry aims to expand its market in enterprise mobility. The acquisition of Cylance augmented its operations as it has provided additional cyber security capabilities with advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.The combination of BlackBerry Cylance’s artificial intelligence and machine learning cybersecurity capabilities with BlackBerry Spark has made its endpoint management and embedded software products more essential for businesses to generate value from the Internet of Things.Markedly, BlackBerry has the most secure Communications Platform as a Service infrastructure in the world. In concert with Microsoft’s cloud and analytics solutions, and Forrest Green’s critical systems integrations efforts, First Nations will likely have the technological tools required to manage their communities and ensure the welfare of their people.In addition, BlackBerry continues to invest in the right opportunities to drive long-term growth and profitability. The company’s strong product cycle along with more than 30 impending launches of new secure communication products and services is laudable.Driven by increasing market traction of BlackBerry’s cutting-edge solution offerings, the stock has returned 4.9% against the industry’s decline of 4.4% in the year-to-date period. Strong software sales continue to aid BlackBerry’s top line while growth in its cybersecurity business is a huge positive. BlackBerry currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader industry are Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI and Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. UBNT, both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Motorola has long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.7%.Ubiquiti has long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.8%.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportMotorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportUbiquiti Networks, Inc. (UBNT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicrosoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBlackBerry Limited (BB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Is Piaggio & C. SpA (BIT:PIA) A Smart Choice For Dividend Investors? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Could Piaggio & C. SpA (BIT:PIA) 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. 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. In this case, Piaggio & C likely looks attractive to investors, given its 3.5% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. When buying stocks for their dividends, you should always run through the checks below, to see if the dividend looks sustainable. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Piaggio & C! 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. Piaggio & C paid out 81% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. It's paying out most of its earnings, which limits the amount that can be reinvested in the business. This may indicate limited need for further capital within the business, or highlight a commitment to paying a dividend. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. Piaggio & C's cash payout ratio in the last year was 38%, which suggests dividends were well covered by cash generated by the business. It's positive to see that Piaggio & C's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. As Piaggio & C has a meaningful amount of debt, we need to check its balance sheet to see if the company might have debt risks. A quick check of its financial situation can be done with two ratios: net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA is a measure of a company's total debt. Net interest cover measures the ability to meet interest payments. Essentially we check that a) the company does not have too much debt, and b) that it can afford to pay the interest. Piaggio & C has net debt of 2.67 times its EBITDA. Using debt can accelerate business growth, but also increases the risks. Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. Interest cover of 4.72 times its interest expense is starting to become a concern for Piaggio & C, and be aware that lenders may place additional restrictions on the company as well. Consider gettingour latest analysis on Piaggio & C's financial position here. One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Piaggio & C has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was €0.06 in 2009, compared to €0.09 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.1% a year over that time. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments, we don't think this is an attractive combination. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Over the long term, dividends need to grow at or above the rate of inflation, in order to maintain the recipient's purchasing power. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Piaggio & C has grown its earnings per share at 41% per annum over the past five years. Piaggio & C earnings have been growing very quickly recently, but given that it is paying out more than half of its earnings, we wonder if it will have enough capital to fund further growth in the future. 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. First, we think Piaggio & C has an acceptable payout ratio and its dividend is well covered by cashflow. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, but it was concerning to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Piaggio & C has a number of positive attributes, but it falls slightly short of our (admittedly high) standards. Were there evidence of a strong moat or an attractive valuation, it could still be well worth a look. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 5 Piaggio & C 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.
Brazil's Usiminas renegotiates bank debts -filing RIO DE JANEIRO, July 1 (Reuters) - Brazilian steelmaker Usiminas has signed a debt restructuring agreement with several banks including Brazil's Itau Unibanco SA, Banco Bradesco SA and Banco do Brasil SA, it said in a filing on Monday. In the filing, Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA , as the company is formally known, said its board had formally approved the accord, which also involves development banks such as Brazil's BNDES. The statement did not give details on the debts that were renegotiated. (Reporting by Gram Slattery)
5 Top-Ranked Tech Stocks to Buy in 2H19 The technology sector had a terrific first-half 2019 despite the U.S.-China trade woes. Notably, the Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) has returned 25.9% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500’s rally of 16%.Tech’s outperformance can be attributed to rapid adoption of cloud computing and strong demand for AI-based solutions. The secular growth trend in data is helping technology companies infuse machine and deep learning into their solutions.Additionally, increasing allegiance to online gaming, music and video-streaming services is a major growth driver. Improvement in Internet speed and penetration globally deserves a special mention in this regard.Further, proliferation of IoT that is facilitating connected devices and smart homes is a key catalyst. The accelerated deployment of 5G technology and faster-than-expected growth in robotics set the stage for more development.Trade Talk Resumption Bodes WellMoreover, a probable resumption of trade talks between the United States and China, post the G20 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jingping, bodes well for the sector.The temporary halt on imposing tariff on an additional $300 billion is expected to benefit tech companies like Apple.Trump also eased restrictions on Chinese telecom giant Huawei to buy some additional U.S. products. The decision bodes well for Google and chip makers like Micron, Broadcom, Intel and Xilinx.Notably, tech-heavy Nasdaq has gained 20.1% on a year-to-date basis. Picking the Winning StocksThe aforesaid factors are expected to benefit the tech sector in the second half of 2019.Here, with the help of the Zacks Stock Screener, we pick five tech stocks that either flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 or 2 and VGM Score of A or B offer good investment opportunities. All the stocks have a market cap of more than $1 billion.Further, these stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis.Year-to-date Price Performance Top PicksHawthorne, CA-basedOSI SystemsOSIS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. The company has a market cap of $2.04 billion and its shares have returned 53.6% on a year-to-date basis.OSI outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 24.22%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 has remained steady at $4.22 over the last 60 days.Hanover, MD-basedCiena CorporationCIEN also flaunts a VGM Score of A and a Zacks Rank #1. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The company has a market cap of $6.38 billion and has returned 21.2% year to date.Ciena outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, delivering average positive surprise of 18.83%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its ongoing year’s earnings moved up 9.9% to $1.99 in 60 days’ time.Santa Rosa, CA-basedKeysight TechnologiesKEYS has average positive earnings surprise of 16.11% for the preceding four quarters. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A.Shares of Keysight, which has a market cap of $16.90 billion, has returned 44.6% year to date.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its fiscal 2019 earnings has moved up 8.2% to $4.23 in the past 60 days.Irvine, CA-basedAlteryxAYX currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. Shares have returned 83.4% on a year-to-date basis.Alteryx has a market cap of $6.82 billion. The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 22.9%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 stayed at 43 cents over the past 60 days.Currently, Mountain View, CA-basedIntuitINTU carries a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The company has a market cap of $67.75 billion.Shares have returned 32.7% on a year-to-date basis.Intuit recorded average positive earnings surprise of 55.51% over the preceding four quarters. Moreover, the consensus mark for fiscal 2019 has increased 2% to $6.70 in 60 days’ time. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportIntuit Inc. (INTU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportOSI Systems, Inc. (OSIS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKeysight Technologies Inc. (KEYS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCiena Corporation (CIEN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAlteryx, Inc. (AYX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Britvic plc (LON:BVIC): Will The Growth Last? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! After Britvic plc's (LON:BVIC) earnings announcement in April 2019, analysts seem fairly confident, with earnings expected to grow by 21% in the upcoming year against the past 5-year average growth rate of 6.8%. By 2020, we can expect Britvic’s bottom line to reach UK£142m, a jump from the current trailing-twelve-month of UK£117m. Below is a brief commentary on the longer term outlook the market has for Britvic. Readers that are interested in understanding the company beyond these figures shouldresearch its fundamentals here. See our latest analysis for Britvic The 13 analysts covering BVIC view its longer term outlook with a positive sentiment. Given that it becomes hard to forecast far into the future, broker analysts tend to project ahead roughly three years. To reduce the year-on-year volatility of analyst earnings forecast, I've inserted a line of best fit through the expected earnings figures to determine the annual growth rate from the slope of the line. From the current net income level of UK£117m and the final forecast of UK£170m by 2022, the annual rate of growth for BVIC’s earnings is 10%. This leads to an EPS of £0.65 in the final year of projections relative to the current EPS of £0.44. In 2022, BVIC's profit margin will have expanded from 7.8% to 11%. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Britvic, there are three essential aspects you should look at: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Britvic 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 Britvic is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Britvic? 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.
Airlines bow to pressure over 'rip-off' no-show clauses – but others stand by the charge Air France, Singapore, Qatar and Swiss International Air Lines haven't yet agreed to scrap the clause - istock Several airlines have bowed to pressure from consumer group Which? to scrap a booking clause that lets them cancel the return leg of a ticket if a passenger fails to show up for their outbound flight. The “no-show” clause has left thousands of passengers, who have changed their travel plans but still made it to their destination – only to find their return seat has been resold, stranded and out of pocket. “Thomas Cook and Channel Islands airline Aurigny have agreed to scrap the clause entirely, and Flybe also pledged to make changes in response to our letter,” Which? confirmed. “Since then Emirates and Virgin have agreed that passengers won’t have their return flights cancelled if they miss the flight due to ‘unusual and unforeseeable events’ outside of their control. However, the onus is still on the flyer to be aware of this rule and contact the airline within 24 hours of missing the flight (in the case of Emirates) or before the return journey (for Virgin).” Which? wrote to nine major carriers – British Airways, Flybe, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Air France, Singapore, Qatar and Swiss – telling them that the no-show penalty is unfair and potentially in breach of the Consumer Rights Act. The Civil Aviation Authority has also said that the automatic cancellation of return tickets is “disproportionate”. Virgin Atlantic told Telegraph Travel: “Having worked with the CAA and listened to our customers we have now updated our policy on no-shows. “We always encourage customers to get in touch as soon as they think they are going to miss their flight. If they arrive too late at the airport we will rebook them on the next available flight and their inbound flight won’t be cancelled. “If a customer can’t make their flight due to a legitimate change in circumstances we will not cancel their inbound flight if they get in touch with us before the flight. If the customer can’t contact us before they miss their flight they will need to contact us as soon as they can and if there has been a legitimate change in circumstances we will reinstate their inbound ticket.” Story continues British Airways issued us a similar statement, claiming: “Many of our tickets allow customers to make changes to their flights if they inform us before they travel. “We believe that being upfront with customers is essential, so we work hard to give them the information they need when travelling with us, and ensure that our terms and conditions are very clear on our website.” Communication is key Travellers often only discover their tickets have been cancelled when they arrive at the airport for their homeward journey and are left with no choice but to buy a seat at an inflated price or pay a penalty fee of more than £2,000 to use their original ticket. The practice has, in recent years, caused outrage on social media. One Twitter user said her husband’s flight was cancelled without him being informed and he had to buy the seat back again for six times the original price. Another traveller told Which? she paid Virgin Atlantic an extra £1,354 to get home from New York after she missed a flight from London. Our consumer expert Gill Charlton wants to see system overhauled entirely. “Airlines should reconfigure their flight booking software so that onward flights are not automatically cancelled if a sector is not flown,” she says. “Worse still is the practice of not telling passengers who are told to buy a new outbound flight that their return flight will also be cancelled, thus forcing them to buy two expensive single flights instead of a cheaper new return flight. Airline staff know perfectly well that this is the case so their failure to inform the passenger is deplorable and should be penalised. The CAA really needs to step up here and show some mettle.” The ‘abuse’ of fares Some airlines claim the clause is a way of stamping out ‘tariff abuse’ – otherwise known as ‘skiplagging’ – whereby passengers purchase a cheaper ticket through a multi-trip fares system with no intention of flying on the last leg. Airlines disapprove of skiplagging because no-show passengers can cause flight delays, the practice reduces revenue, and it is considered to be bad for the environment as it means more empty seats on planes. There is also the possibility that airlines will end up having to increase ticket prices to account for the lost revenue, punishing those who have followed the rules. BA told us, of its no-show clause: “This policy is common practice in the industry and designed to stop the abuse of our fares.” In February, German national airline Lufthansa sought legal action against a customer who did not travel on the final leg of their flight . In November last year, however, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that the practice is legal after the national carrier Iberia tried, and failed, to penalise customers for skiplagging. Is 'skiplagging' savvy or selfish? Have you ever done it yourself? We want to hear your thoughts; comment below to join the conversation.
Natural Gas Recovers From Multi-Year Lows on Supply Data The U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release showed a smaller-than-expected increase in natural gas supplies. However, the injection was higher than the five-year average and the year-ago rise. Therefore, despite a slight recovery, natural gas prices remained close to the lowest levels in more than three years because of growing fears that soaring production is outpacing demand growth. Analysis: Less-Than-Expected Rise in Storage Stockpiles held in underground storage in the lower 48 states rose by 98 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ended Jun 21, below the guidance (of 100 Bcf gain) as per the analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts. However, the increase was higher than the five-year (2014-2018) average net injection of 70 Bcf and last year’s increase of 71 Bcf for the reported week. The latest rise in inventories puts total natural gas stocks at 2.301 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) - 236 Bcf (11.4%) above 2018 levels at this time but 171 Bcf (6.9%) under the five-year average. Fundamentally speaking, total supply of natural gas averaged 94.2 Bcf per day, essentially unchanged on a weekly basis. While dry production inched up to 89.6 Bcf per day from 89 Bcf per day, 2% less gas flowed into the country from Canada. Meanwhile, daily consumption was up 3.3% to 84.1 Bcf compared to 81.4 Bcf in the previous week primarily due to strong power sector demand amid warmer weather across the Southeast region. Prices Recover Somewhat The slightly smaller-than-expected climb in U.S. supplies drove a 5.6% weekly gain for natural gas – the best week since January – erasing some of the steep losses that have taken the commodity to lows not seen since May 2016. Still, natural gas – at $2.308 per MMBtu – is far off the $3.722 per MMBtu 2019-high reached in January. Last week, the fuel hit a more than three-year low of $2.185. Natural Gas to Trade at Low Levels in the Near Term The fundamentals of natural gas consumption continue to be favorable. The demand for cleaner fuels and the commodity’s relatively lower price has catapulted natural gas' share of domestic electricity generation to 35%, from 25% in 2011. Moreover, new pipelines to Mexico, together with large-scale liquefied gas export facilities have meant that exports out of the U.S. are set for a quantum leap. Finally, higher consumption from industrial projects will likely ensure strong natural gas demand. However, record high production in the United States and expectations for explosive growth through 2020 means that supply will keep pace with demand. Therefore, prices are likely to trade sideways but for weather-driven movements. Conclusion Natural gas prices might experience short-lived surge based on positive weather forecasts but any powerful turnaround looks unlikely at the moment. A case in point is the spike seen last week that was mainly on account of expectations of above-average temperatures over the next few days. Buy the Dip? The bearish natural gas fundamentals and its seasonal nature is responsible for the understandable reluctance on investors’ part to dip their feet into these stocks. Moreover, most natural gas-heavy upstream companies like Gulfport Energy Corporation GPOR, Antero Resources AR, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation COG, SilverBow Resources, Inc. SBOW, Southwestern Energy Company SWN etc. carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which means that investors should preferably wait for a better entry point before buying shares in them. Some like Ultra Petroleum Corp. UPL are further down the pecking order, with Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). If you are looking for near-term natural gas play, Montage Resources Corporation MR might be a good selection. The company has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Over 30 days, the Irving, TX-based company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings per share increase 12.3% to $2.01. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportSouthwestern Energy Company (SWN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportEclipse Resources Corporation (MR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportGulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAntero Resources Corporation (AR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportUltra Petroleum Corp. (UPL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSilverBow Resources Inc. (SBOW) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Are Elis SA's (EPA:ELIS) Interest Costs Too High? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While small-cap stocks, such as Elis SA (EPA:ELIS) with its market cap of €3.5b, are popular for their explosive growth, investors should also be aware of their balance sheet to judge whether the company can survive a downturn. Assessing first and foremost the financial health is crucial, as mismanagement of capital can lead to bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. We'll look at some basic checks that can form a snapshot the company’s financial strength. Nevertheless, potential investors would need to take a closer look, and I suggest youdig deeper yourself into ELIS here. ELIS's debt level has been constant at around €3.6b over the previous year which accounts for long term debt. At this current level of debt, ELIS's cash and short-term investments stands at €197m , ready to be used for running the business. Additionally, ELIS has produced cash from operations of €853m in the last twelve months, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 24%, indicating that ELIS’s debt is appropriately covered by operating cash. At the current liabilities level of €1.2b, the company may not be able to easily meet these obligations given the level of current assets of €1.1b, with a current ratio of 0.86x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Since total debt levels exceed equity, ELIS is a highly leveraged company. This is a bit unusual for a small-cap stock, since they generally have a harder time borrowing than large more established companies. 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 ELIS's case, the ratio of 2.77x suggests that interest is not strongly covered, which means that debtors may be less inclined to loan the company more money, reducing its headroom for growth through debt. Although ELIS’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet debt obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. But, its low liquidity raises concerns over whether current asset management practices are properly implemented for the small-cap. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for ELIS's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Elis to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for ELIS’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor ELIS’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is ELIS 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 ELIS 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.
AP-NORC Poll: Trump not boosted by strong American economy WASHINGTON (AP) The solid economy is doing little to bolster support for President Donald Trump. Americans give Trump mixed reviews for his economic stewardship despite the growth achieved during this presidency, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Nearly two-thirds describe as "good" an economy that appears to have set a record for the longest expansion in U.S. history, with decade-long growth that began under Barack Obama. More people consider the economy to be good today than did at the start of the year. But significantly fewer approve of Trump's handling of the economy, even as it remains a relative strength compared with other issues. The survey indicates that most Americans do not believe they're personally benefiting from his trade policies. And only 17% said they received a tax cut, despite government and private sector figures showing that a clear majority of taxpayers owed less after the president's tax overhaul passed in 2017. These doubts create a possible vulnerability as Trump highlights the economy's solid performance in his campaign for re-election in 2020. During two nights of debates last week, almost every Democratic presidential candidate found ways to criticize the president by decrying the wealth gap . Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said it was evidence of "corruption." Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders railed against the concentration of wealth in the three richest Americans, while former Vice President Joe Biden said Trump thinks Wall Street, not the middle class, built America. Christel Bastida, 39, a neuroscience researcher, was active in Democratic politics last year during the Senate race in Texas and plans to run for Houston City Council. "I personally don't feel more secure financially and I think that's the case for a lot of people who are middle class," she said. "A lot of working-class people are not comfortable now. I know there were tax breaks that were supposed to be helpful to people, but it turns out they're helpful to billionaires and corporations and I'm neither." Story continues Nearly half of Americans, 47%, approve of Trump's handling of the economy, but his overall approval rating 38% is low compared with what past presidents have enjoyed in strong economic conditions. Only about 4 in 10 Americans approve of his handling of taxes and trade negotiations. The public skepticism has persisted even as the president routinely congratulates himself on the economy, including the 3.6% unemployment rate and stock market gains. He tweeted last week: "The Stock Market went up massively from the day after I won the Election, all the way up to the day that I took office, because of the enthusiasm for the fact that I was going to be President. That big Stock Market increase must be credited to me." The 2017 tax overhaul was sold by the administration as a way to return more income to everyday Americans. But the poll shows nearly half say they think their taxes stayed the same or are unsure; 33% said they increased. This suggests the tax cuts may have been too modest to notice or were eaten up by daily expenses, or that people were disappointed with their refunds. That feeling of being left behind has energized Democrats seeking to turn out the vote next year. The tax overhaul disproportionately favored corporations and the wealthy, allowing Democrats to say the tax cuts were fundamentally unfair. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say the amount they paid in taxes increased in the last year, 42% versus 25%, while more Republicans say their taxes decreased, 25% versus 10%. Nor are tariffs popular. Trump has imposed a tax on roughly $250 billion worth of Chinese imports, part of an effort to force the world's second-largest economy to trade on more favorable terms with the United States. China retaliated with their own tariffs that hit the U.S. agricultural sector, causing the Trump administration to provide aid to farmers with lost profits. The president has also threatened tariffs on Mexico in order to get that country to reduce the border-crossings into the United States and has mused about hitting European autos with import taxes as well. A mere 15% of Americans said the tariffs will help them and their family. With regards to the national economy, just 26% said the tariffs will help, a sharp decline from 40% who said that last August. About half said the tariffs will be harmful. Republicans, in particular, are less optimistic: Half think Trump's tariffs will help the economy, down from 7 in 10 in August. Ryan Brueggemann, 37, of New Berlin, Wisconsin, runs a dairy farm with his brother. He supports Trump but dislikes the tariffs, though he understands why the president has deployed them so frequently. "I don't believe it's a great business practice to use them," Brueggemann said. "But it came down to the point where our country is being taken advantage of unfairly and that the only way other nations were going to listen to what we wanted to renegotiate and even get them to the table to think about it was to get their attention by putting some tariffs on products." Paul Miller, 81, a retired shoe factory foreman from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he still intends to vote for Trump, since he hasn't seen anyone better yet in the Democratic field. Living off his pension and Social Security, Miller said the tax cuts were basically irrelevant for him. And he doesn't agree with the president's claim that China is paying for the tariffs, rather than U.S. consumers and companies. "I sort of have mixed feelings about the tariffs," he said. "Of course, I don't believe it when Trump says we won't have to pay them. We will." ___ Associated Press reporters Carrie Antlfinger in New Berlin, Wisconsin, and John L. Mone in Houston contributed. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,116 adults was conducted June 13-17 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods and were interviewed later online or by phone. ___ Online: AP-NORC Center: http://www.apnorc.org/
Why Meghan and Harry Chose the Queen's 'Peaceful' Private Chapel for Baby Archie's Christening Meghan Markle and Prince Harry chose a very special place for the christening of their son. When baby Archie , who was born May 6, is christened on July 6, the milestone will unfold in Queen Elizabeth ‘s private chapel at Windsor Castle. The new parents “wanted an intimate, peaceful setting in a place with such a special connection to Her Majesty,” says a royal source. The gathering will be attended by around 25 close family members and friends, with photos to be released the next day. Royal christenings are typically private, with only close family, friends and godparents in attendance. “This is a beautiful milestone and they are excited to share it as a family first and then with the world,” says the source. Press Association via AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle \| Tim Ireland/AP/Shutterstock The private chapel is a deeply personal spot in Windsor Castle for the royal family. The room was created for Queen Victoria between 1840 and 1847. It was destroyed by the catastrophic Windsor fire in 1992 and rebuilt with modern updates in 1994. The larger St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle was the site of Meghan and Harry’s May 2018 wedding. Prince Harry was also christened there in 1984 RELATED: Who Will Be Godparents to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Baby? Here Are the Potential Picks Archie Harrison \| @SussexRoyal/PA Wire/Shutterstock Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The timing of Archie’s christening follows closely those of Kate Middleton and Prince William ‘s three children — Archie’s big cousins. Prince George ‘s christening occurred in late October (more than three months after he was born), at the Chapel Royal in London’s St. James’s Palace. Princess Charlotte ‘s was held two months after her birth at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk, on the grounds of the Queen’s Sandringham estate — and very close to William and Kate’s country home, Anmer Hall. Prince Louis was christened at the same place as his older brother in July 2018, about three months after his world debut.
6 Top Stocks With Impressive Net Profit Margin The primary motive of investors is to earn maximum returns from his stakes. Thus, they are always on the lookout for companies, which are minting money in heaps. Net profit margin is the most effective way to measure a company’s profitability. A proper analysis of the same shows how well a company is run and the headwinds dogging it. Net Profit Margin=Net profit/Sales* 100. In simple terms, net profit is the amount a company retains after deducting all costs, interest, depreciation, taxes and other expenses. In fact, net profit margin can turn out to be a potent point of reference to gauge the strength in a company operations and cost-control measures. Also, higher net profit is essential for rewarding stakeholders. Further, strength in the metric not only attracts investors but also draws well-skilled employees that eventually add to the value of the business. Moreover, a higher net profit margin compared to its peers gives the company a competitive edge. Pros and Cons Net profit margin helps investors gain clarity on a company’s business model in terms of pricing policy, cost structure and manufacturing efficiency. Hence, a strong net profit margin is preferred by all classes of investors. However, net profit margin as an investment criterion has its own share of pitfalls. The metric varies widely from industry to industry. While net income is a key metric for investment measurement in traditional industries, it is not that important for technology companies. Moreover, the difference in accounting treatment of various items — especially non-cash expenses like depreciation and stock-based compensation — makes comparison a daunting task. Further, for companies preferring to grow with debt instead of equity funding, higher interest expenses usually weigh on net profit. In such cases, the measure is rendered ineffective while analyzing a company’s performance. The Winning Strategy A healthy net profit margin and solid EPS growth are the two most sought-after elements in a business model. Apart from these, we have added a few criteria to ensure maximum returns from this strategy. Screening Parameters Net Margin 12 months–Most Recent (%) greater than equal to 0: High net profit margin indicates solid profitability. Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/(F-1) greater than equal to 0: It indicates earnings growth. Average Broker Rating (1-5) equal to 1: A rating of #1 indicates brokers’ extreme bullishness on the stock. Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) generally perform better than their peers in all types of market environment.You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here VGM Scoreof A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential. Here are six of the 25 stocks that qualified the screen: North American Construction Group Ltd.NOA is involved primarily in providing services related to mining and heavy construction. The stock has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has been reaffirmed at $1.35 in the past 30 days. Domiciled in Oak Brook, IL,Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. GLDD provides dredging services in the United States and internationally. The stock is a Zacks #1 Ranked player and has a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings of 68 cents has been reiterated in the past 30 days. Based in Loudon, TN,Malibu Boats, Inc.MBUU operates as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of sport boats primarily in the United States. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings has been stable at $3.64 in the past 30 days. New York, NY-basedXcel Brands Inc. XELB operates as a brand management company focused on the acquisition, design, and licensing, marketing and retail sales of consumer brands including apparel, footwear and sporting goods. The stock is a #1 Ranked company and has a VGM Score of A. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings of 40 cents has been unaltered in the past 30 days. Headquartered in Bermuda,Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. ARGO underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty markets. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of B. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has been constant at $4.27 in the past 30 days. St. George, UT-headquarteredSkyWest, Inc.SKYW operates a regional airline in the United States. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 and an attractive VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.09 for 2019 earnings has been flat over the past 30 days. Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back testing software. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today. Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks' portfolios and strategies are available at:https://www.zacks.com/performance. 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 reportSkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) : Free Stock Analysis ReportGreat Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMalibu Boats, Inc. (MBUU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNorth American Construction Group Ltd. (NOA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportXcel Brands, Inc (XELB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportArgo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (ARGO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Gold Slips on Prospects of US-China Trade War Truce Gold prices have declined from the threshold level of $1,400 an ounce owing to the prospect of renewed talks to end the prolonged trade dispute between the world's two largest economies, the United States and China. The development has dented the safe-haven appeal of the yellow metal.President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to resume trade talks after Trump said he would refrain from imposing additional tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump also talked of easing restrictions against Huawei Technologies and let U.S. companies resume business with China’s largest telecommunications equipment maker. China, in turn, has agreed to purchase U.S. farm products.Prospects of a ceasefire as well as a surprise meeting between Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un to resume stalled nuclear talks led to a stronger dollar. Consequently, gold prices dropped 1.4% in a day to $1,390.43 an ounce.Gold has had a stellar run so far this year, hitting a six-year high of $1,439.21 on Jun 25. The current dip notwithstanding, price of the yellow metal is up roughly 10.3% year to date. Safe haven demand triggered by uncertainty over the U.S.-China standoff and ongoing US-Iran tension has fueled the safe haven demand for gold so far this year. The yellow metal also benefited as the Federal Reserve signaled possible rate cuts of as much as half a percentage point later this year.We have now entered the second half of the year, which is seasonally stronger in India due to wedding and festive seasons. Going forward, demand will remain strong with India and China acting as the major drivers. The expanding middle class combined with broader economic growth will have a significant impact on gold demand. The combination of lower mined gold supply and higher demand and geopolitical tensions could eventually drive the prices north, which bodes well for gold-miners.Gold Industry Performance The Gold Mining industry has rallied 28.6% so far this year compared with the S&P 500’s growth of 16.4%. Going by the EV/EBITDA multiple (a preferred valuation metric for mining companies that have high capital expenditures), the gold mining industry has a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.9, much lower than the S&P 500’s EV/EBITDA multiple of 11.3.We suggest four gold-mining stocks that have a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Agnico Eagle Mines LimitedAEM: This Toronto, Canada-based company sports a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share for fiscal 2019 suggests year-over-year growth of 136.43%. The estimate moved up 13% over the past 90 days. The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 1%. The company has an average positive earnings surprise history of 144.79%. Shares of this company have gone up 26.8% year to date.Vista Gold CorporationVGZ: Shares of this Littleton, CO-based company have gained 44.7% year to date. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2019 has gone up 10% over the past 90 days.Franco-Nevada CorporationFNV: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for this Toronto, Canada-based company suggests year-over-year growth of 11.97%. Further, the estimate has moved north 8% over the past 90 days. The company has an average positive earnings surprise history of 6.38% over the trailing four quarters. The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 4% and a Zacks Rank #2. Shares of this company have gone up 20.9% year to date.Gold Fields LimitedGFI: This Sandton, South Africa-based company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 has gone up 200% over the past 90 days. The stock has surged 53.6% year to date.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportAgnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportGold Fields Limited (GFI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportVista Gold Corporation (VGZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFranco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Conduent (CNDT) Surges: Stock Moves 6.4% Higher Conduent IncorporatedCNDT was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 6% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This breaks the recent trend of the company, as the stock is now trading above the volatile price range of $8.77 to $9.24 in the past one-month time frame. The company has seen no changes when it comes to estimate revision over the past few weeks, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also remained unchanged. The recent price action is encouraging though, so make sure to keep a close watch on this firm in the near future. Conduent currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) while its Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Conduent Inc. Price Conduent Inc. price \| Conduent Inc. Quote Investors interested in the Outsourcing industry may consider Barrett Business Services, Inc. BBSI, which has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Is CNDT going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think:Up or Down The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportConduent Inc. (CNDT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBarrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Bobby Bonilla Day: The story behind the best baseball contract ever The most interesting holiday of America’s favorite pastime comes just three days before the country celebrates its independence. On July 1 of every year from 2011 to 2035, the New York Mets have and will write a $1.19 million check to former player Bobby Bonilla — even though he hasn’t suited up for the team in the 21st century. “We got a guaranteed 8% interest rate,” Dennis Gilbert, the sports agent who negotiated the contract for Bonilla, told Yahoo Finance (video above). “Made it work and gave him income all the way through age 65.” The Bronx native will be paid in roughly $29.75 million over the course of the contract — and it all sprang from a $5.9 million salary owed to Bonilla for the 2000 season. “No one really knew about it until it came news,” Bonilla told Yahoo Finance. “It was pretty funny that all of a sudden now it became this thing. Every time I look at Dennis, I say: ‘Thank you.’” Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla last stepped on the field wearing the Mets’ dark blue and orange colors in the last game of the 1999 regular season when he grounded out to Pittsburgh Pirates’ first baseman Kevin Young as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning. Following their expulsion from the postseason, the kings from Queens immediately went into restructuring the roster, starting with Bobby Bonilla. After all, in the 1999 season, the outfielder played60 games and hit .160. “Yeah, '99, which is probably the toughest year play. The one year I went back with the Mets, probably the most difficult year,” Bonilla said. In his 16 years in the league with eight teams, Bobby Bo collected three-time Silver Slugger awards, six MLB All-Star selections, and a World Series ring with the 1997 Florida Marlins. The Mets traded for Bonilla before the 1999 season from the Los Angeles Dodgers for relief pitcher Mel Rojas. The trade meant taking on the final two years of a $23.3 million contract that would have the boys from Flushing paying $5.9 million a year. Bonilla made waves in 1999 — but mostly for his struggles on and off the field. He struggled to get on base and he fought with the press and Mets management, including namesake and manager at the time Bobby Valentine. His most infamous moment during the season came in the sixth game of the NLCS match against the Braves when he was spottedplaying cards in the clubhousewith future Hall of Famer and teammate Rickey Henderson. The Mets had enough, and so they met up with Bonilla’s agent and agreed on a deal that would go down in the Hall of Fame of retirement plans. “The general manager of the Mets needed to free up some money to sign some free agents or to sign a free agent. He needed to have the money now to pay the free agent,” said Gilbert, CEO of the Gilbert Group and a special assistant to the Chicago White Sox. Gilbert, who played alongside Dock Ellis in high school and dreamed of becoming the owner of the Dodgers, was known around the baseball world as someone who would give both sides of the aisle a fair deal. And the deal became to defer the $5.9 million the Mets owed Bonilla in 2000 in lieu of paying Bonilla in installments from 2011 to 2035. And by releasing Bobby Bo and signing the deal, the Metsfreed up $6 millionto sign free agent Mike Hampton, who went on to become the 2000 NLCS MVP. And when Hampton left after the Metropolitans lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series, the team was awarded the draft pick that would become team legend and former captain David Wright. This sort of deal occasionally occurs in professional baseball. “Remember, it's not what you make or what you have. It's what you keep,” said Gilbert. “Deferred compensation helps you keep your money.” The Atlanta Braves paidBruce Sutter’s $45 millionover 30 years, and the Boston Red Sox are paying Manny Ramirez — who last played for the team in 2008 – about $30 million total from 2011 to 2026. Gilbert — who has represented players such as Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Mike Piazza, and Henderson — worked out deferment deals for other players such as Bonilla’s former teammate Bret Saberhagen. That said, Bonilla’s circumstances are special enough that journalists began referring to July 1 as “Bobby Bonilla Day.” Part of what made Bonilla’s situation unique was that Mets owner Fred Wilpon was heavily invested in the massivePonzi schemerun by his pal Bernie Madoff that promised a guaranteed 10-15% return each year. Federal authorities arrested Madoff on December 11, 2008, and he was convicted of various kinds of fraud, money laundering, false statements, perjury, and more. Wilpon lost anestimated $700 millionin the scam. Another wrinkle is that the Mets are actually paying two separate deferment contracts to Bonilla. The New York native signed a five-year, $29 million contract — MLB history’s largest at the time — starting in 1992 before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1995. Gilbert claims that the contract would push the deferment payout to around $50 million, though the details of the deferment deals are not clear. In any case, not bad for a slugger who madecareer earnings of $46.45 millionfor his playing time. “I will tell you,” Gilbert said as we spoke to Bonilla over the phone, “you’re the first person he’s talked to [about this] in a lot of years.” Video and reportage by Yahoo Finance Producer Ignazio Monda. 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Is It Worth Buying Barrett Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBSI) For Its 1.2% Dividend Yield? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Is Barrett Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBSI) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. 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. A 1.2% yield is nothing to get excited about, but investors probably think the long payment history suggests Barrett Business Services has some staying power. 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 Barrett Business Services! 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. Barrett Business Services paid out 16% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. We'd say its dividends are thoroughly covered by earnings. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Barrett Business Services's cash payout ratio last year was 7.6%. Cash flows are typically lumpy, but this looks like an appropriately conservative payout. 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. Consider gettingour latest analysis on Barrett Business Services's financial position here. 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 Barrett Business Services's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.32 in 2009, compared to US$1.00 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 12% per year over this time. Dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period. 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. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Barrett Business Services has grown its earnings per share at 23% per annum over the past five 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. 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. Firstly, we like that Barrett Business Services has low and conservative payout ratios. We like that it has been delivering solid improvement in its earnings per share, and relatively consistent dividend payments. Overall, we think there are a lot of positives to Barrett Business Services from a dividend perspective. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 3 analysts we track are forecasting for Barrett Business Servicesfor freewith publicanalyst estimates for the company. 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.
Gupta family's wedding planners fined for 'open defecation' and littering at luxury ski resort Waste was left after days of celebrations in the Auli hill station in Uttarakhand - AFP The wedding planners hired by South Africa's scandal-plagued Gupta family have been fined for open defecation and littering following the opulent celebrations at a scenic Himalayan resort, an official said Monday. The wealthy Indian migrant family, who left South Africa in 2017, is being investigated over a web of murky deals involving government officials and state-owned entities during former president Jacob Zuma's nine-year reign. The three brothers had hired wedding planning firm E-Factors to organise their sons' lavish nuptials last month at Auli, a pristine ski resort ringed by the Nanda Devi mountain range in northern Uttarakhand state. The weddings drew widespread attention in India after photos showed the picturesque venue littered with rotting flowers, food and other garbage. SP Nautiyal, a local civic official, said the planners have been fined 250,000 rupees (£2,900) for leaving behind the mess. Some of the workers hired by the company had even defecated in the open, he said. "For defecating in the open we have imposed a fine of 100,000 rupees and another 150,000 rupees penalty has been levied for scattering garbage," Mr Nautiyal said. The hotel where the weddings took place has also been fined 25,000 rupees for "keeping sewage lines open". Local media reports said civic workers had so far collected some 30 tons of garbage, with trucks being sent daily to collect the waste since June 22. The Times of India on Monday quoted a local official as saying that temporary toilets had been set up for hundreds of guests but no such facilities were built to accommodate the workers. "We assume that they... defecated in the open", it quoted an unnamed official as saying. View comments
Here's Why I Think Barrett Business Services (NASDAQ:BBSI) Might Deserve Your Attention Today Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. And in their study titledWho Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?'Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes. In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies likeBarrett Business Services(NASDAQ:BBSI), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. Conversely, a loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the sweet milk of external capital may run sour. View our latest analysis for Barrett Business Services If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS). That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Impressively, Barrett Business Services has grown EPS by 23% per year, compound, in the last three years. As a general rule, we'd say that if a company can keep upthatsort of growth, shareholders will be smiling. I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Barrett Business Services reported flat revenue and EBIT margins over the last year. That's not bad, but it doesn't point to ongoing future growth, either. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want tocheck this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Barrett Business Services. It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests. So it is good to see that Barrett Business Services insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. To be specific, they have US$25m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that's only about 4.1% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders. Given my belief that share price follows earnings per share you can easily imagine how I feel about Barrett Business Services's strong EPS growth. I think that EPS growth is something to boast of, and it doesn't surprise me that insiders are holding on to a considerable chunk of shares. So this is very likely the kind of business that I like to spend time researching, with a view to discerning its true value. Of course, just because Barrett Business Services is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you're wondering about the valuation, check outthis gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry. Although Barrett Business Services certainly looks good to me, I would like it more if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, too, then thisfreelist of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Here's Why You Should Retain Cardinal Health (CAH) Stock Cardinal Health, Inc.CAH is well poised for growth backed by diversified product portfolio, acquisition-driven strategy and robust pharmaceutical segment. However, integration risks remain a concern.The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Price PerformanceShares of Cardinal Health have gained 5.6%, underperforming the industry’s growth of 18.2% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the stock fell short of the S&P 500 Index’s rally of 16%. What’s Weighing on the Stock?Given the acquisition-driven strategy followed by the company, integration risks tend to follow.Moreover, intense competition in each of the business segments poses a concern for Cardinal Health.Factors to Bolster Cardinal HealthCardinal Health’s Medical and Pharmaceutical offerings provide the company a competitive edge in the niche space. It offers industry expertise and an expanding portfolio of safe products.The company follows an acquisition-driven strategy and continues to remain committed toward investment in key growth businesses to gain market traction and bolster profits.The company’s Pharmaceutical segment boasts of being the second largest pharmaceutical distributor in the United States. The segment’s products and services consist of pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturer and specialty services, and nuclear and pharmacy services. These in turn are anticipated to drive the company’s performance in the quarters ahead.Which Way Are Estimates Headed?For 2019, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $144.82 billion, indicating an improvement of 5.9% from the year-ago period. For adjusted earnings per share, the same stands at $5.10, suggesting growth of 2% from the year-ago reported figure.Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. CSII, Oxford Immunotec Global PLC OXFD and Haemonetics Corporation HAE, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Cardiovascular Systems has earnings growth rate for fiscal fourth quarter of 2019 of 33.3%.Oxford Immunotec has a long-term earnings growth rate of 25%.Haemonetics has a long-term earnings growth rate 13.5%. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 reportOxford Immunotec Global PLC (OXFD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportHaemonetics Corporation (HAE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSII) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
UPDATE 1-Ireland invests disputed Apple taxes in low-risk bonds (Adds details, quotes) DUBLIN, July 1 (Reuters) - Ireland's debt agency has invested disputed taxes collected from Apple in low risk, highly rated euro-dominated fixed income securities, mainly short to medium-term sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds, it said in an annual report. The European Commission ruled in August 2016 that Apple had received unfair tax incentives from Dublin in breach of EU state aid rules and ordered Ireland to recover more than 14 billion euros, including interest, from the iPhone maker. While Apple and Dublin are appealing against the ruling, saying the tax treatment was in line with Irish and EU law, Apple nevertheless had to hand over the full amount, pending the result of the appeal - which will likely take several years. Ireland is holding the funds in an escrow account whose aim, the National Treasury Management Agency's (NTMA) annual report said, was to preserve capital to the greatest extent possible given prevailing market conditions. The government said Irish taxpayers would be protected from any losses when setting up the fund. NTMA chief executive Conor O'Kelly said on Monday that the value of the fund was very likely to fall unless the interest rate environment changes. "For example, at minus 50 basis points interest rate on average, which is close to the current portfolio's construction average, that would be a 5 million loss per billion, so that's a 70 million loss in value per annum," O'Kelly said at the launch of the annual report. "But there is no loss to the state. Apple and Ireland have agreed that the pot is the pot, whatever is there at the end so we don't have to make up any difference. That's an agreed investment policy." (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
EUR/USD Mid-Session Technical Analysis for July 1, 2019 The Euro is trading lower on Monday, but clawing back more than half of its earlier losses. Shortly after the steady opening, the single-currency plunged in reaction to a rise in U.S. Treasury yields. The catalyst behind the move was the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to restart trade negotiations. The Euro was also pressured by weak PMI data. At 12:37 GMT, theEUR/USDis trading 1.1356, down 0.0014 or -0.12%. In other news, factory activity in the Euro Zone shrank faster last month than previously thought in a broad-based downturn, according to a survey on Monday that suggested there would be no quick turnaround. The weak data will likely add to calls for the European Central Bank (ECB) to ease monetary policy. IHS Markit’s June final manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was 47.6, below an earlier flash reading of 47.8 and May’s 47.7, marking its fifth month below the 50 level separating growth from contraction. The main trend is up according to the daily swing chart. However, momentum has been trending lower since the formation of the closing price reversal top on June 25 at 1.1413. A trade through 1.1413 will negate the closing price reversal top and signal a resumption of the uptrend. A trade through today’s intraday low at 1.1317 will indicate the selling is getting stronger. The main trend will officially turn lower on a trade through 1.1181. The minor range is 1.1413 to 1.1317. Its 50% level or pivot at 1.1365 is new resistance. The main range is 1.1448 to 1.1107. Its retracement zone at 1.1318 to 1.1278 is new support. This zone is also controlling the longer-term direction of the EUR/USD. The short-term range is 1.1181 to 1.1413. If the selling continues then look for a break into its retracement zone at 1.1297 to 1.1270. Since the main trend is up, buyers could come in on a test of this area. The main and short-term retracement zones overlap to form the best potential support at 1.1278 to 1.1270. The EUR/USD is currently trading between support at 1.1318 and resistance at 1.1365. This price action suggests traders are torn between a weaker U.S. Dollar because of an anticipated rate cut by the Fed, and weakening Euro Zone data, which suggests the ECB may have to ease monetary policy. Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire • S&P 500 Price Forecast – Stock markets tread water • XRP Keeps Retreating • GBP/USD Price Forecast – British pound find buyers • Gold Price Futures (GC) Technical Analysis – Setting Up for Volatile Breakout • USD/JPY Price Forecast – US dollar continues to churn against Japanese yen • Crude Oil Price Update – Taking Out $57.75 Changed Daily Trend to Down
The US is in its longest economic expansion in history Welcome to the longest US economic expansion on record! Today begins the 121st month of growth since June 2009, when the last trough ended, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research . The previous record was 120 months of economic growth from March 1991 to March 2001. Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune is built on fraud, a former mentor says Alongside this record expansion, the US is also in its longest stretch of monthly job gains, according to non-farm payrolls data by the Labor Department, and the US unemployment rate is at its lowest since 1969 . Of course, not every month of this expansion has been smooth. The early months were battling out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Since then much of the growth has been sustained by rock-bottom interest rates and a massive asset-buying spree by the central bank. As the expansion ages, it’s getting trickier to manage. At the moment, the Federal Reserve looks set to cut interest rates this year to extend the expansion as adverse US trade policy, particularly against China, and persistently low inflation threaten to end this record-setting period of growth. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief , our free daily newsletter with the world’s most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Tip your delivery worker in cash, not via an app A “Go Back to Africa” media campaign uses AI to boost African American tourism
New Strong Sell Stocks for July 1st Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: AeroVironment, Inc.AVAV is a designer and operator of a portfolio of products and services for government agencies and businesses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 5.6% downward over the last 30 days. ArcBest CorporationARCB is a provider of freight transportation services and integrated logistics solutions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 0.9% downward over the last 30 days. Carnival CorporationCCL is the owner and operator of a leisure travel company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 4.6% downward over the last 30 days. Cognex CorporationCGNX is a provider of machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 1% downward over the last 30 days. Dorian LPG Ltd.LPG is engaged in transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) through its LPG tankers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised more than 100% downward over the last 30 days. View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List. 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 reportDorian LPG Ltd. (LPG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportArcBest Corporation (ARCB) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCarnival Corporation (CCL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCognex Corporation (CGNX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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