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Europe's 5G delayed by trade war and security reviews, says Tele2 CEO By Esha Vaish STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The rollout of 5G services across Europe has being slowed by U.S. sanctions against Huawei and as European governments review the impact of using Chinese equipment, the head of Swedish telecoms group Tele2 said. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had targeted Huawei on security grounds but a partial lifting of restrictions was a key element of a weekend agreement to reopen stalled trade negotiations with China. Tele2 CEO Anders Nilsson said the biggest impact of the restrictions and security concerns was being felt through a delay in 5G investment across Europe. Tele2, Sweden's second largest telecoms company which also operates in the Baltic countries, has been holding off on striking deals with equipment suppliers. "We have a global supply chain, so whoever you buy equipment from you will find components from China. Even if we buy equipment from Ericsson, which is our neighbor here, you will find Chinese hardware and parts in that equipment," he told Reuters at Tele2's Stockholm headquarters. "We're right now talking to all the vendors, but decisions are postponed. This is not only Huawei, this is all vendors." He also said he had no plans to stop selling Huawei handsets as U.S. sanctions had not led to any significant drop in sales or impact in demand. 4G OR 5G? 5G rollout has been billed as transformative for the telecommunications industry, resulting in a 10-fold increase in data transfer capacity that would help enable self-driving car fleets and smart factories. Nilsson said that consumers were likely to face higher prices if governments banned Huawei, limiting competition to Nordic suppliers Ericsson and Nokia. "From our perspective, the main reason to do 5G right now is because it is a good way to build capacity, but we can continue building capacity in 4G. So 5G is not something we need to do right now," he said in an interview before Sino-U.S. tensions eased over the weekend. "But... ultimately if we go down the more protectionist route here, consumers will have to pay price." In follow-up comments on Monday, Nilsson said his view was unaltered. "We follow the events with great interest, but it's too early to take any firm decisions based on it," he said. CASH IS KING He expects a drawn-out 5G rollout, with peak capital spending for his company of only about 3-3.5 billion Swedish crowns, largely in line with Tele2's capex of 3 billion crown ($323 million) last year which included no 5G investment. Tele2 is focused on turning itself into a cash generative company, growing revenues by improving consumer retention and bundling services together, and then keeping spending flat to allow it to make hefty payouts to shareholders. Nilsson said possible options for future payouts were special dividends, increasing the regular dividend or share buybacks. He also reiterated Tele2's medium-term outlook for low-single digit growth in end-user service revenue and mid-single digit growth of adjusted EBITDA. The company has transformed its business to achieve its goals, in recent years exiting several regions and buying cable TV firm Com Hem last year. In February, it doubled its cost savings target from the ComHem deal to 900 million Swedish crowns. Nilsson said he expected Tele2 to be able to deliver cost savings of "billions of Swedish crowns" on top of that target, by integrating Swedish operations under a common IT infrastructure and integrating the tech service teams. "We're still planning right now, but this could add billions of more kronas in savings long term," he said. (Additional reporting Helena Soderpalm in Stockholm; editing by Niklas Pollard/Keith Weir)
What does Westlake Chemical Corporation's (NYSE:WLK) Balance Sheet Tell Us About Its Future? 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 Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE:WLK), with a market capitalization of US$8.9b, 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 WLK’s debt concentration and assess their financial liquidity to get an idea of their ability to fund strategic acquisitions and grow through cyclical pressures. Remember this is a very top-level look that focuses exclusively on financial health, so I recommend a deeper analysisinto WLK here. See our latest analysis for Westlake Chemical Over the past year, WLK has maintained its debt levels at around US$3.1b including long-term debt. At this constant level of debt, WLK currently has US$445m remaining in cash and short-term investments , ready to be used for running the business. On top of this, WLK has generated US$1.3b in operating cash flow over the same time period, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 43%, meaning that WLK’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. Looking at WLK’s US$1.2b in current liabilities, it seems that the business has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 2.14x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. For Chemicals companies, this ratio is within a sensible range as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments. With debt reaching 44% of equity, WLK may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is not uncommon for a mid-cap company given that debt tends to be lower-cost and at times, more accessible. We can test if WLK’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. Ideally, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) should cover net interest by at least three times. For WLK, the ratio of 11.65x suggests that interest is comfortably covered, which means that lenders may be less hesitant to lend out more funding as WLK’s high interest coverage is seen as responsible and safe practice. WLK’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. Since there is also no concerns around WLK's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. I admit this is a fairly basic analysis for WLK's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Westlake Chemical to get a better picture of the mid-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for WLK’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor WLK’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is WLK 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 WLK 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.
Ocasio-Cortez describes 'horrifying' conditions at Texas migrant facility By Julio-Cesar Chavez CLINT, Texas (Reuters) - Controversy broadsided the embattled U.S. Border Patrol agency Monday, as a high-profile U.S. Congresswoman touring detention facilities called conditions "horrifying" and as current and former agency staffers were alleged to have posted offensive comments about the lawmaker and migrants on a private Facebook page. Migrants held at a border patrol station in Texas were subjected to psychological abuse and told to drink out of toilets, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said after a visit with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to the main border patrol facility in El Paso. The tour, which also included a visit to a Clint, Texas, facility, followed reports from a government watchdog that immigrants were being housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1145855501533663232 "After I forced myself into a cell with women and began speaking to them, one of them described their treatment at the hands of officers as "psychological warfare," Ocasio-Cortez, a first-term New York Democrat, wrote on Twitter after leaving the El Paso border patrol station. "This has been horrifying so far." U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her statements about the visit. https://twitter.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/1145837857539612673 The Border Patrol also came under fire on Monday following a report by the non-profit news site ProPublica that offensive content had been posted on a private Facebook group for current and former CBP officers. Posts included jokes about the deaths of migrants and sexually explicit comments referencing Ocasio-Cortez, the news outlet said. Reuters did not independently confirm the report. "This isnt about 'a few bad eggs,'" Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to the ProPublica report. "This is a violent culture." Story continues CBP condemned the Facebook group and acknowledged that it may include a number of the agency's employees. Matthew Klein, Assistant Commissioner of CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, called the social media activity "disturbing" and said it violated the agency's code of conduct. Klein said the matter had been referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general, which has jurisdiction over the CBP. According to a screen shot published by ProPublica, the Facebook group had 9,500 members. "These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honor and integrity I see - and expect - from our agents day in and day out," U.S. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said in a statement. "Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable." 'DANGEROUS OVERCROWDING' Conditions at U.S. facilities holding migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border have become a flashpoint since an internal government watchdog warned of "dangerous overcrowding" at the El Paso facility in May. In June, immigration lawyers raised alarms over squalid conditions facing hundreds of children at another facility in Clint, Texas. The lawmakers visited both Texas facilities on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his administration, but officials say a renewed crush of mostly Central Americans arriving at the border has strained resources. Border apprehensions topped 132,000 in May, their highest levels in more than a decade. During the legislators' visit Monday, Congresswoman Judy Chu, a California Democrat, spoke emotionally about what she saw. "I will never forget the image of being in a cell and seeing 15 women, tears coming down heir faces as they talked about being separated from their children, about having no running water, and about not being able to know when they were going to get out since they had already been there 50 days." She added, "A woman talked about being an epileptic and not having access to any medicine." The Trump administration, criticized for a policy of family separation last year, says it now separates children from parents and legal guardians only if there is some perceived risk to the child. It has given few details on the criteria for those decisions. Border Patrol agents have expressed their own concerns about conditions at facilities, according to documents published Monday from the DHS Inspector General that supported the watchdog's May report. The documents revealed U.S. agents feared riots by migrants being held in overcrowded and unsanitary cells and were "embarrassed" and "frustrated" by the detainees' conditions at El Paso. The documents https://bit.ly/2XgmO5b were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request from website MuckRock and first reported by NBC News on Monday. They showed DHS inspectors had found on a May 7 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-border/government-watchdog-finds-dangerous-overcrowding-at-u-s-border-facility-idUSKCN1T12GI) that more than half of the 756 immigrants being held at the El Paso facility were kept outside, and those inside were in cells packed at five times their capacity. Border Patrol agents "remained armed in the holding areas because of their concerns with the overcrowding that potentially could result in volatile situations," the documents revealed. Government inspectors saw migrants standing on toilets because there was not enough room in cells and other examples of unsanitary conditions leading to concerns about illness among the agents, the documents said. CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the documents. The U.S. government responded to the report in a letter to the watchdog included in the supporting documents. The situation "represents an acute and worsening crisis" and the surging numbers of migrants were overwhelming the agencies, the letter said. MORALE PROBLEMS U.S. Border Patrol agents complain of being understaffed and overwhelmed with the surge of families at the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency has about 19,000 agents nationwide, less than the roughly 21,500 agents it is authorized to have. Border Patrol officials say the agency recruits non-stop but cannot get the numbers of recruits it needs. In May, Provost said agents now spend at least 40 percent of their time as "child care professionals, medical caregivers, bus drivers, and food service workers," rather doing the law enforcement jobs they were trained for. That has brought morale problems in hard-hit sectors such as El Paso, media say. One unnamed agent told El Paso TV station KVIA that officers' jobs had been reduced to "babysitting" migrants while smugglers exploited their absence on the border. (Reporting by Julio-Cesar Chavez in Clint, Texas; Reporting and writing by Mica Rosenberg in New York; Additional reporting from Andy Sullivan and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Gold Mining Tops in June: 5 Best ETFs, Stocks Gold was on a rise in June and recorded its best month in three years, climbing about 8%. The rally was primarily driven by hopes of loose monetary policies across the globe and flight to safe haven owing to rising geopolitical tensions and global growth worries.In particular, the Federal Reserve has opened the door for interest rate cuts as soon as next month. Lower rates will continue to weigh on the dollar against the basket of currencies, raising the yellow metal’s attractiveness as it does not pay interest like fixed-income assets. Additionally, other major central banks have also been adopting easy money policies that have boosted the yellow metal.A combination of factors including falling yields, trade gyrations between the United States and China as well as escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions spurred demand for the yellow metal as a great store of value and hedge against market turmoil. Further, gold purchases by central banks have soared this year. Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded funds are at the highest since 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg (read: Should You Buy Gold ETFs Now).Based on the bullish fundamentals, gold price surpassed the key $1,400 level for the first time since April. Acting as a leveraged play on the underlying metal prices, metal miners tend to experience more gains than their bullion cousins in a rising metal market.Given this, we highlight five gold mining ETFs and stocks that led the market in June. These could be excellent plays for investors, who believe that gold will continue to move higher given the rocky fundamentals.iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF RING: Up 21.1%This ETF offers exposure to companies that derive the majority of their revenues from gold mining. It follows the MSCI ACWI Select Gold Miners Investable Market Index and holds 35 securities in its portfolio. About half of the portfolio is allotted to Canadian firms while United States, South Africa and Australia round off the next three with double-digit exposure each. The fund charges 39 bps in fees and expenses, and trades in good volume of 195,000 shares per day. It has been able to manage assets worth $240.9 million.Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF SGDJ: Up 20%This fund follows the Sprott Zacks Junior Gold Miners Index, holding 33 stocks in its basket. Canada takes the top spot at 71% followed by the United Kingdom (6%) and South Africa (5%). The fund has amassed $59.3 million in its asset base and trades in moderate volume of around 12,000 shares a day. It charges 57 bps in annual fees from investors (read: Gold Mining ETF (SGDJ) Hits New 52-Week High).Sprott Gold Miners ETF SGDM: Up 19.6%This fund follows the Sprott Zacks Gold Miners Index, holding 27 stocks in its basket. Here again, Canada takes the top spot at 77% followed by 9% in South Africa and 6% in the United States. The fund has amassed $170.4 million in its asset base and trades in moderate volume of around 36,000 shares a day. It charges 57 bps in annual fees from investors (read: Best June for Stocks in Decades: 5 Best ETFs).Global X Gold Explorers ETF GOEX: Up 18.6%The ETF provides exposure to companies involved in the exploration of gold deposits and tracks the Solactive Global Gold Explorers & Developers Total Return Index. It is home to 56 stocks, and Canadian firms dominate the fund’s return at 52% followed by Australia (26%) and the United Kingdom (12%). The fund is unpopular and illiquid with AUM of $39.2 million and average daily volume of 9,000 shares. Expense ratio comes in at 0.65%.VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF GDX: Up 18.4%This is the most-popular and actively traded gold miner ETF with AUM of $10.5 billion and average daily volume of around 43.3 million shares. The fund follows the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, holding 44 stocks in its basket. Canadian firms account for half of the portfolio, while the United States (18.9%) and Australia (17.4%) round off the top three. The fund charges 52 bps in annual fees.Eldorado Gold Corporation EGO: Up 59.9%This is a gold producing and exploration company with gold assets in Brazil and Turkey. The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and VGM Score of F. It has a market cap of $924.2 million.Novagold Resources Inc. NG: Up 51.9%It is a gold and copper company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Alaska and Western Canada. With a market cap of $1.92 billion, it has a Zacks Rank #3 and VGM Score of B. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.New Gold Inc. NGD – Up 48.7%This company is focused on the exploration and development of the Afton Copper-Gold Project, located 6 miles (10 km) west of Kamloops, British Columbia. It has a Zacks Rank #3 and VGM Score of B. The stock has a market cap of $556.7 million.Timmons Gold Corp ALO – Up 47%This gold mining company is engaged in exploration, development and production primarily in Mexico. The stock has a Zacks Rank #3 and VGM Score of C. It has a market cap of $66.1 million (read: Gold ETFs Likely to Rule 2H Irrespective of Fed Rate Cut).AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. AU: Up 43.7%It is the largest gold producer at 7 million ounces a year, with reserves of 126 million ounce. With a market cap of $7.3 billion, it has a Zacks Rank #3 and VGM Score of A.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 reportSprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (SGDJ): ETF Research ReportsGlobal X Gold Explorers ETF (GOEX): ETF Research ReportsSprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM): ETF Research ReportsVanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX): ETF Research ReportsiShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING): ETF Research ReportsEldorado Gold Corporation (EGO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAngloGold Ashanti Limited (AU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNovagold Resources Inc. (NG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNew Gold Inc. (NGD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTimmons Gold Corp (ALO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.
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Does Westlake Chemical Corporation's (NYSE:WLK) 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-cap and large-cap companies receive a lot of attention from investors, but mid-cap stocks like Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE:WLK), with a market cap of US$8.9b, are often out of the spotlight. However, generally ignored mid-caps have historically delivered better risk-adjusted returns than the two other categories of stocks. Let’s take a look at WLK’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 commentary is very high-level and solely focused on financial health, so I suggest you dig deeper yourselfinto WLK here. See our latest analysis for Westlake Chemical Over the past year, WLK has maintained its debt levels at around US$3.1b – this includes long-term debt. At this constant level of debt, WLK currently has US$445m remaining in cash and short-term investments to keep the business going. Moreover, WLK has produced cash from operations of US$1.3b in the last twelve months, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 43%, signalling that WLK’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. Looking at WLK’s US$1.2b in current liabilities, it appears that the company has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of US$2.6b, with a current ratio of 2.14x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. For Chemicals companies, this ratio is within a sensible range as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments. WLK is a relatively highly levered company with a debt-to-equity of 44%. 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 WLK's case, the ratio of 11.65x suggests that interest is comfortably covered, which means that lenders may be less hesitant to lend out more funding as WLK’s high interest coverage is seen as responsible and safe practice. WLK’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 WLK's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. You should continue to research Westlake Chemical to get a better picture of the mid-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for WLK’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor WLK’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is WLK 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 WLK 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.
Need To Know: Victrex plc (LON:VCT) Insiders Have Been Buying Shares Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inVictrex plc(LON:VCT). 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 equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. 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'. Check out our latest analysis for Victrex In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when CEO & Executive Director Jakob Sigurdsson bought UK£72k worth of shares at a price of UK£24.15 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of UK£21.64. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders bought 7958 shares for a total of UK£185k. While Victrex insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). It's good to see that Victrex insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. Jakob Sigurdsson spent UK£63k on stock, and there wasn't any selling. This makes one think the business has some good points. I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Based on our data, Victrex insiders have about 0.07% of the stock, worth approximately UK£1.3m. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership. The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Victrex insiders are expecting a bright future. Of course,the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Victrex, you should check out thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Of course,you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere.So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Follow Live: NHL free agency begins It seems to be starting earlier and earlier every summer, but the NHL free agent period has now officially arrived. And it leaves just one thing to do now, as one NHL GM told TSN’s Gord Miller: It’s time to give out some bad contracts. Here are the important agreements brokered on July 1: Islanders lock up Lee The Isles will keep their captain in Long Island after signing Aners Lee to a 7-year deal with an AAV of $7 million. Anders Lee gets $7 million AAV on a 7-year deal with the #isles — Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2019 Panthers pay premium on Stralman Florida has made its second major splash, landing defenseman Anton Stralman in free agency. Stralman will earn $5.5. million annually on a three-year term after a successful run with the Lightning. Simmonds lands in Jersey The New Jersey Devils continued to add to their roster in free agency, inking Wayne Simmonds to a one-year deal worth $5 million. #NJDevils news: The club has agreed to terms with right wing Wayne Simmonds on a one-year contract worth $5,000,000. pic.twitter.com/6HrpsM99Xt — New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 1, 2019 Stars officially sign Pavelski Joe Pavelski has officially picked up and left San Jose. Dallas has confirmed its three-year agreement with the former Sharks captain. It’s believed that Pavelski will earn $21 million over the life of the deal. Captain America comes to Dallas! Welcome to the Stars, Joe Pavelski! #GoStars pic.twitter.com/JYlUPCwibi — Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 1, 2019 Bellemare heads to Denver Colorado had added another useful piece, luring Pierre-Edouard Bellemare from Vegas on a two-year agreement. Story continues Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is heading to the #Avs on a two-year deal with $1.8 million AAV. — Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019 Panthers make it official with Bobrovsky The NHL has a new $10 million netminder. Sergei Bobrovsky had agree to seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers. We’ve got our man! Welcome to the next era of #FlaPanthers goaltending. » https://t.co/TIfpXBlDL9 pic.twitter.com/Yd1KDiMDfs — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 1, 2019 Oilers keep Chiasson With Alex Chiasson signed to a two-year contract with an AAV just over $2 million, Edmonton has locked up a key contributor from last season on a team-friendly deal. Blue Jackets nab Nyquist After losing Artemi Panarin to the Rangers, Columbus has apparently signed Gustav Nyquist to a four-year contract worth $22 million. Nyquist had 22 goals and 60 points last season — or 27 fewer than Panarin — split between the Red Wings and Sharks. Not bad business considering. Avs land Donskoi Colorado will pay a premium to lure Joonas Donskoi from the Sharks. The depth forward will sign a four-year contract with an AAV approaching $4 million. Also hearing 4 years times $3.9 M aav as my good friend @ryan_s_clark says below https://t.co/wNPbVi93Rf — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019 Canucks agree to terms with Myers Myers will be introduced in Vancouver on a five-year deal worth $30 million. The Canucks will add Myers, Jordie Benn and Oscar Fantenberg to their defense corps, while Ben Hutton is expected to leave in free agency. Rangers closing in on Artemi Panarin It’s not official, but it seems as though Panarin has chosen to sign with the New York Rangers. The Breadman apparently left money on the table to join Kaapo Kakko on Broadway after competitive offers from the Blue Jackets and Islanders, but will break the bank anyway. Panarin‘ s AAV is $11.642M, seven-year deal obviously. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019 If Panarin does indeed sign with New York, he will serve as the key piece to an already impressive offseason haul. The New York Rangers just really just messed around and added Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox this offseason — Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) July 1, 2019 Duchene will make it official in Nashville The Predators will officially ink Matt Duchene to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $8 million on Tuesday. Here’s a breakdown of the contract: Duchene contract with Preds includes $28 million in signing bonus money. Year by year total: $10 mil, $8 mil, $10mil, $8mil, $9 mil, $6 mil, $5 mil. — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019 Perry chooses the Stars Corey Perry will indeed land with the Dallas Stars on a one-year, heavily-incentivized contract. Corey Perry's bonuses in DAL could take him up to $3.25M on a one-year deal — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2019 Tanev secures the bag in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh has made a significant investment in a productive bottom-six forward, signing Brandon Tanev from Winnipeg for six seasons. Tanev will apparently earn $3.5 million annually throughout the life of the deal. Wow. Six year deal for Brandon Tanev with an AAV of around $3.5M. https://t.co/T1Eh4t67mz — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019 Acciari headed to Florida Noel Acciari is expected to sign a three-year contract worth $5 million with the Florida Panthers. He had six goals and 14 points on the Bruins’ fourth line last season, which appears to be enough to double his salary. Kinkaid to land in Montreal Carey Price has his insulation. Keith Kinkaid is set to join the Canadiens on a one-year contract. After a career season, Kinkaid took a step back last year, failing to stop pucks at a .900 clip for the disappointing Devils. But he’s been pretty solid in a clear-cut backup role in his career. MTL and goalie Keith Kincaid @Blockaid1 working to finalize a one-year contract. Many emojis to come. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019 Benn signs with Vancouver It appears the Canucks will make a bigger splash with Tyler Myers, but for now they have added Jordie Benn to the blue line on a two-year deal worth $4 million. Jordie Benn will sign for $2 M x two years with Vancouver today — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019 McElhinney lands with Tampa Bay After a historic regular season, the Bolts have found a way to improve. Now backing Vezina winner Andrei Vasilevskiy is Curtis McElhinney, who is coming off a brilliant season in Carolina. With the @TBLightning signing Curtis McElhinney today it’s looks like Louis Domingue is on the block. — Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019 Rangers deal Vesey to Sabres Jimmy Vesey’s run in New York is through. The Rangers have dealt him to Buffalo for a future third-round draft pick. We have acquired forward Jimmy Vesey from the @NYRangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Details: https://t.co/BZhDcuKMYP pic.twitter.com/LpgaJrM8dp — Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 1, 2019 Andrej Sekera signs with Stars Fresh off being bought out by the Oilers, the veteran Sekera has landed with the Dallas Stars. He’ll join Jim Montgomery’s fleet on a $1.5 million deal including incentives. Expect DAL to sign recently bought-out defenceman Andrej Sekera to a one-year contract today. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019 Jackets lock up Korpisalo With Sergei Bobrovsky expected to be on the move, the Blue Jackets have given Joonas Korpisalo the chance to establish his value on a one-year deal. Korpisalo is for the moment slated to be the No. 1 netminder in Columbus with entry-level addition Elvis Merzlikins also under contract. Korpi re-signs with the #CBJ ✍️→ https://t.co/yVUwQaI4Q8 pic.twitter.com/IJ07yxxBff — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 1, 2019 Oilers to add Markus Granlund Markus Granlund will complete the tour of Western Canada. After stints with Calgary and Vancouver, he will land in Edmonton on a one-year deal, where he can recoup some of the value he’s lost in his recent injury-impacted seasons. Granlund is apparently slotted for the fourth-line centre role despite seeing more time on the wing in recent seasons. Hainsey, Ennis set to sign in Ottawa New coach D.J. Smith will have plenty of familiar faces with him in Ottawa. In addition to Zaitsev and Brown, veterans Ron Hainsey and Tyler Ennis will apparently also trade in their Leafs sweaters for Senators colours . Hainsey will apparently earn $3.5 million, while there’s no word yet on Ennis’s deal. The DJ express in full force in Ottawa... Leafs now Senators Hainsey Ennis Zaitsev Brown — John Shannon (@JSportsnet) July 1, 2019 Jason Spezza to sign with the Leafs Toronto has bought up some depth and versatility on the cheap, apparently signing veteran centre Jason Spezza to a league-minimum agreement, or close to it. Spezza figures to be an upgrade on Frederik Gauthier on the fourth line, but his presence and ability to move up lend management options down the middle, even if he’s lost much of his fastball. Leafs trade Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown to Senators in package for Cody Ceci After the Maple Leafs paid out Nikita Zaitsev’s signing bonus on Monday morning, they officially completed the long-rumoured six-player trade with the Senators. Toronto does create some cap space in the immediate term by including Connor Brown in the deal, but the cap flexibility achieved with the agreement is mainly reserved for the future. Zaitsev was owed $4.5 million for the next five seasons. Ceci is a restricted free agent and arbitration eligible, and could probably command more, but it’s expected that he will sign for the same $4.5 million promised to Zaitsev. A right-shot defender with holes in his game and apparently matching salaries, Ceci slots perfectly into the right side on the second pair ... almost too perfectly. It’s not a guarantee that he improves the production offered from that position, but he will have the opportunity. PuckPedia has a full breakdown: More NHL coverage on Yahoo Sports
Can Apple (AAPL) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Apple (AAPL). This company, which is in the Zacks Computer - Mini computers industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. This maker of iPhones, iPads and other products has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 2.02%. For the most recent quarter, Apple was expected to post earnings of $2.37 per share, but it reported $2.46 per share instead, representing a surprise of 3.80%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $4.17 per share, while it actually produced $4.18 per share, a surprise of 0.24%. Price and EPS Surprise For Apple, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Apple currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.28%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. 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 reportApple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Alibaba Stock Is On the Mend Near $190 On May 6,Alibaba(NYSE:BABA) stock had a big spike but that immediately reversed and failed into a 25% correction that took it from $195 to $148 per share in a under a month. Luckily for investors, Alibaba stock recently recovered $20 from the bottom. The opportunity today is that it may not be done yet as we can clearly see from this morning’s rally. Source: Shutterstock For BABA, there is likely more upside in this move, even after a strong recovery bounce. A similar pattern unfolded in late January and early February. The stock had bottomed hard then rallied 15%. It came into resistance, overcame it and proceeded to more than double the rally. When all was said and done, Alibaba stock had rallied almost 50% off the low. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips It will need help from the stock market in general and those are looking frisky after last week. In spite of all the geopolitical worries, equity markets continue to climb the wall of worry. The headlines are scary but the global central banks are committed to propping up the markets. Even the U.S. Federal Reserve has renewed its dovish stance on economies. It will be hard for sellers to fight the Fed. Usually there are two reasons to buy a stock. The first is fundamental, where we invest in it for the long term. The second is tactical, where we speculate on the shorter-term results. Most investments fall under one or the other. • 7 F-Rated Stocks to Sell for Summer But some opportunities come that fit both goals simultaneously and such is the case here for BABA. It current carries a strong momentum rally that could double, yet it is still low relative to its all-time highs, so it’s a good long-term opportunity at the same time. This rebound could lift it so it can recover lost glory. Fundamentally, BABA, while not cheap at price to earnings ratio of 35X and 8X sales, it’s not completely bloated. This is a successful e-commerce giant that has had a lot of unusual headwinds mostly from the geopolitical environment. There are artificial forces from the economic war between the U.S. and China that are exerting transient downside pressure on its stock. Eventually maybe even hopefully soon after this weekend these pressures will abate and equities like BABA stock will be free to trade on merit. Meanwhile, the technical opportunity here is also viable. BABA originally earned the label that it was “theAmazon(NASDAQ:AMZN) of China.” But Alibaba stock resemblesAlphabet(NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) more. Either way, this is good company for it to keep. Amazon is closer to its all-time high and toying with a trend line that could launch it into open air. GOOGL has just bounced off the May lows and is attacking important resistance zones on its way to recover levels closer to its highs. Either of these stocks will be great tethers for BABA stock. I bet that at least one of these proxies will finish its rally and take BABA with it. Now the bad news … if we simply look at the scoreboard, markets have not made much progress in almost 18 months. This is what most experts say about the strength of the stock market. TheS&P 500fell off a cliff early in 2018 and has spent over a year just to get back to the accident scene. So the bears are comfortable here that they can keep a lid on equities. • 10 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever But I see it differently because Wall Street has had a gamete of problems thrown at it from global economic wars, to nuclear missile tests flying over our friends. We also had unrest in the middle east, and a combative Federal Reserve head Jerome Powell. Yet, the bulls keep coming back up to the line to face the sellers once more. Eventually, one of these efforts will punch through the resistance and set new highs. There are too many skeptics still, either short or on the sidelines, and they will pile back and the rally will be fierce. I know this sounds too easy but it is a realistic scenario. Moreover, if it doesn’t happen, the economic conditions with the Fed’s help are strong enough to ensure that if the rally fails, the bottom is shallow. This is the definition of upside potential outweighing the downside risk. In summary, Alibaba stock has the momentum it needs to recover the ledge it lost on May 6 and use it as a launching pad to embark on a secondary rally to set new all-time highs. There will be resistance areas — the most prominent is around $185 per share — but this stock can do it if the politicians give it a chance. Nicolas Chahine is the managing director ofSellSpreads.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Join his live chat room freehere. • 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid • 7 F-Rated Stocks to Sell for Summer • 7 Stocks to Buy for the Same Price as Beyond Meat • 7 Penny Marijuana Stocks That Are NOT Cheap Stocks Compare Brokers The postAlibaba Stock Is On the Mend Near $190appeared first onInvestorPlace.
Does Hillenbrand, Inc.'s (NYSE:HI) CEO Pay Matter? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In 2013 Joe Raver was appointed CEO of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. 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 Hillenbrand Our data indicates that Hillenbrand, Inc. is worth US$2.5b, and total annual CEO compensation is US$5.3m. (This number is for the twelve months until September 2018). While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at US$810k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from US$2.0b to US$6.4b, and the median CEO total compensation was US$5.2m. So Joe Raver receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. 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. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Hillenbrand has changed from year to year. Over the last three years Hillenbrand, Inc. has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 2.6% per year (measured with a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 6.4% over last year. The lack of earnings per share growth in the last three years is unimpressive. The modest increase in revenue in the last year isn't enough to make me overlook the disappointing change in earnings per share. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. It could be important to checkthis free visual depiction ofwhat analysts expectfor the future. Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Hillenbrand, Inc. for providing a total return of 40% over three years. 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 Joe Raver is close enough to the median pay for a CEO of a similar sized company . We feel that earnings per share have been a bit disappointing, but it's nice to see positive shareholder returns over the last three years. So we doubt many are complaining about the fairly normal CEO pay. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting tocheck if the CEO is buying or selling Hillenbrand (free visualization of insider trades). 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.
This is Samsung’s strangest smartphone design yet, and it’s kind of awesome Click here to read the full article. For the creative minds charged with dreaming up new smartphone design concepts at Samsung, it would appear to be the case that no idea is ever deemed too strange or off-the-wall. Case in point: A new phone design the company has just patented that completely ignores the failure of Samsung’s piece-of-garbage first foldable phone, pressing right ahead regardless to give us a kind of first cousin of that Samsung Galaxy Fold. Color renders of the newly patented design, prepared by Dutch tech news site LetsGoDigital , showcase a smartphone with a display that can be pulled from either side to stretch out into a device the size of a tablet. Almost as if it begs to be named the Galaxy Unfoldable (since it unfolds, of course). Related Stories: Samsung's embarrassing Galaxy Fold is fixed, but it's not launching until the holidays Samsung's Galaxy S10 smartphones are already selling better than the Galaxy S9 Dedicated Galaxy S10 camera night mode starts to roll out in the US We’ve covered a number of these strange-but-true smartphone design concepts patented by Samsung, including everything from the Galaxy Fold that the company is still promising to release to phones with flexible screens, rollable displays, phones you wear around your wrist and much more. All of which leaves you with the impression Samsung apparently thinks this is what will hasten the next great chapter of the handset market — relentless experimentation and fearless blue sky thinking that cranks out one bizarre design after another, seemingly only bounded by a prohibition on hewing too close to the rectangular slabs we keep in our pockets today. With the goal being … maybe one of these wild ideas will strike gold. As far as this new design goes, Samsung’s patent for the concept — which shows a handset with a display that rolls up as well as out — was published on June 11 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Story continues As depicted in the patent, which you can view here, a rolling mechanism is used to roll up and unroll the device which can result in a display that’s almost three times as large, unfolded, as what you see when the handset is in its most compact form. As envisioned in the patent documentation, the rolling mechanism is incorporated in extendable frame borders on the left and right-hand sides. A wide border at the top and bottom seems to house important components like the camera and receiver, as well as a motor for the rolling mechanism. The LetsGoDigital report spots a number of potential problems with the design here, such as the possibility that dust and outside particles might easily find their way into the moving rails that fit together with slots and which support the flexible screen. That calls to mind the flaws that reviewers took note of in early versions of the Galaxy Fold, including the seeming ease with which outside ephemera found its way into the device. Suffice it to say, you probably won’t have one of these designs in your pocket anytime soon. For starters, it’s worth noting that Samsung Display was the patent applicant here — meaning, the focus seems to be on a smartphone insofar as it provides a vehicle for this new kind of display. Phones with foldable, flexible screens have yet to prove their worth or staying power, so there are still a number of hurdles to cross before something like this is seen in the wild. Samsung, nevertheless, will no doubt keep trying, with even more strange experimental designs sure to come. BGR Top Deals: This $16 clip-on lens kit fits the iPhone or any Android phone, and it’s awesome Amazon deal offers a 7-inch Android tablet for under $43 See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Google and Facebook are circling Africa with huge undersea cables to get millions online The rapid growth in internet usage despite high cost of access and the expected population boom in Africa—already the youngest continent by age of its population—jointly represent a significant opportunity for some of the world’s largest tech firms who are betting big on facilitating internet infrastructure and, by extension, ensuring hundreds of millions of potential customers get online to use their services. With internet penetration rates on the continent estimated at an average of 24%, it remains the only continent where over half the total population is without internet access. Yet, that stat represents some significant improvement given internet connections stood at 2.1% in 2005. In fact, Africa recorded the highest growth in internet use globally between 2005 and 2018, resulting in a significant global internet usage milestone . Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune is built on fraud, a former mentor says Two of the world’s largest tech companies are setting about making sure that growth continues. Facebook is reportedly working on plans for “Simba” (named after the Lion King cartoon character), an underwater cable that will circle the continent with landings on multiple coasts. It’s similar to undersea cable projects the social media giant has undertaken in Europe and Asia. It’s unclear whether or not Facebook will partner with African telecoms operators, especially for funding. Google’s underwater cable plans are much further along. It has confirmed construction plans for a cable connecting Portugal and South Africa with the first phase due to be completed by 2021. The new cable, named Equiano (after 18th century Nigerian writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano), will have 20 times the capacity of the most recent projects laid in the region and will first branch out in Nigeria—Africa’s largest internet market. The project will be fully funded by Google. Hong Kong’s protesters put AirDrop to ingenious use to breach China’s Firewall Story continues The big picture for these companies is that the deployment of high-capacity fiber-optic cables will ultimately improve connectivity and likely make internet costs much cheaper, allowing more Africans to get—and stay—connected. For Google and Facebook, the tens of millions of people who will come online as a result also represent a larger target market for their ever-growing cache of products and advertising services. The large-scale underwater cable projects are a change of tack for both Google and Facebook who have attempted previous internet access initiatives in Africa. Facebook has launched Free Basics , a platform which allows users access a select list of websites at no cost, in partnership local telecoms operators in over 20 African countries. But the free service has been subject of controversy and has been criticized for being a ”walled garden” version of the internet curated by Facebook. For its part, Google has launched a free public wifi service in Lagos, Nigeria and Project Loon, an ambitious plan by one of its subsidiaries to beam internet to users using solar-powered high-altitude balloons, is expected to first launch in Kenya . Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech and innovation in your inbox 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
Brief Commentary On Hillenbrand, Inc.'s (NYSE:HI) Fundamentals Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Attractive stocks have exceptional fundamentals. In the case of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), there's is a financially-robust , dividend-paying company with an impressive track record of performance. Below is a brief commentary on these key aspects. If you're interested in understanding beyond my broad commentary, take a look at thereport on Hillenbrand here. In the past couple of years, HI has ramped up its bottom line by over 100%, with its latest earnings level surpassing its average level over the last five years. Not only did HI outperformed its past performance, its growth also surpassed the Machinery industry expansion, which generated a 28% earnings growth. This is an notable feat for the company. HI is financially robust, with ample cash on hand and short-term investments to meet upcoming liabilities. This suggests prudent control over cash and cost by management, which is a crucial insight into the health of the company. HI's has produced operating cash levels of 0.64x total debt over the past year, which implies that HI's management has put its borrowings into good use by generating enough cash to cover a sufficient portion of borrowings. HI is also a dividend company, with ample net income to cover its dividend payout, which has been consistently growing over the past decade, keeping income investors happy. For Hillenbrand, I've put together three important aspects you should look at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for HI’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor HI’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is HI 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 HI is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other Attractive Alternatives: Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of HI? Exploreour interactive list of stocks with large potentialto get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Women’s World Cup 2019 fixtures and results: Full schedule and match times England celebrate their quarter-final victory over Norway - REUTERS We are approaching the business end of the Women's World Cup 2019 , with the initial field of 24 now reduced to the final four. It's the eighth edition of the competition, most recently won by the US in Canada 2015 - their third success. Phil Neville's England have been among the favourites since the tournament began on June 7 . They topped their group , saw off Cameroon in the last 16 and defeated Norway in the quarter-final . But when are the games , and how can you watch ? You can find out all you need to know below. Fifa Women's World Cup 2019 group stage results Friday 7 June Group A: France 4 South Korea 0 Saturday 8 June Group A: Norway 3 Nigeria 0 Group B: Spain 3 South Africa 1 Group B: Germany 1 China 0 Sunday 9 June Group C: Australia 1 Italy 2 Group C: Brazil 3 Jamaica 0 Group D: England 2 Scotland 1 Monday 10 June Group D: Argentina 0 Japan 0 Group E: Canada 1 Cameroon 0 Tuesday 11 June Group E: New Zealand 0 Holland 1 Group F: Chile 0 Sweden 2 Group F: United States 13 Thailand 0 Wednesday 12 June Group A: Nigeria 2 South Korea 0 Group B: Germany 1 Spain 0 Group A: France 2 Norway 1 Thursday 13 June Group C: Australia 3 Brazil 2 Group B: South Africa 0 China 1 Friday 14 June Group D: Japan 2 Scotland 1 Group C: Jamaica 0 Italy 5 Group D: England 1 Argentina 0 Saturday 15 June Group E: Holland 3 Cameroon 1 Group E: Canada 2 New Zealand 0 Sunday 16 June Group F: Sweden 5 Thailand 1 Group F: United States 3 Chile 0 Monday 17 June Group B: China 0 Spain 0 Group B: South Africa 0 Germany 4 Group A: Nigeria 0 France 1 Group A: South Korea 1 Norway 2 Tuesday 18 June Group C: Jamaica 1 Australia 4 Group C: Italy 0 Brazil 1 Wednesday 19 June Group D: Japan 0 England 2 Group D: Scotland 3 Argentina 3 Thursday 20 June Group E: Cameroon 2 New Zealand 1 Group E: Holland 2 Canada 1 Group F: Sweden 0 USA 2 Group F: Thailand 0 Chile 2 Group tables Knockout phase Round of 16: Saturday 22 June 38: Germany 3 Nigeria 0 Story continues 37: Norway 1 Australia 1 (Nor win 4-1 on pens) Sunday 23 June 39: England 3 Cameroon 0 40: France 2 Brazil 1 (AET) Monday 24 June 41: Spain 1 USA 2 42: Sweden 1 Canada 0 Tuesday 25 June 43: Italy 2 China 0 44: Holland 2 Japan 1 Quarter-finals: Thursday 27 June 45: Norway 0 England 3 Friday 28 June 46: France 1 USA 2 Saturday 29 June 47: Italy 0 Holland 2 48: Germany 1 Sweden 2 Semi-finals: Tuesday 2 July 49: England vs USA (20:00, Lyon) Wednesday 3 July 50: Holland vs Sweden (20:00, Lyon) Third-place play-off: Saturday 6 July (16:00, Nice) Final: Sunday 7 July (16:00, Lyon)
Freak hailstorm engulfs trucks in Mexican city GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Reuters) - Drifts of hail from a freak storm partially buried tractor-trailers and cars in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, bringing families out on to the streets to play in ice piled high despite the summer heat. The storm on Sunday blanketed parts of Mexico's second largest city in white, Reuters images show. Soldiers and police who took to the streets to help the clear-up operations slid and slipped knee deep into the drifts. Jorge David Arias, who was visiting family, said he and his relatives had never seen a storm like it. Arias shot photos showing cars pushed against trees by the force of the ice. Guadalajara, in western Mexico, usually sees average temperatures in June of around 31 Celsius (88 Fahrenheit). (Reporting by Fernando Carranza; Editing by Alistair Bell) View comments
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup: Alyssa Naeher is polar opposite of Hope Solo but wants to share one big achievement LYON, France Across 16 years and 202 caps, two Olympic golds and one World Cup title, Hope Solo was the goalkeeper for the United States womens national team. You couldnt miss her. There were big saves and big games and big drama and big controversies. Solo was a fearless, ferocious, oversized personality. At times she rubbed plenty of people the wrong way including teammates, coaches and U.S. Soccer officials. She also, more often than not, came up with the impossible stop when the impossible stop was needed. Solo is now a BBC soccer analyst, a role she is thriving in. Her replacement is Alyssa Naeher, whom teammates consider the anti-Solo (shes described as an introvert) ... except when its time to make a save. Totally different people, said teammate Christen Press, whos been with the USWNT since 2014. Different experience. Different relationships with the players on the team. Different personalities. Both confident but in very different ways and they show it in different ways. Both hugely talented but different strengths. Solo made the national team at 20, a prodigy whose talent was undeniable. Naeher didnt make the team until 26, a slow build. She was Solos backup. At 31, this is her first major tournament as a starter. Shes still proving that she can deliver on the games biggest stage. Up next: a semifinal clash here Tuesday (3 p.m. ET) against England. Alyssa Naeher (left) does not share Hope Solo's personality. She wants, however, to share her status as the starting goalkeeper on a World Cup champion. (Getty) Naeher hails from Connecticut, played at Penn State and exudes a quiet confidence. If she is to duplicate Solos accomplishments, shell do it in a calm manner. I just try to be me, Naeher said. What you see is what you get. My focus, my mentality is, how can I help this team win? How can I enjoy my time with teammates? How can I be the best teammate and player that I can be? Its a welcome trait. Solo never hesitated to criticize coaching decisions, teammates or opponents. There were off-field issues. She was suspended from the team in 2016 for calling Sweden cowards for playing a defensive style. Before this tournament, in her role for BBC, she declared that coach Jill Ellis isnt a good leader and cracks under the pressure quite a bit. Story continues The Americans have tried to spend the tournament avoiding, or at least saying they are avoiding, Solos pointed critiques on the BBC which is her job, mind you. Its clear though that this is a very tight and together team. Roles have been accepted. Egos have been put aside. The goal is victory and only victory. Its cliche to say ... but we just have a group that wants to win, forward Megan Rapinoe said. That includes Naeher. Teammates say she is always willing to stay after practice for extra shots, she trains relentlessly and wants to lead by example when it comes to commitment. Thus far, its paid off. I think this being Alyssas first big tournament as the starting keeper, shes shown great confidence and composure, Press said. [She] made big saves in the [France] game. Her distribution throughout the tournament has been fantastic and I think its been really cool to see her step into this moment. I think she shows her confidence in her willingness to put in the work in a humble way. Quietly. Alyssa Naeher has been successful as the first USWNT goalkeeper other than Hope Solo or Briana Scurry to start a World Cup match in over two decades. (Associated Press) The last goalkeeper was not quiet. There were times people got tired of the noise, but you can hardly argue with the results. Its a new day, and a new team, but Solo still casts a shadow. Shes part of the legacy of the position. Naeher is the first American other than Solo and the legendary Briana Scurry to start a World Cup game since 1995. Is the U.S. better with a steady personality in net, or do they need fire? Press said not to underestimate Naeher, she brings plenty of impact on and off the field. People probably dont think that as much, because she doesnt have big media personality and shes not front and center in the news and the team photos, Press said. But she has a huge energy about her, a determination. She also has some of the closest relationships and friendships of any player on the team because her slightly more introverted nature creates really close friendships. For Naeher, this is about getting the job done. She knows her celebrated predecessors in net. She watched them. She trained and competed with Solo. She studied and learned from both of them. Just the consistency with which they played for as long as they did was always impressive, Naeher said. Just being able to watch them and obviously training with Hope, to just see them go through tournaments they were both the best at what they did for a very long time and I have a lot of respect for both of them. She isnt a breakout personality on this team. She isnt the big star. She doesnt seem to care. She sounds extremely determined and confident, just in her own, thus far successful, way. More from Yahoo Sports: Winners and losers from opening night of NBA free agency Nets won free agency with KD, Kyrie, but now real work starts Dolan, Knicks are same old laughingstock after Sunday Ellis is coaching USWNT vs. country that wouldnt let her play
NovaBay Trades Higher After Compliance Plan Accepted By NYSE NovaBay Pharmaceuticals(NYSE:NBY) shares are trading higher after the companysaid its plan of compliance was acceptedby the New York Stock Exchange. NovaBay focuses on commercializing Avenova for the domestic eye care market. NYSE notified NovaBay on April 12 and May 16 that it was out of compliance with exchange listing requirements. NYSE has determined NovaBay has made a reasonable demonstration of its ability to make progress toward regaining compliance by October 12, 2020. “We are pleased that our compliance plan has been accepted by the exchange,” said Justin Hall, NovaBay CEO. “We have successfully completed our two near-term strategies: the launch of Avenova Direct on Amazon and our cost reduction plan. We are excited by our new forward momentum." NovaBay shares traded higher by 3.5% to $1.75 at time of publication. The stock has a 52-week high of $40.04 and a 52-week low of 23 cents. Related Links: FDA Recommends Novavax Conduct Added Phase 3 Trial On ResVax NovaBay Pharma's Stock Is Up 200% After Amazon Deal See more from Benzinga • TPG Growth To Buy Gym Chain Crunch Fitness • Performance Food Will Acquire Reinhart Foodservice In B Deal • Pareteum Adjusts Q2 Sales, Shares Up 14% © 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Do You Know What Great Western Bancorp, Inc.'s (NYSE:GWB) P/E Ratio Means? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll apply a basic P/E ratio analysis to Great Western Bancorp, Inc.'s (NYSE:GWB), to help you decide if the stock is worth further research.Great Western Bancorp has a P/E ratio of 11.65, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 8.6%. See our latest analysis for Great Western Bancorp Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Great Western Bancorp: P/E of 11.65 = $35.72 ÷ $3.07 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio implies that investors paya higher pricefor the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Notably, Great Western Bancorp grew EPS by a whopping 27% in the last year. And earnings per share have improved by 20% annually, over the last five years. With that performance, I would expect it to have an above average P/E ratio. We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (12.9) for companies in the banks industry is higher than Great Western Bancorp's P/E. This suggests that market participants think Great Western Bancorp will underperform other companies in its industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. It is arguably worth checkingif insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued. It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. 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. Great Western Bancorp has net debt worth just 6.8% of its market capitalization. So it doesn't have as many options as it would with net cash, but its debt would not have much of an impact on its P/E ratio. Great Western Bancorp trades on a P/E ratio of 11.7, which is below the US market average of 18.1. The EPS growth last year was strong, and debt levels are quite reasonable. If it continues to grow, then the current low P/E may prove to be unjustified. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So thisfreevisual report on analyst forecastscould hold the key to an excellent investment decision. But note:Great Western Bancorp 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.
‘Most people agree with it’: Alabamans defend arrest of pregnant shooting victim charged with manslaughter over unborn baby’s death In the days since police officers arrested Marshae Jones, saying she had started a fight that resulted in her unborn baby getting fatally shot, the hate mail has poured in. “I will encourage all US business owners to boycott your town,” a woman from San Diego wrote on the Facebook page of the Pleasant Grove Police Department. “Misogynist trash,” wrote another. “Fire the chief and arresting officers,” wrote a third. But Robert Knight, the police chief, said his officers had little choice in the matter. “If the laws are there, we are sworn to enforce them,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to do.” Around the country, the case of Ms Jones – who was indicted by a grand jury for manslaughter – has served as a stark illustration of how pregnant women can be judged and punished when a foetus is treated as a person by the justice system. Activists have also cited it as a demonstration of the dangers of the “ personhood ” movement, which pushes for the rights of foetuses to be recognised as equal to – or even more important than – the rights of the mothers who carry them. And many are now watching as the movement gains momentum in Alabama , which already has some of the most restrictive reproductive rights laws in the country. But in Pleasant Grove, a city of 10,000 people on the western outskirts of Birmingham, the case appears to have caused little controversy. Gun rights are popular here. Reproductive rights are not. Many conversations in the city focused on how harshly Ms Jones should be punished , not whether she was culpable. Outside Hill’s Foodland, the city’s only grocery store, two mothers raising money for the Pleasant Grove middle school cheerleading squad said both Ms Jones, 28, and the woman who shot her should face some consequences – perhaps anger management classes – for the death of a foetus. “In the state of Alabama, an unborn baby has the same rights as a living child,” said Sharonda Hall, 38, who just earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is hoping to attend law school. “Most people agree with it.” Story continues Others said prison time would be appropriate. Inside a local restaurant, the Olipita Mediterranean & American Grill, Forrest Brown, 64, a retired musician, said that from what he had heard so far about the case, he believed the indictment was fair. “You have to go by the law,” he said. The notion that the law should treat a foetus like a person is widely held in Alabama. Lawmakers passed the most restrictive anti- abortion bill in the country in May, banning abortions at any stage of pregnancy , even in cases of rape or incest. A protest against the measure in Birmingham drew only about 2,000 people, in a metropolitan area that is home to more than one million. In November, Alabama voters approved a ballot measure that amended the state’s constitution to recognise the “sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children”. Ms Jones was five months pregnant and working at a company in Pleasant Grove that sells fuel for fires, when she got involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the Dollar General store. The fight stemmed from a long-simmering feud with a female co-worker, Ebony Jemison, 23, over a man who worked at the same company. Ms Jones spotted Ms Jemison in the parking lot and started a fight with her, according to a law enforcement officer with direct knowledge of the investigation who didn’t want to be identified. By the officer’s account, Ms Jones was winning the fight and had Ms Jemison pinned in her car. After taking repeated blows, the officer said, Ms Jemison reached for a gun, and fired point blank into the pregnant woman’s stomach. Ms Jones was driven to a hospital in a car that apparently broke down on the way. Paramedics eventually arrived and took her to the hospital, but her foetus – struck by a bullet – died. This account of the fight differs from others that have been offered in recent days, which have suggested that Ms Jemison fired a warning shot at the ground and the bullet bounced up and hit Jones in the belly. Pleasant Grove officers initially arrested Ms Jemison. But the grand jury declined to indict her, concluding that she had acted in self-defence. It then took the unusual step of indicting Ms Jones, for “initiating a fight knowing she was five months pregnant”. Police were surprised by the decision, according to the law enforcement officer, but agreed with its logic. Reached by phone on Friday night, the forewoman of the grand jury, Mischelle Cagle, said she was unaware of the national furore . She declined to discuss the details of the case but said it was one of hundreds of cases the jury had heard over the course of a few days. She said the jurors did their best to probe for the truth and follow Alabama law. “You think certain things, but then when you look at the law, it’s different,” she said. Since the furore erupted, prosecutors have distanced themselves from the charges. A statement from the office of Lynneice Washington, the district attorney for part of Jefferson County, emphasised that no decision had yet been made about whether to go to trial, file lesser charges against Ms Jones or dismiss the case. A decision is expected within the week. ”Foremost, it should be stated that this is a truly tragic case,” the statement said. “We feel sympathy for the families involved, including Ms Jones, who lost her unborn child.” Ms Washington, a Democrat, became Alabama’s first black female district attorney when she was elected in 2016 by a slim margin of about 300 votes. The case is being closely watched by liberal reproductive rights advocates in Birmingham, as well as conservative voters in her district. Ms Jones was taken into custody on Wednesday, and posted bail the next day with the help of her family and the Yellowhammer Fund, an organisation that supports abortion rights. Her attorney Mark White, whose law firm has taken on the case, said Ms Jones was resting in an undisclosed location. “She’s devastated,” he said. After being shot, Jones lost her unborn baby, her job and her house, which burned down in an unrelated incident, Mr White said. Now she is facing criminal prosecution in a case that could land her in prison for years, depriving her six-year-old daughter of a mother. “If you look at the five top stress factors that humans can experience, she may be the only person we’ve encountered that got all five simultaneously,” Mr White said. He said many lawyers in Birmingham were outraged about how his client had been treated, and urged his law firm to take her case. His legal team spent the weekend poring over case law and investigating the facts. “By Monday morning, we will file a motion to dismiss that will show this indictment to be illegal, inappropriate and unprecedented,” he said. “The motion will also give examples of the additional dangers this type of prosecution presents for the rule of law.” Ms Jones’ lawyers have not decided whether to challenge the notion of conferring “personhood” on a foetus, which is enshrined in Alabama law. Indeed, even Ms Jones views the foetus that died in the shooting as a baby. She gave it a name – Marlaysia Jones. She had it cremated and the ashes placed in an urn. The New York Times
Zooming in on LON:INCH's 4.4% Dividend Yield Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we'll take a closer look at Inchcape plc (LON:INCH) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. In this case, Inchcape likely looks attractive to investors, given its 4.4% 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 Inchcape! 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. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Inchcape paid out 230% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, from the perspective of an investor who hopes to own the company for many years, a payout ratio of above 100% is definitely a concern. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Of the free cash flow it generated last year, Inchcape paid out 46% as dividends, suggesting the dividend is affordable. It's good to see that while Inchcape's dividends were not covered by profits, at least they are affordable from a cash perspective. Still, if the company repeatedly paid a dividend greater than its profits, we'd be concerned. Very few companies are able to sustainably pay dividends larger than their reported earnings. As Inchcape has a meaningful amount of debt, we need to check its balance sheet to see if the company might have debt risks. A rough way to check this is with these two simple ratios: a) net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and b) 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. With net debt of 3.73 times its EBITDA, investors are starting to take on a meaningful amount of risk, should the business enter a downturn. Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. With EBIT of 13.72 times its interest expense, Inchcape's interest cover is quite strong - more than enough to cover the interest expense. We update our data on Inchcape every 24 hours, so you can always getour latest analysis of its financial health, 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. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Inchcape's dividend payments. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was UK£1.60 in 2009, compared to UK£0.27 last year. Dividend payments have fallen sharply, down 83% over that time. When a company's per-share dividend falls we question if this reflects poorly on either the business or management. Either way, we find it hard to get excited about a company with a declining dividend. Examining whether the dividend is affordable and stable is important. However, it's also important to assess if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. It's not great to see that Inchcape's have fallen at approximately 23% over the past five years. If earnings continue to decline, the dividend may come under pressure. Every investor should make an assessment of whether the company is taking steps to stabilise the situation. 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. We're a bit uncomfortable with its high payout ratio, although at least the dividend was covered by free cash flow. Earnings per share have been falling, and the company has cut its dividend at least once in the past. From a dividend perspective, this is a cause for concern. Overall, Inchcape falls short in several key areas here. Unless the investor has strong grounds for an alternative conclusion, we find it hard to get interested in a dividend stock with these characteristics. Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. See if the 6 analysts are forecasting a turnaround in ourfree collection of analyst estimates here. 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.
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Micron, Intel, Broadcom and Google For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 1, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Micron MU, Intel INTC, Broadcom AVGO and Google GOOGL. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: Huawei’s Ban in the U.S. & Its Consequences The G-20 summit begins and the US-Chine trade war ensues as both parties appear increasingly tenacious. President Trump and China’s president Xi are meeting Saturday morning in Osaka (tonight in the US) as the summit kicks off. President Trump is going into the meeting with optimism saying that, “At a minimum, it will be productive”, while Beijing is insistent that a list of demands be met, including lifting the ban on Huawei, for a trade deal to progress. In this article I will be discussing the implication of Huawei’s restrictions on some of the US’s biggest tech stocks. Huawei was blacklisted last month by the Trump administration for national security reasons, stating that Huawei is involved in espionage for Beijing. This means that US companies are restricted from doing business with Huawei. 36% of Huawei suppliers are in the US, including semiconductor companies Micron, Intel and Broadcom. Pulling a customer of this size from these firms revenue stream is going to have an impact on their top line. As you can see below all three of these stocks have been struggling since the beginning of the 2ndquarter (ban started mid-May). Huawei denies all claims of wrongdoing and the evidence against Huawei remains somewhat ambiguous to the public. Some are speculating that this is an attempt by Washington to hamper Chinese tech growth. Huawei phones are handicapped immediately when they enter the US, being limited to slower speeds by the telecommunication companies who want to ensure that their current phone contracts aren’t at risk. Google has completely cut off Huawei, restricting their access to further Android updates as well as its app store. The implication of this customer displacement is yet to be seen in the financials, but GOOGL has taken a hit this quarter, far underperforming the market. The stock price decline can also be attributed to the antitrust probe that seems to be continually haunting Alphabet Inc. Micron and Intel have resumed selling chips to the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, with their lawyers finding trade loopholes that allow them to continue distributing anything with less than 25% American made components. These firms support their decision to resumed trade with Huawei by voicing that they don’t believe Huawei is involved in malpractice. Huawei Unbanned as a Part of Trade Concessions? Trump has discussed the Huawei restriction as being part of a deal in the past but Washington officials are saying that they would like to keep the national security threat and the trade dispute separate. The opacity of evidence against Huawei combined with the apparent competitive element with US smartphone manufacturers like Apple, lead me to believe that this restriction is more trade leverage than a national security threat. Although Washington wants to keep the two issues separate, I don’t think they will succeed due to the obvious correlations. Both Trump and Xi are too deep into this trade war to back down without looking weak to their nations. A temporary cease-fire might be exactly what both sides need to regroup and find common ground. This truce might include opening up the Huawei restriction, considering that US companies are already resuming trade with them. If this were to happen, look for a bounce in the semiconductor suppliers I mentioned above as well as Google if they are willing to resume business with Huawei. Take Away The actual effects of the Huawei ban will materialize in Q2’s earnings results expected to be reported in the next month or two. The trade discussions between Trump and Xi this evening US time, (Saturday morning in Osaka) will provide further color into how cooperative these two are willing to be and how ready they are for a deal. Expect Huawei to be a focal point of the discussions and keep an eye on the stocks I have mentioned tomorrow morning once the trade talks are able to be priced into the market. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 reportAlphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBroadcom Inc. (AVGO) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIntel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Top Ranked Momentum Stocks to Buy for July 1st Here are four stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, July 1st: Aaron's, Inc.(AAN): This provider of lease-purchase solutions to credit-challenged customers has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 0.8% over the last 60 days. Aaron's, Inc. Price and Consensus Aaron's, Inc. price-consensus-chart \| Aaron's, Inc. Quote Aaron'sshares gained 18.6% over the last one month against the S&P 500’s rise of 8.5%. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A. Aaron's, Inc. Price Aaron's, Inc. price \| Aaron's, Inc. Quote Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.(AXTA): This manufacturer and distributor of high performance coatings systems has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 0.6% over the last 60 days. Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Price and Consensus Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. price-consensus-chart \| Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Quote Axalta’s shares gained 24.4% over the last one month. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A. Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Price Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. price \| Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Quote Alteryx, Inc.(AYX): This self-service data analytics software platform has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 22.9% over the last 60 days. Alteryx, Inc. Price and Consensus Alteryx, Inc. price-consensus-chart \| Alteryx, Inc. Quote Alteryx’s shares gained 33.3% over the last one month. The company possesses a Momentum Score of A. Alteryx, Inc. Price Alteryx, Inc. price \| Alteryx, Inc. Quote Belden Inc.(BDC): This signal transmission solutions company has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.2% over the last 60 days. Belden Inc Price and Consensus Belden Inc price-consensus-chart \| Belden Inc Quote Belden’s shares gained 13.1% over the last one month. The company possesses a Momentum Score of B. Belden Inc Price Belden Inc price \| Belden Inc Quote See the full list of top ranked stocks here. Learn more about theMomentum score and how it is calculated here. 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 reportBelden Inc (BDC) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAlteryx, Inc. (AYX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAxalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAaron's, Inc. (AAN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: NIKE, Walgreens Boots Alliance, UnitedHealth, Pfizer and Home Depot For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 1, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: NIKE, Inc. NKE, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. WBA, UnitedHealth Group, Inc. UNH, Pfizer Inc. PFE and The Home Depot, Inc. HD. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: Dow 30 Stock Roundup: NKE, WBA, UNH & More The index suffered a disappointing week, declining over three straight trading sessions. Investors remained wary ahead of a crucial meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi at the G-20 summit in Japan. Investor sentiment was further dampened after Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the central bank is yet to decide on whether a rate cut should take place in July. Last Week’s Performance The index gained 8.41 points on Monday as investors waited for a crucial meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi this week. Moreover, the Iranian crisis intensified as U.S. government imposed fresh sanctions on the oil-rich country. Consequently, gold prices soared as investors shifted to safe-haven precious metals. The index moved down 0.7% on Tuesday after Powell stated that the central bank remained undecided about reducing the benchmark interest rate. The Dow dipped 179 points to post its worst single-day drop since May 31. Powell stated that the Fed was carefully monitoring the economy in order to avoid lowering interest rates in haste. The index lost 0.04% on Wednesday as investors remained uncertain of a positive outcome to the G-20 summit. Initial optimism over a near-term trade deal faded after Trump suggested that would be happy to collect tariffs from China if the countries are unable to reach an agreement. The Dow slipped 10.24 points, or less than 0.1%, marking its third consecutive decline. This is its longest stretch of losses since the five-session decline ended Mar 8. In doing so, it moved against broader markets, which were boosted by bank stocks which gained ahead of the release of Fed stress test results. Components Moving the Index NIKE, Inc.reported quarterly earnings of 62 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents. This compares to earnings of 69 cents per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents a negative earnings surprise of 6.06%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this athletic apparel maker would post earnings of 63 cents per share when it actually produced earnings of 68 cents, delivering a positive surprise of 7.94%. This is the first time in four quarters that the company has missed the consensus mark for earnings. Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Nike posted revenues of $10.18 billion for the quarter ended May 2019, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.29%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $9.79 billion. The company has topped revenue estimates over each of the last four quarters. (Read: Nike Misses Q4 Earnings Estimates) Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.47 for third-quarter fiscal 2019, down 3.9% year over year (down 2.4% at constant exchange rate or CER). However, the figure exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.5%. On a reported basis, net earnings came in at $1 billion, reflecting a 23.6% decline from the prior-year quarter. Reported earnings came in at $1.13, down 16.2% on a year-over-year basis. This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company recorded total sales of $34.59 billion in the third quarter, up 0.7% year over year and 2.9% at constant exchange rate or CER. The top line edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34.53 billion. Gross profit in the reported quarter fell 4.2% year over year to $7.45 billion. However, gross margin contracted 111 basis points to 21.5%. (Read: Walgreens Boots Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Margins Dip) UnitedHealth Group, Inc.might buy the healthcare payments company Equian for nearly $3.2 billion, per multiple sources. Equian delivers payment integrity solutions through proprietary content, enabling technology and highly responsive customer service. The company analyzes healthcare and insurance data to ensure that payments are fair, accurate, and paid by the correct party — resulting in billions of dollars of savings. This buyout will allow Zacks Rank #3 UnitedHealth to add a new niche business to its health services segment, Optum, which deals in health management and engagement, health financial services, health IT, benefit operations, care operations and pharmacy care services. Over the years, Optum has grown to contribute an increasing proportion of total revenues. (Read: UnitedHealth to Buy Equian & Foray into Healthcare Payments) Pfizer Inc.announced that the European Commission has approved its PARP inhibitor, Talzenna (talazoparib) for BRCA-mutated advanced breast cancer in previously-treated patients. The drug is approved as monotherapy for treating locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients with HER2 negative, germline breast cancer susceptibility gene (gBRCA)1/2-mutations. Patients must have received prior treatment with an anthracycline and/or a taxane in the (neo) adjuvant setting or they should be ineligible for treatment with anthracycline/ taxane. The drug is also approved for use in patients with HR+ breast cancer who have received prior endocrine-based therapy or are unsuitable for endocrine-based therapy. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The Home Depot, Inc.posted first-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of $2.27 per share, up 9.1% from $2.08 registered a year ago. The bottom line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.16. Home Depot has a Zacks Rank #3. Net sales grew 5.7% to $26,381 million from $24,947 million in the year-ago quarter and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $26,298 million. While the company's overall comps increased 2.5%, comps grew 3% in the United States. (Read: Home Depot Earnings & Sales Surpass Estimates in Q1) Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 reportPfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportThe Home Depot, Inc. (HD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportUnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportWalgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Should Inchcape plc (LON:INCH) Focus On Improving This Fundamental Metric? 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. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Inchcape plc (LON:INCH). Over the last twelve monthsInchcape has recorded a ROE of 3.9%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each £1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made £0.039 in profit. View our latest analysis for Inchcape Theformula for return on equityis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Inchcape: 3.9% = UK£48m ÷ UK£1.4b (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. 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. 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. One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. As shown in the graphic below, Inchcape has a lower ROE than the average (12%) in the Retail Distributors industry classification. That certainly isn't ideal. We'd prefer see an ROE above the industry average, but it might not matter if the company is undervalued. Nonetheless, it might be wise tocheck if insiders have been selling. 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 debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. It's worth noting the significant use of debt by Inchcape, leading to its debt to equity ratio of 1.59. Its ROE isn't too bad, but it would probably be very disappointing if the company had to stop using debt. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time. Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. 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. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So I think it may be worth checking thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. Of courseInchcape 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.
Report: Anders Lee could 'top' $9 million a season when he signs Anders Lee, the current captain of the New York Islanders, is set for a big pay bump when he signs today. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) For a guy that made $3.75 million for the last four seasons, making north of $9 million must sound pretty good. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, that’s what Anders Lee could be staring at once he signs on July 1 — wherever that may be. Hearing UFA F Anders Lee could top $9 million AAV when he signs today. Do not expect the #CBJ to part of the bidding at that level. — Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 1, 2019 With the New York Islanders reportedly in the running to sign unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon , Lee — who served as the team’s captain last season — could be squeezed out if the Breadman does in fact go to the Island. With Matt Duchene reportedly going to Nashville and Mats Zuccarello to Dallas , few ‘big name’ free agent forwards remain available for teams in search of an offensive boost. Lee is coming off his third straight campaign of at least 50 points and he posted a career-high plus-20 rating last season. He scored an impressive 40 goals during the 2017-18 season, a total that tied him for seventh in the league. More NHL coverage on Yahoo Sports
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 1, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. VAC, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HLT, Marriott International, Inc. MAR and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. WH. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: Hotel Industry Outpaces Major Indices YTD: 4 Top Gainers The first-half 2019 chapter is about to conclude, and it reads as an eventful year for the Hotel industry. Year to date, the industry has witnessed a sharp gain of 24.2%, compared with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average rally of 14.9% and 15%, respectively. The industry participants have been benefiting from several factors such as strong domestic economy, higher income, increased consumer confidence and strong labor market. RevPAR & ADR Growth Continues During first-quarter 2019, the Hotel industry reported growth in RevPAR and ADR. Per a STR (formerly known as Smith Travel Research) report, in first-quarter 2019, the U.S. hotel industry reported revenue per available room (RevPAR) and ADR growth of 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Moreover, occupancy rate in the first quarter increased 0.4% to 61.8%. The industry witnessed rise in occupancy rate across all sectors, from luxury to economy. The supply-demand environment in the United States has been favorable since 2010 with growth in demand outpacing supply growth. Though, the gap between demand and supply growth has narrowed considerably of late. Demand in first-quarter 2019 increased 2.4%, outpacing supply growth of 2%. International Expansion: A Key Catalyst Most of the hotel companies are exploring international expansion, especially in untapped emerging markets and the outlying areas surrounding major cities. Unsaturated markets in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Brazil, Russia and Africa are being targeted by hospitality companies. China, which is the largest source market for outbound travel, is the most significant market for the Hotel industry. In less than two decades, China has transformed from travel minnows to the world’s most powerful outbound market. Per GlobalData, luxury hotels in the United States are likely to increase to 1,067 by the end of 2019. By 2022, the figure is likely to increase to 1,123. The Hotel industry will benefit from increase in Chinese tourists to the United States. Chinese tourists to the United States witnessed a CAGR of 8.7% between 2014 and 2018. Story continues The aforementioned factors have propelled the Hotel stocks so far this year. We have mentioned four stocks from the industry, which have witnessed a sharp gain so far this year. Top 4 Gainers Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. : The company develops, markets, sells, and manages vacation ownership and related products. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have surged 36.8% on a year-to-date basis. Earnings for current year is likely to witness growth of 31.3%. Moreover, its long-term earnings are estimated to witness growth of 9%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here . Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. : The company owns, leases, manages, develops, and franchises hotels and resorts. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 company have gained 34.4% year to date. The company beat the consensus estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters, with the average being 5.6%. it anticipates earnings for 2019 to improve by 39.1%. Marriott International, Inc. : The company operates, franchises, and licenses hotel, residential, and timeshare properties worldwide. The company shares have surged 27.4% year to date. Moreover, the company’s earnings have surpassed the consensus estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 16.3%. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. : The company operates as a hotel franchisor internationally. The stock has gained 23.2% year to date. The Zacks Rank #3 company’s earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with the average being 3%. The company’s earnings for current year is likely to witness growth of 17.3%. Can the Bull Run Continue? RevPAR and ADR improvement is likely to persist in the second half of 2019 as well albeit at a slower rate. STR and Tourism Economic have trimmed growth forecast for the Hotel industry. Per STR and the latest Tourism Economic forecast, the Hotel industry is likely to witness growth of 2%, down from the prior estimate of 2.3%. We believe the industry’s bull run in the second half of 2019 is likely to be impacted by slower growth forecast. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss . This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 report Marriot Vacations Worldwide Corporation (VAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Marriott International (MAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. (WH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research View comments
How Financially Strong Is Glanbia plc (ISE:GL9)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Small-cap and large-cap companies receive a lot of attention from investors, but mid-cap stocks like Glanbia plc (ISE:GL9), with a market cap of €4.2b, are often out of the spotlight. However, generally ignored mid-caps have historically delivered better risk-adjusted returns than the two other categories of stocks. Let’s take a look at GL9’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 commentary is very high-level and solely focused on financial health, so I suggest you dig deeper yourselfinto GL9 here. View our latest analysis for Glanbia GL9 has built up its total debt levels in the last twelve months, from €530m to €801m , which includes long-term debt. With this increase in debt, GL9's cash and short-term investments stands at €225m to keep the business going. Moreover, GL9 has generated cash from operations of €275m during the same period of time, leading to an operating cash to total debt ratio of 34%, signalling that GL9’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. At the current liabilities level of €519m, it seems that the business has been able to meet these obligations given the level of current assets of €971m, with a current ratio of 1.87x. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. For Food companies, this ratio is within a sensible range since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. With debt reaching 50% of equity, GL9 may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is not uncommon for a mid-cap company given that debt tends to be lower-cost and at times, more accessible. We can test if GL9’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. Ideally, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) should cover net interest by at least three times. For GL9, the ratio of 15.42x suggests that interest is comfortably 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. GL9’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 GL9's financial health. Other important fundamentals need to be considered alongside. I recommend you continue to research Glanbia to get a more holistic view of the mid-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GL9’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor GL9’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is GL9 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 GL9 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.
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Microsoft, Amazon, Walmart, FedEx and Netflix For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 1, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Microsoft MSFT, Amazon AMZN, Walmart WMT, FedEx FDX and Netflix NFLX. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: Microsoft (MSFT) vs. Amazon (AMZN): Which Is the Better Buy for 2H 2019? Microsoft was the Dow’s top first-half performer in 2019 to help it once again become the world’s most valuable public company with a market cap of over $1 trillion. Meanwhile, Amazon stock easily topped the S&P 500, as the e-commerce giant continues to expand its reach. The two diversified tech firms compete in one of the most talked about and valuable markets. With July upon us, let’s see which of these stocks, MSFT vs. AMZN, looks like the better buy for the second half of 2019. MSFT Overview Microsoft’s Office and Windows businesses continue to thrive and evolve and are arguably as important to enterprises and individuals as ever before. The Redmond, Washington-based firm has also expanded its reach through acquisitions from Linkedin to GitHub. Yet it is Microsoft’s cloud computing business, headlined by Azure, which has driven MSFT’s climb in recent years. Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud revenue jumped 22%, with Azure up 73%, during its third quarter of fiscal 2019. The company’s expansion into cloud computing has seen it compete directly with industry leader Amazon’s AWS and partner with the likes of Walmart for cloud, artificial intelligence, and more. It is important to note that some firms have no interest in helping boost Amazon’s high-margin cloud business to help it expand its tentacles. More recently, MSFT detailed some of its cloud gaming plans, which seems to be the next frontier of the $135 billion global video game market. AMZN Overview Amazon’s early adoption and fast cloud computing expansion gave the firm a huge leg up on its peers. And as we mentioned, it has helped AMZN become a profitable company. The company has also expanded deeper into the pharmaceutical industry and has the likes of FedEx worried about its logistics business. But at its core, Amazon is still an e-commerce business. According to eMarketer, AMZN is set to capture 47% of total U.S. e-commerce sales in 2019. The company’s ability to attract users to its $119 per year Prime memberships will remain key. Amazon has also promised to reduce shipping times for customers as Walmart and others increase their digital offerings. Meanwhile, its Prime Video business looks poised to play a major role in the quickly expanding streaming TV ecosystem. Amazon’s ability to offer access to TV shows, movies, and some live sports all in one place could help it stand out against Netflix and others. And not to be forgotten, Amazon is now the third-largest digital advertiser in the U.S. Price Movement Shares of MSFT soared roughly 31.5% in the first half, compared to AMZN’s 26.7% climb. Amazon stock opened at $1,909.10 per share Friday, down roughly 7% from its 52-week highs. Microsoft opened at $134.57, roughly 3% off its 12-month highs. Looking back a bit, we can see that the two tech titans have been neck-and-neck for three years. Outlook Our current Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for MSFT’s Q4 fiscal 2019 revenue—due out in mid-July—to jump 8.8% to $32.73 billion, with full-year revenue expected to climb 13.1%. This would mark just the slightest slowdown from MSFT’s 14% top-line expansion in 2018. Meanwhile, the firm’s full-year fiscal 2020 revenue is projected to jump 10.6% above our 2019 estimate to reach $138.03 billion. Microsoft’s adjusted Q4 earnings are projected to climb 7.1%, with fiscal 2019 expected to climb 18%. Peeking ahead, the company’s 2020 EPS figure is expected to pop over 11% higher than our current year-estimate. Moving on, Amazon’s Q2 revenue—scheduled for late July—is expected to pop 18.2%. This would mark a slight uptick from Q1’s 17% climb. The e-commerce power’s full-year fiscal 2019 revenue is then projected to jump 18.2%, down from 31% revenue expansion in 2018. Peeking further ahead, AMZN’s 2020 revenue is expected to climb 17.6% higher than 2019. On top of that, AMZN’s adjusted full-year 2019 earnings are projected to pop 32%. The company’s fiscal 2020 EPS figure is then expected to come in 44% above our current-year estimate. Bottom Line Amazon has long been considered a growth stock, and it is still expected to post solid double-digit top-line gains. Yet, revenue expansion is projected to slow down significantly from where is has been in the recent past. This helps put AMZN and MSFT on more even footing in that department, with Amazon set to see its earnings jump much higher. In terms of valuation, Amazon’s price/sales ratio marks a significant discount compared to MSFT, as it has for the last five years. Microsoft does trade at a far lower forward earnings multiple (26X vs. 59X) and pays a quarterly dividend, with a 1.4% yield at the moment—AMZN does not pay a dividend. Microsoft and Amazon are Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stocks at the moment that rest near their 52-week and all-time highs. With all this in mind, both stocks present investors exposure to the booming cloud market, along with many other growth sectors. Therefore, it seems like a toss up at the moment. A slight advantage could, however, be given to MSFT if we take into account possible government intervention of Amazon. Today's Best Stocks from ZacksWould you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visithttps://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 reportAmazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNetflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicrosoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportWalmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFedEx Corporation (FDX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Aurora Cannabis (ACB) Separating Itself from the Rest of the Pack There are several things aligning for Aurora Cannabis (ACB) that will rapidly separate it from its competitors, including Canopy Growth. Among a number of areas, it leads the industry in production capacity, international markets it operates in, and is quickly slashing cost per gram to the point it should drop below a dollar a gram. As it's doing this, it's ramping up its production rate to the point it will be selling a significantly larger amount of cannabis that produces positive EBITDA in the very near future; probably in this quarter, but without a doubt in the next quarter. With that amount of inventory, and its production capacity expected to climb to a run-rate of about 625,000 kilograms annually by the first calender quarter of 2020, this will provide Aurora with a flexibility to allocate its product to various segments that none of its competitors can match at this time. That's important to take into consideration because in the last quarter it reported it had to hold back some of its inventory in order to ensure it would meet its medical cannabis demand. That resulted in the loss of recreational pot sales that could have boosted its performance in the quarter. Revenue vs. earnings For some time I've been on record saying the companies most rewarded in the short term would be those that generate the most revenue. This is one of the major reasons Canopy Growth has been rewarded with such a high valuation. That said, I've also said companies are going to have to start whittling down their costs as they boost revenue. Aurora has been doing an excellent job at it while Canopy Growth continues to suffer large losses. For example, while Aurora has guided for probable profitability in this quarter, Canopy Growth reported an EBITDA loss of approximately $74.3 million in the last reporting period. Over the next several quarters Aurora is going to have a lot of inventory to sell as it harvests from its huge capacity, while lowering the costs to the point of being profitable. This, in my view, is going to result in the company standing far above all of its competitors. It also has the potential to add another 400,000 kilograms annually based upon its existing facilities and holdings. Diversified company Aurora has diversified itself geographically, by segment and by product, allowing it to reduce its risk exposure to recreational pot, which when demand is supplied in Canada, will cause enormous problems for the companies that don't have the alternative segments and markets Aurora does to supply. The company easily has the largest number of markets it competes in globally, with a presence in 24 countries. It also has focuses primarily on medical cannabis, which commands higher prices and margins, especially in Europe. While Aurora management has said it will continue to supply recreational pot for the Canadian market, it's not reliant upon it for long term growth. Conclusion In my opinion Aurora has the best management team in the business, as evidenced by its execution, discipline, and strength of its overall business plan. It has rapidly scaled it production capacity out while lowering costs, which is about to allow it to increase revenue while generating positive EBITDA. For these and other reasons, I believe Aurora is going to be recognized as the top marijuana company in the world within a year. I also believe its performance will encourage and justify that designation. I see Aurora's share price having about 50 percent upside as the company stands today. If and when the company announced a partnership with a large company, that would likely change that projection to much higher, depending upon what the terms of the deal are. Even the worst-case scenario is very positive for Aurora, and if it surprises to the upside in any way, again, it could surpass my positive outlook. On the down side, if it fails to achieve profitable EBITDA in the near term, it will weigh on the stock, especially if it misses by a lot. To read more on the nitty gritty of what’s going on in the rising cannabis industry,click here. Disclosure:The author has a Long position in Aurora Cannabis stock. Read more on ACB: • Aurora Cannabis (ACB) Stock Has Substantial Upside; Here’s Why • Aurora Cannabis Investors Seem to Be Missing the Latin American Opportunity • Market Delays Can Derail Aurora Cannabis Stock • Can Aurora Cannabis (ACB) Stock Set Up for Another Breakout? • Is 33% Upside Good Enough to Risk Buying Fitbit (FIT) Stock? Deutsche Bank Doesn't Think So • Deutsche Bank Remains Sidelined on AMD Stock; Here's Why • Aurora Cannabis (ACB): Buy the Dip or Pump the Brakes? • Antitrust Investigation Is Not a Major Threat to Alphabet (GOOGL) Stock, Says Top Analyst
Nabors (NBR) in Focus: Stock Moves 8.2% Higher Nabors Industries Ltd.NBR was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 8% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This continues the recent uptrend for the company as the stock is now up 22.9% in the past one-month time frame. The company has seen two negative estimate revisions in the past few weeks, while its Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also moved lower over the past few weeks, suggesting there may be trouble down the road. So make sure to keep an eye on this stock going forward, to see if this recent move higher can last. Nabors currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) while its Earnings ESP is negative. Nabors Industries Ltd. price \| Nabors Industries Ltd. Quote A better-ranked stock in the Oil and Gas – Drilling industry is Koninklijke Vopak N.V. VOPKY, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Is NBR 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 reportNabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportKONINKLIJKE VPK (VOPKY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Is Amkor Technology, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMKR) Balance Sheet A Threat To Its Future? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Amkor Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMKR) is a small-cap stock with a market capitalization of US$1.8b. While investors primarily focus on the growth potential and competitive landscape of the small-cap companies, they end up ignoring a key aspect, which could be the biggest threat to its existence: its financial health. Why is it important? Evaluating financial health as part of your investment thesis is crucial, since poor capital management may bring about bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. Let's work through some financial health checks you may wish to consider if you're interested in this stock. Nevertheless, this is just a partial view of the stock, and I recommend youdig deeper yourself into AMKR here. AMKR's debt levels surged from US$1.3b to US$2.0b over the last 12 months , which includes long-term debt. With this increase in debt, the current cash and short-term investment levels stands at US$1.1b to keep the business going. On top of this, AMKR has produced US$568m in operating cash flow over the same time period, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 29%, indicating that AMKR’s debt is appropriately covered by operating cash. Looking at AMKR’s US$1.5b in current liabilities, it appears that the company has maintained a safe level of current assets to meet its obligations, with the current ratio last standing at 1.36x. The current ratio is the number you get when you divide current assets by current liabilities. Usually, for Semiconductor companies, this is a suitable ratio as there's enough of a cash buffer without holding too much capital in low return investments. With total debt exceeding equity, AMKR is considered a highly levered company. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. We can test if AMKR’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. Ideally, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) should cover net interest by at least three times. For AMKR, the ratio of 3.26x suggests that interest is appropriately covered, which means that debtors may be willing to loan the company more money, giving AMKR ample headroom to grow its debt facilities. Although AMKR’s debt level is towards the higher end of the spectrum, its cash flow coverage seems adequate to meet obligations which means its debt is being efficiently utilised. Since there is also no concerns around AMKR's liquidity needs, this may be its optimal capital structure for the time being. This is only a rough assessment of financial health, and I'm sure AMKR has company-specific issues impacting its capital structure decisions. I suggest you continue to research Amkor Technology to get a better picture of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AMKR’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor AMKR’s outlook. 2. Historical Performance: What has AMKR's returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look atthe free visual representations of our analysisfor more clarity. 3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore ourfree list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Why wealth gap has grown despite record-long economic growth WASHINGTON (AP) — As it enters its 11th year, America's economic expansion is now the longest on record — a streak that has shrunk unemployment, swelled household wealth, revived the housing market and helped fuel an explosive rise in the stock market. Yet even after a full decade of uninterrupted economic growth, the richest Americans now hold a greater share of the nation's wealth than they did before the Great Recession began in 2007. And income growth has been sluggish by historical standards, leaving many Americans feeling stuck in place. Those trends help explain something unique about this expansion: It's easily the least-celebrated economic recovery in decades. As public discontent has grown, the issue has become one for political candidates to harness — beginning with Donald Trump in 2016. Now, some of the Democrats running to challenge Trump for the presidency have built their campaigns around proposals to tax wealth, raise minimum wages or ease the financial strain of medical care and higher education. America's financial disparities have widened in large part because the means by which people build wealth have become more exclusive since the Great Recession. Fewer middle-class Americans own homes. Fewer are invested in the stock market. And home prices have risen far more in wealthier metro areas on the coasts than in more modestly priced cities and rural areas. The result is that affluent homeowners now sit on vast sums of home equity and capital gains, while tens of millions of ordinary households have been left mainly on the sidelines. "The recovery has been very disappointing from the standpoint of inequality," said Gabriel Zucman, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leading expert on income and wealth distribution. Household wealth — the value of homes, stock portfolios and bank accounts, minus mortgage and credit card debt and other loans — jumped 80% in the past decade. More than one-third of that gain — $16.2 trillion in riches— went to the wealthiest 1%, figures from the Federal Reserve show. Just 25% of it went to middle-to-upper-middle class households. The bottom half of the population gained less than 2%. Story continues Nearly 8 million Americans lost homes in the recession and its aftermath, and the sharp price gains since then have put ownership out of reach for many would-be buyers. For America's middle class, the homeownership rate fell to about 60% in 2016 from roughly 70% in 2004, before the housing bubble, according to separate Fed data. And the sharpest increases occurred in richer cities, like San Francisco, where prices have more than doubled in the past decade, or Phoenix, where they've surged 80%. By contrast, in lower-cost Charlotte, home prices have risen by only about a third. In Cleveland, by less than one-fifth. Overall, in fact, middle-income households on average now have less home equity than they did before the recession, Fed data show . The other major engine of household wealth — the stock market — hasn't much benefited most people, either. The longest bull market in U.S. history, which surpassed its own 10-year mark in March, has shot equity prices up more than four-fold. Yet the proportion of middle-income households that own shares has actually declined. The Fed calculates that about half of middle-income Americans owned shares in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, down from 56% in 2007. That includes people who hold stocks in retirement accounts. The decline in stock market participation occurred mainly because more middle-income workers took contract work or other jobs that offered no retirement savings plans, the Fed concluded. In other cases, people who face major expenses for, say, health care or who have heavy student loan debt find it hard to save and invest much even if they do have access to retirement accounts. "Many households find it challenging to make key middle-class investments because incomes at the middle are not keeping up with the rising costs of education and homeownership, and it is difficult to save enough," Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, said in a speech in May. Hannah Moore, now 37, has struggled to save since graduating from college in December 2007, the same month the Great Recession officially began. She has worked nearly continuously since then despite a couple of layoffs. Moore, who studied interior design in Chicago at a for-profit college, began job hunting just as many architecture and design firms were downsizing. For several years, she did freelance design projects and worked in retail jobs, sometimes working 30 days without a day off. None provided health insurance or a retirement savings plan. "I had many jobs, all at the same time," she said. "It's just not been the easiest of decades if you're trying to jump-start a career." Her situation stabilized when she found full-time work in 2013. Three years later, she moved to Los Angeles, where she works for a design firm that contracts with luxury apartment developers that build rental housing marketed to high-tech employees. She loves the work. But she struggles with Los Angeles' high costs. Moore says she could afford a monthly mortgage payment. But she lacks the savings for a down payment. About half her income, she calculates, is eaten up by rent, health insurance and student loan payments of $850 a month. As financial inequalities have widened over the past decade, racial disparities in wealth have worsened, too. The typical wealth for a white household is $171,000 — nearly 10 times that for African-Americans. That's up from seven times before the housing bubble, and it primarily reflects sharp losses in housing wealth for blacks. The African-American homeownership rate fell to a record low in the first three months of this year. If wealth inequality has worsened because fewer Americans own homes and stocks, should the government try to reverse that trend? President George W. Bush spoke optimistically in the 2000s about an "Ownership Society." The idea was that a larger proportion of Americans would achieve prosperity by buying homes and investing in the stock market through retirement savings plans. Such discussion has faded since the housing bust. Many economists argue that what's needed is simply higher incomes so more Americans can save and build wealth. Zucman favors a higher minimum wage, cheaper access to college education and more family-friendly policies to enable more parents to work. He and his colleague Emmanuel Saez, also an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, helped formulate Sen. Elizabeth Warren's proposed wealth tax on fortunes above $50 million to help pay for those proposals. As the wealth gap has widened, income gains have remained anemic for Americans at all levels for the past decade. That is particularly true relative to the sizable pay gains that flowed to households during the robust expansions of the 1980s and 1990s. "If you compare the economy now to where it was before the recession, the most important fact has been its relatively slow growth," said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard University and a former top adviser to President Barack Obama. Data compiled by Zucman, Saez and Thomas Piketty show that incomes grew much faster for the top 1% in the 1980s and the 1990s than over the past decade. Yet inequality has captured much more attention now than it did then. In part, that may be because middle-class and poorer Americans haven't enjoyed the fruits of this expansion compared with other recoveries. Incomes for middle class Americans grew nearly twice as fast in the 1980s expansion and about 1.5 times faster in the 1990s than in the current recovery. For many people, inequality carries less sting when their own fortunes improve. "The more people are struggling to make ends meet themselves, the more they may notice inequality," said Elise Gould, an economist at the liberal Economic Policy Institute. Income growth has lagged partly because for most of the expansion, employers have had a surfeit of workers to choose among when filling jobs, leaving them little pressure to raise pay. Not until 2016 did the unemployment rate fall below 5%. Average hourly pay finally began to pick up, with the lowest-income workers receiving the fastest average gains. Though this trend has helped narrow income inequality, vast disparities remain. "Overall, there's growing inequality," Gould said, "with signs of hope at the bottom. It's just taken a very long time."
Here's Who's on Taylor Swift's Side in the Scooter Braun Drama — and Who Isn't Seemingly overnight, some major drama broke out in the music world as Taylor Swift penned a public note accusing entertainment executive Scooter Braun of being a bully after he bought the rights to her music. Just as quickly as her letter gained traction online, Justin Bieber (a client of Braun's) weighed in , and other celebrities began taking sides. Here's who's on team Taylor — and who isn't. Cara Delevingne View this post on Instagram *Update to previous post. #CommentsByCelebs A post shared by Comments By Celebs (@commentsbycelebs) on Jun 30, 2019 at 4:38pm PDT "As a married man, you should be lifting women up instead of tearing them down because you are threatened," she continued. "I am not sure you actually understand what an apology is. This issue that @taylorswift is talking out is about far more than a picture, and you know that. As you said, you haven’t spoken to her in years which means you definitely don’t understand the situation. I do. Take a step back and try and learn from this. We should all be on the same team. End of story." Cher Unfortunately Can Relate 2 Having Millions Stolen,A FEW TIMES😤.Some Close,Some Very Close,Some Supposed 2 Protect Me.😥😤🤬. PULL UP UR BIG-GIRL G-STRING, PULL ON UR RHINESTONE COMBAT BOOTS,KICK SOME ASS🎼, &REMEMBER “YOU ARE A RICH MAN” — Cher (@cher) July 1, 2019 Unfortunately Can Relate 2 Having Millions Stolen,A FEW TIMES😤.Some Close,Some Very Close,Some Supposed 2 Protect Me.😥😤🤬. PULL UP UR BIG-GIRL G-STRING, PULL ON UR RHINESTONE COMBAT BOOTS,KICK SOME ASS🎼, &REMEMBER “YOU ARE A RICH MAN” — Cher (@cher) July 1, 2019 Halsey 🦋 @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/1iI2tCr8my — h (@halsey) June 30, 2019 "She catapulted her stardom into the Milky Way, and it turns my guts that no matter how much power or success a woman has in this life, you are still susceptible to someone coming along and making you feel powerless out of spite," she wrote. "It speaks volumes how far we have to come in the music industry." Story continues 🦋 @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/1iI2tCr8my — h (@halsey) June 30, 2019 Martha Hunt Taylor doesn’t deserve for someone who has constantly BULLIED her to OWN THE RIGHTS to her blood, sweat, + tears. It’s not the dark ages - artists shouldn’t be held down, and I couldn’t be prouder of my friend for standing up for what’s right. End of story. — Martha Hunt (@MarthaHunt) July 1, 2019 Todrick Hall Todrick Hall, a friend of Taylor's and an executive producer on her music video for her single " You Need to Calm Down ," tweeted that although he used to be managed by Braun, he "left" the exec a long time ago. For those asking, I left Scooter Braun a long time ago...I am saddened by this news, but not shocked. He is an evil person who’s only concern is his wealth and feeding his disgusting ego. I believe he is homophobic & I know from his own mouth that he is not a Swift fan. — Todrick Hall (@todrick) June 30, 2019 I truly hope justice is served and that my friend’s music will fall into the hands of a better human. — Todrick Hall (@todrick) June 30, 2019 Selena Gomez's mom View this post on Instagram @Taylorswift I wish I could give you a big hug right now! Thank you for speaking out about this and teaching future young artist about protecting themselves. I don’t understand the pleasure of power plays to simply hurt people! To deny you the option to own your blood, sweat and tears, especially as a young women who shared growing up in front of the world, is heartbreaking!! @yael I would love to have a mom to mom meeting in private, drink some tea and have some real talk!! XO A post shared by Mandy Teefey (@mandyteefey) on Jun 30, 2019 at 2:26pm PDT Hannah Brown oh heck no...don’t mess with our Queen Taylor. #fangirlactivated #IStandWithTaylor #WeStandWithTaylorSwift @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/yb4guwLEzW — Hannah Brown (@hannahbrown) July 1, 2019 oh heck no...don’t mess with our Queen Taylor. #fangirlactivated #IStandWithTaylor #WeStandWithTaylorSwift @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/yb4guwLEzW — Hannah Brown (@hannahbrown) July 1, 2019 Beyond that, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, and Adele have all unfollowed Braun on social media shortly Taylor's note. Ariana Grande Grande, a client of Braun's, posted and then immediately deleted a message of support for Taylor Swift on her Instagram Story. Fans, of course, shared screen shots of the post. “I would never support someone with the intentions of hurting another person," she wrote, according to Just Jared . "I spoke to [Braun] myself as soon as I heard.. I don’t mean to make this public or get involved but I’ve noticed mixed opinions where people used my name… please spread love. I’m so so sorry Tay. Ily. Stay strong." She did not weigh in on Taylor's allegations that Scooter is a bully or attempt to defend his character. “Deleting in a min," she wrote in the same Story. "This didn’t happen." On the flip side, however, Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato, who are both managed by Braun, stepped up to defend him. Justin and Hailey Bieber On Sunday night, Bieber posted a throwback Instagram photo of himself and Taylor and addressed her, writing, "Scooter has had your back since the days you graciously let me open up for you." "As the years have passed we haven’t crossed paths and gotten to communicate our differences, hurts or frustrations," he continued. "So for you to take it to social media and get people to hate on scooter isn’t fair. What were you trying to accomplish by posting that blog? Seems to me like it was to get sympathy u also knew that in posting that your fans would go and bully scooter." Bieber's wife, Hailey, commented "Gentleman" on his post. Demi Lovato Demi Lovato took to her Instagram stories to defend Braun, calling him a "good man" and adding, "Please stop 'dragging' people or bullying them. There's enough hate in this world as it is." ddlovato/Instagram ddlovato/Instagram Scott Borchetta Scott Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Label Group, also spoke out after Braun acquired Taylor's catalog of music from them. In a post on the label's website, he denied Taylor's claims that Braun was bullying her. “As to her comments about ‘being in tears or close to it’ anytime my new partner Scooter Braun’s name was brought up, I certainly never experienced that,” he wrote, adding that “Scooter has always been and will continue to be a supporter and honest custodian for Taylor and her music." Yael Cohen Braun View this post on Instagram @taylorswift, I’m here to talk privately anytime. A post shared by Yael Cohen Braun (@yael) on Jun 30, 2019 at 3:53pm PDT In the post, she alleged that Swift was given a notice about the deal, writing, "Your dad is a shareholder and was notified, and Borchetta personally told you this before it came out. So no, you didn't find out with the world." (A rep for Taylor denied to People that her father was on the board of directors and said that he did not participate in the shareholder phone call about the deal.) RELATED: Justin Bieber Told Taylor Swift She Was "Crossing a Line" with the Scooter Braun Drama Cohen Braun also responded to the claims of her husband being a bully, writing, "Girl, who are you to talk about bullying? The world has watched you collect and drop friends like wilted flowers. My husband is anything but a bully, he's spent his life standing up for people and causes he believes in."
SHAREHOLDER ALERT - Equity Bancshares, Inc. (EQBK) Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Announces Class Action and Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 12, 2019 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019 /Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Equity Bancshares, Inc. ("Equity Bancshares" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:EQBK) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased or otherwise acquired Equity Bancshares securities between May 11, 2018 and April 22, 2019, both dates inclusive. Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site:www.bgandg.com/eqbk. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose that: (1) that the Company lacked adequate internal controls to assess credit risk; (2) that, as a result, certain of the Company's loans posed an increased risk of loss; (3) that, as a result, the Company was reasonably likely to incur significant losses for certain substandard loans; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site:www.bgandg.com/eqbk. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Equity Bancshares you have until July 12, 2019 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz 212-697-6484 \|info@bgandg.com SOURCE:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:http://beta.accesswire.com/550418/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT--Equity-Bancshares-Inc-EQBK-Bronstein-Gewirtz-Grossman-LLC-Announces-Class-Action-and-Lead-Plaintiff-Deadline-July-12-2019
DEADLINE ALERT - Nabriva Therapeutics PLC (NBRV) Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Reminds Investors with Losses Exceeding $50K of Class Action and Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 8, 2019 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2019 /Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Nabriva Therapeutics PLC ("Nabriva" or the "Company") (NBRV) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased or otherwise acquired Nabriva securities between November 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019, both dates inclusive. Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site:www.bgandg.com/nbrv. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On April 30, 2019, Nabriva disclosed receipt of a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the Company's New Drug Application ("NDA") seeking marketing approval of CONTEPO™ (fosfomycin) for injection for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including acute pyelonephritis. Nabriva advised investors that "[t]he CRL requests that Nabriva address issues related to facility inspections and manufacturing deficiencies at one of Nabriva's contract manufacturers prior to the FDA approving the NDA." On this news, Nabriva's stock price fell $0.82 per share, or 27.42%, to close at $2.17 per share on May 1, 2019. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site:www.bgandg.com/nbrvor you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Nabriva you have untilJuly 8, 2019to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz212-697-6484 \|info@bgandg.com SOURCE:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:http://beta.accesswire.com/550414/DEADLINE-ALERT--Nabriva-Therapeutics-PLC-NBRV-Bronstein-Gewirtz-Grossman-LLC-Reminds-Investors-with-Losses-Exceeding-50K-of-Class-Action-and-Lead-Plaintiff-Deadline-July-8-2019
CareTrust REIT Buys A Skilled Nursing Facility In Idaho For $12.8M CareTrust REIT(NASDAQ:CTRE) will acquire Cascadia of Nampa, a rehabilitation facility located in Nampa, Idaho, for $12.8 million. The initial annual cash rent will be approximately $1.45 million. The acquisition was funded using cash on hand. The facility will be added to CareTrust’s existing lease with Idaho-based Cascadia Healthcare, LLC, bringing the total facility count to 12 facilities with 1,013 licensed beds. “Cascadia of Nampa is a purpose-built post-acute facility that will be a fixture in the Nampa healthcare community for years to come, and we are excited to watch Cascadia expand their patient-focused care model throughout the Treasure Valley,” said Mark Lamb, CareTrust CIO. CareTrust REIT traded down 2.2% at $23.26 Monday morning. Related Links: Brookfield Infrastructure To Buy Genesee & Wyoming In .4B Deal Applied Materials Will Acquire Kokusai Electric For .2B See more from Benzinga • Astronics To Buy Freedom Communication Technologies For M • NovaBay Trades Higher After Compliance Plan Accepted By NYSE • TPG Growth To Buy Gym Chain Crunch Fitness © 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pros are up to $820 off at Amazon TL;DR:Good-as-new refurbished15-inch MacBook Prosare up to $820 off — pay $1,979.99 for 512GB or $1879.99 for 256GB. Laptops have tons of uses, whether it bework,school, or just browsing Twitter. Whatever your computer’s main function is, I think we can all agree that a good deal on a laptop is something to take advantage of. Here’s one to check out:Refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pros (2018) are up to 29% offat Amazon, depending on how much storage you want. That means you can save up to $820 on a new-to-you Apple computer. These laptops have been renewed then inspected, tested, and certified to look and work like new. With one of these good-as-newMacBook Pros, you’ll get a 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED backlit display with IPS technology, a 6-Core processor, and 16GB of RAM.Read more... More aboutApple,Laptops,Macbook Pro,Mashable Shopping, andShopping Solo
Forterra plc (LON:FORT): What Does The Future Look Like? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! In December 2018, Forterra plc (LON:FORT) released its earnings update. Generally, analyst forecasts seem fairly subdued, as a 6.5% rise in profits is expected in the upcoming year, relative to the higher past 5-year average growth rate of 36%. With trailing-twelve-month net income at current levels of UK£53m, we should see this rise to UK£56m in 2020. Below is a brief commentary around Forterra's earnings outlook going forward, which may give you a sense of market sentiment for the company. For those interested in more of an analysis of the company, you canresearch its fundamentals here. Check out our latest analysis for Forterra The longer term view from the 8 analysts covering FORT is one of positive sentiment. Generally, broker analysts tend to make predictions for up to three years given the lack of visibility beyond this point. To understand the overall trajectory of FORT's earnings growth over these next fews years, I've fitted a line through these analyst earnings forecast to determine an annual growth rate from the slope. This results in an annual growth rate of 5.5% based on the most recent earnings level of UK£53m to the final forecast of UK£62m by 2022. This leads to an EPS of £0.31 in the final year of projections relative to the current EPS of £0.27. With a current profit margin of 14%, this movement will result in a margin of 15% by 2022. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Forterra, there are three pertinent aspects 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 Forterra 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 Forterra is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Forterra? 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.
US construction spending falls 0.8% in May WASHINGTON (AP) — Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in May, the first drop in six months, as home building fell for a fifth straight month. The Commerce Department reported Monday that spending fell 0.8% in May, the first decline since a 1.3% drop in November, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.29 trillion. Spending In April was revised up from a flat reading to a small gain of 0.4%. The weakness in May was widespread with spending on single-family homes and apartments down 0.6% while nonresidential construction fell 0.9%. Spending on government projects also dropped 0.9%, led by a decline in construction spending by the federal government. Spending on residential construction has been weak for a number of months but builders are hopeful that declining mortgage rates will spur a rebound. The 0.6% decline in residential construction reflected a 0.8% fall in spending on new single-family homes partially offset by a 1.9% rise in the smaller apartment sector. The 0.9% drop in nonresidential construction followed a 1.4% decline in April. The May weakness reflected declines in a number of areas including office buildings and the category that covers shopping centers. The 0.9% drop in government construction projects was the first decline in five months. Spending by state and local governments fell 0.6% while construction spending by the federal government was down a larger 5.2%.
GLOBAL MARKETS-U.S.-China trade truce pushes global stocks higher By David Randall NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Global stocks rallied and bonds retreated on Monday as the United States and China agreed to restart trade talks at the G20 summit over the weekend, leading investors to bet that a breakthrough between the world's two largest economies would jumpstart global economic growth. The United States and China agreed on Saturday to resume trade negotiations after U.S. President Donald Trump offered concessions to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping when the two met at the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Japan. Those included no new tariffs and an easing of restrictions on tech company Huawei. China agreed to make unspecified new purchases of U.S. farm products and return to the negotiating table. "It played out as well as possible," said Hans Peterson, SEB Investment Management's global head of asset allocation. "It gives us time to digest and get a bit better activity in the global economy." Broad gains in Europe and Japan and fresh record highs in the U.S. market pushed MSCI's broadest global index up 0.3%, adding to a rally that has been one of the global stock market's best first halves to a year ever. The benchmark S&P 500 index surpassed its previous record high of 2,964.15, hit on June 21. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 178.83 points, or 0.67%, to 26,778.79, the S&P 500 gained 25.02 points, or 0.85%, to 2,966.78 and the Nasdaq Composite added 97.02 points, or 1.21%, to 8,103.26. "Any step towards a trade resolution, and it doesn't have to be a lot of progress - just a step, is viewed very positively by markets," said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida. "And investors at this point are trying to focus on the positive in hopes that there will be some trade resolution down the line." Chinese blue chips jumped 2.6% to their highest since late April and Germany's export-heavy DAX gained 1.5% to its highest since August. The Huawei hiatus and M&A activity pushed Europe's tech sector to a one-year peak. Fed funds dropped over five ticks as the market scaled back the probability of a half-point interest rate cut this month to around 15%, from nearer 50% a week ago. "I think the Fed expectations in the market are very aggressive. Possibly a bit too aggressive," SEB's Peterson said. In currency markets, safe havens like the yen and Swiss franc gave up some recent gains. The dollar rose 0.4% on the yen to 108.26 and 0.7% on the franc to 0.9830. The dollar added 0.4% on a basket of currencies to 96.531 . The dollar's gains hurt gold, which fell 1.5% to $1,388 per ounce Oil prices rose as OPEC and its allies looked set to extend supply cuts at least until the end of 2019. Iraq joined top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia in endorsing the policy. Brent crude futures rose $1.55, or 2.4%, to $66.31 a barrel. U.S. crude gained $1.35, or 2.3%, to $59.82. (Reporting by David Randall; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Canopy Growth (CGC) May Never Reap the Benefits of Acreage Holdings The market has been operating under the assumption there is no doubt Canopy Growth's (CGC) acquisition of Acreage Holdings is sure to enjoy the benefits of the U.S. government legalizing recreational pot. I've seen some people even suggest it could happen as soon as a year from now. In my opinion that outlook has no basis in reality. There's a reason, after all, the deal will expire after seven and a half years if it isn't consummated. This implies the participants, at best, believe it's going to take some time for legalization to transpire. It also points to the possibility it may take a long time to be legalized, if it ever is. Canada and the U.S One of the problems as I see it is far too many people are equating the fairly easy legalization of recreational pot in Canada with the U.S. The assumption appears to be that the U.S. will rapidly follow in Canada's footsteps. The problem there is people aren't thinking deeper about what differentiates the two countries, and how difficult it'll be to gain acceptance of adult-usage pot in America. While the U.S. and Canada have some similarities, the underlying differences concerning social issues are vastly different, especially with conservatives in the U.S., which number in the multi-millions. Even among liberals there is some hesitancy in recreational legalizing pot. As with the last presidential election, the media and many polling agencies got it significantly wrong about Trump and his support among millions of Americans. I think it's the same with pot legalization. If and when a push is made for legalization, I think there will be a groundswell of grass roots resistance that will make it politically dangerous for many politicians to support. One thing to understand about the U.S. if you're not a resident, is there's a point-of-view that is represented by business and media elites living on the East and West coasts, against the outlook on life by those that live in what we identify as "flyover" country. In recent year this has resulted in a distortion of what the American people really believe. As it relates to legalization of recreational pot, I think it's highly unlikely there will be a change in sentiment that would make legalization happen at the federal level. A key there is it's believed by many that recreational pot is a gateway drug to more potent drugs. It would at best, take years to change the minds of Americans concerning that. I think the deal will be forced to expire before recreational marijuana is legalized in the U.S. Most likely U.S. cannabis scenario What I think will probably play out in America is there will be a full legalization of cannabis, but it'll be on a state-by-state basis, and only on the medical side of the business. It would surprise me if all 50 states don't legalize medical marijuana. My reason for thinking that is medical cannabis, now with a growing body of research and proven results, is becoming more acceptable to a growing number of people. Educating the public on the benefits has been a key to that changing outlook. The general population also starting to understand the difference between THC (part of cannabis that makes people high) and CBD is important. That's why it was fairly easy to pass the 2018 Farm Bill. Another factor is many states in the U.S. are struggling under pension pressures, and they need more tax revenue to sustain them. The fast-growing CBD and medical pot market fits well into meeting those and other needs of the states. Conclusion A lot of media reporting on the Canopy Growth and Acreage Holdings deal has been based upon the assumption recreational pot will inevitably be legalized in the U.S., and in many cases, it's suggested it'll be sooner rather than later. While I understand, from the point of view of a Canadian-based company, that the U.S. is the most desirable international market, but it is highly unlikely the federal government will legalize recreational pot in the near future, if it ever does. For that reason, those interested in Canopy Growth shouldn't make investing decisions based upon expected results from Canopy acquiring Acreage Holdings. It would be a strong catalyst for Canopy Growth if it ever is allowed to happen, but the odds are far more against it than for it, for the reasons mentioned above. I believe it was a mistake for Canopy to target the U.S. market at this stage of growth. Instead it should have focused more on developing a meaningful presence in Europe and some places in South America. It of course has some presence there, but it's apparent to me, such as in Germany, that it hasn't given its full and undivided attention in other global markets. Instead, it has a headline non-deal that may never work out. I think it's a huge mistake to make an investing decision based upon the inevitability of recreational pot being legalized in the U.S. It's far from a sure thing, and if it ever does happen, I think it'll be a lot further out than the market is assuming at this time. To read more on the nitty gritty of what’s going on in the rising cannabis industry,click here. Read more on CGC: • Canopy Growth (CGC) Stock: Buy the Dip or Pump the Brakes? • Canopy: Recent Licence from Health Canada Ain’t Going to Help the Stock • Canopy Growth (CGC) Continues to Struggle to Find Its Identity • Top Cannabis Stocks Under Fire: What’s The Stock Market’s Message? • Is 33% Upside Good Enough to Risk Buying Fitbit (FIT) Stock? Deutsche Bank Doesn't Think So • Deutsche Bank Remains Sidelined on AMD Stock; Here's Why • Antitrust Investigation Is Not a Major Threat to Alphabet (GOOGL) Stock, Says Top Analyst • Tesla's (TSLA) Gigafactory Is Impressive, But Its Stock Isn't, Says RBC Capital
Plentiful jobs but slow growth: 10 facts about the expansion WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten straight years of growth. Unemployment at a five-decade low. Higher wages for the poorest workers. The economic expansion that just became America's longest on record didn't produce an especially fast pace of growth. It didn't narrow the vast gap between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else. But the expansion has lasted so long and it followed such a disastrous recession that it would be easy to overlook how much healthier the economy has become. Here are some key facts about the economic recovery that began a decade ago: ___ JOBS, JOBS, JOBS For all the widespread fear that robotics and automation are displacing millions of American workers, the expansion has created a bumper crop of jobs: 21.4 million, added over a record streak of 104 months of hiring. And most of those positions have been traditional full-time jobs. Fewer people now work part time than when the Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, though the proportion of part-time workers remains above its pre-recession levels. And severalstudies suggestthat so-called gig work — Uber, TaskRabbit, Grubhub and the like— hasn't grown nearly as much as many experts feared. Old-fashioned employment remains largely the rule. ___ IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO HEAL Of course, all that job growth followed one of the darkest periods of layoffs since the 1930s. Nearly 9 million people lost jobs in the Great Recession. And hiring didn't "snap back" as fast as it had during most previous recoveries. The unemployment rate stayed above 8% for 43 months, a record. By contrast, in the 1980s, after a severe recession, unemployment remained above 8% for a far shorter period — 27 months. In the end, though, the current expansion shrank the unemployment rate from a peak of 10 percent to the current 3.6 percent, its lowest point since 1969. ___ A ROBUST LABOR MARKET With unemployment so high for so long, many Americans stopped looking for work after the recession. Some returned to school. Some stayed home to care for sick or needy relatives. The exodus of these people from the labor force sharply reduced the proportion of Americans with jobs. Many economists speculated that the trend might prove permanent. As the economy recovered and businesses needed to fill jobs, employers complained that a "skills gap" was at fault. That is, too many potential hires lacked the necessary skills or qualifications, many of them technology-related. Yet as economic growth endured and hiring remained robust, millions of people were eventually drawn off the sidelines and resumed their job hunts. And skills gap or not, most of them were hired. It took a while, but the proportion of Americans ages 25 through 54 who have jobsreturnedto its pre-recession peak in October 2018. ___ SUSTAINED BUT SLUGGISH GROWTH The economic expansion has proved resilient but relatively anemic compared with its predecessors. Consider: The economy has expanded at an average of just 2.3% a year since the recession ended in June 2009. Compare that with the 3.6% annual growth rate during the 1990s expansion and a 4.2% rate in the 1980s. ___ SLOWER WORKFORCE GROWTH TAKES A TOLL Why has growth been so slow? An economy grows when more people are working and when those workers become more productive. Yet retirements have accelerated during the recovery: 10,000 people turn 65 every day. Young adults are also staying in school longer and are less likely to work. As a result, the growth of the workforce has slowed: It has risen just 0.5% a year, on average, for the past decade — barely one-third the pace of its growth in the 1980s and 1990s recoveries. ___ WE'RE ALL LESS EFFICIENT NOW Not only did the growth of the labor force slow during the expansion. So did productivity, which is a gauge of the workforce's efficiency. Productivity measures the economy's output per hour worked. Before the recession, the workforce's productivity expanded, on average, 2.7% annually. Since then, it has risen at only about half that pace. Brisk productivity growth is a key ingredient in healthy economic and wage growth. What's caused America's productivity slump? No one is certain. Some economists blame a slowdown in economy-wide innovation. Others, though, are more optimistic. They suggest that technologies like artificial intelligence and self-driving cars will soon accelerate productivity growth and invigorate the economy. ___ A GREAT TIME TO BUY A CAR OR HOUSE The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates at historically low levels through the entire recovery. The Fed's benchmark short-term rate was pinned at a record low near zero for seven years. It is now set in a range of 2.25% to 2.5%, still quite low by historical standards. And even that range might be as high as it will go anytime soon, given persistently low inflation and signs of a slowing economy. The Fed is widely expected, in fact, to cut rates over the coming months. By contrast, by the end of the 1990s expansion, the Fed raised its short-term rate to 6.5% in June 2000. ___ REMARKABLY TAME INFLATION Despite a decade of growth and ultra-low interest rates, inflation has defied nearly everyone's forecasts — including the Fed's — by remaining historically low. By most measures, inflation has stayed below 2%, the Fed's target rate, for most of the expansion. Low price growth has helped consumers stretch their dollars further. But such quiescent inflation also reflects the sluggishness of the expansion: Growth hasn't been high enough to overheat the economy, which is normally what causes inflation to accelerate. And workers haven't been emboldened enough to seek significant pay raises. Nor have companies' suppliers generally demanded higher prices. Retailers, in turn, haven't had to raise prices much to offset their labor or supply costs. ___ BIGGER GAINS AT THE BOTTOM One heartening sign for roughly the past three years is that wage increases have been healthiest among the lowest-paid workers. In May, average pay for the poorest one-quarter of workers surged 4.4% from a year earlier. That compares with a 3.2% average increase for the richest quarter of workers, according to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Roughly 20 states have raised their minimum wages in recent years. And falling employment has led some low-wage employers, like restaurants and retailers, to offer higher pay to attract and keep workers. ___ INCOME INEQUALITY HAS SLIGHTLY NARROWED With wage gains picking up slightly for the lowest paid, income inequality has actually narrowed a bit since the recession (as opposed to wealth inequality, which has worsened). The proportion of U.S. income going to the poorest one-fifth of Americans rose from 6.4% in 2007 to 7.3% in 2015, the latest year for which data is available, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The wealthiest one-fifth received about 48% of all income, down from 51%.
Is Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) A Great Dividend Stock? 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 Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) 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. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. In this case, Broadcom likely looks attractive to dividend investors, given its 3.7% dividend yield and nine-year payment history. We'd agree the yield does look enticing. The company also bought back stock equivalent to around 10% of market capitalisation this year. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Broadcom for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Broadcom! 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. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. In the last year, Broadcom paid out 114% of its profit as dividends. A payout ratio above 100% is definitely an item of concern, unless there are some other circumstances that would justify it. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Broadcom paid out a conservative 38% of its free cash flow as dividends last year. It's disappointing to see that the dividend was not covered by profits, but cash is more important from a dividend sustainability perspective, and Broadcom fortunately did generate enough cash to fund its dividend. If executives were to continue paying more in dividends than the company reported in profits, we'd view this as a warning sign. Very few companies are able to sustainably pay dividends larger than their reported earnings. As Broadcom 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 measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). With net debt of 3.15 times its EBITDA, investors are starting to take on a meaningful amount of risk, should the business enter a downturn. Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. Broadcom has EBIT of 5.96 times its interest expense, which we think is adequate. Consider gettingour latest analysis on Broadcom'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. The first recorded dividend for Broadcom, in the last decade, was nine years ago. During the past nine-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.28 in 2010, compared to US$10.60 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 50% per year over this time. Broadcom has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle. The other half of the dividend investing equation is evaluating whether earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Growing EPS can help maintain or increase the purchasing power of the dividend over the long run. It's good to see Broadcom has been growing its earnings per share at 31% a year over the past 5 years. The company has been growing its EPS at a very rapid rate, while paying out virtually all of its income as dividends. While EPS could grow fast enough to make the dividend sustainable, in this type of situation, we'd want to pay extra attention to any fragilities in the company's balance sheet. 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. We're not keen on the fact that Broadcom paid out such a high percentage of its income, although its cashflow is in better shape. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, although its dividend history is not as long as we'd like. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about Broadcom from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 28 analysts we track are forecasting for Broadcomfor freewith publicanalyst estimates for the company. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try ourcurated list of dividend stocks with a yield 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.
Today’s best deals: $28 true wireless earbuds, huge SanDisk microSD sale, Fire TV Recast, $7 smart plugs, more Click here to read the full article. July 4th is still a few days away but the party is already starting here at BGR Deals, where we’ve rounded up some of the best daily deals you’ll find anywhere. Highlights include a one-day sale that slashes popular ENACFIRE true wireless earbuds as low as $27.99, deep discounts on every size SanDisk microSD card you can imagine , a crazy early Prime Day sale that slashes the Fire TV Recast OTA DVR to its lowest price ever, Alexa and Google enabled Wi-Fi smart plugs for just $6.75 a piece when you buy a 4-pack and clip the on-site coupon, a one-day sale that slashes the KithenAid Stand Mixer everyone’s obsessed with to its lowest price of 2019, up to $70 off the fastest USB-C SSD external drives in the world, an Alexa enabled Roomba robot vacuum for just $279.99, a killer one-day sale on 15-inch MacBook Pro refurbs, and plenty more. See all of today’s top deals below. Related Stories: Popular Alexa and Google enabled smart plugs drop to $6, an all-time low Our readers' favorite true wireless earbuds of 2019 are back down to $25 Hurry: At $6 each, this crazy sale on multi-color smart LED bulbs has to be a mistake BGR Top Deals: This $16 clip-on lens kit fits the iPhone or any Android phone, and it’s awesome Amazon deal offers a 7-inch Android tablet for under $43 See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Andy Cohen and 'Real Housewives' stars take over World Pride 2019 with epic Bravo float: Pics! (Exclusive quotes) Bravo takes over Pride! The network put together the most buzzed-about float at the 2019 New York City Pride Parade on Sunday, which came on World Pride Day, featuring a slew of its most recognizable stars. Head honcho Andy Cohen led the way, DJing for the entire day as "Real Housewives" danced, waved, took selfies and showed their support for the LGBTQ community during its month of celebration. Andy included several singles from Bravo stars on his playlist for the day, including "Money Can't By You Class" by Countess Luann and "Tardy for the Party" by Kim Zolciak. There were also iconic Bravo quotes mixed in throughout the day. SEE ALSO:Lady Gaga, Madonna and more stars celebrate World Pride 2019 in New York City The list of names on the float wearing rainbow-hued ensembles reads like a who's who of Bravo: Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan and Tinsley Mortimer from "RHONY;" NeNe Leakes, Cynthia Bailey, Eva Marcille and Marlo Hampton from "RHOA;" Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga and Margaret Josephs from "RHONJ;" Kelly Dodd from "RHOC;" LeeAnne Locken from "RHOD;" Gizelle Bryant from "RHOP;" Reza Farahan from "Shahs of Sunset;" Patricia Altschul from "Southern Charm;" Captain Sandy Yawn from "Below Deck Med" and Billie Lee from "Vanderpump Rules." Also on the float? The Gay Shark from "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, as well as drag queens Jackie Cox, Chelsea Piers and Paige Turner, who dressed up as "RHOBH" stars Lisa Rinna, Erika Jayne and Lisa Vanderpump. Curiously, the Beverly Hills franchise was the only one not represented with a cast member on Sunday. AOL's Gibson Johns walked with the float during the parade, where he chatted with some of the notable attendees, asking them what it was like being part of the lively celebration of Pride. "Guess what? It’s not even about Bravo -- it’s about the LGBT!"Sonja Morgantold AOL exclusively. "Everyone who’s here today could be in the Hamptons, they could be anywhere, they could be on Fire Island, but we’re here today for the LGBT!" Gizelle Bryant said that "there's no other place I'd rather be right now" and gave a shoutout toThe Hat Girls, who made matching rainbow hats for her, Cynthia Bailey and Dorinda Medley for the occasion. "RHONJ" standout Margaret Josephs made sure to call attention to the importance of the fact that this year's World Pride falls on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots. "This feels so amazing. I love being here with everyone supporting, especially on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. This is so magical and just the best feeling ever," she told AOL. "I’ve always been part of the LGBTQ community, but now I have a platform to do great things and have a voice and support the community, so it’s been so great." "RHOA" newcomer Eva Marcille, who braved the New York City heat for the day despite being pregnant, opened up about reuniting with stars from different "Real Housewives" franchises for such a good cause. "It’s so cool being here. Last time I saw a lot of these ladies was atAndy’s baby shower, but being here is all about love and pride and inclusivity," she explained to AOL. "We all do different shows with what goes on in life -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- but today is all about accepting us all, flaws and all. At the end of the day, it’s all under the umbrella of beauty. It’s all love." Bravo stars weren't the only celebs to make appearances during Pride 2019. Lady Gaga, the cast of "Queer Eye" and Madonna also also stepped out over the weekend:
Should We Worry About BCE Inc.'s (TSE:BCE) P/E Ratio? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at BCE Inc.'s (TSE:BCE) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Based on the last twelve months,BCE's P/E ratio is 18.68. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying CA$18.68 for every CA$1 in prior year profit. Check out our latest analysis for BCE Theformula for price to earningsis: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for BCE: P/E of 18.68 = CA$59.58 ÷ CA$3.19 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to paya higher pricefor each CA$1 the company has earned over the last year. That is not a good or a bad thingper se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. 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. BCE's earnings per share were pretty steady over the last year. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 4.1%. The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. As you can see below BCE has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the telecom industry, which is 17.9. BCE's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. If the company has better than average prospects, then the market might be underestimating it. I would further inform my view by checkinginsider buying and selling., among other things. 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. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth. 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. BCE has net debt worth 50% of its market capitalization. If you want to compare its P/E ratio to other companies, you should absolutely keep in mind it has significant borrowings. BCE has a P/E of 18.7. That's higher than the average in the CA market, which is 14.9. With meaningful debt and a lack of recent earnings growth, the market has high expectations that the business will earn more in the future. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So thisfreereport on the analyst consensus forecastscould help you make amaster moveon this stock. But note:BCE 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.
Have Insiders Been Selling Bandwidth Inc. (NASDAQ:BAND) Shares This Year? 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. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So before you buy or sellBandwidth Inc.(NASDAQ:BAND), 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, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.' See our latest analysis for Bandwidth The , James Bowen, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$15m worth of shares at a price of US$42.00 each. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$75.01). We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling on market, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. This single sale was 96.4% of James Bowen's stake. In the last twelve months insiders netted US$15m for 351k shares sold. Insiders in Bandwidth didn't buy any shares in the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. The last three months saw significant insider selling at Bandwidth. In total, Director Lukas Roush sold US$57k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all. 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. Bandwidth insiders own about US$484m worth of shares (which is 28% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. An insider sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. And even if we look to the last year, we didn't see any purchases. On the plus side, Bandwidth makes money, and is growing profits. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. 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. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Kim Kardashian renaming Kimono shapewear after backlash Kim Kardashian is backing down after coming under fire for naming her new range of shapewear Kimono Solutionwear. The reality star was accused of showing zero respect for Japanese culture which has long used the word kimono to describe a loose, wide-sleeved robe after she tried to trademark the Kimono name. In a statement posted to social media on Monday, Kardashian said she has taken the criticism to heart and plans to rename the line of undergarments designed to smooth and support the body. When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind. My brands and products are built with inclusivity and diversity at their core and after careful thought and consideration, I will be launching my Solutionwear brand under a new name, she told her fans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jul 1, 2019 at 6:49am PDT The move comes just a week after Kardashian announced her new foray into fashion, which had some critics quipping, Kim, oh no. As the U.K.s Independent reports, the mayor of Kyoto, Japan, Daisaku Kadokawa, posted an open letter asking Kardashian to reconsider and arguing that the kimono name should not be monopolized. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jun 25, 2019 at 6:00am PDT Kardashian had reportedly sought to trademark the phrases Kimono, Kimono Intimates, Kimono World and Kimono Body to use for clothing and accessory items, including dog harnesses. Fans are applauding her for renaming the products and have offered their own alternatives, including KimBody and sKIM Wear. Some, however, feel like she shouldnt have bowed down to critics. The name was great, read one comment. People need to get over it, every little thing in this world gets them going. Leave it alone, people, get a life. Well you dont understand the weight of turning a countrys national costume name to a celebrity underwear line, a commenter shot back. Its like full-on disrespect, with or without meaning to do so. I applaud her for trying to change the situation since not every famous person is humble enough to own up to their missteps. Story continues 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.
Warren Buffett donates $3.6 billion to Gates' and family charities By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Warren Buffett is donating roughly $3.6 billion of Berkshire Hathaway Inc <BRKa.N> stock to five charities, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the biggest contribution in Buffett's plan to give away his fortune. Berkshire said Buffett's 14th annual donation comprises about 16.81 million Class "B" shares of Berkshire. The donation will boost the total amount Buffett has given to the charities to more than $34.5 billion since the 88-year-old billionaire pledged in 2006 to give his shares away. Four-fifths of the donations go to the Gates Foundation. The rest goes to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for Buffett's late first wife, and charities run by his children Howard, Susan and Peter: the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation and the NoVo Foundation. Buffett has since 1965 built Berkshire into a roughly $522 billion conglomerate owning such businesses as the BNSF railroad, Geico auto insurance and Dairy Queen ice cream, and stocks such as Apple Inc <AAPL.O> and Wells Fargo & Co <WFC.N>. Buffett's largest prior annual donation was $3.4 billion in 2018. Following the latest donation, Buffett will still own about 15.7 percent of Berkshire, despite having given away 45 percent of his 2006 holdings, and have roughly 31 percent of its voting power. Buffett remains the world's fourth-richest person, worth $87.5 billion according to Forbes magazine. Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Inc's <AMZN.O> chief executive, and his family topped Forbes' list at $157.8 billion. Berkshire invested in Amazon for the first time early this year. The Gates and family charities typically sell Buffett's shares to finance their activities, reflecting his desire that money be spent. Buffett also donates to other charities. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Manufacturing sector shows unexpected strength in June: IHS, ISM surveys Serious busy young black factory engineer in hardhat and safety goggles examining milling lathe and repairing it while working at production plant The U.S. manufacturing sector showed unexpected resilience last month, according to two industry surveys released on Monday, bolstered by modest gains that defied the gravitational pull of the U.S.-China trade war and a slowing economy. The IHS-Markit Purchasing Manager’s Index checked in at 50.6 in June, up from 50.1 in the prior month and in line with/below expectations of 50.1.The headline was helped by modest gains in new business, IHS said. Separately, the ISM Manufacturing Survey also beat market expectations. The index dipped to 51.7 from the prior reading of 52.1 — but above Wall Street’s consensus forecasts of 50.0. Anything below 50 indicates business conditions are contracting. Still, much of the damage from the bilateral trade dispute has already been felt across multiple sectors, and sown widespread fears about the health of the U.S. economy. The trade war has forced businesses to rethink hiring and investment, and some of that trepidation was evident in both the ISM and IHS surveys. “June data signaled a further near-stagnation of operating conditions across the U.S manufacturing sector. The rate of overall growth held close to May's near-decade low,” IHS-Markit said. In fact, June’s figure was among the weakest readings of the last few years. Conversely, the ISM data showed that new orders stagnated during the month even as consumption expanded. “On a positive note, the rate of output growth quickened slightly amid a renewed rise in new orders. However, in line with muted increases in output, firms reined in staff hiring, expanding workforce numbers at the slowest pace for almost three years,” the IHS survey noted. “Subsequently, output expectations remained subdued,” it added. U.S. manufacturers “registered a faster rise in production in June,” Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM’s manufacturing business survey committee, said in a statement. “Nevertheless, the rate of expansion was only moderate and the second-slowest since June 2016 (behind May's recent low), as firms continued to report difficult demand conditions,” he added. Story continues ‘Wreaking havoc’ Over the weekend, President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, struck a truce at the G20 summit, which sent stocks on a tear Monday. Despite the encouraging development at the G20 meeting, the ongoing Sino-American dispute is still far from resolved. The cloud of uncertainty hanging over the world’s two largest economies is stoking fears about the economy, and led to policy responses by both Beijing and Washington. “China tariffs and pending Mexico tariffs are wreaking havoc with supply chains and costs,” one respondent told the ISM in the June survey. “The situation is crazy, driving a huge amount of work [and] costs, as well as potential supply disruptions,” the person said. Wall Street watchers saw the data as possibly instructive for the Federal Reserve, which is expected to cut interest rates as early as this month. While the ISM’s headline managed to beat expectations, economists at Capital Economics pointed to the slide in forward-looking new orders as potentially ominous. “Overall, this report is probably not enough to move the needle much in either direction on Fed rate cuts,” the firm noted. “But with global demand set to remain subdued, and the tariff truce agreed at the G-20 summit likely to prove temporary, we expect US manufacturing activity to remain weak in the second half of this year,” it added. Javier is an editor for Yahoo Finance. Follow Javier on Twitter: @TeflonGeek Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Read more: 'Quietest in 20 years': Truckers feel chill of slowing US economy How Trump's 'beautiful' tariffs are casting a shadow over trade policy Trump walks back Mexico tariffs, promises relief for 'patriot farmers' Bank of America CEO: 'We want a cashless society' Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , Flipboard , SmartNews , LinkedIn , YouTube , and reddit .
Introducing HNI (NYSE:HNI), The Stock That Dropped 24% In The Last Three Years Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But if you try your hand at stock picking, your risk returning less than the market. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer termHNI Corporation(NYSE:HNI) shareholders, since the share price is down 24% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 48%. The good news is that the stock is up 4.2% in the last week. See our latest analysis for HNI To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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). HNI saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 5.1% per year, over the last three years. This reduction in EPS is slower than the 8.8% annual reduction in the share price. So it's likely that the EPS decline has disappointed the market, leaving investors hesitant to buy. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Dive deeper into HNI's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of HNI'searnings, revenue and cash flow. When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference betweentotal shareholder return(TSR) andshare price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for HNI the TSR over the last 3 years was -17%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted thetotalshareholder return. Investors in HNI had a tough year, with a total loss of 2.0% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 7.6%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 0.3% 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. Importantly, we haven't analysed HNI's dividend history. Thisfreevisual report on its dividendsis a must-read if you're thinking of buying. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of companies that have proven they can 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.
FCA sandbox graduate Globacap launches UK-regulated digital securities platform Fintech firm Globacap hasbecome"the UK's first fully regulated digital security offering and administration platform” after exiting the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) regulatory sandbox. The company uses blockchain technology to"simplify and streamline"the issuance of digital tokens (which function as legal securities). It also assists with capital raising. During the sandbox programme, Globacap tested equity tokenization and transferring ownership under the FCA's watchful eye. It digitalised its own shares in 2018, and this year, it did the same for two British companies. Per the press release, Globacap played the role of a regulated arranger and custodian while they raised funding and was responsible for their digitalisation. “The Sandbox programme has been a great experience, enabling us to come to market with a new application of an emerging technology in a controlled but quicker manner,” said Myles Milston, CEO of Globacap. “The support from the Innovate Team at the FCA was instrumental in the success of this journey.” Globacap tested its solutions as part of the FCA’s regulatory Sandbox Cohort 4. The share, bond, or fund interest it issues fulfill “the legal requirements of a transfer of ownership.”
Exclusive: FIS to win EU approval for $35 billion Worldpay deal: sources By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. financial services provider Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS) <FIS.N> is set to gain unconditional antitrust approval from the European Union for its $35 billion bid for payments company Worldpay <WP.N>, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The deal, announced in March, is the biggest in the fast-growing electronics payments industry which has seen a wave of consolidation recently. FIS produces software for banks and asset managers as well as its financial services outsourcing business. Worldpay, spun off from Royal Bank of Scotland <RBS.L> in 2010, is a major player in card payments. Global payments could top $3 trillion a year in revenue by 2023 as more people switch from cash to digital payments for online and in-store sales, according to consulting firm McKinsey. The European Commission, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by July 5, declined to comment. FIS and Worldpay did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FIS and Worldpay shares extended gains following the Reuters report. By 1445 GMT, FIS shares were up 2.5% and Worldpay up 3.9%. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Alissa de Carbonnel and Jane Merriman)
The Computer Modelling Group (TSE:CMG) Share Price Is Down 51% So Some Shareholders Are Wishing They Sold Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! While not a mind-blowing move, it is good to see that theComputer Modelling Group Ltd.(TSE:CMG) share price has gained 19% in the last three months. But over the last half decade, the stock has not performed well. After all, the share price is down 51% in that time, significantly under-performing the market. Check out our latest analysis for Computer Modelling Group While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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. During the five years over which the share price declined, Computer Modelling Group's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 5.0% each year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 13% annual reduction in the share price. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at ourfreereport on Computer Modelling Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference betweentotal shareholder return(TSR) andshare price return. 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 Computer Modelling Group the TSR over the last 5 years was -39%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted thetotalshareholder return. Investors in Computer Modelling Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 24% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 1.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 9.5% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. If you want to research this stock further, the data on insider buying is an obvious place to start. You canclick here to see who has been buying shares - and the price they paid. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love thisfreelist of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA 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.
Celine Dion fans love her Paris fashion wardrobe – 'God is a woman' Celine Dion wears a variety of weird and wonderful outfits at Paris haute couture week. [Photo: Getty] It may be haute couture fashion week in Paris, France at the moment, but the real catwalk is taking place on the streets in the form of Celine Dion ’s wardrobe. The 51-year-old is delighting fans with a non-stop stream of weird and wonderful high fashion looks. From mismatched stiletto heels to an optical illusion style “zig-zag” gown, she is turning heads in the prestigious capital. The last few days have seen outfit-change galore as Dion went from show to show, flitting from the likes of the Miu Miu and Schiaparelli front rows. Celine Dion attends the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019 2020 show. [Photo: Getty] Singer Celine Dion is seen on July 01, 2019 in Paris, France. [Photo: Getty] Celine Dion wears a pink ruffled dress, a necklace, earrings, outside Miu Miu Club 2020, on June 29, 2019 in Paris, France. [Photo: Getty] Singer Celine Dion is seen on June 30, 2019 in Paris, France. [Photo: Getty] Some of the styles hone back to the 80s, including a black aerobics style unitard by Chanel, a hot pink Miu Miu midi dress with larger-than-life ruffled detailing, and a bright yellow ra-ra skirt paired with a jacket and shoulder pads. Singer Celine Dion is seen on June 27, 2019 in Paris, France. [Photo: Getty] View this post on Instagram A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion) on Jun 30, 2019 at 8:45am PDT Others are 90s inspired, including a baby pink, feathered boob tube with matching fluffy heels. Dion, who is styled by a team of Sydney Lopez and Pepe Muñoz, also worked some unusual styling tricks – including rolling up just one leg of her flared jeans to show off her sandals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by sydneylopez (@sydneylopez) on Jun 28, 2019 at 3:38pm PDT The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer attended the Alexandre Vauthier couture show in a shoulder-baring minidress by the designer himself, complete with dramatic floor-skimming sleeves. She also sported a new lob (long bob) haircut paired with an oversized grey jacket, black denim mini and an “I love Paris” T-shirt. Celine Dion is seen on July 02, 2019 in Paris, France wearing a cream Alexandre Vauthier dress. [Photo: Getty] Singer Celine Dion is seen leaving her hotel in Paris, France, on July 3rd, 2019. [Photo: Getty[ Fans are going crazy for the looks on Twitter – with many saying they “love” the out-there styles. I love this dress. — Bengt Tärnhamn (@BengtTarnhamn) July 1, 2019 God is a woman and her name is Celine Dion. pic.twitter.com/AxoL2Neo1U — olga 🌈💕 (@celinishfetish) June 30, 2019 Celine Dion really giving the gays what she wants... 😭 pic.twitter.com/WejNvt8qNd — teamcelinedion (@_teamcelinedion) June 29, 2019 Can we just live in a world where there’s a new style from @celinedion every day please? It’s what we deserve in this sad, depressing world. pic.twitter.com/Qk2dZwedSf — Hay (@hayinFL) June 30, 2019 ohhhhhh💕💕💕💕💕 #fashionistas @celinedion #pairs #summer #fashion #renecharles pic.twitter.com/jlV0maHp88 — CelineDion Australia (@genbidi1) June 28, 2019 #CelineDion doing the absolute most in Paris - and I LOVE IT!!! https://t.co/7GAVWfzTbA pic.twitter.com/Q1Vip4XGX6 — Perez (@ThePerezHilton) July 1, 2019 However, the comments weren’t all positive, with some deeming Dion’s looks “bizarre” and others commenting on her slim figure. Story continues @Celine Dion is known for taking fashion risks and her latest outfit might be her most bizarre one yet.” Demorats stand out like a sore thumb! — Irving Spud (@IrvingSpud) June 30, 2019 #DailyMail let’s comment on #CelineDion and her bizarre outfits but I myself was more interested in the woman behind her on the left😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/0kAE1cQCBm — Rhian Glyn Barlow (@Glynrhian) July 1, 2019 She needs to eat @celinedion 😡😡😡😡😡 — Eithne Redmond (@EithneRedmond) July 1, 2019 A bit to ultra thin for her age ... doesn’t look well .... — Edwin Bonet (@EdwinEdwinbonet) June 29, 2019 Earlier this year, fans expressed concerns that Dion had become “frail” looking . The singer’s team took to Instagram to share a photo of the Canadian chanteuse taking a time-out in a black leather miniskirt, prompting red flags over the star’s noticeably slim frame. But the playful snap, posted just days before Dion wrapped her Las Vegas residency, set off a firestorm of criticism over the “My Heart Will Go On” singer’s weight. “I love you Celine. Please take care,” one fan wrote. “You look very unhealthy.”
Gordon Ramsay Plans to Open 100 Restaurants in Next Five Years Gordon Ramsay has already taken over U.S. television multiple reality and travel series ( including Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted debuting later this month ). Now, hes looking to further expand his American empire by going back to what made him a household name to begin with: The British celebrity chef is reportedly planning to open as many as 100 restaurants across the U.S. in the next five years. Ramsay has signed a deal with Lion Capital, giving the private equity firm half ownership of Gordon Ramsay North America under the stipulation that they will invest over $100 million to open a chain of restaurants under the brand, according to Forbes . Lion Capital has previously had success in the food world with companies like the Asian restaurant chain Wagamama and the upmarket potato chip maker Kettle Chips. Ramsay currently has eight restaurants in the United States, all in partnerships with Caesars Entertainment casinos. Three of those brands will reportedly be spun off to more locations across the country: Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. Additionally, two international concepts are said to be coming to the U.S. for the first time: Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza and Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen the latter of which he billed as a modern Cheesecake Factory. Ramsay said it took a year to get the deal together with Lion Capital after he decided he needed help to expand his already popular restaurant group. I wasnt ready to pedal this bike up a hill on my own. That would take me another 15 years. Lets get this thing done, he told Forbes. It may seem aggressive, but were not opening up 80 or 90 of the same restaurant. Were crossing over with a multilayered brand. Thats the bit that Ive worked hard at. Weve divided and conquered. The whole thing potentially bodes well for expanding Ramsays vast fortune. Hes already the only chef on Forbes list of The Worlds Highest-Paid Celebrities .
Are Insiders Selling Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRZO) Stock? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inCarrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.(NASDAQ:CRZO). It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Harvard Universitystudyfound that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.' Check out our latest analysis for Carrizo Oil & Gas The President, Sylvester Johnson, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$457k worth of shares at a price of US$12.11 each. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The good news is that this large sale was at well above current price of US$10.03. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price. We note that in the last year insiders divested 118k shares for a total of US$1.4m. In the last year Carrizo Oil & Gas insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! I will like Carrizo Oil & Gas better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out thisfreelist of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Carrizo Oil & Gas insiders own 6.8% of the company, worth about US$63m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Carrizo Oil & Gas shares in the last quarter. Still, the insider transactions at Carrizo Oil & Gas in the last 12 months are not very heartening. But it's good to see that insiders own shares in the company. Of course,the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Carrizo Oil & Gas, you should check out thisfreereport on analyst forecasts for the company. But note:Carrizo Oil & Gas may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Best Stocks for 2019: Charlotte’s Web Is Just Taking a Breather Editor’s note: This article is part of InvestorPlace.com’sBest Stocks for 2019 contest. Matt McCall’s pick for the contest isCharlotte’s Web Holdings Inc(OTCMKTS:CWBHF). I’ve been recommending marijuana investments since 2014. That’s five years now. Many of my early recommendations have soared hundreds, even thousands of percent. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips I’ve gotten to know many of the most important players in the industry. I’ve also personally invested in private marijuana deals that have produced some stunning success. A colleague of mine even refers to me as “The Original Marijuana Stock Bull.” I’m flattered to be considered one of the earliest and most plugged-in marijuana investors. But at no time in the past five years have I seen the level of marketing related to marijuana investments that we’re seeing now. It seems that everyone is starting to call themselves a marijuana expert. Guys who were defense industry analysts a month ago are now pounding the table on marijuana. I guess it’s better late than never? Interest in sectors and asset classes ebbs and flows, and because the marijuana industry has been flying so high in recent months, we were overdue for a short-term correction. • 6 Worst S&P 500 Stocks of 2019 (So Far) We’re seeing that now. But don’t make the same mistake a lot of people are making. Don’t sell your holdings because some idiot tells you “the marijuana bubble has popped.” Instead, focus on the long-term picture. And in this case,the long-term picture of the marijuana industry has never been more promising. That brings me to my pick in the Best Stocks for 2019 contest. Charlotte’s Web(OTCMKTS:CWBHF) isn’t your typical marijuana company. It focuses on a niche sector within the larger industry –cannabidiol, also known as CBD. According to Brightfield Group, the hemp-derived CBD market is poised to increase from $591 million in 2018 to $22 billion by 2022. That is nearly 40x growth in four years! Charlotte’s Web is the early leader in this booming, up-and-coming industry. It produces and distributes CBD wellness products, including everything from tinctures to topicals to capsules, both online and in stores. And as a result, it has become the world’s leading CBD brand by market share. The company has been a pioneer in the industry since being founded in 2013. Its brand became well known after aCNNdocumentary aired based on the life of a little girl named Charlotte Figi. Charlotte suffered from up to 300 grand mal seizuresper week, but she found treatment — and almost a cure — in cannabis oil. The brothers who manufactured the strain went on to found Charlotte’s Web. If you’re interested in reading more about Charlotte’s story,check out my initial recommendation here. Through the first quarter of 2019, Charlotte’s Web rallied an unbelievable 80%. It continued to a high of $25.25 on April 4 — a gain of 127%! — before getting caught up in the broad volatility we talked about earlier. To add insult to injury, the company also got hit by a few other negative headwinds. Still, neither impacts its long-term potential one iota. The first was insider selling. While it’s not something we ever want to see, it can happen for understandable and legitimate reasons, especially after a company goes public. Early investors want to lock in profits as a smart financial decision that has nothing to do with their belief in the business. The second news event was the FDA’s hearing on possible regulations for the exploding CBD industry. I’ll be honest. I am not usually a fan of regulations. But in this case, more government oversight will benefit both the industry — which includes Charlotte’s Web — and consumers alike. There are too many bad players in the CBD space that sell junk. Regulations should eliminate the bad players and allow best-in-breed companies to gain more market share. Charlotte’s Web already has the largest share of the U.S. CBD market, and that should only grow in the coming years. Back in March, the company’s products were available in 3,680 retail locations. Today, that number has exploded to 6,000! Here’s how I know that expansion will continue… In April, Charlotte’s Web announced a new CEO in a move that tells me a good bit about where this company is headed. And I like what I see. Adrienne Elsner, a former senior executive of the U.S. snacks division of Kellogg, took charge on May 15. The selection of Elsner means that Charlotte’s Web will be focused on branding and shelf space in the coming years. Both are very important for the whole industry, and especially for the leading U.S. CBD company. Even though a lot of people who know about CBD have heard of Charlotte’s Web, the average American likely still conjures up memories of the great children’s book. Branding is a big deal as cannabis goes mainstream. One company has yet to emerge as the McDonald’s or Coca-Cola of marijuana. Companies that establish their brands early set themselves up to be huge winners. Charlotte’s Web has as good a chance as any to be that first major label. With an experienced consumer brand executive like Elsner at the helm, the odds just get better. As of June 28, Charlotte’s Web is up just 32% year-to-date, so it has given up a lot of its early profits. But that’s perfectly okay. Not only does this stock have massive potential in the months and years ahead… the weakness is creating a HUGE buying opportunity. Revenue for 2018 came in at $69.5 million, and analysts believe the next three years will bring in revenue of $164 million, $352 million, and $469 million. That would be impressive growth, and we can still buy in at attractive prices. In 2018, Charlotte’s Web produced 675,000 pounds of hemp on 300 acres of planted land. The company only had 70 acres of planted land in 2017 and 45 acres in 2016. This year, Charlotte’s Web planted 862 acres of hemp — an increase of 187%. This ability to expand is key to keeping up with demand. There is no question that Charlotte’s Web remains my top pick to profit from the CBD market over the long term. The industry leader has a first-mover advantage, and I expect it to continue taking market share as more government regulations force the small, unethical businesses to close their doors for good. Still to come in 2019, I look for the company to announce a major distribution partner ––possibly Walmart — and apply to make the jump to a major U.S. stock exchange. Both are very attainable in the months ahead. In fact, Charlotte’s Web has officially made the jump to the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and is now trading under the ticker “CWEB.” The upgrade from the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) is being news, and it will help attract big institutional money. But the even bigger news will come once the stock makes it onto the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ. • 7 F-Rated Stocks to Sell for Summer Based on its current market cap of $578 million, Charlotte’s Web is undervalued versus its peers… which adds to the already big upside potential. This is an opportunity we do not want to miss out on. Matthew McCall is the founder and president of Penn Financial Group, an investment advisory firm, as well as the editor of Investment Opportunities and Early Stage Investor. He has dedicated his career to getting investors into the world’s biggest, most revolutionary trends BEFORE anyone else. The power of being “first” gave Matt’s readers the chance to bank +2,438% in Stamps.com (STMP), +1,523% in Ulta Beauty (ULTA), +1,044% in Tesla (TSLA), +611% in Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (LNGLY), +324% in Bitcoin Services (BTSC), just to name a few. If you’re interested in making triple-digit gains from the world’s biggest investment trends BEFORE anyone else,click here to learn more about Matt McCall and his investments strategy today. • 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid • 7 F-Rated Stocks to Sell for Summer • 7 Stocks to Buy for the Same Price as Beyond Meat • 7 Penny Marijuana Stocks That Are NOT Cheap Stocks Compare Brokers The postBest Stocks for 2019: Charlotteâ€™s Web Is Just Taking a Breatherappeared first onInvestorPlace.
PHOTOS: Hong Kong protesters take over legislative chambers Police try to disperse protesters near a flag-raising ceremony for the anniversary of the Hong Kong handover to China, in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters) Police have begun advancing on Hong Kong's legislature building to clear protesters who broke into it and vandalized offices and the main chamber. An AP journalist said he could feel tear gas Monday night as he and other media left the building with protesters. The crackdown began around midnight. Police earlier announced they would begin clearing the building and warned they would use appropriate force if they encountered resistance. Hundreds of protesters broke into the building at about 9 p.m. and spray-painted slogans on the walls of the main chamber. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of others marched through the city to demand expanded democracy on the 22nd anniversary of the former British colony's return to China. See the latest updates from AP >>> Protesters use metal rods to smash glass doors and windows of the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters smash glass doors and windows of the Legislative Council Complex in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) A protester breaks into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters) Protesters smash glass doors and windows of the Legislative Council Complex in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Protesters smash glass doors and windows of the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters gather at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019, on the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China. (Photo: Vivek Prakash/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters storm into the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Vivek Prakash/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters break into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Reuters) Protesters break into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters) The colonial flag of Hong Kong is displayed inside a chamber after protesters broke into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Protesters inside a chamber after they broke into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters) A protester waves the British Union Jack flag in the parliament chamber after they broke into the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters deface the Hong Kong logo at the Legislative Council to protest against the extradition bill, in Hong Kong, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Vincent Yu/AP) Protesters put up a sign after breaking into the parliament chambers of the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019, on the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China. (Photo: Vivek Prakash/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters inside the meeting hall of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, July 1, 2019. (Photo: Kin Cheung/AP) A portrait of Andrew Leung, chairman of the Legislative Council, is destroyed after protesters broke into the parliament chamber of the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. (Photo: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images) A police officer fires a baton round outside the Legislative Council building, after protesters stormed the building on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2019. (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Police fire tear gas at protesters near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 2, 2019. (Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters react after tear gas was fired by police outside the Legislative Council building, after demonstrators stormed the building on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2019. (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Police fire tear gas at protesters near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 2, 2019. (Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr . _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Former top U.S. diplomat deplores policy toward Iran 'untethered to any coherent strategy' Pentagon secretly struck back against Iranian cyberspies targeting U.S. ships Trump admits his Cabinet had 'some clinkers' For Dems, there's no chickening out at Clyburn's fish fry Chore wars: Are men doing enough housework? PHOTOS: Freak hailstorm hits Guadalajara, Mexico
3 Best Stocks to Buy After Sizable Drops Not all stock drops are created equal. Some of them spell the end of a trend, the beginning of a correction or bear market. Others are benign and rise alongside mild bouts of profit-taking that prevent a stock from becoming too overheated. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at some attractive stocks to buy that offer pullbacks of the second variety. The reason for shopping bullish opportunities is simple. Equities are opening sharply higher this morning after a positive meeting between the U.S. and China at the G-20 summit over the weekend. President Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to hold off on imposing any additional tariffs. Optimism surrounding the latest turn in the ongoing trade war has investors in a buying mood. TheS&P 500is tagging new record highs premarket. The surge in small caps over the past few trading sessions is also notable. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips • 7 One-Stock Portfolios for Passive Investors I’ve scoured the market and discovered three strong trends that are providing low-risk entry points for the new week. Let’s take a closer look. Click to Enlarge Source: ThinkorSwim June’s earnings announcement sparked a breakout to fresh record highs forLululemon(NASDAQ:LULU) stock. Shares of the apparel company have enjoyed solid gains for 2019, gaining 48% on the year. The recent pullback has returned LULU to the scene of its breakout. This provides a second chance for spectators that missed the initial surge to get in on the ground level. Last week’s hold of the rising 20-day moving average suggests buyers are indeed willing to defend their turf. In other words, old resistance is morphing to new support. And with that, a revisiting of the prior high at $190.52 seems likely. To capitalize, buy the Aug $180/$190 bull call spread for around $4.80. Click to Enlarge Source: ThinkorSwim Ever since eclipsing its 2018 high in February,Paypal(NASDAQ:PYPL) shares have been on a tear. On the way, its year-to-date gains grew to 38%, outpacing the S&P 500 andNasdaqCompositeby a mile. The trend’s consistency has also been impressive. Although multiple pullbacks have arisen along the way, buyers swarmed to defend the rising 20-day and 50-day moving averages. With such a long history of dips getting bought, it’s hard to bet against the current one seeing a similar resolution. • 10 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever If you’re willing to bet PYPL returns and potentially exceeds last month’s high of $120, then buy the Sep $115/$125 bull call spread for around $4. Click to Enlarge Source: ThinkorSwim The semiconductor industry is one of this morning’s biggest winners. And that’s boosting stocks likeAdvanced Micro Devices(NASDAQ:AMD). With the stock up some 5% out of the gate, I advise against chasing but buying into weakness over the coming days is appealing. Its long-term trend continues to hold strong. The recent test of the rising 50-day moving average ended successfully with last week’s rally. Because we’ve seen a lot of chop between each of its upswings this year, I like using cash flow plays to profit from time decay, while waiting for the next ascent. The elevated volatility helps boost the potential return on investment of strategies like covered calls and naked puts. If you’re willing to bet AMD sits above $28 at August expiration, then sell the Aug $28 put for around $1.15. As of this writing, Tyler Craig held bullish options positions in AMD. Check out his recently releasedBear Market Survival Guideto learn how to defend your portfolio against market volatility. • 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid • 7 F-Rated Stocks to Sell for Summer • 7 Stocks to Buy for the Same Price as Beyond Meat • 7 Penny Marijuana Stocks That Are NOT Cheap Stocks Compare Brokers The post3 Best Stocks to Buy After Sizable Dropsappeared first onInvestorPlace.
EMERGING MARKETS-Latam currencies, stocks surge on trade relief July 1 (Reuters) - A global rally in equities spilled over to Latin America on Monday after the United States and China agreed to restart trade negotiations, helping Brazil's main stock index extend a stellar second-quarter performance. Sao Paulo-listed shares which logged its biggest quarterly percentage gain in a decade on Friday, jumped another 1%, while the real firmed nearly 1% to trade at 3.8148 per dollar. The buying came as U.S. President Donald Trump offered concessions to China at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan over the weekend, including holding off on new tariffs and easing of restrictions on tech company Huawei. Fears that a drawn-out trade dispute between the United States and China will hit global growth have spurred bouts of selling this year, with emerging market stocks posting their worst monthly performance this year in May. However stocks have recovered on hopes major central bank would tilt toward monetary policy easing to stir growth, while the temporary trade truce helped risk appetite. "Consistent with the market's base-case expectations, any further tariffs on goods have been put on hold for now," Citi analysts wrote in a note. "We expect the unwinding of hedges against bearish G20 risks to help EM FX." Further brightening mood, factory data showed Brazil avoided slipping into contraction in June, with the IHS Markit purchasing managers index of manufacturing activity rising to 51.0 from 50.2 the month before. Investors were also watching for signs of progress on the country's pension reform bill, which is expected to go through a vote in the congressional committee this week. The Mexican peso firmed 0.84%, while the Chilean peso gained slightly. The MSCI's index of Latin American stocks jumped 1.25%, touching its highest level since March 20. The Argentine peso was boosted by the country's central bank move to set a new lower interest rate floor on its benchmark "Leliq" notes at 58% for July. The South American nation has had to hike interest rates to stem a slide in the peso currency since last year, though the rate, set by daily auctions of short-term Leliq notes, has been coming down steadily over the past few months. Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1949 GMT Stock indexes daily % Latest change MSCI Emerging Markets 1064.69 0.93 MSCI LatAm 2879.11 1.25 Brazil Bovespa 102081.95 1.1 Mexico IPC 43363.37 0.47 Chile IPSA - - Argentina MerVal - - Colombia IGBC - - Currencies daily % change Latest Brazil real 3.8127 0.69 Mexico peso 19.0560 0.84 Chile peso 675.46 0.14 Colombia peso - - Peru sol 3.286 0.24 Argentina peso 42.0500 1.09 (interbank) (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru Editing by Alistair Bell)
Top Ranked Growth Stocks to Buy for July 1st Here are four stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, July 1st: SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(SEAS): This theme park and entertainment company, which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 19.4% over the last 60 days. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Price and Consensus SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. price-consensus-chart \| SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Quote SeaWorld has a PEG ratio 2.99, compared with 3.47 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. PEG Ratio (TTM) SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. peg-ratio-ttm \| SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Quote First Business Financial Services, Inc.(FBIZ): This bank holding company for First Business Bank, which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 2.3% over the last 60 days. First Business Financial Services, Inc. Price and Consensus First Business Financial Services, Inc. price-consensus-chart \| First Business Financial Services, Inc. Quote First Business has a PEG ratio 1.29, compared with 1.36 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B. First Business Financial Services, Inc. PEG Ratio (TTM) First Business Financial Services, Inc. peg-ratio-ttm \| First Business Financial Services, Inc. Quote JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.(JKS): This photovoltaic products producer, which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 0.3% over the last 60 days. JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited Price and Consensus JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited price-consensus-chart \| JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited Quote JinkoSolar has a PEG ratio 0.36, compared with 1.73 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A. JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited PEG Ratio (TTM) JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited peg-ratio-ttm \| JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited Quote United Continental Holdings, Inc.(UAL): This provider of air transportation services, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 0.2% over the last 60 days. United Continental Holdings, Inc. Price and Consensus United Continental Holdings, Inc. price-consensus-chart \| United Continental Holdings, Inc. Quote United Continental has a PEG ratio 0.38, compared with 0.56 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A. United Continental Holdings, Inc. PEG Ratio (TTM) United Continental Holdings, Inc. peg-ratio-ttm \| United Continental Holdings, Inc. Quote See the full list of top ranked stocks here Learn more about theGrowth score and how it is calculated here. 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 reportUnited Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (SEAS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportJinkoSolar Holding Company Limited (JKS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportFirst Business Financial Services, Inc. (FBIZ) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Read This Before Buying Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRZO) Shares Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares inCarrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.(NASDAQ:CRZO). Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. 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'. View our latest analysis for Carrizo Oil & Gas Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the President, Sylvester Johnson, for US$457k worth of shares, at about US$12.11 per share. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. The good news is that this large sale was at well above current price of US$10.03. So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it. We note that in the last year insiders divested 118k shares for a total of US$1.4m. Carrizo Oil & Gas insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! For those who like to findwinning investmentsthisfreelist of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that Carrizo Oil & Gas insiders own 6.8% of the company, worth about US$63m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Carrizo Oil & Gas shares in the last quarter. Our analysis of Carrizo Oil & Gas insider transactions leaves us cautious. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. 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. But note:Carrizo Oil & Gas may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at thisfreelist of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Celine Dion is queen of couture during Paris Fashion Week Who needs fashion week when you have Celine Dion? The music icon is having her own fashion show on the streets of Paris and the internet is not okay. Spotted out and about attending a slew of events for Couture Week, Celine's next-level looks once again prove why she's the queen of couture. From a pink mermaid-esqué taffeta dress for the Miu Miu Cruise show to the sexy black halter-neck dress that had her arms on display for the Schiaparelli show, the 51-year-old's latest looks prove she's not afraid of a little risk. On Sunday, the "Heart Will Go On" singer turned heads as she left her hotel wearing a blazer dress featuring a yellow tulle skirt by Ronald Van Der Kemp and mismatched pumps. However, it was the Off-White rainbow leotard and oversized matching blazer that left the streets of Paris in awe. "Celine Dion in Paris May have just saved my life," one fan wrote on Twitter. Earlier Monday morning, Celine headed to the Iris Van Herpen show sporting a crochet red and beige long gown. The hypnotic look from the latest couture collection was inspired by the spherical ‘Omniverse’ sculpture . Couture Week comes to an end this Thursday, so we'll bee keeping our eyes out for all of Celine's most extra looks to come. For now, check out the gallery below for our favorite looks of the week!
9 Best-Performing Leveraged ETFs of 1H19 Braving all the woes and uncertainties including trade war jitters, global growth concerns, recession fears, government shutdown, geopolitical tension and weak corporate earnings, the Wall Street logged in the strongest performance in more than a decade for the first half of the year. The S&P 500 jumped 17% - its best first-half performance since 1997 – while the Dow climbed 14% - its best show since 1999. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index skyrocketed more than 20%, recording its best first six months of the year since 2003.The rally was powered by hopes of easing money policies as the Fed is ready to cut interest rates as soon as this month if needed. Lower interest rates will keep borrowing cost down, thereby resulting in higher consumer spending and rise in economic activities. Additionally, recovery in U.S. housing market and rising oil price add to the strength (read: S&P 500 Hits New High: 10 Top-Performing ETFs YTD).All these fundamentals have resulted in huge demand for leveraged ETFs as investors seek to register big gains in a short span. Leveraged funds provide multiple exposure (i.e. 2x or 3x) to the daily performance of the underlying index by employing various investment strategies such as swaps, futures contracts and other derivative instruments. Due to their compounding effect, investors can enjoy higher returns in a very short period of time, provided the trend remains positive.Below we have highlighted nine leveraged equity ETFs that piled up more than 60% returns in the first half. These funds will continue to be investors’ darlings provided the sentiments remain the same.Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X Shares NAIL - Up 91.9%NAIL provides leveraged exposure to homebuilders and creates a three times long position in the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. It charges an annual fee of 95 bps and trades in lower average daily volume of about 62,000 shares. The fund has accumulated $41.4 million in its asset base (read: Tough Time for Homebuilding ETFs Despite Fed's Dovishness?).Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3x Shares TECL – Up 87.2%This ETF targets the technology sector with three times exposure to the Technology Select Sector Index. It has amassed about $729.6 million in its asset base and charges 95 bps in fees per year. Volume is good as it exchanges around 314,000 shares a day on average.Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares DFEN – Up 79.7%The fund creates three times leveraged long position in the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. It charges an annual fee of 95 bps and trades in good average daily volume of about 67,000 shares. The fund has accumulated AUM of $58.6 million.Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares SOXL – Up 78.5%This ETF targets the semiconductor corner of the technology sector with 3x leveraged exposure to the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index. It has amassed about $675.1 million in its asset base while charging 94 bps in fees per year. Volume is good as it exchanges nearly 985,000 shares a day on average (read: Bulls Roar Again in June: Leveraged ETFs in Focus).Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 3X Shares UBOT – Up 21.8%This product seeks to deliver three times the daily performance of the Indxx Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index. It has accumulated $20.8 million in its asset base and trades in average daily volume of 136,000 shares. The ETF charges 95 bps in annual fees.Direxion Daily Consumer Discretionary Bull 3X Shares WANT – Up 69.7%This ETF seeks to offer three times exposure to the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index, charging 95 bps in annual fees. It has AUM of $4.8 million and average daily volume of 6,000 shares.Direxion Daily Industrials Bull 3X Shares DUSL – Up 69%This fund offers three times exposure to the daily performance of the Industrial Select Sector Index. It has accumulated $4.9 million in its asset base. Average daily volume is paltry at around 8,000 shares. Expense ratio comes in at 0.95% (read: 5 Cyclical ETFs & Stocks Top in June).ProShares UltraPro QQQ TQQQ – Up 66.8%This ETF provides three times the returns of the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. It is one of the popular and liquid options in the leveraged large-cap space with AUM of $3.9 billion and average daily volume of 18.3 million shares. TQQQ charges 95 bps in fees per year.Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3x Shares FAS – Up 66%This ETF provides three times exposure to the performance of the Russell 1000 Financial Services Index. The fund has amassed nearly $1.4 billion in its asset base and charges 95 bps in annual fees. It trades in average daily volume of nearly 1.3 million shares (read: 5 Sector ETFs That Beat the Market in the First Half).Bottom LineWhile this strategy is highly beneficial for short-term traders, it could lead to huge losses compared to traditional funds in fluctuating or seesawing markets. Further, the ETFs’ performance could vary significantly from the actual performance of their underlying index over a longer period when compared to the shorter period (such as, weeks or months) due to their compounding effect (see: all the Leveraged Equity ETFs here).Still, for ETF investors who are bullish on U.S. equities for the near term, any of the above products could make an interesting choice. Clearly, a near-term long could be intriguing for those with high-risk tolerance, and a belief that the “trend is the friend” in this corner of the investing world.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 reportDirexion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares (TECL): ETF Research ReportsProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Industrials Bull 3X Shares (DUSL): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Consumer Discretionary Bull 3X Shares (WANT): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X Shares (NAIL): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares (DFEN): ETF Research ReportsDirexion Daily Robtcs, Art Intlligence & Auto Indx Bul 3X Shrs (UBOT): 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
U.S. manufacturing stumbles under weight of trade tensions By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. manufacturing activity slowed to near a three-year low in June, with a measure of new orders received by factories tumbling, amid growing anxiety over an escalation in trade tensions between the United States and China. Other data on Monday showed construction spending unexpectedly fell in May as investment in private construction projects dropped to its lowest level in nearly 2-1/2 years. The reports were the latest indications that economic growth slowed in the second quarter after getting a temporary boost from exports and an accumulation of inventory. While the slowdown in factory activity was not as steep as had been flagged by some regional factory surveys, a sharp drop in a gauge of prices paid by manufacturers could be yet another reason for the Federal Reserve to consider cutting interest rates this month. The U.S. central bank last month signaled it could ease monetary policy as early as this month, citing low inflation as well as growing risks to the economy from U.S.-China trade tensions. "Manufacturing is clearly taking it on the chin from the rising trade uncertainty," said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of national factory activity dropped to 51.7 last month, the lowest reading since October 2016, from 52.1 in May. It was the third straight monthly decline in the index. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for about 12 percent of the U.S. economy. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the ISM index would fall to 51.0 in June. The ISM said businesses "expressed concern about U.S.-China trade turbulence." They were also spooked by potential tariffs on Mexican imports, which were averted at the eleventh hour. The United States' bitter trade war with China has hurt business sentiment. That, together with disruptions to supply chains caused by import tariffs, is weighing on manufacturing. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday agreed to a trade truce and a return to talks. But Trump said he was "in no hurry" to cut a deal and Chinese state media warned there was no guarantee an agreement would be reached. Trump in May raised import tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate. SLOWING ECONOMY Manufacturing is also taking a hit from an inventory overhang, which has resulted in businesses placing fewer orders with manufacturers. A reduction in the production of Boeing's <BA.N> MAX 737 aircraft, which was grounded in March after two fatal plane crashes in five months, is also a drag on activity. The weakness in factory activity is in sync with a slowdown in economic growth following a temporary boost from exports and an accumulation of inventory. Consumer spending is rising moderately, while the pace of job and wage growth has slowed. In addition, the housing market is struggling and the goods trade deficit widened in May. The ISM's forward-looking new orders sub-index decreased 2.7 points to a reading of 50.0 last month, the lowest reading since December 2015. A measure of prices paid by manufacturers tumbled 5.3 points to 47.9. But there were some glimmers of hope for manufacturing. Factories reported hiring more workers, which included replacing retiring workers and adding summer help. The survey's factory employment gauge rose to 54.5 from 53.7 in May. That pointed to a moderate pickup in manufacturing payrolls in June after they were almost flat in May. It also suggested an improvement in overall job growth last month after nonfarm payrolls increased by only 75,000 in May. The government is scheduled to publish June's employment report on Friday. Suppliers' deliveries are improving. While a measure of inventories contracted for the first time since December 2017, with many manufacturers saying they continued to align stocks with softening demand, more customers viewed inventories as too low, which could lead to some increase in orders. Stocks on Wall Street were trading higher, with the S&P 500 index <.SPX> hitting an all-time high, as technology stocks gained on a likely reprieve for Chinese telecoms company Huawei. The dollar <.DXY> rose against a basket of currencies, but U.S. Treasury prices fell. Despite the persistent weakness, U.S. manufacturing is in relatively better shape compared to the rest of the world. Reports on Monday showed factory activity shrinking across much of Europe and Asia. The ISM said 12 industries, including machinery, computer and electronic products, textile mills, furniture and electrical equipment, appliances and components reported growth last month. Apparel and transportation equipment were among the five industries reporting a contraction. Computer and electronic products manufacturers complained that "China tariffs and pending Mexico tariffs are wreaking havoc with supply chains and costs" and described the situation as "crazy." Transportation equipment manufacturers said "demand for the remainder of 2019 has softened significantly, due to issues in the aerospace industry." "While manufacturers' worst fears about an all-out trade war with China developing imminently have been allayed, uncertainty about the structure of future trading relations continues to linger," said Sarah House, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. "We suspect factory activity will continue to struggle in the second half of the year." A separate report from the Commerce Department on Monday showed construction spending declined 0.8% in May, the biggest drop since last November, after rising 0.4% in April. Construction spending surged in the first quarter, boosted by increased investment in roads and highways by state and local governments. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao)
Can Forterra plc's (LON:FORT) 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! Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Forterra plc (LON:FORT). Over the last twelve monthsForterra has recorded a ROE of 39%. Another way to think of that is that for every £1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn £0.39. Check out our latest analysis for Forterra Theformula for return on equityis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for Forterra: 39% = UK£53m ÷ UK£134m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) 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. Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax 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. 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. As you can see in the graphic below, Forterra has a higher ROE than the average (17%) in the Basic Materials industry. That's what I like to see. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. For example,I often check if insiders have been buying shares. Companies usually need to invest money 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 debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking. While Forterra does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.48, we wouldn't say debt is excessive. When I see a high ROE, fuelled by only modest debt, I suspect the business is high quality. 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. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. 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 thisdata-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfreelist of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. 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.
Will Corporate Office Properties Trust's (NYSE:OFC) Earnings Grow 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! Since Corporate Office Properties Trust (NYSE:OFC) released its earnings in March 2019, analyst consensus outlook appear cautiously optimistic, with earnings expected to grow by 24% in the upcoming year against the past 5-year average growth rate of 9.9%. By 2020, we can expect Corporate Office Properties Trust’s bottom line to reach US$89m, a jump from the current trailing-twelve-month of US$72m. Below is a brief commentary on the longer term outlook the market has for Corporate Office Properties Trust. For those keen to understand more about other aspects of the company, you canresearch its fundamentals here. View our latest analysis for Corporate Office Properties Trust The longer term expectations from the 7 analysts of OFC is tilted towards the positive sentiment. Broker analysts tend to forecast up to three years ahead due to a lack of clarity around the business trajectory beyond this. To understand the overall trajectory of OFC's earnings growth over these next fews years, I've fitted a line through these analyst earnings forecast to determine an annual growth rate from the slope. From the current net income level of US$72m and the final forecast of US$91m by 2022, the annual rate of growth for OFC’s earnings is 2.0%. This leads to an EPS of $0.90 in the final year of projections relative to the current EPS of $0.69. By the end of 2022, analysts are expecting earnings to outpace revenue, and margins to expand from the current 12% to 14%. Future outlook is only one aspect when you're building an investment case for a stock. For Corporate Office Properties Trust, I've compiled three pertinent aspects you should further examine: 1. Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at ourfree balance sheet analysis with six simple checkson key factors like leverage and risk. 2. Valuation: What is Corporate Office Properties Trust 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 Corporate Office Properties Trust is currently mispriced by the market. 3. Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of Corporate Office Properties Trust? 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.
Best States to Retire 2018: All 50 States Ranked for Retirement Getty Images In contemplating retirement, the big question tends to be when to retire? Or, perhaps, how much money do you need to retire? But where to retire can be an equally pressing matter. In fact, according to a survey by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave (a research firm focused on the aging population), 37% of retirees have already moved in retirement and another 27% intend to. Even if you're among the rest who plan to stay put in retirement, you might find that entering a new stage of life changes the world around you, requiring a reassessment of how your home state treats your nest egg. To help you weigh the pros and cons of each state when it comes to retirement, we ranked all 50 states based on financial factors critical to retirees, including living expenses, tax burdens, health care costs, household incomes, poverty rates and the economic wellness of the state itself. Of course, plenty of other factors figure into this major life decision, from proximity to family to climate preferences. But we'll leave assessing those personal considerations to you. Whether you're figuring out where to head next or just how you need to adjust your budget when moving into retirement, see how every state in the union treats its retirees financially. SEE ALSO: 50 Best Places to Retire in All 50 States Alabama Getty Images Ranking: #6 Population: 4.8 million Share of population 65+: 15.3% (U.S.: 14.5%) Cost of living: 13% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $44,934 (U.S.: $53,799) Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $404,922 (U.S.: $423,523) Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly Retirees are sure to love the Heart of Dixie. You can get many of Florida's retirement attractions--warm weather, nice beaches and plenty of golf--all at a lower price. The low living costs extend to health care, for which retirees can expect to spend 4.4% less than the average retired American couple. Taxes are easy on the budget, too, with income tax rates ranging from just 2% to 5%, and Social Security benefits being exempt. Story continues SEE ALSO: 37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits Alaska Getty Images Ranking: #31 Population: 736,855 Share of population 65+: 9.4% Cost of living: 32% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $59,230 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $467,743 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly The Last Frontier is the last place most people would choose as a retirement destination. In fact, only 69,305 people in the whole state are age 65 and older--making it the smallest population of seniors in the country. The folks who do brave retiring in Alaska do well, though. They pay no state income or sales tax, and eligible residents get paid an annual dividend check from the state's oil wealth savings account just for living there. In 2017, the payment was $1,100 per person. And despite the state's high living costs, the poverty rate among seniors is the lowest in the U.S. at just 4.5%. SEE ALSO: 33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes Arizona Thinkstock Ranking: #27 Population: 6.7 million Share of population 65+: 15.9% Cost of living: 3% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $47,973 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $408,721 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed The Grand Canyon State, with its ample sunshine, dry heat and beautiful desert landscape, is a popular retirement destination. But the financial setting is not quite as picturesque. Despite slightly above-average living costs, the average household income for seniors falls 10.8% below the national average. The 5.6% state sales tax doesn't help, and it can be pushed as high as 10.9% in some localities--though the average is 8.25%, according to the Tax Foundation. On the bright side, you can find pockets of affordability throughout the state. The living costs in Phoenix, for example, are 5% below average, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. And the capital city does not charge sales tax on groceries. SEE ALSO: 10 States With the Highest Sales Taxes Arkansas Getty Images Ranking: #23 Population: 3.0 million Share of population 65+: 15.7% Cost of living: 17% below average Average income for 65+ households: $42,482 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $398,395 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly The Natural State offers extraordinarily low costs. Indeed, it's tied with West Virginia for lowest overall living costs in the country, and its average health care costs for a retired couple are the third cheapest in the U.S. State taxes aren't quite as generous: Social Security benefits and up to $6,000 of other retirement income are exempt, but above that, your top income rate could hit 6.9%, if your income exceeds $75,000. Glass half full (not really): Most retired residents are unlikely to reach that high bracket. In fact, the average household income for people age 65 and older in Arkansas is 21% below the U.S. average. The poverty rate for seniors is 10.5%, the eighth highest in the country. SEE ALSO: Worst States for Retirement 2018 California Getty Images Ranking: #45 Population: 38.7 million Share of population 65+: 12.9% Cost of living: 52% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $65,904 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $430,867 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed The Golden State sports the second-highest living costs in the country, behind only Hawaii. And though the average household income for seniors is well-above average, plenty of older residents are unable to bear the heavy burden: 1 in 10 Californians age 65 and over are living in poverty. The tax situation adds to the gravity: Except for Social Security benefits, retirement income is fully taxed, and California imposes the highest state income tax rates in the nation (the top rate is 13.3% for single filers with $1 million incomes and joint filers with incomes above $1,074,996). One bright spot: If you're over age 65, you can claim an extra $110 exemption off your tax bill. But with a low score for fiscal soundness--the eighth worst in the country--California may not be able to afford such a generous offering in the future. SEE ALSO: 50 Great Places for Early Retirement in the U.S. Colorado Getty Images Ranking: #18 Population: 5.4 million Share of population 65+: 12.7% Cost of living: 17% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $54,108 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $415,210 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed Retirees in the Centennial State may just reach 100 years themselves. Colorado ranks fourth in the United Health Foundation's senior health rankings, with particularly high marks in clinical care and positive behaviors. Among its health-related strengths, the state has low rates of obesity and physical inactivity in seniors. It also has a low poverty rate among the 65+ population at 7.4%, compared with 9.3% for the nation as a whole. SEE ALSO: The 20 Best States for Your Retirement Connecticut Getty Images Ranking: #46 Population: 3.6 million Share of population 65+: 15.5% Cost of living: 24% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $68,845 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $439,191 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly The Constitution State does little to promote the general welfare of its resident retirees. In fact, Connecticut ranks among the 10 tax-unfriendliest states for retirees . Real estate taxes are the second-highest in the country. Some residents face taxes on Social Security benefits, and most other retirement income is fully taxed, with no exemptions or tax credits to ease the burden. All those taxes come on top of high living costs. But Connecticut residents may be able to afford it: The state's average household income for seniors is the fourth-highest in the U.S., and its poverty rate for residents age 65 and older is a low 7.1% vs. 9.3% for the U.S. SEE ALSO: 13 States That Tax Social Security Benefits Delaware Getty Images Ranking: #15 Population: 934,695 Share of population 65+: 16.5% Cost of living: 11% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $52,387 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $414,416 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly The First State offers retirees first-rate tax advantages. It does not tax Social Security benefits and exempts $12,500 of investment and qualified pension income for taxpayers age 60 and older. Above that, income tax rates are modest, ranging from 2.2% to 6.6%. Plus, there's no sales tax at all. Health care costs are also friendly to retiree budgets with a 65-year-old couple's expected to pay 2.2% less than the U.S. average. Living costs, otherwise, are relatively high--particularly considering the below-average household incomes for seniors. SEE ALSO: 9 States with No Income Tax Florida Getty Images Ranking: #8 Population: 19.9 million Share of population 65+: 19.1% Cost of living: 1% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $51,187 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $425,025 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly If you're looking to party with your peers through retirement, head to the Sunshine State. Nearly 3.8 million seniors call Florida home, giving its population the highest share of residents age 65 and older in the country. Indeed, it's famous for its retiree-haven status, what with its warm weather, beautiful beaches and seven-season-long " Golden Girls " endorsement. But the main attraction for retirees to the Sunshine State must surely be the tax situation. Florida has no state income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax, and it doesn't tax Social Security or other retirement income, either. Plus, those benefits are pretty secure: Florida scores top marks for fiscal soundness, according to a recent report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, in large part due to its abundance of cash versus short-term liabilities. SEE ALSO: 9 Things Retirees Should Never Keep in Their Wallets Georgia Getty Images Ranking: #3 Population: 10.1 million Share of population 65+: 12.3% Cost of living: 7% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $50,607 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $404,460 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly Warm weather and low living costs make Georgia just peachy for a happy retirement destination. Health care expenses are particularly affordable for retirees, with the sixth lowest average costs for a retired couple in the country. Plus, Georgia's favorable tax situation makes it one of the 10 Best States for Taxes on Retirees . SEE ALSO: 7 Ways to Retire Without a Mortgage Hawaii Getty Images Ranking: #2 Population: 1.4 million Share of population 65+: 16.1% Cost of living: 87% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $71,997 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $375,273 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly As you'd expect on an island paradise, living ain't cheap. In fact, Hawaii sports the highest living costs in the country. And yet, the landscape turns out to be idyllic for retirees' finances. For one thing, the seniors who have settled there can afford it. The average household income for people age 65 and older are the highest in the U.S. at 33.8% above the national level. Plus, health care costs are surprisingly affordable at 11.4% below the national average. Credit that to the Aloha State's highly efficient health care system--ranked tops by Bloomberg--and its healthy population, snagging the third highest spot in the United Health Foundation's Senior Health Report rankings, which are based on people's behaviors, such as physical activity, as well as community support and clinical care available. SEE ALSO: 8 States With the Highest Income Tax Rates Idaho Thinkstock Ranking: #11 Population: 1.6 million Share of population 65+: 14.3% Cost of living: 5% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $40,248 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $407,942 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed Put your potato jokes away, people. Idaho has some serious advantages to offer your retirement. The state's affordability, for one thing, makes it easy to stretch your retirement savings. And while the tax picture for retirees is mixed--there's a statewide sales tax of 6% and a state income tax that can go as high as 7.4%--Social Security benefits are not subject to state taxes. Idaho also is one of the states that doesn't have an inheritance or estate tax . Illinois Getty Images Ranking: #43 Population: 12.9 million Share of population 65+: 13.9% Cost of living: 4% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $54,051 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $435,889 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed The Prairie State's fiscal standing has been sliding downward for years. Illinois has weighty long-term debts, large unfunded pension liabilities and big budget imbalances. All this puts it in the second-lowest spot on the state rankings for fiscal soundness, behind only New Jersey, according to George Mason University's Mercatus Center. In October 2015, ratings agency Fitch downgraded the state's credit rating to near-junk status. That means the tax breaks on a variety of retirement income sources, including 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts, are hardly assured, and higher taxes are on the table. Already, state and local sales taxes are as high as 11% in some areas. SEE ALSO: Retirement Planning Mistakes You'll Regret Forever Indiana Getty Images Ranking: #38 Population: 6.6 million Share of population 65+: 14.3% Cost of living: 15% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $42,303 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $425,365 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly With its below-average living expenses, Indiana might seem like a winner for retirees. But when you consider the well-below-average household income--at 21.4% below average, to be exact--the older residents of the Hoosier State start looking more like underdogs. And the tax situation doesn't help: Most retirement income other than Social Security benefits is taxable at ordinary rates. Iowa Getty Images Ranking: #13 Population: 3.1 million Share of population 65+: 15.8% Cost of living: 12% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $41,194 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $399,991 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly Low living costs are the big advantage for retirees in the Hawkeye State. Health care costs are especially affordable, at 5.6% below the U.S. average, based on what a 65-year-old retired couple can expect to pay for the rest of their lives. That should help the below-average household income for seniors stretch further. But the tax situation may be burdensome: While Social Security benefits are untaxed, some retirement income may get hit by the high top rate of 8.98%. On the plus side, people age 55 or older can exclude up to $6,000 if single ($12,000 for joint filers) of taxable retirement income. Kansas Getty Images Ranking: #30 Population: 2.9 million Share of population 65+: 14.3% Cost of living: 14% below average Average income for 65+ households: $49,392 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $412,773 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly Retirees might rather be in Oz. Among Kiplinger's least-tax-friendly states for retirees, Kansas is raising tax rates to try and tackle its increasing budget deficit. Its fiscal health earns it a 32nd ranking, according to a recent report from the Mercatus Center at the George Mason University. For 2018, income tax rates range from 3.1% to 5.7%--and that applies to most retirement income, including Social Security benefits (unless your adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less). Still, the affordable living costs might be enough to convince you that there's no place like home in Kansas. Kentucky Getty Images Ranking: #34 Population: 4.4 million Share of population 65+: 14.8% Cost of living: 14% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $42,666 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $420,375 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly Kentucky ranks as the second-worst state in the country in terms of senior health, according to the United Health Foundation. Among its challenges are a high rate of smoking, physical inactivity and poverty, as well as a low number of quality nursing homes. On the plus side, the Bluegrass State offers low living costs, as well as a number of tax breaks for retirees. Social Security benefits, as well as up to $41,110 of other retirement income, are exempt from state taxes. However, with a low ranking of 47th in the country for fiscal soundness, those tax benefits may not be very secure. Louisiana Getty Images Ranking: #42 Population: 4.6 million Share of population 65+: 13.6% Cost of living: 10% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $50,744 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $432,292 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly The living costs are low in Louisiana, but so are the incomes. And health care costs still prove to be pricey with a 65-year-old couple in the state expected to pay 2.1% more than the average American couple of the same age. One driver of those high costs may be the local population's poor health. Indeed, Louisiana had the fourth lowest senior health score, according to the United Health Foundation, in part due to high rates of obesity, smoking and mental distress, as well as low availability of geriatricians and quality nursing homes. The poverty rate for people age 65 and older is also remarkably high at 12.9%, behind only Mississippi for the highest in the U.S. SEE ALSO: 10 Cheapest Small Towns in America Maine Getty Images Ranking: #22 Population: 1.3 million Share of population 65+: 18.2% Cost of living: 2% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $40,256 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $401,781 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed The Pine Tree State can be a little prickly when it comes to its retirees. While living costs are a bit below average--with health care costs for a retired couple particularly affordable at 5.1% below average--incomes for senior households are even lower, averaging 25.2% below the typical U.S. level. And tax breaks do little to boost retirement budgets: While Social Security benefits are not subject to state taxes, most other retirement income is taxable. There's even an estate tax, though it only applies to estates worth more than $11.18 million in 2018. Maryland Getty Images Ranking: #48 Population: 6.0 million Share of population 65+: 13.8% Cost of living: 17% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $70,874 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $436,074 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly Retirees in Maryland are bound to be crabby. The average household income for people age 65 and older is the second-highest in the country--but it gets pinched plenty by high taxes and living costs. The Free State doesn't tax Social Security benefits, but distributions from individual retirement accounts are fully taxable. And the taxes keep coming even after you pass: Maryland is the only state that has an estate and an inheritance tax, albeit only at lofty thresholds with the former only applying to estates exceeding $4 million in value in 2018. SEE ALSO: 8 Smart Tax Strategies for Retirees Under the New Tax Law Massachusetts Getty Images Ranking: #49 Population: 6.7 million Share of population 65+: 15.1% Cost of living: 38% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $65,312 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $450,383 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly The Bay State harbors some heavy costs for retirees. On top of the third-highest overall living costs in the country, it also holds the second-highest health-care costs for a 65-year-old couple, trailing only Alaska. And though the average household income for seniors is high, taxes can take a big bite out of those earnings. Social Security benefits are exempt, but most other retirement income is taxed at the state's flat rate of 5.15%. Plus, given its low fiscal wellness--the third-worst in the U.S., according to Mercatus Center at George Mason University--the tax situation is likely to get harsher before it gets friendlier to retirees. SEE ALSO: Test Your Retirement IQ Michigan Getty Images Ranking: #35 Population: 9.9 million Share of population 65+: 15.4% Cost of living: 12% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $44,397 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $423,608 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly The Great Lakes State can make for a decent retirement destination. It offers some of the lowest living costs in the country and maintains a low poverty rate among seniors at 8.1%, compared with 9.3% for the U.S. The tax situation, though, is not so great--and a bit complicated. Social Security benefits are not currently taxed, but starting in 2020, taxpayers turning 67 will have to choose between deducting Social Security income or $20,000 of all income sources for single filers ($40,000 for couples). Minnesota Getty Images Ranking: #33 Population: 5.5 million Share of population 65+: 14.3% Cost of living: 4% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $47,838 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $422,815 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a hard place for retirees to stay afloat. Above-average living expenses and below-average incomes can equate to imbalanced budgets in retirement. Plus, the tax situation adds an extra burden. One of the 10 Worst States for Taxes on Retirees , Minnesota taxes Social Security benefits to the same extent as the federal government. Most other retirement income, including military, government and private pensions, is also taxable. And the state's sales and income taxes are high. On the other hand, Minnesota is a great place for health-focused retirees. The state is the healthiest in the country for seniors, according to the United Health Foundation rankings. Mississippi Getty Images Ranking: #29 Population: 3.0 million Share of population 65+: 14.3% Cost of living: 15% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $44,100 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $423,267 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly Low costs and generous tax breaks make the Magnolia State a sweet deal for retirees. Social Security and other qualified retirement income--including distributions from IRAs, 401(k)s and other plans--are not taxed, and property taxes are among the lowest in the country. But on the sour side, Mississippi ranks dead last when it comes to senior health, according to the United Health Foundation. It also suffers the worst poverty rate in the country among people age 65 and older at a whopping 13.4%; the U.S., 9.3%. Missouri Getty Images Ranking: #20 Population: 6.1 million Share of population 65+: 15.4% Cost of living: 10% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $43,540 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $408,746 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed The Show Me State has little to tell in the way of retirement advantages. The low living costs go hand in hand with relatively low household incomes. And the tax situation is moderate: If your adjusted gross income is less than $85,000 for single filers ($100,000 for couples filing jointly), your Social Security benefits are not taxed and you can deduct a portion of your public retirement benefits. But distributions from individual retirement accounts, 401(k)s and other employer retirement plans are taxable at ordinary income tax levels, which hits the top rate of 6% on more than just $9,000 of taxable income. And one notable downside: Missouri ranks low at 42nd in the nation for senior health with a high percentage of low-care nursing home residents and a high prevalence of smoking, according to the United Health Foundation. Montana Getty Images Ranking: #36 Population: 1.0 million Share of population 65+: 16.7% Cost of living: 3% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $42,367 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $413,031 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly You may have a hard time holding onto your fortune in the Treasure State. Living costs are above average, but incomes are 21.2% below average. The tax situation certainly doesn't help: Montana taxes most forms of retirement income, including Social Security, and the top rate of 6.9% kicks in once taxable income tops just $17,400. Still, Big Sky Country seems to retain a large number of retirement-age folks: The state's 65-and-older population share is the fifth highest in the U.S. The great (albeit cold) outdoors, including Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, may be what trumps the state's drawbacks for adventurous retirees. Nebraska Getty Images Ranking: #21 Population: 1.9 million Share of population 65+: 14.4% Cost of living: 12% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $45,215 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $418,079 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly The Cornhusker State collects its fair share of taxes from resident retirees--perhaps more than its fair share. Most forms of retirement income are taxable at ordinary income rates, though Social Security benefits are exempt for joint filers with an adjusted gross income of $58,000 or less or $43,000 for single filers. It seems like the state could afford to be more generous: Its fiscal health ranks sixth in the U.S., according to the Mercatus Center at the George Mason University. Nevada Getty Images Ranking: #25 Population: 2.8 million Share of population 65+: 14.1% Cost of living: 4% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $52,239 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $429,243 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly Retiring to Nevada can be a gamble. Pro: No state income tax means you get to keep more of your cash. Con: You'll need it to cover higher than average expenses. Plenty of people make it work. Seniors in the Silver State have a relatively low poverty rate of 8.4%, compared with the national average of 9.3%. New Hampshire Getty Images Ranking: #9 Population: 1.3 million Share of population 65+: 15.9% Cost of living: 18% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $53,204 Average health care costs for a retired couple: $424,052 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly The Granite State's current tax situation gives retirees a solid advantage. Ranking among the 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees , it doesn't tax Social Security benefits or other retirement income or levy any sales tax. That savings helps balance out the above-average living costs and below-average household incomes. Another plus: New Hampshire ranks fifth in the U.S. for senior health, according to the United Health Foundation. SEE ALSO: Test Yourself on Social Security Basics New Jersey Getty Images Ranking: #47 Population: 8.9 million Share of population 65+: 14.7% Cost of living: 27% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $69,710 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $440,299 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed Retirees planning to plant themselves in the Garden State might want to think twice. Living costs are the fifth-highest in the country, with retiree health care costs ranking third-highest. Plus, property taxes rank highest in the nation--a negative made even worse with the new tax law limiting how much of such tax payments is deductible. To top it off, with the worst ranking for fiscal soundness in the U.S., New Jersey's tax picture is unlikely to improve soon. Still, residents seem to bear the burden well. The average income for 65-and-up residents is the third-highest in the U.S., and the poverty rate for the age group is a low 8.1% (9.3% nationwide). SEE ALSO: What Do You Know About Wills and Trusts? New Mexico Getty Images Ranking: #39 Population: 2.1 million Share of population 65+: 15.3% Cost of living: 5% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $46,836 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $380,164 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly The Land of Enchantment is not such a magical place for retirees. The tax breaks, for one thing, leave something to be desired: Social Security benefits are subject to tax by the state , as are retirement account distributions and pension payouts, though low-income seniors may qualify for a retirement-income exemption of up to $8,000. Unfortunately, plenty of people may be able to take advantage of that break, after all. The poverty rate for people 65 and older is 11.9%, the third highest in the country. New York Getty Images Ranking: #50 Population: 19.7 million Share of population 65+: 14.7% Cost of living: 22% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $67,140 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $433,347 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly One (pricey) Big Apple spoils the entire Empire State. Manhattan reigns as the most expensive place to live in the U.S. , with costs soaring 138.6% above the national average, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. However, New York state's relatively lower average cost of living means you can find more affordable spots outside the city: Brooklyn, for example, is "just" 82% more expensive than the average U.S. metro area, and Rochester and Utica actually offer below-average living costs. Despite boasting an average income for residents age 65 and older that's among the top five in the country, the same age group suffers a poverty rate of 11.4%, worse than the national 9.3% rate and tied with Kentucky for the fourth-highest rate in the country. North Carolina Getty Images Ranking: #28 Population: 9.9 million Share of population 65+: 14.7% Cost of living: 5% below average Average income for 65+ households: $43,616 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $406,849 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly Its weather is mild, as is its financial attractiveness as a retirement destination. The Tar Heel State offers below-average costs across most metro areas, with the Kill Devil Hills micro area (part of the Outer Banks) being one pricey exception, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. But income levels are typically lower, too. And though Social Security benefits are still not taxable, other breaks for retirees have been eliminated, leaving most other retirement income taxable at the current flat rate of 5.49%. SEE ALSO: The Retiree Tax Quiz North Dakota Getty Images Ranking: #4 Population: 736,162 Share of population 65+: 14.2% Cost of living: 1% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $46,763 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $414,455 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly Cross the border from South Dakota, our top state for retirement, and you'll find many of the same benefits: North Dakota offers retirees affordable living costs and overall low taxes. Unfortunately, retirement income, including Social Security benefits, gets no tax break in the Peace Garden State. But income taxes are so low--ranging from 1.1% to 2.9%--that it's still considered tax friendly. Plus, the state ranks second-highest for fiscal soundness, indicating that the economic health is stable enough to sustain a friendly tax environment. Ohio Getty Images Ranking: #19 Population: 11.6 million Share of population 65+: 15.5% Cost of living: 12% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $42,667 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $417,912 Tax rating for retirees: Mixed Ohio's status as a destination for retirees matches its geographic location: in the middle. Its living costs are well below average, but so is its average household income. Even the tax situation is just fine: Social Security benefits are not taxed, and retirees living in the Buckeye State can claim a tax credit of up to $200 on other retirement income. SEE ALSO: 10 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In Oklahoma Getty Images Ranking: #26 Population: 3.9 million Share of population 65+: 14.5% Cost of living: 16% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $46,848 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $420,195 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly The Sooner State is a middle-of-the-road retirement destination. Household incomes are relatively low, but so are overall living costs. The tax situation helps somewhat: Social Security benefits are not taxed, and you can exclude up to $10,000 per person of other retirement income. On the downside, Oklahoma is the third-worst state in terms of senior health, according to the United Health Foundation's rankings, which took into account quality of health care facilities, physical behaviors of resident seniors and a host of other health-related criteria. Problem areas for Oklahoma include: high levels of physical inactivity and smoking among seniors, as well as low availability of geriatricians and quality nursing homes. Oregon Getty Images Ranking: #32 Population: 4.0 million Share of population 65+: 15.9% Cost of living: 18% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $45,255 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $412,398 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly Taxes in the Beaver State gnaw away at fixed incomes. It charges no sales tax, but Oregon levies one of the highest top state income tax rates in the U.S. , at 9.9%. And although Social Security benefits are exempt, most other retirement income is taxable. Not that there's much to tax. Oregon seniors bring in below-average household incomes--15.9% less than the national average of $53,799. And despite those low incomes, overall living costs are high. One bright, cheap spot: Health care costs for a retired couple in Oregon are typically 2.6% lower than the U.S. average. Pennsylvania Getty Images Ranking: #14 Population: 12.8 million Share of population 65+: 16.7% Cost of living: 3% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $48,706 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $411,414 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly The Keystone State locks in an affordable standard of living for retirees. Health care costs for a 65-year-old retired couple come in 2.9% below the national average. And the tax situation, among the 10 friendliest in the U.S. for retirees, can boost your bottom line even more: Most retirement income, including Social Security benefits, is not taxed. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania's own budget is not so sturdy. With not enough cash to cover short- or long-term obligations, its fiscal health ranks a low 45th among all 50 states, according to rankings from the Mercatus Center at the George Mason University. Rhode Island Getty Images Ranking: #44 Population: 1.1 million Share of population 65+: 15.8% Cost of living: 22% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $55,674 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $428,144 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly Tiny Rhode Island packs in big costs. Living expenses across the board are well above average with health care costs for a 65-year-old couple 1.1% higher than average. At least above-average incomes for older residents can make those burdensome costs a bit more bearable. Also, the tax situation has been improving--the Ocean State no longer taxes Social Security benefits for single filers with up to $80,000 in adjusted gross income and joint filers with up to $100,000 in AGI. And up to the first $15,000 of retirement income may be exempt for retirees, depending on income levels. Still, the updated tax situation is not enough to move it out of not-friendly territory for retirees. South Carolina Getty Images Ranking: #12 Population: 4.8 million Share of population 65+: 15.8% Cost of living: 7% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $43,340 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $408,343 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly If the mild weather and southern charm of the Palmetto State aren't enough of a retirement draw, surely the affordability can tempt you. On top of below-average living costs, the tax situation goes easy on a fixed income, too. South Carolina doesn't tax Social Security benefits and offers generous exemptions on other types of retirement income. It also does not levy an inheritance or estate tax. Property taxes tend to be very low. South Dakota Thinkstock Ranking: #1 Population: 851,058 Share of population 65+: 15.2% Cost of living: 4% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $43,712 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $415,297 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly The Mount Rushmore State might not be the first place that comes to mind when you dream of where to retire, but it's first place on our list. Affordability is the main factor pushing it to the top spot. In addition to low living expenses, including for health care, South Dakota is one the 10 Best States for Taxes on Retirees . And you can be confident it'll stay that way. The state ranks third in the country for fiscal soundness, according to a recent report from George Mason University's Mercatus Center, which indicates high confidence that it can keep up with short-term expenses and long-term financial obligations. SEE ALSO: Kiplinger's State-By-State Guide to Retiree Taxes Tennessee Thinkstock Ranking: #5 Population: 6.5 million Share of population 65+: 15.0% Cost of living: 12% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $47,891 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $411,617 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly The Volunteer State is a good choice for budget-conscious retirees. According to data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, every major metro area offers below-average living costs in almost every category of expenses, including health care--among the biggest financial concerns for aging Americans. Plus, Tennessee does not levy state income taxes , so your retirement income can stretch even further. And being economically healthy, Tennessee should have no issues maintaining its tax-friendliness; it ranks eighth of all states for fiscal soundness, according to a recent report from the Mercatus Center. SEE ALSO: Kiplinger's Tax Map of the U.S. Texas Getty Images Ranking: #24 Population: 27.0 million Share of population 65+: 11.5% Cost of living: 10% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $55,383 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $430,561 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly Living expenses in the Lone Star state are typically low, but health care costs are an exception. In fact, the amount a 65-year-old retired couple can expect to pay for these costs is 1.7% more than the U.S. average. On the bright side, incomes are also relatively high and go untaxed by the state. Still, not everyone can afford Texas: The state has a poverty rate of 10.8% for seniors, the sixth highest in the U.S. See Also: 27 Cheapest Places Where You'll Really Want to Retire Utah Thinkstock Ranking: #10 Population: 2.9 million Share of population 65+: 10.0% Cost of living: 4% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $53,211 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $412,641 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly The Beehive State is a sweet spot for active retirees. Utah ranks second in the U.S. for the overall health of its 65-plus population, according to the United Health Foundation, and offers plenty of outdoor recreation options that are sure to keep you buzzing through retirement. There are five national parks, seven national monuments, five national forests and 43 state parks to host all your hiking, climbing, boating and skiing desires. Maybe the activity can distract you from the state's unfriendly tax laws-- Utah is one of the few states that taxes Social Security benefits , for example. Still, the tax man isn't keeping Utah's seniors down: Even with income levels for older adults just about average for the U.S., the state has the third-lowest poverty rate in the country for people 65 and older. Vermont Getty Images Ranking: #40 Population: 626,249 Share of population 65+: 17.0% Cost of living: 12% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $45,755 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $408,038 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly Steep living costs and taxes weigh heavily on below-average incomes in the Green Mountain State. Social Security benefits, as well as most other forms of retirement income, are subject to state taxes, and the top income tax rate is a high 8.95% (which kicks in at $416,500 for single filers and $421,900 for joint filers). On a positive note, Vermont ranks eighth in the country in terms of senior health, according to the United Health Foundation's rankings. Virginia Getty Images Ranking: #7 Population: 8.3 million Share of population 65+: 13.8% Cost of living: 7% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $59,869 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $408,950 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly Virginia is for retirees. Overall living costs are above average, but high household incomes among seniors--11.3% higher than the national average of $53,799, to be exact--should be able to cover the spread. Plus, health care costs, a particularly worrying budget item for retirees, actually tend to be relatively affordable, with a retired couple in the state expected to pay 3.4% less than the average couple in the U.S. Plus, the Old Dominion doesn't tax Social Security benefits and allows residents 65 and older to deduct income up to $12,000 per person, depending on their income levels. SEE ALSO: Do You Know the Best Social Security Claiming Strategies? Washington Thinkstock Ranking: #16 Population: 7.1 million Share of population 65+: 14.0% Cost of living: 21% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $55,577 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $420,480 Tax rating for retirees: Tax Friendly The Evergreen State can be a great place to stay refreshed throughout retirement. Washington boasts more than 3,000 miles of coastline and two major mountain ranges: the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains. So active retirees have plenty of opportunities to boat, swim, climb, hike and more. No wonder the state ranks second in the nation (after California) for physically active seniors, according to the United Health Foundation's senior health rankings report. SEE ALSO: Best States for Retirement 2018 West Virginia Getty Images Ranking: #37 Population: 1.8 million Share of population 65+: 17.8% Cost of living: 17% below the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $40,109 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Below average at $404,606 Tax rating for retirees: Not Tax Friendly Despite its below-average living costs, the Mountain State offers some rocky terrain for retirees. Retirement income, including Social Security, is taxed to the same extent as it is on your federal form--though the first $8,000 is exempt. And given the state's fiscal health, its tax situation is unlikely to get friendlier: According to a recent report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, West Virginia ranks as the ninth-worst state in terms of fiscal soundness. The state also scores poorly for the health of its 65-and-over population, ranking 45th in the country, according to the United Health Foundation. While 64.6% of older adults nationwide are considered able-bodied, only 56.6% of those in West Virginia can say the same--the worst in the U.S. SEE ALSO: The 26 Cheapest States for Retirement Wisconsin Getty Images Ranking: #41 Population: 5.8 million Share of population 65+: 15.2% Cost of living: 4% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $40,011 Average health care costs for a retired couple: About average at $423,978 Tax rating for retirees: Least Tax Friendly Wisconsin seniors suffer the lowest average household income in the nation. And yet, the living costs are only a bit below average, and a 65-year-old couple actually faces slightly higher-than-average health care costs in retirement. And taxes only make the situation worse: Social Security benefits are exempt from state taxes, but most other retirement income is subject to taxation (though there are some breaks for low-income residents). SEE ALSO: 20 Small Towns With Big Millionaire Populations Wyoming Getty Images Ranking: #17 Population: 583,029 Share of population 65+: 13.8% Cost of living: Same as U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $45,305 Average health care costs for a retired couple: Above average at $430,916 Tax rating for retirees: Most Tax Friendly The Equality State knows how to keep an even budget. It ranks fifth in the nation for its fiscal health, holding more than enough cash to cover its obligations (thanks to plenty of revenues from oil and mineral rights), according to the Mercatus Center. That bodes well for its ability to maintain its generous tax benefits for retirees and all its residents. There's no state income tax at all, and the state sales tax is a modest 4.5%. SEE ALSO: 10 Cheapest Small Towns in America How We Ranked Every State for Retirement Getty Images To rank all 50 states for retirement, we weighed a number of factors: Taxes on retirees, based on Kiplinger's Retiree Tax Map , which divides states into five categories: Most Tax Friendly, Tax Friendly, Mixed, Not Tax Friendly and Least Tax Friendly. Cost-of-living for each state, with data provided by Sperling's Best Places , includes overall costs--across all age groups--for housing, food and groceries, transportation, utilities, health care and miscellaneous expenses. Average health care costs in retirement are from HealthView Services and include Medicare, supplemental insurance, dental insurance and out-of-pocket costs for a 65-year-old couple who are both retired and are expected to live to 87 (husband) and 89 (wife). Rankings of each state's economic health are provided by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and are based on various factors including state governments' revenue sources, debts, budgets and abilities to fund pensions, health-care benefits and other services. Rankings of the health of each state's population of residents 65 and over are from the United Health Foundation and are based on 34 factors ranging from residents' bad habits (smoking and excessive drinking) to the quality of hospital and nursing home care available in the state. Household incomes and poverty rates are from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data, including the percentage of the population that is age 65 and older, is also provided by the Census Bureau. They are highlighted in these rankings for the benefit of readers, but were not factors in our methodology for ranking the states. SEE ALSO: The 20 Worst States for Your Retirement EDITOR'S PICKS 13 States That Tax Social Security Benefits 9 Things Retirees Should Never Keep in Their Wallets 33 States with No Death Taxes Copyright 2018-2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Invitae (NVTA) Catches Eye: Stock Jumps 9.1% Invitae CorporationNVTA was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise more than 9% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This continues the recent uptrend for the company—as the stock is now up 34.7% 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.Invitae currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) while its Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Invitae Corporation Price Invitae Corporation price \| Invitae Corporation Quote Investors interested in the Medical Info Systems industry may consider a better-ranked stock like NantHealth, Inc. NH, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Is NVTA going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think:Up or Down 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 reportInvitae Corporation (NVTA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportNantHealth, Inc. (NH) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Get the Bodum Chambord French press for 46% off — just $28.99 at Amazon TL;DR:Be your own Barista with theBodum Chambord French press— now just $28.99 at Amazon, a savings of $24.51. Has your morning really started unless you’ve had a cup of coffee? For most of us, coffee is at the top of the list of must-haves for the office. But all those trips to your local Starbucks can quickly add up. With the 34 oz.Bodum Chambord French Pressyou can get your caffeine fix without waiting in line. SEE ALSO:Here’s how to taste-test coffee like a Certified Q grader (hint: grab a soup spoon) The Bodum Chambord French press can have you Monday-morning-ready in just four minutes. Equipped with a mesh filter and three-part plunger,this French presswill have you feeling like a Barista, and with eight cups of coffee per brew, this coffee maker will satisfy even the biggest caffeine addict.Read more... More aboutCoffee Machine,Coffee Makers,Mashable Shopping,Shopping Solo, andTech
18 Students Earn Fifth Third Scholarships from the Fifth Third Foundation CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Since its founding in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation has made education programs a key priority. In 2005, Fifth Third established its Scholarship Program to award one-time, $2,500 scholarships annually to children of Fifth Third employees for study at a college or university. This year’s scholarships total $45,000. Nearly 300 students have merited scholarships since 2005. Chosen and administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., the Fifth Third Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the following students, listed with their employee parent or parents and their work location: • Daniel R. Annunziato, son of Richard V. Annunziato, New York City. • Chandler P. Ashman, son of Joel R. Ashman, Cincinnati.* • Geoffrey R. Batterbee, son of Robert F. Batterbee, Grand Rapids, Michigan.* • Madeline C. Cherry, daughter of Nathan D. Cherry, Cincinnati.* • Olivia U. Core, daughter of Hideo U. Core, Cincinnati. • Dorris Martha DaGama, daughter of Remmy DaGama, Grand Rapids, Michigan.* • Austin M. Emmons, son of Michael D. Emmons, Cincinnati. • Charlotte I. Fults, daughter of Charles W. Fults, Lexington, Kentucky. • Julia M. Gibbs, daughter of David C. Gibbs, Cincinnati. • Savannah M. Grimes, daughter of Kathleen A. Grimes, Effingham, Illinois. • Eric W. Haun, son of Kelly B. Haun, Grand Rapids, Michigan. • Christopher M. Heuser, son of Eric Heuser, Chicago. • Nicholas R. McDonough, son of Steve McDonough, Cincinnati.* • Sydney M. Newby, daughter of Angelo J. Newby, Detroit. • Britney S. Nicholson, daughter of Ronda S. Nicholson, Grand Rapids, Michigan. • Morgan T. Reynolds, daughter of Brian D. Reynolds, Cincinnati. • Luke R. Ritter, son of Thomas & Mollie Ritter, Cincinnati. • Easten M. Young, son of Christopher M. & Jenniffer A. Young, Cincinnati. *National Merit finalist “I extend my sincere congratulations to these students as they begin the next exciting chapter of their lives and invest in their education,” said Greg D. Carmichael, Fifth Third Bancorp chairman, president and CEO. “We are honored to recognize their academic success and to support them as well as their parents, who are valued members of our Fifth Third team.” “The Fifth Third Foundation congratulates these 18 deserving students,” said Heidi Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank. “Since 2005, the Foundation has contributed over $730,000 to the higher education of children of Fifth Third employees. Our goal is to support them as they grow and help improve their lives.” The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is an independent not-for-profit organization. The National Merit Scholarship Program was designed to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students, and to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships to students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by the NMSC. Established in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was the first charitable foundation created by a financial institution. The Foundation supports worthy causes in the areas of health and human services, education, community development and the arts in the states where Fifth Third Bank operates. Contacts Stacie Haas (Media Relations)Stacie.Haas@53.com\| 513-534-5113
Buying a Home Costs More Than the Purchase Price A home in Upper Providence, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles west of Philadelphia's heart, tugs at you. Its stone facade guards a three-bedroom, three-bathroom interior, which opens to a deck and a verdant backyard. It is the ideal home, the one you envisioned during your search. Its price: $500,000. Together with your real estate agent, you pen an offer to the seller. He accepts it; the house goes under contract. Thus commences a process that will sap thousands of dollars before the key to your new address drops in your palm. Some expenses will squarely fall upon the seller , and others you will split. Yet others will be your sole responsibility. Here is what you can expect to pay when you buy a home: -- Down payment, if you finance the purchase. -- Loan origination fee. -- Mortgage insurance. -- Appraisal. -- Survey and title search. -- Inspection. -- Earnest money. -- Transfer taxes. -- Deed and mortgage recording fees. -- Escrow. -- Title insurance. [ Read: The Guide for First-Time Homebuyers ] Securing a Mortgage Down Payment You make a down payment of $100,000 or 20% of the abode's value, leaving you with a $400,000 loan; a conventional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. You agree to an interest rate of 4.25%. "The lender you go to for a standard 30-year, fixed type loan is not going to matter," says Jerry Anderson, vice president of residential lending at Alliant Credit Union. "What does matter then is what service you are getting, what technology are they offering and, of course, what are their rates and fees." In late June, the average interest rate, according to Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey , stood at 3.84%. But lenders -- major banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers -- oscillate around that figure, offering different packages. Some may charge a higher rate but extend a lender credit or funds to offset some of your closing costs. Others may agree to a lower interest in exchange for points, or money you shell out to, essentially, buy down the monthly rate. Loan Origination Fee No matter what interest rate you ultimately lock, there is a slew of expenses you will owe the lender. For the mortgage on the Upper Providence house, you pay a $4,000 origination fee, which covers processing your application, underwriting and funding the loan, according to home cost calculations provided by Guy A. Matteo, associate broker with Re/Max Preferred Realtors in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Varying between 0.5% and 1% of the borrowed amount, origination fees, along with other mortgage closing costs, appear on the loan estimate. Your lender must provide you the loan estimate within three business days of receiving your application. This obligation stems from the tightened financial regulations that emerged after the Great Recession. Story continues Because of it, "the buyer will know in advance, before they even do an inspection or pay for an appraisal, what the cost associated with buying a property (is) roughly going to be," says Sally Shiekman, real estate agent and certified residential specialist with Aspen Snowmass Sotheby's International Realty in Aspen, Colorado. Mortgage Insurance If you were to secure a loan where you would pay less than 20% of the purchasing price as a down payment , you would need mortgage insurance to mitigate the risk to your lender. Paid at closing or billed into the monthly outlays, this is obligatory for Federal Housing Administration loans to first-time homebuyers, who may pay as little as 3% of a house's price upfront, as well as for Department of Veteran Affairs mortgages that command no down payment. Third-Party Fees Appraisal Before any lender signs off on a loan, they demand an appraisal. Carried out by a third-party professional, it constitutes a disinterested evaluation of a home's worth. For the Upper Providence home, it costs you $375, per Matteo's calculations. The appraisal presents an assessment that, if you default on your payments, the lender can recoup the borrowed amount by selling the house, which serves as collateral for the loan. "Appraisals are becoming more and more technology-driven," Anderson says. Due to the availability of data, he says, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage enterprises that buy most home loans, may be able to determine some houses' values without traditional appraisals. Survey and Title Search While not universally required, surveys are another means for lenders to verify the soundness of a property as a loan security. Sometimes also encompassing a title search, or an investigation into a property's ownership, mortgage surveys examine land and structure boundaries against their descriptions on legal documents. Inspection Unlike surveys, inspections focus on the integrity of a home. The home inspection of your Upper Providence residence clocks at $500, which is about average for a standard service. While some inspections may be only sensible in certain locales -- termite, lead-paint or radon inspections, for instance, depend on how prevalent such issues are locally -- others are almost obligatory in any instance. In North Carolina, where broker and owner of Wanda Smith & Associates, Tony Smith, operates, "the typical inspections are going to be mechanical, which is heating, electrical and plumbing, and structural inspection and a pest inspection," he says. After an inspection, you may request the seller make certain repairs, contribute credit for such or even lower the home's price. If a compromise fails to emerge, you might abandon the contract , obtaining any earnest money -- a prepaid, good-faith deposit on the house -- back. [ See: 9 Details That Signal a Home Is a Good Buy. ] Transfer Taxes If the transaction inches forward, though, at closing, transfer taxes materialize. Calculated as a percentage of the sale price, this kind of a fee -- a sales tax on real estate -- widely differs across the nation. So does who pays them. "In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the transfer tax is negotiated but traditionally half of it is paid by the buyer and half of it is paid by the seller," Matteo says. The transfer tax on the Upper Providence residence clocks at 3% of the selling price, portions of which stream to the state, the school district and the township. Deed and Mortgage Recording Fees Deed as well as mortgage recording fees are also due at closing, which, depending on the state, could be arranged by either an attorney or a title company. Together, they cost you $227 for the Upper Providence house. Pre-paid costs Escrow Set up at closing, escrow accounts hold funds for property taxes and homeowners insurance. If the tax due date has passed at settlement, you will reimburse the seller for levies already paid. Conversely, you might receive credit from the seller to cover the tax for the months he or she occupied the house. The escrow account also contains homeowners or hazard insurance, which, in some jurisdictions, the seller may cover. This is not the case in Pennsylvania, however, where, at closing at the end of July, you set $2,670 in escrow and give $6,399 to the seller for already paid county, municipal and school district property taxes. [ Read: Everything You Need to Know About a Pending Home Sale ] Title Insurance Another sort of insurance you need is title insurance, which shields you and the lender in case disputes about the house's ownership arise. While in some states the seller ponies up a portion of it, in Pennsylvania, the buyer pays it in full. The title insurance on the Upper Providence property is $3,728, according to Matteo's calculations, including endorsements that tailor the otherwise standard policy to your needs. On the day you become the new owner of the $500,000 residence, you have amassed $27,307 in mortgage-related closing expenses, third-party costs, escrow funds and reimbursements to the seller. In addition, you parted with $100,000 for a down payment. Yet, subject to local decrees, loan types and personal circumstances, Smith of Wanda Smith & Associates says: "The fees involved can very easily be more than the actual minimum down payment." More From US News & World Report The Best Apps for House Hunting The Guide to Buying a Home What to Do When Your House 'Fails' Inspection View comments
Google just took a strange step towards replacing Android with something better Click here to read the full article. Android might be one of the two most important mobile operating systems right now, and the biggest one by market share, but it certainly won’t be around forever. That’s why Google is already working on a universal OS that would one day replace Android without users having to worry about it. Fuchsia, as it’s called for the time being, will run seamlessly on a variety of devices, regardless of screen size. It’ll deliver faster updates and better privacy features, according to some reports, and it’ll support Android apps as well as native Fuchsia apps. After months of rumors, Google finally confirmed the existence of Fuchsia at I/O 2019 in mid-May in what was somewhat of a surprise for the event. And now, Google made another strange move that gets us one step closer to a mobile future without Android. Related Stories: Hardcore Android fans reveal all the iOS 13 features they wish Google would copy 'Void Tyrant' is the most addictive iPhone game of 2019 Google is about to steal another great feature from the iPhone Google launched a Fuchsia.dev site soon after I/O, but it went up only briefly, as Google had nothing else to share with developers at the time. Fast forward to this past weekend, and Google decided it was time to upload content to Fuchsia.dev. First spotted on Reddit (via 9to5Google ), Fuchsia.dev lets you browse through a variety of documents, which should be a great starting point for developers looking to familiarize themselves with the upcoming new OS. However, you don’t actually get to put any of the info to use. You can’t install a dev version of Fuchsia on any device, and you can’t start developing apps for it — although one can easily argue that some developers already have apps that could run on Fuchsia gadgets from day one, thanks to Google’s Flutter toolkit . That’s why Google’s decision to make Fuchsia docs available to developers all of a sudden seems strange. Why now? Why not back at I/O 2019 or next May? Are we to expect more big Fuchsia announcements soon? Story continues On the other hand, Google had to start somewhere. Even if there’s no major Fuchsia announcement coming soon, the company has to make sure it has all the puzzle pieces in place. A developer portal is the kind of resource you’d want to have ready for an operating system that developers already know you’re building. Android, meanwhile, is going to get its Q update next month, and we’ll see a few more updates before Fuchsia takes over. That means we’re probably in for a significant wait before we find Fuchsia running on any smartphones or anything else. BGR Top Deals: This $16 clip-on lens kit fits the iPhone or any Android phone, and it’s awesome Amazon deal offers a 7-inch Android tablet for under $43 See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Do Institutions Own Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HASI) Shares? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! A look at the shareholders of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HASI) can tell us which group is most powerful. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital isn't enormous, but it's not particularly small either. It has a market capitalization of US$1.8b, which means it would generally expect to see some institutions on the share registry. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it's seems that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about HASI. Check out our latest analysis for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital 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 77% of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone, since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital's earnings history, below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$65m worth of shares (at current prices). If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you canclick here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. The general public, with a 19% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. I like to dive deeperinto how a company has performed in the past. You can findhistoric revenue and earnings in thisdetailed graph. But ultimatelyit is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look atthis free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Portfolio flows to emerging markets at highest in five months in June: IIF LONDON (Reuters) - A turnaround in equity flows helped propel foreign flows to emerging-market securities to $40.8 billion in June, their highest level in five months, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). It said the inflows were robust, particularly in light of the trade tensions that dominated markets for much of the month. Dovish shifts by central banks in the United States, Europe and Japan may have helped revive the search for yield. China and the United States have agreed to resume trade talks, Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump said on Saturday, helping to stimulate appetite for riskier assets. The IIF said last week that a sharp rebound in flows to China and other emerging markets could signal investors expect a benign outcome to the trade row. Equity flows to emerging markets reached $12.6 billion in June, mainly due to a recovery in Chinese equities, IIF said. Debt flows into emerging markets registered their highest reading in five months at $28.2 billion, mainly because of inflows to emerging markets in Asia. (Reporting by Tom Arnold, editing by Larry King)
7 Mistakes to Avoid in the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program Making any one of these mistakes could ruin your chances for loan forgiveness. Image credit: Getty Images. Student loan debt has become an epidemic. Many former students struggle to repay what they borrowed after entering the workforce. ThePublic Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programcan reduce some of this burden for government and nonprofit employees. If you meet the requirements, the government will forgive any remaining debt. It sounds simple enough, but it's surprisingly difficult to get. Only0.5% of student loan borrowers who apply for PSLF actually receive it, according to data from the Department of Education. The other 99.5% receive a rude awakening -- and no governmental assistance. Most applications are rejected because borrowers made a mistake that rendered them ineligible. Here are seven devastating mistakes you don't want to make if you’re hoping for PSLF. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program isn't available to everyone, and it doesn't cover all student loans. In order to qualify, you must 1. have a Federal Direct student loan; 2. work for the government, a nonprofit organization, AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, or another qualifying organization for at least 10 years; and 3. make 120 on-time payments on a qualifying student loan repayment plan. Failure to meet any of these requirements could render you ineligible for PSLF. Even if you do meet all of these requirements, the government could still deny you PSLF if you didn’t fill out your employment certification form. This is essentially a notice from your employer acknowledging that you work for them. You must submit it when you start your public service job, when you change jobs, and annually while working toward PSLF. If you miss a form, the government could deny your request. Without the form, there's no proof that you worked for a qualifying organization during that time. If you forget to include important information -- like your employer's signature -- on your employment certification form, the government could deny your PSLF application. You may be able to appeal the decision by providing the correct information, but this takes time. Meanwhile, you're still responsible for student loan payments that would have been forgiven if you'd filled out your form correctly the first time. Before submitting your employment certification form, look it over for incomplete or incorrect information. And be sure to sign it and have your employer sign it before you submit it. There are eight federal Direct student loan repayment plans, but they don't all qualify for PSLF. If you choose agraduated or extended repayment plan, your loans won’t be eligible for PSLF. The standard plan is also a poor choice. It’s a qualifying repayment plan for PSLF, but the schedule requires you to pay off your student loans within 10 years. At the end, there’s nothing left for the government to forgive. You're better off with an income-driven repayment plan instead. The following plans qualify for PSLF and leave you with debt for the government to forgive: • Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Plan • Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan • Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan • Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan If you haven't been making payments on one of these plans, you could be in trouble. But there's still hope. Disqualification due to the wrong repayment plan is such a rampant issue that Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2018 -- the act allotted $350 million to borrowers whose PSLF applications were disqualified due to an unqualified repayment plan. TheTemporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness programwill only last until those funds are used up, so apply right away if you think you qualify. Only Federal Direct student loans qualify for PSLF. Other loan types, like Perkins loans and Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs), don’t qualify unless you roll them into a Direct Consolidation loan. Not sure which type of federal student loans you have? Log into your federal student aid account to check. Consolidate any loans that don't say "Direct" if you want them to be eligible for PSLF. Parent student, or Direct PLUS, loans are an odd exception to this rule. Even though it’s a Direct loan, you still must consolidate your loan in order to be eligible for income-driven repayment plans, and by extension, PSLF. Consolidating your student loans closes your old loans and opens a new one. This can simplify your monthly payments, but it can complicate things if you're pursuing PSLF. To qualify for PSLF, you have to make 120 on-time payments.Consolidating your loansresets that clock. If you make payments for two years and then consolidate your loan, those two years of loan payments no longer count toward your PSLF requirements. If you're going to consolidate your federal student loans, do so right after you graduate, before you begin working toward PSLF. Once you're past that point, stick with the payment arrangement you already have rather than tacking on a couple extra years to your required PSLF payments. Your 120 qualifying loan payments for PSLF don't have to be consecutive, but they do have to be on time. If a single payment is more than 15 days late, that payment won't qualify for PSLF. That doesn't mean you can never qualify for PSLF. It just means you have to make one additional payment to make up for the late payment. If you're pursuing PSLF, it doesn't make sense topay extra on your student loans. You're reducing the amount of money the government has to forgive when you could've kept that money for yourself. This strategy can also create problems for PSLF applicants. Say you have a $250 monthly student loan payment and you pay $300 one month. Your loan servicer will apply the extra $50 to your next month's payment and your next month's bill will only be $200. But if you only pay this amount, it may not qualify for PSLF because it's not a "full" payment. If you run into this issue, you may be able to contest it with your loan servicer. But you're better off just avoiding the situation altogether by only paying the correct amount each month. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program can be a lifesaver to those struggling with student debt. But a single mistake can erase all hope of government relief. Make sure you understand the terms of PSLF and avoid the seven mistakes listed above so you don't run into unexpected issues. 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.
JinkoSolar (JKS) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.JKS reported first-quarter 2019 earnings per American Depositary Share (ADS) of 23 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents by 34.8%. The bottom line, however, improved significantly from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 2 cents per ADS.Total RevenuesIn the quarter under review, JinkoSolar’s total revenues of $867.5 million lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $895 million by 3%. The top line, however, improved 27.5% on a year-over-year basis. The upside can be mainly attributed to the increase in solar modules shipment.Quarterly HighlightsIn first-quarter 2019, JinkoSolar’s total solar modules shipment was 3,037 megawatts, up 50.7% year over year.The company’s total operating expenses flared up 37.2% year over year to $108.6 million. This upswing resulted from the rise in shipping costs as a percentage of total revenues associated with a significant higher percentage of shipments to overseas markets.The company incurred $14.3 million as interest expenses, up 12.5% year over year, due to higher borrowings and the cessation of interest capitalization on certain completed solar projects.Financial ConditionAs of Mar 31, 2019, JinkoSolar had cash and cash equivalents of $485.7 million, up from $451.6 million as of Dec 31, 2018.Total interest-bearing debts as of Dec 31, 2018, were $1.79 billion compared with $1.41 billion as of Dec 31, 2018. JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart \| JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited Quote Recent Business Developments During the first quarter of 2019, JinkoSolar renewed its partnership with GRID Alternatives, a national leader in making solar technology and job training accessible to low-income communities.During the month of April, the company supplied 100 MW of efficient solar modules for the Srepok 1 and Quang Minh Solar Power Plant Complex, one of Vietnam's largest solar power projects as of Apr 24, 2019. During the same time, it also expanded its high efficiency mono wafer production capacity with the construction of a greenfield 5 GW mono wafer production facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China.Recently, the company supplied 351 MW of solar modules to Power Construction Corporation of China, which were installed at the Hong Phong solar PV plant in Vietnam, one of the largest PV projects in the Asia-Pacific region.GuidanceFor second-quarter 2019, JinkoSolar expects total solar modules shipment of 3.2-3.3 GW.For 2019, the company projects total solar modules shipment of 14-15 GW.Zacks RankJinkoSolar currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Other Solar ReleasesFirst Solar Inc. FSLR incurred a loss of 64 cents per share in first-quarter 2019, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 13 cents.Sunrun Inc. RUN incurred a loss of 12 cents per share in first-quarter 2019 against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of 32 cents.SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. SEDG reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 64 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents by 3.2%.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 reportFirst Solar, Inc. (FSLR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSunrun Inc. (RUN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportJinkoSolar Holding Company Limited (JKS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Regeneron/Sanofi's Dupixent Gets Positive CHMP Recommendation Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. REGN and partner Sanofi SNY announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for the label expansion of asthma drug, Dupixent. The CHMP recommends label expansion of Dupixent in the European Union (EU) to include adolescents aged 12-17 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who are candidates for systemic therapy. The positive opinion was based on data from the LIBERTY AD program, including a pivotal phase III trial and an open-label extension trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of Dupixent in adolescents with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. A final decision is expected soon. Upon approval, Dupixent would be the first biologic medicine in the EU for this indication. Dupixent is currently approved in the EU for use in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who are candidates for systemic therapy. It is also approved in the EU for patients aged 12 years or older as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma with type 2 inflammation. The drug is also approved for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and asthma in the United States and Japan. The FDA recently approved the drug for use with other medicines to treat chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults, whose disease is not controlled. It is also under review in the EU for the same. Meanwhile, Regeneron and Sanofi are also evaluating Dupixent in a broad clinical program for diseases driven by allergic and other type 2 inflammation, including pediatric asthma and atopic dermatitis (6 to 11 years of age, phase III), pediatric atopic dermatitis (6 months to 5 years of age, phase II/III), eosinophilic esophagitis (phase III), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (phase III), and food and environmental allergies (phase II). The drug is also being studied in combination with REGN3500 (SAR440340), which targets IL-33. Net sales of the drug, as recorded by Sanofi, came in at $373.7 million in the first quarter of 2019. Label expansion of the drug will diversify the company’s revenue base and reduce dependence on lead drug, Eylea. Regeneron’s stock has lost 16% in the year so far against the industry’s growth of 4.8%. The company’s efforts to develop pipeline and diversify its revenue base are impressive. It earlier extended the collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY to discover, develop and commercialize new RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for a broad range of diseases by addressing disease targets expressed in the eye and central nervous system (CNS), in addition to a select number of targets expressed in the liver. Zacks Rank & A Stock to Consider Regeneron currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same space is Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), currently. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Gilead’s earnings estimates have moved up by 15 cents to $6.89 for 2019 over the past 60 days. 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 reportSanofi (SNY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportGilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis ReportRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAlnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research
Russia Won’t Ban Facebook’s Libra Currency, Deputy Finance Minister Says The Russian Ministry of Finance will not issue any special regulations for Facebook’s upcoming digital currency Libra, deputy minister Alexei Moisseev said Monday. Answer reporters’ questions, Moisseev said Libra will be treated in Russia like any other digital asset, regulations for which are coming, according to the news agencyInterfax. He added: Related:BIS Chief: Central Banks May Issue Digital Currencies ‘Sooner Than We Think’ On the other hand, no cryptocurrency of any sort will ever become legal tender in Russia, Moisseev said. “The ruble is our national currency and all operations should be conducted using it.” Rather, cryptocurrencies will have a status similar to foreign currencies. “It will be possible to buy it, sell it, keep it, but not use it [to pay for goods and services],” Moisseev said of crypto. “Yes, the legitimate market should be formed. But it’s out of the question that under the banner of a legitimate market, everything is possible.” Although it is not the leading social media platform in Russia, Facebook has a significant presence in the world’sninth most populouscountry, with a39 percent market shareby one measure. Related:Bitcoin, Facebook and the End of 20th Century Money Facebook’s vision for Libra – a global cryptocurrency backed by a basket of fiat currencies – has riled regulators and politicians worldwide, with the U.S. Congress set to hold hearings this month and the G7 forming a task force to study the project. Moisseev also told reporters that many businesspeople were asking about opportunities to conduct transparent initial coin offerings (ICOs) and a new law for it will be ready soon. Earlier hetoldnews agency RNS that a bill on digital assets, which has been stalled in the Russian parliament since last May, is likely to pass the main, second hearing in a couple of weeks. “We had a discussion about it lead by [finance minister] Anton Siluanov, there were the deputy prime minister [Maxim] Akimov, the central bank, the law enforcement agencies… All the decisions have been made, we’ll look at the text [of the bill] and, I hope, in two weeks get it on track for the second hearing,” Moisseev said June 18. A bill on token sales, however, will be discussed separately, he added. There is no official timeline for passing this bill, entitled “on attracting investments using investment platforms.” Russian Ministry of Financeimage via Shutterstock • Facebook’s Libra Crypto Code Draws Critiques and Clones on GitHub • JPMorgan CEO Dimon Says Crypto Companies ‘Want to Eat Our Lunch’
Monarch Unveils a Marketplace and Crypto Trading Platform Monarch, a wallet and exchange platform, launched a digital asset marketplace to supports 1,900 separate tokens. The company also announced a partnership with financial-services provider Ambisafe to create a licensed alternative trading system which will enable investment in tokenized entities. A pre-IPO token for SpaceX, representing private shares of the aerospace company, will be offered on the ATS, according to the company. The Monarch Marketplace consolidates a number of services including a decentralized wallet, ERC20 exchange, a portfolio tracker, and universal KYC integration on a platform that also enables financial services like credit purchases of cryptocurrency and offers 7.1 percent APR interest on crypto holdings. Related:Even at $30, Bitcoin Was More Exciting Than Poker Monarch President Robert Beadles hopes his company’s suite of applications will streamline the industry and help consumers cut excessive applications. He said the average cryptocurrency user needs nine applications to manage their digital assets. “Right now, overly complex processes are preventing cryptocurrencies from going mainstream and allowing people to control their financial lives,” said Roger Ver, CEO of Bitcoin.com, in a statement, who advised on the project. The platform supports almost all available ERC20 and SLP tokens. Additionally, consumer safety will be bolstered by reducing potential points of attack, according to Beadles. To that end, the company offers asset transfers between hot and cold wallets and allows users to maintain ownership over their private keys and seeds. The wallet feature is licensed as a broker-dealer and awaiting approval by the SEC and FINRA. Related:Thai Stock Exchange Building Digital Assets Platform for 2020 Launch Monarch’s integration of Ambisafe’s Orderbook used to buy, sell, and hold securities on the blockchain is also pending FINRA and SEC approval. The platform will allow early investment access to private launches. Host of Crypto Beadles on YouTube, Beadles teamed up with former Johnson & Johnson engineer Sneh Bhatt to launch Monarch’s free decentralized wallet and marketplace. The two founders provided seed funding for the project, and are currently conducting a token generation event that ends June 30. Beadles said the ecosystem’s quarter-million clients – with “a few thousand new downloads every week” – have generated a “soft cap of over $2 million” through using the platform. “For merchants, Monarch allows companies to accept crypto with an easy-to-use plugin, opening them up to new revenue streams and user bases. For partners, Monarch offers access to Monarch users, partner development services, revenue share, and marketing exposure,” he said. Eric Ly, co-founder of LinkedIn, David Zimbeck, lead developer atBitBay, and Damon Nam, founder ofCoinVest, also serve as advisors. Digital shopping photo via Shutterstock • Deutsche Börse, Swisscom Team Up to Build Digital Asset ‘Ecosystem’ • Blockchain Fund Launches With $22 Million Round Backed By Roger Ver
Ethereum developer hopes to see more women in blockchain Coin Rivet recently had the pleasure of catching up with Ethereum smart contracts developer Alice Henshaw. Alice spoke candidly to us about her love for computer security, the pitfalls of the private securities market, and motivating more women to enter the intimidating space of blockchain development. Could you tell us a bit about your own personal journey as a blockchain developer? I have been involved in the blockchain space for just over three years now in various ways. Currently, I am a blockchain developer focusing on development on the Ethereum blockchain, which Ive been doing for the last 18 months or so. I am currently working for Fluidity ( fluidity.io ), where my day-to-day role involves developing smart contracts for Decentralised Finance (DeFi), alongside some research. Smart contracts are essentially programs which can be deployed onto certain blockchains, which are then executed in a decentralised way. What drew you into working on smart contracts? I started studying computer science and development at the age of 16, and immediately my favourite area was that of cryptography and security. At university, I studied computer science and chose a number of modules that focused on computer security. From there, smart contracts seemed like a natural progression for me. As a smart contract developer, you have to focus on the security of your contracts every single day by publishing programs in such a public and decentralised way, and often using them to manage money, youre almost asking people to try to hack them. This element of critical security brings together my love for computer security and blockchain. Currently it seems as though you are working on the tokenisation of securities. Why is this an important area to tackle? Blockchain provides a simple way to implement ownership and transferral of assets much as you can transfer Bitcoins between individuals, you could transfer shares from one person to another. The current, traditional private securities markets are implemented in such a way that private securities are illiquid, inefficient, and inaccessible to the average investor. Story continues Tokenising these securities allows us to automate and massively simplify a number of the traditional processes, which ultimately has the potential to fix a number of issues. However, security tokens are still subject to the same regulations as traditional securities, meaning that all regulatory requirements must be outlined and implemented before any security can be tokenised. We are fast approaching a point where tokens are being created for just about anything, even if they do not serve a real purpose. From a developers point of view, how can we remedy this trend and ensure only tokens with real purpose, use cases, and value are created? Due to the nature of blockchain, theres nothing that can be done to prevent the creation of these tokens its incredibly easy to deploy a new token contract to Ethereum. The fact that we cannot prevent useless tokens being created means that they need to instead be identified and called out by the community, thereby deterring people from purchasing the token. This is happening more and more as users are becoming educated on what a good token model looks like. However, theres certainly still work to do. Im a strong advocate of helping the blockchain community be more diverse. As is true with technology in general, there are a small number of women working in the space. Last year, I ran workshops on Solidity development particularly aimed at women in the hopes that I can motivate them to enter this somewhat intimidating space and to help them do so with the confidence to voice their opinions and ensure they are heard. The post Ethereum developer hopes to see more women in blockchain appeared first on Coin Rivet .
Plant-based and vegan fast-food choices keep sprouting with more meat-free products coming Finding plant-based options in national chain restaurants isn’t so impossible. Since January, fast-food and fast-casual restaurants including Burger King, Del Taco, Red Robin, Blaze Pizza and Qdoba Mexican Eats have joined the meat-free revolution by adding new vegan-friendly menu items developed by companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Companies known for selling animal proteins – Perdue and Tyson Foods – have announced their intentions to get in the alternative meats game. Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Association, said meat and dairy alternatives are “exploding right now in popularity and excitement.” “Trends come and go. We think of this more as a movement,” Simon said. “We’re talking of a mainstreaming of this way of eating and you can’t get more mainstream than Burger King and Carl’s Jr.” Einstein Bros. Bagels added a dairy-free cream cheese to its 700 restaurants in February and coffee giant Starbucks added oat milk and a line of plant-based brews in 2018. With the number of options is growing, 39% of Americans said they were trying to eat more plant-based products, according to a 2018 Nielsen report. Sales also are growing, according to The Good Food Institute, a nonprofit, which found plant-based foods sales grew 17% in the past year to over $3.7 billion. What's better:How plant-based stacks up versus animal-based meats Passport needed:McDonald's released a new meatless, vegan burger in Germany Chipotle Mexican Grill is considered the first major chain to offer a vegan option when in 2014 it introduced its Sofritas. That same year, White Castle released its first vegan veggie slider and in September 2018 began selling the Impossible Slider. The Cheesecake Factory and TGI Fridays also added meat-free burgers in 2018. In January, Carl’s Jr. added the plant-based Beyond Famous Star developed by Beyond Meat with Red Robin adding the Impossible Burger to menus April 1. Burger King started a pilot of the Impossible Whopper April 1 at 59 St. Louis restaurants. Weeks later the company announced plans to make the Impossible Whopper “available to all guests nationwide by the end of 2019.” Other notable additions are in Mexican food. In late April, Del Taco launched new Beyond Taco and Beyond Avocado Taco that include Beyond Meat protein and the restaurant's signature seasoning. In less than two months, the chain sold nearly 2 million of the new tacos and launched new burritos with the protein. In late May, QDOBA Mexican Eats added the plant-based Impossible to its more than 730 restaurants. According to a report in May from Barclays, the market for alternative meat could reach $140 billion over the next 10 years with plant-based meat around $14 billion. Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat's founder and CEO, told USA TODAY the demand for plant-based products is growing as more people want to reduce meat consumption because of health concerns. "We are about accessibility and meeting people where they’re at in their journey – whether you're a hardcore carnivore or a strict vegan, you should be able to have our tacos, enjoy what you're eating and feel great afterward," Brown said. Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter:@KellyTyko This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Plant-based and vegan fast-food choices keep sprouting with more meat-free products coming
Does Fastenal Company's (NASDAQ:FAST) CEO Salary Reflect Performance? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Dan Florness became the CEO of Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) in 2016. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other large companies. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. Check out our latest analysis for Fastenal At the time of writing our data says that Fastenal Company has a market cap of US$19b, and is paying total annual CEO compensation of US$2.4m. (This figure is for the year to December 2018). That's a notable increase of 19% on last year. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$593k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations over US$8.0b and the median CEO total compensation was US$11m. Once you start looking at very large companies, you need to take a broader range, because there simply aren't that many of them. This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most large companies pay more, leaving less for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Fastenal has changed over time. Over the last three years Fastenal Company has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 17% per year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 12%. This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. Shareholders might be interested inthisfreevisualization of analyst forecasts. I think that the total shareholder return of 57%, over three years, would leave most Fastenal Company shareholders smiling. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. It looks like Fastenal Company pays its CEO less than the average at large companies. Many would consider this to indicate that the pay is modest since the business is growing. And given most shareholders are probably very happy with recent returns, you might even think that Dan Florness deserves a raise! It's not often we see shareholders do so well, and yet the CEO is paid modestly. It would be even more positive if company insiders are buying shares. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting tocheck if the CEO is buying or selling Fastenal (free visualization of insider trades). Important note:Fastenal 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.
'Alan Wake' developer may bring the cult classic to more consoles Alan Wakemight make its way to PS4 or Switch (or even mobile) after developer Remedy Entertainment snagged back the publishing rights tothe 2010 cult classicfrom Microsoft. It told investors it wouldearn royalty paymentsof about 2.5 million euros this year for its previously released games, and, in a related move, it regained the rights toAlan Wake. It seems Remedy is interested in bringing the mystery adventure to more platforms after it was previously only available on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One (via backwards compatibility). "The only thing we want to clarify, now that Remedy owns the publishing rights, is that we could bringAlan Waketo different platforms if we so choose," a Remedy spokespersontoldEurogamer. For now, Remedy says, it's focused on itsupcoming mindbending adventure,Control,which will be available August 27th. After that game arrives, though, we might hear more about the future ofAlan Wake.
Companies to Watch: Boeing faces investigation, Performance Food Group makes acquisition, Buffett makes major donation Here are the companies Yahoo Finance is watching today. Boeing(BA) is facing new questions over another jet. This time it's the 787 Dreamliner. The New York Times says federal prosecutors have subpoenaed Boeing for documents connected to how those planes are assembled at a plant in North Carolina. Whistleblowers have accused Boeing of shoddy work there. Boeing has insisted its planes go through "rigorous" inspections. A big deal this morning in the food distribution space.Performance Food Group(PFGC) is buying privately held Reinhart for some $2 billion in cash. The combined companies would have more than $30 billion in sales. The deal is seen as a way to cut costs as driver and logistics expenses rise in the low-margin food service industry. Ultimately, this deal is not good news for rival Sysco. Warren Buffett is making a $3.6 billion donation ofBerkshire Hathaway(BRK-A) shares. He's converting those shares from Class A to Class B and giving them to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 4 other non-profits. It's part of the Oracle of Omaha's promise to eventually give all of his Berkshire shares away to charity. Apple(AAPL) says it's focused on quality over quantity when it comes to its TV shows. The tech giant told The Sunday Times that it will be releasing new content each month on its forthcoming Apple TV Plus service. And that the first show out of the gate will be The Morning Show — a comedy drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The service is expected to be available this fall. Disney's(DIS) “Toy Story 4” continued to dominate the box office over the weekend beating out horror film “Annabelle Comes Home” and Beatles movie “Yesterday.” The animated family film brought in $58 million, racing past its $200 million mark domestically and almost clearing $500 million worldwide. Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man took over Asia, nabbing an early $111 million in China, Japan and Hong Kong.
Bob Collymore, the Safaricom CEO who connected with Kenyans By Duncan Miriri and Omar Mohammed NAIROBI (Reuters) - When Bob Collymore, the CEO of Kenya's Safaricom <SCOM.NR>, wanted to know about his poorest customers, he would catch a local bus or walk around Kenya's slums with a prominent anti-corruption activist. The visits, related to Reuters after Collymore's death from cancer on Monday, epitomized the popular touch that helped make him a household name as he led East Africa's most profitable company. Affectionately referred to as "Bob" by employees, customers and news anchors, the 61-year-old's affable manner and staunch defense of his company in the face of internal corruption and external criticism from regulators made him a colorful character in corporate Kenya's forest of dark suits. "You've all experienced Bob, his largeness, his enthusiasm, his greatness, his affinity with people and I think that's what has driven this company and what Bob has done for this company," Michael Joseph, his predecessor as CEO and a member of the board, said in a news conference on Monday. Collymore became Safaricom's chief executive officer in 2010 at the height of a price war sparked by its arch-rival, Airtel Kenya <BRTI.NS>. Collymore held the line, refusing to slash prices in his drive to provide better services. Subscribers stayed. He fired corrupt internal procurement officers before seeing off two attempts by the state regulator to break up the company due to its dominant size, arguing poor customers relied on the network for banking services via M-Pesa, the money service that helped propel Safaricom to its status as the first multi billion-dollar-a-year revenue company on the Nairobi bourse. It's now valued at $11 billion. Boniface Mwangi, a prominent anti-corruption activist, said he had accompanied Collymore when he defied company security to walk around the slums to meet Safaricom's poorest users. "The company was afraid that if he took a walk he might be in trouble," Mwangi told Reuters. "Kenyan CEOs don't hang out in the hood or go to the consumers. Kenyan CEOs wait for market research reports." Staff recalled a boss who encouraged them to unplug from work devices at night and spend time with their families. "His presence here was of great benefit to us, we all are the better for it," said the chairman of the company's board, Nicholas Ng'ang'a. A Briton who was born in Guyana, Collymore had worked for retailer Dixons, mobile operator O2 and BT in Britain before joining Vodafone. He launched Vodafone's 3G strategy in the Japanese business market and became head of corporate affairs in South Africa before his move to head Safaricom. Outside the boardroom, Collymore was a keen piano and saxophone player and a frequent presence on Nairobi's music scene. He helped raise funds for drought victims in 2011 and started big-name jazz concerts sponsored by Safaricom. He also appeared in music videos by local musicians. "He grew up poor so he had a soft spot for the downtrodden and the vulnerable," friend Jeff Koinange, a prominent broadcaster, wrote to Reuters. "He died as he lived ... with a smile on his face." He is survived by his wife and four children. (Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Katharine Houreld and Mark Potter)
What Kind Of Investor Owns Most Of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEES)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! A look at the shareholders of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEES) can tell us which group is most powerful. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in 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.' With a market capitalization of US$1.0b, H&E Equipment Services is a decent size, so it is probably on the radar of institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows 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 HEES. See our latest analysis for H&E Equipment Services 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. H&E Equipment Services already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own 74% of the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone, since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see H&E Equipment Services's historic earnings and revenue, below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. H&E Equipment Services is not owned by hedge funds. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. 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 information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in H&E Equipment Services, Inc.. Insiders own US$120m worth of shares in the US$1.0b company. That's quite meaningful. Most would be pleased to see the board is investing alongside them. You may wish toaccess this free chart showing recent trading by insiders. The general public, with a 14% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. 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. 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.
16 Brands of Dog Food May Be Linked to Canine Heart Disease, According to the FDA Getty Take a careful look at your preferred dog food brand before feeding your pup . The Food and Drug Administration has revealed a link between 16 brands of dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe form of canine heart disease . After investigating more than 500 cases of DCM in dogs who ate foods labeled "grain-free," the FDA is now calling out certain brands which have frequently reported cases of DCM. According to the FDA, the top three brands of dog food named in their reports are Acana, Zignature, and Taste of the Wild. In descending order of noted heart disease incidents, the full list of brands include Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Nature's Domain, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Nature's Variety, NutriSource, Nutro and Rachael Ray Nutrish. Most of the dog foods listed contain large amounts of peas, lentils , seeds, and/or potatoes . Related: Six Exercises You Can Do with Your Dog "We understand the concern that pet owners have about these reports: the illnesses can be severe, even fatal, and many cases report eating "grain-free" labeled pet food . The FDA is using a range of science-based investigative tools as it strives to learn more about this emergence of DCM and its potential link to certain diets or ingredients," the FDA report states. At this time, the FDA has not issued recalls of any of the dog food brands but is continuing its investigation and encourages dog owners to consult their veterinarian with concerns. In July 2018 , the FDA began investigating cases of dogs diagnosed with heart disease . Since then, 560 cases of dogs with DCM have been reported to the FDA, which is a low number given the estimated 77 million pet dogs in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association . Symptoms of DCM include dogs who tire easily, cough, and have difficulty breathing . Golden retrievers with DCM were reported to the FDA more frequently than other breeds , but are not necessarily more at risk than other dogs. If left untreated, DCM may be fatal. (function(d, s, id) { if (d.getElementById(id)) return; var js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = '//cdn4.wibbitz.com/static.js'; d.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].appendChild(js); }(document, 'script', 'wibbitz-static-embed'));
How Financially Strong Is Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ:ICHR)? 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 Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ:ICHR) with its market cap of US$529m, are popular for their explosive growth, investors should also be aware of their balance sheet to judge whether the company can survive a downturn. Understanding the company's financial health becomes crucial, since poor capital management may bring about bankruptcies, which occur at a higher rate for small-caps. The following basic checks can help you get a picture of the company's balance sheet strength. Nevertheless, this is just a partial view of the stock, and I recommend youdig deeper yourself into ICHR here. Over the past year, ICHR has ramped up its debt from US$188m to US$211m – this includes long-term debt. With this growth in debt, ICHR's cash and short-term investments stands at US$32m , ready to be used for running the business. On top of this, ICHR has produced cash from operations of US$61m in the last twelve months, resulting in an operating cash to total debt ratio of 29%, meaning that ICHR’s current level of operating cash is high enough to cover debt. At the current liabilities level of US$90m, it seems that the business has been able to meet these commitments with a current assets level of US$206m, leading to a 2.27x current account ratio. The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Usually, for Semiconductor companies, this is a suitable ratio since there is a bit of a cash buffer without leaving too much capital in a low-return environment. With debt reaching 96% of equity, ICHR may be thought of as relatively highly levered. This is somewhat unusual for small-caps companies, since lenders are often hesitant to provide attractive interest rates to less-established businesses. We can test if ICHR’s debt levels are sustainable by measuring interest payments against earnings of a company. Ideally, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) should cover net interest by at least three times. For ICHR, the ratio of 4.88x suggests that interest is appropriately covered, which means that debtors may be willing to loan the company more money, giving ICHR ample headroom to grow its debt facilities. ICHR’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. Keep in mind I haven't considered other factors such as how ICHR has been performing in the past. I recommend you continue to research Ichor Holdings to get a more holistic view of the small-cap by looking at: 1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for ICHR’s future growth? Take a look at ourfree research report of analyst consensusfor ICHR’s outlook. 2. Valuation: What is ICHR 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 ICHR 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.
Pope to canonize British Catholic luminary John Henry Newman By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, July 1 (Reuters) - Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the most influential and controversial Christian figures of the 19th century and a leading Anglican before converting to Catholicism, will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Monday. Canonisation will take place at the Vatican on Oct. 13, it said in a statement, after Pope Francis decreed recognition of a healing miracle attributed to Newman's intercession. "Cardinal Newman had a major impact on Catholic theology and on education worldwide, making him a truly global Briton," said Sally Axworthy, the British Ambassador to the Vatican. "He brought his experience from the Anglican Church to his work as a Catholic, bridging the two traditions," she added in statement. In 1833, eight years after he was ordained an Anglican priest, Newman helped launch the Oxford Movement that aimed to return the Church of England, which split with Rome in 1534, to the teachings and rituals of early Christianity. He was the movement's chief promoter and became increasingly critical of certain Anglican teachings. Newman retracted his earlier criticisms of Catholicism and in 1845 he converted and began defending Catholic teachings. He was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome in 1847 and in 1851 became the rector of the new Catholic University of Ireland in Dublin. His autobiography, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, written in 1864 to explain the evolution of his religious thinking, is still in print and widely read today. Newman's poetry, hymns and theology have had a great influence on modern Christian spirituality. Newman accepted the doctrine of papal infallibility that had been declared by the 1869-1870 First Vatican Council even though he had earlier argued against it. He was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1879 and died in 1890 of pneumonia in Birmingham. Former Pope Benedict beatified Newman during his visit to Birmingham in 2010. One miracle was attributed to Newman before the beatification. A second miracle was approved earlier this year. The Church teaches that only God performs miracles but that saints who are believed to be with God in heaven intercede on behalf of people who pray to them. A miracle is usually the medically inexplicable healing of a person. The second miracle, required for Newman's canonization, involved a woman in the United States whom the Church said overcame a life-threatening illness while pregnant after praying to him. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
South East Asian Trade Smashed By Trade Tensions And A Faltering Chinese Economy Nations in South East Asia are experiencing plunging trade and stumbling economies, analysts say, and they add it is due to a weakening Chinese economy and trade war tensions. GDP growth across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam has generally fallen between 2018 to 2019. Analyst Oxford Economics has lowered its regional growth forecast to 4.8 percent in its Research Briefing (Asia) "South East Asia suffers trade tension fallout." There are two main drivers of the slump. The first is a weakening Chinese economy that appears resistant to stimulus. Secondly, and more topically, U.S.-China trade tensions are adversely affecting export growth across South East Asia. "It's only getting worse" First, the slowdown in China's economy. This has been going on for some time,Prasenjit K. Basu, chief economist at equities analystCrossASEAN Researchexplains. Basu publishes via theSmartkarma platform. Basu argues thatChina's weak domestic demand is dragging Asia into recession. "It is only getting worse. China's imports contracted 8.5% YoY [year-on-year] in May 2019 (the steepest decline in 3 years), and total vehicle sales contracted by 16.4% YoY in May (the worst-ever decline)... China's domestic demand ran out of steam, and industrial output consequently grew just 5% YoY in May, the slowest in 17 years... Stimulus is becoming steadily less effective in China. "The main impact of the slump in China's domestic demand is being felt across the rest of Asia, particularly in Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia – who have all experienced 7 consecutive months of YoY export contraction. Export performance has been only marginally better in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines," Basu says. Plunging regional merchandise exports Analysts at Oxford Economics explain that regional merchandise exports (i.e. the export of physical goods) in US dollars from across South East Asia have "plunged" with a 2.3 percent year-on-year decline in April. A general decline in exports across most South East Asian countries has taken place from about the beginning of 2018, the consultants say. More recently, merchandise exports from across South East Asia have declined since before the beginning of 2019, although merchandise exports from Vietnam are an exception. Oxford Economics notes that Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are the South East Asian countries that are most exposed to slower global trade owing to a high share of gross exports to gross domestic product. Singapore has a particularly strong stake in healthy world trade. Unlike the other countries in the region, as it has a particularly large trans-shipment trade with a container throughput of 36.6 million twenty foot-equivalent units (TEU) in 2018, according to the Hong Kong Marine Department. Also, unlike the other countries in South East Asia, Singapore has a comparatively tiny hinterland, economy and domestic population to act as a buffer when the trade winds blow less vigorously. Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam at particular risk The consultants at Oxford Economic also point out that Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam are particularly at risk of a slowdown in China as about half of their exports to China are for the purpose of meeting domestic Chinese demand. It's a view that Basu of CrossASEAN Research shares. He points out that China has attempted to boost its economy by allowing its banks to hold lower cash reserves. For the technically-minded, what China did was to cut its banks' required reserve ratios by 350 basis points over 14 months. That should, in theory, make more funds available for business investment. But that stimulus hasn't worked, apparently. And that's bad news for South East Asia and some of the other Asian countries too. China unable to provide extra stimulus "With China unable to provide additional monetary stimulus to the economy, domestic demand is likely to remain weak, causing a trend contraction in China's imports. This will continue to exert negative pressure on Asia's trade-dependent economies," Basu says. He points to several East Asian countries that will be near recession. These include Singapore, "likely to be stagnant in the year to September 2019," along with Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines "all witnessing a steady deceleration in economic activity". Basu adds that, for six of the past seven years, global gross domestic product has not grown faster than global trade where, previously, Basu says, it grew by one-and-a-half times global trade. "The sluggishness is set to persist in 2019 and 2020," Basu says. Tit-for-tat tariffs As is now well reported, there has beena tit-for-tat round of tariffs on trade between the U.S. and Asia. Indeed, it could possibly get worse if the trade tensions get more tense and the U.S. extends its tariffs to all Chinese-origin imports to the U.S. and if China retaliates. But that's not all. "On top of higher tariffs, both countries now have plans to impose export controls that restrict domestic companies from selling to foreign companies on government-maintained ‘entity lists'," the analysts at Oxford Economics say. "Further escalation in trade conflicts will certainly undermine growth in the US and Chinese economies, and South East Asia countries more generally," Oxford Economics says. South East Asian nations, particularly Singapore and Malaysia, are at risk, Oxford Economics suggests, because they have large volumes of China-bound intermediate goods that are then processed into goods which China exports. "Given their exposures, we expect Singapore followed by Malaysia to experience a more marked slowdown in exports this year and next," Oxford Economics says. Supply chain shenanigans Trade diversion from China to other nations because of President Trump's tariffs has not yet massively kicked in. It takes time to set up new supply chains. Respondents to a recentAmerican Chamber of Commerce in China surveyindicated that shifting production and supply chains was on their mind in response to the imposition of tariffs. About 35 percent of respondents said they were considering localising manufacture for the Chinese market in China. Another 25.2 percent said they would adjust their supply chain to source/assemble from outside the U.S. and 22.7 percent said they would do the same outside of China. Some famous names have announced their intention to relocate. Equity analysts at LightStream Research, which also publishes via the Smartkarma platform, report that "several individuals" related to the supply chain of gaming console maker Nintendo have revealed that the company wants to move some production to South East Asia. And that's because of trade tensions. Other examples include camera maker GoPro, which said it will shift production of U.S. destination cameras from China to avoid President Trump's tariffs. Japanese electronics maker Sharp is also reported in the general press to be moving some of its laptop production from China to Vietnam. Yet another example is the world's largest truck-trailer manufacturer, CIMC Vehicles of China, which said in its IPO filing documents that it intends to build new manufacturing and assembly facilities, admittedly not in South East Asia, but in the U.S. to avoid or mitigate President Trump's tariffs on the imports of Chinese goods. Trade diversion is also thought to be the reason why Vietnam has been increasing the U.S. dollar value of its goods exports while those of its regional neighbours are falling. Image Sourced From Pixabay See more from Benzinga • Los Angeles City Council Votes Down Maersk's Automation Plans • FreightWaves NOW: Coast To Coast Outlook • Opus9 Looks To Provide Shippers Real-Time Quotes On Drayage © 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
AMD, Micron Options Bulls Strike as Chip Stocks Soar The Nasdaq is outperforming in today's broad-market rally, with chip stocks leading the charge on aU.S.-China trade truce, which includes reducing sanctions on Chinese tech firm Huawei. Two names in particular making notable moves areAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)andMicron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), and options traders are in overdrive. Today's accelerated options activity is nothing new for AMD and MU. In fact, both names popped up on a list of stocks that have seen the most weekly options activity in the past 10 days, courtesy of Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, with names highlighted in yellow new to the list. The bulk of the activity on each stock has occurred on the call side -- a trend that's being continued this morning. Advanced Micro Devices saw 190,286 weekly call options change hands in the last 10 sessions, compared to 75,902 weekly put options. Today, around 86,000 calls are on the tape, 1.6 times what's typically seen and two times the number of puts traded. The weekly 7/5 32-strike call is most active, and it looks like new positions are being purchased here for a volume-weighted average price of $0.47. If this is the case, breakeven for thecall buyersat the close this Friday, July 5, is $32.47 (strike plus premium paid). At last check, AMD stock is up 3.8% at $31.53, and briefly topped the $32 mark earlier. The shares have surged 71% year-to-date, and a recent pullback from their June 10 13-year high of $34.30 was neatly contained by their rising 30-day moving average. Over the past two weeks, Micron speculators have traded 141,133 weekly calls, compared to 116,766 weekly puts. So far today, 115,000 MU calls have been exchanged, four times the expected intraday amount and two times the number of puts on the tape. Call buyers appear to be initiating new positions at the weekly 7/5 43 strike. By doing so, they expect Micron to break out above $43 by week's end. MU stock hasn't closed a week above this strike price since May 3, most recently seen trading up 5.4% at $40.68. Since skimming the $32 mark in mid-June, the shares have surged 26.5%, and are on track to close above their 200-day moving average for the first time since May 6.
Boeing (BA): 737 Max Fix May Not Be So Simple, But This Top Analyst Still Bullish on Stock While many thought that Boeing's ( BA ) troubled 737 Max would be ready for takeoff after months on the ground, the company is backtracking on its original prediction. Apparently, the airplane manufacturers Max problems go beyond a simple software fix. Airplane experts say the company will need to replace a chip in the flight-control computer. Should this chip fail, the airplane could be forced downward, similar to the LionAir and Ethipian Air crashes, which forced the Max grounding in the first place. Although the media is predicting the 737 Max wont be ready until the end of the year, Boeing still expects the plane to be flying in September. Cowen's top analyst Cai Rumohr says the company does not think a hardware fix is needed and it continues to work with regulators from across the world to fix the software issues and ensure training reaches the standards set by these agencies. Nevertheless, Rumohr remains bullish on Boeing stock, maintaining an Outperform rating and $460 price target, which implies nearly 27% upside from current levels. According to TipRanks, which measures analysts and bloggers success rate based on how their calls perform, Rumohr has a yearly average return of 15% and a 72% success rate. Rumohr has an average return of 28% when recommending Boeing and is ranked #90 out of 5,222 analysts. Rumohr estimates Boeing currently has 160-170 undelivered MAX aircraft in inventory, with a delay in resumption of deliveries to the end of September[boosting] this by ~110 aircraft to 270-280. While the analyst is optimistic that Boeing will resume deliveries in September, he says it is still difficult to gauge how many MAXs BA will be able to deliver in Q4. The companys priority will be to prepare the 381 planes in customers' fleets for service, while it will take time for production to ramp up to levels like last year. As the Max is expected to sit on the ground for longer than predicted, Rumohr says the updated financial impact is tough to gauge. But the analysts best guess is that each month of delay would result in an incremental $1.2B of negative cash flow. Using an October-delivery target, the analyst says Q3 cash flow could be near zero. Overall, full-year cash flow per share is sure to lag the analysts estimate of $12-14/share, possibly by $6-7. But looking to next year, Rumohr says it is realistic to look for normalized cash flow. Story continues Though Boeing continues to struggle with getting its Max aircraft airborne, many on Wall Street believe this obstacle is only temporarily holding back its stock. TipRanks analysis of 22 analyst ratings shows this long-term confidence, with a consensus Moderate Buy among 17 analysts. Of the 17 analysts, 12 saying Buy, while 5 suggest Hold. The average price among these analysts stand at $436.73, suggesting the stock can rise nearly 20% from its current level. ( See BA's price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks ) More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: Boeing to Offer Voluntary Layoffs to Contain Coronavirus Damage RingCentral Takes On Zoom, Launches Highly Anticipated Video Chat Product CarMax Reports Record Q4 and FY20 Results, Shares Coronavirus Update CryoLife Pre-Releases Low 1Q20 Revenues, Pulls FY20 Guidance
Is KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE:KAR) A High Quality Stock To Own? 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. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE:KAR). KAR Auction Services has a ROE of 21%, based on the last twelve months. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated $0.21 in profit. See our latest analysis for KAR Auction Services Theformula for ROEis: Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity Or for KAR Auction Services: 21% = US$316m ÷ US$1.5b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.) 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 the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets. ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the yearly profit. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal,investors should like a high ROE. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. 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. Pleasingly, KAR Auction Services has a superior ROE than the average (13%) company in the Commercial Services industry. That is a good sign. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. One data point to check is ifinsiders have bought shares recently. Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. 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. KAR Auction Services clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 2.75. There's no doubt the ROE is respectable, but it's worth keeping in mind that metric is elevated by the use of debt. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it. Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. 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 check this FREEvisualization of analyst forecasts for the company. Of courseKAR Auction Services 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.
Bolivian economy island of stability but storm clouds loom LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) Abraham Rodríguez's small shoe store grew into a factory that employed more than a dozen workers during an economic boom in Bolivia when prices for the gas and minerals it produces soared. Today, he can only employ one worker. He says the tax-free import of goods and the black market have affected his sales and have caused him to go into debt. "My life was better 10 years ago. There were sales and the shoe store grew," Rodríguez said in his workshop located in La Paz. "Today, the market has reduced. My employees left because I couldn't afford to pay their salary." Surrounded by nations reeling from economic crises, Bolivia remains a rare example of economic stability and growth. And in more than 12 years under President Evo Morales, poverty has dropped steadily in South America's poorest country helped by soaring natural gas production. But experts say his economic model is facing mounting challenges, including rising debt, shrinking reserves and devaluing currencies in its main trade partners, and some Bolivians are starting to feel the consequences. Despite the storm clouds, Morales says he must be returned to power in Oct. 20 elections as any change would bring chaos. Bolivia's first indigenous president is one of the few remaining leaders of the wave of leftists who swept into office in South America in past decades. About 45,000 artisan workshops in Bolivia closed in recent years, according to the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises, which estimates an annual loss of more than $2 billion a year in its sector, or about 5 percent of the gross domestic product. Thousands of artisans and other workers swapped their jobs and turned to commerce because the sale of imported electronics and other goods from China became more profitable. This meant the number of people who joined the informal sector has swelled to about 50%, one of the region's highest rates. Story continues Big industries are also complaining about a slump in the first months of the year, with the agroindustry taking the biggest hit. And there are less earnings from gas exports and a reduction of the market, said Hugo Siles, an economist of the National Industry Chamber. Bolivia exports most of its gas to Argentina and Brazil. But its neighbors are facing challenges: Argentines are frustrated by a recession, a sharp depreciation of their currency and spiraling inflation. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had a big election victory last year but is struggling to advance his agenda and is also coping with a tumbling currency. "Argentina and Brazil have had strong devaluations, and that made them more competitive in their exports," Siles said. "Bolivia has had a fixed and stable exchange rate against the dollar for eight years, which means industries that have a high component of domestic input are affected by imports and contraband." The fiscal deficit has been rising for six years since the boom in commodity prices ended, and it closed at 7% of GDP last year. This, as well low private investment, a sharp decline in currency reserves, the increase in public debt with still-low international prices, and an economy dependent on commodities, are causing "tensions" in Bolivia's economic policy, said Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, the U.N. independent expert on foreign debt and human rights. "The fixed exchange rate to control inflation leads to an increase in import prices and a growing deficit in the balance of payments," he said. Bolivia's external debt rose in March to $10 billion, or about 25% of the country's GDP. But central bank president Pablo Ramos discarded the possibility of a devaluation of the local currency. "The purchasing power depends on the level of prices. We have low inflation (about 0.6% in 2019)," Ramos told The Associated Press. "This price stability guarantees purchasing power and we must maintain it." A few months ago, Morales said the economy was "shielded," but his economy minister, Luis Arce, recently acknowledged that Brazil's crisis will affect Bolivia. Brazil remains Bolivia's top market for energy, but exports to the region's largest country have plunged due to lower demand and declining fields. Official reports say that exports fell from a peak of 31 million cubic meters a day of natural gas in 2014 to 23.8 million cubic meters a day in 2017. Still, the Bolivian government remains optimistic and is betting on continuity. Since Morales took office in 2006, the economy has grown by an annual average of about 4.5%, well above the regional average, and the International Monetary Fund says it will grow at 4 percent this year. Experts, however, warn that growth is largely dependent on savings and external credits from China, while the $15.1 billion in international reserves reached in 2014 plunged to $8 billion last March. Morales is credited for his pragmatic economic stewardship that spread Bolivia's natural gas and mineral wealth among the masses, but he has lost support following allegations of manipulating the justice system, corruption scandals and his insistence in running for a fourth term in office. Bolivia's long-governing president warns that if he is not re-elected in October Bolivia could break with its recent run of stability and return to a past of economic turmoil influenced by the policies of international organizations. "Before, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund decided the economic destiny of Bolivia," Morales recently said on Twitter. "Today, our people decide their own future."
Is There Now An Opportunity In Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI)? Want to participate in ashort research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI), which is in the machinery business, and is based in United States, saw a double-digit share price rise of over 10% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. As a stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the company’s outlook is already priced into the stock. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Let’s examine Standex International’s valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if there’s still a bargain opportunity. View our latest analysis for Standex International Good news, investors! Standex International is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $97.35, but it is currently trading at US$73.14 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Standex International’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by 43% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Standex International. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Are you a shareholder?Since SXI is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor?If you’ve been keeping an eye on SXI for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its prosperous future outlook isn’t fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it’s not too late to buy SXI. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed buy. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on Standex International. You can find everything you need to know about Standex International inthe latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Standex International, you can use our free platform to see my list of over50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor ateditorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
Part II – Are Real Estate Etf’s The Next Big Trade? Inpart Iof this research post, we highlighted how the shifting landscape of the US real estate market may be setting up an incredible trading opportunity for technical traders. It is our belief that the continued capital shift which has been driving foreign investment into US assets, real estate, and other investments may be shifting away from US real estate as tell-tale signs of stress are starting to show. Foreclosures and price drops are one of the first signs that stress exists in the markets and we believe the real estate segment could be setting up for an incredible trade opportunity. SRS, the Proshares Ultrashort Real Estate EFT has recently completed a unique “washout low” price bottom that we believe may become an incredible trading opportunity for technical traders. If the US Fed pushes the market into a panic mode, sellers will become even more desperate to offload their homes and buyers will become even more discerning in terms of selecting what and when to buy. If SRS moves above the $25.50 level, our first upside Fibonacci price target and clears the $24.25 previous peak set in April 2019, it would be a very clear indication that a risk trade in Real Estate is back in play. Ideally, price holding above the $21.65 level would provide a very clear level of support negating any future price weakness below $21.50. This weekly SRS chart highlights what we believe to be the optimal BUY ZONE and the upside price targets near $28 to $29. Since the bottom in 2009-10, after the credit market crisis, we have not seen any substantial risk in the Real Estate market for over 8+ years. Now, though, it is our opinion that this risk trade is very real and that technical trader should be aware of this potential move and what it means to protect assets and wealth. If our research proves to be accurate and any future move by the US Fed will prompt a “rush to the exits” by home sellers, then there is really only one course of action left for us to consider. Either the Fed will reduce rates, buying some at-risk sellers a bit of time before a rush to sell overwhelms the markets and prices begin a fast decline in an attempt to secure quick buyers; or the Fed will leave rates at current levels where at-risk sellers will continue to attempt to offload their homes to any willing buyers before declining prices and panicked sellers start the “race to the bottom” in terms of pricing. Real Estate has already run through the price advance cycle and the price maturity cycle. There is really only one cycle left to unfold at this point – the “price revaluation cycle”. This is where the opportunity lies with our suggested SRS trade setup. We believe this bottom in SRS will result in a few more weeks of trading near price support (above $20 and below $22.50) where traders will be able to acquire their positions. The bigger move will happen as risk becomes more evident – very similar to what has recently happened in Gold. Once that risk is visible to traders/investors, the upside potentials ($28+ to $42+) won’t seem so illogical any longer. I can tell you that huge moves are about to start unfolding not only in real estate, but metals, stocks, and currencies. Some of these super cycles are going to last years. Brad Matheny goes into great detail with his simple to understand charts and guide about this. His financial market research is one of a kind and a real eye-opener. PDF guide:2020 Cycles – The Greatest Opportunity Of Your Lifetime Chris Vermeulenwww.TheTechnicalTraders.com Thisarticlewas originally posted on FX Empire • Weather Also Hits Coffee Prices That Jump to Highs Since November 2018 • Gold Price Futures (GC) Technical Analysis – Setting Up for Volatile Breakout • AUD/USD Price Forecast – Aussie rebounds • Silver Price Forecast – Silver markets filled the gap • Gold Price Prediction – Gold Surges as Yields Tumble and Prices Poised to Test Higher Levels • U.S. Dollar Index Futures (DX) Technical Analysis – Greenback Short-Covering Rally Losing Steam Amid Falling Yields
Blockchain startup Audius aims to make dapps easier to use with Hedgehog Ask anyblockchaindeveloper orcryptoentrepreneur what keeps the industry from breaking through to the mainstream and most will tell you the same thing:dappshave a usability problem. Userinterfaces are clunky, the underlying tech istoo conspicuous and confusing, andbarriers to entry—like the need to secure, fund, and store a cryptocurrency wallet before you can eventhinkof using the app—are still far too onerous. Roneil Rumburg, CEO of the blockchain-based SoundCloud competitorAudius, thinks hiscompanymight just have a solution—and its giving it away to the crypto world,free and open source. Late last month, Audius, backed by powerhouse Silicon Valley VC firmsGeneral CatalystandLightspeed, releasedHedgehog, a new “open-source, client-sideEthereumwallet” that requires nothing more from users than what they’re already accustomed to providing: a username and password. The idea is to allow new crypto-curious users to interact with a dapp without requiring additional extensions or other cumbersome hurdles—and without centralizing control of each users’ private keys. In other words, if it works, it could be a way to get usersthrough the door—and without sacrificing the benefits of decentralization and encryption. “It really is an arduous step to ask a user to casually tryout your app and, ‘oh, by the way, you need to install a Chrome extension, you need to set it up, you need to write down this mnemonic passphrase and put it in a safety deposit box.’” Rumburg said. “It’s just not a reasonable thing to expect someone to do.” Rumburg, a Stanford alum and self-described “distributed-systems nerd,” says Hedgehog will solve that. It creates a “familiar sign-up flow for an end user” while, in the background, generating a wallet on the user’s behalf, enabling a new user to immediately “interact with on-chain contracts directly without even knowing that that’s even happening under the hood,” he said. That initial sign-up process is crucial, says Audius’s CEO, and it’s a big reason why dapps today struggle to onboard the average tech user. Rumburg says that he often hears from fellow crypto entrepreneurs who lament the fact that their prospective users frequently won’t complete the dapp onboarding process once prompted to install a third-party wallet. That kind of drop-off rate is a killer, and for Audius to get off the ground, solving that onboarding problem became a must. Rumburg, a computer science major who began tinkering with crypto by GPU mining bitcoin from his dorm room in 2012, says that the idea for Audius has been years in the making, though only recently has the technology caught up to the vision. Audius, he said, is designed to “give artists and the rest of the music community the power to connect with one another and build that relationship directly.” The goal is to become a decentralized marketplace, built on open-source software, that aligns the incentives of content producers with that of both consumers and the platform on which the content is being shared. In other words, Audius aims to be the opposite of platforms like Google, Facebook, or other “centralized content aggregators,” said Rumburg, in which the “the people using the thing are the product to be bought and sold.” If “Audius the company” were to ever go away, he explained, the artists who depend on Audius—the decentralized marketplace—could still continue to use it. The company got a boost in mid-2018 when itraised $5.5 million in a Series Aled by General Catalyst, Lightspeed, Kleiner Perkins and Pantera Capital, and has since released a private beta that makes use of adual-token modelto power its platform. But before Audius can be released broadly—a public launch expected later this year—Rumburg said several kinks had to be worked out. And Hedgehog has helped to move the project forward. “We’re getting pretty close to the level of robustness and quality we feel we need to go public,” he said. In developing Hedgehog for Audius, however, Rumburg says his team realized that its approach had wider implications for the industry. What Hedgehog does, essentially, is allow app developers to take a username and password and “use those two pieces of information to encrypt a locally generated wallet and store the encrypted wallet on a centralized server,” Rumburg explained. “So, we run a server for Audius that stores everyone’s encrypted wallet, but we don’t actually have custody of, or access to, those keys, because they’re encrypted,” he said. “And then when a user goes and signs up on a new device, they can essentially put in that same username and password, their client can pull up that encrypted artifact from the server, decrypt it locally, and get back the wallet that they need to interact with the product.” The tech “maps nicely” to several other use cases, Rumberg said, and is ideally suited for “low-financial value” applications, such as games. And gaming, of course, has long been widely considered as the prime gateway for mass crypto adoption. Since Hedgehog is open source, its codefreely available on GitHub, Rumberg said game developers could fork the code and tweak the project to fit their individual needs. “Game developers could allow folks to interact with and use their game,” said Rumberg, allow them to earn their first in-game, digital asset—something of real, financial value—andthenprompt them with “how do you want to get it?” “I think that feels a lot more compelling to me than to tell a user who’s signing up for your game: ‘Oh, you want to play Gods Unchained? Great. Go download MetaMask, go set it up, go through 15 hoops, and 20 minutes later when you get back, you can come play our game.’” And whether its a game, a music app, or some other “broad consumer use case,” it all comes down to the same thing, said Rumburg: “People want to be able to show up and interact with the thing in a very low-commitment way.” Blockchain developers would do well to find ways to ease users in,proveto them the value of the application, “before you prompt them to go down the crypto rabbit hole,” Rumburg said. And Hedgehog could be one of those ways. But whatever tool ultimately does the trick, Audius’s co-founder is convinced that the crypto industry must “be able to compete with these larger tech incumbents on the same terms that they do from a usability standpoint.” “Users aren’t going to use our things if they are so much harder to use than Google, Facebook, SoundCloud, Steam or whatever it is,” said Rumburg. “We now have the tools available for us to be able to do that. It’s just a question of doing it.”

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