The picture was akin to Joan Miró’s sculpture Sa majesté le roi , writes Dr Lalith Chandrakantha, while Peter Lowthian praises the snapper for his talents Fay Bound-Alberti’s analysis of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a “ghost behind glass” ( From handsome prince to a ghost behind glass, Andrew’s face tells the story of his downfall, 20 February ) finds a striking, if unintended, visual precedent i...
The picture was akin to Joan Miró’s sculpture Sa majesté le roi , writes Dr Lalith Chandrakantha, while Peter Lowthian praises the snapper for his talents Fay Bound-Alberti’s analysis of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a “ghost behind glass” ( From handsome prince to a ghost behind glass, Andrew’s face tells the story of his downfall, 20 February ) finds a striking, if unintended, visual precedent in the work of Joan Miró. In 1974, the Catalan artist created Sa majesté le roi (His Majesty the King), a towering figure constructed not from the traditional marble or bronze of royal monuments, but from weathered wood, scrap iron, and found objects. Miró’s “king” was a deliberate act of irony – a “royal” figure stripped of its finery to reveal the mundane, everyday materials beneath. The entire concept of hereditary monarchy relies on the myth that those of “royal blood” are inherently “other”, yet Miró’s work suggests that “majesty” is merely a hollow assembly. The recent photographs of a diminished Andrew represent the same “crashing down” of this concept. When the “handsome prince” is stripped of his symbolic armour, we are left with the raw, unpolished reality of a human being. Miró knew 50 years ago what the British public is only now seeing through a car window: that there is nothing “special” about the person behind the title – only the scrap materials of a common humanity. Dr Lalith Chandrakantha Northampton Continue reading...
Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Jose Moreno as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access. Click here to find out more » Ceri Breeze/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Thesis Costco Wholesale ( COST ) offers a resilient bus...
Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Jose Moreno as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access. Click here to find out more » Ceri Breeze/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Thesis Costco Wholesale ( COST ) offers a resilient business model with low SKUs, rapid inventory turnover, and strong cash flow, supporting long-term portfolio inclusion. Its membership-driven revenue, especially from Executive Members, underpins its stable margins and predictable growth, with further benefit expected from recent membership price increases. Despite consistent performance and defensive sector appeal, Costco trades at a historically high valuation premium, warranting a Hold rating and watchlist status for tactical entry. And so I recommend accumulating Cost on dips or via OTM put options, targeting a more normalized P/E premium relative to the industry before aggressive buying. Overarching Context As we all know, the US market ( SPY ) has delivered spectacular returns in most recent years. One of the main reasons is the AI revolution which is accompanied by innovation in all the industries and our daily lives. That can be explained by tech ( XLK ) outperforming other sectors that have provided more conservative returns, such as consumer staples ( XLP ). Refinitiv However, those price increases have adjusted their relative valuations and in conjunction with the enormous CaEx investments required to provide at the technological advances have increased the uncertainty on investors about the required monetization to justify the expenditure. Stocks with huge exposure to AI are experiencing high volatility and may be subject to significant drawdown. Conversely, companies in other industries subject to other types of risk may offer strong earnings at much lower valuations. State Street The beginning of 2026 has shown h...
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (C) speaks during a meeting of the Cabinet as U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (R) listen in the Cabinet Room of the White House on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is holding the meeting as the Senate plans to hold a vote on a spending package to avoid another government sh...
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (C) speaks during a meeting of the Cabinet as U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (R) listen in the Cabinet Room of the White House on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is holding the meeting as the Senate plans to hold a vote on a spending package to avoid another government shutdown, however Democrats are holding out for a deal to consider funding for the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) | Getty Images Can AI firms set limits on how and where the military uses their models? Anthropic is in heated negotiations with the Pentagon after refusing to comply with new military contract terms that would require it to loosen the guardrails on its AI models, allowing for “any lawful use,” even mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous lethal weapons. Pentagon CTO Emil Michael is pushing for Anthropic to be designated a “supply chain risk” if it doesn’t comply, a label usually only given to national security threats. Anthropic’s rivals OpenAI and xAI have reportedly agreed to the new terms, but even after a White House meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is still refusing to cross his company’s red line, stating that “threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.” Follow along here for the latest updates on the clash between AI companies and the Pentagon… We don’t have to have unsupervised killer robots Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon AI bro squad includes a former Uber executive and a private equity billionaire Inside Anthropic’s existential negotiations with the Pentagon
Nick Merriman supports free entry for all, while Hugh R Craig and Peter Fordham suggest small charges for international visitors I believe that national museums should be free for all. Your report ( Is the UK’s golden era of free museum entry coming to an end?, 21 February ) quoted me from a Daily Telegraph article that selectively used parts of a much longer interview. I said in principle that pe...
Nick Merriman supports free entry for all, while Hugh R Craig and Peter Fordham suggest small charges for international visitors I believe that national museums should be free for all. Your report ( Is the UK’s golden era of free museum entry coming to an end?, 21 February ) quoted me from a Daily Telegraph article that selectively used parts of a much longer interview. I said in principle that people would be willing to pay; however, I then outlined all the reasons this would not work financially, practically and ethically. I do not wish to be represented as a mouthpiece for those who wish to introduce charges. Nick Merriman Hastingleigh, Kent • There is an easy answer to the budget difficulties faced by many UK art galleries and museums: identity cards. UK citizens could continue to receive free access to the nations’ artworks, which we own, and foreign nationals could be charged an entrance fee, as UK citizens are abroad. Many people enjoy visiting art galleries regularly, which could continue, but international visitors would tend to make only one visit during their time in the country which would continue, even if chargeable, as these are popular tourist sites to visit. Hugh R Craig Edinburgh Continue reading...
When a company announces a stock split, it doesn't change any of the underlying fundamentals of the business. However, it can signal that management is confident in the continued growth of its stock price. More often than not, management is right. Since 2010, stocks returned an average of 18.3% in the 12 months following a split announcement versus an average of just 13.3% for the S&P 500 in that ...
When a company announces a stock split, it doesn't change any of the underlying fundamentals of the business. However, it can signal that management is confident in the continued growth of its stock price. More often than not, management is right. Since 2010, stocks returned an average of 18.3% in the 12 months following a split announcement versus an average of just 13.3% for the S&P 500 in that period, according to data from Bank of America , Bloomberg, and Global Financial Data. One company has seen the opposite happen since announcing its plan to split its shares earlier this month. Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) shares are down more than 5% since its 25-to-1 stock split announcement on Feb. 18. Here's what's weighing down the share price and why it may be an unbelievable opportunity for investors right now. Continue reading
Acciona, S.A. press release ( ACXIF ): FY Revenue of € 20.23M. Total EBITDA above guidance: ACCIONA’s consolidated EBITDA in 2025 totalled €3,211M More on Acciona, S.A. Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Acciona, S.A. Historical earnings data for Acciona, S.A. Dividend scorecard for Acciona, S.A. Financial information for Acciona, S.A.
Acciona, S.A. press release ( ACXIF ): FY Revenue of € 20.23M. Total EBITDA above guidance: ACCIONA’s consolidated EBITDA in 2025 totalled €3,211M More on Acciona, S.A. Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Acciona, S.A. Historical earnings data for Acciona, S.A. Dividend scorecard for Acciona, S.A. Financial information for Acciona, S.A.
David Dudding and Alan Burkitt-Gray bowl up some cricket grounds within Unesco world heritage sites Alex Preston, in his travel feature on Corfu ( 21 February ), writes about playing with the Lord’s Taverners on “the only cricket pitch in the world I know that’s set within a Unesco world heritage site”. Wonderful though the cricket ground in Corfu undoubtedly is, I am surprised that Preston’s fell...
David Dudding and Alan Burkitt-Gray bowl up some cricket grounds within Unesco world heritage sites Alex Preston, in his travel feature on Corfu ( 21 February ), writes about playing with the Lord’s Taverners on “the only cricket pitch in the world I know that’s set within a Unesco world heritage site”. Wonderful though the cricket ground in Corfu undoubtedly is, I am surprised that Preston’s fellow Taverner, Andy Caddick of Somerset and England, didn’t let him know that Bath also enjoys a cricket pitch within a Unesco world heritage site (and possibly two if you include the Rec), while the ground at Galle, Sri Lanka, where Caddick played a Test in 2001 , adjacent to the Fort, is mighty close. David Dudding London • Greenwich Park is also a Unesco world heritage site and has a cricket field in the south-west corner. Alan Burkitt-Gray London Continue reading...
Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images The wholesale inflation came in hotter than expected, sending bearish signals for corporate margins, renewing concerns about corporate margins, and bringing large-cap gross profit margin leaders into focus. The U.S. Producer Price Index increased 0.5% M/M in January, hotter than the +0.3% consensus and +0.4% in December (revised from +0.5%), according t...
Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images The wholesale inflation came in hotter than expected, sending bearish signals for corporate margins, renewing concerns about corporate margins, and bringing large-cap gross profit margin leaders into focus. The U.S. Producer Price Index increased 0.5% M/M in January, hotter than the +0.3% consensus and +0.4% in December (revised from +0.5%), according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. Core PPI (excluding food and energy) advanced +0.8% M/M vs. +0.3% consensus and +0.6% prior (revised from +0.7%). Companies like Royal Gold ( RGLD ) and Agnico Eagle Mines ( AEM ) stand out as margin winners capable of weathering inflationary pressures. The screen below filters for large-cap companies within the materials sector, specifically targeting those showing resilience to rising input costs. These stocks have maintained strong gross profit margins even as hotter-than-expected PPI reports signal broader margin compression across industries. The list is ranked in descending order based on gross profit margin percentage. The screen spans multiple industries within the materials sector, including gold, silver, copper, specialty chemicals, fertilizers, and construction materials. Here is a top 20 list, with each stock listed along with its gross profit margin and industry: Royal Gold ( RGLD ) Gross Profit Margin: 87.19%; Industry: Gold Agnico Eagle Mines ( AEM ) Gross Profit Margin: 71.87%; Industry: Gold Newmont Corporation ( NEM ) Gross Profit Margin: 63.24%; Industry: Gold Southern Copper Corporation ( SCCO ) Gross Profit Margin: 60.07%; Industry: Copper Gold Fields ( GFI ) Gross Profit Margin: 55.29%; Industry: Gold Hecla Mining Company ( HL ) Gross Profit Margin: 54.97%; Industry: Silver Coeur Mining ( CDE ) Gross Profit Margin: 54.82%; Industry: Gold AngloGold Ashanti ( AU ) Gross Profit Margin: 49.27%; Industry: Gold The Sherwin-Williams Company ( SHW ) Gross Profit Margin: 48.85%; Industry: Specialty Ch...
There’s a sale happening at Woot that’s delivering Black Friday-esque deals on video games through March 5th. The “Video Games for All” sale includes discounts on physical games for most modern consoles, making it a great time to treat yourself (or a pal) to some titles that you’ve been waiting to see big price drops for. There are also deals on gaming accessories like totes, controllers, and more...
There’s a sale happening at Woot that’s delivering Black Friday-esque deals on video games through March 5th. The “Video Games for All” sale includes discounts on physical games for most modern consoles, making it a great time to treat yourself (or a pal) to some titles that you’ve been waiting to see big price drops for. There are also deals on gaming accessories like totes, controllers, and more. Through February 27th at 11:58PM CT, you can score an additional 20 percent off products looped into this sale by entering the code LEVEL20 at checkout (it caps at $30 total off your order). Everyone’s tastes are different, but some picks in this sale that especially vibe with me include Silent Hill F , which is fun and very different beast from Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake (less item hunting, more countering enemy attacks). Of course, who can argue against the pure fun contained within the Super Mario Galaxy double-pack for Switch that includes the original title and its sequel? It’s always cliché to say that there’s something for everyone here, but I think it’s actually true this time. Elden Ring Where to Buy: $49.99 $15.99 at Woot (PS5) The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Where to Buy: $59.99 $37.59 at Woot (Switch) Silent Hill F Where to Buy: $69.99 $35.99 at Woot (PS5) Metaphor: ReFantazio Where to Buy: $69.99 $14.39 at Woot (Xbox) Balatro: Special Edition Where to Buy: $29.99 $13.59 at Woot (Switch) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Where to Buy: $59.99 $37.59 at Woot (Switch) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Where to Buy: $59.99 $37.59 at Woot (Switch) Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundle Where to Buy: $69.99 $47.19 at Woot (Switch) More deals and discounts Sometimes, a rug or table can pull the room together. In the event that doesn’t work, Govee’s Pendant Light might just be the ticket. This height-adjustable smart light makes for a fun upgrade in your home, and it’s now selling at its lowest price yet at Amazon . Normally $149.99, it’s down to $109.98. The dimm...
Stone lifting | A good result | Gorton and Denton lessons | Metres v millions I must disagree with Prof Gray ( Letters, 20 February ) as to the origin of the rounded shapes of the boulders used in the ancient sport of stone lifting in Ireland. They are unlikely to be glacial erratics. Blocks frozen in glacial ice generally retain their initial angular shape and are not abraded. In contrast, rock f...
Stone lifting | A good result | Gorton and Denton lessons | Metres v millions I must disagree with Prof Gray ( Letters, 20 February ) as to the origin of the rounded shapes of the boulders used in the ancient sport of stone lifting in Ireland. They are unlikely to be glacial erratics. Blocks frozen in glacial ice generally retain their initial angular shape and are not abraded. In contrast, rock fragments carried by rivers or located along marine coasts may be rolled and dragged by currents, forming characteristically rounded boulders, cobbles and pebbles. Dr Alan Woolley Weybridge, Surrey • Millions of us woke up to Friday morning’s result in Gorton and Denton ( Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place, 27 February ) and were given a sense of optimism, excitement and hope that, if our stale and moribund two-party politics is indeed coming to a deserved end, there is a future for compassion, fairness, and social justice rather than division, bigotry and tired nostalgia. Richard Bryant London Continue reading...