As an expectant mother bringing a little person into the world, you want to feel it is mostly filled with good people. In that moment I felt reassured Read more in the kindness of strangers series It was my first pregnancy and I’d been sick for more than seven months with hyperemesis gravidarum . In those late stages, after the HG finally passed, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. It was the dual fe...
As an expectant mother bringing a little person into the world, you want to feel it is mostly filled with good people. In that moment I felt reassured Read more in the kindness of strangers series It was my first pregnancy and I’d been sick for more than seven months with hyperemesis gravidarum . In those late stages, after the HG finally passed, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. It was the dual feeling of excitement and trepidation. Was I ready to have a baby when I’d only just got used to waddling around and the discomfort of pregnancy? One day I was at the shops and not feeling great. As I was walking down an aisle, a woman came up behind me. I assumed she was going to ask me to move or make a not-super-friendly comment. Instead, she said: “Do you know that your shoelace is undone?” I didn’t – I couldn’t see my feet! – and thanked her for letting me know. Continue reading...
The busiest week of earnings season is here. But that's not all investors have on their plate. There's a Fed meeting, and a still-uneasy situation in the Middle east. Let's get right into it. All estimates for revenue and earnings per share are sourced from LSEG. 1. Earnings Optical cable maker Corning kicks off our week Tuesday morning. Will we hear about another long-term supply agreement with a...
The busiest week of earnings season is here. But that's not all investors have on their plate. There's a Fed meeting, and a still-uneasy situation in the Middle east. Let's get right into it. All estimates for revenue and earnings per share are sourced from LSEG. 1. Earnings Optical cable maker Corning kicks off our week Tuesday morning. Will we hear about another long-term supply agreement with a hyperscaler customer? It was the day before Corning's fourth-quarter report in January that CNBC broke the news of Corning's deal with Meta. CEO Wendell Weeks has said they're working on other agreements, and this could be the time to announce another. Regardless, the main focus is on the performance of its optical communications segment and the demand for all things fiber inside data centers. Other notable topics: Corning's visibility looking out multiple years, manufacturing expansion plans, and Weeks' thoughts on the timeline for optics to replace more copper inside AI server racks. Revenue: $4.26 billion Earnings per share: 69 cents Starbucks is up Tuesday night. The hope is CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround continues to show momentum as measured by same-store sales growth. In the fourth quarter, comparable store sales rose 4% companywide and 4% in North America, which has been the focus of his efforts thus far. This time around, the Street is looking for a 4% increase across the company and 4.5% in North America, according to FactSet. But with Niccol's two-year anniversary looming in September, investors are increasingly wondering whether operating margins can back into the mid-to-high teens. The market will want to see progress come Tuesday and get more color on the path from here. Consensus for the March quarter is operating margins of 8.3%, according to FactSet. Revenue: $9.16 billion Earnings per share: 43 cents Wednesday night is the main event: Microsoft , Amazon , Alphabet and Meta Platforms are all set to release results. In aggregate, these reports amount to more...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Today we pick back up on our extensive coverage of the regional bank Q1 earnings season. In today’s column we take a look at the key metrics out of one of the larger banks in our coverage universe, Huntington Bancshares ( HBAN ). While based out of Ohio, it really is not a regional bank but one that we could call a super-regional bank. It handles all ...
jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Today we pick back up on our extensive coverage of the regional bank Q1 earnings season. In today’s column we take a look at the key metrics out of one of the larger banks in our coverage universe, Huntington Bancshares ( HBAN ). While based out of Ohio, it really is not a regional bank but one that we could call a super-regional bank. It handles all sorts of banking but does have a primary focus on middle-market and commercial banking. The bank recently expanded significantly into the Sunbelt area of the U.S. as well. Over the years Huntington has been acquiring smaller players. Most recently it took on Texas-based Veritex a few months ago and also closed its $7.4 billion merger with Cadence Bank in February. These are some high-growth markets. Looking ahead to 2026, we see growth on the horizon, and that includes the recent launch of its commercial banking segment in Austin, Texas. The bank’s Board recently also approved a massive $3 billion share repurchase authorization on top of reporting solid earnings. Let us discuss that Q1 performance . Huntington Bancshares' Q1 2026 Earnings Headline Performance In the headline results, the bank reported revenue of $2.59 billion, up 34% from last year, driven in part by some organic growth but also the aforementioned mergers we talked about above. It was a beat of $17 million against consensus. Q1 GAAP earnings per share of $0.25, which was weighed down by $263 million in acquisition-related expenses. However, the adjusted EPS of $0.37 surpassed consensus expectations, climbing from $0.34 a year ago, and was also in line with the sequential Q4. Again, these results and also what we are seeing with loans and deposits on the balance sheet follow the integration of Veritex and the closing of Cadence Bank. How about those loans and deposits? Huntington Bancshares' Q1 2026 Loans and Deposits We are always looking for growth in loans and deposits. Obviously with the mergers we see a...
Hanna Yohanna/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Summary Las Vegas Sands ( LVS ) reported 1Q26 results, which caused the share price to fall 9%. The market focused on falling margins in Macau due to excessive market competition. I expect promotional spending by LVS to remain elevated, especially as competitors launch new offerings in Macau this year. In addition, gaming growth in Macau is expected ...
Hanna Yohanna/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Summary Las Vegas Sands ( LVS ) reported 1Q26 results, which caused the share price to fall 9%. The market focused on falling margins in Macau due to excessive market competition. I expect promotional spending by LVS to remain elevated, especially as competitors launch new offerings in Macau this year. In addition, gaming growth in Macau is expected to slow as the year progresses due to a higher base effect in 2H25, so most of the upside to 2026 Macau gaming growth may already be behind us. Slowing gaming growth may lead to even more promotional activity, which will depress margins. I maintain my sell rating, with a 24% share price downside from current levels. Premier gaming operator Las Vegas Sands is one of the premier gaming operators in Asia with strong integrated resorts in Singapore and Macau. Key properties include Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Venetian Macao. Despite the company's name, LVS does not have any gaming assets in the United States after LVS completed the sale of its Las Vegas resort assets in February 2022 to private equity group Apollo and VICI Properties . 1Q26 results were poor in Macau LVS reported 1Q26 financial results on April 22. Adjusted property EBITDA grew by 24.6% YoY to $1.4bn, with EBITDA margins reaching 39.6% (-20 basis points YoY). By segment, LVS Singapore operations saw adjusted property EBITDA grow to $788m (+30.2% YoY), with EBITDA margin reaching 53% (+100 basis points YoY). Macau, on the other hand, saw EBITDA increase to $633m (+18.3% YoY), with EBITDA margins declining to 29.9% (-140 basis points YoY). Other items of note were that LVS paid a $0.3 dividend per share during the quarter and repurchased $740m in outstanding shares. Why did the share price fall 9% post earnings? I published a Sell recommendation on April 15 for LVS, mainly on the concerns of rising competition within the premium player segment in Macau, which is the fastest-growing player segment. This scen...
It's official: SpaceX has filed confidential paperwork with regulators to stage an initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Reports suggest the company will be valued at as much as $1.75 trillion. It's expected to raise between $50 billion and $75 billion in fresh capital. Surprisingly, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk -- who is also the CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) -- reportedly wants to make sure plent...
It's official: SpaceX has filed confidential paperwork with regulators to stage an initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Reports suggest the company will be valued at as much as $1.75 trillion. It's expected to raise between $50 billion and $75 billion in fresh capital. Surprisingly, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk -- who is also the CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) -- reportedly wants to make sure plenty of everyday retail investors are able to invest in the SpaceX IPO . Most big companies allocate just 5% to 10% of IPO shares to smaller retail investors. But SpaceX's CFO expects to allocate up to 30% of the share sale to retail investors. "Retail is going to be a critical part of this and a bigger part than any IPO in history," is what SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen said in an interal metting in early April, according to Reuters. "[T]hose are folks that have been incredibly supportive of us and of Elon for a long time," he added, "and we want to make sure that we recognize that." Continue reading
Buckingham Palace says it is discussing whether Saturday's shooting at the Washington Hilton will impact "operational planning" for King Charles' first State visit to the United States. The King and Queen are scheduled to meet with President Trump for a State Dinner at this White House this week before traveling to New York City. Bloomberg's Mishal Husain discusses the new security challenge and g...
Buckingham Palace says it is discussing whether Saturday's shooting at the Washington Hilton will impact "operational planning" for King Charles' first State visit to the United States. The King and Queen are scheduled to meet with President Trump for a State Dinner at this White House this week before traveling to New York City. Bloomberg's Mishal Husain discusses the new security challenge and global reaction to the shooting in Washington on "Bloomberg This Weekend." (Source: Bloomberg)
Quantum computing isn't just an unrealistic technology; it's making a real impact in today's world. It will only be a few more years before we see widespread quantum computing usage, and it's best to position yourself in these stocks before it happens. Most of the growth in this space will come in the early adoption years, and being first to the party always has its advantages. There are three qua...
Quantum computing isn't just an unrealistic technology; it's making a real impact in today's world. It will only be a few more years before we see widespread quantum computing usage, and it's best to position yourself in these stocks before it happens. Most of the growth in this space will come in the early adoption years, and being first to the party always has its advantages. There are three quantum computing stocks I've got on my radar right now that could deliver monstrous returns over the next decade and look like great investments now. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
YuraWhite/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction In the past few weeks I have been adding to my positions in fixed-income securities as increasing interest rates on the financial markets have caused prices to drop. As I have a long-term investment horizon, I'm more than happy to pick up preferred stock and baby bonds that are delivering higher yields compared to just a few months ago. As i...
YuraWhite/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction In the past few weeks I have been adding to my positions in fixed-income securities as increasing interest rates on the financial markets have caused prices to drop. As I have a long-term investment horizon, I'm more than happy to pick up preferred stock and baby bonds that are delivering higher yields compared to just a few months ago. As it has been a while since I looked at MetLife ( MET ) and its preferred shares, I wanted to have another look at the fixed-rate preferred shares, considering they are now yielding north of 6%. Meanwhile, the company guided for a double-digit adjusted EPS increase this year, so that, of course, also sparked my interest. Data by YCharts The preferred dividends are well covered, and the asset coverage ratio is great as well MetLife is one of the largest financial services companies in the world and has built a leading position in the group insurance markets in the United States. This makes its earnings potential relatively predictable, with the investment and derivative gains or losses as the main variables. As you can see below, MetLife reports a total revenue of approximately $77 billion in 2025, which represents a 9% increase compared to the preceding year. While the pure operating costs remained under control, the company had to deal with a higher investment and derivative loss as well as lower remeasurement gains. MET Investor Relations While this did put the pre-tax income as well as the net income under some pressure, the income statement shown above clearly shows that the $194 million USD in preferred dividends represented less than 6% of the total net income that was attributable to MetLife. While there will always be some fluctuations in the bottom line result, from the perspective of a preferred shareholder, seeing a single-digit percentage payout ratio is, of course, a positive feature. Also keep in mind the reported results are underestimating the underlying adjust...
According to a recent SEC filing , Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd initiated a new stake in Axogen (NASDAQ:AXGN) during the first quarter of 2026. The fund acquired 687,600 shares, with an estimated transaction value of $22.36 million using quarterly average pricing. As of March 31, 2026, the position was valued at $22.78 million, reflecting both the purchase and subsequent price movements during the ...
According to a recent SEC filing , Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd initiated a new stake in Axogen (NASDAQ:AXGN) during the first quarter of 2026. The fund acquired 687,600 shares, with an estimated transaction value of $22.36 million using quarterly average pricing. As of March 31, 2026, the position was valued at $22.78 million, reflecting both the purchase and subsequent price movements during the quarter. Axogen is a healthcare company specializing in advanced surgical solutions for peripheral nerve injuries. The company leverages proprietary biologic and medical device technologies to address critical gaps in nerve repair, offering off-the-shelf and specialized products that reduce surgical complexity and improve patient outcomes. With a diversified product portfolio and a focused commercial strategy, Axogen maintains a competitive position in the nerve repair segment of the medical device industry. Before reading too much into Capricorn’s sudden interest in Axogen, it’s important to remember this company has reported steady losses, on a GAAP basis , for over a decade. Continue reading
Raízen SA sent an alternative proposal to creditors as it tries to iron out terms of a 65 billion-real ($13 billion) debt restructuring, according to people familiar with the matter. In the proposal presented Saturday night, Raízen told creditors it’s in talks to raise 2.5 billion reais to 5 billion reais in fresh capital, the people said. While that new detail is likely to please debt holders, wh...
Raízen SA sent an alternative proposal to creditors as it tries to iron out terms of a 65 billion-real ($13 billion) debt restructuring, according to people familiar with the matter. In the proposal presented Saturday night, Raízen told creditors it’s in talks to raise 2.5 billion reais to 5 billion reais in fresh capital, the people said. While that new detail is likely to please debt holders, who had proposed that current shareholders inject 8 billion reais, the company rejected other changes sought by creditors, including relinquishing control of the board. The capital included in Raízen’s new proposal would be in addition to the 4 billion reais in funding that Shell Plc and billionaire Rubens Ometto have already committed to the bioenergy company, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private talks. It wasn’t clear where the new money would come from. Cosan SA, the conglomerate founded by Ometto which shares control of Raízen with Shell, is not injecting cash into the troubled company. Raízen is pushing back on demands from creditors that shareholders give up a majority of board seats or that executives be held responsible for potential liabilities that may materialize in the future, the people said. Raízen did say it would accept a request to create a creditors’ committee to keep closer tabs on governance, one of the people said. Ometto still wants to remain Raízen’s chairman, though the company is aware that it will be a point of tension with debt holders, the people said. Bank creditors and bondholders have separately requested in their proposals that Ometto be removed, Bloomberg previously reported . Raízen, Cosan and Ometto declined to comment. Shell didn’t respond to a request for comment outside of business hours. Read more: Raízen’s Bank Creditors Said to Make Restructuring Proposal The company reiterated its proposal for creditors to receive a 70% stake in a potential debt-to-equity swap, the people said. The company’s new offer doesn’...