Credit Agricole SA Chief Executive Officer Olivier Gavalda is trying to temper worries related to artificial intelligence in the banking sector, as many executives have said implementing such technology will lead to workforce reductions. “We must put an end to this anxiety-inducing opposition between humans and AI, as we heard these past few weeks,” Gavalda said during a press conference on Wednes...
Credit Agricole SA Chief Executive Officer Olivier Gavalda is trying to temper worries related to artificial intelligence in the banking sector, as many executives have said implementing such technology will lead to workforce reductions. “We must put an end to this anxiety-inducing opposition between humans and AI, as we heard these past few weeks,” Gavalda said during a press conference on Wednesday. “It is the combination of the two that will drive performance.” Credit Agricole announced on Wednesday a three-year plan to spend €500 million ($578 million) on AI throughout the bank. The investment is part of its information technology budget, which totals about €5.7 billion annually. The CEO said the Paris-based lender has no plans to cut back on hiring at this stage. “We are keeping the same hiring plan for entry-level positions,” he said. Many banks have announced plans to cut jobs in recent months, as they prepare to implement AI to make tasks faster and more efficient. But Gavalda warned not to make too many assumptions about how such technology would affect the bank in the near term. Read More: Banks Lay Groundwork for Mass Workforce Cuts as AI Takes Hold “It might reshape many roles and even eliminate certain professions,” Gavalda said. “But we must remain humble, as the level of impact AI will have on our productivity remains to be seen.” About €150 million of the bank’s investment will be used to create an AI company at the Credit Agricole group level. The bank is also “increasing capacity of our own infrastructure and data centers, which will allow us to control sensitive and strategic data but also to maintain costs over the long term,” Gavalda said. Credit Agricole said it’s working with various tech providers, such as Paris-based Mistral AI. The bank will in the coming months unveil specific use cases for AI on support functions, know-your-customer processes or within its retail unit and commercial and investment banking.
Orlando Bravo, co-founder and managing partner at Thoma Bravo, says the “SaaSpocalyse” is finished as he discusses slower deal activity in private equity and sees smaller firms struggling for attention amid mega IPOs. He speaks with Dani Burger at the SuperReturn conference in Berlin. (Source: Bloomberg)
Orlando Bravo, co-founder and managing partner at Thoma Bravo, says the “SaaSpocalyse” is finished as he discusses slower deal activity in private equity and sees smaller firms struggling for attention amid mega IPOs. He speaks with Dani Burger at the SuperReturn conference in Berlin. (Source: Bloomberg)
Michelob Ultra is the official beer sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is leading Anheuser-Busch InBev's ( BUD ) World Cup sponsorship push alongside Stella Artois and ready-to-drink hard seltzer brand NÜTRL. Notably, the beer brand has created a new "Superior Player of the Match" trophy, unveiled with global ambassador Lionel Messi, which will be awarded after all 104 matches based on fan vot...
Michelob Ultra is the official beer sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is leading Anheuser-Busch InBev's ( BUD ) World Cup sponsorship push alongside Stella Artois and ready-to-drink hard seltzer brand NÜTRL. Notably, the beer brand has created a new "Superior Player of the Match" trophy, unveiled with global ambassador Lionel Messi, which will be awarded after all 104 matches based on fan votes. Campaigns like "The Superior Match," featuring Messi and U.S. star Christian Pulisic, plus fan-centric experiences such as pitch-side hubs, contests, and beer-garden activations, are designed to go far beyond simple logo exposure. Anheuser-Busch's ( BUD ) goal is to evolve Michelob Ultra from being perceived primarily as a U.S. light beer into a more global, sport-driven lifestyle brand, similar to how Heineken ( HEINY ) has been successful through the UEFA Champions League. Michelob Ultra currently ranks as the top-selling beer in the United States by volume, ahead of Modelo Especial and Bud Light, according to Circana data. Meanwhile, Michelob Ultra's growing presence in markets such as South America, China, India, South Korea, and Vietnam is part of Anheuser-Busch's ( BUD ) high-end and premium portfolio. The opening match of the World Cup takes place when Mexico hosts South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday. The 39-day tournament is expected to provide a boost to various sectors, including lodging, sports betting, and media companies. Shares of BUD are up more than 14% over the last 52 weeks. More on Anheuser-Busch InBev Anheuser-Busch InBev: Solid Quarterly Results Suggest There's Some Potential Value Here Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Anheuser-Busch: Recent Rally Justifiable, Valuation And Growth Prospects Hinder Further Upside Stella Artois is picking up the tab during the World Cup as part of a 'Work From Bar' concept These 10 large and mega-cap U.S. consumer staples firms rank among the sector's least attrac...
A $10,000 position in Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FTEC) on the last trading day of 2025 was worth about $12,480 by the close on June 8, 2026, a gain that arrived in roughly five months while the broad market did something far more modest. The same $10,000 parked in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ... Forget VOO: Fidelity’s Tech ETF Is Up 29% While the Broad Market Lags
A $10,000 position in Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FTEC) on the last trading day of 2025 was worth about $12,480 by the close on June 8, 2026, a gain that arrived in roughly five months while the broad market did something far more modest. The same $10,000 parked in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ... Forget VOO: Fidelity’s Tech ETF Is Up 29% While the Broad Market Lags
Andrew_Howe/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images In the fourth quarter, Lenovo Group ( LNVGY ) reported exceptionally strong results. In response, LNVGY stock soared from below $35 to over $66.00. That lifted shares of Dell Technologies ( DELL ) and HP Inc. ( HPQ ). Shortly after shares in the PC and server hardware stocks jumped, DELL stock, in particular, fell from a 52-week high of $469.47 to clo...
Andrew_Howe/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images In the fourth quarter, Lenovo Group ( LNVGY ) reported exceptionally strong results. In response, LNVGY stock soared from below $35 to over $66.00. That lifted shares of Dell Technologies ( DELL ) and HP Inc. ( HPQ ). Shortly after shares in the PC and server hardware stocks jumped, DELL stock, in particular, fell from a 52-week high of $469.47 to close at $381.78. Similarly, Lenovo stock pulled back slightly to close at $63.73 on June 9. Readers might attribute the steep drop to a general decline in semiconductor stocks, which I first discuss as "risk off." They should treat that as near-term noise from Nasdaq ( QQQ ). After reviewing current stock market conditions, this article will explore Lenovo's fundamentals for the rest of the year. Risk Off in Semiconductor Stocks Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics posted a sharp increase in jobs. The 172,000 job growth more than assured that the Federal Reserve would keep rates unchanged. The chances of a 25 bps rate hike increased after the BLS revised NFP by a combined 93,000 for March and April. That set the market's mood to shift to a risk-off stance. Marvell ( MRVL ), Micron Technology ( MU ), and Broadcom ( AVGO ) pulled back. Below: AVGO stock fell in the last month, compared to Marvell's gain. The S&P 500 will add MRVL stock to the index later this month. Seeking Alpha Lenovo Growth in the Fourth Quarter Lenovo shares did not pull back as much as its peers. Investors are content to hold a firm that posted revenue growing by 27.1% year-on-year. Net income doubled from last year to $559 million for a GAAP earnings per share of four cents. AI-related revenue stood out the most in Q4. Lenovo posted an 84% Y/Y growth. That accounted for 38% of the total Group revenue. Seeking Alpha Revenue for IDG, or the intelligent devices group, increased by 24% Y/Y to $14.6 billion. PC and smart devices revenue grew by 26% Y/Y. This is a meaningful growth rate not seen in five ye...
Solskin/DigitalVision via Getty Images While I mostly like to write about income investments now that I am retired, I sometimes like to revisit undercovered growth stocks that I highlighted in the past. I recognized a trend starting in 2023 that was based on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, aka Industry 4.0 , which essentially has turned into an AI revolution but also includes developments in qua...
Solskin/DigitalVision via Getty Images While I mostly like to write about income investments now that I am retired, I sometimes like to revisit undercovered growth stocks that I highlighted in the past. I recognized a trend starting in 2023 that was based on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, aka Industry 4.0 , which essentially has turned into an AI revolution but also includes developments in quantum computing ( QTUM ), robotics, and the electrification of everything . For example, I first covered Powell Industries, Inc. ( POWL ) in March 2023 when I suggested it was a growth stock for the 4 th Industrial Revolution. That stock has delivered a total return of more than 1,200% since that article was published. I have also covered Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. ( STRL ) several times, initiating a Buy rating on that stock in January 2023. It has also returned over 1,200% since then. One of the growth stocks that I wrote about back in 2022, before I made the connection with the coming Industry 4.0 impact on the industrial market, is an environmental compliance company that was started in 1966 and literally transformed itself into a powerhouse for industrial and environmental process solutions. That company is CECO Environmental Corp. ( CECO ), and I first reviewed the stock in November 2022. Since then, I have reviewed CECO two additional times, each time maintaining my Strong Buy rating. Seeking Alpha Most recently, I reviewed CECO in February of this year, just after the company reported Q4 2025 results and the stock sold off post-earnings. This was what I wrote in that February update. Today, after reporting Q4 2025 results, which included the news of a proposed acquisition of Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. ( THR ), the stock is down -22% on the news. Even with the stock down after such a big selloff, I maintain my Strong Buy rating as I expect the THR acquisition to add to CECO’s growth story. CECO stock is up 18.5% as of today’s market close after raising 2026 guida...
NicoElNino/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of September 2025 in light of recent performance and current holdings. CGBL strategy Capital Group Core Balanced ETF ( CGBL ) is an actively managed fund blending fixed income and equities launched on 09/26/2023. CGBL has 77 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 2.22%, a 12-month distribution yield of 1.90%, and an expense ratio of 0.33%....
NicoElNino/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of September 2025 in light of recent performance and current holdings. CGBL strategy Capital Group Core Balanced ETF ( CGBL ) is an actively managed fund blending fixed income and equities launched on 09/26/2023. CGBL has 77 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 2.22%, a 12-month distribution yield of 1.90%, and an expense ratio of 0.33%. Distributions are paid quarterly. The fund’s objective is to provide “ a balanced approach to total return that is consistent with the preservation of capital.” As described by Capital Group , the fund is meant to invest 50% to 75% of net asset value in equity securities, at least 25% in debt securities, and the remainder in money market instruments and cash. Up to 15% of equity securities (in asset value) may have issuers outside the U.S. The equity portfolio is a flexible blend of growth-oriented and dividend-paying stocks, offering an adaptive exposure to growth and value factors depending on market conditions. The fixed income portfolio is composed of ETFs sponsored by Capital Group. These funds may have significant exposure to debt rated below investment grade or unrated. The allocation in equities, fixed income ETFs, and cash equivalents depends on the professional judgment of five portfolio managers, each of them managing a segment of the fund’s portfolio. The portfolio turnover rate was 19% in the most recent fiscal year and 24% in the previous year. Portfolio As of 5/31/2026, the fund had 66% of asset value in equities and 28.9% in fixed income. Non-U.S. securities had an aggregate weight of 12.3%. Asset allocation (Capital Group) The heaviest equity sector in the portfolio is information technology (18.6% of asset value, or 29.1% of the equity part), followed by industrials and financials. Compared to the S&P 500 Index (represented in the next chart by SPY ), the equity portfolio of CGBL downplays mostly technology and significantly overweights industrials and ma...
Lazard ( LAZ ) reported preliminary assets under management of $284.8B as of May 31, 2026, up 3.4% from $275.4B at the end of April. The increase was driven primarily by $11.6B in market appreciation, partially offset by $1.4B in net outflows and $0.7B in foreign exchange depreciation. As of May 31, equity AUM totaled $214.8B, up 4.2% from the prior month. Meanwhile, fixed income AUM of $35.79B gr...
Lazard ( LAZ ) reported preliminary assets under management of $284.8B as of May 31, 2026, up 3.4% from $275.4B at the end of April. The increase was driven primarily by $11.6B in market appreciation, partially offset by $1.4B in net outflows and $0.7B in foreign exchange depreciation. As of May 31, equity AUM totaled $214.8B, up 4.2% from the prior month. Meanwhile, fixed income AUM of $35.79B grew 0.57%. More on Lazard Lazard: Attractive Yield Is Not Enough To Buy Its Shares Lazard, Inc. 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Lazard, Inc. (LAZ) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Lazard CEO says U.S. economy has become "levered bet on AI" Lazard outlines $500M 2027 private capital advisory revenue target as it plans Lazard CL launch
Earnings Call Insights: BARK, Inc. (BARK) Q4 fiscal 2026 Management View "We set out to do 2 things in fiscal 2026, sustain adjusted EBITDA profitability despite tariff and macro volatility and accelerate the diversification of our revenue to build a more resilient business while laying out a strategy for the way forward." (Co-Founder, CEO & Executive Chairman Matt Meeker) "Adjusted EBITDA was pos...
Earnings Call Insights: BARK, Inc. (BARK) Q4 fiscal 2026 Management View "We set out to do 2 things in fiscal 2026, sustain adjusted EBITDA profitability despite tariff and macro volatility and accelerate the diversification of our revenue to build a more resilient business while laying out a strategy for the way forward." (Co-Founder, CEO & Executive Chairman Matt Meeker) "Adjusted EBITDA was positive $0.2 million for the year, marking our second consecutive year of positive adjusted EBITDA" and "Commerce and Air represented 21% of total revenue, up from 15% last year." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "Total revenue was $395 million" and "We reduced our total marketing investment by over $24 million year-over-year, choosing to protect our margins rather than chase inefficient growth." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "BARK Air revenue more than doubled this year to over $12 million" and "we do not expect significant revenue growth in BARK Air over the next year" as the company prioritizes "improving unit economics over top line expansion." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "We will sunset products where we have not seen adequate returns, including our Kibble and toppers lines." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "Our Board has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $40 million to be funded by ongoing free cash flow." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "Fourth quarter revenue was $86.6 million compared to $115.4 million in the prior year period" and "For the full year, revenue totaled $394.8 million versus $484.2 million in fiscal 2025." (Interim CFO, Principal Financial Officer, VP of Accounting & Controller Brian Dostie) Outlook "For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, we expect total revenue of $77 million to $79 million and adjusted EBITDA of $0 to $1 million." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "For the full year, we expect total revenue of $325 million to $340 million and adjusted EBITDA of $7 million to $10 million." (Executive Chairman Meeker) "We expect D2C revenue to be down year-over-...