The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is up +1.33%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is up +1.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is up +1.45%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are up +1.48%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is up +1.33%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is up +1.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is up +1.45%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are up +1.48%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
Dating app OkCupid agreed to settle claims from the Federal Trade Commission that it deceived millions of users by sharing their photos with a third-party facial recognition company without their consent. OkCupid and parent company Match Group did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but instead promised not to make similar alleged misrepresentations in the future. According to the FTC ...
Dating app OkCupid agreed to settle claims from the Federal Trade Commission that it deceived millions of users by sharing their photos with a third-party facial recognition company without their consent. OkCupid and parent company Match Group did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but instead promised not to make similar alleged misrepresentations in the future. According to the FTC complaint, after facial recognition company Clarifai reached out to one of OkCupid's founders in 2014, the app gave it access to nearly three million OkCupid user photos, alongside demographic and location data about users. That access violated Ok … Read the full story at The Verge.
primeimages/E+ via Getty Images PBF Energy ( PBF ) reported strong financial results last February, including net income. The company says that its Martinez, CA refinery should be back in operation in March, so revenue should increase. Meanwhile, the Iran conflict has elevated oil contracts and, in return, global oil disruption has increased Crack Spread contracts. Both synergies make PBF attracti...
primeimages/E+ via Getty Images PBF Energy ( PBF ) reported strong financial results last February, including net income. The company says that its Martinez, CA refinery should be back in operation in March, so revenue should increase. Meanwhile, the Iran conflict has elevated oil contracts and, in return, global oil disruption has increased Crack Spread contracts. Both synergies make PBF attractive in the short-term. Their stock price is overvalued at the moment, but higher revenues from the Martinez refinery should increase valuation. The company’s stock price has increased 171% over the last year. The price has gained 72% since I covered the company last January on Seeking Alpha . The price is trading at its 52-week high. Oil prices remain elevated, with WTI and Brent over $100 per barrel. The Iran conflict and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz should keep the prices going higher. I change my rating to a Buy, but risk has increased. Once the conflict has ended, the rating may return to a Hold. Crack spread contract prices have gone from around $25 per barrel to $42 per barrel, representing a 68% increase YoY. Elevated contract prices will likely remain until the Iran conflict ends. Global oil supply has been constrained. So far, the conflict has seen strategic bombing, but a small contingency of ground troops is headed to the Middle East. The prices could stay elevated until June or longer. The Martinez refinery is back in operation as of March. The facility was damaged by a fire back in February 2025. So far, the company has received $894 million from insurance recoveries. Meanwhile, the recovery has caused higher OpEX and lower net income. The company will increase total output by up to 105K barrels per day, once the facility is at full operation. The EIA foresees increasing oil prices, crack spread prices, and shipping contract prices due to geopolitical conflict and disruption. PBF may see additional headwinds over 2026, since Phillips 66 ( PSX ) will shut ...
Lean hog futures were down 5 to 30 on Monday, with May up 15 cents at the close. USDA’s national base hog price was reported at $90.92 on Monday afternoon, up 40 cents from the day prior. The CME Lean Hog Index was down another 28 cents on March 26...
Lean hog futures were down 5 to 30 on Monday, with May up 15 cents at the close. USDA’s national base hog price was reported at $90.92 on Monday afternoon, up 40 cents from the day prior. The CME Lean Hog Index was down another 28 cents on March 26...
Cotton prices are up 70 to 105 points early on Tuesday morning. Futures were 4 to 73 points higher to close out Monday. The US dollar index was $0.388 higher at $100.370. Crude oil futures were up $5.36 to $105.00 on the day. March Intentions data is expected to show...
Cotton prices are up 70 to 105 points early on Tuesday morning. Futures were 4 to 73 points higher to close out Monday. The US dollar index was $0.388 higher at $100.370. Crude oil futures were up $5.36 to $105.00 on the day. March Intentions data is expected to show...
Soybeans are up 1 to 4 cents so far on Tuesday morning. Futures saw weakness late on Monday as front months came back to close with fractionally mixed action. Open interest on Monday was up 2,748 contracts, with most coming in July through November contracts, as May was down 6,409...
Soybeans are up 1 to 4 cents so far on Tuesday morning. Futures saw weakness late on Monday as front months came back to close with fractionally mixed action. Open interest on Monday was up 2,748 contracts, with most coming in July through November contracts, as May was down 6,409...
Dougal Waters U.S. communication services stocks have weathered a turbulent month, declining around 7% through late March as Middle East war escalation fueled inflation worries and a stronger dollar. Below is a list of the top 10 communication services stocks based on their price performance over March. The list includes companies filtered by sector and market capitalization data, ranked from high...
Dougal Waters U.S. communication services stocks have weathered a turbulent month, declining around 7% through late March as Middle East war escalation fueled inflation worries and a stronger dollar. Below is a list of the top 10 communication services stocks based on their price performance over March. The list includes companies filtered by sector and market capitalization data, ranked from highest to lowest one-month performance. The list is topped by CarGurus, Inc. ( CARG ), with an impressive one-month performance of 14.92%. Iridium Communications Inc. ( IRDM ) follows with an 11.94% gain, while Grindr Inc. ( GRND ) rounds out the top three with an 8.35% increase. In the middle of the pack, Versant Media Group, Inc. ( VSNT ) and Pinterest, Inc. ( PINS ) posted gains of 6.81% and 5.14%, respectively. Most stocks on the list currently carry a Hold Quant Rating, including The New York Times Company ( NYT ) with a rating of 3.34 and Fox Corporation ( FOXA ) at 3.16. Here is the list: CarGurus, Inc. ( CARG ), 1 month performance percentage: 14.92% Iridium Communications Inc. ( IRDM ), 1 month performance percentage: 11.94% Grindr Inc. ( GRND ), 1 month performance percentage: 8.35% Versant Media Group, Inc. ( VSNT ), 1 month performance percentage: 6.81% Pinterest, Inc. ( PINS ), 1 month performance percentage: 5.14% Fox Corporation ( FOXA ), 1 month performance percentage: 4.95% Lionsgate Studios Corp. ( LION ), 1 month performance percentage: 4.44% The New York Times Company ( NYT ), 1 month performance percentage: 4.34% Sirius XM Holdings Inc. ( SIRI ), 1 month performance percentage: 3.64% IAC Inc. ( IAC ), 1 month performance percentage: 2.09% Communication Services ETFs: ( XLC ), ( VOX ), ( IYZ ), ( RSPC ), and ( XTL ) More on Communication Services stocks XLC: Further TMT Downside Possible, Here's Where To Buy (Rating Downgrade) IYZ: Telecommunication ETF With Little Competition VOX: A Very Concentrated Communication ETF Meta’s technical breakdown worsens ami...
Abstract Aerial Art/DigitalVision via Getty Images Murphy Oil ( MUR ) is a smaller offshore player that has long handled risk assessment very well. The last article discussed the Vietnam success. The key issue is that many comments were received by the company about the Vietnam share of profits. That may have prompted this third part of the series about risk compared to the profits a country takes...
Abstract Aerial Art/DigitalVision via Getty Images Murphy Oil ( MUR ) is a smaller offshore player that has long handled risk assessment very well. The last article discussed the Vietnam success. The key issue is that many comments were received by the company about the Vietnam share of profits. That may have prompted this third part of the series about risk compared to the profits a country takes. The more explored a basin is, then the more certainty there is to drilling a well. That means less risk for the company and hence the company will demand higher compensation for taking on that risk. But the reverse is also true. That means that Murphy is making a good profit in Vietnam with the current contract despite what is perceived as a "high take". Risk Compared To Reward Both sides aim to make above average profits knowing the following relationship shown by the graph below . Murphy Oil Depiction Of The Relationship Between Risk And Profitability (Murphy Oil PSC Contract Sharing Seminar March 24, 2026) The key idea here is a determination by management that they can make a good living off the negotiated agreement. The better the management, the more accurate the assessment is of risk. Then of course, this means that more money is made from the same contract terms compared to the competition. The last article noted that the company had 100% exploration success in Vietnam so far. That likely beats the odds that led to the negotiated agreement shown above. It also points to an above average success rate that is going to lead to more money for both sides of the negotiation. This of course would lead to a certain reputation and still more invitations to explore elsewhere in the world. Keep in mind that Murphy often evaluates " failures " by larger companies like the super major in this case. There was oil found by the super major that is going to lead to the first production later this year. But that was not enough for the super major to be interested. Even with the nex...
The share price has had a rough patch, which naturally raises the question: is Microsoft stock now closer to a bargain, or still pricing in too much optimism? Microsoft delivered -3.6% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Software industry. Approach 1: Microsoft Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis The Discounted Cash Flow model takes Microsoft’s expected future cas...
The share price has had a rough patch, which naturally raises the question: is Microsoft stock now closer to a bargain, or still pricing in too much optimism? Microsoft delivered -3.6% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Software industry. Approach 1: Microsoft Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis The Discounted Cash Flow model takes Microsoft’s expected future cash flows and then discounts them back to today using a required return to estimate what the...
Applied Digital Corp (Nasdaq: APLD) reports its fiscal third-quarter 2026 results on April 8 after the market close. With the stock down 30.5% since the Q2 earnings report and a $2.15 billion debt deal fresh on the books, this print needs to deliver more than a beat. From Blowout Quarter to a Bruising March Last ... Dear Applied Digital Investors: April 8 Could Be the Make or Break Moment
Applied Digital Corp (Nasdaq: APLD) reports its fiscal third-quarter 2026 results on April 8 after the market close. With the stock down 30.5% since the Q2 earnings report and a $2.15 billion debt deal fresh on the books, this print needs to deliver more than a beat. From Blowout Quarter to a Bruising March Last ... Dear Applied Digital Investors: April 8 Could Be the Make or Break Moment
Earnings Call Insights: TON Strategy Company (TONX) Q4 2025 Management View Manuel Stotz (Executive Chairman) positioned the company as a public-market vehicle to “hold Toncoin to stake a substantial portion of the position and to increase TON held per share over time inside a public company structure,” arguing TON is “designed for real economic utility and activity inside the Telegram ecosystem, ...
Earnings Call Insights: TON Strategy Company (TONX) Q4 2025 Management View Manuel Stotz (Executive Chairman) positioned the company as a public-market vehicle to “hold Toncoin to stake a substantial portion of the position and to increase TON held per share over time inside a public company structure,” arguing TON is “designed for real economic utility and activity inside the Telegram ecosystem, where more than 1 billion users already communicate, transact and engage with digital services.” Stotz (Executive Chairman) emphasized why the structure matters for U.S. investors, saying the company is designed to provide “transparency, discipline and access to that exposure,” and added, “We believe our structure is particularly relevant now while direct access to TON remains more limited in U.S. markets.” Stotz (Executive Chairman) described 2025 execution steps and the period of ramp, stating, “In August, we raised capital, established our initial position and began staking,” and added that Q4 was “the first full fiscal period with staking in place, which is giving us a better view of how the model operates with the operating infrastructure fully established.” Stotz (Executive Chairman) reiterated the leadership transition status: “the company continues to conduct an active search for a permanent CEO as part of a planned leadership transition,” and noted, “Veronika continues to serve as CEO during this transition.” Sarah Olsen (CFO & COO) framed 2025 as a blend of the new treasury strategy and legacy operations: “our 2025 results reflect both the implementation of our TON treasury strategy beginning in August as well as the contribution of the company's legacy operating businesses.” Outlook The call did not include explicit EPS or revenue guidance. Olsen (CFO & COO) described an operating priority around treasury and spending discipline, saying, “Going forward, operationally, our emphasis will remain on disciplined treasury management,” including “preserving appropriate ...
Wheat is mixed, with the winter wheat contracts higher and spring wheat lower on Tuesday morning. The wheat complex posted mixed action on Monday, with KC the weakest. Chicago SRW futures were mostly fractionally to 2 ¾ cents higher. Open interest rose 3,302 contracts. KC HRW futures were down 6...
Wheat is mixed, with the winter wheat contracts higher and spring wheat lower on Tuesday morning. The wheat complex posted mixed action on Monday, with KC the weakest. Chicago SRW futures were mostly fractionally to 2 ¾ cents higher. Open interest rose 3,302 contracts. KC HRW futures were down 6...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investing Thesis Capital One Financial Corporation ( COF ) has several outstanding series of preferred stock (all of which are pari passu), including two non-publicly traded series. Their five series of publicly traded preferred stock each consist of depositary shares representing 1/40th interest in a share of fixed-rate, non-cumulative, perpetual prefer...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investing Thesis Capital One Financial Corporation ( COF ) has several outstanding series of preferred stock (all of which are pari passu), including two non-publicly traded series. Their five series of publicly traded preferred stock each consist of depositary shares representing 1/40th interest in a share of fixed-rate, non-cumulative, perpetual preferred stock, as shown in the following table. From the Company's 2025 10-K The Series L Preferred Stock ( COF.PR.L ) is trading at a slightly lower yield for its risk level, and it is trading significantly below its liquidation preference of $25 . At 4.375%, Series L has a coupon towards the low end of Capital One’s outstanding preferred stock series, with three other publicly traded preferred stock series having higher coupons and one non-publicly traded series also having a higher coupon. COF.PR.L’s call date is September 1, 2026, which puts roughly 6 months on the clock before it could be called for redemption. Thus, it is not likely that Series L will be called anytime soon, unless the Federal Reserve drastically cuts interest rates (the only realistic possibility of refinancing this series at a cheaper coupon). This implies a low chance of significant capital gains in the near future. At 6.718%, the Series L’s yield (as traded) is slightly below the yield I value it at (6.80%), so it would need a slight decline in price from $16.28 (its current market price) down to $16.08 before I would recommend buying into the Series L. Given the major, global economic shocks in the commodity and financial markets related to the new war on Iran as well as the chaotic on-again/off-again trade wars, there is risk to COF’s consumer-based lending if the economy falls into recession ( Q4 2025’s GDP growth was revised downward from 1.4% to 0.7%). While this may impact Capital One’s common stock’s fortunes on the downside (as I discuss in a recent review of Capital One’s common stock ), COF....
(RTTNews) - A report released by MNI Indicators showed its reading on Chicago-area business activity decreased by more than expected in March but still indicated growth.
(RTTNews) - A report released by MNI Indicators showed its reading on Chicago-area business activity decreased by more than expected in March but still indicated growth.
wildpixel U.S. consumer confidence index rose to 91.8 in March from 91.0 (revised from 91.2) in the prior month, and against 88.5 consensus, according to data released by The Conference Board on Tuesday. The survey period for preliminary results was March 1 to March 24. The present situation index swelled by 4.6 points vs. February to 123.3. Meanwhile, the expectations index declined by 1.7 points...
wildpixel U.S. consumer confidence index rose to 91.8 in March from 91.0 (revised from 91.2) in the prior month, and against 88.5 consensus, according to data released by The Conference Board on Tuesday. The survey period for preliminary results was March 1 to March 24. The present situation index swelled by 4.6 points vs. February to 123.3. Meanwhile, the expectations index declined by 1.7 points to 70.9, compared to the prior month. " Consumer confidence ticked up again in March, as a modest improvement in consumers' views of current conditions outweighed a slight downshift in expectations for the future," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. "Three of five components of the Index firmed in March, and overall confidence improved modestly for a second month. Nonetheless, the Index has been on a general downward trend since 2021," noted Peterson. While not obvious in the headline or its component indexes, the weight of rising costs due to tariff passthrough and spiking oil prices was evident among other measures in the survey like inflation expectations, according to the statement by The Conference Board. More on U.S. Economy Chicago PMI falls more than expected in March Home-price growth decelerates in January: S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index FHFA house price index rises modestly in January