Key Points Investors rotated out of tech and into more stable businesses. With gold and silver fluctuating wildly, dividend stocks could serve as a more dependable store of wealth. 10 stocks we like better than Altria Group › Amid heightened volatility in the stock market, investors sought shelter in defensive stocks on Tuesday. By the close of trading, Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), a...
Key Points Investors rotated out of tech and into more stable businesses. With gold and silver fluctuating wildly, dividend stocks could serve as a more dependable store of wealth. 10 stocks we like better than Altria Group › Amid heightened volatility in the stock market, investors sought shelter in defensive stocks on Tuesday. By the close of trading, Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), and Altria (NYSE: MO) all saw their stock prices rise by roughly 3%. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Defense wins championships Before you can grow your wealth, you must first protect it. That was the theme of the day in the financial markets. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 1.4%, as many tech stocks sold off. Investors' risk appetites are shrinking as concerns about a possible bubble in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks multiply. Meanwhile, gold and silver prices have swung violently in recent days. Many people who are seeking stable stores of value to help them preserve their wealth are thus beginning to turn their attention elsewhere. These factors are combining to drive risk-conscious investors to seek out less volatile assets. Enter the defensive dividend stock. These reliable income generators continue to crank out cash in challenging market environments, thereby helping their shareholders sleep better at night while adding ballast to their portfolios. 3 top dividend stocks Walmart saw its market capitalization climb above $1 trillion for the first time on Tuesday. Shoppers are flocking to the discount retail giant's stores and e-commerce sites in search of bargain-priced food and household essentials. Verizon is winning back wireless and fiber internet customers under new CEO Dan Schulman. The telecom titan expects its free cash flow to grow by about 7% to over $21 billion in 2026, fueled by up to 1 million new retail postpaid pho...
Earnings Call Insights: Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Timothy Boyle reported, "We're pleased to have delivered net sales and profitability exceeding our guidance for the fourth quarter, driven by better-than-expected demand in the U.S. While our U.S. business remains challenged, I'm encouraged with continued growth internationally, combined with early signs of mome...
Earnings Call Insights: Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Timothy Boyle reported, "We're pleased to have delivered net sales and profitability exceeding our guidance for the fourth quarter, driven by better-than-expected demand in the U.S. While our U.S. business remains challenged, I'm encouraged with continued growth internationally, combined with early signs of momentum, indicating that the Columbia ACCELERATE Growth Strategy is resonating with consumers, including new and enhanced product collections and differentiated marketing." Boyle highlighted international sales growth, the launch of the ACCELERATE Growth Strategy, and successful product launches such as the Amaze Puff collection. Boyle announced management changes, stating, "This is our first earnings call for Joe, Peter and Richelle Luther in their new roles. As announced in November, these role changes are part of our ongoing process to advance our succession plans." Executive VP & CFO Jim Swanson stated, "We delivered fourth quarter results that exceeded our guidance range as stronger-than-anticipated demand in the U.S. more than offset unseasonably warm weather in most direct international markets." Boyle noted a continued commitment to shareholder returns, referencing $201 million in share repurchases and $66 million in dividends, and confirmed a strong balance sheet with $791 million in cash and no debt. Outlook Boyle provided a full-year 2026 outlook of net sales growth in the range of 1% to 3%. He stated, "In addition to Columbia brand growth, all of our emerging brands are expected to grow, led by prAna. Our initial 2026 operating margin outlook contemplates the expansion from 2025 despite ongoing headwinds from incremental U.S. tariffs." Swanson added, "Gross margin is expected to contract 70 to 50 basis points to 49.8% to 50%. The decline in gross margin is primarily driven by the impact of incremental unmitigated tariff costs." Boyle forecast diluted earnings per s...
Earnings Call Insights: eGain Corporation (EGAN) Q2 2026 Management View Ashutosh Roy, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, CEO & President, stated that "Both revenue and profitability exceeded our guidance and street consensus, and we delivered strong operating cash flow." He highlighted strong bookings, including multiple Global 1000 logos, and noted that AI Knowledge Hub annual recurring revenue (AR...
Earnings Call Insights: eGain Corporation (EGAN) Q2 2026 Management View Ashutosh Roy, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, CEO & President, stated that "Both revenue and profitability exceeded our guidance and street consensus, and we delivered strong operating cash flow." He highlighted strong bookings, including multiple Global 1000 logos, and noted that AI Knowledge Hub annual recurring revenue (ARR) rose 27% year-over-year, now representing 64% of total SaaS ARR. Roy pointed out, "25% of our new logos in the first half of fiscal '26 were sourced by partners... more than a doubling of our partner-sourced new logos year-over-year." He emphasized growth in top-of-the-funnel AI Knowledge leads and a trend of enterprise-wide knowledge deployments, including a major enterprise mandate from a large business software provider and new wins in manufacturing and insurance. On partnerships and product, Roy said, "Partner-sourced leads in the first half of fiscal '26 increased 80% year-over-year," and described traction for the new developer-focused eGain Composer platform. He also drew attention to eGain’s recognition in the Gartner Emerging MQ for generative AI knowledge apps. Eric Smit, Chief Financial Officer, said, "total revenue for the second quarter was $23 million, ahead of our guidance and street consensus and up 3% year-over-year. SaaS revenue increased by 5% year-over-year and accounted for 95% of total revenue." Smit added, "Total gross margin for the quarter was 74%, up 300 basis points from 71% a year ago. SaaS gross margin for the quarter was 80%, up 200 basis points from 78% a year ago." Outlook Smit provided guidance for Q3 fiscal 2026, stating, "we expect total revenue of between $22.2 million to $22.7 million, and as a reminder, the fewer number of days in Q3 has an approximately $400,000 negative impact on revenue for the quarter when compared to Q2." For Q3, Smit said, "We expect GAAP net income of $1 million to $1.5 million or $0.04 to $0.05 per share... W...
Nutthaseth Vanchaichana/iStock via Getty Images Dear Partner: Arquitos Epicus returned 43.9% net of fees and expenses in 2025. Individual returns may vary based on timing of investment. Please check your statement for specific results. Annualized One Year Three Year Since Inception Arquitos Epicus ( NET ) 43.9% 16.2% 10.4% Arquitos Epicus (Gross) 47.0% 19.2% 12.8% *Founded August 1, 2022 Click to ...
Nutthaseth Vanchaichana/iStock via Getty Images Dear Partner: Arquitos Epicus returned 43.9% net of fees and expenses in 2025. Individual returns may vary based on timing of investment. Please check your statement for specific results. Annualized One Year Three Year Since Inception Arquitos Epicus ( NET ) 43.9% 16.2% 10.4% Arquitos Epicus (Gross) 47.0% 19.2% 12.8% *Founded August 1, 2022 Click to enlarge The idea for Arquitos Epicus came from the following question: How would I invest my own money with no outside investors, no specific timing realization demands, no outside noise and no emotion. The goal is to make the highest possible returns with the least amount of risk with no concerns about volatility or concentration limits. The result is Epicus, which is designed to exploit asymmetric, event-driven opportunities where patience is our greatest edge. Epicus is inspired by Stanley Druckenmiller's approach, "It's not whether you're right or wrong. It's how much money you make when you're right, and how much you lose when you're wrong." The fund is akin to a Special Purpose Vehicle. We only formally report results and commentary once per year precisely because I do not want limited partners thinking about their investment in the fund. I would like for outside investors to set the investment aside and assess the strategy and results over a market cycle. Extreme volatility over short time periods are irrelevant, and inevitable given the concentration levels. But, of course, stock price movements do not always reflect reality. Our three current positions and their position sizes as of December 31, 2025 are below: 1. Liquidia Corporation call options – Approximately 45% of the portfolio 2. Finch Therapeutics equity – Approximately 43% of the portfolio 3. Nam Tai Property equity – Approximately 12% of the portfolio We entered the year with three other small positions making up approximately 7% of the portfolio. I exited those positions earlier in 2025. Returns from tho...
習近平視像會晤普京 指應就雙邊發展制訂宏大計劃 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】國家主席習近平在北京人民大會堂與俄羅斯總統普京視像會晤。 習近平表示中俄關係正朝著正確方向發展,兩國應就雙邊關係發展制...
習近平視像會晤普京 指應就雙邊發展制訂宏大計劃 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】國家主席習近平在北京人民大會堂與俄羅斯總統普京視像會晤。 習近平表示中俄關係正朝著正確方向發展,兩國應就雙邊關係發展制訂宏大計劃。普京表示在當前全球動盪局勢下,俄中關係是穩定因素堪稱典範,雙方在能源合作互利共贏具有戰略意義。普京同時祝賀中國將迎接農曆新年。