Key Points DIA holds just 30 blue-chip stocks while IVV captures the full S&P 500 universe. DIA charges a higher expense ratio but delivers a slightly higher yield than IVV. IVV has outperformed DIA over the past year and five-year period, with deeper technology exposure. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:IVV) and SPDR Dow Jones Indust...
Key Points DIA holds just 30 blue-chip stocks while IVV captures the full S&P 500 universe. DIA charges a higher expense ratio but delivers a slightly higher yield than IVV. IVV has outperformed DIA over the past year and five-year period, with deeper technology exposure. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:IVV) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSEMKT:DIA) differ sharply in cost, portfolio makeup, and diversification, with IVV offering broader coverage and lower fees while DIA focuses on 30 blue-chip names and a modestly higher yield. IVV aims to mirror the S&P 500, providing exposure to a wide swath of large-cap U.S. equities, while DIA tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a price-weighted collection of 30 established blue-chip companies. This comparison highlights how these two stalwarts stack up on cost, performance, risk, and portfolio composition for investors considering core U.S. equity exposure. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric IVV DIA Issuer IShares SPDR Expense ratio 0.03% 0.16% 1-yr total return (as of 2026-01-26) 15.4% 13% Dividend yield 1.05% 1.4% Beta 1.00 0.89 AUM $763 billion $44.1 billion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. IVV looks more affordable with a much lower expense ratio, while DIA pays a modestly higher yield. The cost difference may matter to fee-conscious investors, but DIA’s slightly higher payout could appeal to those prioritizing income. Performance & risk comparison Metric IVV DIA Max drawdown (5 y) -27.67% -43.43% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,814 $1,582 What's inside DIA tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average and holds just 30 stocks, emphasizing financial services (27.5%), technology (18.9%), and industrials (15.8%). Its top positions include Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS) at 11.61%, Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) at 7.9...
Ex-Nigeria oil minister stands trial in UK on bribery charges Diezani Alison-Madueke was Nigeria's minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. Other benefits she allegedly received included "vast quantities of luxury goods at Harrods and other high-end stores" and £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties i...
Ex-Nigeria oil minister stands trial in UK on bribery charges Diezani Alison-Madueke was Nigeria's minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015 She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. Other benefits she allegedly received included "vast quantities of luxury goods at Harrods and other high-end stores" and £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is alleged to have been provided with a chauffeur-driven car, travel by private jet, and £100,000 in cash. A former oil minister in Nigeria accepted bribes, including the use of multimillion-pound properties and "a life of luxury in the United Kingdom", from industry figures interested in government contracts, a court in London has heard. Alison-Madueke was minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan. Jurors were told she lived some of the time in the UK where she was provided with a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner. The salaries and other running costs were paid for by the owners of energy companies who had lucrative contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the court was told. "This case is about bribery in relation to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015," said Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting. "During that time those who were interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, provided significant financial or other advantages to Alison-Madueke." Healy added: "It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. "We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermine the pro...
Key Points Following recent challenges, these drugmakers could see solid clinical progress in the next 12 to 18 months. Both could launch products with significant sales potential and ride that wave through the medium term. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Looking to beat the market over the next five years? Here's one strategy to adopt: Invest in stocks that have not performed ...
Key Points Following recent challenges, these drugmakers could see solid clinical progress in the next 12 to 18 months. Both could launch products with significant sales potential and ride that wave through the medium term. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Looking to beat the market over the next five years? Here's one strategy to adopt: Invest in stocks that have not performed well recently but boast attractive prospects. Two intriguing corporations to consider now are Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) and BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX). These biotech companies are somewhat risky, but after terrible performances in 2025, both could rebound this year and deliver strong returns through 2031. Allow me to explain. 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 » 1. Viking Therapeutics Viking Therapeutics is developing weight-loss medicines, with its most advanced candidate, VK2735, a GLP-1 medicine, currently in phase 3 studies in a subcutaneous formulation. Although some of the largest drugmakers are working on weight-management drugs, Viking Therapeutics' mid-stage results for VK2735 looked stronger than those of many of its bigger competitors. The company has several other tricks up its sleeves. For instance, it is also working on an oral version of VK2735. And not content with initial weight loss, Viking Therapeutics is testing different dosage schedules and formulations to see whether its leading product can help patients keep the weight off. On top of all that, the company is developing a brand-new weight management candidate for which it could start clinical trials this year. We should see some clinical progress from Viking Therapeutics in 2026, though its most important data readout from the phase 3 study of subcutaneous VK2735 probably won't come until next year. Still, Viking's shares could rise this year as it makes headway el...
A major row between government departments has broken out after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) proposed cutting all its funding for physical education in schools, the Guardian understands. The DHSC is now intending to restore the funding despite insisting privately for weeks that it would end its contribution, until the Guardian contacted the department. Ministers are understood t...
A major row between government departments has broken out after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) proposed cutting all its funding for physical education in schools, the Guardian understands. The DHSC is now intending to restore the funding despite insisting privately for weeks that it would end its contribution, until the Guardian contacted the department. Ministers are understood to have overruled the cuts. The Department for Education (DfE) is also planning cuts to PE from its own budget, ahead of upcoming reforms in the next curriculum review. It is hoped that the reforms –which will guarantee at least two hours of PE – will involve partnerships with sports bodies that will deliver some efficiencies. But Whitehall sources had said the proposed cuts from DHSC and DfE combined had threatened the reforms and would undermine Keir Starmer’s public commitments to more access to sports for schoolchildren. A proposal seen by the Guardian said DHSC, run by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, would end its entire contribution of around £60m from 2026/27. DfE is understood to be proposing cutting its own budget by a further £60m. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, is set to try and mediate the row over the coming days. DHSC currently contributes around a fifth of the funding for PE, with the rest from DfE, apart from a small contribution from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The proposed cuts came despite growing concerns about inactivity among children contributing to obesity and lasting health inequalities. Sporting bodies including Sport England have been highlighting a growing problem with inactivity among children, with fewer than half of children meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines. Government figures published last year confirm a significant decline in the number of hours allocated to PE in secondary schools, down nearly 4,000. The most significant drop in hours has affected 11-14 year olds – the group whic...
This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Tuesday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Jan. 27, 2026. You can follow the latest updates on the market ...
This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Tuesday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Jan. 27, 2026. You can follow the latest updates on the market ...
Wachiwit/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Big Tech is expected to invest $530 billion for building AI infrastructure in 2026, while the path to near-term monetization remains a question mark. As investor scrutiny around capital expenditure intensifies, the key question is no longer who is spending the most on AI, but who is translating that spend into measurable revenue and sustainable margins. T...
Wachiwit/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Big Tech is expected to invest $530 billion for building AI infrastructure in 2026, while the path to near-term monetization remains a question mark. As investor scrutiny around capital expenditure intensifies, the key question is no longer who is spending the most on AI, but who is translating that spend into measurable revenue and sustainable margins. The market is right to question the shift in role for Big Tech, as these companies have swiftly moved from global demand engines for consumer and enterprise software to now being large consumers themselves of a rather expensive endeavour. When asked about Big Tech for the last few years, my answer has been consistent – my firm is heavily positioned in the suppliers. For example, while many are celebrating Google’s stock performance last year, stocks like AMD and Micron effortlessly outperformed the 2025 Big Tech winner – as did dozens of lesser-known suppliers. This is easily visible in the QQQs returning 20.2% last year compared to SMH at 48.7%. But I digress, as although Big Tech has paled in stock returns compared to select AI semiconductor stocks, my firm is anticipating an incoming monetization wave driven by inference. The moment that Big Tech and others can effectively monetize their large investments will unfold in the coming years. Big Tech is not muted; it’s just a bit later in the cycle given they’re predominately software companies. My firm strives to be early to trends, positioning in cloud in 2019 ahead of Covid, then began rotating out of cloud to position for AI in late 2022 around extreme lows and ahead of Nvidia’s Hopper release. We then added AI energy names to our portfolio ahead of the Street in February – April of 2025 (again) before the broad market and around extreme lows. On a similar note, I fully expect we will be well-positioned for the moment AI can finally monetize – which brings us back to Big Tech. The report below compares Big Tech companies ...
Receipt lottery campaigns are set to restart in 2026 to encourage consumption, with a six-month pilot planned for 50 cities. Photo: VCG China is reviving a lottery-style tax receipt program across 50 cities in an effort to revive sluggish consumer spending and tighten tax enforcement. The six-month trial lets consumers enter prize drawings by requesting an official tax invoice—known as a fapiao — ...
Receipt lottery campaigns are set to restart in 2026 to encourage consumption, with a six-month pilot planned for 50 cities. Photo: VCG China is reviving a lottery-style tax receipt program across 50 cities in an effort to revive sluggish consumer spending and tighten tax enforcement. The six-month trial lets consumers enter prize drawings by requesting an official tax invoice—known as a fapiao — for purchases over 100 yuan ($14). The initiative, outlined in documents from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and the State Taxation Administration, marks a renewed attempt to stimulate demand following a broader consumption push unveiled in March 2025. By reintroducing incentives for requesting invoices — a practice that fell off after 2016 tax reforms — officials are betting that gamifying the tax process can simultaneously drive spending and expose underreported sales in retail, dining, travel and other service industries.
Just_Super/iStock via Getty Images If I were to reflect on my past work on IonQ, Inc. ( IONQ ), I think it’s clear that the question was never really about whether or not the technology works. IonQ has always been one of the more credible players in the quantum computing space, with defensible trapped ion physics and improving fidelities, and at least conceptually, a roadmap that made sense. Quant...
Just_Super/iStock via Getty Images If I were to reflect on my past work on IonQ, Inc. ( IONQ ), I think it’s clear that the question was never really about whether or not the technology works. IonQ has always been one of the more credible players in the quantum computing space, with defensible trapped ion physics and improving fidelities, and at least conceptually, a roadmap that made sense. Quantum computing is full of beautiful demos that never made it to sustainable economics. It’s a technology category that has struggled to transcend the trap of beautiful demos. The question has always been about whether IonQ can execute at scale. The company’s shares have fallen about 31% from my Hold rating . On its surface, that might suggest that my call was incorrect, at least at least a reminder of just how brutal investing in frontier technology can be. However, the reality is that this pullback has occurred against the backdrop of a significant change in strategic posture rather than a change in thesis. The risk profile didn’t change. It shifted. Instead of asking whether quantum computing will ever scale, now we have to ask whether IonQ can execute on a far more concrete, far more operational challenge. That’s an important distinction. When it comes to frontier technologies, value creation doesn’t begin when risk goes away. It begins when risk becomes manageable. To that end, while IonQ’s acquisition of SkyWater Technology, Inc. ( SKYT ) may not necessarily make IonQ less risky, it certainly makes risk far less existential. That, at least, is the inflection point at which long duration investment strategies begin to create value. This Is Not a Growth Deal The basic terms of the deal are simple enough. IonQ is buying SkyWater for $35 per share in a cash and stock deal, implying a total equity value of about $1.8 billion , with a closing expected in the second to third quarter of 2026. SkyWater shareholders receive $15 in cash and $20 in IonQ stock, subject to a collar. I...
Nvidia’s infrastructure is anticipated to advance the capabilities of Oath’s OathOS operating room platform. Image credit: Akarawut via Shutterstock Oath Surgical is collaborating with NVIDIA to advance the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of the OathOS platform used in the former’s network of surgery centres across the US. Since emerging from stealth in May 2025, Oath is in the process o...
Nvidia’s infrastructure is anticipated to advance the capabilities of Oath’s OathOS operating room platform. Image credit: Akarawut via Shutterstock Oath Surgical is collaborating with NVIDIA to advance the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of the OathOS platform used in the former’s network of surgery centres across the US. Since emerging from stealth in May 2025, Oath is in the process of building out its own network of surgery centres, starting in Oregon. Coinciding with its launch, Oath introduced OathOS. Used across its surgery centres, the company’s platform is an end-to-end operating system for outpatient surgery. Oath said that by collaborating with Nvidia, the tech giant’s advanced spatial AI infrastructure will be applied to imbue OathOS with real-time surgical video and audio analysis and agentic workflows in the operating room. Nvidia’s infrastructure is also expected to deliver “unique insights and efficiencies” for surgeons across the full care journey “from referral to recovery”, according to Oath. Under the pair-up, Oath highlighted that its initial focus alongside Nvidia will be to build foundational infrastructure for multi-modal clinical intelligence and AI-enabled surgery, with a particular focus on bridging perioperative data with agentic AI use cases to support real-time clinical and operational decision-making and workflow automation. Meanwhile, future phases of the collaboration will centre on establishing longitudinal models with OathOS to measure factors including surgeon performance, outcomes, and facility operations, Oath added. “Through our collaboration with Nvidia, OathOS is becoming the first multimodal, ambient clinical intelligence platform for surgery and surgeons by leveraging physical and digital AI,” said Oliver Keown, founder and CEO of Oath Surgical. GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data ...
365 Studio/E+ via Getty Images Investment thesis Powell Industries, Inc. ( POWL ) has produced strong and steady top and bottom-line growth since 2021: POWL revenue, net income, and EPS chart (Seeking Alpha) One of the reasons for this impressive growth is its focus on “execution”, or productivity improvements. In particular, it generally has reduced its cost of revenues and its selling, general, ...
365 Studio/E+ via Getty Images Investment thesis Powell Industries, Inc. ( POWL ) has produced strong and steady top and bottom-line growth since 2021: POWL revenue, net income, and EPS chart (Seeking Alpha) One of the reasons for this impressive growth is its focus on “execution”, or productivity improvements. In particular, it generally has reduced its cost of revenues and its selling, general, and administrative [SG&A] costs. That growth, in turn, has helped drive the share price 1,268% higher in the past five years. Based on this growth, its productivity efforts, and modestly higher price target, I rate Powell a Buy. About Powell The Houston-based firm serves the oil & gas, petrochemical, electric utility markets, and others with equipment that distributes, controls, and monitors the flow of electrical energy. With products it develops, designs, manufactures, and services, it provides custom-engineered equipment and systems that protect motors, transformers, and other electrically-powered equipment. Being in the electrical industry now means growing demand on various fronts, but especially in connection with the rapid growth of data centers. On the Q4-2025 earnings call , the company said, “Opportunities are growing in both size and volume as well as product applications as we expand our presence in this strategic market.” Powell’s fiscal 2025 ended on September 30, 2025, and fiscal 2026 began on October 1, 2025. At the close on January 23, shares traded at $417.95 and it had a market cap of $5.07 billion. Latest earnings report The Q4 and full-year fiscal 2025 earnings report came out on November 18, 2025; its revenue of $297.98 million beat estimates by $5.14 million and its EPS of $4.22 was ahead of analyst expectations by $0.44. The following slide from its Q4 earnings presentation summarizes its annual results: POWL income statement (Q4 earnings presentation) The quarter also saw it make a deal to acquire Remsdaq Ltd., a manufacturer of Remote Terminal Unit...
Amazon (AMZN) stock moved 1.6% higher after the company announced plans to close its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores to focus on delivery services and expanding Whole Foods, which Amazon acquired in 2017. "While we've seen encouraging signals in our Amazon-branded physical grocery stores, we haven't yet created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for larg...
Amazon (AMZN) stock moved 1.6% higher after the company announced plans to close its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores to focus on delivery services and expanding Whole Foods, which Amazon acquired in 2017. "While we've seen encouraging signals in our Amazon-branded physical grocery stores, we haven't yet created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion," the company said in the release. According to sources close to the matter, Amazon plans to evaluate each store to see which locations can be converted into Whole Foods stores. Amazon said it plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods locations over the next few years, including through an expansion of its smaller footprint option, Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. There are currently more than 550 Whole Foods stores in total. "We have a very large grocery business," CEO Andy Jassy told investors in the company's earnings call in October. "If you look at our entire grocery business, if I don't even count Whole Foods Market and Fresh, in the last 12 months [it grew] to over $100 billion of gross merchandising sales, which would make us a top three grocery in the US." Amazon is also making same-day delivery a top priority. Last year, the e-commerce giant expanded its same-day delivery service for perishable goods to over 5,000 US cities, with plans to expand in 2026. An Amazon Go store stands in lower Manhattan on May 1, 2025, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) · Spencer Platt via Getty Images "They are doubling down on something, on a trend ... that's saying that grocery buying is moving more online," Hitha Herzog, H Squared Research chief research officer, told Yahoo Finance over the phone. She added that consumer retention is increasingly hinging on customers' ability to get orders delivered rapidly and with a level of quality control applied." Jassy echoed this idea previously, saying that the tradition of the weekly grocery stock-up is changi...
'Fireworks' wins Caldecott, Newbery is awarded to 'All the Blues in the Sky' toggle caption Clarion Books; Bloomsbury Children’s Books The best books for children and young adults were awarded the country's top honors by the American Library Association on Monday. Illustrator Cátia Chien and author Matthew Burgess took home the Caldecott Medal for the book Fireworks. The Caldecott is given annuall...
'Fireworks' wins Caldecott, Newbery is awarded to 'All the Blues in the Sky' toggle caption Clarion Books; Bloomsbury Children’s Books The best books for children and young adults were awarded the country's top honors by the American Library Association on Monday. Illustrator Cátia Chien and author Matthew Burgess took home the Caldecott Medal for the book Fireworks. The Caldecott is given annually to the most distinguished American picture book for children. Fireworks follows two young siblings as they eagerly await the start of a July 4th fireworks show. Paired with Chien's vibrant illustrations, Burgess' poetic language enhances the sensory experience of fireworks." When you write poems with kids, you see how immediately they get this," Burgess told NPR in 2025 in a conversation about his book Words with Wings and Magic Things. "If you read a poem aloud to kids, they start to dance in their seats." Sponsor Message The Newbery Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature, went to Renée Watson for All the Blues in the Sky. This middle-grade novel, also told in verse, follows 13-year-old Sage, who struggles with grief following the death of her best friend. Watson is also the author of Piecing Me Together, which won the 2018 Coretta Scott King Award and was also a Newbery Medal honor book. "I hope that my books provide space for young people to explore, and say, "Yeah, I feel seen," Watson told NPR in 2018. "That's what I want young people to do — to talk to each other and to the adults in their lives." This year's recipients of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards include Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes (author award) and The Library in the Woods, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (illustrator award). Arriel Vinson's Under the Neon Lights received the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Los Angeles based artist Kadir Nelson was honored with the Coretta Scott King-Virginia ...
tianyu wu/E+ via Getty Images Fair analysis almost demands criticism on some level, but apart from perhaps paying a little too much for some acquisitions and not always being consistent with the information they present on a quarterly basis, I don’t have a lot to criticize with Crane Company ( CR ), or at least where it concerns those things management can control. Execution may be boring next to ...
tianyu wu/E+ via Getty Images Fair analysis almost demands criticism on some level, but apart from perhaps paying a little too much for some acquisitions and not always being consistent with the information they present on a quarterly basis, I don’t have a lot to criticize with Crane Company ( CR ), or at least where it concerns those things management can control. Execution may be boring next to hype, but it’s execution that builds lasting value, and Crane continues to do a very good job here. Crane shares had been up another 40%-plus since my last update before the post-earnings selloff, outperforming the broader industrial sector. Comparisons to peers and rivals in process flow and aerospace are mixed, but generally positive, with a few companies like Flowserve ( FLS ), GE Aerospace ( GE ), Moog ( MOG.A ), and Parker Hannifin ( PH ) doing better, ITT ( ITT ) doing about the same, and companies like Eaton ( ETN ), Honeywell ( HON ), and IDEX ( IEX ) lagging. Regular readers probably know what I’m about to say – I love Crane’s leverage to multiyear secular growth markets and how management runs the business, but I’m concerned about valuation. Although the stock doesn’t look badly priced on discounted cash flow, the multiple is still high, and I worry that this stock is now in the rarefied air of “theme stock” where future underperformance becomes a greater risk as the Street catches up to underlying performance. A Strong Quarter Across The Board Crane posted good results , albeit with a few points of moderate concern. Revenue rose more than 5% in organic terms, good for a roughly 2% beat versus expectations despite a near-constant series of upward revisions across 2025. Process Flow sales declined more than 1% year over year, missing by about 2%, while Aerospace and Advanced Technologies rose 14% and beat by about 6%. Within AAT, original equipment sales jumped a greater-than-expected 23%, while aftermarket sales rose just 1% (and actually declined 7% sequentially)...
Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Matthew Celentano 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 » Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images News Investment Thesis BlackRock, Inc. ( BLK ) is the largest ...
Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Matthew Celentano 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 » Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images News Investment Thesis BlackRock, Inc. ( BLK ) is the largest asset manager in the world and benefits from a diverse product lineup and high amounts of long-term inflows. When scrutinizing BlackRock's latest earnings release , changes reported in their AUM show they are growing their presence amongst lucrative retail investors. On the flip side, net-inflows for institutional actively-managed funds are slowing. For investors seeking consistent dividend growth and a low-cyclicality business model, BlackRock has several tailwinds going into 2026: including a newly announced capital allocation strategy and growing presence among lucrative retail investors. However, trading just over $1,100 per share, current valuations of BlackRock are slightly inflated and investors should HOLD until BlackRock proves it can consistently grow its AUM through fee-producing net-inflows, specifically with retail investors. Company Overview BlackRock's AUM has grown to $14 trillion, according to their 4Q25 earnings supplement . Their largest revenue stream is base management fees, followed by performance fees and technology services revenues. Organic growth is difficult to generate for a company of BlackRock's size. This means management defaults to M&A when it wants to expand into new markets. BlackRock has completed several acquisitions in 2025, with its $12 billion purchase of HPS Investment Partners and its acquisition of Prequin standing out for growing its role both in private markets and technology services. Business Analysis BlackRock's AUM growth in 2025 represents a mixed picture of both increasing its retail client base and market change driving AU...
TOANO, Va., Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C&F Financial Corporation (the Corporation) (NASDAQ: CFFI), the holding company for C&F Bank, today reported consolidated net income of $6.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $6.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The Corporation reported consolidated net income of $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to ...
TOANO, Va., Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C&F Financial Corporation (the Corporation) (NASDAQ: CFFI), the holding company for C&F Bank, today reported consolidated net income of $6.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $6.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The Corporation reported consolidated net income of $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $19.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The following table presents selected financial performance highlights for the periods indicated: For The Quarter Ended For the Year Ended Consolidated Financial Highlights (unaudited) 12/31/2025 12/31/2024 12/31/2025 12/31/2024 Consolidated net income (000's) $ 6,716 $ 6,029 $ 26,991 $ 19,918 Earnings per share - basic and diluted $ 2.07 $ 1.87 $ 8.29 $ 6.01 Annualized return on average assets 0.97 % 0.94 % 1.01 % 0.80 % Annualized return on average equity 10.41 % 10.60 % 11.11 % 9.02 % Annualized return on average tangible common equity1 11.67 % 12.17 % 12.53 % 10.37 % ________________________ 1 For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), please see “Use of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” below. “I am proud to say that C&F delivered a strong performance in a year that called for resilience, prudence, and determined execution of strategic initiatives,” said Tom Cherry, President and Chief Executive Officer of C&F Financial Corporation. "Our diversified business model remains our greatest strength and is a primary catalyst for the increase in earnings in 2025. Specifically, growth in loans and deposits at the community banking segment, wealth advisory revenue at the community banking segment, loan originations at the mortgage banking segment, and efforts to enhance operational efficiencies at the consumer finance segment all combined to drive higher...
When Netflix first acquired cozy game developer Spry Fox in 2022, it made a lot of sense. The studio had been around for over a decade and had several hits with mobile games like Triple Town and Alphabear. That approachable style of puzzle game seemed like a good fit for Netflix’s mobile-first strategy, and, as Spry Fox cofounder David Edery tells me, the partnership also meant that the team could...
When Netflix first acquired cozy game developer Spry Fox in 2022, it made a lot of sense. The studio had been around for over a decade and had several hits with mobile games like Triple Town and Alphabear. That approachable style of puzzle game seemed like a good fit for Netflix’s mobile-first strategy, and, as Spry Fox cofounder David Edery tells me, the partnership also meant that the team could focus on making the experiences they wanted to build without having to worry about monetization. “We just never were that good at making money from our games,” Edery explains. Now, three years later, Spry Fox is once again independent after buying itself out from Netflix. The news comes as the streaming service’s fledgling gaming efforts are shifting, with a focus on TV-based games as opposed to mobile titles. Even studios behind successful games, like Squid Game: Unleashed, have been shuttered as part of the changes. But for Spry Fox, the decision to separate from Netflix was done for a different reason: to reach as large an audience as possible with the studio’s upcoming MMO Spirit Crossing. “At some point, I increasingly became concerned about the fact that being a Netflix member-only game was a real issue for it,” Edery explains. “It’s a highly social game. People want to be able to play with their friends. If their friends are not Netflix members, that’s kind of a problem.” Spirit Crossing is a large-scale multiplayer game about fostering friendship and community in a fantastical and adorable world. It’s the biggest experience the studio has ever made, but also feels like a natural progression; after achieving success with those early mobile titles, Spry Fox pushed further into the so-called “cozy” genre with the Animal Crossing-style series Cozy Grove. While those games are single-player, Spirit Crossing aims to do something similar but in a virtual world filled with lots of players. The goal is ambitious. “We genuinely believe this is our chance to reduce loneliness...
WASHINGTON, January 27, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amida Technology Solutions, Inc. (Amida), a software services company that solves the most complex challenges in data interoperability, data exchange, data governance, and data security, today announced its Microsoft Azure GCC Environment and Virginia-based Data Center have earned certified status from HITRUST for cybersecurity and information protect...
WASHINGTON, January 27, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amida Technology Solutions, Inc. (Amida), a software services company that solves the most complex challenges in data interoperability, data exchange, data governance, and data security, today announced its Microsoft Azure GCC Environment and Virginia-based Data Center have earned certified status from HITRUST for cybersecurity and information protection. This certification confirms that Amida maintains strong controls to protect sensitive data and manage risk effectively. Built on the HITRUST Assurance Program, this achievement relies on independent third-party tests, centralized quality assurance, and a certification that utilizes HITRUST’s Cyber Threat-Adaptive engine. These elements ensure Amida aligns with the latest threat intelligence and modern standards across NIST, ISO, and OWASP. "As cybersecurity expectations rise, our stakeholders expect credible, validated assurance," said Mukundan Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer at Amida. "Our HITRUST Certification reinforces our steadfast resolve to protect information and maintain the trust of our clients." "This milestone demonstrates Amida’s commitment to manage information risk and protect sensitive data through a rigorous, proven assurance process," said Gregory Webb, CEO of HITRUST. "The achievement reflects the organization’s proactive approach to cybersecurity and trust." About Amida Amida Technology Solutions, Inc. delivers advanced data-engineering, AI/ML, and cybersecurity solutions that transform complex data into trusted, actionable insight. The company’s platforms power systems for clients in healthcare, defense, and critical infrastructure. www.amida.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127996729/en/ Contacts Media Contact Peter L. Levin 202-735-1798 marketing@amida.com
SoundHound had a rough time in 2025. Sometimes, stocks that were previously popular fall out of favor, prompting deal-hungry investors to take a closer look. With shares down by 34% over the last 12 months, Soundhound AI (SOUN 0.41%) certainly fits into the category. Shares in the company, which provides voice recognition technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI), soared in early 2024 aft...
SoundHound had a rough time in 2025. Sometimes, stocks that were previously popular fall out of favor, prompting deal-hungry investors to take a closer look. With shares down by 34% over the last 12 months, Soundhound AI (SOUN 0.41%) certainly fits into the category. Shares in the company, which provides voice recognition technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI), soared in early 2024 after filings showed that the industry-leading chipmaker Nvidia owned a stake, only to fall back down to earth when the hype faded and the market realized that Nvidia had sold its position. In the future, SoundHound's performance will likely depend on its actual fundamentals. Investors will be curious to know if it can maintain its above-average growth, establish a moat against competition, and -- most importantly -- demonstrate a pathway to sustainable profitability. Let's dig deeper to see what the next five years might have in store. A natural synergy between technologies Automated speech-recognition software has been around for a while now. We are all familiar with Apple's digital assistant Siri, which came out in 2011, as well as those interactive voice response (IVR) systems used (somewhat frustratingly) for customer service. AI large language models (LLMs) fix the limitations of these older technologies by allowing them to actually interact with the user in a more useful and humanlike way. Expand NASDAQ : SOUN SoundHound AI Today's Change ( -0.41 %) $ -0.04 Current Price $ 9.80 Key Data Points Market Cap $4.1B Day's Range $ 9.53 - $ 9.96 52wk Range $ 6.52 - $ 22.17 Volume 415K Avg Vol 27M Gross Margin 30.02 % The combination of speech recognition with LLMs will be key to bringing AI into some of its most exciting uses over the long term, such as humanoid robots. However, for now, SoundHound is tackling the opportunity's low-hanging fruit, such as restaurant drive-thrus, customer service digital agents, and hands-free automotive assistants. Company documents suggest the ...
March arabica coffee (KCH26) today is +11.60 (+3.26%), and March ICE robusta coffee (RMH26) is up +104 (+2.48%). Coffee prices are sharply higher today, with arabica coffee posting a 2-week high. Strength in the Brazilian real is lifting coffee prices today. The real (^USDBRL) rallied to a 20-month high today, discouraging export sales from Brazil's coffee producers. Don’t Miss a Day: Shrinking Br...
March arabica coffee (KCH26) today is +11.60 (+3.26%), and March ICE robusta coffee (RMH26) is up +104 (+2.48%). Coffee prices are sharply higher today, with arabica coffee posting a 2-week high. Strength in the Brazilian real is lifting coffee prices today. The real (^USDBRL) rallied to a 20-month high today, discouraging export sales from Brazil's coffee producers. Don’t Miss a Day: Shrinking Brazilian coffee exports are supportive of coffee prices. Cecafe reported last Monday that Brazil's total Dec green coffee exports fell -18.4% to 2.86 million bags, with arabica coffee exports down -10% y/y to 2.6 million bags and robusta coffee exports down -61% y/y to 222,147 bags. Below-average rainfall in Brazil, the world's largest arabica producer, is supportive for coffee prices. Somar Meteorologia reported last Monday that Brazil's largest arabica coffee-growing area, Minas Gerais, received 33.9 mm of rain during the week ended January 16, or 53% of the historical average. The recovery in ICE coffee inventories is negative for prices. ICE-monitored arabica inventories fell to a 1.75-year low of 398,645 bags on November 20, but recovered to a 2.5-month high of 461,829 bags on January 14. Also, ICE robusta coffee inventories fell to a 1-year low of 4,012 lots on December 10 but recovered to a 1.75-month high of 4,609 lots last Friday. The outlook for ample coffee supplies is a bearish factor for prices. On December 4, Conab, Brazil's crop forecasting agency, raised its total Brazil 2025 coffee production estimate by 2.4% to 56.54 million bags, from a September estimate of 55.20 million bags. Soaring coffee exports from Vietnam, the world's largest robusta producer, are bearish for robusta prices. Vietnam's National Statistics Office reported on January 5 that Vietnam's 2025 coffee exports jumped by +17.5% y/y to 1.58 MMT. Increased Vietnamese coffee supplies are negative for prices. Vietnam's 2025/26 coffee production is projected to climb +6% y/y to 1.76 MMT, or 29.4 m...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.47%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.84%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.87%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.48%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.90%. Stock indexes are mostly higher today, with the S&P 500 posting a 2-week high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 2.75-month high. Strengt...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.47%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.84%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.87%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.48%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.90%. Stock indexes are mostly higher today, with the S&P 500 posting a 2-week high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 2.75-month high. Strength in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks is leading the broader market higher today, with Micron Technology rising 5% after it said it plans to invest $24 billion in Singapore and expand its memory-chip capacity. Also, strong Q4 corporate earnings results are underpinning stocks. Stocks maintained their gains today despite an unexpected decline in the Conference Board’s US Jan consumer confidence index to an 11.5-year low. Join 200K+ Subscribers: The weakness in health insurance stocks is weighing on the Dow Jones Industrials after the US government proposed holding payments to private Medicare plans flat next year. Health insurers added to their losses after UnitedHealth Group forecast a decline in 2026 revenue, the first annual contraction in more than 30 years. Stocks are also being pressured by President Trump’s new threat of 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, lingering concerns about Greenland, and business and travel disruptions from the massive storm that just crossed the US. In addition, there is political uncertainty about the Fed, as the FOMC is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting this week, potentially drawing new threats from Mr. Trump for refusing to cut rates further. The risk of another partial government shutdown is also weighing on stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current ...
Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (Symbol: STX), where a total of 24,726 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 2.5 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 75.2% of STX's average daily trading volume over the past month of 3.3 million shares. Especially high volume was s...
Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (Symbol: STX), where a total of 24,726 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 2.5 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 75.2% of STX's average daily trading volume over the past month of 3.3 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $400 strike call option expiring January 30, 2026 , with 1,148 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 114,800 underlying shares of STX. Below is a chart showing STX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $400 strike highlighted in orange: HCA Healthcare Inc (Symbol: HCA) saw options trading volume of 5,849 contracts, representing approximately 584,900 underlying shares or approximately 64% of HCA's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 913,870 shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $430 strike put option expiring February 20, 2026, with 1,367 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 136,700 underlying shares of HCA. Below is a chart showing HCA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $430 strike highlighted in orange: And Texas Instruments Inc. (Symbol: TXN) options are showing a volume of 39,097 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 3.9 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 58.2% of TXN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.7 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $220 strike call option expiring February 20, 2026, with 7,742 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 774,200 underlying shares of TXN. Below is a chart showing TXN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $220 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for STX options, HCA options, or TXN options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of...