Thapana Onphalai/iStock via Getty Images VIG and VOO: Previous Thesis and New Developments My last coverage on the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEARCA: VIG ) was published on Nov 10, 2025. The analysis rated VIG as a buy after examining its past earnings growth rates (which were close to tech-heavy QQQ) and downside protection (which was superior to QQQ). Since then, there have been a few...
Thapana Onphalai/iStock via Getty Images VIG and VOO: Previous Thesis and New Developments My last coverage on the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEARCA: VIG ) was published on Nov 10, 2025. The analysis rated VIG as a buy after examining its past earnings growth rates (which were close to tech-heavy QQQ) and downside protection (which was superior to QQQ). Since then, there have been a few new developments both in terms of macroeconomic parameters and also fund specifics. In the former budget, the top change I’ve noted is an ongoing rotation away from growth-oriented funds toward valuation-oriented funds. In the later buckets, there are also a few noteworthy fund-specific changes, such as its latest dividend declarations. More importantly, since my last writing, many of the major holdings in VIG and also the broader S&P 500 index have released their earnings reports for FQ4 2025, which in turn impacts the valuation metrics of VIG and also its growth outlook. These changes motivated me to perform a comparative analysis between VIG and Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF ( VOO ) as a proxy of the broader equity market. Let me start with the first development. To illustrate my observation of the rotation, the table below compares the performance of VIG and VOO, together with two other value-oriented funds (the Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF ( VYM ) and the State Street Staples Select ETF ( XLP )). As seen, all 3 ETFs with a focus on dividends have lagged VOO for years but began to pull ahead of VOO in the recent 6 months or so. To wit, VIG gained about 2.3% in the past month while VOO suffered a slight retreat. In the past 3 months, VIG gained 6.5%, more than doubling VOO’s gain of 3.1%, and an alpha was also observed in the past 6 months. Against this backdrop, I will next identify the key factors that can continue driving this rotation forward. Seeking Alpha VIG and VOO ETF: Basic Information and Exposure Before moving into further details, let me take a...
Earnings Call Insights: Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) Q1 2026 Management View Michael Weinstein, Founder, Chairman & CEO, described the quarter as "really a quiet quarter" and noted, "Las Vegas remains a high point for us. We're seeing better results there despite the strip being down 11%. Our operations are doing quite well. We're more efficient." He highlighted ongoing efficiency improvements and...
Earnings Call Insights: Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) Q1 2026 Management View Michael Weinstein, Founder, Chairman & CEO, described the quarter as "really a quiet quarter" and noted, "Las Vegas remains a high point for us. We're seeing better results there despite the strip being down 11%. Our operations are doing quite well. We're more efficient." He highlighted ongoing efficiency improvements and stated that event business at Bryant Park is starting to pick up despite ongoing litigation: "More Event business is starting to be signed up. So I think this year we'll be better on the revenue side in the event and corporate and social event side than it has been." Weinstein discussed the impact of the new lease with MGM for New York, New York, explaining, "The redo of America, which will -- it's open, but the new facility that we're building will be open in April. That's taken a lot of cash in the last couple of months. Also, our litigation bills at Bryant Park has taken a lot of cash. So we expect once the build-out of America is completed, the cash position will start to improve." CFO Anthony Sirica reported, "Our adjusted EBITDA was about $150,000 better this year than it was last year. Our balance sheet, the cash was $9 million and change, and our debt is $3 million. Other than that, the balance sheet did not have any significant changes." Outlook Weinstein stated, "We expect once the build-out of America is completed, the cash position will start to improve. And in the March quarter, that's a low point for us in cash on an annual basis. So we'll see cash starting to improve in the next couple of months." He added regarding market expansion: "We're starting to see hopefully some expansion opportunities in Vegas for what we do." On the Meadowlands project, Weinstein noted, "If it's positive, we think that the ammunition, the legislature needs to go forward and put a referendum on the ballot this November. We just started this process about a week ago. It will take 1 ...
Alllex/E+ via Getty Images Gold and silver have seen some wild trading swings after hitting record levels, but should investors expect that rocky ride to continue? Bart Melek, Head of Commodity Strategy with TD Securities, joins MoneyTalk to break down how volatility in precious metals is now the price of admission. Transcript Greg Bonnell: Gold and silver have seen some volatility, some pretty bi...
Alllex/E+ via Getty Images Gold and silver have seen some wild trading swings after hitting record levels, but should investors expect that rocky ride to continue? Bart Melek, Head of Commodity Strategy with TD Securities, joins MoneyTalk to break down how volatility in precious metals is now the price of admission. Transcript Greg Bonnell: Gold and silver have seen some volatility, some pretty big trading swings in recent sessions. Of course, that was all after hitting record levels. Should investors be expecting a rocky ride going forward? Joining us now is Bart Melek, managing director and head of commodity strategy at TD Securities. Bart, there were many days when things were happening. And I thought, I need Bart here in this chair every day on days like these. Let's start with gold. What's the story here? Bart Melek: Well, we've seen some very volatile times for gold and precious metals broadly. Fundamentally, me and the team still like gold here. We're looking at a $5,000 quarterly average next quarter-- may not seem like a lot at this point, given where prices have been and where they are. It was more of a brave call a while back. But still, fundamentally, it looks like from a trading perspective we might hit levels significantly above that. $5,455, maybe even $5,700 is in the cards just given historic volatility. And we certainly have seen a lot of volatility lately. And why do I think gold still has a bid underneath it? Well, starting today, we had the Chinese officials tell their bankers to maybe not be so enthusiastic in buying Treasuries. That, I think, in no small way had an impact-- a negative impact-- on the US dollar. And we all know that there is a very strong inverse relationship between the two. The weaker the US dollar is, typically, gold tends to do better. Again, from China, we had news yet again that last month their central bank didn't buy a huge amount of gold but continued to acquire gold deposits. And we're seeing central banks around the ...
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / February 10, 2026 / Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK) is pleased to confirm that, as of today, all Elektros-branded t-shirts requested by shareholders as part of its shareholder awareness and engagement initiative have been successfully fulfilled and shipped. This initiative was designed to create a direct and meaningful connection with Elektros sharehold...
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / February 10, 2026 / Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK) is pleased to confirm that, as of today, all Elektros-branded t-shirts requested by shareholders as part of its shareholder awareness and engagement initiative have been successfully fulfilled and shipped. This initiative was designed to create a direct and meaningful connection with Elektros shareholders by offering high-quality merchandise that supporters could proudly wear while representing the company. The completion of all shipments to date marks a successful milestone in this ongoing engagement effort. The idea for the t-shirt initiative was inspired by the innovative approach taken by Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of Tesla, through merchandise launched under The Boring Company. Observing the rapid and enthusiastic response generated by The Boring Company's branded hoodies and apparel demonstrated how thoughtful merchandise can quickly unite a community, spark excitement, and deepen engagement with supporters. Elektros was proud to learn from this example and apply a similar concept to its own shareholder base. "We are incredibly grateful for the level of engagement and enthusiasm we continue to see from our shareholders," said Shlomo Bleier, Chief Executive Officer of Elektros Inc. "Seeing our community wear Elektros merchandise loud and proud has been truly motivating. The response has exceeded our expectations and reinforces the strength of our shareholder community." Elektros welcomes new engagement from shareholders who have not yet requested t-shirts, as well as additional interest from existing shareholders. Eligible shareholders are encouraged to email the company with their full name, mailing address, number of shirts requested (up to three per shareholder), and preferred sizes (Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large). Elektros will continue to accommodate requests while supplies last. Market Context and Industry Perspective Across global financial and...
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick minimised his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Tuesday even as he acknowledged visiting the disgraced financier at his private island in 2012 after Epstein was a convicted sex offender. Lutnick, speaking to a Senate panel, described going to Epstein’s island after being asked in Tuesday’s hearing about Justice Department documents showing he had planned a visi...
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick minimised his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Tuesday even as he acknowledged visiting the disgraced financier at his private island in 2012 after Epstein was a convicted sex offender. Lutnick, speaking to a Senate panel, described going to Epstein’s island after being asked in Tuesday’s hearing about Justice Department documents showing he had planned a visit. “I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation, my wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies,” Lutnick told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. Advertisement Lutnick added, “The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple and their children was staff who worked for Mr Epstein on that island.” Justice Department documents released in recent weeks indicate Lutnick previously incorrectly characterised the extent of his relationship with Epstein. A drone view shows a pool on Little St James, a small private island formerly owned by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in the US Virgin Islands, in November 2025. Photo: Reuters In an interview on the Pod Force One podcast last year, Lutnick described moving into a house next door to Epstein in 2005 and being so troubled by him that he and his wife agreed to never be in a room with him again.
stockcam/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images The share price of Meta Platforms ( META ) has been all over the place in the last few months, courtesy of volatile narratives around artificial intelligence (‘AI’) and concerns about both the AI-driven disruption and extreme spending that may not yield the desired long-term results. Meta initially surged on strong quarterly results and growth outlook tw...
stockcam/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images The share price of Meta Platforms ( META ) has been all over the place in the last few months, courtesy of volatile narratives around artificial intelligence (‘AI’) and concerns about both the AI-driven disruption and extreme spending that may not yield the desired long-term results. Meta initially surged on strong quarterly results and growth outlook two weeks ago, but it has since given back the gains and is back to where it was prior to the earnings report. In the age of rapid technology evolution and transformation, I believe Meta cannot afford not to increase spending, and while no company is perfect, it has historically been making the right decisions to stay relevant, and this provides me confidence that this will remain the case. I am generally bullish on AI and have been looking across the board to find stocks and expand the Growth Stock Forum's Coverage Universe and find new Momentum Ideas. Meta currently fits the bill on both requirements, as the former follows the numbers and outlook and the latter the fundamentals along with price trends. Follow the numbers – you have to spend to win We are always working with probabilities, not certainty, when it comes to stock market investing and return expectations. That is the important caveat here, but I believe Meta needs to spend if it wants to win in the long run and continue to deliver revenue, earnings growth, and share price appreciation to its investors. It often helps to look at the big picture and long-term trends, as price action and valuation trends usually align with growth rates over time. Meta tells this story: during the period of high growth, the stock was in a good uptrend (2016-2018), but as the growth decelerated, the momentum waned. And then, the COVID-19-driven sharp growth acceleration resulted in a new surge in the early 2020s that was followed by a crash as growth turned negative. Sure enough, a new sharp recovery followed as the Y/Y revenue growt...
Feverpitched/iStock via Getty Images Shares of Masco ( MAS ) surged more than 10% Tuesday, pushing the home improvement products maker to a 52-week high after it posted quarterly earnings that topped Wall Street estimates and announced a fresh $2 billion share repurchase authorization. It also said it had begun cutting jobs. Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings were $0.82 a share, ahead of the $0.79-a...
Feverpitched/iStock via Getty Images Shares of Masco ( MAS ) surged more than 10% Tuesday, pushing the home improvement products maker to a 52-week high after it posted quarterly earnings that topped Wall Street estimates and announced a fresh $2 billion share repurchase authorization. It also said it had begun cutting jobs. Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings were $0.82 a share, ahead of the $0.79-a-share estimate. Net income fell to $165 million, or $0.80 a share, from $182 million, or $0.85 a share. Masco ( MAS ) reported fourth-quarter net sales of $1.79 billion, narrowly missing the consensus estimate of $1.82 billion, as revenue fell 2% from a year earlier amid softer demand in parts of its portfolio. Margins and segment trends Masco ( MAS ) said fourth-quarter gross margin slipped 80 basis points to 33.9% and operating profit declined 14% to $248 million. Operating margin narrowed to 13.8% from 15.9%. Within the portfolio, Plumbing Products delivered 5% sales growth, while Decorative Architectural Products saw sales drop 15%. In local currency, North American sales fell 5% and international sales rose 1%. CEO highlights execution and returns “Overall, our fourth quarter operating results were largely in line with our expectations,” CEO Jon Nudi said in the earnings release. Masco ( MAS ) said it returned $281 million to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases. Restructuring and 2026 outlook Masco ( MAS ) said it has begun restructuring actions to streamline the business, reduce headcount and optimize operations. The company incurred about $18 million of charges in the fourth quarter and expects about $50 million of additional charges in 2026. For 2026, Masco ( MAS ) forecast earnings per share of $3.91 to $4.11. On an adjusted basis, the company expects $4.10 to $4.30 a share. Masco ( MAS ) also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32 a share, payable March 9 to shareholders of record on Feb. 20. The board approved a new $2.0 billi...
O2O Creative/E+ via Getty Images In the present column, we check back in with Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. ( SBH ). This is a stock we continue to own a small house position in, but we get behind the stock again in the single digits for another trade. We suggested a Buy when shares were in the $9s and also reiterated the Buy call in late summer when shares were $11. However, we suggested taking pro...
O2O Creative/E+ via Getty Images In the present column, we check back in with Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. ( SBH ). This is a stock we continue to own a small house position in, but we get behind the stock again in the single digits for another trade. We suggested a Buy when shares were in the $9s and also reiterated the Buy call in late summer when shares were $11. However, we suggested taking profit in December when shares got to $16-$17. Since that time, shares have been sideways, but we suggest keeping a house position if you took the 2025 trade to play for longer-term upside or possible re-rating higher. So, you may be asking yourself what a house position is. This is a key teaching at BAD BEAT Investing, where it makes shorter-term profitable trades in special setups and then rolls profit into long-term investments. How it works is that you lock in profit on a highly profitable trade but leave a percentage of the profit in the stock long-term. We then take the principal and added profit and move on to new setups, and we rinse and repeat. It is a wealth-building strategy, and we have executed it with SBH, and now we will benefit from any and all future gains, dividends, spinoffs, etc. At the present levels, we remain cautiously optimistic, and there is some room for revaluation higher, but we view a Hold as appropriate, and this is evidenced by the just-reported earnings . Today's column is an earnings review of the fiscal Q1 results and the outlook for the company. Sally Beauty Holdings Headlines Fiscal Q1 Results The company put out a double-line beat versus consensus expectations. That is strong performance. Still, the stock struggles when it gets to the high teens, justifying a hold rating here. Consensus expected sales to be flat, but revenue was a very slight year-over-year increase of 0.6% from last year and hit $943.2 million. We expected sales to be flat to up 1%, and the results were about $3 million over expectations. Now, the key metric we monitor fo...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Phillip Green Group Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Dan Geddes Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Net Income -- $172.7 million, or $2.67 per share, representing a 19.2% increase. -- $172.7 million, or $2.67 pe...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Phillip Green Group Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Dan Geddes Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Net Income -- $172.7 million, or $2.67 per share, representing a 19.2% increase. -- $172.7 million, or $2.67 per share, representing a 19.2% increase. Return on Average Assets -- 1.32%, up from 1.16%. -- 1.32%, up from 1.16%. Return on Average Common Equity -- 16.72%, up from 15.48%. -- 16.72%, up from 15.48%. Average Deposits -- $42.1 billion, up 3.3%. -- $42.1 billion, up 3.3%. Average Loans -- $21.5 billion, up 6.8%. -- $21.5 billion, up 6.8%. Branch Expansion Metrics -- Expansion deposits reached $2.9 billion and expansion loans $2.1 billion, accounting for 10% of total company loans and nearly 7% of deposits. -- Expansion deposits reached $2.9 billion and expansion loans $2.1 billion, accounting for 10% of total company loans and nearly 7% of deposits. New Households -- almost 74,000 new expansion households added. -- almost 74,000 new expansion households added. Consumer Checking Growth -- Consumer checking households increased 5.4%. -- Consumer checking households increased 5.4%. Consumer Real Estate Loans -- Portfolio rose to $3.5 billion, gaining $547 million, or 18.7%. -- Portfolio rose to $3.5 billion, gaining $547 million, or 18.7%. Period-End Commercial Loans -- Rose 5.1%, led by energy (up 17%) and C&I (up 6.8%). -- Rose 5.1%, led by energy (up 17%) and C&I (up 6.8%). CRE Balances -- Increased 2.7%, with multifamily payoffs noted as a factor. -- Increased 2.7%, with multifamily payoffs noted as a factor. Weighted Pipeline -- $1.9 billion, up 20% sequentially, with CRE pipeline higher by 29% and C&I by 11%. -- $1.9 billion, up 20% sequentially, with CRE pipeline higher by 29% and C&I by 11%. Nonperforming Assets -- Declined to $47 million from $64 million in the prior q...
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA press release ( NSKFF ): FY2025 Revenue of NOK 33B. EBIT of NOK4.9B. More on Kongsberg Gruppen ASA Kongsberg Gruppen: Defense Repositioning Powers Growth, Valuation Now Tight Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KBGGY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Kongsberg Gruppen ASA 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Kongsberg bolsters defense holdings with acquisition of U.S. missile fi...
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA press release ( NSKFF ): FY2025 Revenue of NOK 33B. EBIT of NOK4.9B. More on Kongsberg Gruppen ASA Kongsberg Gruppen: Defense Repositioning Powers Growth, Valuation Now Tight Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KBGGY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Kongsberg Gruppen ASA 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Kongsberg bolsters defense holdings with acquisition of U.S. missile firm Zone 5 Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I reiterate my buy recommendation on assets that track the main American indices, such as the S&P 500. This article is part of a weekly series starting on November 7 , 2024, where I bring valuable insights on economics and investment to SA readers. In this article, I intend to address the initial success of my recommended stock portfolio strat...
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I reiterate my buy recommendation on assets that track the main American indices, such as the S&P 500. This article is part of a weekly series starting on November 7 , 2024, where I bring valuable insights on economics and investment to SA readers. In this article, I intend to address the initial success of my recommended stock portfolio strategy for 2026. Additionally, I will address some dichotomies that have occurred in recent days that caught my attention. Context In 2025 I published weekly articles with my reading about the economic scenario and also published my portfolio of recommended stocks. At the time, the portfolio was made up only of American companies (big techs and consumer companies), and the portfolio was assertive, as it returned 24.92% in 2025, while the S&P 500 returned 17.22%. At the end of 2025, I was analyzing the economic scenario, precious metals, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and macroeconomics. I made a very bold decision, which was to change the stock portfolio recommended for 2026. The new strategy was to mix American stocks with Brazilian stocks, and so far, this choice has been very assertive. By definition, the five American shares would have a 15% weight, and the five Brazilian shares would have a 5% weight to dilute the risk of emerging markets. The choice of Brazil was strategic; the country has a relatively more solid capital market than its peers, and in parallel, the appreciation of hard assets combined with the devaluation of the dollar should boost its assets, as its economy is extremely linked to commodities. The fact is that so far, the S&P 500 is up 1.85% this year, while my recommended stock portfolio is up 6.3%. This combination is especially effective as the US stock market is off to its worst start to a year in at least 31 years. US Equities vs World since 1995 (Augur) Despite this performance, I will mention in this article why I remain very optimistic about American s...
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images News Moderna ( MRNA ) announced on Tuesday it will deliver its respiratory vaccines to Mexico as part of a five-year agreement with the country's government aimed at improving local manufacturing capacity. The deal also enables the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech to facilitate technology transfer to Laboratorios Liomont, a Mexican pharmaceutical company, to produce...
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images News Moderna ( MRNA ) announced on Tuesday it will deliver its respiratory vaccines to Mexico as part of a five-year agreement with the country's government aimed at improving local manufacturing capacity. The deal also enables the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech to facilitate technology transfer to Laboratorios Liomont, a Mexican pharmaceutical company, to produce its COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, domestically. The company disclosed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mexican Government, pharmaceutical manufacturing company Laboratorios de Biológicos y Reactivos de Mexico, and Liomont in this regard. Under the deal, Moderna ( MRNA ) will collaborate with the Mexican Government on local clinical research and development programs aligned with national health priorities and work to boost the country's pandemic preparedness. "Through this agreement, we will be able to provide the Mexican people with access to our respiratory vaccines and critical pandemic response capacity," said CEO Stéphane Bancel, adding, "This collaboration also reflects the growing demand for these vaccines in Mexico.” More on Moderna Moderna: Analyzing The January Rally And The Road Ahead (Rating Upgrade) Moderna Vs. Novavax: 2 Pandemic Vaccine Pioneers - Which Offers Better Value Today? Moderna: V940/Keytruda Data And Vaccine Revenues Drive A High-Risk Recovery Story Earnings week ahead: F, KO, CSCO, SHOP, MCD, BP, AMAT, COIN, MRNA, ROKU, and more Arbutus jumps on ruling in patent dispute with Moderna
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks with reporters as the House votes to end the partial government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 3, 2026. Kylie Cooper | Reuters House Republican leaders are in danger of an embarrassing loss on a procedural vote Tuesday because fellow GOP lawmakers are balking at voting to block challenges to President Donald Trump' s tariffs ...
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks with reporters as the House votes to end the partial government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 3, 2026. Kylie Cooper | Reuters House Republican leaders are in danger of an embarrassing loss on a procedural vote Tuesday because fellow GOP lawmakers are balking at voting to block challenges to President Donald Trump' s tariffs through the summer. A potential GOP rebellion on the vote highlights divisions among House Republicans, a dynamic that could make it even harder for Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., to advance his and Trump's agenda through a narrowly divided Congress. Dissatisfied factions within the House GOP have revolted several times this Congress, forcing the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and supporting a failed Democratic effort to extended Obamacare subsidies. Johnson cannot afford to lose more than one Republican, assuming all members are present and Democrats are united against the measure being voted on that would set the rules for debating a bill to boost domestic production of critical minerals . At least two Republicans said they plan to vote against Johnson. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a perennial thorn in the side of GOP leadership, has vowed to vote "no." Others have similarly signaled their opposition, as frustration over Trump's tariffs and leadership's maneuvering percolates within the Republican ranks. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., told CNBC on Tuesday he objects to "this idea that everyone needs to stick together to bring a particular bill on the floor" because it makes the House "less of a democratic body." Read more CNBC politics coverage EPA set to revoke ‘endangerment finding’ that underpins all climate regulation Trump Commerce Sec. Lutnick admits visiting Epstein island during family vacation GOP Sen. Johnson slams Dems’ ‘obnoxious’ judicial warrant demand as another shutdown looms d The vote was originally slated for early afternoon, but Hou...
Magdalena Wygralak McDonald's Corporation ( MCD ) will report its results for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, after market close. Wall Street expects the fast-food chain to post earnings per share of $3.05, implying a rise of 7.8% on a revenue of $6.84 billion, representing year-over-year growth of about 7%. McDonald’s is heading into its quarterly results against a mixed operating backdrop marke...
Magdalena Wygralak McDonald's Corporation ( MCD ) will report its results for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, after market close. Wall Street expects the fast-food chain to post earnings per share of $3.05, implying a rise of 7.8% on a revenue of $6.84 billion, representing year-over-year growth of about 7%. McDonald’s is heading into its quarterly results against a mixed operating backdrop marked by resilient demand for value offerings but persistent macro and cost pressures. The company continues to face weaker traffic among lower-income consumers amid ongoing inflation , while discounting, promotions and menu innovation have supported sales but weighed on margins alongside restructuring and rising input costs such as beef . Signs of anti-American sentiment and softer demand in certain markets, even as value positioning helps quick-service chains capture trade-down spending. In India, the local franchisee is pushing faster delivery to revive same-store sales in a competitive environment with elevated expenses. Together, recent developments point to steady top-line support from pricing, promotions and convenience initiatives, offset by demand softness at the low end and cost headwinds across key markets. According to Alpha’s Quant Rating system, MCD is rated Hold with an overall score of 3.21 out of 5, reflecting an A+ grade in terms of profitability but has a D- in terms of valuation. An analyst said McDonald’s outlook hinges on pricing-led growth and cash flow durability, noting that “revenue growth is expected to be ticket-driven, not volume-led, as lower-income consumer traffic remains pressured,” and adding that “cash conversion is the critical variable.” Over the last two years, MCD has beaten EPS estimates 50% of the time and has beaten revenue estimates 50% of the time. Over the past three months, EPS estimates have seen 15 upward revisions and 10 downward revisions. Revenue estimates have seen 17 upward revisions and three downward moves. More on Corebrid...
Secondaries firm Coller Capital closed a deal to extend the life of an Ares Management Corp. private credit portfolio, amassing more than $1.3 billion in total commitments. The deal will transfer a 2018-vintage portfolio of first-lien, floating-rate loans to sponsor-backed middle-market companies into a new continuation vehicle that will continue to be managed by Ares, according to a statement Tue...
Secondaries firm Coller Capital closed a deal to extend the life of an Ares Management Corp. private credit portfolio, amassing more than $1.3 billion in total commitments. The deal will transfer a 2018-vintage portfolio of first-lien, floating-rate loans to sponsor-backed middle-market companies into a new continuation vehicle that will continue to be managed by Ares, according to a statement Tuesday. Continuation funds allow investors to roll over their investments, and have become an increasingly popular way for buyout firms to avoid selling assets at a discount. The market for such secondhand stakes has become one of private credit’s fastest-growing segments. The credit secondaries market nearly doubled in 2025, with annual transaction volume reaching $20 billion — up from the $10.9 billion tally recorded in 2024, according to Evercore. Read Going Private: Tariff Tumult to Fuel Secondaries Boom Swedish private equity firm EQT AB is buying Coller in a $3.2 billion deal to expand its reach into the secondaries market. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. Back in August, Coller linked up with middle-market direct lender TPG Twin Brook Capital Partners to establish a $3 billion continuation fund. In December, Pantheon looked to raise at least $6 billion across two credit secondaries funds and a new evergreen vehicle, which preceded a debut private credit secondaries strategy in January from Ares, which collected $7.1 billion. “Continuation vehicles are becoming an increasingly important tool, enabling managers to offer LPs liquidity as well as exposure to well-performing assets,” said Edward Goldstein , chief investment officer of Coller Credit Secondaries.
Nvidia stock wasn’t doing all that much on Tuesday as the chip maker continues to struggle within a trading range. Nvidia shares were down 0.2% at $189.76 on Tuesday after rising 2.5% on Monday. Nvidia’s main supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported a 37% rise in its January revenue from the same period last year.
Nvidia stock wasn’t doing all that much on Tuesday as the chip maker continues to struggle within a trading range. Nvidia shares were down 0.2% at $189.76 on Tuesday after rising 2.5% on Monday. Nvidia’s main supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported a 37% rise in its January revenue from the same period last year.
The Avantis All Equity Markets ETF is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Tuesday, with over 185,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 34,000. Shares of AVGE were up about 0.1% on the day. Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Tuesday were Avantis International Equity ETF, trading up about 0.4% with over 594,000 shares changing hands so far this ses...
The Avantis All Equity Markets ETF is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Tuesday, with over 185,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 34,000. Shares of AVGE were up about 0.1% on the day. Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Tuesday were Avantis International Equity ETF, trading up about 0.4% with over 594,000 shares changing hands so far this session, and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF, up about 0.1% on volume of over 480,000 shares. Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF is the component faring the best Tuesday, up by about 1.1% on the day, while Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF is lagging other components of the Avantis All Equity Markets ETF, trading lower by about 0.2%. VIDEO: Tuesday's ETF with Unusual Volume: AVGE The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
watch now VIDEO 3:53 03:53 Securing a low credit card rate: Here's what consumers should know Squawk Box Americans ended 2025 more in debt than ever before. Credit card balances hit a fresh high in the fourth quarter, rising by $44 billion to $1.28 trillion, according to a new report on household debt by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released Tuesday. That's a 5.5% jump from a year earlier....
watch now VIDEO 3:53 03:53 Securing a low credit card rate: Here's what consumers should know Squawk Box Americans ended 2025 more in debt than ever before. Credit card balances hit a fresh high in the fourth quarter, rising by $44 billion to $1.28 trillion, according to a new report on household debt by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released Tuesday. That's a 5.5% jump from a year earlier. The central bank's monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations , released Monday, also found that fewer consumers expect their households' financial situations to be better off a year from now — and a larger share expect to be worse off. 'Evidence consistent with a K-shaped economy' Julpo | E+ | Getty Images Near the end of the year, credit card debt often ticks higher as consumers increase their spending during the peak holiday shopping season. "Given what we are seeing in the labor market, spending is holding up quite well," the New York Fed researchers said on a press call Tuesday. Even as the job market shows signs of strain , consumer spending has largely stayed strong. However, that has been attributed to robust buying by higher-end consumers , other research shows. "You see evidence consistent with a 'K-shaped' economy," the New York Fed researchers said. "Some groups are really struggling." Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Credit card debt tops $1.28 trillion, consistent with 'K-shaped' economy: NY Fed How affordability led to a chasm between stock prices, consumer optimism Student loan complaints at record high, CFPB finds, but agency omits details Following Super Bowl ad, Trump accounts launch a new sign-up option Some student loan borrowers wait over a year for public servant debt forgiveness Trump's 'big beautiful bill' may spur the rise of 'un-college,' experts say First the quarter zip, now a '401(k) mullet' — what trends say about the economy How Trump's child tax credit changes could impact your refund this season Some older Americans are 'unretiring' t...