Key Points Traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s differ in how they're taxed -- something investors should consider. Traditional 401(k)s give an upfront tax break, while Roth 401(k)s allow for tax-free withdrawals in retirement. No matter which account you use, stay mindful of the annual contribution limit for 401(k)s this year. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › ...
Key Points Traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s differ in how they're taxed -- something investors should consider. Traditional 401(k)s give an upfront tax break, while Roth 401(k)s allow for tax-free withdrawals in retirement. No matter which account you use, stay mindful of the annual contribution limit for 401(k)s this year. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Choosing how to invest in your 401(k) sounds simple, but it gets complicated quickly. You have to look at investment fees and estimated returns and try to figure out which makes the most sense for you. You also have to make a choice that workers in decades past never had to: Should you save in a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k)? It's an individual decision, and understanding the pros and cons of each account is key to making the right call. 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 » The big difference between traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s Traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s have only one major difference: how they're taxed. Traditional 401(k)s give you a tax break in the year you make your contribution. For example, if you put $5,000 in a traditional 401(k) this year, your 2026 taxable income would decrease by $5,000. However, you'll owe ordinary income tax on all your contributions and any associated earnings in retirement. Roth 401(k)s work the opposite way. You don't get any upfront tax break when you set that money aside, but then you're allowed tax- and penalty-free withdrawals in retirement, as long as you're at least 59 1/2 and have had your account for at least five years. Each type has its advantages and drawbacks. You might prefer a traditional 401(k) if you're in a high tax bracket now and you expect your expenses to drop significantly in retirement. But if you expect your expenses in retirement to be similar to or higher than ...
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both. Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assur...
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both. Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor. Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days. Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on. The Style Scores are broken down into four categories: Value Score Finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks. Growth Score Growth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time. Momentum Score Momentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a pos...
IREN Limited IREN shares are up 5.1% since the company reported its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 5. The surge in share price can be attributed to strong momentum in IREN’s AI Cloud Business, which increased 136.9% on a sequential basis to $17.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up from prior quarter’s $7.3 million. IREN’s focus on no longer being a pure-play crypto-mining...
IREN Limited IREN shares are up 5.1% since the company reported its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 5. The surge in share price can be attributed to strong momentum in IREN’s AI Cloud Business, which increased 136.9% on a sequential basis to $17.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up from prior quarter’s $7.3 million. IREN’s focus on no longer being a pure-play crypto-mining company while evolving into an AI Cloud Service Provider seems to bode well for the company’s prospects. Currently, IREN has an opportunity to capitalize on the emerging AI space as the need for AI compute infrastructure, which is witnessing a CAGR of 23.8%, per a report by MarketsAndMarkets, growing much faster than the crypto mining market. Strong Momentum in AI Cloud Boosts IREN’s Prospects IREN is aiming to reach $3.4 billion in annualized run-rate revenues (ARR) by the end of calendar 2026, mainly from its AI cloud business. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN reported around $2.3 billion of ARR under contract, which includes its large AI cloud agreement with Microsoft MSFT and about $0.4-$0.5 billion of ARR from the Prince George site. Here, the management expects Prince George’s revenues to increase as the remaining capacity is finalized. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN secured $3.6 billion in GPU financing and received $1.9 billion from Microsoft in customer prepayments, which together cover about 95% of the GPU-related capital spending tied to the Microsoft contract. Management said this reduces risk and allows the company to focus on adding more customers. Another positive is power availability. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN stated that it has more than 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of secured power, which management said is hard to find in the current data center market and reaching its $3.4 billion ARR target by the end of calendar 2026 would use only about 10% of this power. This means most of the power capacity is still available for futur...
It was early in the season that Liverpool supporters noticed a subtle change at the club's AXA Training Centre. Images of the campaign's key moments could be spotted on a wall while the squad trained, placed there to inspire the players as they looked to retain their Premier League crown. And with each game that passed, the collection of images grew. First there is a picture of Federico Chiesa cel...
It was early in the season that Liverpool supporters noticed a subtle change at the club's AXA Training Centre. Images of the campaign's key moments could be spotted on a wall while the squad trained, placed there to inspire the players as they looked to retain their Premier League crown. And with each game that passed, the collection of images grew. First there is a picture of Federico Chiesa celebrating his 88th-minute goal against Bournemouth on the opening day of the Premier League season, a goal that put Liverpool back into the lead after the Cherries had come back from 2-0 down to draw level. Mohamed Salah would score in stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt. Next to it was placed an image of teenager Rio Ngumoha scoring a dramatic winner in the 100th minute at St James' Park as Newcastle were beaten 3-2. A week later and Dominik Szoboszlai scored a free-kick in the 83rd minute against Arsenal, and the following weekend Mohamed Salah scored a 95th-minute penalty at Burnley - a pair of back-to-back 1-0 wins, two more photos on the wall. After five games, Liverpool had 15 points on the board and a whole set of images for the players to take inspiration from. The Reds were top of the league with a 100 percent record and favourites to retain their title. Throw in a 92nd-minute win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League - another game in which Liverpool had surrendered a two-goal lead - and from the outside at least, things were looking good for Arne Slot's side. The Dutchman put his side's knack of winning it late on down to self-belief and fitness. But the cracks were showing in the goals his team were conceding and now, five months on, there are precious few new images to line the walls of Liverpool's training ground. The Reds' habit of scoring late winners has turned on its head, and it is they who are finding themselves conceding late on. Liverpool are now there for the taking. In Liverpool's next three league games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea...
Tim Robberts U.S. job growth has effectively stalled over the past year, an unusually long pause that is forcing the Federal Reserve to reassess the forces driving the labor market slowdown, according to TS Lombard's Dario Perkins. Employment has been flat since early 2025, a pattern that historically has been associated with an impending recession. This time, however, Fed officials increasingly b...
Tim Robberts U.S. job growth has effectively stalled over the past year, an unusually long pause that is forcing the Federal Reserve to reassess the forces driving the labor market slowdown, according to TS Lombard's Dario Perkins. Employment has been flat since early 2025, a pattern that historically has been associated with an impending recession. This time, however, Fed officials increasingly believe the weakness reflects supply constraints rather than a collapse in demand, a distinction with major implications for monetary policy. Recent Fed analysis examining the relationship between wages and employment suggested that shrinking labor supply has been the dominant factor behind slower hiring. A sharp decline in immigration, including a net outflow of unauthorized workers, appears to have reduced the size of the U.S. labor force, TS Lombard said, citing Dallas Fed research. While some policymakers and economists argue that weaker immigration affects both supply and demand, Perkins noted that the impact is uneven across sectors. Reduced labor mobility has increased mismatches in the job market, raising the risk of inflationary bottlenecks as wages tend to be slow to adjust downward. At the same time, the research cautioned that demand has not disappeared entirely. Falling job vacancies and a gradual rise in unemployment suggest some cyclical weakness, particularly in manufacturing, construction, and consumer-facing industries—what the report described as a “blue-collar recession.” The supply-demand distinction is critical for the Fed’s next moves. Weak demand would argue for policy easing to prevent deflationary pressures, while supply-driven constraints could keep inflation sticky and justify holding rates higher for longer. With fiscal stimulus likely to support demand later this year, Perkins warned that a rebound in activity could reignite inflation if labor supply remains impaired. Here are some exchange-traded funds that track the S&P 500: ( NYSEARCA: SPY ),...
Ascend Wellness ( AAWH ) announced on Monday that it expects fourth quarter net revenue to be approximately $120M and adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $30M, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of ~25%. For the full year 2025, the company expects net revenue to be approximately $500M and adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $117M, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of ~23%. As of December 31, 2025...
Ascend Wellness ( AAWH ) announced on Monday that it expects fourth quarter net revenue to be approximately $120M and adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $30M, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of ~25%. For the full year 2025, the company expects net revenue to be approximately $500M and adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $117M, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of ~23%. As of December 31, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $86M. AAWH is +0.58% to $0.6558. Source: Press Release More on Ascend Wellness Holdings GOP Rep. Lawler calls marijuana 'gateway drug' in opposing Trump rescheduling plan Trump confirms Executive Order to reclassify marijuana under consideration Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Ascend Wellness Holdings Historical earnings data for Ascend Wellness Holdings Financial information for Ascend Wellness Holdings
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Steve Urban Chief Financial Officer — Paul Kaczowski Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary — Jordan Christensen TAKEAWAYS Net Sales -- $13.4 million, representing a 7% increase, outperforming broader consumer trends. -- $13.4 million, representing a 7% increase, outperfor...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Steve Urban Chief Financial Officer — Paul Kaczowski Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary — Jordan Christensen TAKEAWAYS Net Sales -- $13.4 million, representing a 7% increase, outperforming broader consumer trends. -- $13.4 million, representing a 7% increase, outperforming broader consumer trends. Gross Margin -- 87.1%, maintained despite new COGS from Master FFL partnership investment. -- 87.1%, maintained despite new COGS from Master FFL partnership investment. Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) -- $215.8 million, growing 6.4%, with firearm unit sales up over 8% sequentially and non-firearms GMV declining. -- $215.8 million, growing 6.4%, with firearm unit sales up over 8% sequentially and non-firearms GMV declining. Take Rate -- 6.2%, an improvement from the prior year's 6.17%, partially driven by platform enhancements. -- 6.2%, an improvement from the prior year's 6.17%, partially driven by platform enhancements. Operating Expenses -- Decreased by approximately $22 million, with recurring expenses reduced by $1.4 million through headcount, legal, and facility cost reductions. -- Decreased by approximately $22 million, with recurring expenses reduced by $1.4 million through headcount, legal, and facility cost reductions. Net Income Before Discontinued Operations -- $1.465 million, a reversal from a $21.077 million loss in the prior year’s comparable quarter. -- $1.465 million, a reversal from a $21.077 million loss in the prior year’s comparable quarter. Earnings Per Share (EPS) -- $0.01, versus a loss of $0.18 in the same quarter last year (from continuing operations). -- $0.01, versus a loss of $0.18 in the same quarter last year (from continuing operations). Adjusted EBITDA -- $6.5 million, a 54% increase, equating to 49% of net sales. -- $6.5 million, a 54% increase, equating to 49% of net sales. Cash Generation From Operations -- Over...
Novo Nordisk A/S shares rose after Hims & Hers Health Inc. agreed to stop selling a copycat version of the new Wegovy weight-loss pill following US government threats to crack down on knockoffs. Bloomberg's Sam Fazeli reports. (Source: Bloomberg)
Novo Nordisk A/S shares rose after Hims & Hers Health Inc. agreed to stop selling a copycat version of the new Wegovy weight-loss pill following US government threats to crack down on knockoffs. Bloomberg's Sam Fazeli reports. (Source: Bloomberg)
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. OpenAI plans to start testing ads in ChatGPT today, according to a report from CNBC. The “clearly labeled” ads will appear in a separate area beneath your chat, Ope...
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. OpenAI plans to start testing ads in ChatGPT today, according to a report from CNBC. The “clearly labeled” ads will appear in a separate area beneath your chat, OpenAI announced last month. A source close to the situation tells CNBC that OpenAI “expects ads to make up less than half of its revenue long term.” Last week, Anthropic showed off a Super Bowl commercial poking fun at OpenAI, saying “ads are coming to AI,” but not to its AI chatbot Claude. The version of the ad that aired during the game was a little less direct after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the campaign “clearly dishonest.” OpenAI will show ads to logged-in users who use the app for free or subscribe to its cheaper Go subscription. The company says it will “keep your conversations with ChatGPT private from advertisers,” but notes that the ads will still be “optimized based on what’s most helpful to you.” Advertisers won’t have an impact on ChatGPT’s answers, according to OpenAI. In an internal memo seen by CNBC, Altman tells employees that OpenAI plans to launch an updated chat model this week, coming just days after the company released a more advanced version of its AI coding agent, Codex. Altman also reportedly said that ChatGPT is “back to exceeding 10% monthly growth.” OpenAI last reported having 800 million weekly users last October.
Earnings Call Insights: Curbline Properties Corp. (CURB) Q4 2025 Management View CEO David Lukes highlighted that 2025 marked the company's first year as a public entity, stating "The fourth quarter capped an incredible first year as a public company for Curbline, and I couldn't be more pleased with our results." Lukes described a year of robust activity, including nearly $800 million in asset acq...
Earnings Call Insights: Curbline Properties Corp. (CURB) Q4 2025 Management View CEO David Lukes highlighted that 2025 marked the company's first year as a public entity, stating "The fourth quarter capped an incredible first year as a public company for Curbline, and I couldn't be more pleased with our results." Lukes described a year of robust activity, including nearly $800 million in asset acquisitions, over 400,000 square feet of new and renewed leases, average new lease spreads of 20%, renewal spreads just under 10%, and more than 3% same-property growth. He emphasized, "Our capital expenditures were just 7% of NOI, placing us among the most capital efficient operators in the entire public REIT sector." Lukes reiterated confidence in the addressable investment market, the alignment of the convenience sector with consumer behavior, and the strength of the team and balance sheet to drive continued growth. Lukes also pointed out, "We believe we currently own the largest high-quality portfolio of convenience properties in the U.S., totaling almost 5 million square feet," highlighting a significant opportunity to scale within a 950 million square foot national market. CFO Conor Fennerty reported, "Fourth quarter results were ahead of budget, largely due to higher than forecasted NOI, driven in part by rent commencement timing, along with higher acquisition volume and lease termination fees, partially offset by G&A." Fennerty noted NOI was up 16% sequentially and almost 60% year-over-year. He detailed, "The lease rate was unchanged from the third quarter at 96.7% with occupancy up 20 basis points. Leasing volume in the fourth quarter decelerated from the third quarter, but that is simply a function of less available space as overall leasing activity remains elevated." Outlook Curbline introduced 2026 FFO guidance in the range of $1.17 to $1.21 per share, described by Fennerty as "forecasting 12% year-over-year FFO growth, which is well above the REIT sector average....
One of the two survivors said she had lost her husband, while the other reported that her two babies had died, the agency said. IOM teams provided both women with emergency medical care.
One of the two survivors said she had lost her husband, while the other reported that her two babies had died, the agency said. IOM teams provided both women with emergency medical care.
spawns/iStock via Getty Images By Parshwa Turakhiya WTI crude oil ( CL1:COM ) edged higher on Monday, trading near $63.74 per barrel, as markets attempted to balance easing geopolitical risks against mounting concerns over future supply. Prices were up about 0.4% on the session, extending a period of consolidation after a sharp rebound from December lows, but conviction remained limited as trader...
spawns/iStock via Getty Images By Parshwa Turakhiya WTI crude oil ( CL1:COM ) edged higher on Monday, trading near $63.74 per barrel, as markets attempted to balance easing geopolitical risks against mounting concerns over future supply. Prices were up about 0.4% on the session, extending a period of consolidation after a sharp rebound from December lows, but conviction remained limited as traders weighed diplomacy against structural headwinds. The modest advance followed comments from President Donald Trump striking an optimistic tone on U.S.-Iran negotiations, which helped temper fears of near-term supply disruptions in the Middle East. Even so, the broader market remained cautious, with expectations of oversupply in 2026 continuing to cap upside momentum. Prices consolidate as technical signals cool From a technical standpoint, WTI has settled into a well-defined trading range between roughly $62 and $65 per barrel. The contract is hovering near the midpoint of that band, reflecting a pause after weeks of gains. Recent price action suggests the market is digesting its rally rather than signaling a renewed breakout. WTI price dynamics (Source: TradingView) Crude remains supported above key medium-term levels established during a base-building phase that began in December, when prices rebounded from lows near $56. The break above a long-standing descending trendline earlier this year marked a shift away from the bearish structure that dominated much of 2025. However, repeated failures near the $64-65 area highlight persistent resistance and a lack of fresh bullish catalysts. Momentum indicators point to moderation rather than reversal. While the broader uptrend from winter lows remains intact, signs of fatigue are emerging as prices struggle to extend gains. A sustained move above $65 would be needed to reinforce the bullish case, while a break below $62 could expose the market to deeper consolidation. Diplomacy eases tension, but supply risks loom On the fundamen...
Eye On Iran: Pentagon Held Live-Fire War Drills In Persian Gulf US forces conducted live-fire military drills in the Persian Gulf at a moment of ongoing Washington threats to attack Iran over its nuclear program as well as ballistic missile arsenal. "Last week, Navy Sailors from USS Santa Barbara participated in the exercise Killer Tomato, a live-fire maritime gunnery exercise conducted in the Cen...
Eye On Iran: Pentagon Held Live-Fire War Drills In Persian Gulf US forces conducted live-fire military drills in the Persian Gulf at a moment of ongoing Washington threats to attack Iran over its nuclear program as well as ballistic missile arsenal. "Last week, Navy Sailors from USS Santa Barbara participated in the exercise Killer Tomato, a live-fire maritime gunnery exercise conducted in the Central Command’s area of responsibility and supported by an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft ," US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X Sunday. US CENTCOM/Navy's 5th Fleet It continued, "The exercise provided realistic training to improve surface gunnery proficiency while reinforcing joint air-maritime integration, combat readiness, and deterrence across the region." It's unclear why the US military only chose to reveal it Sunday, and not in real-time while the drills were actually being conducted. This was perhaps a security measure, to ensure no incidents or run-ins with Iranian forces, after previously an Iranian drone was shot down as it was said to be headed toward US warships. As for use of the A-10 Thunderbolt, this long in service aircraft would assist in thwarting any small vessel threat or attack against American ships, as it is able to fly very low and take out craft with its powerful machine guns. It conducted low strafing runs as part of these latest Persian Gulf drills. The futuristic-looking vessel featured in the US Navy's photos is the USS Santa Barbara, described by a defense journal as follows : The vessel is one of the U.S. Navy’s high-speed, modular Independence-class littoral combat ships, designed for operations in contested coastal waters. USS Santa Barbara is capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots and has a range of around 4,300 nautical miles at cruising speed, allowing it to conduct extended patrols and rapid response missions across the region. It displaces more than 3,100 tonnes at full load and is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine...