curraheeshutter/iStock via Getty Images BP ( BP ) and Shell ( SHEL ) are seeking U.S. licenses to develop natural gas fields that Trinidad and Tobago shares with Venezuela, Trinidad energy minister Roodal Moonilal said Wednesday, according to Reuters. Shell ( SHEL ) is attempting to secure a license to develop the Loran-Manatee discovery, the minister told reporters at the Indian Energy Week confe...
curraheeshutter/iStock via Getty Images BP ( BP ) and Shell ( SHEL ) are seeking U.S. licenses to develop natural gas fields that Trinidad and Tobago shares with Venezuela, Trinidad energy minister Roodal Moonilal said Wednesday, according to Reuters. Shell ( SHEL ) is attempting to secure a license to develop the Loran-Manatee discovery, the minister told reporters at the Indian Energy Week conference; the field holds ~10T cf of natural gas, with 7.3T cf on the Venezuela side of the maritime border with Trinidad . BP ( BP ) wants a license to develop the Cocuina-Manakin field, the minister also said, with the Venezuelan portion belonging to the idled Plataforma Deltana offshore gas project which has 1T cf of proven gas reserves. The Trump administration in October granted an authorization for Shell ( SHEL ) and Trinidad to develop the Dragon field, which holds one of Venezuela's largest deposits of natural gas; Moonilal said he hopes to start production at Dragon in Q4 2027 and that the field will produce 350M cf/day of gas. Trinidad is Latin America's largest liquefied natural gas exporter and one of the world's largest exporters of ammonia and methanol, but the Caribbean island's gas projects have progressed slowly in recent years due partly to frequent U.S. policy changes towards Venezuela. The Maduro government last year halted joint development of gas projects with Trinidad and Tobago, b ut following Maduro's capture this month, the U.S. is accelerating developments in the country's oil and gas sector. More on BP and Shell BP: Castrol Sale And Implications BP Selling A 65% Stake In Castrol Could Be A Great Move Shell: When The 'European Discount' Becomes An Opportunity
designer491/iStock via Getty Images Introduction Texas Instruments Incorporated ( TXN ) just reported its Q4 and full-year results , which weren’t particularly great; however, the guidance completely overshadowed the lackluster results, sending its shares up over 8% so far on the back of substantial growth in data center demand. I wanted to go through the numbers in more detail and give some comme...
designer491/iStock via Getty Images Introduction Texas Instruments Incorporated ( TXN ) just reported its Q4 and full-year results , which weren’t particularly great; however, the guidance completely overshadowed the lackluster results, sending its shares up over 8% so far on the back of substantial growth in data center demand. I wanted to go through the numbers in more detail and give some comments regarding the outlook. The company is going to become very rich over the next year in terms of free cash flow, which will allow it to reward the shareholders handsomely, and the data center growth is just a bonus. It’s been a long time since I covered TXN for the first time, and the company returned around 29% since then, compared to The S&P 500’s ( SPY ) 64% during the same time. I gave it a Hold then, and I am sticking with the same rating now. By The Numbers Starting from the top, sales came in at around $4.42B, more or less in line with estimates ($20m miss). Let’s take a look at the revenue breakdown in more detail to see which segments outperformed. Analog revenue grew around 14% y/y to $3.615B for the quarter. Embedded processing saw its revenues grow around 8% y/y to $662m, and the other category declined 34%. Analog continues to drive the performance, as it is the best performer and the largest contributor by far. For the full-year performance, Analog grew a respectable 15% y/y to around $14B, Embedded grew 6% to $2.7B, and Other grew just around 3% to $979m. Let’s take a look at the company’s profitability for the quarter and the year also. Q4 GAAP EPS came in at around $1.27, missing consensus by around 4 cents. Gross margins came in at around 56%, which is down 150bps sequentially, and around 170bps compared to the same time last year. For the year, margins came in at around 57%, down 100bps y/y. Analog revenue segment performed the best in terms of operating profits as well, growing 17% y/y to $5.4B, while embedded saw its operating income contracting by 14...
Jinda Noipho/iStock via Getty Images Why Buy Now? UL Solutions ( ULS ) and its 'UL Mark' are considered the gold standard in testing and certification. I think of it as a company that provides services and products that we need (knowingly or not) and plays a vital role in ensuring the checks and balances we as a society require for the products we use or the services we consume are met and 'police...
Jinda Noipho/iStock via Getty Images Why Buy Now? UL Solutions ( ULS ) and its 'UL Mark' are considered the gold standard in testing and certification. I think of it as a company that provides services and products that we need (knowingly or not) and plays a vital role in ensuring the checks and balances we as a society require for the products we use or the services we consume are met and 'policed' in a way that is transparent and easily understandable. The result is a company that is very profitable, relatively immune to economic cycles, and very high quality. The share price has had an incredible run since its IPO in 2024, reaching a recent high of $91.95; however, it's taken a breather since then and seems to be consolidating around its current price in the mid $70s. This pullback has brought its valuation down to 20x EV/EBITDA, which I consider a fair point to enter, and I have started my investment journey with the company. Who is UL Solutions? UL Solutions is controlled by the nonprofit UL Standards and Engagement . It's been around since 1893. Their mission for over a century has been making the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable, and they've done it consistently with huge success and, in the process, have established a brand that is well recognized globally via its unmistakable 'UL Mark.' Fortunately for us, they listed the company in 2024 in order to raise funds to further their charitable mission; however, they remain a large shareholder and via ‘Class B’ shares retain control of the company. UL Solutions, the operating entity we can invest in, tests, inspects, and certifies various products and services via three main categories: Industrial, Consumer, and Software & Advisory. They operate in 91 laboratories in 27 countries and serve over 80,000 customers around the world in over 150 jurisdictions. In very simple terms, they verify that products and services actually do what they say on the box. Testing and inspection is their bread and butter...
Key Points Venu’s upcoming Q4 numbers should look healthy enough on their own. The concert venue operator, however, is making capitalization moves that will immediately undermine the stock’s value. This prospect probably isn’t a good fit for investors who can’t stomach the inherent risk and volatility of owning small companies that regularly need new cash to fund their growth. 10 stocks we like be...
Key Points Venu’s upcoming Q4 numbers should look healthy enough on their own. The concert venue operator, however, is making capitalization moves that will immediately undermine the stock’s value. This prospect probably isn’t a good fit for investors who can’t stomach the inherent risk and volatility of owning small companies that regularly need new cash to fund their growth. 10 stocks we like better than Venu › Based on nothing more than its preliminary fourth-quarter results released yesterday afternoon, shares of live-entertainment outfit Venu (NYSEMKT: VENU) should be holding their ground. Its estimated Q4 revenue is up from year-ago levels, reflecting growing ticket sales at a handful of its live-concert locales. CEO JW Roth even went as far as to say within the announcement, "I believe the Company will become operationally profitable by the end of 2026." Yet, as of 12:15 p.m. ET today, Venu stock is down 33%. What gives? 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 other news also released after Tuesday's close is the likely culprit. Shareholder dilution ahead Getting straight to the point, Venu is diluting existing shareholders' stakes by issuing more shares of its own stock. A lot of it, in fact. Per the company's press release, the company intends to sell an additional $75 million worth of its own shares in the very near future. It hasn't yet specified exactly how many new shares it will sell directly to investors. Before today's stumble, however, Venu's market cap was right around $370 million, implying a 20% increase in its total share count looms. Of course, this translates into a 20% decrease in the stock's mathematical value as of just yesterday. More risk and volatility than most Dilution isn't always a bad thing -- sometimes a company can clearly do something constructive with a fresh injection of cash. And, there's no den...
Planetary alignment One occasional interest of mine is whether people should make investment decisions using astrology. The first-order analysis is: “Making investment decisions using astrology is dumb. There is no fundamental reason to think that the alignment of the planets influences asset prices, no mechanism other than medieval superstition.” There is a relevant xkcd . But then the second-ord...
Planetary alignment One occasional interest of mine is whether people should make investment decisions using astrology. The first-order analysis is: “Making investment decisions using astrology is dumb. There is no fundamental reason to think that the alignment of the planets influences asset prices, no mechanism other than medieval superstition.” There is a relevant xkcd . But then the second-order analysis is: “Look, it doesn’t matter that it’s dumb . People do lots of dumb stuff, and financial markets reflect the stuff that people actually do, dumb or not. If, empirically, lots of people make trading decisions based on astrology, then the alignment of the planets will influence asset prices. The mechanism is not medieval magic, it’s regular old investor psychology. Good investors and traders have to understand and take advantage of other people’s irrationality. Your job as an investor or trader is to anticipate what other investors will do, and if those other investors are influenced by beliefs about the planets then you should start casting horoscopes.” There is a relevant passage in Keynes . My casual sense is that in the US stock market you probably can’t make any real money using astrology — “there are not so many astrology pods” at big multistrategy hedge funds, I have written — but you can’t rule it out a priori, and it probably works in some markets. (Not investing advice.) We have discussed an academic paper finding that Chinese mutual funds show “a significant 6.82% reduction in risk-taking during managers’ zodiac years, traditionally considered unlucky in Chinese culture”; maybe that’s a signal you can trade on. There’s a small weird literature. If you are a finance professor interested in working on astrology, I cannot promise that it will get you tenure, but there’s a good chance that it will get you mentioned in Money Stuff. Meanwhile, what does move the US stock market is the whim of Elon Musk , and if Elon Musk starts making his own economic decisi...
Forty years ago, a stack of bright red tags shared a physical connection with what would become NASA's first space shuttle disaster. The small tags, however, were collected before the ill-fated launch of Challenger , as was instructed in bold "Remove Before Flight" lettering on the front of each. What happened to the tags after that is largely unknown. This is an attempt to learn more about where ...
Forty years ago, a stack of bright red tags shared a physical connection with what would become NASA's first space shuttle disaster. The small tags, however, were collected before the ill-fated launch of Challenger , as was instructed in bold "Remove Before Flight" lettering on the front of each. What happened to the tags after that is largely unknown. This is an attempt to learn more about where those "Remove Before Flight" tags went after they were detached from the space shuttle and before they arrived on my doorstep. If their history can be better documented, they can be provided to museums, educational centers, and astronautical archives for their preservation and display. Read full article Comments
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it's us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it's contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting ...
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it's us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it's contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting with us, check out the Odd Lots Discord , where you can hang out and talk with us and with other listeners 24/7. Today we’re pleased to bring you a piece from frequent Odd Lots guest Neil Dutta of Renaissance Macro Research . What Neil is thinking about today Some influential economists see upside risks to inflation this year. Former OMB Director Peter Orszag and Adam Posen, formerly of the Bank of England and currently President of the Peterson Institute, argue that inflation will surprise to the upside , potentially exceeding 4 percent by the end of 2026, driven by tight labor markets, loose monetary policy, and drifting inflation expectations. Ethan Harris, my former boss and former Head of Global Economics at Bank of America, has made similar arguments. So has Gita Gopinath, formerly of the IMF, who warns of an inflation snapback due to fiscal stimulus and dollar weakness. Two things stand out. First, this upside view runs counter to consensus. The BlueChip consensus sees core inflation sliding to 2.7 percent by the end of 2026 from roughly 3.0 percent now. Second, these economists are all credentialed. Even out of consensus, their views carry weight among policymakers. Being credentialed and having served in positions of repute gives them influence. Unfortunately, listening to them carries substantial risks. If the Fed holds off on easing in case they might be right, the cost will fall squarely on those of us who are not credentialed: higher unemployment. Three Musketeers: Labor, Housing, and Energy There are three primary conduits for upside inflation risks: labor, ho...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at 8 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Timothy M. Knavish Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Vincent J. Morales Director, Investor Relations — Alex Lopez Takeaways Net sales -- $3.9 billion, reflecting a 5% increase with 3% organic growth driven by positive sales volume across all regions. -- $...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at 8 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Timothy M. Knavish Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Vincent J. Morales Director, Investor Relations — Alex Lopez Takeaways Net sales -- $3.9 billion, reflecting a 5% increase with 3% organic growth driven by positive sales volume across all regions. -- $3.9 billion, reflecting a 5% increase with 3% organic growth driven by positive sales volume across all regions. Full-year net sales -- $15.9 billion, representing 2% organic growth from higher selling prices and volume gains. -- $15.9 billion, representing 2% organic growth from higher selling prices and volume gains. Adjusted earnings per share -- $1.51 for the quarter and $7.58 for the year, with the quarter impacted by higher interest costs and corporate expenses. -- $1.51 for the quarter and $7.58 for the year, with the quarter impacted by higher interest costs and corporate expenses. Segment EBITDA margin -- 18% for the quarter and 19% for the year, indicating operational efficiency and ongoing cost discipline. -- 18% for the quarter and 19% for the year, indicating operational efficiency and ongoing cost discipline. Cash from operations -- $1.9 billion, up by approximately $500 million year over year, resulting in a 5% free cash flow yield. -- $1.9 billion, up by approximately $500 million year over year, resulting in a 5% free cash flow yield. Shareholder returns -- $1.4 billion, including $630 million in dividends and $790 million in share repurchases, amounting to about 3% of outstanding shares. -- $1.4 billion, including $630 million in dividends and $790 million in share repurchases, amounting to about 3% of outstanding shares. Architectural coatings segment -- Net sales up 8% to $951 million; 2% organic growth, with nearly a 100-basis-point improvement in EBITDA margin. -- Net sales up 8% to $951 million; 2% organic growth, with nearly a 100-basis-point improve...
primeimages/iStock via Getty Images For the full year, the Russell Midcap Index returned 10.6%, capping off an exceptionally strong three year run, amounting to an annual increase of over 14%. Similar to recent years, in 2025, market leadership favored more volatile and speculative companies. This was most pronounced in the strong rebound off of the Russell Midcap Index’s low on April 8th, from wh...
primeimages/iStock via Getty Images For the full year, the Russell Midcap Index returned 10.6%, capping off an exceptionally strong three year run, amounting to an annual increase of over 14%. Similar to recent years, in 2025, market leadership favored more volatile and speculative companies. This was most pronounced in the strong rebound off of the Russell Midcap Index’s low on April 8th, from which areas like unprofitable technology companies, bitcoin exposed equities, and quantum computing businesses advanced over 100%. There were also several other more speculative areas of the market that advanced meaningfully during the year. This type of market environment typically represents a headwind for our portfolio, given our focus on high-quality, highly profitable, durable businesses, which we believe sell for reasonable prices. Historically, this has been a strong foundation for attractive long-term investment performance, and we remain committed to this discipline. In fact, we’re excited by the opportunities that the market presented in our types of businesses during the year and we were active in taking advantage of them. Portfolio Performance The Madison Mid Cap Fund ( GTSGX ) decreased 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to the 0.2% increase in the Russell Midcap Index. The top five contributors for the quarter were Ross Stores ( ROST ), MKS ( MKSI ), Waters ( WAT ), PACCAR ( PCAR ), and Amphenol ( APH ). Ross Stores reported very strong sales results in the quarter and management offered an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year. The company is benefiting from its strategy to offer even better value, by further emphasizing familiar brands at low prices. Sales are up across all categories and more consumers are visiting Ross stores. MKS shares advanced nicely during the quarter as the business continues to benefit from end markets picking up. Specifically, their Electronics and Packaging business is showing accelerating growth, partly due to AI-rel...
Earnings Call Insights: Elevance Health (ELV) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Gail Boudreaux emphasized that "2026 is a year of execution and repositioning," with guidance reflecting "prudent, achievable assumptions, grounded in pricing discipline, operational rigor and targeted investments." She announced 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance of at least $25.50, noting the 2025 results in...
Earnings Call Insights: Elevance Health (ELV) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Gail Boudreaux emphasized that "2026 is a year of execution and repositioning," with guidance reflecting "prudent, achievable assumptions, grounded in pricing discipline, operational rigor and targeted investments." She announced 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance of at least $25.50, noting the 2025 results included approximately $3.75 per share of favorable nonrecurring items. Boudreaux outlined strategic portfolio moves in Medicaid, citing ongoing rate lags versus acuity and utilization, with active engagement on "rate actions and program design changes that support the long-term sustainability of the Medicaid program." She described 2026 as a trough year for Medicaid, expecting an operating margin of approximately negative 1.75%. For Medicare Advantage, Boudreaux reported the company expects membership to decline in the high teens percentage range in 2026 due to "deliberate portfolio actions," while emphasizing the expectation of meaningful margin improvement. The Commercial business was described as maintaining "healthy momentum, particularly in national accounts," with disciplined pricing and a focus on sustainable margins. Boudreaux highlighted the integrated approach, stating, "our integrated approach continues to resonate in the market, and we are pleased that 40 employers over the past 5 years have selected our Anthem-affiliated plans as their sole carrier." Boudreaux noted, "Carelon is increasingly recognized as a differentiated platform in the market with growing demand for its solutions in managing high-cost, complex areas of healthcare," although near-term growth is moderated by lower health plan membership, particularly in CarelonRx. Boudreaux stated, "Our long-term enterprise margin target is 5% to 6%. For Health Benefits, Carelon and CarelonRx, we are targeting mid-single-digit margins with our Carelon Services target unchanged." CFO Mark Kaye reported, "Elevance...
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) just announced 16,000 job cuts worldwide, the second massive layoff in four months following 14,000 cuts in October. Combined, that’s 30,000 corporate roles eliminated in 120 days. This isn’t cost-cutting in response to a downturn. It’s a permanent recalibration of how tech giants view labor in the age of AI. The pattern across ... Amazon’s Second Massive Layoff in 4 Months Si...
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) just announced 16,000 job cuts worldwide, the second massive layoff in four months following 14,000 cuts in October. Combined, that’s 30,000 corporate roles eliminated in 120 days. This isn’t cost-cutting in response to a downturn. It’s a permanent recalibration of how tech giants view labor in the age of AI. The pattern across ... Amazon’s Second Massive Layoff in 4 Months Signals Permanent Shift in Tech Labor Strategy
At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 24 most recent 13F filings for the 06/30/2024 reporting period, and noticed that iShares Trust - iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (Symbol: EFA) was held by 11 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is a good idea to take a closer look. Before we proceed, it is important to point out that 13F filings do not...
At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 24 most recent 13F filings for the 06/30/2024 reporting period, and noticed that iShares Trust - iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (Symbol: EFA) was held by 11 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is a good idea to take a closer look. Before we proceed, it is important to point out that 13F filings do not tell the whole story, because these funds are only required to disclose their long positions with the SEC, but are not required to disclose their short positions. A fund making a bearish bet against a stock by shorting calls, for example, might also be long some amount of stock as they trade around their overall bearish position. This long component could show up in a 13F filing and everyone might assume the fund is bullish, but this tells only part of the story because the bearish/short side of the position is not seen. Having given that caveat, we believe that looking at groups of 13F filings can be revealing, especially when comparing one holding period to another. Below, let's take a look at the change in EFA positions, for this latest batch of 13F filers: In terms of shares owned, we count 3 of the above funds having increased existing EFA positions from 03/31/2024 to 06/30/2024, with 4 having decreased their positions and 1 new position. Looking beyond these particular funds in this one batch of most recent filers, we tallied up the EFA share count in the aggregate among all of the funds which held EFA at the 06/30/2024 reporting period (out of the 1,757 we looked at in total). We then compared that number to the sum total of EFA shares those same funds held back at the 03/31/2024 period, to see how the aggregate share count held by hedge funds has moved for EFA. We found that between these two periods, funds increased their holdings by 225,351 shares in the aggregate, from 32,942,271 up to 33,167,622 for a share count increase of approximately 0.68%. The overall top...
Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol delivered the best evidence yet that his turnaround plan is taking hold, with the coffee chain posting unexpectedly strong growth and a solid outlook for the rest of the year. Bloomberg's Michael Halen joins Bloomberg Intelligence to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol delivered the best evidence yet that his turnaround plan is taking hold, with the coffee chain posting unexpectedly strong growth and a solid outlook for the rest of the year. Bloomberg's Michael Halen joins Bloomberg Intelligence to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Key Points This ETF is a solid idea for newbie crypto investors looking to access Bitcoin. ETFs like this one are among the major holders of Bitcoin. The issuer is highly bullish on the cryptocurrency’s long-term potential. 10 stocks we like better than Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF › It's been about two years since spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) started trading in the U.S., marking a semina...
Key Points This ETF is a solid idea for newbie crypto investors looking to access Bitcoin. ETFs like this one are among the major holders of Bitcoin. The issuer is highly bullish on the cryptocurrency’s long-term potential. 10 stocks we like better than Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF › It's been about two years since spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) started trading in the U.S., marking a seminal event in the histories of both the ETF industry and the broader cryptocurrency space. One of the most significant funds in this still young ETF category is the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (NYSEMKT: ARKB). Just a couple of weeks past its second birthday, the ARK ETF is home $3.3 billion in assets under management (AUM), meaning just five crypto ETFs of any variety are larger than this fund. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » That's an impressive start for any two-year-old ETF, and it confirms that advisors and retail investors alike are embracing this product. Still, that popularity also indicates that market participants, particularly those new to the game, need to understand the mechanics of spot Bitcoin ETFs, including this ARK fund. Here are three need-to-know facts about this fund. 1. Investors own shares, not Bitcoin directly The ARK Bitcoin ETF and its brethren are comparable to funds such as the SPDR Gold Shares in that investors buy shares in a fund that provides exposure to the underlying asset. However, investors purchasing this ETF don't directly own Bitcoin any more than a gold ETF investor owns gold bars, which is to say they don't. In fact, the ARK ETF is, at its core, an index fund as it tracks the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant. Prospective investors need to remember that point. 2. Unlike Bitcoin, the ETF doesn't trade all day For many investors, one of the coolest things about cryptocurrency is that it's a true 24/7 market. Want to buy some B...
There are hundreds of dividend-paying stocks on equity markets. Some are fairly unimpressive. They seldom increase payouts and are more than willing to pause dividend payments altogether if they encounter challenges. Others are the polar opposites: They offer regular dividend hikes even through the most challenging times. That's the kind of dividend investors want. Let's discuss two companies that...
There are hundreds of dividend-paying stocks on equity markets. Some are fairly unimpressive. They seldom increase payouts and are more than willing to pause dividend payments altogether if they encounter challenges. Others are the polar opposites: They offer regular dividend hikes even through the most challenging times. That's the kind of dividend investors want. Let's discuss two companies that fit this profile: Visa (NYSE: V) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) . These dividend stocks could join the $1 trillion club within seven years. Image source: Getty Images. Visa, a leading financial services company, likely won't need seven years to become a trillion-dollar stock. With a current market cap of $623 billion, that would require a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% -- well below the average for broader equities, and Visa is no average company. As one of the largest payment processors in the world, Visa collects a fee for every debit and credit card transaction it facilitates. Continue reading
Brad Gerstner, Altimeter CEO, speaking with CNBC on Jan. 28th, 2026 in Washington, D.C. CNBC Altimeter Capital CEO Brad Gerstner announced Wednesday a commitment to seed Trump accounts , a type of investment account for kids, for children in his home state of Indiana. "I'm going to contribute dollars to kids in Indiana," Gerstner, a hedge fund manager who helped spearhead the Trump administration'...
Brad Gerstner, Altimeter CEO, speaking with CNBC on Jan. 28th, 2026 in Washington, D.C. CNBC Altimeter Capital CEO Brad Gerstner announced Wednesday a commitment to seed Trump accounts , a type of investment account for kids, for children in his home state of Indiana. "I'm going to contribute dollars to kids in Indiana," Gerstner, a hedge fund manager who helped spearhead the Trump administration's savings initiative , said Wednesday morning on CNBC . He said the money is intended for children under five years old. There are some 406,000 children younger than age 5 living in Indiana, according to the Census Bureau's most recent population survey from 2024. Gerstner also referenced his pledge at a summit on Wednesday with President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to promote Trump accounts, also known as Section 530A accounts. He did not offer additional details on the size of the donation or exactly who would qualify. Gerstner joins billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates and Michael Dell , founder and CEO of Dell Technologies , and his wife, Susan, who previously announced pledges . "We have philanthropists that are going to claim every state," Gerstner said Wednesday on CNBC. watch now VIDEO 3:02 03:02 President Trump speaks about upcoming launch of 'Trump Accounts' Money Movers All children in the U.S. born between 2025 and 2028 already qualify for an initial $1,000 Trump account deposit from the Treasury, which parents can opt into when they open an account. Children 10 or under and born before Jan. 1, 2025 — who wouldn't qualify for the $1,000 initial seed money — could get a $250 contribution from the $6.25 billion pledge made by Michael and Susan Dell. The Dalio grant will fund $250 per child for eligible children in Connecticut. That money will go to kids who live in a ZIP code where the median income is less than $150,000. About 87% of Connecticut ZIP codes meet that criteria, according to a CNBC analysis of Censu...
Earnings Call Insights: WesBanco, Inc. (WSBC) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Jeffrey Jackson highlighted "successful execution on our growth-oriented business model, while maintaining strong credit quality measures" and reported "full year pretax provision earnings growth of 105% year-over-year and full year earnings per share of 45% to $3.40 when excluding merger-related charges." He emphasized that...
Earnings Call Insights: WesBanco, Inc. (WSBC) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Jeffrey Jackson highlighted "successful execution on our growth-oriented business model, while maintaining strong credit quality measures" and reported "full year pretax provision earnings growth of 105% year-over-year and full year earnings per share of 45% to $3.40 when excluding merger-related charges." He emphasized that loan growth was "fully funded by deposit growth, both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter, helping to drive our fourth quarter net interest margin to $3.61." Jackson also announced the "successful acquisition and integration of Premier Financial, transforming WesBanco into a $28 billion asset regional financial services partner," noting the company now ranks among the top 50 publicly traded U.S. financial institutions based on assets. He pointed to expansion into new markets, including Northern Virginia and Knoxville, a new health care vertical, and the upcoming opening of a Chattanooga financial center, the company's first in Tennessee. Jackson stated, "Our dedicated teams, supported by continued strong customer satisfaction drove deposit growth that fully funded loan growth both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter." He highlighted record treasury management revenue of $6 million and a record $10.4 billion in wealth management assets under management. CFO Daniel Weiss reported, "For the fourth quarter, we reported GAAP net income available to common shareholders of $78 million or $0.81 per share. And when excluding restructuring and merger-related expenses, fourth quarter net income was $81 million or $0.84 per share." Weiss noted "strong year-over-year pretax pre-provision core earnings growth of 90%" and that "deposits increased 53% year-over-year to $21.7 billion due to acquired PFC deposits of $6.9 billion and organic growth of $662 million which fully funded our loan growth." Outlook Weiss projected "CRE payoffs to remain elevated during 2026 and currently es...