pcess609/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. Leading Economic Index edged down 0.1% in January 2026 to 97.5 from the prior month, in line with the consensus estimate, according to data released by The Conference Board on Thursday. Overall, the LEI fell 1.3% in the past six-month period, half the 2.6% contraction rate in the previous six-month period. "The U.S. LEI fell further in January, as consumer...
pcess609/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. Leading Economic Index edged down 0.1% in January 2026 to 97.5 from the prior month, in line with the consensus estimate, according to data released by The Conference Board on Thursday. Overall, the LEI fell 1.3% in the past six-month period, half the 2.6% contraction rate in the previous six-month period. "The U.S. LEI fell further in January, as consumer expectations retreated again and building permits softened," said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board. The topline LEI continued to signal headwinds, but seven out of 10 components strengthened during the six-month period, she added. The Coincident Economic Index rose 0.3% to 115.3 in January, following a 0.2% increase in December. The Lagging Economic Index increased 0.3% to 120.0, reversing from a 0.2% decline in December. More on the US Economy Powell's Pause: A Gamble Wrapped In Uncertainty Limited Follow-Through Dollar Today After Yesterday's Surge Wholesale inventories fall 0.5% M/M in January New home sales slump in January, the lowest level in more than three years
A key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence. Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homel...
A key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence. Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs voted to advance Mullin’s nomination, with the sole exception of the panel’s chair, Rand Paul of Kentucky, who the day prior had harshly criticized his colleague for comments he made about a neighbor who assaulted Paul in 2017, and an incident six years later in which Mullin readied himself to fight a witness at a committee hearing. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to support Mullin’s nomination, with his other six colleagues opposing him. Mullin’s nomination will now be considered by the full Senate, where Republicans appear to have the numbers to confirm him. A vote on his confirmation is expected in the coming days. “The Department of Homeland Security needs a leader who can restore the trust DHS has broken with the American people, and with this committee. At his confirmation hearing yesterday, we saw that, unfortunately, Senator Mullin is not up to that challenge,” the committee’s top Democrat, Gary Peters, said in brief comments before the vote. He accused Mullin of failing to be “forthright and transparent” during the confirmation process, and added that he was “very troubled by Senator Mullin’s willingness to condone political violence, and the message that that sends across DHS”. The Michigan senator noted that beyond Mullin’s 2023 confrontation with Teamsters president Sean O’Brien during a committee hearing in which he appeared to be ready to brawl with the witness, a Senate ethics committee report had found that he “advocated physical violence as a means to resolve political disagreement”. Democrats peppe...
NetBrands ( OTCID: NBND ) signed a non-binding MOU with Baselayer Energy to explore energy-backed digital infrastructure projects. Under this MOU, both parties will focus on deploying a hybrid, multi-algorithm digital mining strategy to optimize Bitcoin output and efficiency, with plans to later explore AI and HPC workloads. They also plan to develop up to 100 MW of data center capacity initially,...
NetBrands ( OTCID: NBND ) signed a non-binding MOU with Baselayer Energy to explore energy-backed digital infrastructure projects. Under this MOU, both parties will focus on deploying a hybrid, multi-algorithm digital mining strategy to optimize Bitcoin output and efficiency, with plans to later explore AI and HPC workloads. They also plan to develop up to 100 MW of data center capacity initially, with expansion in low-cost power regions (≤$0.035/kWh) across various global markets. Currently evaluating a joint venture via an SPV, with ownership split: NetBrands 65% and Baselayer 35%; final terms still pending. More on Global Diversified Marketing Group NetBrands rolls out hybrid mining strategy to diversify revenue streams Financial information for Global Diversified Marketing Group
Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images OneMain Holdings ( OMF ) offers a rare combination of high yield and strong growth at its current stock price of around $50. It offers a dividend yield of nearly 9% while trading below its historical average price-to-earnings multiple and priced at a free cash flow multiple, all while being projected to significantly increase its earnings per share thro...
Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images OneMain Holdings ( OMF ) offers a rare combination of high yield and strong growth at its current stock price of around $50. It offers a dividend yield of nearly 9% while trading below its historical average price-to-earnings multiple and priced at a free cash flow multiple, all while being projected to significantly increase its earnings per share through 2028 based on analysts' consensus estimates. Thus, after the recent pullback, OMF is starting to look like a compelling opportunity. In this article, I will detail why. A Dominant Force in Non-Prime Lending OMF is a leading non-prime personal lender in the United States, as it commands about 20% market share in a $100 billion total addressable market. It operates across three product lines, with its core business being personal loans, while it has also diversified into auto finance, which is a $2.8 billion book and growing, as well as credit cards, which it has 1.1 million accounts and $936 million in receivables. The Power of the Branch Network The company highlights its roughly 1,300 branches as one of its competitive advantages, as it is positioned as the seventh largest branch network in the US, including banks. Investor Presentation Meanwhile, its branch managers are experienced, with about a 14-year average tenure, and staff that handles both originations and collections, which helps it to achieve stronger credit performance than it might otherwise. Additionally, the business employs an omni-channel model, with about 90% of new customer applications beginning online, while the branch relationships tend to drive stronger credit outcomes and repeat customer business, which is about 45% of its total book. These customers tend to outperform new customers meaningfully in terms of having lower losses. Meanwhile, the company is disciplined in its underwriting as it seeks to clear a 20% return on equity hurdle on each of its loans while applying an additional 30% stress o...
Today’s Date: March 19, 2026 Introduction Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) stands at a historic crossroads. Once the undisputed titan of the semiconductor world, the company spent the better part of the last decade grappling with manufacturing delays, leadership transitions, and the meteoric rise of competitors in the artificial intelligence (AI) and foundry sectors. However, as of March 2026, the...
Today’s Date: March 19, 2026 Introduction Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) stands at a historic crossroads. Once the undisputed titan of the semiconductor world, the company spent the better part of the last decade grappling with manufacturing delays, leadership transitions, and the meteoric rise of competitors in the artificial intelligence (AI) and foundry sectors. However, as of March 2026, the narrative surrounding Intel has shifted from one of managed decline to one of "execution-led recovery." With the successful completion of its ambitious "five nodes in four years" roadmap and a leadership transition to industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan, Intel is attempting to reinvent itself as the Western world’s premier foundry while defending its dominant position in the burgeoning AI PC market. Historical Background Founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, Intel was the architect of the silicon age. From the invention of the microprocessor to the "Intel Inside" marketing phenomenon of the 1990s, the company defined the personal computing era. Under the legendary leadership of Andy Grove, Intel adopted a "paranoid" culture of constant innovation. However, the 2010s proved difficult; the company missed the mobile revolution and struggled to transition to the 10nm and 7nm process nodes. This stagnation allowed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM) to seize the lead in manufacturing and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) to eat into its CPU market share. The return of Pat Gelsinger in 2021 launched the "IDM 2.0" strategy, a high-stakes bet on internal manufacturing and external foundry services that set the stage for the company's current 2026 profile. Business Model Intel’s business model has undergone its most radical transformation in fifty years. It is now effectively split into two distinct but synergistic entities: Intel Products: This includes the Client Computing Group (CCG), which focuses on PC processors; the Data Center and AI (DCAI) group; ...
Alones Creative/iStock via Getty Images I never shy away from investing in pre-revenue companies. When I first fell in love with Intuitive Machines, Inc. ( LUNR ), the company was not necessarily a pre-revenue business, but it was certainly not looking at major growth in revenue any time soon. As a growth investor, I can be okay with that as long as I believe the company has the potential to enjoy...
Alones Creative/iStock via Getty Images I never shy away from investing in pre-revenue companies. When I first fell in love with Intuitive Machines, Inc. ( LUNR ), the company was not necessarily a pre-revenue business, but it was certainly not looking at major growth in revenue any time soon. As a growth investor, I can be okay with that as long as I believe the company has the potential to enjoy durable competitive advantages in the long run. This is how I ended up investing in LUNR stock. Last October, after stomaching a 30% decline in LUNR stock following some of its mission failures/delays, I thought the company was very attractively valued. I believed Intuitive Machines was paving the way for successful future landings through strategic technology investments. Since then, LUNR stock has gained ~55%. With the company just reporting Q4 earnings , I wanted to revisit my investment thesis. After doing so, I believe my investment thesis for LUNR is stronger than ever. The Lanteris acquisition has paved the way for the company to tap into new growth opportunities while also enjoying a valuation re-rating in the market. Intuitive Machines Q4 Earnings Review With the company reporting Q4 earnings earlier, I thought it best to begin this analysis with some commentary on the earnings report. After declining 4% yesterday ahead of the earnings report, LUNR stock is down another ~5% in pre-market trading as of this writing. The company reported $44.8 million in revenue for Q4, bringing the full-year revenue to $210.1 million. Commenting on the Q4 performance, the management highlighted that several constraints impacted its performance during the quarter, including the government shutdown. Gross margin came to 19%. The company ended February with a total backlog of $943 million. As of Q3 2025, the combined entity had a backlog of $920 million. Lanteris enjoys double-digit adjusted EBITDA margins, so the combined entity should benefit from these positive cash flows. The back...
There’s a lot to be optimistic about in the Technology sector as 2 analysts just weighed in on Shopify (SHOP – Research Report) and Microsoft (MSFT – Research Report) with bullish sentiments. Shopify (SHOP) Truist Financial analyst Terry Tillman maintained a Buy rating on Shopify yesterday and set a price target of $150.00. The company’s shares closed last Wednesday at $127.50, close to its 52-wee...
There’s a lot to be optimistic about in the Technology sector as 2 analysts just weighed in on Shopify (SHOP – Research Report) and Microsoft (MSFT – Research Report) with bullish sentiments. Shopify (SHOP) Truist Financial analyst Terry Tillman maintained a Buy rating on Shopify yesterday and set a price target of $150.00. The company’s shares closed last Wednesday at $127.50, close to its 52-week high of $129.38. According to TipRanks.com, Tillman is ranked 0 out of 5 stars with an average return of -8.5% and a 35.4% success rate. Tillman covers the Technology sector, focusing on stocks such as ServiceTitan, Inc. Class A, Zeta Global Holdings Corp, and Onestream, Inc. Class A. ;'> Currently, the analyst consensus on Shopify is a Strong Buy with an average price target of $163.64, which is a 28.9% upside from current levels. In a report issued on March 12, Piper Sandler also initiated coverage with a Buy rating on the stock with a $165.00 price target. See Insiders’ Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Microsoft (MSFT) In a report released yesterday, Brent Thill from Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating on Microsoft. The company’s shares closed last Wednesday at $396.20. According to TipRanks.com, Thill is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 1.8% and a 48.2% success rate. Thill covers the Technology sector, focusing on stocks such as International Business Machines, Palantir Technologies, and Procore Technologies. ;'> Microsoft has an analyst consensus of Strong Buy, with a price target consensus of $591.56, a 49.0% upside from current levels. In a report issued on March 4, J.P. Morgan also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $550.00 price target. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Harvey Kanter Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer — Peter H. Stratton, Jr. Operator TAKEAWAYS Merger Agreement Update -- The proxy statement for the merger with FullBeauty Brands is expected to be filed within 30 days, with transaction closing ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Harvey Kanter Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer — Peter H. Stratton, Jr. Operator TAKEAWAYS Merger Agreement Update -- The proxy statement for the merger with FullBeauty Brands is expected to be filed within 30 days, with transaction closing anticipated in 2026 contingent on customary conditions and shareholder approval. -- The proxy statement for the merger with FullBeauty Brands is expected to be filed within 30 days, with transaction closing anticipated in 2026 contingent on customary conditions and shareholder approval. Quarterly Sales -- Fourth-quarter total sales were $112.1 million, a decline from $119.2 million, with comparable sales down 7.3%; stores down 8.6%, and direct sales down 4.3%. -- Fourth-quarter total sales were $112.1 million, a decline from $119.2 million, with comparable sales down 7.3%; stores down 8.6%, and direct sales down 4.3%. Full-Year Sales -- Total sales for the fiscal year were $435.0 million compared to $467.0 million in the prior year, with comparable sales down 8.4%; stores down 6.9%, and direct sales down 11.8%. -- Total sales for the fiscal year were $435.0 million compared to $467.0 million in the prior year, with comparable sales down 8.4%; stores down 6.9%, and direct sales down 11.8%. Comp Sales Trends -- Comparable store sales moved from -5.3% in November, to -6.1% in December, and -12.9% in January, the last reflecting severe weather closures affecting one-third of stores on consecutive days. -- Comparable store sales moved from -5.3% in November, to -6.1% in December, and -12.9% in January, the last reflecting severe weather closures affecting one-third of stores on consecutive days. 2026 Sales Momentum -- Early 2026 comp sales improved to -1.3% in February, maintaining a similar trend into March and management expects to reach breakeven before summer ends, with posi...
Key Points Brookfield Renewable expects to grow its dividend by 5% to 9% each year. ExxonMobil extended its dividend growth streak to 43 consecutive years. Williams has paid dividends for more than half a century. 10 stocks we like better than Brookfield Renewable › While the energy sector can be very volatile, it's home to some very durable dividend stocks. Many energy companies have delivered st...
Key Points Brookfield Renewable expects to grow its dividend by 5% to 9% each year. ExxonMobil extended its dividend growth streak to 43 consecutive years. Williams has paid dividends for more than half a century. 10 stocks we like better than Brookfield Renewable › While the energy sector can be very volatile, it's home to some very durable dividend stocks. Many energy companies have delivered stable to growing dividends for multiple decades. Add in the sector's higher average yields, and it's a great spot to find long-term income investments. Here are three of the best high-yielding energy dividend stocks to buy now to hold for a potential lifetime of passive income. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Brookfield Renewable Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP) has increased its dividend by at least 5% each year since its public market listing in 2011. The global renewable energy producer expects to grow its payout by 5% to 9% annually over the long term. The leading renewable energy dividend stock currently yields 3.8%, more than three times higher than the S&P 500 (1.2% yield). The company is benefiting from the growing demand for renewable energy. Brookfield is capitalizing on this megatrend by expanding its power generation capacity. The company has a vast pipeline of renewable energy projects under development. Additionally, Brookfield routinely acquires operating assets, development projects, and other renewable energy companies. Brookfield Renewable expects its growth catalysts to support cash flow per share growth of more than 10% annually through at least 2031. Given the long-term demand for renewable energy, Brookfield should be able to continue growing its earnings and dividend at healthy rates for decades to come. ExxonMobil ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is a leader in pay...
The broader markets are looking weak as the war in Iran continues to escalate, pushing up oil prices. To make things worse, U.S. wholesale inflation rose more than expected in February. While inflation being stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target wasn’t really a secret, Fed Chair Jerome Powell summed up the state of U.S. inflation at his post-meeting press conference and said, “The forecast is that ...
The broader markets are looking weak as the war in Iran continues to escalate, pushing up oil prices. To make things worse, U.S. wholesale inflation rose more than expected in February. While inflation being stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target wasn’t really a secret, Fed Chair Jerome Powell summed up the state of U.S. inflation at his post-meeting press conference and said, “The forecast is that we will be making progress on inflation, not as much as we had hoped, but some progress on inflation.” Meanwhile, even though the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has fallen over 5% from its record highs, there has been a brutal selloff in some pockets, particularly tech and software stocks. Specifically, Meta Platforms (META) has fallen 18% from its 2026 highs and is trading near its lows for the year, falling towards the $600 price levels. Let's dig into whether it's time to buy the dip in META stock or if investors would be better off staying on the sidelines. Meta Stock Forecast Despite the dip, brokerages are quite upbeat on META stock, and it has a consensus rating of “Strong Buy” from the 56 analysts polled by Barchart. The stock’s mean target price is $864.04, which is 42% higher than the current price levels. Here, it is worth noting that sell-side analysts haven’t tweaked their target prices for Meta—or, for that matter, many other stocks—amid the Iran war. However, the conflict has continued for much longer than some expected, and there looks to be no off-ramp for now. Key Risks Meta Investors Should Watch Out For If the situation does not improve and crude oil continues to hover around $100 per barrel, it would negatively impact global growth. The repercussions would also be felt on global ad spend, which is the bread and butter for Meta. There is also the direct cost of higher energy prices, as running costs for Meta’s data centers would also rise. Another factor that investors should be watching is the growing clamor for banning or restricting social media for children. A...
The unprecedented occupation of American cities by a bulked up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to a series of shocking scenes over the past 12 months, including the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officials in Minneapolis. It has also led to an incredible community response as people banded together to protect their neighbours. Guardian US immigration reporter Ma...
The unprecedented occupation of American cities by a bulked up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to a series of shocking scenes over the past 12 months, including the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officials in Minneapolis. It has also led to an incredible community response as people banded together to protect their neighbours. Guardian US immigration reporter Maanvi Singh has spent the past few months covering this story, including spending a week on the block where Alex Pretti was killed. Just this week she covered the release of a New York high school student released after 10 months in an ICE facility. [Read more about Dylan Lopez Contreras, here.] Maanvi will be online at 6pm GMT/2pm EDT/11am PDT. Post your questions to her below the line about her experiences and sign up for an account here.
Humanoid art and Eid al-Fitr preparations: photos of the day – Thursday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world A displaced girl plays near a puddle in Beirut, Lebanon. Photograph: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters
Humanoid art and Eid al-Fitr preparations: photos of the day – Thursday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world A displaced girl plays near a puddle in Beirut, Lebanon. Photograph: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters
Wheat is higher across the three markets on Thursday. The wheat complex rallied double digits on the Wednesday session. Chicago SRW futures were 11 to 14 3/4 cents higher on the day. Open interest showed some rotation of ownership, up just 472 contracts. KC HRW futures were 18 1/4 to 23 1/4 cents in the green. MPLS spring wheat was up 11 to 13 cents at the close. The next week looks dry for much o...
Wheat is higher across the three markets on Thursday. The wheat complex rallied double digits on the Wednesday session. Chicago SRW futures were 11 to 14 3/4 cents higher on the day. Open interest showed some rotation of ownership, up just 472 contracts. KC HRW futures were 18 1/4 to 23 1/4 cents in the green. MPLS spring wheat was up 11 to 13 cents at the close. The next week looks dry for much of the Plains from NE to TX, with much of SRW country remaining dry with scattered precip. Temps are also expected to be warm this week. Don’t Miss a Day: Export Sales data will be released this morning, as traders are looking for 300,000 MT to 550,000 MT of wheat sales in the week of March 12. New crop business is estimated at 0-50,000 MT. An Allendale survey estimates the US wheat acreage at 44.88 million acres, down 423,000 acres from last year. Spring wheat acreage is seen at 9.68 million acres, with durum at 2.107 million acres. Taiwan importers purchased a total of 105,025 MT of US wheat in a tender overnight. SovEcon estimates the 2026 Russian wheat crop at 87.6 MMT, a 1.7 MMT increase from their previous number May 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $6.04 1/4, up 14 1/2 cents, currently up 6 cents Jul 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $6.15 1/2, up 14 3/4 cents, currently up 5 1/2 cents May 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $6.26, up 19 1/4 cents, currently up 3 cents Jul 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $6.40 1/2, up 19 1/4 cents, currently up 3 1/4 cents May 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.37 1/4, up 3 1/4 cents, currently up 6 1/4 cents Jul 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.51 1/4, up 2 3/4 cents, currently up 5 3/4 cents More news from Barchart The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
CrowdStrike CRWD is using partnerships to support growth and expand the reach of its Falcon platform. The company's recent partnerships with NVIDIA, EY, Nebius and World Wide Technology (“WWT”) aims to improve security across AI systems, cloud infrastructure and security operations. The collaboration with NVIDIA is aimed at improving managed detection and response. CrowdStrike is integrating NVIDI...
CrowdStrike CRWD is using partnerships to support growth and expand the reach of its Falcon platform. The company's recent partnerships with NVIDIA, EY, Nebius and World Wide Technology (“WWT”) aims to improve security across AI systems, cloud infrastructure and security operations. The collaboration with NVIDIA is aimed at improving managed detection and response. CrowdStrike is integrating NVIDIA’s Agent Toolkit, Nemotron models and NeMo Data Designer into its Falcon platform. In internal testing, this resulted in up to five times faster investigations and more than three times higher triage accuracy. The company also reported 96% accuracy in generating investigation queries. These improvements reduce investigation time and improve alert classification. CrowdStrike's Falcon platform has been selected by EY to power EY's agentic security operations center services. EY will use the Falcon platform to allow enterprises to use AI agents to handle tasks such as alert triage and investigation. This is important as attack breakout times are getting shorter, increasing the need for faster response. In addition, CrowdStrike is extending its platform to AI cloud infrastructure through its partnership with Nebius. This partnership integrates the Falcon platform into Nebius AI cloud and allows the customers to secure AI workloads without changing their existing security setup. In addition, CrowdStrike is also working with WWT to launch an AI lab through which enterprises can test and validate AI systems before deploying them in production. Nowadays, AI is increasing the speed and complexity of cyberattacks, which is driving the demand for the Falcon platform. The above-mentioned partnerships should help CrowdStrike improve the performance of its Falcon platform, expand into AI security and support the company's future growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 and 2028 revenues indicates a year-over-year increase of around 22.8% and 21.2%, respectively. How Competit...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President & Chief Executive Officer — Rick Cardenas Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer — Rajesh Vennam Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — Courtney Aquilla TAKEAWAYS Total Sales -- $3.3 billion, up 5.9% driven by 4.2% same-restaurant sales growth and 31 net new restaurant openings. -- $3....
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President & Chief Executive Officer — Rick Cardenas Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer — Rajesh Vennam Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — Courtney Aquilla TAKEAWAYS Total Sales -- $3.3 billion, up 5.9% driven by 4.2% same-restaurant sales growth and 31 net new restaurant openings. -- $3.3 billion, up 5.9% driven by 4.2% same-restaurant sales growth and 31 net new restaurant openings. Same-Restaurant Sales vs. Industry -- 4.2% growth, outperforming the industry benchmark by 540 basis points. -- 4.2% growth, outperforming the industry benchmark by 540 basis points. Brand Outperformance -- Each of the four largest brands exceeded the industry by more than 400 basis points in same-restaurant sales. -- Each of the four largest brands exceeded the industry by more than 400 basis points in same-restaurant sales. Olive Garden Sales -- Same-restaurant sales grew 3.2%, with total sales up 4.7% and segment profit margin reaching 23%, 10 basis points below last year due to investments in lighter portion menu and delivery fees. -- Same-restaurant sales grew 3.2%, with total sales up 4.7% and segment profit margin reaching 23%, 10 basis points below last year due to investments in lighter portion menu and delivery fees. LongHorn Steakhouse Sales -- Same-restaurant sales increased 7.2%, total sales grew 11.2%, and segment profit margin was 18.6% despite elevated beef costs. -- Same-restaurant sales increased 7.2%, total sales grew 11.2%, and segment profit margin was 18.6% despite elevated beef costs. Fine Dining Segment -- Same-restaurant sales rose 2.1%, with segment profit margin at 22%, 50 basis points lower than last year. -- Same-restaurant sales rose 2.1%, with segment profit margin at 22%, 50 basis points lower than last year. Other Business Segment -- Same-restaurant sales up 3.9%, driven by Yard House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and Seasons 52; segment profit m...