Rates on money market funds have been steadily marching lower, but investors hoping to make a little more money on their cash can do so – if they're willing to take a little more risk. Even as the Federal Reserve has lowered its key interest rate to a range of 3.5% to 3.75% and yields on money market funds have come down sharply from their highs, investors continue to shovel cash into these funds....
Rates on money market funds have been steadily marching lower, but investors hoping to make a little more money on their cash can do so – if they're willing to take a little more risk. Even as the Federal Reserve has lowered its key interest rate to a range of 3.5% to 3.75% and yields on money market funds have come down sharply from their highs, investors continue to shovel cash into these funds. Assets in money market funds totaled $7.79 trillion in the week ended Feb.18 , according to the Investment Company Institute. The days of yields beyond 5% are in the distant past for these funds, but many are still offering rates in excess of 3%. While the vast majority of money market assets are held in government funds – which invest in cash, Treasurys and other securities backed by the U.S. government – investors can generate a little more interest income from a prime money market fund. "You can get that extra yield pickup by going to prime," said Mark Alberici, global head of product innovation and strategic partnerships at State Street. "There are strong regulatory requirements around it, and it's short term and higher quality, allowing you to meet your liquidity needs." The evolution of prime Prime money market funds give investors a little more risk exposure by holding some corporate commercial paper. These are short-term instruments issued by companies, with maturities that may run as long as 270 days but tend to average about 30 days, according to the Federal Reserve. "Years ago, prime used to be the dominant category," said Peter Crane, founder of Crane Data , which closely tracks money market funds and publishes Money Fund Intelligence. That changed in 2008 when the Reserve Primary Fund saw its net asset value slip below parity of $1 per share because holdings included Lehman Brothers commercial paper. As a result, investors fled, causing the fund to put up redemption gates. Since then, the Securities and Exchange Commission has put in place reforms that raise m...
The U.K. government is expected to announce a long delayed helicopter contract for Leonardo’s ( FINMF ) ( FINMY ) Yeovil factory within days, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. A senior minister is likely to visit the southwest England site to confirm the award, said the people, who asked not to be identified. The New Medium Helicopter program, valued at abo...
The U.K. government is expected to announce a long delayed helicopter contract for Leonardo’s ( FINMF ) ( FINMY ) Yeovil factory within days, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. A senior minister is likely to visit the southwest England site to confirm the award, said the people, who asked not to be identified. The New Medium Helicopter program, valued at about £1 billion ($1.355 billion), had originally been slated for inclusion in the Defense Investment Plan last fall but was delayed amid funding pressures. Leonardo ( FINMF ) ( FINMY ) Chief Executive Roberto Cingolani told analysts the company has been working closely with its U.K. unit and the government, adding that clarity should come “in one, two days.” The Ministry of Defense said the program is ongoing and a final decision will be confirmed in due course. Leonardo ( FINMF ) ( FINMY ) is now the sole bidder after Lockheed Martin ( LMT ) and Airbus ( EADSF ) ( EADSY ) withdrew in 2024. The company has warned it cannot indefinitely support the Yeovil facility without a contract. Union officials have also cautioned that further delays could threaten the plant, which employs more than 3,000 people and is the U.K.’s only site capable of designing and building military helicopters. The issue has drawn attention in Italy as well, given Leonardo’s role in the GCAP fighter program with the United Kingdom and Japan. More on Leonardo S.p.a. Leonardo: I Believe The 'Peak' Is Here In 2026E Leonardo nears aerostructures JV deal as profits climb, debt falls Leonardo tops 2025 targets as orders jump, net debt drops Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Leonardo S.p.a. Historical earnings data for Leonardo S.p.a.
For more than six decades, the Peace Corps has represented itself as an agency focused on helping underserved communities around the globe. But a new initiative, called the "Tech Corps," threatens to unravel the agency's original mission by recruiting de facto Silicon Valley salespeople to promote the biggest names in AI - many of which have ties to President Donald Trump. Established by President...
For more than six decades, the Peace Corps has represented itself as an agency focused on helping underserved communities around the globe. But a new initiative, called the "Tech Corps," threatens to unravel the agency's original mission by recruiting de facto Silicon Valley salespeople to promote the biggest names in AI - many of which have ties to President Donald Trump. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps recruited skilled Americans interested in assisting developing countries in industries like education, healthcare, and agriculture. As noted by the Brookings Institution , the agency was created to "win the … Read the full story at The Verge.
Cava (NYSE: CAVA) shares hit the public markets in 2023, and the fast-casual restaurant chain soared shortly after its debut, posting blistering growth on the top and bottom lines. However, the last year has been more difficult for the Mediterranean concept as the fast-casual stock has wallowed amid a broader downturn in restaurant spending and slower growth at Cava. The fourth-quarter earnings re...
Cava (NYSE: CAVA) shares hit the public markets in 2023, and the fast-casual restaurant chain soared shortly after its debut, posting blistering growth on the top and bottom lines. However, the last year has been more difficult for the Mediterranean concept as the fast-casual stock has wallowed amid a broader downturn in restaurant spending and slower growth at Cava. The fourth-quarter earnings report, which came out after hours on Wednesday, seemed to give the stock the shot in the arm investors were looking for as the fast-casual chain beat estimates on the top and bottom lines, and gave solid guidance for 2026. Continue reading
SpaceX Official Reveals New Details About Next-Gen Cell Service SpaceX satellite policy lead Udrivolf Pica told participants in the International Telecommunication Union Space Connect webcast about the next-generation Starlink direct-to-device cellular service for smartphones. The revelation of the new service follows SpaceX's October 2025 U.S. trademark filing for " STARLINK MOBILE " and comes as...
SpaceX Official Reveals New Details About Next-Gen Cell Service SpaceX satellite policy lead Udrivolf Pica told participants in the International Telecommunication Union Space Connect webcast about the next-generation Starlink direct-to-device cellular service for smartphones. The revelation of the new service follows SpaceX's October 2025 U.S. trademark filing for " STARLINK MOBILE " and comes as Elon Musk has recently hinted at Starlink mobile ambitions. " We are aiming at peak speeds of 150 Mbps per user ," Pica said, adding, " So something incredible if you think about the link budgets from space to the mobile phone ." PCMag reporter Michael Kan was the first to report Pica's comments, as SpaceX plans to launch new cellular Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Kan continued: If SpaceX can hit its speed goal, the upgraded cellular Starlink service promises to deliver speeds close to those of traditional cell carriers' 5G networks on Earth . The median download speeds for T-Mobile's 5G network currently reach 309 Mbps, while AT&T's 5G network comes in at 172 Mbps, according to Ookla's Speedtest.net data. SpaceX has been offering the service through T-Mobile's T-Satellite, allowing users in cellular dead zones to remain connected. However, the current iteration of the cellular Starlink service has bandwidth constraints . Although it can power low-resolution video calls, texts, and select mobile apps using orbiting SpaceX satellites, download speeds only reach an estimated 4 Mbps per user. SpaceX is preparing to upgrade the technology by using newly acquired radio spectrum from Boost Mobile's parent, EchoStar . In addition, the company has requested regulatory permission to launch another 15,000 satellites for the cellular Starlink service; the current system spans only about 650 satellites. The new system promises to unleash "video, voice, and data services, clearly," Pica said during the panel. On acquiring the EchoStar radio spectrum, Pica added, "More spect...
BAMCO trimmed its position in Vail Resorts as Epic Pass sales set up the winter season. Vail runs a large portfolio of destination resorts, and investors will be watching whether traffic and guest spending will support the company's earnings outlook.
BAMCO trimmed its position in Vail Resorts as Epic Pass sales set up the winter season. Vail runs a large portfolio of destination resorts, and investors will be watching whether traffic and guest spending will support the company's earnings outlook.
The wheat complex is showing weakness on Wednesday, with all three markets lower. Chicago SRW futures are down 3 to 5 cents so far on Wednesday. KC HRW futures are showing 4 to 5 cent losses at midday. MPLS spring wheat is down 2 to 4 cents in the front...
The wheat complex is showing weakness on Wednesday, with all three markets lower. Chicago SRW futures are down 3 to 5 cents so far on Wednesday. KC HRW futures are showing 4 to 5 cent losses at midday. MPLS spring wheat is down 2 to 4 cents in the front...
Corn futures are trading with 1 to 3 ½ cent gains across the front months on Wednesday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is down a up ¾ cent to $3.96 1/2. With just 3 days left for price discovery for the spring base price for Crop Insurance, December...
Corn futures are trading with 1 to 3 ½ cent gains across the front months on Wednesday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is down a up ¾ cent to $3.96 1/2. With just 3 days left for price discovery for the spring base price for Crop Insurance, December...
Most value ETFs simply screen for cheap stocks. The Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF takes a different approach: it filters for stocks that are both cheap and profitable, a distinction that historically separates durable value from value traps. That dual screen is the core thesis behind AVLV, and whether it justifies owning it over ... AVLV Is Up 24.5% While Filtering Out the Value Traps Other ETF...
Most value ETFs simply screen for cheap stocks. The Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF takes a different approach: it filters for stocks that are both cheap and profitable, a distinction that historically separates durable value from value traps. That dual screen is the core thesis behind AVLV, and whether it justifies owning it over ... AVLV Is Up 24.5% While Filtering Out the Value Traps Other ETFs Miss
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News NRG Energy ( NRG ) wobbles between small gains and losses in Wednesday's trading as Evercore ISI resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and $215 price target, viewing NRG as "one of the best - positioned platforms to monetize ERCOT’s tightening supply/demand balance through a mix of retail innovation, flexible generation, and scalable behind - the - meter and ...
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News NRG Energy ( NRG ) wobbles between small gains and losses in Wednesday's trading as Evercore ISI resumed coverage with an Outperform rating and $215 price target, viewing NRG as "one of the best - positioned platforms to monetize ERCOT’s tightening supply/demand balance through a mix of retail innovation, flexible generation, and scalable behind - the - meter and VPP solutions." NRG ( NRG ) has steadily improved operational consistency and continues to translate margin stability into strong free cash flow before growth, enabling material shareholder returns, Evercore's Nicholas Amicucci said, adding the company is "increasingly acting as an 'energy solutions provider' for hyperscale and large-load customers, pairing long-term retail power agreements with generation/VPP-backed supply solutions." The acquisition of LS Power assets has further enhanced NRG's ( NRG ) value proposition, the analyst said, as it will be immediately accretive to adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, and adjusted EPS metrics with incremental upside opportunities through data center retail agreements, continued execution of its venture with GE Vernova and Kiewit, and incremental upside from its VPP opportunities. While potential upside from a data center deal or further appreciation of power prices is not contemplated within current guidance, Amicucci said he sees an incremental upside opportunity for NRG ( NRG ) through its ability to capitalize on VPPs, a relatively underappreciated aspect of the company's business. More on NRG Energy NRG Energy Q4 2025 Earnings Call Presentation NRG Energy: Positioned To Monetize The AI Power Boom NRG Energy vs. NextEra Energy: AI Data Centers, Dividends, And Total Returns
franckreporter/iStock via Getty Images With the Q4 earnings season almost coming to an end, b elow is a list of small-cap stocks with positive quarterly EPS surprises ranked according to their lowest Seeking Alpha Quant Ratings. The list is topped by Beta Bionics ( BBNX ), with a Quant Rating of 1.07. Upstream Bio ( UPB ) and Ribbon Communications ( RBBN ) follow closely behind, with CBIZ ( CBZ ) ...
franckreporter/iStock via Getty Images With the Q4 earnings season almost coming to an end, b elow is a list of small-cap stocks with positive quarterly EPS surprises ranked according to their lowest Seeking Alpha Quant Ratings. The list is topped by Beta Bionics ( BBNX ), with a Quant Rating of 1.07. Upstream Bio ( UPB ) and Ribbon Communications ( RBBN ) follow closely behind, with CBIZ ( CBZ ) and CorMedix ( CRMD ) rounding out the top five. Despite posting positive earnings surprises, all stocks on this list carry “Strong Sell” quantitative profiles. For reference, Seeking Alpha’s Quant system ranks stocks based on their performance on certain critical quantitative measures, such as valuation, growth, stock momentum, and profitability. Each stock is rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with any rating above 3.5 indicating a bullish rating. A score of 2.5 or below represents a bearish profile. Here is the list: Beta Bionics ( BBNX ), Quant Rating: 1.07 Upstream Bio ( UPB ), Quant Rating: 1.11 Ribbon Communications ( RBBN ), Quant Rating: 1.18 CBIZ ( CBZ ), Quant Rating: 1.19 CorMedix ( CRMD ), Quant Rating: 1.22 NETGEAR ( NTGR ), Quant Rating: 1.25 Schrödinger ( SDGR ), Quant Rating: 1.36 Janux Therapeutics ( JANX ), Quant Rating: 1.36 John Wiley & Sons ( WLY ), Quant Rating: 1.41 Finance of America Companies ( FOA ), Quant Rating: 1.44 Small-Cap ETFs: ( IJR ), ( IWM ), ( VB ), ( VBR ), ( VBK ), ( SCHA ), ( SPSM ), and ( DFAS ) More on small cap stocks The Fed Is Bracing For An AI Bubble Burst And Global Stagflation S&P 500, Trump, And The Markets: The Scorecard So Far, Where To Look Next Softer Inflation And Expectations For Stronger Q1 Economic Growth Push The Fed Toward A Pause Top Quant ranked small cap stocks with negative EPS surprises After the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, here's what could be next for stocks
Thanasis Zovoilis/DigitalVision via Getty Images PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( PYPL ), which is down -33% since my last analysis but which I have also not covered since March 2025 and did in fact rebound after my Buy rating and would have made for a successful trade, is now under pressure again. However, the equity is trading like its core franchise is deteriorating, driven by CEO transition concerns an...
Thanasis Zovoilis/DigitalVision via Getty Images PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( PYPL ), which is down -33% since my last analysis but which I have also not covered since March 2025 and did in fact rebound after my Buy rating and would have made for a successful trade, is now under pressure again. However, the equity is trading like its core franchise is deteriorating, driven by CEO transition concerns and a softer 2026 EPS guide. However, growth is still good in real time, and multiple secondary profit engines are strengthening. I don't think this is the end for PayPal and notice a deep value trading opportunity worth capitalizing on, with the major caveat being persistent downward momentum requiring my tranching strategy. Operational Analysis The bear narrative on PYPL right now is the CEO change plus a softer forecast for 2026 EPS, but the present operational reality isn't that bleak. 2025 revenue was up by 4%, and Transaction Margin Dollars were up by 6%; the major constraint was online branded checkout Total Payment Volume up by 1% FX-neutral in Q4, which compares to +5% in Q3. BNPL Total Payment Volume showed over a 20% year-over-year growth. Management has carefully developed a broad profit engine that shows long-term promise even amid near-term uncertainties. This is evidenced by Transaction Margin Dollars ex-interest growing 4% in Q4 and 6% in FY25 due to credit and omnichannel initiatives, Payment Service Provider profitability, and Venmo monetization, all while the transaction take rate fell by 9 basis points. The 2026 guide , which was the primary downside catalyst, reflects reinvestment drag and low visibility into 2027. The growth spend is about a 3-point Transaction Margin Dollars headwind, with branded checkout forecasted to be only slightly positive to low single digits, and non-transaction opex increasing by about 3%. The guidance also shows ~$6B in buybacks and over or equal to $6B in adjusted FCF, all while dropping the specific 2027 outlook. Indeed, the...
8vFanI/iStock via Getty Images Carlyle Secured Lending ( CGBD ) was raised to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley Securities after Q4 earnings, considering an attractive valuation. The price target was maintained at $13. Carlyle Secured Lending's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.36 missed its consensus estimate by $0.01. "Though the management churn frequency is still a valid callout, we do not believe platform cre...
8vFanI/iStock via Getty Images Carlyle Secured Lending ( CGBD ) was raised to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley Securities after Q4 earnings, considering an attractive valuation. The price target was maintained at $13. Carlyle Secured Lending's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.36 missed its consensus estimate by $0.01. "Though the management churn frequency is still a valid callout, we do not believe platform credit quality dictates a current ~.65x P/NAV discount," said analyst Sean-Paul Adams. "At this entry point, we believe the underlying core vehicle metrics provide an enhanced ~14% current dividend yield, a still attractive earnings profile, and an opportunity for entry at a P/NAV that the platform has been at for less than ~10% of trading days since fund inception," said the research note. "We believe valuation downside (relative to historical trading levels, BDC group P/NAV performance monitored since '14) is limited at current ~.65x P/NAV entry, with our conservative PT (price target) implying ~.8x P/NAV target reasonable with enhanced yield from the current dividend," added the note. "Our core forward forecasts have not yet embedded the potential uplift from the new JV announcement, which we view as a further tailwind," said the note. B. Riley's rating differs from the average sell-side analysts' rating and Seeking Alpha's Quant rating of Hold. SA authors grade the stock as Sell. More on Carlyle Secured Lending Carlyle Secured Lending Inc. (CGBD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Carlyle Secured Lending Inc. 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Time To Derisk BDC Holding And Avoid Carlyle Secured Lending Carlyle Secured Lending outlines new joint venture and $300M share repurchase program amid record originations