U.S. stocks closed mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) down -0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite ( COMP:IND ) +0.1%, while the Dow ( DJI ) dropped -0.6%. Oil prices surged again. The WTI Crude Oil index ( CL1:COM ) rose to about $88 per barrel, while Brent Crude ( CO1:COM ) was also higher at $92. Also higher were bond yields. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield ( US10Y ) was 7 basis points ...
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) down -0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite ( COMP:IND ) +0.1%, while the Dow ( DJI ) dropped -0.6%. Oil prices surged again. The WTI Crude Oil index ( CL1:COM ) rose to about $88 per barrel, while Brent Crude ( CO1:COM ) was also higher at $92. Also higher were bond yields. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield ( US10Y ) was 7 basis points higher at 4.23%, while the 2-year Treasury yield ( US2Y ) rose 5 basis points to 3.66%. On investors’ minds was the February U.S. CPI , which came in-line with consensus. Now here are three things to focus on Thursday: On the economic side, investors will expect initial jobless claims data. Consensus estimates the number to be around 215,000. Last week, claims decreased by 4,750 to 213,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Also, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2% for the week ended Feb. 21. The International Energy Agency (or IEA) confirmed an agreement to release 400M barrels of oil available from its members’ emergency reserves. This is the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history and exceeds the 182M barrels released in 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Oil prices are expected to decline. For now, WTI and Brend ( CL1:COM ), ( CO1:COM ) continue to be $88 and $92 per barrel, respectively. Adobe ( ADBE ) reports earnings on Thursday. The stock is down -0.5% currently—and is almost -21% year-to-date. In addition, Citi recently cut its price target , expecting minimal upside revisions to its 2026 outlook. Seeking Alpha rates the company a “hold” with a Quant rating of 2.97, while Wall Street continues to see it as a “buy.” More on the markets Dow Jones And U.S. Index Outlook: Stock Markets Drop Despite Low CPI Report Weaker Dollar: I Have Begun Questioning What I Was Taught The Downsides Of The AI Spending Binge Nasdaq inches up, Dow slides as oil prices rise again, retail inflation comes in-line The 10...
In a sea of massive valuations for early-stage AI startups, today we have a bit of rare news: a jumbo round and valuation step up for an e-commerce company. Quince announced on Wednesday that it raised a $500 million Series E round at a $10.1 billion valuation. The round was led by previous investor Iconiq, which also led Quince’s $200 million Series D in early 2025 at a reported $4.5 billion valu...
In a sea of massive valuations for early-stage AI startups, today we have a bit of rare news: a jumbo round and valuation step up for an e-commerce company. Quince announced on Wednesday that it raised a $500 million Series E round at a $10.1 billion valuation. The round was led by previous investor Iconiq, which also led Quince’s $200 million Series D in early 2025 at a reported $4.5 billion valuation. That’s more than double the valuation in less than a year. Quince rose to fame on Instagram with its $50 cashmere sweater, but has since amassed a wider range of product offerings including apparel, home, accessories, beauty, and wellness. Unlike typical e-commerce retail sites, the company manufactures its products and sells them to consumers directly. Quince, which launched out of beta in 2020, calls its business model “manufacturer-to-consumer.” And because it owns most of its own tech stack and controls its designs and manufacturing, Quince can more accurately predict its sales, according to a blog post by Iconiq. This allows smaller batch manufacturing with less waste. Quince and its investors argue that, unlike fast fashion, Quince can produce higher quality products at low costs. Not that the company has been without controversy. It has faced several lawsuits from brands alleging Quince is selling dupes of their designs. Coach parent Tapestry is suing, as is Williams Sonoma, Puck reported. Deckers also sued over footwear designs, but a court ruled in Quince’s favor. If such scuffles have given Quince a copycat reputation, as Puck describes, the site’s customers are apparently unphased. The company says that its top-line revenue has now surpassed $1 billion. In January, it also expanded to Canada. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions,...
California Dreamin' Isn't What It Used To Be Authored by Kenin M. Spivak via RealClearPolitics , California’s elected Democrats can’t move beyond pandering. Gov. Gavin Newsom is fixated on reparations for African Americans, and the legislature’s Democratic Party majority is once again trying to divide Californians by race, sex, and gender orientation. In 1996, California stunned the nation when 55...
California Dreamin' Isn't What It Used To Be Authored by Kenin M. Spivak via RealClearPolitics , California’s elected Democrats can’t move beyond pandering. Gov. Gavin Newsom is fixated on reparations for African Americans, and the legislature’s Democratic Party majority is once again trying to divide Californians by race, sex, and gender orientation. In 1996, California stunned the nation when 55% of voters approved Proposition 209 , which amended the state’s constitution to prohibit public institutions from considering race, sex or ethnicity in employment, contracting, and education. Ten years later, the United States Supreme Court confirmed its right to do so. As the state moved further left, in 2019, the Democratic controlled legislature placed Proposition 16 on the ballot to repeal Proposition 209. That effort failed in 2020 when more than 57% of voters rejected it, despite widespread support of elected officials and opponents being outspent nearly 20 to 1. Undeterred, in 2020, the legislature enacted laws that required California-headquartered public companies to include up to three directors who “self-identify” as women and up to an additional three directors from “underrepresented communities.” In 2022, California state judges enjoined that social engineering for violating due process under California’s constitution. California lost its appeals. Also in 2020, Newsom signed into law a requirement that the state develop reparations proposals for black Californians . In 2022, he issued an executive order directing all state agencies to reorder their missions and hiring practices “to advance equity” while also establishing a commission to develop policies based on the reparations proposals. Among dozens of preferences, it recommended payments exceeding $1 million for each descendant of slaves, as well as housing assistance, guaranteed wages, racially segregated education, and overturning Proposition 209. Earlier this year, Newsom established a bureau to develop ...
Antonin Kinsky has thanked those who have sent him messages of support on social media after a "nightmare" display in Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The Czech goalkeeper was substituted after 17 minutes with Spurs trailing 3-0 in the Spanish capital, having made errors which led to Atletico's first and third goals. The Premier League side went on to lose...
Antonin Kinsky has thanked those who have sent him messages of support on social media after a "nightmare" display in Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The Czech goalkeeper was substituted after 17 minutes with Spurs trailing 3-0 in the Spanish capital, having made errors which led to Atletico's first and third goals. The Premier League side went on to lose the first leg of their last-16 tie 5-2. Kinsky posted on his Instagram story: "Thanks for the messages. From dream to nightmare to dream again. See you." The 22-year-old was consoled by several team-mates as he made his way off the field. Spurs manager Igor Tudor, who had selected him to start ahead of Guglielmo Vicario, did not acknowledge Kinsky at the time but said in his post-match media conference that he had spoken with his goalkeeper afterwards. The former Croatia international said of the substitution: "It was necessary to preserve the guy and preserve the team. "It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment we are [in] - pressure on Vicario, another competition and Toni is a very good goalkeeper. "So it was, for me, the right decision. After, it's easy to say it was not the right decision. "I explained to Toni, speaking after, that he is the right guy and a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately, these mistakes happened in this big game."
Shares of TSS (TSSI +9.23%) rose on Wednesday after the data center services provider announced solid quarterly growth figures. By the close of trading, TSS's stock price was up over 8%. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered growth TSS's revenue jumped 22% year over year to $60.9 million in the fourth quarter. The gains were fueled by a 79% rise in systems integration sales to $14.2 million and a 1...
Shares of TSS (TSSI +9.23%) rose on Wednesday after the data center services provider announced solid quarterly growth figures. By the close of trading, TSS's stock price was up over 8%. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered growth TSS's revenue jumped 22% year over year to $60.9 million in the fourth quarter. The gains were fueled by a 79% rise in systems integration sales to $14.2 million and a 118% surge in facilities management revenue to $3.5 million. Better still, TSS is growing more profitable as it scales its business. The company's gross profit climbed 57% to $11.3 million. Expand NASDAQ : TSSI Tss Today's Change ( 9.23 %) $ 1.02 Current Price $ 12.07 Key Data Points Market Cap $319M Day's Range $ 11.43 - $ 14.39 52wk Range $ 5.63 - $ 31.94 Volume 465K Avg Vol 1.1M Gross Margin 11.62 % All told, TSS's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) soared 132% to $7.9 million. "Our business, providing high-performance computing solutions to global leaders in the AI and cloud infrastructure ecosystem, is scaling profitably," CEO Darryll Dewan said. "As customer requirements evolve, we continue to invest in our systems, processes, and people to improve efficiency." Management sees more AI-driven gains in the coming year Looking ahead, TSS projects full-year adjusted EBITDA of $20 million to $22 million in 2026, up from $18.6 million in 2025. "The market for AI infrastructure continues to accelerate, as reflected in publicly disclosed forecasts of industry analysts and corporate reports," Dewan said. "Importantly, as AI chip functionality improves, the additional size, complexity, and cooling requirements of racks play to our strengths, capabilities, and capacities."
Key Points Demand for TSS's high-performance computing services is rising quickly. The tech stock's profit margins are improving as it scales its operations. 10 stocks we like better than Tss › Shares of TSS (NASDAQ: TSSI) rose on Wednesday after the data center services provider announced solid quarterly growth figures. By the close of trading, TSS's stock price was up over 8%. Will AI create the...
Key Points Demand for TSS's high-performance computing services is rising quickly. The tech stock's profit margins are improving as it scales its operations. 10 stocks we like better than Tss › Shares of TSS (NASDAQ: TSSI) rose on Wednesday after the data center services provider announced solid quarterly growth figures. By the close of trading, TSS's stock price was up over 8%. 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 » Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered growth TSS's revenue jumped 22% year over year to $60.9 million in the fourth quarter. The gains were fueled by a 79% rise in systems integration sales to $14.2 million and a 118% surge in facilities management revenue to $3.5 million. Better still, TSS is growing more profitable as it scales its business. The company's gross profit climbed 57% to $11.3 million. All told, TSS's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) soared 132% to $7.9 million. "Our business, providing high-performance computing solutions to global leaders in the AI and cloud infrastructure ecosystem, is scaling profitably," CEO Darryll Dewan said. "As customer requirements evolve, we continue to invest in our systems, processes, and people to improve efficiency." Management sees more AI-driven gains in the coming year Looking ahead, TSS projects full-year adjusted EBITDA of $20 million to $22 million in 2026, up from $18.6 million in 2025. "The market for AI infrastructure continues to accelerate, as reflected in publicly disclosed forecasts of industry analysts and corporate reports," Dewan said. "Importantly, as AI chip functionality improves, the additional size, complexity, and cooling requirements of racks play to our strengths, capabilities, and capacities." Should you buy stock in Tss right now? Before you buy stock in Tss...
Key Points Rush Island Management acquired 2,928,659 shares of Americold Realty Trust in the fourth quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $37.66 million, reflecting the new share purchase. The new position places Americold Realty Trust outside the fund's top five holdings. 10 stocks we like better than Americold Realty Trust › Rush Island Management initiated a new position in Ameri...
Key Points Rush Island Management acquired 2,928,659 shares of Americold Realty Trust in the fourth quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $37.66 million, reflecting the new share purchase. The new position places Americold Realty Trust outside the fund's top five holdings. 10 stocks we like better than Americold Realty Trust › Rush Island Management initiated a new position in Americold Realty Trust (NYSE:COLD), acquiring 2,928,659 shares worth $37.66 million in the fourth quarter, according to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing. What happened According to an SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Rush Island Management disclosed a new stake in Americold Realty Trust (NYSE:COLD), acquiring 2,928,659 shares during the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarter-end value of this holding also stood at $37.66 million, reflecting both the share acquisition and stock price movement over the period. What else to know This was a new position for the fund, representing 2.35% of its $1.60 billion in 13F reportable assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Top holdings after the filing: NASDAQ:SBAC: $227.78 million (14.2% of AUM) NYSE:ESS: $166.75 million (10.4% of AUM) NYSE:HR: $152.68 million (9.5% of AUM) NYSE:NNN: $151.91 million (9.5% of AUM) NYSE:UDR: $130.81 million (8.2% of AUM) As of February 17, 2026, shares were priced at $12.32, down roughly 40% over the past year and well underperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 20% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of market close 2026-02-17) $12.32 Market Capitalization $3.51 billion Revenue (TTM) $2.61 billion Dividend Yield 7.5% Company snapshot Americold Realty Trust operates temperature-controlled warehouses, providing refrigerated storage and logistics solutions for food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers. The company owns and operates a global network of temperature-controlled facilities used for storage and logistics in the food supply chain. Americold's primary custome...
In this video, I will cover Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and the sudden reversal in some software stocks. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below. *Stock prices used were from the trading day of March. 6, 2026. The video was published on March. 9, 2026. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one littl...
In this video, I will cover Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and the sudden reversal in some software stocks. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below. *Stock prices used were from the trading day of March. 6, 2026. The video was published on March. 9, 2026. 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 » Should you buy stock in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amazon wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $522,791!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,132,678!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 952% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 11, 2026. Neil Rozenbaum has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of...
Software stocks have been on a roller-coaster ride over the last few months, as fears of disruption from generative artificial intelligence (AI) have caused investors to reevaluate the future of many businesses in the sector. The predictable subscription revenue model of software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks might not be so predictable anymore, increasing uncertainty and pushing earnings multiples f...
Software stocks have been on a roller-coaster ride over the last few months, as fears of disruption from generative artificial intelligence (AI) have caused investors to reevaluate the future of many businesses in the sector. The predictable subscription revenue model of software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks might not be so predictable anymore, increasing uncertainty and pushing earnings multiples for many companies much lower. One company that appears particularly threatened by the rise of AI coding agents like Anthropic's Claude Code saw its stock price drop nearly 75% from its 2025 peak by late February. While the shares have since rebounded sharply (up 50% since their February lows as of this writing), thanks in part to a solid earnings report, analysts still see potential for the stock to climb another 33%. Here's why investors should take a closer look at Wix (WIX 0.24%), which trades for about $94 as of this writing with a median analyst price target of $125. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em Wix's core business is helping people build websites. But when anyone can type a description of a website they want to "build" into Anthropic's Claude Code and have a working webpage in a few minutes, it seems like it might not be long for this world. Wix is more than just a website builder, though. It also provides hosting and maintenance services for its users, and it offers add-ons like marketing services to monetize sites, payment services for storefronts, and more. It has found a particular niche with freelancers and studios, which provide a stickier customer base and are more likely to use site-building tools where they have more control over the final product compared to an AI-generated website. But management isn't just standing still as AI encroaches on its business. Last summer, it acquired Base44 for $80 million. It's invested heavily in marketing the vibe-coding platform, and management says it recently reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue. The compan...
Frequency Electronics press release ( FEIM ): Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.16 misses by $0.12 . Revenue of $16.9M (-10.7% Y/Y) misses by $2.16M . More on Frequency Electronics Frequency Electronics: The Growth Story Is Just Beginning Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Frequency Electronics announces satellite contracts worth about $45 million Frequency Electronics outlines $1...
Frequency Electronics press release ( FEIM ): Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.16 misses by $0.12 . Revenue of $16.9M (-10.7% Y/Y) misses by $2.16M . More on Frequency Electronics Frequency Electronics: The Growth Story Is Just Beginning Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Frequency Electronics announces satellite contracts worth about $45 million Frequency Electronics outlines $100M+ backlog target as defense and space growth accelerates Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Frequency Electronics
Citi Research Global Chief Economist Nathan Sheets discusses the impacts of the conflict in Iran on the economy, next steps for the Federal Reserve, and the possibility of seeing headline inflation 'move up over the coming months.' He talks with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on "The Close." (Source: Bloomberg)
Citi Research Global Chief Economist Nathan Sheets discusses the impacts of the conflict in Iran on the economy, next steps for the Federal Reserve, and the possibility of seeing headline inflation 'move up over the coming months.' He talks with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on "The Close." (Source: Bloomberg)
On February 17, 2026, Rush Island Management reported selling out its entire stake in Sunstone Hotel Investors (SHO 0.21%), unloading 3,708,130 shares worth $34.75 million. What happened According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Rush Island Management sold out its entire position in Sunstone Hotel Investors, amounting to a decrease of 3,708,130 shares....
On February 17, 2026, Rush Island Management reported selling out its entire stake in Sunstone Hotel Investors (SHO 0.21%), unloading 3,708,130 shares worth $34.75 million. What happened According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, Rush Island Management sold out its entire position in Sunstone Hotel Investors, amounting to a decrease of 3,708,130 shares. The reported quarter-end value for this holding decreased by $34.75 million. What else to know Top holdings after the filing: NASDAQ: SBAC: $227.78 million (14.2% of AUM) NYSE: ESS: $166.75 million (10.4% of AUM) NYSE: HR: $152.68 million (9.5% of AUM) NYSE: NNN: $151.91 million (9.5% of AUM) NYSE: UDR: $130.81 million (8.2% of AUM) As of Wednesday, shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors were priced at $9.25, down 7% over the past year and well underperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 21% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of Wednesday) $9.25 Market Capitalization $1.8 billion Revenue (TTM) $960.1 million Net Income (TTM) $24.6 million Company snapshot Sunstone Hotel Investors owns and manages a portfolio of 14 hotels with 7,000 rooms, primarily operated under brands such as Hyatt, Hilton, and Four Seasons. The firm operates as a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT), generating revenue from hotel ownership, asset management, and property repositioning or renovation. It serves business and leisure travelers through nationally recognized hotel brands in major U.S. markets. Sunstone Hotel Investors is a real estate investment trust focused on acquiring, owning, and enhancing upscale hotels in key U.S. markets. The company leverages partnerships with leading hospitality brands to drive occupancy and revenue growth. Its disciplined asset management and renovation strategy aim to maintain long-term relevance and competitive positioning within the lodging sector. What this transaction means for investors Hotel REITs are heavily cyclical. When busines...
In this video, I will discuss five interesting companies that could offer significant upside for long-term investors. I chose a mix of companies in different industries. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below. *Stock prices used were from the trading day of March. 6, 2026. The video was published on March. 7, 2026. Will AI create the world...
In this video, I will discuss five interesting companies that could offer significant upside for long-term investors. I chose a mix of companies in different industries. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below. *Stock prices used were from the trading day of March. 6, 2026. The video was published on March. 7, 2026. 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 » Should you buy stock in SoFi Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in SoFi Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and SoFi Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $522,791!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,132,678!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 952% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 11, 2026. Neil Rozenbaum has positions in MercadoLibre, Rubrik, and SoFi Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MercadoLibre and Rubrik. The Motley Fool recommends Reddit. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his cha...
In this article USO CVX XOM OXY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Bryan Mound storage facility located in Brazoria County, Texas, is one of four sites that make up the country's oil reserve. Str New | Reuters President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower energy costs during the Iran war. "We'...
In this article USO CVX XOM OXY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Bryan Mound storage facility located in Brazoria County, Texas, is one of four sites that make up the country's oil reserve. Str New | Reuters President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower energy costs during the Iran war. "We'll do that, and then we'll fill it up," Trump said in an interview with Cincinnati broadcaster WKRC. "I filled it up once, and I'll fill it up again, but right now, we'll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down," the president said. Trump's comments come after the International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil to address the massive supply disruption caused by the Iran war. It is the largest release of stockpiles in the more than 50-year history of the IEA. The U.S. currently has 415 million barrels of oil in its strategic reserve, about 58% of the authorized capacity of 714 million barrels. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
FatCamera/iStock via Getty Images Trupanion, Inc. ( TRUP ) is a chance to bet on pet insurance. Initially, I didn't like this stock. With their first profitable year on the books now, it was time for me to follow up and see if it deserved a better rating. While not all risks go away, I think there's a case to own TRUP now. Summary Of Original Thesis When I wrote about TRUP two years ago , I rated ...
FatCamera/iStock via Getty Images Trupanion, Inc. ( TRUP ) is a chance to bet on pet insurance. Initially, I didn't like this stock. With their first profitable year on the books now, it was time for me to follow up and see if it deserved a better rating. While not all risks go away, I think there's a case to own TRUP now. Summary Of Original Thesis When I wrote about TRUP two years ago , I rated it a Sell. I was very skeptical of their business model, particularly because growth had not opened the door to profitability at that point. Screenshot from original thesis (Q3 2025 Earnings Release) A major setback at the time was the impact of inflation, which was much higher in early 2024. Cost of veterinary services rose quickly, driving up claims faster than they could increase prices. This squeezed margins on a company that was still trying to scale up in order to reach profitability. Moreover, I was concerned about how relevant the product ultimately is in hard times. Comparing it to more traditional insurance, I said: Unlike car insurance and homeowner's insurance, there are no laws, ordinances, or other rules that tend to require us to purchase these things. The moral and legal weight when homes burn down or cars crash is much more than when a pet gets sick. This made me doubt if it would have the usual "defensiveness" that is attributable to a solid underwriter. With little reason to expect any improvement, I felt it was better for shareholders to cash out. Recent Financial Improvements While it did take some time, things have gotten better for this company in the two years that passed. For starters, Trupanion finally recorded a GAAP profit. Let's look at what enabled that. Author's display of 10-K data First, it's important to clarify that Trupanion wasn't unprofitable for want of growth. Over the past decade, revenue has consistently grown over that of the prior year. Author's display of 10-K data My concern was that, even with so much growth, macro pressures fr...
An advocacy group said its study of 10 artificial intelligence chatbots found that most of them gave at least some help to users planning violent attacks and that nearly all failed to discourage users from violence. Several chatbot makers say they have made changes to improve safety since the tests were conducted between November and December. Of the 10 chatbots, "Character.AI was uniquely unsafe,...
An advocacy group said its study of 10 artificial intelligence chatbots found that most of them gave at least some help to users planning violent attacks and that nearly all failed to discourage users from violence. Several chatbot makers say they have made changes to improve safety since the tests were conducted between November and December. Of the 10 chatbots, "Character.AI was uniquely unsafe," said the report published today by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which conducted research in collaboration with CNN reporters. Character.AI "encouraged users to carry out violent attacks," with specific suggestions to “use a gun” on a health insurance CEO and to physically assault a politician, the CCDH wrote. "No other chatbot tested explicitly encouraged violence in this way, even when providing practical assistance in planning a violent attack," the report said. Read full article Comments