July NY world sugar #11 (SBN26 ) today is up +0.06 (+0.39%), and Aug London ICE white sugar #5 (SWQ26 ) is up +4.90 (+1.10%). Sugar prices extended their two-week-long rally today and rose to 1-month highs. Strength in the Brazilian real is boosting sugar prices as the real (^USDBRL...
July NY world sugar #11 (SBN26 ) today is up +0.06 (+0.39%), and Aug London ICE white sugar #5 (SWQ26 ) is up +4.90 (+1.10%). Sugar prices extended their two-week-long rally today and rose to 1-month highs. Strength in the Brazilian real is boosting sugar prices as the real (^USDBRL...
Sun Life Financial ( SLF ) is likely to announce a dividend increase in May, continuing its 3-year streak of consecutive dividend growth based on historical patterns. Analysts expect a consensus annual dividend of $2.79 per share, implying a quarterly dividend of approximately $0.6975, which would represent nearly a 3.7% increase from the prior payout of $0.6724. The company last declared a divide...
Sun Life Financial ( SLF ) is likely to announce a dividend increase in May, continuing its 3-year streak of consecutive dividend growth based on historical patterns. Analysts expect a consensus annual dividend of $2.79 per share, implying a quarterly dividend of approximately $0.6975, which would represent nearly a 3.7% increase from the prior payout of $0.6724. The company last declared a dividend of $0.6724 per share in February 2026, representing an annual yield of 3.76%, and raised its dividend last May by 7.7% to $0.6367 from $0.5911 in May 2024. The company has delivered a 5-year dividend growth rate of approximately 9.24% and maintains an annual payout ratio of 47.74%. The company holds ratings of B- for safety, C for growth, C+ for yield, and B+ for dividend consistency. SLF is scheduled to report its fiscal Q1 2026 financial results on Wednesday, May 06, 2026. More on Sun Life Financial Inc. Sun Life Financial: Strong Business Transformation, But Valuation Limits Upside Sun Life Remains A Bright Spot In A Volatile Market, Despite Elevated Valuation Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF:CA) Presents at 24th Annual Financial Services Conference Transcript Sun Life declares dividends on preferred shares payable in Q1 2026 Historical earnings data for Sun Life Financial Inc.
Earnings Call Insights: Pfizer (PFE) Q1 2026 Management View Pfizer reported a Q1 it framed as operationally strong, with Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla saying, "We've had a strong start to the year. Our business continues to perform well, and we are making strategic progress," and adding, "In the first quarter, we exceeded expectations for both total revenues and adjusted diluted earnings per sha...
Earnings Call Insights: Pfizer (PFE) Q1 2026 Management View Pfizer reported a Q1 it framed as operationally strong, with Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla saying, "We've had a strong start to the year. Our business continues to perform well, and we are making strategic progress," and adding, "In the first quarter, we exceeded expectations for both total revenues and adjusted diluted earnings per share." Bourla highlighted two legal items he said improved longer-term visibility, stating, "Our recent settlement agreements resolving infringement of patents related to Vyndamax have the potential to change the growth profile of the company significantly post-2028," and, "This gives us greater confidence that starting in 2029, we will enter a 5-year period of high single-digit revenue CAGR." He also said the Belgian court ruling on EU Comirnaty contracts was "a positive for future EPS and cash flow" and that the company’s cash flow visibility supports capital allocation priorities "including, of course, our ability to preserve and support the dividend." Bourla emphasized performance from acquired and launched assets, saying, "Our launched and acquired products had a tremendous start to the year with 22% growth," while calling out Seagen products, Metsera’s obesity portfolio plans, and Nurtec’s demand; he said, "Nurtec contributed in the first quarter with 41% operational growth." David Denton (Executive VP & CFO) said, "In the first quarter of '26, revenues were $14.5 billion," and added that "adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.75." Denton also said, "Our launched and acquired products delivered $3.1 billion in the first quarter revenues and grew by approximately 22% operationally." Outlook Denton reaffirmed 2026 guidance, stating, "We continue to expect total company revenues in the range of $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $2.80 to $3 a share," and said the outlook assumes "adjusted gross margins in the mid-70s...
Tom Watson, who had role in attempted coup against Tony Blair in 2006, said move would go down extremely badly with voters Labour MPs have been urged to stop plotting to remove Keir Starmer by Tom Watson, who as a junior minister spearheaded the last attempted coup against a Labour prime minister, when Tony Blair faced a revolt in 2006. Watson’s warning came as Steve Reed, the housing and communit...
Tom Watson, who had role in attempted coup against Tony Blair in 2006, said move would go down extremely badly with voters Labour MPs have been urged to stop plotting to remove Keir Starmer by Tom Watson, who as a junior minister spearheaded the last attempted coup against a Labour prime minister, when Tony Blair faced a revolt in 2006. Watson’s warning came as Steve Reed, the housing and communities secretary, and a key Starmer loyalist, said Labour would risk “annihilation” if it decided to try to change leaders. Continue reading...
Families in Norfolk, Va., await the return of roughly 15,000 sailors and Marines as the USS Ford continues a deployment that started more than 10 months ago. (Image credit: Joe Raedle)
Families in Norfolk, Va., await the return of roughly 15,000 sailors and Marines as the USS Ford continues a deployment that started more than 10 months ago. (Image credit: Joe Raedle)
Earnings Call Insights: USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) Q1 2026 Management View “In the last few months, we have contracted over 90% of our 2026 horsepower, which will more than double the new horsepower deployed in 2025.” (President & CEO Micah Green) “Certain new engine lead times have recently tripled from 50 weeks to approximately 150 weeks.” (President & CEO Green) “We are now able to dir...
Earnings Call Insights: USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) Q1 2026 Management View “In the last few months, we have contracted over 90% of our 2026 horsepower, which will more than double the new horsepower deployed in 2025.” (President & CEO Micah Green) “Certain new engine lead times have recently tripled from 50 weeks to approximately 150 weeks.” (President & CEO Green) “We are now able to directly acquire highly marketable engines with optionality to package for our own internal contract compress needs or future resale to third parties.” (President & CEO Green) “We expect approximately $10 million to $20 million of annual run rate synergies by year-end 2027, and we are still tracking towards those estimates.” (Senior VP & COO Christopher Wauson) “These advanced planning efforts should enable new contract compression growth to stay largely consistent with 2026, in excess of 100,000 horsepower each year.” (COO Wauson) “We increased pricing to an all-time high, averaging $22.73 per horsepower, a 5% increase in sequential quarters and an 8% increase compared to a year ago.” (Senior VP, CFO & Treasurer Christopher Paulsen) “We continue to maintain our full year adjusted EBITDA range of $770 million to $800 million, distributable cash flow range of $480 million to $510 million, maintenance capital range of $60 million to $70 million and expansion capital range of $230 million to $250 million.” (CFO Paulsen) Outlook “We continue to maintain our full year adjusted EBITDA range of $770 million to $800 million” and “distributable cash flow range of $480 million to $510 million,” while keeping “maintenance capital range of $60 million to $70 million” and “expansion capital range of $230 million to $250 million.” (CFO Paulsen) “Our near-term target is to maintain a 3.75x debt-to-EBITDA” and “we anticipate it will tick higher in Q2 as we take delivery of new horsepower that trend back lower by year-end.” (CFO Paulsen) “We are nearly fully contracted for 2026 and replacing a...
Earnings Call Insights: Great Elm Capital Corporation (GECC) Q1 2026 Management View "In the near term, I am reprioritizing. We will protect and grow NAV first and secondarily create income," said (Chairman of the Board and CEO Jason Reese), adding, "We will accomplish this by strengthening oversight, protecting shareholder value and reinforcing accountability across the platform." (CEO Reese) att...
Earnings Call Insights: Great Elm Capital Corporation (GECC) Q1 2026 Management View "In the near term, I am reprioritizing. We will protect and grow NAV first and secondarily create income," said (Chairman of the Board and CEO Jason Reese), adding, "We will accomplish this by strengthening oversight, protecting shareholder value and reinforcing accountability across the platform." (CEO Reese) attributed the quarter’s NAV pressure to marks in specific exposures: "Our NAV declined this quarter, driven primarily by unrealized losses in select investments, most notably our CLO JV and one private investment with an idiosyncratic event," and said, "Our CLO investments can exhibit volatility given their inherent leverage." (CEO Reese) highlighted the manager’s continued fee actions: "Great Elm Capital Management, GECM, investment adviser, has waived all accrued and unpaid incentive fees through June 30, 2026, marking the third consecutive quarter of fee waivers," and quantified, "As of March 31, 2026, that waiver amounted to approximately $2.8 million or $0.20 per share of direct benefit to our shareholders." (CEO Reese) emphasized reduced refinancing risk: "Recently, we called and repurchased all $57.5 million of GECCO notes due later this year," and added, "Once these notes are fully retired, GECC will have no funded debt maturities until 2029." (CEO Reese) described rotation toward senior secured: "During the quarter, we deployed approximately $22 million across 12 investments while exiting investments we viewed as higher risk," and said, "first lien investments now comprise nearly 75% of the corporate portfolio, the highest level in the company's recent history." (CFO & Treasurer Keri Davis) reported earnings and NAV: "NII for the first quarter of 2026 was $5 million or $0.36 per share compared to $4.4 million or $0.31 per share in the fourth quarter of 2025," and "Net assets were $107.5 million or $7.74 per share as of March 31, 2026, compared to $112.9 million or $8...
Earnings Call Insights: AudioCodes (AUDC) Q1 2026 Management view Revenue and margin commentary emphasized the company’s positioning shift, with CEO Shabtai Adlersberg framing Q1 as execution on a transformation: "I'm pleased to report solid first quarter results, reflecting continued effective execution against our strategic priorities as we continue our transformation into a voice AI-driven hybr...
Earnings Call Insights: AudioCodes (AUDC) Q1 2026 Management view Revenue and margin commentary emphasized the company’s positioning shift, with CEO Shabtai Adlersberg framing Q1 as execution on a transformation: "I'm pleased to report solid first quarter results, reflecting continued effective execution against our strategic priorities as we continue our transformation into a voice AI-driven hybrid cloud software and services company" (Co-Founder, President, CEO & Director Shabtai Adlersberg). He highlighted that Live Managed Services and Voice AI were the “two primary growth engines,” saying: "Combined, these two units contributed to $80 million annual recurring revenue exit first quarter '26, growing nearly 20% year-over-year" (CEO Adlersberg). Segment and product traction was positioned as increasingly software-led: "conversational AI business grew above 50% and accounted in the first quarter for roughly 8% of revenue" (CEO Adlersberg). He also cited enterprise concentration and Microsoft performance: "Enterprise revenues accounted for over 90% of revenues in the quarter" and "the Microsoft business, which grew 6% year-over-year" (CEO Adlersberg). Backlog and pipeline visibility were used to support near-term revenue conversion expectations: "We exited first quarter '26 backlog with backlog at $79 million compared to $67 million from the year ago period" (CEO Adlersberg). He also linked optimism to Live platform wins and GenAI demand: "We are growing ever more optimistic about the continued strong annual recurring revenue momentum and growth prospects for the overall company" (CEO Adlersberg). The CFO emphasized capital returns and reiterated full-year guidance: "During the quarter, we acquired 1.7 million of our ordinary shares for a total consideration of approximately $13.7 million" (CFO & VP of Finance Niran Baruch) and "We reiterate our guidance for revenues for 2026 to be in the range of $247 million to $255 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share ...
July ICE NY cocoa (CCN26 ) today is up +218 (+5.61%), and July ICE London cocoa #7 (CAN26 ) is up +3.94 (+14.66%). Cocoa prices are surging today and posted 2.75-month highs. Early surveys of the 2026/27 West African cocoa crop indicate below-average cherelle formation on cocoa trees, signaling a...
July ICE NY cocoa (CCN26 ) today is up +218 (+5.61%), and July ICE London cocoa #7 (CAN26 ) is up +3.94 (+14.66%). Cocoa prices are surging today and posted 2.75-month highs. Early surveys of the 2026/27 West African cocoa crop indicate below-average cherelle formation on cocoa trees, signaling a...
Russian pavilion to stay closed as outcry over Israel’s inclusion also grows – but nesting seagull provides some light relief The 61st Venice Biennale vernissage began on Tuesday under grey clouds and rain showers, as political tension, parties and protest dominated proceedings at one of the art world’s biggest events. Lubaina Himid, the British entrant, who has spent a career creating work that p...
Russian pavilion to stay closed as outcry over Israel’s inclusion also grows – but nesting seagull provides some light relief The 61st Venice Biennale vernissage began on Tuesday under grey clouds and rain showers, as political tension, parties and protest dominated proceedings at one of the art world’s biggest events. Lubaina Himid, the British entrant, who has spent a career creating work that picks at her country’s colonial past, took over the UK’s pavilion with her large-scale paintings and sound collage that recalls a “ perfect British summer’s day ”. Continue reading...
Investors are piling into municipal bonds at the fastest rate in five years, drawn by attractive yields and the promise of a safe harbor from recent market volatility. Net inflows into funds focused on state and local government debt totaled roughly $22.3 billion in the first four months of the year, the most for the period since 2021, according to data from LSEG Lipper Global Fund Flows. April ma...
Investors are piling into municipal bonds at the fastest rate in five years, drawn by attractive yields and the promise of a safe harbor from recent market volatility. Net inflows into funds focused on state and local government debt totaled roughly $22.3 billion in the first four months of the year, the most for the period since 2021, according to data from LSEG Lipper Global Fund Flows. April marked the fourth straight month of inflows, as well as the muni market’s best performance for that month in over a decade, as investors found their footing following a stretch of war-fueled market turbulence. Read more: Rebound From War Swoon Fuels Best April for Munis Since 2014 “Even when there was a lot of volatility in March, the investor base saw our asset class as a safe haven, and on top of that as a place of attractive yield,” said Dora Lee , director of research for Belle Haven Investments. “Our calendar hasn’t really let up despite the volatility and it is speaking to this very strong investor demand that does not seem to be abating.” The yield-to-worst on the muni index stands at 3.69%, which is a taxable equivalent yield of just over 6%, according to Jason Appleson , head of municipal bonds at PGIM Fixed Income. By comparison, US 10-year Treasuries yield around 4.4%. At the same time, munis have been comparatively placid compared to other markets, such as stocks: the S&P 500’s recent run to all-time highs follows a volatile stretch spurred by surging oil prices and other concerns related to the Iran war. The asset class is also a destination for those worried that equities will not be able to sustain their record run, said Chris Brigati , chief investment officer at SWBC Investment Services. “There are some concerns about AI and the ability for the market to keep driving higher,” he said. “You can see investors pulling some chips off the equity table and putting it into fixed income and municipals with relatively attractive absolute levels.” The demand for munis ...
Panama’s foreign minister has called on a group of opposition lawmakers visiting China to deliver a firm message defending the country’s sovereignty, as tensions over a wave of detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels show no signs of easing. Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez said on Monday that the lawmakers should relay a clear message to their Chinese counterparts on Panama’s behalf. “I can only sug...
Panama’s foreign minister has called on a group of opposition lawmakers visiting China to deliver a firm message defending the country’s sovereignty, as tensions over a wave of detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels show no signs of easing. Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez said on Monday that the lawmakers should relay a clear message to their Chinese counterparts on Panama’s behalf. “I can only suggest that you convey that Panama respects China, but Panama first respects the Constitution of our...