Nvidia (NVDA 1.32%) published its fourth-quarter results after the market closed on Feb. 25 and once again posted sales and earnings that surpassed Wall Street's expectations. It recorded non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share (EPS) of $1.62 on sales of $68.13 billion, beating the analysts' average estimates for EPS of $1.53 on revenue of $66.21 billion. Yet the chipmaker's shares have actually lost ground since that quarterly report, and that trend has had bearish spillover effects for other tech companies. Many software companies have been particularly hard hit in recent weeks, but comments from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggest that the market may be getting the wrong read on the outlook for top software plays. Huang says the age of agentic AI has arrived Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can operate autonomously or with very little human input to complete complex tasks. During Nvidia's investor conference call, Huang said that agentic systems had reached an inflection point, and specifically pointed to achievements made by Anthropic's Claude. Expand NASDAQ : NVDA Nvidia Today's Change ( -1.32 %) $ -2.43 Current Price $ 180.91 Key Data Points Market Cap $4.5T Day's Range $ 179.67 - $ 182.75 52wk Range $ 86.62 - $ 212.19 Volume 2.9M Avg Vol 176M Gross Margin 71.07 % Dividend Yield 0.02 % Software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks have experienced big valuation pullbacks in recent months as investors have come to foresee the possibility that many of these companies' business models could be disrupted by AI. However, Huang said he thought that the market had "gotten it wrong" when it came to the bearish outlook for software stocks. That Huang is taking a bullish stance on agentic AI isn't necessarily surprising. Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) provide the largest share of the processing power for training and running today's most advanced artificial intelligence models, and the chipmaker has been the single biggest winner from the rise of AI...

Nvidia (NVDA 1.32%) supplies the world's best graphics processing units (GPUs), which are the primary chips used to power the development of artificial intelligence (AI) software. Now, it's gearing up to ship processors based on its new Rubin GPU architecture, which will offer further increases in performance over its industry-leading Blackwell chips. In other words, although its competitors are ramping up their efforts in the AI accelerator space, Nvidia is primarily competing with itself right now, and it's experiencing more demand than it can possibly meet. And during its Feb. 25 conference call with investors following the release of its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results, CEO Jensen Huang made a series of comments that suggest demand could surge even further from here. The Vera Rubin platform is a game-changer for AI developers Nvidia's original AI data center GPU, the H100, which launched in 2022, was built on the company's Hopper architecture. But its most recent generation of GPUs, based on its Blackwell Ultra architecture, can deliver 50 times better performance per watt than the H100 in certain configurations. This highlights how fast the company is progressing. It's taking another leap forward with the Vera Rubin platform, which includes the Rubin GPU, the Vera CPU, the latest NVLink 6 switches, and a range of other networking components. The company says the Rubin architecture is so powerful that AI models can be trained using 75% fewer GPUs compared to Blackwell, while reducing inference token costs by a whopping 90%. Tokens are pieces of data, like words and images, that an AI model generates. These outputs cost money to produce, which is why many AI companies charge their customers based on usage. When a user prompts a chatbot, for example, they are consuming tokens -- and the more complex the request, the more tokens it requires. Bringing costs down will encourage more usage while boosting the profit margins of AI companies, which is why Nvidia Chief...

Key Points Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang thinks that the rise of agentic AI is accelerating. Huang does not believe that AI agents will disrupt the software industry as some are predicting by creating entirely new software tools. Instead, he suggests that AI agents will largely make use of existing software tools on people's behalf. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) published its fourth-quarter results after the market closed on Feb. 25 and once again posted sales and earnings that surpassed Wall Street's expectations. It recorded non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share (EPS) of $1.62 on sales of $68.13 billion, beating the analysts' average estimates for EPS of $1.53 on revenue of $66.21 billion. Yet the chipmaker's shares have actually lost ground since that quarterly report, and that trend has had bearish spillover effects for other tech companies. Many software companies have been particularly hard hit in recent weeks, but comments from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggest that the market may be getting the wrong read on the outlook for top software plays. 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 » Huang says the age of agentic AI has arrived Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can operate autonomously or with very little human input to complete complex tasks. During Nvidia's investor conference call, Huang said that agentic systems had reached an inflection point, and specifically pointed to achievements made by Anthropic's Claude. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks have experienced big valuation pullbacks in recent months as investors have come to foresee the possibility that many of these companies' business models could be disrupted by AI. However, Huang said he thought that the market had "gotten it wrong" when it came to the bearish outlook for ...

Key Points Nvidia will begin shipping commercial volumes of its next-generation Vera Rubin platform in the second half of 2026. CEO Jensen Huang recently explained why he believes that spending on AI data center infrastructure won't be slowing down anytime soon. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) supplies the world's best graphics processing units (GPUs), which are the primary chips used to power the development of artificial intelligence (AI) software. Now, it's gearing up to ship processors based on its new Rubin GPU architecture, which will offer further increases in performance over its industry-leading Blackwell chips. In other words, although its competitors are ramping up their efforts in the AI accelerator space, Nvidia is primarily competing with itself right now, and it's experiencing more demand than it can possibly meet. And during its Feb. 25 conference call with investors following the release of its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results, CEO Jensen Huang made a series of comments that suggest demand could surge even further from here. 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 » The Vera Rubin platform is a game-changer for AI developers Nvidia's original AI data center GPU, the H100, which launched in 2022, was built on the company's Hopper architecture. But its most recent generation of GPUs, based on its Blackwell Ultra architecture, can deliver 50 times better performance per watt than the H100 in certain configurations. This highlights how fast the company is progressing. It's taking another leap forward with the Vera Rubin platform, which includes the Rubin GPU, the Vera CPU, the latest NVLink 6 switches, and a range of other networking components. The company says the Rubin architecture is so powerful that AI models can be trained using 75% fewer GPU...

tumsasedgars/iStock via Getty Images Adobe's Earnings Approach At the end of 2025, I took a contrarian stance, stating that Adobe ( ADBE ) was an opportunity the market was offering us. Well, so far, the SaaS apocalypse narrative has kept ravaging software stocks, and Adobe is down 17.5% since my rating. I consider Adobe together with Salesforce ( CRM ), as they are both victims of the AI threat , which is why every time they report earnings, their prints are scanned thoroughly by investors to spot any sign of business deterioration . After Adobe reported its Q4 2025 earnings, the company not only reported record revenue but also talked about AI as a tailwind , with growing ARR. The 2026 guidance was also rather satisfying, with revenues expected to be around $26B and the ending ARR up by at least 10.2%. For Q1 2026, the guidance was for revenues of around $6.28B and for EPS expected to be between $4.55 and $4.60. Now, as the new earnings report approaches, I would like to take a moment to highlight what the key metrics we need to watch are so that we can separate them from the market noise. ADBE Q4 2025 Earnings What To Consider About Adobe's Q1 2026 Earnings Let's quickly summarize what Adobe does, in case you are not familiar with the company. It has two main segments: digital media, which accounts for approximately 75% of its revenues, and digital experiences, with 25% of the weight. However, with this new report, we will see that Adobe has changed its reporting structure, which will focus more on the customers Adobe addresses rather than its operations. To make it easier, Adobe will continue reporting as additional disclosures both Digital Media and Digital Experiences. The new groups will be creative and marketing professionals (C&MP) and business professionals & consumers (BP&C). The former is expected to report revenues of above $4.3B, while the latter should reach $1.74B. This means the revenue mix is around 69%/31%. Now, the first thing that Adobe will nee...

The U.S. and Israel are showing signs of escalating their war against Iran – a move that could batter a variety of assets, even traditional safe havens. To protect their portfolios, investors can snap up stocks from an oft-shorted sector: pharmaceuticals, UBS analysts say. Since the first strikes last Saturday, the Iran War has roiled global markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel this week, while U.S. stocks plunged as the conflict limited trade and travel. Now, as the conflict has shown signs of widening to other countries, including Lebanon and Bahrain, traditional safe-haven assets are showing signs of faltering. Spot gold has fallen more than 2% over the past five days, putting the metal on track for its first weekly decline in more than a month. Consumer staples also weakened as rising oil prices drove gasoline higher, hitting low-end consumers and raising input costs for companies. But some assets offer protection against geopolitical risks, according to UBS. Enter: pharmaceutical stocks. More than three dozen pharmaceutical stocks, including Eli Lilly and Merck , are likely to ride out the Iran War, UBS analysts said in a Friday note to clients. "Many investors are looking for diversifiers amid Middle East tensions," UBS strategist Andrew Garthwaite wrote in the 24-page report. "Pharma is the most defensive sector and has a very close (inverse) correlation" purchasing managers indexes, he said. Eli Lilly is rated buy at UBS. Shares are up 34% over the past six months. Merck is also rated buy, and is 35% higher over the past six months. The pharmaceutical sector is discounting a purchasing managers' index of 52, suggesting it is still poised for growth, according to the London-based Garthwaite. Garthwaite also noted that valuations are still relatively cheap across the pharmaceuticals sector. The group of stocks is also poised to benefit due to its low leverage, with the analyst noting that it is "one of the best-performing sectors when credit spread...

Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) subsidiaries Actelion Pharmaceuticals and ‌Janssen Research & Development have agreed to pay $65M to settle a proposed antitrust class action suit related to J&J’s ( JNJ ) lung disorder therapy, Tracleer. The settlement between J&J ( JNJ ) units and plaintiffs, including the Government Employees Health Association, requires approval from a judge, Reuters reported, citing a court document submitted on Wednesday. The lawsuit filed in the federal court in Maryland alleged that the companies delayed the market entry of generics against Tracleer, an oral prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. By hindering access to samples of Tracleer, JNJ units “effectively blocked competitors from bringing a competing generic product to market for a period of time,” said the plaintiffs, a group comprising entities that purchased the medication or reimbursed their members for its costs. The class action covers Tracleer sales that occurred in 31 states , the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico during a period from December ​2015 to September 2024. More on Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Presents at TD Cowen 46th Annual Health Care Conference Transcript Johnson & Johnson: Strong Run May Be Ending (Rating Downgrade) Q4 Healthcare Dividends: Johnson & Johnson Kept Outshining Pfizer (Rating Upgrades) Pharma giants pressed by Senate Democrats over Trump pricing deals J&J wins FDA nod for multiple myeloma therapy

The dollar index (DXY00) today is down by -0.20%. The dollar is under pressure today from a weaker-than-expected US Feb payroll report. Also, a decline in US Jan retail sales added to negative sentiment toward the dollar. Losses in the dollar are limited as a slump in equity markets today has boosted some liquidity demand for the dollar. Also, comments today from Fed Governor Christopher Waller were supportive of the dollar when he said the Iran war is unlikely to cause sustained inflation. Join 200K+ Subscribers: US Feb nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly fell by -92,000, weaker than expectations of a +55,000 increase and the biggest decline in four months. The Feb unemployment rate unexpectedly rose +0.1 to 4.4%, showing a weaker labor market than expectations of no change at 4.3%. US Feb average hourly earnings rose +0.4% m/m and +3.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +3.7% y/y. US Jan retail sales fell -0.2% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -0.3% m/m. Jan retail sales ex-autos were unchanged m/m, right on expectations. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said, “Thinking about monetary policy going forward, the Iran war is unlikely to cause sustained inflation. That’s one reason the Fed doesn’t look at energy prices but looks at core prices, excluding energy, as core is a better predictor of future inflation.” Swaps markets are discounting the odds at 8% for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18. The dollar continues to see underlying weakness as the FOMC is expected to cut interest rates by about -37 bp in 2026, while the BOJ is expected to raise rates by another +25 bp in 2026, and the ECB is expected to leave rates unchanged in 2026. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) today is down by -0.16%. The euro is weaker today after the Eurozone Q4 GDP was revised lower. Also, today’s surge in crude oil prices to a 2.25-year high, along with Tuesday’s surge in European natural gas prices to a 3-year high, is bearish for the euro as the Eurozone’s d...

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Friday's key moments. 1. Stocks fell Friday as the war in the Middle East escalated. The S & P 500 and Nasdaq were both off roughly 1% after President Donald Trump said Friday there would be no deal to end the U.S. war against Iran without an "unconditional surrender" by Iran. Despite continued uncertainty, Jim Cramer believes the "end-of-the-world view" has gone too far and sees buying opportunities in this "ugly market." Jim called out Goldman Sachs , Cardinal Health and Boeing as stocks to pick up in Friday's downbeat session. We made good on that with our fourth Cardinal Health purchase of the week after starting a position Monday . While we're restricted on Goldman, we upgraded the stock to a buy-equivalent 1 rating. We aren't making a trade on Boeing, but Jim said he likes it because its ties to the travel economy have weighed on shares this week despite making progress on its turnaround. Jim said he also likes Nvidia down 1% Friday ahead of its annual GTC conference starting March 16. 2. Oil prices on Friday reached their highest levels since April 2024 as the war sparks supply disruption concerns. Gas prices in the U.S. are already reflecting the climb, and that benefits Costco thanks to its reputation for offering the lowest gas prices around. "When gasoline goes up rapidly, people go to Costco," Jim said. People who drive an extra mile to Costco for gas may be inclined to go into the warehouse and make other purchases. Shares of the membership-only retailer advanced 1% Friday, a day after the company reported solid quarterly earnings . We liked seeing momentum in comparable sales, which shows it's clearly taking market share from other retailers. We're still waiting for membership renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada to stabilize, though. Following the print, we kept our hold-equivalent 2 rating on the stock but increased our price...

International law has evolved a lot since the 17th century, when sovereign nation states became the agreed structure of Europe. The United Nations charter, agreed after the second world war, aimed to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. While some European leaders still mention it in their social media posts and it gets a tick‑box mention in many official statements, clearly international law is today in critical condition. Many think it hopeless, pointless and even naive to try to save it. But international law is not something abstract, not a creed for pacifists, nor old-fashioned liberal legalese. It was chiselled into history, decade after decade, by people hardened and scarred from the cruelty of violent nationalism. It is meant to restrain the “strong man” leader. As the legal framework for two great peace projects, the European Union and the Good Friday agreement, it still restrains a lot of strong men. The UK is also still, thankfully, part of the European convention on human rights. International law is the invisible glue binding nations together, to resolve their disputes in peace, without resorting to the bombing of a girls’ primary school. Barry Andrews Chair of the development committee, European parliament Rafael Behr’s article on the dilemma facing Keir Starmer and the government during the present Iran conflict (Starmer’s position on Iran pleases no one, but that is because there are no good options, 3 March) is an excellent description of the difference between being the people responsible for decisions and those shouting from the sidelines with easy answers. Dealing with a US president as fickle as Donald Trump is an almost impossible task, but deal with him we must, as the relationship with the US is too important to risk with glib comments and slogans. That we as a country need to move closer to Europe’s economies, politics, defence and security is of utmost urgency, but this cannot happen overnight and, especially with the situ...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Daniel Penberthy Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Margaret Whalen Brechtel Investor Relations — Craig Mychajluk TAKEAWAYS Liquidity -- Exited the year with more than $23 million of total liquidity and no debt outstanding, providing "significant flexibility" for new investments as conditions improve. -- Exited the year with more than $23 million of total liquidity and no debt outstanding, providing "significant flexibility" for new investments as conditions improve. Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share -- NAV per share at year-end was $17.57, reflecting adjustments, particularly related to Tilson Technology. -- NAV per share at year-end was $17.57, reflecting adjustments, particularly related to Tilson Technology. Dividends -- Paid $1.72 per share in total cash dividends for 2025, including a fourth quarter dividend of $0.85 per share, comprising $0.29 regular and $0.56 special dividend. -- Paid $1.72 per share in total cash dividends for 2025, including a fourth quarter dividend of $0.85 per share, comprising $0.29 regular and $0.56 special dividend. Portfolio Composition -- Portfolio at year-end held a fair value of $48.5 million across 20 companies, with 79% in debt investments, up from 75% in the prior year. -- Portfolio at year-end held a fair value of $48.5 million across 20 companies, with 79% in debt investments, up from 75% in the prior year. Annualized Weighted Average Yield -- Debt investments produced an 11.3% annualized weighted average yield at year-end, affected by portfolio mix, increased non-accruals, and repayments. -- Debt investments produced an 11.3% annualized weighted average yield at year-end, affected by portfolio mix, increased non-accruals, and repayments. Investment Activity -- Deployed $6.6 million across five transactions during the year, mainly in interest-earning investments, and generated $1...

Broadcom Stock (AVGO) Opinions on Earnings Beat Quiver Quantitative

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.’s CBSH organic growth has been driven by steady expansion in its lending activities, a diversified fee-income base and proactive balance-sheet management. Though the company’s revenues declined in 2020, the metric witnessed a six-year (2019-2025) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. Loans: Largest Contributor to CBSH’s Top-Line Growth The bank has consistently benefited from stable demand across its commercial and consumer loan portfolios (accounting for 77% of total loans in 2025), which has supported a gradual rise in overall loan balances over the past several years. Over the five years ended 2025, CBSH’s total loans saw a CAGR of 1.7%. This steady loan growth has been a key contributor to higher net interest income (NII), forming a strong foundation for the company’s overall revenue expansion. Over the last six years (ended 2025), the company’s NII has seen a CAGR of 5.2%. Going forward, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts are likely to create a more favorable lending environment that could support CBSH’s loan growth. Yet, the extent of the increase will depend on broader economic conditions, business confidence and credit demand across the bank’s commercial and consumer lending segments. Commerce Bancshares’s Diversified Fee Income Base CBSH has long relied on a diversified business model in which non-interest income contributes a sizable portion of total revenues, helping offset fluctuations in interest income and lending cycles. A key driver of fee revenue growth is the company’s wealth management and trust services segment. Commerce Bancshares generates fees from investment advisory, trust administration and asset management services. As client assets grow and demand for financial planning and advisory solutions increases, the bank is likely to see steady growth in these recurring fee streams, providing stable, higher-margin revenues compared with traditional lending. The bank also benefits from strong card and payment-r...

【有線新聞】創新科技及工業局局長孫東在本台節目《有理有得傾》說，政府會為沙嶺數據園成立專班，支援中標企業按時履行承諾。而河套發展不排除增加人才公寓地塊，亦會有政策引導企業，將在河套的研發成果到新田科技城量產。 10公頃沙嶺數據園只有一間公司投標，中標價為5.8億，創新科技及工業局局長孫東在本台節目強調地塊開發成本非常高，地價只佔當中一小部分，形容是對中標公司財力和技術的雙重挑戰。 創新科技及工業局局長孫東：「有一家公司能夠來這個地方，幫助我們一起開疆闢土，把這個地方做出來，而且還要把它經營出來，還有有經濟效益，應該說這個標準是非常高的。政府內部會請成立一個專班，全程跟進這個項目的情況。當然並不是為了監察，主要是為了為這家公司盡可能提供全方位的支援，希望它能夠按時按制履行它的承諾。」 財政預算案再為河套注資100億，孫東說七成資金用於公私營合作，加快餘下地塊發展，而當局早前就第一期其中10個地塊徵集市場意見，大部分地塊是人才公寓，他說有可能加推。 孫東：「每個樓的建造成本相對低，再有它基本上今後應該市場非常好，因為很多公司來入駐之後，都對人才公寓是有一定的需求。絕大部分意見書關心的是對這個地塊、對他們感興趣的地塊有甚麼的要求，另外也關心一些相關的基建、配套相關的情況。」 他形容新田科技城是河套的延伸，形成一個上中下游協調發展的新格局。孫東：「先做上中游的研發和中試轉化，那它可能先去河套，然後在它公司產品逐漸成熟之後，想大批量地生產，那麼我們新田科技公司就會主動給它提供一些更好的一個條件，包括土地等等，讓它來這邊去做更好的發展，畢竟兩邊是互相銜接。」 孫東說預算案注資100億作為新田科技城專屬公司的起動資金，支持未來5年營運和希望起到催化作用、吸引市場資本。

(RTTNews) - EQB Inc. (EQB.TO), Friday announced that it has received the Competition Bureau's clearance for the previously announced proposed acquisition of President's Choice Bank or PC Bank, PC Financial Insurance Agency Inc., PC Financial Insurance Brokers Inc. and certain other affiliated entities of PC Bank. Notably, the proposal also requires approval by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Minister of Finance. "The Competition Bureau's approval moves us closer to bringing together two banks built on a shared belief: Canadians deserve better," said Chadwick Westlake, President and CEO, EQB. Currently, EQB is trading at $117.22, down 0.59 percent on the Toronto Exchange. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) Price Target Increased to $220 at Deutsche Bank Finviz

Raymond James Financial’s RJF expansion strategy, marked by targeted acquisitions, is expected to support its revenue growth over the long term. In the last five fiscal years (2020-2025), the company’s net revenues witnessed a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%, with the upward momentum continuing in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Dec. 31, 2025). The company’s past acquisitions, along with its recent deals/partnerships, position it well for growth. How Acquisitions Power Raymond James’ Expansion The firm’s planned acquisition of Clark Capital Management Group (deal announced in January 2026) will likely significantly strengthen its asset management capabilities. With more than $46 billion in assets under management (AUM), Clark Capital will bring a wide range of model portfolios, multi-asset strategies and mutual funds tailored for financial advisors and high-net-worth investors. Integrating these offerings into Raymond James’ investment management platform is expected to help the firm attract additional client assets and boost recurring fee-based revenues. RJF has already strengthened its capital markets platform through the acquisition of a majority stake in GreensLedge Holdings in March 2026. GreensLedge’s expertise in arranging complex products, such as collateralized loan obligations and asset-backed securities, complements Raymond James’ existing fixed-income distribution and trading capabilities. The combination is likely to create cross-selling opportunities across the firm’s institutional client base, boosting deal activity, advisory fees and trading revenues, while expanding its presence in structured finance markets. Apart from these, in fiscal 2024, RJF announced that it forayed into the lucrative private credit business through a partnership with Eldridge Industries. In fiscal 2023, Raymond James acquired Canada-based Solus Trust Company Limited. In fiscal 2022, it acquired SumRidge Partners, TriState Capital Holdings and the U.K.-based ...

WTI原油期货涨幅扩大至12% 2026-03-07 01:32:17 来源： 同花顺7x24快讯 分享 文章提及标的 原油 -- 美原油 -- 布伦特原油 -- WTI原油期货涨幅扩大至12%，报90.84美元/桶。布伦特原油期货涨幅扩大至9%，报93.156美元/桶。

Readers respond to Charlotte Higgins’s article on the National Year of Reading Charlotte Higgins makes a powerful point ( The National Year of Reading celebrates the ‘joy’ of books. But let’s not forget they can also be deeply troubling, too, 28 February ). As she argues, reading can do much more than bring pleasure. It can help us share sorrow, endure pain, satisfy (at least temporarily) curiosity, prompt inventiveness, escape fear, enlarge our worlds, understand ourselves and others, and share in others’ pain and pleasure. It can also help us control ourselves. It can make us less self-centred. And it can certainly enlarge our vocabulary. But first, there must be delight. Pleasure is nearly always the way in: tales that entrance you, through the same words on each rereading. Phrases that echo in your mind, such as: “Rolled their terrible eyes” (Maurice Sendak); “We’re going on a bear hunt” (Michael Rosen); and “Green eggs and ham” (Dr Seuss). Many of these crucial lessons come from early experiences of being read aloud to as a child. This instils the idea that reading opens up a box of delights. Continue reading...

Lenovo Group Ltd. and other consumer electronics companies used the MWC Barcelona conference this week to test appetites for physical AI products with humanlike characteristics. The Beijing-based firm arrived at the show with several proof-of-concept devices, including a desktop robotic arm with a built-in projector, microphones, speakers, cameras and a display with the oversized eyes of an animated character. The gadget, called the AI Workmate, is intended to plug into business environments, recognizing users by their appearance and voice and surfacing pertinent information. The effort to humanize the technology is unmistakable, with the arm performing pet-like movements and gestures. Not far from the AI Workmate, Lenovo’s Magic Bay Tiko is a magnetic attachment that the company has been refining for several months. It clips to the top of a laptop and serves as an animated AI assistant. The latest edition is an anthropomorphic cloud that looks over the user’s work and responds to voice-based commands and queries. The gadget doesn’t enhance the artificial intelligence capabilities, but it adds a character to the experience — which can sip coffee or read a book while you’re not interacting with it. The broad push toward softening the edges of AI tech was apparent everywhere across the MWC show floor. China Telecom Corp. had a humanoid robot doing calligraphy at its stand. China Mobile Ltd. set up an entire robot restaurant, where various machines were demonstrating food preparation and service. China Unicom also brought a humanoid to the event, an eye-catching red machine that drew passersby. It was more of the same from smartphone makers, with ZTE Corp. erecting a pair of robot guardians at its booth and Honor Device Co. demonstrating a humanoid robot — the first to be developed in-house by a smartphone maker, according to the company. Honor also showed off a so-called robot phone with an articulating camera arm that retracts into the body of the handset. Read More:...

Shares of Hilltop Holdings Inc. HTH have gained 16.9% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s 10.8% growth. The S&P 500 Index has rallied 21.9% in the same period. If we compare the company’s price performance with its peers, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. CBSH and Hancock Whitney, Corp. HWC, it appears that while the HTH stock has underperformed Hancock Whitney, it has outperformed Commerce Bancshares in the past year. The HWC stock has gained 22.5%, while the CBSH stock has declined 17.2% in a year. 1-Year Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Let us see if the Hilltop Holdings stock has more upside left despite recent strength in price. In order to understand this, we must dig deep into its fundamentals and growth prospects. Factors Aiding Hilltop Holdings’ Growth Net Interest Income (NII) Growth: Hilltop Holdings remains focused on improving its NII. Though the company’s NII declined in 2024, 2021 and 2020, the metric increased in 2022, 2023 and 2025. The rise has partly been driven by acquisitions completed during that period, decent loan demand and relatively higher interest rates. Also, the company’s net interest margin (NIM) increased to 2.98% in 2025 from 2.81% in 2024. While the metric declined in 2024, it increased in 2023 and 2022. Despite the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts in 2025, NII and NIM growth are expected to continue in the near term, supported by decent loan demand and stabilizing funding costs. Management expects NII to be relatively stable in 2026 compared with 2025 on the assumption of three Fed Funds rate cuts. We project NII to witness a CAGR of 5.3% by 2028. This will be driven by robust loan growth (net loans held for investment are projected to see a CAGR of 4.8% by 2028). Declining Expenses: Hilltop Holdings has been managing expenses prudently. The company’s non-interest expenses recorded a negative six-year (2019-2025) CAGR of 2.3%. This was attributable to the company’s measures to reduce expenses in less...

Shares of Gold.com Inc. GOLD have gained 58.8% year to date, outperforming the industry, its sector, as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite in the same time frame. GOLD shares are trading at a discount to their 52-week high. Gold.com, formerly known as A Mark Precious Metals, operates a vertically integrated platform spanning wholesale trading, direct-to-consumer retail, logistics, minting, and secured lending, allowing it to capture value across the entire precious-metals supply chain. It is well poised to grow on the global demand for precious metals through trading, e-commerce and financial services. GOLD vs Industry, Sector, S&P 500 YTD Image Source: Zacks Investment Research GOLD’s peer, Coinbase Global COIN, has gained 51.1% year to date, while another peer, StoneX Group SNEX, has gained 68.5% in the same time frame. Coinbase is the largest registered crypto exchange in the United States. It has expanded beyond trading with staking, custody, and stablecoin services and now offers opened stock trading too. It aims to be the industry’s premier “everything exchange.” StoneX operates as a global financial services network that connects companies, organizations, traders and investors to a market ecosystem in the United States, Europe, South America, the Middle East, Asia and internationally. GOLD Shares Are Expensive The stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 13.96, higher than the industry average of 10.05 and the median of 8 over the past three years. It has a Value Score of B. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research GOLD is cheap compared to COIN and SNEX. The Case for GOLD Stock GOLD benefits from a diversified business model, generating revenues from both institutional clients and individual investors. In addition, it earns fee-based income from collateralized bullion and collectibles. The company’s partnership with an affiliate of Tether Investments reinforces its strategy to become the verti...

In this article IRS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Pnc | Stockbyte | Getty Images Millions of taxpayers have already filed to claim President Donald Trump 's new " no tax on overtime " deduction. But some filers could risk errors on their tax return , experts say. Enacted via Trump's " big beautiful bill ," the overtime tax break allows certain workers to deduct up to $12,500 for single filers or $25,000 for married couples filing jointly per year from 2025 through 2028. The deduction goes on a new form, known as Schedule 1-A , which feeds into individual tax returns. That schedule also includes Trump's new tax breaks for tip income , seniors and auto loan interest . As of March 4, the IRS received almost 56 million returns, and 43% included Schedule 1-A, Frank Bisignano , Social Security Administration Commissioner and IRS CEO, said this week during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing . The overtime deduction has been "the largest filing category" for that form, he said. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage GOP 'big beautiful bill' to deal 'shock' to the ACA marketplace: health experts As millions claim Trump's 'no tax on overtime' deduction, filers risk mistakes S&P 500 shrugs off 1% daily drops all the time. Investors can too, advisors say Where investors can look for stability as the Iran war rattles markets What the Iran war market turmoil means for those nearing retirement Musk says Grok can help with your taxes. What experts say about AI and tax prep New bill would update anti-poverty program, 'a critical lifeline': Warren There's a push to cut capital gains taxes on home sales to add supply for buyers Iran war and your portfolio: Historical stock market patterns investors should know Trump says '401(k)s are way up' — but workers are tapping them at record rates AI, layoffs spur workers to want a career change, survey finds — but few may do it Poor coordination can cost couples an average $14,000 in retirement wealth Gold price jumps...

Readers respond to Gaby Hinsliff’s defence of first past the post, and Polly Toynbee’s call for electoral reform Gaby Hinsliff ( Nobody wants to defend Britain’s voting system any more – but here’s why I will, 26 February ) writes that proportional representation (PR) “doesn’t guarantee that we could all just vote for what we want instead of endlessly against what we fear (ask the French)”. Yet France does not use PR, which is precisely why tactical blocking occurs there. Indeed, there is overwhelming cross-party support in France for moving towards PR. Under first past the post (FPTP), whoever wins the most votes takes the seat, even without a majority. That means a majority of voters in a constituency can end up unrepresented, as in Gorton and Denton, where six in 10 votes were not represented. The debate becomes not who can best represent you, but who can most likely beat someone else. Much of the byelection became precisely this: Labour and Green supporters second-guessing the “anti-Reform” candidate rather than voting for what they actually wanted. Continue reading...

Bloomberg reported that Oracle is about to lay off 30,000 employees for the one thing the world needs more of right now: David Ellison at the head of Paramount.

Some of the world’s leading software franchises have been under extreme pressure over the past several months as fears of AI disruption swept through the market. Yet beneath the surface, many of these businesses have experienced little to no change in their underlying fundamentals. Revenue and earnings forecasts for many remain strong, with expected top- and bottom-line growth still in the high teens to mid-20% range. Meanwhile, valuations across the sector have been compressed to some of the most attractive levels seen in years. Will artificial intelligence dramatically reshape productivity and business processes? Almost certainly. But that does not mean the world’s leading enterprise software companies are suddenly headed for obsolescence. In fact, many of them are likely to be among the largest beneficiaries of the AI wave as they integrate new capabilities into their platforms and expand the value they provide to customers. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) has fallen as much as 35% in just the last couple of months, with many individual components declining more than 50% over the same period. That type of broad, indiscriminate selling often occurs near inflection points, when sentiment becomes excessively pessimistic. Recently, however, the sector has begun to stabilize, and several leading software names are already showing signs of recovery. Whether the absolute low is in place is impossible to know, but a number of high-quality companies are now trading at levels that offer compelling long-term expected returns. Among the most attractive opportunities right now are Salesforce (CRM), ServiceNow (NOW), AppLovin (APP), The Trade Desk (TTD), and HubSpot (HUBS). Image Source: TradingView Software Stocks Offer Attractive GARP Opportunities Software companies have long benefited from some of the most attractive business models in the market, characterized by high margins, recurring revenue, minimal capital requirements, and near-zero marginal costs. Thes...