South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party has extolled the need to adopt modern technology to boost government efficiency since joining the ruling coalition as the second-biggest party in 2024. That enthusiasm, while well placed given the moribund nature of many South African state departments, has now come back to bite it. Two of its ministers have been embarrassed by AI “hallucinations” appearing...
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party has extolled the need to adopt modern technology to boost government efficiency since joining the ruling coalition as the second-biggest party in 2024. That enthusiasm, while well placed given the moribund nature of many South African state departments, has now come back to bite it. Two of its ministers have been embarrassed by AI “hallucinations” appearing in official policy documents in the past week. On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber suspended two senior officials after references in a cabinet-approved policy document on immigration were flagged as artificial intelligence hallucinations. Just four days earlier, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi was forced to withdraw a policy paper released for public comment after News24, a local news website, reported that it contained numerous fictitious sources in its reference list. Ironically, it was a draft artificial intelligence policy. “This should not have happened,” Malatsi said. “It’s a lesson we take with humility.” The Next Africa newsletter runs every weekday. Sign up here for the newsletter, and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple , Spotify or anywhere you listen .
Investors in STMicroelectronics NV (Symbol: STM) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the STM options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call
Investors in STMicroelectronics NV (Symbol: STM) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the STM options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call
Investors in Albemarle Corp. (Symbol: ALB) saw new options become available today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ALB options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call co
Investors in Albemarle Corp. (Symbol: ALB) saw new options become available today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ALB options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call co
Investors in Select Sector SPDR Trust - State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the XLE options chain for the new June 12
Investors in Select Sector SPDR Trust - State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the XLE options chain for the new June 12
Investors in Devon Energy Corp. (Symbol: DVN) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the DVN options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call co
Investors in Devon Energy Corp. (Symbol: DVN) saw new options begin trading today, for the June 12th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the DVN options chain for the new June 12th contracts and identified one put and one call co
Justin Paget/DigitalVision via Getty Images Overview The First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF ( RDVY ) offers investors a way to get diversified exposure to some of the highest-quality dividend-paying companies in the world. While the rest of the market seems to be fixated on technology growth, some investors may be looking for an alternative ETF that can offer some protection against a rotat...
Justin Paget/DigitalVision via Getty Images Overview The First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF ( RDVY ) offers investors a way to get diversified exposure to some of the highest-quality dividend-paying companies in the world. While the rest of the market seems to be fixated on technology growth, some investors may be looking for an alternative ETF that can offer some protection against a rotation out of technology. When I previously covered RDVY, I issued a buy rating due to the strong dividend growth potential. Since then, the fund has outperformed the S&P 500, and I believe there is a scenario where this outperformance can continue. Looking at the performance over the last twelve months, we can see that RDVY's share price has increased by a little more than 29.8%. The ETF continues to demonstrate its ability to participate in market rallies over time. When including all distributions paid out to investors, the total return jumps up to 31.2% over the same time frame. RDVY's starting dividend yield sits slightly below 1%, so it may not be the most efficient ETF for investors seeking a high dividend yield, despite the fund's name. The value may actually be in the potential dividend growth and exposure to the highest-quality dividend-paying companies. Data by YCharts Even though RDVY has exposure to the technology sector, I believe that the focus on 'dividend achievers' ultimately leads to better long-term performance and stability. The fund tends to focus on companies with strong free cash flows and healthy balance sheets. Historically, RDVY has proven its ability to outperform the S&P 500, while also protecting capital during unfavorable market cycles. However, a scenario where the technology rally continues because of AI, there's a chance that RDVY will get left behind since it lacks some notable technology positions. Fund Strategy According to the latest fund overview , RDVY has total managed assets of $21.7B that are spread across 73 different holdings. The f...
Since the name change, artists have cancelled performances and ticket sales have declined.'/> Lawyers made arguments in hearings for two separate lawsuits against President Trump and the Kennedy Center's board this week. Both lawsuits want to halt plans to close the performing arts venue for two years for renovations. (Image credit: MANDEL NGAN)
Since the name change, artists have cancelled performances and ticket sales have declined.'/> Lawyers made arguments in hearings for two separate lawsuits against President Trump and the Kennedy Center's board this week. Both lawsuits want to halt plans to close the performing arts venue for two years for renovations. (Image credit: MANDEL NGAN)
Our AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) call lands on the constructive side of the ledger after a noisy but encouraging Q1 earnings report. The 24/7 Wall St. price target for AbbVie is $229.32, implying 12.47% upside from the recent close of $203.89. We rate ABBV a buy with high confidence (90%), driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq momentum, raised ... Price Prediction: Why AbbVie’s Post-Humira Pivot Makes It a Strong Bu...
Our AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) call lands on the constructive side of the ledger after a noisy but encouraging Q1 earnings report. The 24/7 Wall St. price target for AbbVie is $229.32, implying 12.47% upside from the recent close of $203.89. We rate ABBV a buy with high confidence (90%), driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq momentum, raised ... Price Prediction: Why AbbVie’s Post-Humira Pivot Makes It a Strong Buy
Brett_Hondow/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Shares of Builders FirstSource ( BLDR ) have been a poor performer over the past year, losing about 30% of their value to sit near a 52-week low. The company is a leading supplier to homebuilders, leaving its business very exposed to the level of single-family home construction. With that continuing to fall, end-market demand has been weak, pressuring...
Brett_Hondow/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Shares of Builders FirstSource ( BLDR ) have been a poor performer over the past year, losing about 30% of their value to sit near a 52-week low. The company is a leading supplier to homebuilders, leaving its business very exposed to the level of single-family home construction. With that continuing to fall, end-market demand has been weak, pressuring results. This difficult macro environment was evident in its mixed Q1 earnings released Thursday morning. I last covered shares in November , reiterating Builders as a “ S ell” given these macro pressures, and that call has played out with the stock down 20% since then. With updated financials, now is a good time to revisit BLDR. Seeking Alpha In the company’s first quarter , Builders FirstSource earned $0.27 per share, which was $0.10 below expectations as revenue fell by 11% to $3.3 billion. EPS was down 82% from last year, reflecting the meaningful reversion in margins amid the weaker sales environment. While I believe 2026 may represent a “bottom” in results, the depth of the decline is proving to be as bad, if not a bit worse, than I feared. Adjusted EBITDA plunged 42% to $214 million, given lower sales, weaker gross margins, and a loss of operating leverage. At its core, the problem facing Builders is a straightforward one: we are building fewer houses. As you can see below, the number of homes under construction has basically been falling for four straight years. After a massive boom post-COVID, builders have been retrenching given weaker pricing in the Sun Belt and affordability pressures exacerbated by elevated rates. Still, the level of homes being built is above pre-COVID levels. With a tepid start environment, I expect home construction to decline until late this year and then begin a gradual recovery. St. Louis Federal Reserve Gross profit fell by 17% to $900 million, and margins were 28.3%, which was down 220bps from last year. Beyond this, operating expenses...
JHVEPhoto Willis Towers Watson ( WTW ) stock sank 14% in Thursday premarket trading, making it the biggest decliner in the S&P 500, after the insurance broking and advisory company delivered Q1 revenue that fell short of the Wall Street consensus. In the company's 2026 outlook, it expects the Willis Re joint venture to represent a ~$0.30 headwind to adjusted EPS and its Newfront acquisition to be ...
JHVEPhoto Willis Towers Watson ( WTW ) stock sank 14% in Thursday premarket trading, making it the biggest decliner in the S&P 500, after the insurance broking and advisory company delivered Q1 revenue that fell short of the Wall Street consensus. In the company's 2026 outlook, it expects the Willis Re joint venture to represent a ~$0.30 headwind to adjusted EPS and its Newfront acquisition to be ~$0.10 dilutive to 2026 adjusted EPS. On the positive side, it expects a foreign currency tailwind of ~$0.10 on adjusted EPS for the rest of 2026, resulting in a ~$0.35 tailwind for the full year at today's rates. For its long-term outlook, WTW ( WTW ) targets organic revenue growth in mid-single digits, with risk & broking growth in mid-single to high-single digits and health, wealth & career growth in mid-single digits. Q1 revenue of $2.41B , just missing the $2.42B consensus, climbed from $2.22B in Q1 2025. Q1 adjusted EPS of $3.72, beating the average analyst estimate of $3.65, increased from $3.13 in the year-ago quarter. Total costs of providing services grew to $1.96B from $1.79B a year ago. Operating margin narrowed to 18.6% from 19.4% in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA of $589M, slightly exceeding the $588M consensus, climbed from $532M a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 24.4% improved from 23.9% in last year's Q1. Free cash flow of -$65M, vs. -$57M consensus, improved from -$86M a year ago. More on Willis Towers Watson Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation AI Disruption Fears Create An Opportunity In Willis Towers Watson Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Willis Towers Watson Non-GAAP EPS of $3.72 beats by $0.07, revenue of $2.4B misses by $20M
California Gas Tops $6 As "Big Prices Hike Expected" Across Great Lakes Region The statewide average for 87-octane gasoline in California has topped $6 a gallon as the Iran-war-driven global energy crunch ripples across the West Coast, the hardest-hit U.S. region. Meanwhile, the national average remains above the politically sensitive $4-a-gallon threshold, hovering around $4.30, according to AAA ...
California Gas Tops $6 As "Big Prices Hike Expected" Across Great Lakes Region The statewide average for 87-octane gasoline in California has topped $6 a gallon as the Iran-war-driven global energy crunch ripples across the West Coast, the hardest-hit U.S. region. Meanwhile, the national average remains above the politically sensitive $4-a-gallon threshold, hovering around $4.30, according to AAA data as of Thursday morning. It’s clear that bad ‘green’ energy policies by unhinged, left-wing politicians in the Golden State have left the state’s energy complex in a total mess, with no buffers. "That’s the highest since October 2023. No other state has ever surpassed the $6-a-gallon mark. At the outset of the war, the price in the Golden State was $4.64 a gallon," Bloomberg wrote in a note earlier. Beyond gasoline, diesel prices in California now average a staggering $7.48 per gallon, up from $4.98 one year ago. On the national level, gasoline prices continue to climb, now at $4.30 and remaining above the politically sensitive $4 level for one month. Also on the national level, diesel prices - the fuel that keeps the economy humming - are around $5.49 and have yet to reach their previous high of approximately $5.69 in early April. West Texas Intermediate, the main U.S. crude benchmark, jumped to nearly $110.50 a barrel overnight, while Brent, the global benchmark, topped $126. This spike in oil prices was due to continued uncertainty over a near-term peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, as well as Trump laying the groundwork for an extended blockade of Iranian ports, according to MSM reports. GasBuddy head analyst Patrick De Haan wrote on X, "WTI and Brent pushing higher after Trump says to expect prolonged blockade on the Strait," adding, "Expecting big gas price hikes as early as noon for MI, IN, IL, WI, and perhaps OH." With the national average for gasoline above $4, we have already detailed emerging consumer behavior shifts at gas stations and convenience stores....
Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) trades at $8.70 as the eVTOL leader pivots from certification to commercialization. The 24/7 Wall St. price target points to meaningful upside over the next 12 months, driven by Dubai launch readiness, a fortified balance sheet, and accelerating FAA progress. Confidence is moderate given execution risk, but the risk/reward is constructive at ... Joby Aviation Stock Eyes 4...
Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) trades at $8.70 as the eVTOL leader pivots from certification to commercialization. The 24/7 Wall St. price target points to meaningful upside over the next 12 months, driven by Dubai launch readiness, a fortified balance sheet, and accelerating FAA progress. Confidence is moderate given execution risk, but the risk/reward is constructive at ... Joby Aviation Stock Eyes 43% Upside