Earnings Call Insights: Embecta (EMBC) Q2 fiscal 2026 Management View "This was a difficult quarter for embecta." (President, CEO & Chairman Devdatt Kurdikar) "Our results were below expectations with consolidated revenues down 14.4% year-over-year on an as-reported basis or 17.4% on an adjusted constant currency basis." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "The largest contributor to the lower ye...
Earnings Call Insights: Embecta (EMBC) Q2 fiscal 2026 Management View "This was a difficult quarter for embecta." (President, CEO & Chairman Devdatt Kurdikar) "Our results were below expectations with consolidated revenues down 14.4% year-over-year on an as-reported basis or 17.4% on an adjusted constant currency basis." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "The largest contributor to the lower year-over-year U.S. revenue is share loss within our pen needle product category, most of which is concentrated at a single customer." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "The second largest contributor is overall market volume softness for insulin pens and pen needles in the retail channel." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "As a result, we are revising our fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to a range of between $1.015 billion and $1.035 billion." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "The revised range includes approximately $30 million in revenue contribution from the acquisition of Owen Mumford, which is expected to close by the end of this month." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "We recently made the decision to cease production of alcohol swaps." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "Considering the magnitude of the guidance reduction, we have initiated a review of our cost structure and organizational footprint." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "Three months later, the pipeline has continued to develop and now approximately 40% of our identified partners are either in active contract negotiations or have executed agreements in place." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "Aidaptus is an award-winning next-generation auto-injector designed with a single form factor that accommodates both 1 ml and 2.25 ml fill volumes." (President, CEO & Chairman Kurdikar) "During the second quarter, embecta generated approximately $222 million in revenue." (Senior VP & CFO Jake Elguicze) Outlook "We are lowering our guidance from a range of between $1.071 billion and $1.093 bil...
Meta Platforms is working with a slightly trimmed fair value estimate of US$829.23, down from US$835.54, as updated model inputs filter through to the headline price target. This adjustment sits alongside a busy period of analyst debate around AI spending, legal risks and potential cost actions, all influencing how firms frame upside versus risk for the stock. As you read on, you will see how thes...
Meta Platforms is working with a slightly trimmed fair value estimate of US$829.23, down from US$835.54, as updated model inputs filter through to the headline price target. This adjustment sits alongside a busy period of analyst debate around AI spending, legal risks and potential cost actions, all influencing how firms frame upside versus risk for the stock. As you read on, you will see how these shifting targets and narratives can help you track and interpret the evolving story around...
The market's enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) has lifted just about every name with a credible foothold in the build-out. Alphabet and Amazon have hit fresh all-time highs as their cloud divisions accelerate. AI chipmaker Nvidia is close to a $5 trillion market capitalization, and Broadcom and Intel have joined the rally; Intel alone climbed 114% in April. And then there is Oracle (NYSE...
The market's enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) has lifted just about every name with a credible foothold in the build-out. Alphabet and Amazon have hit fresh all-time highs as their cloud divisions accelerate. AI chipmaker Nvidia is close to a $5 trillion market capitalization, and Broadcom and Intel have joined the rally; Intel alone climbed 114% in April. And then there is Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) . Shares have rebounded some in the past week, rising about 10%, but they remain far below their 52-week high of more than $345. And even with the stock's recent rebound, it's down more than 6% year to date as of this writing. That is an unusual look for a company sitting on more contracted future revenue than just about any rival. Continue reading
Leaked remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth describe fatal shootings of stone-throwers and different treatment for Jewish settlers The Israeli army chief in the West Bank has said his troops were “killing like we haven’t killed since 1967”, including fatally shooting Palestinian stone-throwers, according to an Israeli report of his comments. The remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth, head of the army’s central com...
Leaked remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth describe fatal shootings of stone-throwers and different treatment for Jewish settlers The Israeli army chief in the West Bank has said his troops were “killing like we haven’t killed since 1967”, including fatally shooting Palestinian stone-throwers, according to an Israeli report of his comments. The remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth, head of the army’s central command, were made in a recent closed forum but were leaked to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper . Bluth has so far not denied the authenticity of the Haaretz account. The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to a request for comment. Continue reading...
The Trump administration is letting Elon Musk pay a $1.5 million fine to settle a lawsuit that originally sought at least $150 million. If approved by a federal court, the proposed settlement submitted yesterday would require a trust in Musk's name to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty to the government. The January 2025 lawsuit , filed in the last days of the Biden administration, relates to how Mu...
The Trump administration is letting Elon Musk pay a $1.5 million fine to settle a lawsuit that originally sought at least $150 million. If approved by a federal court, the proposed settlement submitted yesterday would require a trust in Musk's name to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty to the government. The January 2025 lawsuit , filed in the last days of the Biden administration, relates to how Musk purchased a 9 percent stake in Twitter in 2022 and failed to disclose it within 10 days as required under US law. The Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that "Musk was able to continue purchasing shares at artificially low prices, allowing him to underpay by at least $150 million for shares he purchased after his beneficial ownership report was due.” Twitter's stock price soared after Musk belatedly disclosed his stake, and he bought the company outright later in 2022. The Biden SEC's January 2025 lawsuit demanded that Musk "pay disgorgement of his unjust enrichment as a result of his violation," plus interest and a separate civil penalty. But the SEC had investigated the late disclosure and related matters for nearly three years before filing the lawsuit, leaving no time to litigate the case before the Trump administration took over. Read full article Comments
June WTI crude oil (CLM26 ) today is down -4.54 (-4.27%), and June RBOB gasoline (RBM26 ) is down -0.1140 (-3.05%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are sharply lower today as the ceasefire in the Middle East appears to be holding, easing geopolitical risks. Crude prices are retreating as relative...
June WTI crude oil (CLM26 ) today is down -4.54 (-4.27%), and June RBOB gasoline (RBM26 ) is down -0.1140 (-3.05%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are sharply lower today as the ceasefire in the Middle East appears to be holding, easing geopolitical risks. Crude prices are retreating as relative...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is up +0.74%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is up +0.57%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is up +1.20%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are up +0.70%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is up +0.74%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is up +0.57%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is up +1.20%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26 ) are up +0.70%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures...
French publication Le Monde says Laure Ferrari ‘dodged’ question when quizzed over property purchase in Clacton Nigel Farage’s partner, Laure Ferrari, has refused to confirm how she paid for a house in the Reform leader and MP’s constituency of Clacton, adding “there’s more than one way to pay for a house”. In an interview with French publication Le Monde , Ferrari was questioned over revelations ...
French publication Le Monde says Laure Ferrari ‘dodged’ question when quizzed over property purchase in Clacton Nigel Farage’s partner, Laure Ferrari, has refused to confirm how she paid for a house in the Reform leader and MP’s constituency of Clacton, adding “there’s more than one way to pay for a house”. In an interview with French publication Le Monde , Ferrari was questioned over revelations in the Guardian that she had purchased a house in her name in Clacton after Farage had claimed to be the buyer. Continue reading...
IvelinRadkov/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of February 2024 in light of current holdings and recent performance. FNDX strategy Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF ( FNDX ) was launched on 08/15/2013 and tracks the RAFI Fundamental High Liquidity U.S. Large Index. FNDX has 738 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 1.55%, and a total expense ratio of 0.25%. Distributio...
IvelinRadkov/iStock via Getty Images This article updates my review of February 2024 in light of current holdings and recent performance. FNDX strategy Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF ( FNDX ) was launched on 08/15/2013 and tracks the RAFI Fundamental High Liquidity U.S. Large Index. FNDX has 738 holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 1.55%, and a total expense ratio of 0.25%. Distributions are paid quarterly. The fund switched indexes from the Russell RAFI US Large Company Index to the RAFI Fundamental High Liquidity US Large Index on 6/21/2024. Although the starting universe and liquidity threshold changed, FNDX was and still is a large-cap fund implementing the RAFI methodology , using the same selection and weighting process. Therefore, I consider that performance and risk data before June 2024 are relevant to assess the current version of the fund. As described in the prospectus by Charles Schwab Asset Management , the underlying index ranks, selects, and weights stocks based on fundamental measures of company size: adjusted sales, retained operating cash flow, total return of capital (dividends and buybacks), and book value. Each eligible stock receives a score based on these metrics and a weight based on its percentage in the aggregate score. The top 87.5% of companies by cumulative score are included in the index. The index is partially reconstituted in four segments on a quarterly basis, resulting in an annual full reconstitution. The fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 10% in the most recent fiscal year. This article will use as a benchmark the Russell 1000 Index, represented by iShares Russell 1000 ETF ( IWB ). FNDX portfolio The portfolio is almost exclusively invested in U.S. companies (over 99% of asset value), with about 62% in large and mega caps, 29% in mid-caps, and 9% in small caps. Compared to the Russell 1000, FNDX greatly downplays technology, offering a more balanced sector allocation, as plotted below. No sector weighs more than 16%, ...
ALK-Abelló A/S press release ( AKBLF ): Q1 revenue increased by 18% Y/Y to DKK 1,771M on double-digit growth across regions and products. Revenue is now expected to grow by 13-16% (previously 11-15% growth). The EBIT margin is now expected at around 26% (previously 25%). ALK’s long-term financial ambitions remain unchanged. More on ALK-Abelló A/S ALK-Abelló A/S (AKBLF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transc...
ALK-Abelló A/S press release ( AKBLF ): Q1 revenue increased by 18% Y/Y to DKK 1,771M on double-digit growth across regions and products. Revenue is now expected to grow by 13-16% (previously 11-15% growth). The EBIT margin is now expected at around 26% (previously 25%). ALK’s long-term financial ambitions remain unchanged. More on ALK-Abelló A/S ALK-Abelló A/S (AKBLF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript ALK-Abelló A/S (AKBLF) Shareholder/Analyst Call Transcript ALK-Abelló A/S 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Historical earnings data for ALK-Abelló A/S Dividend scorecard for ALK-Abelló A/S
cokada/iStock via Getty Images Introduction The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF ( EWZ ) tracks the MSCI Brazil 25/50 Index. It is designed to provide concentrated exposure to the largest Latin American equity market. Brazilian stocks currently trade at a forward P/E near 9.6x against a backdrop that is becoming more and more attractive. The backdrop I am going to be talking about here is one of disinflati...
cokada/iStock via Getty Images Introduction The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF ( EWZ ) tracks the MSCI Brazil 25/50 Index. It is designed to provide concentrated exposure to the largest Latin American equity market. Brazilian stocks currently trade at a forward P/E near 9.6x against a backdrop that is becoming more and more attractive. The backdrop I am going to be talking about here is one of disinflation, a falling policy rate, a strengthening BRL, and last but certainly not least, the October 2026 election that markets are increasingly pricing as a potential reform catalyst. The setup is asymmetric one for investors, and those who choose to proceed will be paid a 4% yield to wait while three independent catalysts develop. I rate EWZ a buy as I closely monitor these developments. Country Investment Thesis The case for Brazilian equities right now rests on a few converging forces, each capable of moving the index independently. First, and most importantly, the monetary cycle has turned. COPOM, the Brazilian Central Bank, cut the Selic rate to 14.50% just last week , following another 25bps cut earlier this year. This has marked the beginning an easing cycle that markets had anticipated for over a year and maybe longer. BBVA expects the Selic to end 2026 around 11.50% , which would imply another 300 basis points of cuts. This is the base case, and we could see a wide range of scenarios here, but it seems clear that there will be additional cuts coming. Brazilian equities have historically delivered their strongest returns in the early stages of cutting cycles, when valuation multiples expand against a backdrop of still-attractive real yields. Global X ETFs report highlighted the fact that through the previous seven completed easing cycles, the MSCI Brazil Index rose in four, with those rallies delivering an average cumulative upside of about 96.7% As it stands right now, the current real interest rate holds near 10.7%, which is among the highest in the world. Even with the...
Hachette, Macmillan and others allege that Meta pirated millions of works from textbooks to novels for Llama model Five major publishers sued Meta Platforms in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, alleging that the tech giant misused their books and journal articles to train its artificial intelligence models. Elsevier, Cengage, Hachette, Macmillan and McGraw Hill, as well as author Scott Turow, al...
Hachette, Macmillan and others allege that Meta pirated millions of works from textbooks to novels for Llama model Five major publishers sued Meta Platforms in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, alleging that the tech giant misused their books and journal articles to train its artificial intelligence models. Elsevier, Cengage, Hachette, Macmillan and McGraw Hill, as well as author Scott Turow, alleged in the proposed class-action complaint that Meta pirated millions of their works and used them without permission to train its Llama large language models to respond to human prompts. Continue reading...
President Trump is reportedly pressuring Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary to move faster to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products, sources told The Wall Street Journal. While the flavored vape issue is important with younger MAGA supporters and was a 2024 campaign promise, Makary has expressed concerns about approving fruit flavors or others potentially appealing to ch...
President Trump is reportedly pressuring Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary to move faster to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products, sources told The Wall Street Journal. While the flavored vape issue is important with younger MAGA supporters and was a 2024 campaign promise, Makary has expressed concerns about approving fruit flavors or others potentially appealing to children because he is worried about the public health risks. It is possible that the FDA will only approve flavors like mint, coffee, tea, and spices that it views as more adult-oriented. Over the weekend, Makary and Trump discussed the FDA commissioner changing course on flavored vapes, although it is not clear if a final decision was made. If flavored vapes are approved, the main tobacco companies most likely to benefit are British American Tobacco ( BTI ) through R.J. Reynolds' Vuse line, Altria ( MO ) through NJOY and its stake in Juul, and Philip Morris International ( PM ) if its U.S. nicotine alternatives gain broader flavored access. More on vaping-related stocks Philip Morris: Room To Run Toward Fair Value Altria: Inflation Is A Double-Edged Sword, But The Dividend Train Keeps Smoking Altria Group, Inc. (MO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Earnings scoreboard: 11 of 12 consumer staple names beat earnings estimates this week Altria projects 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $5.56 to $5.72 while signaling more balanced first-half/second-half growth
Apple is exploring using Intel and Samsung to produce chips for devices in the US — as a backup to longtime partner TSMC. Peter Elstrom explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
Apple is exploring using Intel and Samsung to produce chips for devices in the US — as a backup to longtime partner TSMC. Peter Elstrom explains. (Source: Bloomberg)