canart7/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images In early December 2025, I published an article on Sprout Social ( SPT ) where I rated the stock a Buy. Since then, the stock price has gone south around 50%. With this article, I want to discuss what has happened since then and what I expect for the future of the company. I maintain my Buy rating for the company because I think the market got it wrong wit...
canart7/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images In early December 2025, I published an article on Sprout Social ( SPT ) where I rated the stock a Buy. Since then, the stock price has gone south around 50%. With this article, I want to discuss what has happened since then and what I expect for the future of the company. I maintain my Buy rating for the company because I think the market got it wrong with its opinion of the threat of AI to software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies and because I think Sprout Social can actually further improve revenue and profitability, thanks to AI. What has changed since my last article Q4 Earnings Report We got the Q4 numbers, and they turned out the way I expected. In my last article, I wrote about how revenue growth is reaccelerating again with Q3 numbers. I wrote: There is little reason to assume this is just a one-off quarter. It looks more like the beginning of a sustained turnaround. And revenue growth reaccelerated in Q4, too. We can clearly see the downward trend has stopped since multiple quarters, and in the last two quarters, it is even reaccelerating. Quarter Revenue Growth (YoY) (Google Sheets) However, the revenue guidance for 2026 was weak, with Q1 guided at $119.9 million-$120.7 million. At the midpoint of $120.3 million, this would result in a YoY growth of 10.1% (Q1 2025: $109.3 million). The full-year 2026 revenue was guided at $490.2 million-$495.2 million. At the midpoint of $492.7 million, this would result in a YoY growth of 7.7% (FY2025: $457.5 million). The revenue growth graph would look like this for next year (in red): Quarter Revenue Growth (YoY) (Google Sheets) But, we must note that Sprout did the same last year. Weak Revenue Guidance History, a beat + raise story With Q4 2024, the revenue guidance for 2025 was $443 million-$448 million. In Q1 2025, this guidance was raised. For the full year 2025, we're raising our guidance from the prior quarter and now expect revenue in the range of $448.9 million-$453.9 mi...
Key Points The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is driving oil higher. Oil could stay at current levels, rise further, or fall. 10 stocks we like better than Devon Energy › The energy sector has been upended by the geopolitical conflict unfolding in the Middle East. News flow from the region is driving dramatic price moves in oil and natural gas. If you are looking at the sector today, you...
Key Points The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is driving oil higher. Oil could stay at current levels, rise further, or fall. 10 stocks we like better than Devon Energy › The energy sector has been upended by the geopolitical conflict unfolding in the Middle East. News flow from the region is driving dramatic price moves in oil and natural gas. If you are looking at the sector today, you need to consider three possible oil scenarios as 2026 unfolds: prices stay the same, prices rise, or prices start to fall. Oil prices stay the same Oil prices are hovering around $100 per barrel, or a little higher. Elevated energy prices will lead to strong financial results for energy producers (upstream companies). The longer oil stays at the current level, the longer producers benefit. The most direct impact will be on pure-play producers like Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN). It further benefits from operating in the United States, far away from the Middle East conflict. 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 » However, integrated energy companies like Chevron (NYSE: CVX) will also benefit, but to a lesser degree. Chevron's midstream (pipeline) and downstream (chemicals and refining) assets, along with its global portfolio, will likely temper the positives of sustained high oil prices. Oil prices rise further If the conflict in the Middle East worsens, oil prices are likely to rise further. Prices as high as $200 a barrel have been mentioned. Producers like Devon Energy and Chevron would benefit even more as prices rise. That said, Chevron's exposure to the downstream, where oil and natural gas are key inputs, would likely be a material limiting factor on the extent to which it benefits. The worst impact from rising prices will likely be felt by pure-play refining businesses, such as Valero (NYSE: VL...
Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly hit her 12-year-old son with a rattan cane in a Hong Kong flat. The police force said it received a report at 2.48pm on Saturday from a boy in Wong Tai Sin who complained he had been beaten by his mother. The boy, whose shoulder was red and swollen, was later taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment a...
Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly hit her 12-year-old son with a rattan cane in a Hong Kong flat. The police force said it received a report at 2.48pm on Saturday from a boy in Wong Tai Sin who complained he had been beaten by his mother. The boy, whose shoulder was red and swollen, was later taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment after police arrived at the public housing flat on Tsui Fung Street. Advertisement Officers conducted an initial investigation and arrested the 41-year-old mother on suspicion of “ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person”. She was detained while the Wong Tai Sin district crime squad conducted further investigations. Advertisement
King Harold’s legendary 200-mile march across England to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is a “myth” that likely never happened, according to research published on Saturday. In arguably the most famous battle in English history, the Anglo-Saxon leader was defeated by William the Conqueror, who became the first Franco-Norman king of England, at Hastings on October 14, 1066. The decisive clash, which...
King Harold’s legendary 200-mile march across England to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is a “myth” that likely never happened, according to research published on Saturday. In arguably the most famous battle in English history, the Anglo-Saxon leader was defeated by William the Conqueror, who became the first Franco-Norman king of England, at Hastings on October 14, 1066. The decisive clash, which marked the start of the Norman conquest of England, is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, set to be brought to London from France this year. Advertisement Ahead of the tapestry’s exhibition, starting in September 2026, new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) revealed that the tale of Harold’s famed march to the fight was a “misunderstanding”. The account of the march, as taught in British classrooms and museums, rests on what a UAE historian argues is a misinterpretation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a written record of medieval English history. Advertisement The Chronicle recounts that Harold’s ships “came home”.
Rusell Hendry/iStock Editorial via Getty Images United Airlines ( UAL ) plans to lower its capacity by 5% across less profitable routes in the near term in response to surging fuel prices, which CEO Scott Kirby said will remain elevated above $100 per barrel through the end of 2027. In a staff memo on Friday, Kirby noted that jet fuel prices have more than doubled over the past three weeks, and th...
Rusell Hendry/iStock Editorial via Getty Images United Airlines ( UAL ) plans to lower its capacity by 5% across less profitable routes in the near term in response to surging fuel prices, which CEO Scott Kirby said will remain elevated above $100 per barrel through the end of 2027. In a staff memo on Friday, Kirby noted that jet fuel prices have more than doubled over the past three weeks, and the company is preparing for oil prices to reach as high as $175 a barrel. “Honestly, I think there's a good chance it won't be that bad, but as you'll read below, there isn't much downside for us to preparing for that outcome,” he added. "If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11B in annual expense just for jet fuel. For perspective, in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B,” Kirby said ahead of an event in Los Angeles where he is scheduled to outline the company’s next phase of investments next week. “That may sound scary, but the first piece of good news is that, for now at least, demand remains the strongest we've ever seen,” he added, noting that the company has had the 10 biggest booked revenue weeks in history over the past 10 weeks. As passengers rushed to book tickets ahead of an inevitable spike in fares in reaction to surging oil prices, major U.S. airlines, Delta ( DAL ), American ( AAL ), and JetBlue ( JBLU ), raised their Q1 revenue guidance earlier this week. However, Kirby said that in response to high oil prices, United ( UAL ) is canceling about three percentage points of capacity in off-peak periods in Q2 and Q3. “We’ve pulled TLV and DXB service, which represents about another 1 point of capacity. That’s about 5 points of this year’s planned capacity in the short term, and our current plan is to restore the full schedule this fall.” United ( UAL ) remains on track to achieve its long-term goals, with plans to take delivery of about 120 new jets, including 20 new 787s in 2027 and an additional 130 new aircraft by April 2028, unchan...
Nebius (NASDAQ: NBIS) just received the kind of backing that can reshape an AI stock's future. An investment from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) created major excitement, but the bigger story is whether Nebius can turn that credibility into customer growth, infrastructure demand, and real upside from here. Stock prices used were the market prices of March 13, 2026. The video was published on March 20, 2026...
Nebius (NASDAQ: NBIS) just received the kind of backing that can reshape an AI stock's future. An investment from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) created major excitement, but the bigger story is whether Nebius can turn that credibility into customer growth, infrastructure demand, and real upside from here. Stock prices used were the market prices of March 13, 2026. The video was published on March 20, 2026. Continue reading
Charlie Munger was one of the greatest investors to ever live. Sadly, he is no longer with us; however, his investment philosophy lives on. At the core of that philosophy was Munger's desire to buy high-quality stocks at reasonable prices. With that in mind, I've done some digging; these are the three companies that I think Munger would find irresistible right now. S&P Global First up is S&P Globa...
Charlie Munger was one of the greatest investors to ever live. Sadly, he is no longer with us; however, his investment philosophy lives on. At the core of that philosophy was Munger's desire to buy high-quality stocks at reasonable prices. With that in mind, I've done some digging; these are the three companies that I think Munger would find irresistible right now. S&P Global First up is S&P Global (SPGI 0.40%). With a history stretching back more than 150 years, Munger would be impressed with the company's staying power. Nowadays, S&P generates a subscription-heavy mix of revenue through several segments. It issues credit ratings, manages benchmark indexes (such as the S&P 500), and provides detailed analytics to financial professionals. In short, the company possesses an unassailable moat around its core businesses, built on its prestige and reputation. Expand NYSE : SPGI S&P Global Today's Change ( -0.40 %) $ -1.71 Current Price $ 424.43 Key Data Points Market Cap $127B Day's Range $ 421.34 - $ 428.27 52wk Range $ 381.61 - $ 579.05 Volume 3.4M Avg Vol 2.5M Gross Margin 62.55 % Dividend Yield 0.91 % Yet it's not just the company's pedigree or revenue streams that would impress the legendary investor. S&P boasts fat margins. Over the last 10 years, its gross margin has averaged 65%, while its operating margin has hovered near 43%. All in all, S&P Global has the type of underlying business that always captured Munger's attention: It quietly grinds away, compounding income at a steady rate, all while flying under the radar of the latest trends. Granted, there are areas Munger wouldn't be thrilled with -- for example, the stock's valuation. Shares currently trade with a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 29, which is right around the market average. Yet overall, with shares trading within 10% of their 52-week low, Munger would be eager to buy S&P Global on this most recent dip. Fair Issac Next up is another financial stock, Fair Issac (FICO +1.18%). Perhaps even more...
The executive director of the International Energy Agency didn't mince words when he described the impact of the Iran war on the global energy market. Speaking to the Financial Times, Faith Birol called the conflict "the greatest global energy security threat in history." Birol observed that even if the war ended soon, restoring lost production is likely to take months. In other words, the event i...
The executive director of the International Energy Agency didn't mince words when he described the impact of the Iran war on the global energy market. Speaking to the Financial Times, Faith Birol called the conflict "the greatest global energy security threat in history." Birol observed that even if the war ended soon, restoring lost production is likely to take months. In other words, the event is likely to roil global markets for a long time, and the externalities are numerous. Let's take a look at some of the stock winners and losers from the war and its impact on the energy market. Biggest losers Asian stocks: Asian markets like Japan and South Korea are highly dependent on oil and gas coming out of the Persian Gulf, so they're significantly impacted by rising prices and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. Stocks in both those countries have fallen sharply as well, and are likely to struggle as long as the crisis endures. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF EWY 6.71% ) Asian markets like Japan and South Korea are highly dependent on oil and gas coming out of the Persian Gulf, so they're significantly impacted by rising prices and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. Stocks in both those countries have fallen sharply as well, and are likely to struggle as long as the crisis endures. The Cyclical (non-commodity) stocks: Cyclical stocks have also been hit hard by the war, as it's raised the risk of inflation and a recession. Industrials, in particularly, have tumbled as many of those stocks are sensitive to higher fuel prices either for transportation or to operate heavy machinery. Additionally, a weaker economy could push their customers to spend less. Similarly, the financial sector fell back by a few points, and discretionary stocks have fallen nealry 10%. Biggest winners There are clearly more losers than winners from the war, but there are some winners. Energy stocks: This might be obvious, but energy stocks are clearly benefiting from the spike in oil and gas...
Key Points Nvidia’s stock skyrocketed over the past decade as its GPU shipments surged. It could still easily beat the S&P 500 through the end of the decade. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Over the past ten years, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) turned a $10,000 investment into more than $2 million. Soaring sales of discrete GPUs for PC gaming, video editing, cryptocurrency mining, and AI applicatio...
Key Points Nvidia’s stock skyrocketed over the past decade as its GPU shipments surged. It could still easily beat the S&P 500 through the end of the decade. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Over the past ten years, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) turned a $10,000 investment into more than $2 million. Soaring sales of discrete GPUs for PC gaming, video editing, cryptocurrency mining, and AI applications drove that life-changing gain. Today, it generates most of its revenue from its data center GPUs, which process AI tasks more efficiently than CPUs. But could Nvidia turn a fresh $10,000 investment into $1 million again by the end of this decade? Let's review its upcoming catalysts and challenges to make a decision. 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 » How fast did Nvidia grow over the past decade? From fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2026 (which ended this January), Nvidia's revenue and net income increased at CAGRs of 45% and 69%, respectively. Today, it controls more than 90% of the discrete GPU market, while its top rival, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD), holds a single-digit share. Most of the world's top AI companies -- including OpenAI, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google -- use Nvidia's GPUs. Nvidia has also maintained that lead with its Turing (2019), Ampere (2020), Hopper (2022), and Blackwell (2024) chip architectures. It plans to launch its next chip architecture, Rubin, this year. Moreover, Nvidia locks in its clients through its proprietary software platform and other services. That stickiness reinforces its dominance of the data center GPU market, and its pricing power boosted its gross margins from 56.1% in fiscal 2016 to 71.1% in fiscal 2026. Could Nvidia turn $10,000 into $1 million again? Nvidia remains a bellwether of the booming AI market, which Grand ...
Key Points Geopolitical tensions are affecting global energy markets. Cameco is positioned to benefit from increased nuclear energy demand. Recent deals highlight Cameco's global reach and its importance in the industry. 10 stocks we like better than Cameco › Recent geopolitical events have sent shock waves through energy markets. Investors have watched the price of oil rise as high as $119 per ba...
Key Points Geopolitical tensions are affecting global energy markets. Cameco is positioned to benefit from increased nuclear energy demand. Recent deals highlight Cameco's global reach and its importance in the industry. 10 stocks we like better than Cameco › Recent geopolitical events have sent shock waves through energy markets. Investors have watched the price of oil rise as high as $119 per barrel in some markets, while energy infrastructure assets in the Middle East have been targeted in attacks. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil flows, is effectively closed as I write this. All of this uncertainty could fundamentally change how decision-makers think about meeting energy needs, and that could be great news for the nuclear industry and the leading pure-play nuclear energy stock, Cameco (NYSE: CCJ). 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 » Cameco's long-term growth prospects The company recently signed a long-term agreement to supply the government of India's Department of Atomic Energy with uranium ore concentrate in a contract worth $2.6 billion. It's the sort of deal that highlights Cameco's multifaceted role in supporting the nuclear industry. Its uranium mines in Canada and Kazakhstan provide uranium to nuclear utilities worldwide. Its fuel services segment processes uranium for use in nuclear reactors, with its Blind River refinery in Ontario, Canada, being the world's largest commercial uranium refinery. Finally, it owns a 49% stake in Westinghouse Electric Company, a leading manufacturer of nuclear technology and a provider of aftermarket products and services to nuclear power utilities. If recent events prompt faster policy shifts toward nuclear energy, Cameco stands to benefit. A more positive trading environment Given th...
We just covered the 10 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett. Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) ranks #7 (see the 5 best stocks to buy now here). Berkshire owns about 29% of OXY and bought its chemicals business for $9.7 billion. This provides a strong vote of confidence for the company and strengthens the long-term bull case for the stock. But beyond the Berkshire angle, why shoul...
We just covered the 10 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett. Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) ranks #7 (see the 5 best stocks to buy now here). Berkshire owns about 29% of OXY and bought its chemicals business for $9.7 billion. This provides a strong vote of confidence for the company and strengthens the long-term bull case for the stock. But beyond the Berkshire angle, why should one buy Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) stock? Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) is quickly transitioning away from a traditional oil producer to a carbon-removal giant. Its Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility, STRATOS, is set to start operations this year. The company already has high-margin carbon removal credit deals with major firms like Microsoft and BlackRock. Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) can produce net-zero oil with higher profit margins and lower decline rates than its competitors. This provides it with a unique hedge against the global energy transition. Mott Capital Management in their investor letter explained in detail why they decided to buy OXY shares in 2026. Read the letter here. While we acknowledge the potential of OXY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
(RTTNews) - CBS News is shutting down its long-running radio division, according to reports. The move will eliminate all positions on the CBS News Radio team, with the service officially ending on May 22, 2026. Executives Bari Weiss, Editor in Chief, and Tom Cibrowski, CBS News President, reportedly said the decision was driven by shifts in radio programming strategies and challenging economic rea...
(RTTNews) - CBS News is shutting down its long-running radio division, according to reports. The move will eliminate all positions on the CBS News Radio team, with the service officially ending on May 22, 2026. Executives Bari Weiss, Editor in Chief, and Tom Cibrowski, CBS News President, reportedly said the decision was driven by shifts in radio programming strategies and challenging economic realities. The closure comes as part of broader layoffs affecting about 6% of CBS News staff. CBS News Radio has played a historic role in American journalism, rising to prominence during World War II with Edward R. Murrow's live reports from London. It later featured legendary voices such as Walter Cronkite and Eric Sevareid, and produced World News Roundup, the longest-running newscast in the United States. While acknowledging the impact on employees, CBS leaders emphasized that the changes reflect a broader effort to reshape the network for the future, focusing on digital-first platforms and streaming. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Key Points Claiming Social Security before or after full retirement age decreases or increases your benefit, respectively. Your break-even age is when the total benefits from claiming at two ages become equal to each other. You should consider your break-even age when deciding when to claim Social Security. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › As people approach re...
Key Points Claiming Social Security before or after full retirement age decreases or increases your benefit, respectively. Your break-even age is when the total benefits from claiming at two ages become equal to each other. You should consider your break-even age when deciding when to claim Social Security. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › As people approach retirement, one of the more pressing questions is when they should claim Social Security benefits. For some people, the answer is straightforward because they need the money as soon as possible. For others, the decision is less clear-cut because they have greater financial flexibility and could reasonably survive without the benefits. If you find yourself in the latter group, there's one particular number I'd know before making a Social Security claiming decision: your break-even age. Knowing this number will give you more perspective on which decision best fits your personal situation and plans. 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 » How your claiming age affects your Social Security benefit Your full retirement age is when you're eligible to receive your base monthly Social Security (called your primary insurance amount), but you're free to begin claiming benefits at age 62 or delay claiming benefits past your full retirement age. Claiming benefits before your full retirement age reduces your primary insurance amount by 5/9 of 1% monthly, up to 36 months. Each additional month after that further reduces benefits by 5/12 of 1% monthly. If your full retirement age is 67 (anyone born in 1960 or later), here's how much your monthly benefit would be reduced based on your claiming age: Age 66: 6.6% Age 65: 13.33% Age 64: 20% Age 63: 25% Age 62: 30% Delaying benefits past your full retirement age will i...
The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR 3.27%) and FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE 2.94%) mainly differ on cost, yield, and geographic reach, with RWR focusing on U.S. REITs and GQRE offering a global portfolio at a higher expense ratio. Both RWR and GQRE seek to provide real estate exposure, but they approach it differently. RWR invests in U.S.-listed real estate inve...
The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR 3.27%) and FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE 2.94%) mainly differ on cost, yield, and geographic reach, with RWR focusing on U.S. REITs and GQRE offering a global portfolio at a higher expense ratio. Both RWR and GQRE seek to provide real estate exposure, but they approach it differently. RWR invests in U.S.-listed real estate investment trusts (REITs), while GQRE expands the playing field to include global REITs, aiming for income and diversification. This comparison explores which approach may appeal given recent returns, cost, and portfolio makeup. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric RWR GQRE Issuer SPDR FlexShares Expense ratio 0.25% 0.45% 1-yr return (as of Mar. 16, 2026) 9.6% 12.2% Dividend yield 3.4% 4.3% Beta 1.12 1.01 AUM $1.7 billion $400.6 million Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. RWR is more affordable on fees, with an expense ratio of 0.25% compared to GQRE’s 0.46%, but GQRE offers a higher dividend yield at 4.3% versus RWR’s 3.4%, which may appeal to income-focused investors. Performance & risk comparison Metric RWR GQRE Max drawdown (5 y) -32.58% -35.08% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,087 $1,013 What's inside GQRE targets global REITs, holding 219 positions across developed and emerging markets, and has been operating for over 12 years. Its largest holdings include American Tower (AMT 3.19%), Prologis (PLD 2.35%), and Welltower (WELL 5.02%), with the fund fully allocated to real estate and a focus on quality screens. This broad approach may suit those seeking broader geographic coverage and higher income potential. By contrast, RWR sticks to U.S. REITs, with nearly all assets in domestic real estate names. Its top holdings feature Welltower (WELL 5.02%), Prologis (PLD 2.35%), and Equinix (EQIX 1.69%), and the fund counts 98 positions. Without global ...
The energy sector has been upended by the geopolitical conflict unfolding in the Middle East. News flow from the region is driving dramatic price moves in oil and natural gas. If you are looking at the sector today, you need to consider three possible oil scenarios as 2026 unfolds: prices stay the same, prices rise, or prices start to fall. Oil prices stay the same Oil prices are hovering around $...
The energy sector has been upended by the geopolitical conflict unfolding in the Middle East. News flow from the region is driving dramatic price moves in oil and natural gas. If you are looking at the sector today, you need to consider three possible oil scenarios as 2026 unfolds: prices stay the same, prices rise, or prices start to fall. Oil prices stay the same Oil prices are hovering around $100 per barrel, or a little higher. Elevated energy prices will lead to strong financial results for energy producers (upstream companies). The longer oil stays at the current level, the longer producers benefit. The most direct impact will be on pure-play producers like Devon Energy (DVN 0.02%). It further benefits from operating in the United States, far away from the Middle East conflict. However, integrated energy companies like Chevron (CVX +0.12%) will also benefit, but to a lesser degree. Chevron's midstream (pipeline) and downstream (chemicals and refining) assets, along with its global portfolio, will likely temper the positives of sustained high oil prices. Oil prices rise further If the conflict in the Middle East worsens, oil prices are likely to rise further. Prices as high as $200 a barrel have been mentioned. Producers like Devon Energy and Chevron would benefit even more as prices rise. That said, Chevron's exposure to the downstream, where oil and natural gas are key inputs, would likely be a material limiting factor on the extent to which it benefits. The worst impact from rising prices will likely be felt by pure-play refining businesses, such as Valero (VLO 0.91%), and chemicals companies, such as Dow (DOW 2.24%). That said, cost increases could be offset to some degree by rising prices for the products that downstream businesses produce, which are often commodities themselves. Expand NYSE : DVN Devon Energy Today's Change ( -0.02 %) $ -0.01 Current Price $ 48.78 Key Data Points Market Cap $30B Day's Range $ 48.43 - $ 49.67 52wk Range $ 25.89 - $ 49.83 V...
A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to defrauding music streaming platforms and his fellow musicians out of millions in royalties by flooding the services with thousands of AI-generated songs – and using automated “bots” to artificially boost the number of listens into the billions. As part of a deal with federal prosecutors in New York’s southern district, 52-year-old Michael Smith pleaded gu...
A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to defrauding music streaming platforms and his fellow musicians out of millions in royalties by flooding the services with thousands of AI-generated songs – and using automated “bots” to artificially boost the number of listens into the billions. As part of a deal with federal prosecutors in New York’s southern district, 52-year-old Michael Smith pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The case against the Cornelius, North Carolina, resident is one of the first successful prosecutions of AI-related fraud in the music business, which is being hammered by fake music that threatens to swamp streaming services and deprive earnings from legitimately human musicians and copyright holders. “Michael Smith generated thousands of fake songs using artificial intelligence and then streamed those fake songs billions of times,” US attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement. “Although the songs and listeners were fake, the millions of dollars Smith stole was real. Millions of dollars in royalties that Smith diverted from real, deserving artists and rights holders. Smith’s brazen scheme is over, as he stands convicted of a federal crime for his AI-assisted fraud.” Smith was charged in September 2024 with fraudulently obtaining more than $10m in royalty payments by amassing as many as 661,440 streams daily between 2017 and 2024, yielding annual royalties of $1,027,128. Then US attorney Damian Williams said the defendant had stolen “millions in royalties that should have been paid to musicians, songwriters, and other rights holders whose songs were legitimately streamed” and it was “time for Smith to face the music”. As one X commentator by the handle of Tuki pointed out after the plea deal was announced, Smith had used “AI make the music AND the audience” and had made $1.2m a year “for music no human ever actually listened to”. Musicians and the music industry, the X user added, now has “to fight songs that don’t exist bein...
Josh Coburn earned what could prove to be a priceless point with a second-half equaliser as Millwall drew 1-1 against promotion-rivals Ipswich at Portman Road. The home side took the lead late in the first half through Jack Clarke with Coburn responding early in the second period. The result kept the two teams in third and fourth respectively, two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough, who dre...
Josh Coburn earned what could prove to be a priceless point with a second-half equaliser as Millwall drew 1-1 against promotion-rivals Ipswich at Portman Road. The home side took the lead late in the first half through Jack Clarke with Coburn responding early in the second period. The result kept the two teams in third and fourth respectively, two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough, who drew 0-0 at Blackburn, but with Ipswich having a game in hand. Jake Cooper cleared Darnell Furlong’s effort off the Millwall goalline in the ninth minute before Clarke, Ipswich’s leading scorer, gave his side the lead in the 41st minute. He picked up the ball just outside the area from Azor Matusiwa and weaved his way into a shooting position, firing low and hard past the unsighted Anthony Patterson from 25 yards. Millwall enjoyed a perfect start to the second half when Coburn equalised in the 50th minute. Camiel Neghl’s cross evaded Jacob Greaves and allowed the Millwall striker to fire home from close range. View image in fullscreen Derby’s Rhian Brewster rises highest to score the winner against Birmingham. Photograph: Paul Bonser/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock Millwall struck the crossbar late on through substitute Mihailo Ivanovic after a goalmouth scramble Middlesbrough wasted an opportunity to tighten their grip on second place at Ewood Park. It was a familiar story as they failed to capitalise on their dominance against relegation-threatened Blackburn and means they are now winless in three matches, having scored once. Derby boosted their playoff hopes by dealing a big blow to Birmingham’s own chances with a 1-0 win at Pride Park. The game was decided towards the end of the first half when the Birmingham keeper, James Beadle, misjudged a Rhian Brewster header although Derby could have won by a bigger margin. On Friday, Alfie Devine scored twice as Preston ended a seven-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Stoke at Deepdale. The 21-year-old Tottenham loanee canc...
Justin Timberlake struggled to perform field sobriety tests requiring him to walk a straight line and stand on one leg after the pop star was pulled over in New York’s Hamptons in 2024 by police officers who suspected him of driving drunk, according to video footage released on Friday. Timberlake tells officers at one point, “these are like really hard tests.” The footage, which runs roughly eight...
Justin Timberlake struggled to perform field sobriety tests requiring him to walk a straight line and stand on one leg after the pop star was pulled over in New York’s Hamptons in 2024 by police officers who suspected him of driving drunk, according to video footage released on Friday. Timberlake tells officers at one point, “these are like really hard tests.” The footage, which runs roughly eight hours, includes Timberlake’s initial stop after Sag Harbor police said he ran a stop sign in the village center, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW smelling of alcohol that June. The NSYNC singer turned solo artist and actor tells officers he had consumed one martini and had been following friends home in the former whaling village, which is among the affluent beach towns of the Hamptons, about 100 miles (160km) east of New York City. When an officer asks why he is in town, Timberlake says: “I’m on a world tour.” “Doing what?” the officer asks. “Hard to explain,” Timberlake says. After stammering a bit, he says: “World tour. I’m Justin Timberlake.” The officer eventually responds: “You are Justin Timberlake? Do you have a license with you?” Timberlake, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of impaired driving, is asked by officers to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line on the road and lift one leg. At times he seems flustered listening to the instructions. He apologizes to officers and tells them his heart is racing. “I’m a little nervous,” Timberlake says at one point. In the back seat of the police car, he asks: “Why are you arresting me?” A woman who had been out with her husband and Timberlake that night came to the scene at one point and unsuccessfully asked if she could give the Grammy-winning entertainer his cellphone. When she realized he was being taken into custody, she was heard saying: “You’re arresting Justin Timberlake right now?” Invoking an NSYNC hit and one of his signature solo efforts, she later said: “Can you guys please just do me a favor ‘c...