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Halliburton Launches AI-Powered Agile Asset Management for Oil and Gas Investment Decisions Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) introduced Agile Asset Management, a

Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) introduced Agile Asset Management, a new AI-powered, cloud-based Landmark solution designed to help oil and gas companies evaluate field-development alternatives and...

11-03-26

Broadridge Reaffirms FY27 Outlook as Recurring Revenue Grows 11% Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) reported a solid start to fiscal

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) reported a solid start to fiscal 2027, with double-digit recurring revenue growth and stronger closed sales, while profitability was...

11-03-26

L3Harris Receives $36 Million U.S. Army SATCOM Order for C2NOW Program L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) received a $36 million order

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) received a $36 million order from the U.S. Army for its Hawkeye 4 Lite satellite communications terminals, supporting the military’s...

11-03-26

CrowdStrike Expands AI Security Integrations With AWS CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) announced new integrations with Amazon Web Services designed to extend

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) announced new integrations with Amazon Web Services designed to extend Falcon protection across AI applications, agentic workflows and cloud infrastructure. The...

11-03-26

Tradeweb Launches Muni Sweep to Speed Municipal Bond Trading Tradeweb Markets (NASDAQ: TW) launched Muni Sweep, a new session-based trading

Tradeweb Markets (NASDAQ: TW) launched Muni Sweep, a new session-based trading protocol designed to help municipal bond market participants evaluate and trade inventory more...

11-03-26

Accenture and Kbrw Help Orange France Modernize Order Fulfillment Across Sales Channels Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and French supply chain software

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and French supply chain software company Kbrw have been selected by Orange France to modernize the telecom operator’s order management and...

11-03-26

Snowflake Expands Agentic AI Push With CoCo and CoWork Bots Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) unveiled a major expansion of its enterprise

Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) unveiled a major expansion of its enterprise AI platform at Snowflake Expedition 2026, introducing new autonomous capabilities for CoCo and CoWork...

11-03-26

U.S. Job Openings and Factory Orders Beat Forecasts in September U.S. economic data came in stronger than expected in September,

U.S. economic data came in stronger than expected in September, with both job openings and factory orders exceeding market forecasts. JOLTS job openings rose...

11-03-26

Zebra Technologies Plunges 12% as Margin Compression Overshadows Strong Growth and Raised Outlook Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) shares fell about

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) shares fell about 12% despite reporting strong third-quarter 2026 revenue growth, higher earnings and an increased full-year outlook. Third-quarter sales...

11-03-26

Dynatrace Plunges 15% as Strong Q2 Growth Fails to Offset Concerns Over Forward Expectations Dynatrace (NYSE: DT) shares fell about

Dynatrace (NYSE: DT) shares fell about 15% despite reporting solid second-quarter fiscal 2027 growth, strong margins and an expanded share repurchase authorization. Annual recurring...

11-03-26

BioNTech Edges Up 0.5% as Revenue Guidance Rises and Oncology Pipeline Advances BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) shares rose about 0.5% after

BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) shares rose about 0.5% after the company reported a return to quarterly profitability, raised the midpoint of its 2026 revenue guidance...

11-03-26

Fiserv Jumps 7% as Cost-Savings Target Doubles and Share Buybacks Resume Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) shares rose about 7% despite weak

Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) shares rose about 7% despite weak third-quarter 2026 revenue trends, as investors appeared to focus on a sharply higher cost-savings target,...

11-03-26

NASDAQ:AAPL

Apple Falls 4.5% Premarket Despite Record Q4 Revenue as Tariff Refunds Boost Reported Margins

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares fell about 4.5% in premarket trading despite reporting record fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 revenue, iPhone sales and earnings per share.

Quarterly revenue rose 12% year over year to $114.5 billion, marking a September-quarter record. Apple also said iPhone revenue reached a September-quarter high, while Services revenue set a new all-time record.

Diluted EPS increased 14% to $2.10. Gross margin was 47.9%, but the quarter benefited from approximately 1 percentage point of favorable impact from tariff refunds. The refunds also added about $0.05 to EPS, meaning part of the reported margin and earnings strength came from a non-recurring benefit.

Apple generated $28 billion of operating cash flow during the quarter and returned $28 billion to shareholders. For the full fiscal year, revenue reached a record $479 billion, while the installed base of active devices also reached new highs across major product categories and geographic regions.

The company highlighted its new iPhone lineup, expanded home hardware portfolio and the rollout of its new Siri AI capabilities as key products heading into the holiday season.

The 4.5% premarket decline suggests investors are looking beyond the strong headline numbers. One possible concern is the quality of the margin and EPS beat, given the meaningful contribution from tariff refunds. With the press release not providing detailed forward guidance, the selloff may also reflect expectations that were already elevated ahead of the report, leaving the market focused on underlying profitability and the sustainability of growth once temporary tariff benefits are excluded.

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Global Finance News 11-03-26

Apple unveils groundbreaking MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display - Apple

Apple today introduced the all-new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display featuring breakthrough tandem OLED technology.

(apple.com)

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Global Finance News 11-01-26

Apple Launches New Mac mini and Mac Studio With M6 and M5 Ultra Chips

Apple said its latest Mac mini and Mac Studio models are now available, expanding the company’s desktop lineup with new Apple silicon aimed at stronger AI, graphics and professional computing performance.

The new Mac mini is offered with the M6 or M5 Pro chip. Apple said the M6 version delivers up to 4x faster AI performance, 2x faster graphics and storage performance, and 40% faster CPU performance compared with the prior-generation model. The M5 Pro configuration is aimed at more demanding workloads such as video production and game development.

Mac Studio now comes with M5 Max or M5 Ultra. The M5 Ultra version supports up to a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU and 512GB of unified memory, while Thunderbolt 5 with RDMA support allows multiple Mac Studio systems to be clustered for distributed AI inference.

Both systems are positioned heavily around on-device AI and run macOS 27, which includes Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features. Apple is increasingly emphasizing local AI workloads, agentic workflows and large-model inference as part of its Mac strategy.

Pricing starts at $899 for Mac mini with M6 and $2,499 for Mac Studio with M5 Max. The M5 Ultra version starts at $5,499.

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Global Finance News 09-22-26

The latest iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods lineups arrive in stores worldwide - Apple

On Friday, September 18, Apple Store locations around the world introduced customers to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5.

(apple.com)

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Global Finance News 09-19-26

Apple Rolls Out Siri AI Across Its Software Platforms

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has begun rolling out major software updates across its ecosystem, headlined by Siri AI and the next generation of Apple Intelligence.

Siri AI is designed as a more conversational and context-aware assistant, with the ability to understand information across messages, emails and photos, recognize what is displayed on a user’s screen and perform more actions across apps. The beta is initially rolling out in English, with additional languages planned for October.

Apple is also expanding generative AI throughout its products. New capabilities include Write with Siri, AI-powered photo editing and image generation, smarter Safari tab organization and website-change alerts.

The updates are rolling out across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27 and tvOS 27. However, Siri AI will initially face regional limitations, including no availability in China while Apple works through regulatory requirements.

The launch represents a major step in Apple’s effort to integrate generative AI more deeply across its hardware and software ecosystem and strengthen its position in the rapidly expanding consumer AI market.

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The Investor 09-15-26

Broadcom and Apple, and the End of Apple’s Run of Squeezing Suppliers? | Chip Stock Investor

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The Investor 09-15-26

Top Stock Market Highlights of the Week: Apple, Qualcomm, Sembcorp Industries and Mapletree Logistics Trust

We look at Apple's shift to a split iPhone launch strategy, a major AI chip partnership, and two corporate developments from Singapore-listed companies.

(thesmartinvestor.com.sg)

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The Investor 09-12-26

Apple unveils iPhone Duo - Apple

Apple today introduced iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone.

(apple.com)

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The Investor 09-10-26

Apple Stock in Focus as Rothschild & Co Redburn Upgrades AAPL to Buy, Sets $400 Target

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares are in focus Monday after Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded the iPhone maker to Buy from Neutral and set a $400 price target.

Analyst Timm Schulze-Melander issued the bullish rating with Apple shares at $305.61, implying approximately 31% upside to the new target.

The upgrade comes as investor attention increasingly shifts toward Apple’s ability to monetize artificial intelligence across its enormous installed device base. Apple remains uniquely positioned within the technology sector because of the combination of its premium hardware ecosystem, high-margin Services business and ability to integrate AI capabilities directly across iPhone, Mac and other devices.

A $400 target also suggests Rothschild & Co Redburn sees room for Apple’s valuation to remain elevated as the company enters its next product and AI cycle.

The rating change is particularly notable because it represents an outright upgrade rather than simply an increase in the price target. Moving from Neutral to Buy signals a materially more constructive view of Apple’s risk-reward profile.

With AAPL trading around $305.61 in the rating report, investors will now watch whether improving expectations around AI monetization, Services growth and the broader Apple ecosystem can provide enough earnings growth to justify the analyst’s $400 target.

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European Investor 08-17-26

Apple Stock Falls After Jefferies Downgrade to Underperform

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares fell about 2.2% Monday after Jefferies Financial Group downgraded the iPhone maker to Underperform from Buy and sharply reduced its price target.

Jefferies analyst Edison Lee lowered the firm's price target on Apple to $263.66 from $285.56. With Apple previously trading around $306.57, the new target implies roughly 14% downside from that level.

Jefferies Turns Bearish on Apple

The downgrade represents a significant shift in Jefferies' view of Apple, moving directly from a bullish Buy recommendation to an Underperform rating rather than stepping down to Neutral.

The substantial reduction in the price target also suggests Jefferies sees Apple's current valuation as difficult to justify relative to its expectations for the company's future earnings and growth.

Monday's approximately 2.2% decline indicates investors are taking the more cautious analyst view seriously, particularly after Apple's recent share-price strength.

Why Is AAPL Stock Down Today?

The Jefferies downgrade appears to be the primary company-specific catalyst behind Monday's decline.

At approximately $306.57 before the move, Apple was trading more than $40 above Jefferies' new $263.66 target. That valuation gap provides a clear explanation for the market's negative reaction.

The downgrade also comes as investors continue to assess Apple's position in artificial intelligence and whether its AI strategy can generate sufficient new revenue and device demand to support its premium valuation.

For now, the combination of a two-notch downgrade and a substantially lower price target is putting pressure on AAPL shares, with investors likely to watch whether other Wall Street analysts become more cautious on Apple's valuation and AI-driven growth expectations.

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European Investor 08-10-26

11-03-26The Investor

11-03-26Global Finance News

Brent Crude

Brent Crude Rebounds While Gold Falls as Middle East Tensions Shift Inflation Expectations

Brent crude rose while gold moved sharply lower on Tuesday, as renewed Middle East tensions pushed energy prices higher but also strengthened concerns that inflation could remain elevated.

Brent futures climbed about 1.9% to $106.71 a barrel, reversing part of the previous session’s steep decline. The rebound followed renewed geopolitical tensions involving the U.S. and Iran, which brought supply risks back into focus after hopes for diplomatic progress had reduced the oil market’s risk premium.

Oil prices moved higher after reports of a U.S. strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island, while comments from Iranian officials suggested the two sides remain far apart on a potential agreement. The developments revived concerns over Middle East supply disruptions and restored part of the geopolitical risk premium that had been removed from prices a day earlier. (Reuters)

The move suggests traders are once again pricing in the possibility of disruptions to regional energy flows, particularly if tensions spread to shipping routes or critical oil infrastructure. Brent had fallen sharply a day earlier as expectations for negotiations increased, making Tuesday’s rebound largely a reassessment of those assumptions.

Gold moved in the opposite direction. Futures fell about 1.5% to $3,910.10 an ounce, extending pressure on bullion despite the increase in geopolitical uncertainty.

The decline appears to reflect the inflation and interest-rate implications of higher oil prices. A renewed rise in energy costs can increase inflation expectations and reinforce the case for tighter or more prolonged restrictive monetary policy. Higher interest rates and bond yields generally reduce the relative appeal of non-yielding assets such as gold.

The contrasting moves in Brent and gold highlight how the same geopolitical event can affect asset classes differently. Oil is benefiting directly from renewed supply-risk concerns, while gold is facing pressure from the possibility that higher energy prices could keep inflation and interest rates elevated.

Near-term direction for both markets is likely to remain tied to developments between Washington and Tehran. Further escalation could support crude prices, while gold may continue to depend more heavily on how the conflict affects Treasury yields, the U.S. dollar and expectations for Federal Reserve policy.

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Global Finance News 11-03-26

Brent Crude Falls 3.7% as Iran Peace Talks Ease Immediate Supply Fears

Brent crude fell sharply on Monday, trading around $109.21 a barrel and down about 3.7%, as renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran and Qatari mediators reduced some of the geopolitical risk premium that had built into oil prices. (The Wall Street Journal)

The decline follows a strong October rally that pushed Brent to its highest level in roughly six months. With no major military escalation over the weekend and negotiations continuing, traders appear to be taking profits and reassessing the probability of further disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. (business-standard*com)

However, underlying supply conditions remain tight. Regional disruptions have already depleted global inventories significantly, while diesel stocks remain unusually low in several markets. That means the current decline appears more related to a reduction in geopolitical risk premium and profit-taking than to a fundamental shift toward abundant supply. (Reuters)

The key near-term driver remains the Iran diplomatic process: meaningful progress could push more risk premium out of crude prices, while renewed military escalation could quickly reverse the current selloff.

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The Investor 11-02-26

Brent Crude Falls 1.8% as U.S.-Iran De-Escalation Hopes Ease Supply Fears

Brent crude fell about 1.8% to $109.68 per barrel as renewed hopes for an easing in U.S.-Iran tensions reduced some of the geopolitical risk premium that had recently pushed oil prices higher.

The move also appears to reflect profit-taking after last week’s strong rally, when concerns over Middle East supply disruptions drove crude sharply higher. Traders are now reassessing whether the recent escalation will translate into a lasting hit to oil flows.

Supply risks have not disappeared, however, and continued instability in the region is helping keep Brent elevated above $109 per barrel. That means oil prices remain sensitive to any new developments involving Iran, regional attacks or disruptions to major shipping routes.

Overall, Monday’s decline looks more like a partial unwinding of geopolitical risk premium than a major change in the underlying supply outlook.

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WS News 10-26-26

Brent Crude Jumps Nearly 4% as Middle East Supply Risks and U.S. Gulf Shutdowns Intensify

Brent crude futures surged 3.94% to around $104.15 per barrel on Thursday, extending gains as geopolitical and weather-related supply concerns returned to the forefront of the oil market.

The strongest catalyst is renewed disruption risk around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf. Shipping activity through Hormuz has fallen sharply following a fresh wave of tanker attacks, increasing concerns over the security of a route that handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and fuel flows before the current conflict. (Reuters)

Supply fears were compounded by production disruptions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Offshore producers have curtailed operations as Hurricane Isaias approaches, temporarily removing part of U.S. oil and gas output from the market. U.S. crude inventories also fell by 3.2 million barrels, adding another supportive factor. (Reuters)

The sharp move above $104 suggests traders are rebuilding a geopolitical risk premium after recent attempts to ease supply pressure through strategic stock releases.

Near term, Brent’s direction will remain highly sensitive to tanker traffic through Hormuz, further attacks on regional energy infrastructure, the duration of Gulf of Mexico production outages and any escalation involving Iran.

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The Investor 10-08-26

Brent crude futures fell 1.34% to $98.98 per barrel in early trading, extending losses after briefly trading above $101 earlier in the session.

Prices moved sharply lower during the morning, slipping below the $100 level and reaching an intraday low near $99.

The move marks a notable reversal from earlier gains, with Brent giving up more than $2 per barrel from its session high.

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Global Finance News 10-06-26

Brent Crude Holds Above $102 After Sharp Intraday Volatility

Brent crude futures traded around $102.14 per barrel on Monday, down 0.11%, after a highly volatile early session.

Prices initially fell below $101 before rebounding sharply and briefly moving above $103 per barrel. Brent later gave back part of the advance but remained comfortably above the session’s early lows.

The price action suggests the oil market remains highly sensitive to shifting supply and geopolitical expectations. The rapid rebound from below $101 indicates buyers are still emerging aggressively on dips, while the pullback from above $103 shows resistance at higher levels.

Near term, the $103 area appears to be an important upside level, while the roughly $101–$102 range could provide support if volatility persists. The broader direction will remain heavily dependent on developments affecting global supply expectations and Middle East risk.

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European Investor 10-05-26

U.S. Crude Inventories Rise as Atlanta Fed GDPNow Estimate Drops to 3.7%

U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 922,000 barrels in the latest weekly report, contrary to expectations for a 700,000-barrel decline. The previous reading showed a much larger 2.969 million-barrel build.

Inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, also rose by 553,000 barrels after increasing by 2.266 million barrels previously, adding to signs of a looser near-term crude supply balance.

Separately, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow estimate for third-quarter U.S. economic growth fell sharply to 3.7% from 5.0%. The previous estimate had also stood at 5.0%.

For markets, the inventory build is a negative signal for crude prices because it suggests supply exceeded expectations during the week. At the same time, the lower GDPNow estimate points to softer expected economic growth, which could further weigh on oil demand expectations while supporting expectations for a less restrictive Federal Reserve stance.

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Global Finance News 09-30-26

Brent Crude Rises 1.6% as U.S.-Iran Talks Stall and Hormuz Risks Persist

Brent crude futures rose 1.6% to around $99 a barrel on Monday as geopolitical risk returned to the market following another setback in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Oil prices gained after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while both sides remained open to further talks. The unresolved dispute has kept a geopolitical premium in crude because the waterway remains critical to Gulf oil exports.(thenationalnews*com)

At the same time, supply concerns are being partly offset by improving regional export flows. Middle East crude exports are on track to reach about 12.8 million barrels per day in September, their highest level since the conflict began, while shipments through Hormuz have also recovered significantly from earlier disruptions.(Iran International)

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline has also restarted after being damaged earlier this month, providing another route for crude exports and limiting some of the upside pressure on prices. (Reuters)

The result is a highly volatile oil market: geopolitical tensions continue to support Brent, while improving Gulf exports and alternative Saudi shipping routes are preventing supply fears from escalating further.

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The Investor 09-28-26

Brent Crude Climbs Back Above $100 as U.S.-Iran Tensions Revive Supply Concerns

Brent crude futures rose 2.08% to $100.16 a barrel on Thursday as renewed concerns over Middle East supply risks outweighed recent optimism around improving Gulf exports.

Oil prices rebounded after hopes for a quick U.S.-Iran diplomatic breakthrough faded. Talks surrounding the UN General Assembly produced limited progress, while uncertainty remained over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global crude shipments. (The National)

The move reverses part of Brent’s recent decline. Earlier this week, prices had fallen below $100 as Saudi Arabia restarted its East-West pipeline and markets anticipated increased exports through the Red Sea, while expectations for U.S.-Iran negotiations reduced the geopolitical risk premium. (FXStreet)

Supply concerns have not disappeared, however. Restrictions around Hormuz remain a major risk, while tight refined-product markets—particularly diesel—are adding support to crude prices. (Kitco)

Near-term direction is likely to remain highly sensitive to developments between Washington and Tehran, shipping flows through Hormuz and the pace of Saudi supply normalization.

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European Investor 09-24-26

Brent Crude Falls 1.1% as Saudi Pipeline Restarts and Hormuz Reopening Hopes Pressure Prices

Brent crude futures fell 1.14% to around $99.20 a barrel Tuesday, extending recent weakness as improving Middle East supply prospects reduced some of the geopolitical risk premium in oil prices.

The biggest pressure came from Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline. The kingdom has restarted operations after the route was shut following drone attacks, and exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu could resume. The pipeline had been used to reroute roughly 4 million barrels per day around the Strait of Hormuz, making its restart an important development for regional supply. (Reuters)

Oil prices also weakened after Iran signaled that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within seven days if the U.S. eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. The possibility of renewed diplomacy has reduced fears of a prolonged disruption through one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. (Reuters)

At the same time, physical supply flows appear to be adapting. Middle Eastern exporters have increasingly used alternative routes and storage hubs, while Saudi shipments have remained stronger than initially feared.

Still, downside risks are not one-sided. Shipping traffic through Hormuz remains far below pre-conflict levels, and continued regional fighting means oil could remain volatile even if supply conditions improve further.

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WS Investor 09-22-26

11-03-26Global Finance News

11-02-26The Investor

10-15-26The Investor

NASDAQ:PLTR

Palantir Falls 5% Premarket Despite Explosive Q3 Growth as Valuation and Expectations Overshadow Results

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) shares fell about 5% in premarket trading despite reporting exceptionally strong third-quarter 2026 growth and raising full-year guidance above prior expectations.

Revenue surged 96% year over year to $2.31 billion and increased 20% sequentially. U.S. revenue rose 119% to $1.94 billion, while U.S. commercial revenue jumped 148% to $984 million and surpassed U.S. government revenue for the first time in company history. U.S. government revenue increased 96% to $953 million.

Profitability remained unusually strong for a company growing at this pace. GAAP operating income reached $1.08 billion, representing a 47% margin, while adjusted operating income was $1.43 billion, or a 62% margin. Adjusted free cash flow totaled $1.22 billion, equivalent to a 53% margin.

Palantir also continued to show strong deal activity, closing 212 contracts worth at least $1 million during the quarter. U.S. commercial remaining deal value increased 79% year over year to $6.52 billion.

The company raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $8.530-$8.534 billion and now expects U.S. commercial revenue growth of at least 143%. Adjusted operating income guidance was increased to $5.245-$5.249 billion, while adjusted free cash flow guidance rose to $4.8-$5.0 billion.

The 5% premarket decline appears to reflect the exceptionally high expectations already embedded in Palantir’s valuation rather than any obvious deterioration in fundamentals. Even with 96% revenue growth, rising margins and another guidance increase, investors may have been positioned for an even larger upside surprise. The reaction suggests that at current valuation levels, very strong results alone may not be enough to drive further gains unless growth and guidance materially exceed already aggressive expectations.

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Global Finance News 11-03-26

Palantir Elevates Aplos Data to Vanguard: Elite to Expand Foundry and AIP Deployments

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) named Aplos Data to Vanguard: Elite, the highest tier of its trusted partner network, expanding the firm’s role from implementing Palantir for existing customers to helping bring Foundry and AIP to new customers across the United States.

The designation reflects Aplos Data’s deployment track record, with Palantir citing the company’s ability to move projects into production quickly and deliver measurable operational outcomes. Aplos was built specifically around Palantir’s platform and includes founders with prior recognition from Palantir’s developer community.

Under the expanded relationship, Aplos will support new customer acquisition as well as implementation, using its “Operate as One” methodology to integrate systems, data and decision-making into unified operating environments on Palantir.

The companies highlighted deployments at Mansfield Energy and Surf Air Mobility. At Mansfield, Aplos is helping expand the use of Foundry across operations, while at Surf Air it has supported development of SurfOS, the company’s digital infrastructure platform for aviation operations.

Aplos also demonstrated a fuel-distribution application at Palantir’s AIPCon 11 that monitors thousands of diesel tanks, predicts when fuel will run low and automatically places orders, leaving staff to intervene only on exceptions requiring human judgment.

The announcement strengthens Palantir’s partner ecosystem and could help broaden adoption of Foundry and AIP by giving new customers access to specialized implementation capacity focused exclusively on Palantir deployments.

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European Investor 10-22-26

Palantir Stock Rises 2.8% After Goldman Sachs and Raymond James Upgrades

Palantir shares rose about 2.8% to $199.60 after receiving two analyst upgrades, with Goldman Sachs moving the stock to Buy from Neutral and setting a $230 price target, while Raymond James upgraded shares to Outperform from Market Perform.

Goldman’s more bullish view centers on expectations that Palantir could enter another phase of outperformance into 2027. The firm sees the company’s total addressable market expanding as demand grows around sovereign AI, bespoke applications and Palantir’s verticalization strategy.(Yahoofinance)

Goldman also highlighted Palantir’s ability to connect its field engineering teams with product development, creating a feedback loop that helps customers build customized software applications and allows Palantir to scale those capabilities more efficiently.(Yahoofinance)

The stock is now trading close to its prior record high, suggesting investors are increasingly willing to pay for the prospect of another leg of growth despite Palantir’s already elevated valuation.

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European Investor 10-08-26

Palantir and Fujitsu Expand Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

Palantir Technologies and Fujitsu have expanded their strategic partnership to accelerate enterprise AI adoption in Japan and global markets, with Fujitsu becoming a Global Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) Partner.

Under a new agreement with Palantir Technologies Japan, Fujitsu will expand its use of Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and Foundry while investing in FDE capabilities. The partnership will focus particularly on sovereign AI, allowing enterprises to deploy AI applications while maintaining greater control over their data, models, infrastructure and operations.

The companies highlighted an existing deployment in which Fujitsu used Palantir technology to build a supply-chain resilience system for a major Japanese manufacturer. The platform integrated information from more than 3,000 suppliers and 18 factories, generating more than $10 million in cost savings within one year while doubling operational productivity.

Fujitsu plans to combine Palantir AIP and Foundry with its own technologies, including its Takane large language model and Uvance offerings, to develop customized enterprise AI applications.

The expanded agreement builds on a strategic relationship dating to 2020 and comes as Palantir broadens its enterprise AI ecosystem.

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The Investor 09-10-26

NVIDIA and Palantir Partner to Bring Sovereign AI to Critical Supply Chains

NVIDIA and Palantir Technologies announced a new collaboration Thursday to develop a sovereign AI stack designed to optimize complex supply chains, with the technology initially being deployed across NVIDIA’s own operations.

The platform combines NVIDIA’s Nemotron open AI models with Palantir Foundry and its Artificial Intelligence Platform, or AIP. Grounded in Palantir’s Ontology, the system is designed to identify supply constraints, improve visibility and help organizations make operational decisions while maintaining control of proprietary data.

NVIDIA is using the technology to manage one of the semiconductor industry’s most complicated supply chains. The company said each Vera Rubin rack requires about 1.3 million parts, with production dependent on coordinated supplies of compute, memory, networking, power, cooling and mechanical components.

The companies plan to extend the technology beyond NVIDIA to industries including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, automotive and aerospace. Customers will be able to deploy the AI stack on-premises, in colocation facilities or in the cloud while retaining ownership and control of their models and operational data.

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The Investor 09-10-26

Palantir and Nebius Partner to Build Sovereign AI Infrastructure for Enterprise Customers

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) and Nebius Group (NASDAQ: NBIS) announced a strategic partnership aimed at giving Palantir’s commercial customers greater control over the infrastructure, data and models powering their artificial intelligence applications.

Under the agreement, Palantir named Nebius its preferred sovereign AI infrastructure partner. Following an integration period, Nebius compute infrastructure and inference endpoints will be brought inside the Palantir enterprise perimeter, allowing eligible customers to access Nebius cloud and AI infrastructure directly through Palantir’s ecosystem.

The partnership combines Nebius’ AI-native computing platform with Palantir’s Sovereign AI Operating System, which incorporates AIP, Ontology, Foundry and Apollo. Customers will be able to deploy open AI models on Nebius infrastructure and continuously adapt those models using proprietary organizational data while retaining control over their compute, models and information.

The companies also plan to accelerate the deployment of additional AI computing capacity, including modular data centers at locations where power infrastructure is already available. The approach could help address one of the major constraints facing the AI industry: rapidly bringing additional computing capacity online.

For Palantir, the partnership expands the infrastructure available behind its enterprise AI platform. For Nebius, becoming Palantir’s preferred sovereign AI infrastructure partner provides another channel for its rapidly expanding AI cloud and compute business as enterprises increase spending on AI infrastructure.

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The Investor 09-08-26

Palantir and PwC Expand Alliance to Scale Enterprise AI

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) and PwC US have expanded their strategic alliance to help companies deploy artificial intelligence across core business operations, with an initial focus on enterprise AI, mergers and acquisitions, and ERP modernization.

The collaboration combines Palantir’s Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) with PwC’s consulting, engineering and industry expertise. The companies aim to help enterprises move AI projects from pilots into production and embed AI into areas such as supply chains, logistics, cybersecurity and customer management.

AI-Native M&A and ERP Transformation

A major part of the expanded partnership is a new AI-native deals IT platform powered by Palantir Foundry and AIP. PwC and Palantir said the platform is designed to help companies execute M&A transactions up to 50% faster while reducing one-time transaction costs by as much as 45%.

The companies will also use Palantir’s AI technology alongside PwC’s SAP expertise to improve data quality and reduce risks during ERP transformations.

For Palantir, the expanded PwC relationship could broaden enterprise adoption of its AI software by combining its technology with PwC’s large corporate client base and implementation capabilities. The agreement also strengthens Palantir’s position in the growing enterprise AI market, where companies are increasingly shifting from experimental AI projects toward production-scale deployments.

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The Investor 09-04-26

Palantir Wins U.S. Army Contract to Deliver Eight AI-Powered TITAN Systems

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has secured a new U.S. Army contract to produce and deliver eight Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, or TITAN, systems, expanding the company’s role in the military’s deployment of artificial intelligence and next-generation battlefield intelligence technology.

The agreement, awarded by Army Contracting Command to Palantir’s USG subsidiary, covers four Advanced and four Basic TITAN systems. The Advanced version provides greater processing and integration capabilities, while the Basic version is designed for mobility and rapid deployment. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

TITAN is an AI- and machine learning-enabled ground station designed to process data from space, high-altitude, aerial and terrestrial sensors. The system converts that information into actionable targeting intelligence that can support mission command and long-range precision fires.

Palantir will serve as the prime contractor, overseeing manufacturing and delivery of the complete systems while providing the software that powers TITAN. The platform also integrates technologies from defense and technology partners including Anduril Industries, L3Harris Technologies, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Strategic Technology Consulting and World Wide Technology.

The new award moves TITAN beyond its earlier prototype phase and further into production and operational deployment. Palantir will also continue supporting TITAN prototype systems already fielded with Army units while developing future capabilities.

The contract reinforces Palantir’s growing position at the intersection of AI, defense software and battlefield data integration. TITAN is particularly significant because Palantir is not simply supplying analytics software but acting as the prime contractor for an integrated hardware-and-software military system, potentially expanding the scope of opportunities available to the company within the U.S. defense sector.

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The Investor 09-02-26

Palantir Stock Soars 23% After Blowout Q2 Results and Massive Guidance Increase

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) surged 23% on Tuesday after delivering another blockbuster quarterly report that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations. The AI software company reported explosive revenue growth, record commercial demand and sharply raised its full-year outlook, reinforcing its position as one of the biggest beneficiaries of accelerating enterprise AI adoption.

Second-quarter revenue jumped 93% year over year to $1.94 billion, while U.S. commercial revenue surged an extraordinary 149% to $764 million. Total U.S. revenue climbed 115% to $1.57 billion, supported by continued strength across both commercial and government customers.

U.S. Commercial Business Continues to Accelerate

The company's commercial momentum remained the key highlight of the quarter. Palantir closed a record $2.13 billion in U.S. commercial total contract value (TCV), up 153% from a year ago, while U.S. commercial remaining deal value increased 124% to $6.24 billion.

Overall, the company closed 220 deals worth at least $1 million during the quarter, including 73 contracts exceeding $10 million. Total contract value reached $3.37 billion, up 49% year over year, highlighting sustained demand for Palantir's AI-driven software platform.

CEO Alex Karp said growing demand for "AI sovereignty" is driving organizations toward platforms that allow customers to retain full control of their data while deploying artificial intelligence at scale.

Profitability and Cash Flow Reach New Highs

Palantir also demonstrated exceptional profitability alongside its rapid growth. GAAP operating income reached $912 million, representing a 47% operating margin, while adjusted operating income climbed to $1.19 billion, or 62% of revenue.

GAAP net income totaled $1.06 billion, with both adjusted free cash flow and cash from operations exceeding $1.2 billion. The company ended the quarter with $9.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. Treasury securities, providing significant financial flexibility.

Guidance Raised Well Above Expectations

Management substantially increased its 2026 outlook, now expecting full-year revenue between $8.15 billion and $8.16 billion, representing approximately 82% annual growth. The company also raised its U.S. commercial revenue forecast to more than $3.42 billion, implying at least 134% growth, while increasing adjusted operating income guidance to as much as $4.90 billion.

## What to Watch

Tuesday's rally reflects investor confidence that Palantir remains one of the strongest AI growth stories in the market. Investors will now focus on whether the company can sustain its exceptional commercial growth, continue converting large enterprise contracts into recurring revenue, and maintain its industry-leading profitability as AI adoption accelerates globally.

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European Investor 08-04-26

Palantir (PLTR) Stock Rises After DA Davidson Upgrades Shares to Buy

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) shares gained approximately 3.5% on Thursday after DA Davidson upgraded the software company to Buy from Neutral and raised its price target to $175 from $165.

The upgrade comes as Palantir continues to benefit from strong investor enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence, with the company expanding its presence across both commercial and government markets through its AI-driven software platforms.

DA Davidson upgraded the stock and increased its price target, reflecting a more constructive outlook on the shares. The positive analyst action added to investor optimism surrounding Palantir's long-term growth potential.

Palantir has been one of the strongest performers in the software sector this year as enterprises continue increasing investments in AI applications, data analytics, and automation. The company has also continued to win government contracts while expanding adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among commercial customers.

# Why PLTR Stock Rose

Several factors supported the stock:

* DA Davidson upgraded Palantir to Buy from Neutral.
* The firm raised its price target to $175 from $165.
* Continued optimism around enterprise AI adoption and government demand has supported investor sentiment toward Palantir.
* The company remains well positioned to benefit from growing investment in AI-powered software and data analytics.

The combination of a rating upgrade and continued optimism surrounding the AI sector helped lift Palantir shares approximately 3.5% during Thursday's trading session.

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Global Finance News 07-02-26

11-03-26The Investor

11-03-26Global Finance News

10-09-26WS News

10-08-26European Investor

NASDAQ:FANG

Diamondback Energy Rises 1.6% Premarket as Strong Free Cash Flow and Dividend Increase Support Shares

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) shares rose about 1.6% in premarket trading after the company reported strong third-quarter 2026 cash generation, increased its base dividend and raised full-year production guidance.

Average oil production was 525,000 barrels per day, with total production of 1.034 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Diamondback generated $2.6 billion of operating cash flow and $3.2 billion before working-capital changes.

Free cash flow reached $2.1 billion, while adjusted free cash flow totaled $2.2 billion against approximately $1.0 billion of cash capital expenditures. The strong cash generation supported continued shareholder returns and debt reduction.

Diamondback increased its annual base dividend by 7.3% to $4.72 per share, representing an 18% increase from a year earlier. The company also repurchased approximately $251 million of stock during the quarter and another $73 million of shares so far in the fourth quarter.

The company raised its 2026 oil production outlook to approximately 524,000 barrels per day from more than 522,000 previously and increased total production guidance to roughly 1.015 million BOE per day. Full-year capital spending guidance was also lifted slightly to $3.95 billion-$4.00 billion from approximately $3.9 billion.

Diamondback additionally acquired a 7.5% stake in the Solitude Pipeline System, strengthening its exposure to Permian natural gas infrastructure.

The 1.6% premarket gain appears to reflect the combination of strong free cash flow, higher production expectations and increased shareholder distributions. The modest increase in capital spending provides a partial offset, but the quarter demonstrates Diamondback’s ability to fund investment while simultaneously raising dividends, repurchasing shares and reducing debt.

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Global Finance News 11-03-26

Diamondback Energy Slips in Pre-Market Despite Strong Q1 and Raised Production Guidance

May 5, 2026

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) is trading about 1.68% lower in Tuesday's pre-market session, even after the Permian Basin-focused oil producer posted a solid first quarter and raised its full-year production outlook. The decline likely reflects broader oil price pressures and investor caution around rising capital expenditure guidance rather than any weakness in the underlying business.

Q1 by the Numbers

Diamondback produced an average of 521.0 thousand barrels of oil per day in the first quarter, or 979.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in total. Net cash provided by operating activities came in at $1.8 billion, while operating cash flow before working capital changes reached $2.6 billion. Cash capital expenditures for the quarter were $933 million, leaving free cash flow of $1.7 billion — a figure that underscores the capital efficiency of the company's Permian operations.

The company returned $859 million to shareholders in the quarter, roughly 50% of adjusted free cash flow, through a combination of share repurchases and its base dividend. Diamondback bought back 3.3 million shares for approximately $548 million and raised its Q1 2026 base cash dividend to $1.10 per share, a 10% increase year-over-year, implying an annualized yield of approximately 2.1% based on the May 1 closing price of $207.65.

On the balance sheet front, the company completed a cash-funded tender offer retiring approximately $777 million in principal of long-dated senior notes at 81.1 cents on the dollar — a disciplined move that reduces future interest costs. It also fully repaid the remaining $550 million on its term loan due 2027, bringing pro forma gross debt to $12.7 billion at the end of April.

Guidance Raised

Diamondback increased its full-year 2026 oil production guidance to 520 thousand barrels per day or more, up from the prior range of 500 to 510 thousand barrels per day. Total BOE production guidance was raised to 972 thousand barrels per day or more, implying approximately 5% organic year-over-year growth.

The company also raised its full-year cash capital expenditure guidance to approximately $3.90 billion, up from $3.75 billion, with the increase directed toward operated drilling and completion activity. Net lateral footage completed was also nudged higher to 6,100 to 6,500 thousand feet from 5,900 to 6,300 thousand feet previously.

For the second quarter, Diamondback guided oil production of 515 to 525 thousand barrels per day and capital expenditures of $925 million to $1.025 billion.

Why the Stock Is Down

The pre-market decline is a reminder that even strong operational results can face headwinds from macro forces. Oil prices remain a key variable for Diamondback's revenue, and any softness in crude weighs on sentiment regardless of execution quality. The upward revision to capital spending — while tied to higher production — may also give some investors pause, as it signals a heavier near-term investment cycle even as the company works to reduce debt.

That said, the fundamentals here are difficult to argue with.

Diamondback generated $1.7 billion in free cash flow in a single quarter, raised its dividend, bought back a meaningful amount of stock, and retired debt at a discount. For investors with a medium to long-term view, the raised production guidance and continued capital discipline paint a picture of a company in strong operational health.

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The Investor 05-05-26

Diamondback Energy, Inc. Schedules First Quarter 2026 Conference Call for May 5, 2026

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Global Finance News 04-03-26

Diamondback Energy disclosed that it entered into a letter agreement with SGF FANG Holdings granting SGF the option to sell up to 3 million Diamondback shares per quarter through the end of 2026 at the latest NASDAQ closing price. Under this agreement, Diamondback repurchased 2 million SGF shares on November 28, 2025 at $152.59 per share. These purchases fall under the company’s existing $8 billion buyback authorization. With this transaction, Diamondback has bought back about 2.89 million shares since September 30 for $432 million, leaving roughly $2.7 billion remaining under its repurchase program. The agreement does not restrict SGF from selling shares through other permitted methods.

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Global Finance News 12-01-25

Diamondback Energy posts strong Q3 results, raises full-year oil production outlook

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) reported robust Q3 2025 results, with average oil production reaching 503.8 thousand barrels per day (MBO/d) and total production of 942.9 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOE/d). Operating cash flow before working capital changes totaled $2.5 billion, while free cash flow came in at $1.8 billion. Capital expenditures were $774 million. The company declared a base dividend of $1.00 per share, yielding 2.8%, and repurchased 4.3 million shares for $603 million, returning a total of $892 million to shareholders—equivalent to 50% of adjusted free cash flow.

During the quarter, subsidiary Viper Energy completed its merger with Sitio Royalties, while Diamondback divested Environmental Disposal Systems and its 27.5% stake in EPIC Crude, generating over $1.2 billion in cash proceeds with potential for $296 million in additional contingent payments. In early Q4, the company repurchased another 611 thousand shares for $87 million and $203 million in long-term notes at a discount.

Reflecting strong operational execution, Diamondback raised its 2025 oil production guidance to 495–498 MBO/d and total output to 910–920 MBOE/d, while maintaining capital expenditure guidance of $3.45–$3.55 billion. The company expects to drill up to 465 gross wells and complete as many as 520 this year, maintaining a focus on capital efficiency and shareholder returns.

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The Investor 11-04-25

Diamondback Energy Reports Q3 2025 Derivative Gains and Realized Prices

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) reported its preliminary financial highlights for the third quarter of 2025, including realized commodity prices and derivative results. The company’s unhedged realized prices averaged $64.60 per barrel of oil, $0.75 per Mcf of natural gas, and $17.28 per barrel of natural gas liquids (NGLs). With hedges included, realized prices averaged $63.70 per barrel of oil and $1.75 per Mcf of natural gas.

Diamondback anticipates a total derivative gain of $120 million for the quarter, including $60 million in non-cash gains and $60 million in net cash settlements. This includes a $15 million realized loss related to the early termination of $150 million in interest rate swaps, which the company plans to exclude from its return of capital calculation.

The company reported 288.8 million basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the quarter. Diamondback noted that the figures reflect preliminary results ahead of its full quarterly earnings release.

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European Investor 10-09-25

Deep Blue Acquires Environmental Disposal Systems from Diamondback Energy for $750M

MIDLAND, Texas, Sept. 2, 2025 – Deep Blue Midland Basin LLC, backed by Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) and Five Point Infrastructure, announced it will acquire Environmental Disposal Systems (EDS) from Diamondback for $750 million, nearly doubling Deep Blue’s scale as the Midland Basin’s largest independent water infrastructure platform.

As part of the deal, Diamondback renewed a 15-year water dedication to Deep Blue and will retain a 30% equity stake in the joint venture. The company will receive $675 million in upfront cash proceeds and may earn up to $200 million in performance-based payments through 2028.

Following the acquisition, Deep Blue’s system will include:
• 1.2M barrels/day of treatment and recycling capacity
• 1.6M barrels/day of water gathered
• 3.4M barrels/day of permitted disposal capacity
• 1,871 miles of interconnected pipelines
• 783,000 dedicated acres

Diamondback CEO Kaes Van’t Hof said the transaction provides “meaningful value” while keeping the company aligned as both partner and customer. Deep Blue CEO Scott Mitchell emphasized the platform’s focus on sustainable produced water recycling to support upstream development.

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The Investor 09-02-25

Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) (“Diamondback”), today announced that it plans to release second quarter 2025 financial results on August 4, 2025 after the market closes.

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WS Investor 06-27-25

Diamondback Energy Extends Credit Facility Maturity and Reduces Borrowing Costs

Diamondback Energy, Inc. has amended its existing credit agreement with Wells Fargo and a syndicate of lenders, extending the maturity date from June 2028 to June 2030. The sixteenth amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also lowers the applicable interest rates and fees.

Borrowings will now bear interest at either a term SOFR or alternate base rate, with margins ranging from 1.000% to 1.750% for SOFR loans and 0.000% to 0.750% for base rate loans, depending on the company’s credit ratings. Commitment fees on unused amounts will range from 0.100% to 0.250%.

All other terms of the credit agreement remain unchanged. The updated terms aim to enhance Diamondback’s capital efficiency while maintaining financial flexibility.

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ME NEWS 06-13-25

Diamondback Energy Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Diamondback Energy reported net income of $1.4 billion ($4.83 per diluted share) in Q1 2025, up from $768 million ($4.28 per share) in Q1 2024, driven by strong production and commodity prices. Adjusted net income was $1.32 billion ($4.54 per share). Total revenue rose to $4.05 billion from $2.23 billion a year ago.
Production averaged 851 MBOE/d, with oil output at 476 MBO/d. The company realized average unhedged prices of $70.95 per barrel of oil and $47.77 per BOE overall. Adjusted EBITDA was $2.8 billion, with free cash flow of $1.5 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $1.6 billion.
Diamondback repurchased 3.7 million shares for $575 million and declared a $1.00 per share dividend, returning 55% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders in Q1. As of March 31, 2025, the company had $1.3 billion in standalone cash and $12.3 billion in net debt.
Due to commodity price volatility, full-year capital guidance was reduced to $3.4–$3.8 billion (down from $3.8–$4.2 billion). Oil production is now guided at 480–495 MBO/d, with improved capital efficiency (~49.4 MBO per $MM of CAPEX). Q2 capex is expected to be $800–$900 million.
The company closed the Double Eagle acquisition on April 1 and a drop-down to Viper Energy on May 1. Diamondback plans to remain flexible on capital allocation, with the ability to adjust based on future market conditions.

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Global Finance News 05-06-25

02-19-25The Investor

NYSE:ACN

Accenture and Kbrw Help Orange France Modernize Order Fulfillment Across Sales Channels

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and French supply chain software company Kbrw have been selected by Orange France to modernize the telecom operator’s order management and inventory processes across online channels, retail stores and business operations.

The project centers on Kbrw’s Order Management System, which Accenture is integrating with Orange France’s existing technology environment. The first phase is designed to provide customers with more accurate product availability and more reliable delivery dates for smartphones, SIM cards and other telecom equipment.

The system also supports functions such as pre-orders and inventory reservations. A later phase will extend the platform to replenishment orders for Orange retail stores, while B2B and enterprise orders are scheduled to be incorporated in 2027.

Orange France operates across multiple warehouses and logistics providers, making real-time inventory coordination increasingly important. Under the new architecture, the company’s ERP system will continue to manage transactional and financial records, while Kbrw’s platform will handle orders, inventory and fulfillment execution in real time.

Accenture is responsible for integrating and testing the system across Orange France’s sales, inventory and fulfillment operations. Over time, the platform is also expected to support after-sales functions such as equipment returns, repairs and refurbishment.

The announcement highlights Accenture’s role in large-scale digital transformation and supply chain modernization projects.

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The Investor 11-03-26

Accenture and Dell Launch Dedicated Business Group to Scale Private AI for Enterprises

Accenture and Dell Technologies expanded their more than 20-year collaboration with the creation of the Accenture Dell Business Group, aimed at helping enterprises deploy AI on private infrastructure and modernize their technology environments.

The new group will focus on private, hybrid and sovereign AI deployments, giving organizations greater control over data, compliance, performance and cost. The companies said the offering is designed to support enterprise-grade agentic AI, inferencing and high-performance computing workloads.

Accenture plans to train more than 3,000 practitioners across Dell’s portfolio to support the initiative. The joint offering will combine Dell’s AI-ready infrastructure with Accenture’s industry, transformation and implementation capabilities.

Key areas include private AI factories, integrated private AI stacks, faster deployment of agentic use cases, and support for open-source and open-weight models. The companies are particularly targeting highly regulated sectors such as financial services, life sciences, manufacturing and industrials.

For Accenture, the expanded partnership strengthens its position in enterprise AI implementation beyond public cloud environments. For Dell, it creates another channel to drive demand for AI servers, storage and infrastructure as companies increasingly look to run sensitive AI workloads on-premises or in sovereign environments.

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European Investor 10-08-26

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has completed its acquisition of Danish technology company Mjølner Informatics from Norlys, expanding its software engineering and digital development capabilities in Denmark.

The deal adds approximately 400 Mjølner professionals to Accenture and strengthens the company’s expertise in complex software, embedded systems and digital engineering, particularly for energy, utilities and manufacturing clients.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Aarhus, Mjølner operates across Denmark as well as Madrid and provides end-to-end digital solutions to clients, with a strong presence in Western Denmark.

The acquisition also deepens Accenture’s strategic relationship with Norlys. Accenture will continue providing digital development and IT services to support Norlys’ broader business and technology transformation.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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Global Finance News 10-06-26

Accenture Stock Jumps 23% After Strong Q4 Results and Solid FY2027 Outlook

Accenture shares surged 23% on Thursday after the company reported fourth-quarter revenue above the high end of its guidance range, alongside strong earnings, cash flow and shareholder returns.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 6% to $18.7 billion, or 7% in local currency, while new bookings increased 4% to $22.2 billion. GAAP diluted EPS climbed 46% to $3.29, and operating margin improved sharply to 15.3%.

For the full fiscal year, revenue reached $74.2 billion, up 6%, while adjusted EPS increased 8% to $13.97. Free cash flow totaled $11.6 billion, giving Accenture significant capacity for capital returns.

The company returned a record $11.5 billion to shareholders during fiscal 2026, including $7.5 billion through share repurchases and redemptions. Accenture also highlighted a record 141 quarterly client bookings valued at $100 million or more.

For fiscal 2027, Accenture expects local-currency revenue growth of 3% to 6% and GAAP EPS of $14.39 to $14.81, representing growth of 6% to 9%. The company also plans to return at least $9.5 billion to shareholders.

The sharp stock reaction appears to reflect a combination of stronger-than-expected quarterly execution, broad-based demand, improving profitability, robust cash generation and a reassuring FY2027 outlook.

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European Investor 10-01-26

Accenture Invests in Within to Accelerate Enterprise AI and Agent Deployment

Accenture has made a strategic investment in Within through Accenture Ventures and formed a new partnership aimed at helping companies move more quickly from process discovery to AI-agent deployment.

Within’s platform captures how employees actually work across applications, including undocumented handoffs, exceptions and offline interactions. It organizes that information into a continuously updated “Work Brain,” giving AI agents the operational context needed to automate workflows and improve processes across areas such as finance, HR, sales, customer service, IT, supply chain and procurement.

The partnership addresses a major challenge in enterprise AI adoption: companies are spending more on AI but often struggle to generate sustained value because real-world workflows are poorly documented. Accenture cited survey data showing 82% of C-suite leaders are increasing AI investment, while only 23% say they are achieving widespread, sustained business value from the technology.

Accenture plans to combine its AI delivery capabilities and industry expertise with Within’s work-to-agent platform to help clients identify automation opportunities, deploy agents and redesign operating models faster. Within’s architecture is also designed for privacy-sensitive and regulated environments.

The investment terms were not disclosed.

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The Investor 09-23-26

Accenture and Google Cloud Team With Volvo Cars on AI-Powered Automotive Software Platform

Accenture and Google Cloud said Volvo Cars has become the lead industry partner for Horizon, an open-source software development platform designed to help automakers build, test and deploy Android Automotive OS software faster.

Volvo Cars is migrating its global AAOS development environment to Horizon, which combines cloud-native development tools, virtual testing environments and AI-assisted workflows. The platform is intended to shorten development cycles and give engineering teams more time to focus on in-car digital experiences.

Accenture and Google Cloud said Horizon can deliver up to 9x faster software testing using virtual Android Automotive environments, reduce infotainment feature development costs by up to 40%, and cut build feedback times from as much as two hours to minutes. The platform also supports remote access to virtual and physical device farms and faster onboarding through virtual workbenches.

The companies said insights from the Volvo collaboration will help refine Horizon and expand its generative AI capabilities for other automakers and industrial manufacturers. Accenture, Google Cloud and Volvo are already working to extend the platform to additional organizations and markets.

The partnership highlights the growing shift toward software-defined vehicles, where faster development, virtual validation and AI-assisted engineering are becoming increasingly important competitive capabilities.

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Global Finance News 09-22-26

Accenture Edge and AWS Launch Six AI and Cloud Offerings for Mid-Market Companies

Accenture and Amazon Web Services expanded their collaboration with six ready-to-deploy offerings aimed at helping mid-market companies adopt AI, modernize cloud infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity.

The initiative is being delivered through Accenture Edge, a business focused on companies with annual revenue between $300 million and $3 billion. AWS is serving as a foundational partner, providing cloud, security and AI capabilities alongside Accenture’s industry and implementation expertise.

The six offerings include Agentic Data Discovery, AI-Powered Instance Migration, Connected Customer Experience Innovation Services, Optimization Health Check, RAI Red Teaming and Secure Cloud Foundation. They are available through the Accenture AWS Marketplace Storefront and are designed to address data migration, cloud modernization, contact-center AI, cost optimization and AI security.

Accenture and AWS also pointed to work with 407 ETR, where a cloud-based contact-center platform built on Amazon Connect helped support more than 250 employees while achieving 99.9% platform reliability and keeping call and chat abandonment rates at 5% or less.

The collaboration broadens Accenture’s AI and cloud push into the mid-market, where companies often need more standardized and lower-complexity solutions than large enterprises.

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Global Finance News 09-22-26

Accenture Stock Falls 3.4% as Guggenheim Downgrades Shares to Neutral

Accenture shares fell 3.4% to $183.84 after Guggenheim downgraded the stock to Neutral from Buy.

The downgrade added pressure to a stock already facing concerns around the pace of enterprise IT spending and the potential impact of generative AI on traditional consulting and outsourcing models.

Broader probable reasons behind the weakness include investor uncertainty over whether AI will accelerate demand for Accenture’s transformation services or reduce spending on more labor-intensive consulting work. The company is investing heavily in AI capabilities, but markets remain focused on how quickly those investments translate into stronger revenue growth and margins.

Accenture also remains exposed to cautious corporate technology budgets, particularly when clients delay large transformation projects or prioritize shorter-term efficiency initiatives.

The 3.4% decline suggests investors are taking a more cautious view of the near-term risk-reward profile following Guggenheim’s downgrade.

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WS Investor 09-18-26

Accenture and Google Cloud Deepen AI Partnership With New Gemini Enterprise Business Group

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Google Cloud are expanding their artificial intelligence partnership with the launch of the Accenture Gemini Enterprise Business Group, aimed at helping companies deploy and scale agentic AI across their operations.

The new group will combine Accenture’s industry expertise with Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise technology and AI infrastructure. A major part of the initiative will be the creation of a 1,000-person forward deployed engineer workforce focused on helping enterprises move AI projects from experimentation into production.

The initiative builds on Accenture’s nearly 50,000 Google Cloud-skilled professionals. The companies plan to expand Gemini Enterprise training and certification while developing reusable industry-specific AI solutions, implementation frameworks and dedicated capability centers.

Accenture and Google Cloud highlighted YouTube as an example of their existing collaboration. During periods of high demand for NFL Sunday Ticket, a Gemini Enterprise agent helped improve customer sentiment by 11% while reducing average customer-service handling time by 37%.

The new business group reflects growing enterprise demand for agentic AI systems capable of performing complex tasks and integrating with corporate data and workflows.

For Accenture, the initiative strengthens its position as a major implementation and consulting partner for enterprise AI. For Google Cloud, it expands the delivery capacity available to organizations adopting Gemini Enterprise, potentially accelerating broader commercial adoption of its AI platform.

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The Investor 09-08-26

Accenture to Acquire COMWARE to Expand AI and Digital Services in Japan

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to acquire Tokyo-based COMWARE, strengthening its push into Japan’s mid-market technology sector. Financial terms were not disclosed.

COMWARE provides end-to-end IT services and has particular expertise in SAP, CRM and enterprise systems. The company will add more than 180 professionals to Accenture and become part of Accenture Edge, the business launched in June 2026 to help mid-sized companies adopt AI and modernize their operations.

Expanding Accenture’s AI Strategy

The acquisition will strengthen Accenture’s ability to deliver AI-, data- and cloud-powered digital transformation services, particularly to Japanese manufacturers. COMWARE brings experience across discrete manufacturing, chemicals and food industries, along with more than 25 years as an SAP Japan partner.

For Accenture, the deal expands its local talent base and client relationships while supporting its strategy of using acquisitions to accelerate AI-driven digital transformation. The transaction also highlights growing demand among mid-market companies for modernization of core business systems as AI adoption accelerates.

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Global Finance News 08-27-26

07-06-26WS Investor

06-19-26The Investor

06-18-26WS News

06-11-26European Investor

05-30-26The Investor

NYSE:MPLX

MPLX Rises 0.8% as Higher Distribution and EBITDA Growth Support Shares

MPLX (NYSE: MPLX) shares rose about 0.8% after the midstream operator reported higher adjusted EBITDA, solid cash generation and a 12.5% increase in its quarterly distribution.

Third-quarter net income attributable to MPLX was $1.16 billion, down from $1.55 billion a year earlier. However, adjusted EBITDA increased 5.3% to $1.86 billion, despite higher incentive compensation expenses that reduced reported EBITDA growth.

Crude Oil and Products Logistics adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.20 billion from $1.14 billion, while Natural Gas and NGL Services adjusted EBITDA rose to $655 million from $629 million.

Cash generation remained strong. MPLX produced $1.48 billion of operating cash flow and $1.54 billion of distributable cash flow during the quarter, supporting $1.1 billion of capital returns. Adjusted free cash flow was $447 million.

The partnership increased its quarterly distribution by 12.5% to $1.2111 per unit, equivalent to $4.84 annually. Distribution coverage remained at 1.3x, while leverage increased slightly to 3.8x from 3.7x a year earlier.

MPLX also continued expanding its natural gas and NGL infrastructure footprint, including the startup of the Harmon Creek III processing plant and ongoing expansion of its Permian sour gas treating assets.

The 0.8% gain appears to reflect investor focus on rising adjusted EBITDA, durable distributable cash flow and another double-digit distribution increase. The decline in GAAP net income and modestly higher leverage provided some offset, but the underlying cash flow profile remained supportive.

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The Investor 11-03-26

Gold

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Global Finance News 11-03-26

Gold and Silver Rise After Weak U.S. Jobs Data Boosts Rate-Cut Expectations

Gold and silver moved higher on Friday after weaker-than-expected U.S. employment data strengthened expectations for a more accommodative Federal Reserve policy outlook.

December gold futures rose 0.57% to about $4,226 per ounce, while December silver futures gained 1.09% to around $61.84.

The move followed a notably soft September jobs report. Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 29,000, well below expectations of 89,000, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%. Wage growth also cooled, with average hourly earnings rising 3.0% year over year, below the 3.2% consensus.

For precious metals, weaker labor-market data are supportive because they can increase expectations for lower interest rates and reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as gold and silver.

Silver outperformed gold during the session, with the stronger percentage gain also reflecting its higher volatility and dual role as both a precious and industrial metal.

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WS News 10-02-26

Gold, Silver and Bitcoin Fall as Rising Treasury Yields Pressure Alternative Assets

Gold, silver and Bitcoin moved sharply lower on Monday as rising U.S. Treasury yields and renewed inflation concerns weighed on assets that do not generate income.

Gold futures fell 3.9% to about $4,151.80 an ounce, while silver dropped 5.5% to $61.24. Bitcoin declined 1.9% to around $82,924, extending the broader risk-off move across markets.

The selloff comes as U.S. bond yields continue to climb, with the 10-year Treasury yield moving above 5.2%. Higher yields increase the opportunity cost of holding gold and silver, while also tightening financial conditions for speculative assets such as Bitcoin.

Rising oil prices are adding to the pressure by pushing inflation expectations higher. That makes investors less confident that the Federal Reserve will be able to ease monetary policy quickly and increases the possibility that interest rates remain elevated for longer.

Silver is underperforming gold because it carries both precious-metal and industrial exposure, making it more sensitive to shifts in growth expectations and market volatility. Bitcoin is also being pressured by the same higher-rate environment as investors reduce exposure to riskier assets.

The common theme across all three markets is the sharp rise in real and nominal yields. Unless Treasury yields stabilize, gold, silver and Bitcoin could remain vulnerable despite their different long-term investment narratives.

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The Investor 09-28-26

Gold steadies above $4,300 as oil eases and yields stay high - Kitco AM Report | Kitco News

Gold steadies above $4,300 as oil eases and ...

(kitco.com)

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The Investor 09-21-26

Gold and Bitcoin Rise as Investors Seek Safety and Risk Exposure After Fed Decision

Gold and Bitcoin moved higher Friday, with both assets benefiting from shifting expectations around inflation, interest rates and broader market risk sentiment.

December gold futures rose 0.60% to about $4,426 an ounce, extending gains as investors continued to assess the Federal Reserve’s latest rate increase and the outlook for inflation. Gold remained supported by demand for defensive assets, even as oil prices retreated and some immediate geopolitical supply concerns eased.

Bitcoin climbed 2.13% to around $78,019, recovering further from recent weakness. The cryptocurrency moved steadily higher through the session and briefly approached $78,500 as risk appetite improved.

The moves reflect different parts of the same macro environment. Gold is benefiting from continued demand for inflation protection and safe-haven exposure, while Bitcoin is drawing support from stronger appetite for higher-risk assets and renewed interest in crypto after the Fed’s policy decision reduced some uncertainty around the near-term rate outlook.

For both markets, the next major drivers are likely to be U.S. inflation data, Treasury yields, the dollar and any further signals from Federal Reserve officials about the possibility of additional rate increases.

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European Investor 09-18-26

Gold price holding near session highs as US pending home sales rise 0.3% | Kitco News

Gold price holding near session highs as ...

(kitco.com)

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The Investor 09-17-26

Gold Rises Nearly 1% as Treasury Yields and Dollar Ease Ahead of Fed Decision

Gold prices moved higher Wednesday, with December futures rising 0.98% to around $4,375 an ounce, recovering after recent pressure as investors prepared for the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision later in the day.

The rebound was supported by a pullback in U.S. Treasury yields and a softer dollar. The 10-year Treasury yield had climbed above 5% on Tuesday, its highest level since 2007, before easing Wednesday. Lower yields improve the relative appeal of non-yielding assets such as gold and bitcoin.

Oil prices also retreated after their recent surge, easing some concerns that higher energy costs could intensify inflation. Markets nevertheless continue to expect the Fed to raise rates by 25 basis points, making the central bank’s guidance on the path of future rates particularly important for gold.

Geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East continues to provide some safe-haven support. For gold, the immediate focus is now on whether the Fed’s message pushes Treasury yields and the dollar higher again.

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European Investor 09-16-26

Gold Slides as Treasury Yields Surge, While Oil Rally Fuels Fed Rate-Hike Bets

Gold prices fell sharply on Tuesday as surging U.S. Treasury yields and growing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike outweighed safe-haven demand generated by geopolitical tensions.

December gold futures dropped 1.13% to around $4,302.60 an ounce. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed above 5%, reaching its highest level since 2007, increasing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

Oil prices are adding to the pressure. Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel, futures up 1.76% at $102.77. Escalating Middle East tensions and risks to energy infrastructure have intensified concerns that elevated oil prices could keep inflation persistent.

Those concerns have dramatically shifted expectations for this week’s Fed meeting. Markets are now pricing roughly a 90% probability of a 25-basis-point rate increase, compared with much lower expectations before the latest inflation and energy-price developments.

The combination of higher oil prices, rising Treasury yields and increasingly hawkish Fed expectations is currently overpowering gold’s traditional geopolitical safe-haven support. Investors will now focus on Wednesday’s Fed decision and, particularly, signals about whether further rate increases could follow.

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Global Finance News 09-15-26

The next trillion matters more for gold than the next Fed rate hike | Kitco News

The next trillion matters more for gold than the next Fed rate hike
...

(kitco.com)

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The Investor 09-12-26

Gold and Bitcoin End Volatile Week Lower as Fed Rate-Hike Expectations Rise

Gold and Bitcoin came under pressure this week as surging Treasury yields, persistent U.S. inflation and sharply higher oil prices strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates at its September meeting.

Gold December futures finished Friday at $4,408.90 per ounce, nearly unchanged on the day but down about 1.8% over five sessions. Spot gold lost roughly 1.5% for the week, marking a third consecutive weekly decline. Rising bond yields were the main headwind, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield approaching 5% as investors repriced the interest-rate outlook. (Reuters)

Inflation remained central to the selloff. August CPI rose 0.4% month over month and 3.4% annually, while core prices increased 0.3%. Markets ended the week pricing an approximately 87% probability of a Fed rate increase next week. Gold nevertheless attracted dip-buying on Friday, while geopolitical uncertainty continued to provide some safe-haven support. (Reuters)

Bitcoin followed a similar risk-off pattern, falling about 2.3% over five days to around $77,300. The cryptocurrency briefly approached $80,000 before retreating toward $77,000 as higher yields reduced investor appetite for non-yielding and higher-risk assets.

Oil added another layer of pressure. Brent gained more than 8% for the week despite retreating Friday to $104.61, as Middle East supply disruptions kept inflation concerns elevated.

Next week’s Federal Reserve decision is therefore the key catalyst for both assets. A rate hike accompanied by a hawkish outlook could keep gold and Bitcoin under pressure, while a less aggressive Fed message and a retreat in Treasury yields could provide room for a rebound.

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The Investor 09-12-26

10-02-26WS News

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09-28-26European Investor

NYSE:TRI

Thomson Reuters Plunges 10% as Margin Pressure and Lower Free Cash Flow Overshadow Strong Revenue Growth

Thomson Reuters (NASDAQ: TRI) shares fell about 10% despite reporting strong third-quarter 2026 revenue growth and higher adjusted earnings, as margin compression, weaker free cash flow and unchanged core guidance appear to have disappointed investors.

Third-quarter revenue increased 10% year over year to $1.83 billion, with organic revenue growth also at 10%. The company’s “Big 3” segments — Legal Professionals, Corporates, and Tax, Audit & Accounting Professionals — collectively delivered 10% organic growth.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 10% to $651 million, while adjusted EPS increased 14% to $0.81. However, adjusted EBITDA margin slipped to 35.5% from 35.8%, with the Big 3 margin falling to 40.3% from 41.7%. The Legal Professionals margin declined particularly sharply, to 46.6% from 49.0%, reflecting higher technology and other costs.

Cash flow was another weak point. Operating cash flow fell 15% to $599 million, while free cash flow declined 23% to $408 million due to unfavorable working-capital movements, higher tax payments and increased capital spending.

The company updated its 2026 outlook to reflect the sale of a 51% stake in Global Print, but guidance for its Big 3 segments was unchanged. Full-year total revenue growth is expected at about 9.5%, organic growth at 8.5%-9.0%, and adjusted EBITDA margin at roughly 39%.

The 10% selloff appears to reflect concern that strong AI-related and organic revenue growth is not translating into enough incremental margin or cash flow. Investors may also have been looking for a stronger upward revision to the core Big 3 outlook given management’s positive commentary around CoCounsel and Thomson LLM.

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The Investor 11-03-26

NASDAQ:MSFT

Microsoft Posts Strong FY27 Q1 as Azure Growth Accelerates and Cloud Backlog Surges

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) reported a strong fiscal first-quarter 2027, with revenue rising 19% year over year to $92.3 billion and results exceeding management’s expectations across revenue, operating income and earnings per share.

Operating income increased 21% to $45.9 billion, while GAAP net income rose 32% to $36.6 billion. Non-GAAP net income, which excludes the impact of Microsoft’s OpenAI investments, increased 18% to $36.4 billion. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 18% to $4.89.

Cloud and AI infrastructure remained the primary growth engines. Microsoft Cloud revenue jumped 30% to $63.9 billion, while Azure revenue increased 48%. Commercial remaining performance obligation surged 73% to $677 billion, providing substantial visibility into future contracted revenue.

Microsoft 365 commercial cloud revenue grew 18% on an adjusted basis, while consumer cloud revenue rose 17%. Search and advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs increased 12%.

Consumer hardware remained the main weak area. Windows OEM and Devices revenue declined 22%, while Xbox content and services revenue fell 2%. Overall Devices and Consumer revenue decreased 3% to $15.5 billion.

The quarter reinforces Microsoft’s position as a major beneficiary of enterprise AI and cloud spending, with accelerating Azure growth and a rapidly expanding backlog outweighing continued weakness in devices and gaming. Microsoft returned $10.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.

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Global Finance News 11-01-26

Microsoft, Marvell and Utimaco Launch Cloud-Scale Payment Security Platform

Microsoft, Marvell Technology and Utimaco introduced Azure Payment HSM v2, a new cloud-native payment security platform designed for banks, payment processors and other financial institutions operating regulated payment workloads.

The service combines Marvell’s LiquidSecurity hardware security modules, Utimaco’s Atalla Payments Module software and Microsoft Azure into a fully managed offering. It is designed to help customers secure payment transactions, protect cryptographic keys and meet PCI security, audit and compliance requirements without deploying or managing their own physical HSM infrastructure.

The platform targets growing demand for scalable payment infrastructure as transaction volumes, fraud risks and regulatory requirements increase. Marvell provides the cloud-scale hardware security layer, Utimaco supplies payment-focused cryptographic software, and Azure delivers the solution as a managed cloud service.

Azure Payment HSM v2 is available in public preview beginning September 17 in the Western U.S. and Western Europe.

For Marvell, the partnership broadens the use of its security hardware beyond traditional data-center infrastructure and into cloud-based financial services, an area where demand for secure, high-throughput payment processing continues to expand.

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The Investor 09-17-26

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share, reflecting a 7 cent or 8% increase over the previous quarter’s dividend. The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on Nov. 19, 2026. The ex-dividend date will be Nov. 19, 2026.

The Board of Directors of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) declared a quarterly dividend of $1.65 per share on the outstanding shares of the common stock of JPMorganChase, an increase from the prior quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share. The dividend is payable on October 31, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 6, 2026.

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WS Investor 09-16-26

Microsoft Stock Jumps 8.3% as Azure and AI Growth Power Strong Q4 Earnings

Microsoft shares surged 8.3% in premarket trading on Thursday after the company reported stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, driven by accelerating Azure growth and continued demand for artificial intelligence products.

Revenue rose 18% year-over-year to $90.0 billion, while operating income increased 18% to $40.6 billion. GAAP net income climbed 31% to $35.8 billion, and diluted earnings per share increased 32% to $4.81. On a non-GAAP basis, Microsoft earned $4.74 per share, up 23%.

## Azure Growth Accelerates

The strongest part of the report came from Microsoft’s cloud operations. Microsoft Cloud revenue increased 27% to $59.3 billion, while Intelligent Cloud revenue rose 32% to $39.3 billion.

Azure and other cloud services revenue jumped 43%, highlighting continued demand for cloud infrastructure and AI computing capacity. Microsoft also said annual Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time.

Commercial remaining performance obligations surged 84% to $678 billion, providing investors with greater visibility into future contracted revenue.

AI adoption also continued to expand. Microsoft 365 Copilot reached more than 30 million paid seats, strengthening the company’s position as one of the leading beneficiaries of enterprise AI spending.

## Consumer and Gaming Businesses Remain Weak

Growth was less consistent across Microsoft’s consumer businesses. More Personal Computing revenue declined 4% to $12.9 billion, as Windows OEM and Devices revenue fell 7% and Xbox content and services revenue dropped 10%.

However, investors largely overlooked those declines as the performance of Azure, Microsoft Cloud and AI-related products reinforced confidence in the company’s long-term growth outlook.

Microsoft returned $10.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.

## What to Watch

The sharp premarket gain reflects strong investor confidence in Microsoft’s ability to convert heavy AI investment into revenue growth. Attention will now turn to management’s fiscal 2027 guidance, capital expenditure plans and comments on whether Azure growth can remain above 40% as demand for AI infrastructure continues to rise.

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European Investor 07-30-26

Microsoft Receives Fresh Wall Street Support as Analysts Reaffirm Bullish Ratings

Microsoft (MSFT) received another vote of confidence from Wall Street as both Cantor Fitzgerald and TD Cowen reiterated positive ratings on the stock, maintaining Overweight and Buy recommendations, respectively.

The analyst updates come despite Microsoft's shares trading roughly 15% below their highs reached last year. With price targets of $502 and $540, both firms continue to see substantial upside from the current share price near $427, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term growth trajectory.

Analysts remain particularly optimistic about Microsoft's leadership in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise software. The company continues to benefit from strong demand for Azure cloud services, expanding adoption of AI-powered Copilot products, and its strategic partnership with OpenAI.

While some technology stocks have recently faced profit-taking pressure, Microsoft's diversified business model and strong cash generation continue to make it one of Wall Street's favorite large-cap technology names. The reaffirmed ratings suggest analysts believe the recent pullback from previous highs has not altered the company's long-term investment case.

With AI investment continuing to accelerate across industries, analysts expect Microsoft to remain one of the primary beneficiaries of the ongoing digital transformation and artificial intelligence spending cycle. The latest rating reiterations reinforce the view that Wall Street remains highly confident in Microsoft's ability to deliver sustained earnings growth in the years ahead.

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WS Investor 06-04-26

Microsoft Reports 17% Revenue Growth in Fiscal Q2 2026, Cloud Tops $50 Billion

Microsoft posted revenues of $81.3 billion for its fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2025, up 17% year over year. Operating income rose 21% to $38.3 billion, while GAAP net income jumped 60% to $38.5 billion, partly reflecting gains from its OpenAI investment. On a non-GAAP basis, net income grew 23% to $30.9 billion. Diluted EPS came in at $5.16 on a GAAP basis. Microsoft Cloud revenue crossed $50 billion for the quarter, underscoring strong demand across the company's portfolio. CEO Satya Nadella noted that Microsoft's AI business has already grown larger than some of its most established franchises.

Source: Microsoft Corp. Earnings Release, January 28, 2026

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Global Finance News 04-29-26

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share. The dividend is payable June 11, 2026, to shareholders of record on May 21, 2026.

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The Investor 03-11-26

Tech stocks today: Nvidia stock rises as guidance signals AI boom alive and well

All eyes are on Nvidia's fourth quarter results, due after the closing bell on Wednesday, as AI concerns continue to grip markets.

(finance.yahoo.com)

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WS News 02-26-26

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) have expanded their strategic alliance to make the CrowdStrike Falcon platform available on Microsoft Marketplace, allowing customers to purchase it using their existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment funds.

The move enables organizations to apply pre-committed Azure cloud spending toward Falcon’s AI-native cybersecurity platform, simplifying procurement, consolidating billing, and accelerating deployment across endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, AI, and data environments.

By aligning security purchases with cloud budgets, the partnership reduces procurement friction and helps customers optimize cloud spend while strengthening security posture. Industry analysts note that transacting Falcon through Azure Marketplace can accelerate deal velocity and streamline the path from agreement to deployment.

The Falcon platform is immediately available via Microsoft Marketplace with full Azure Consumption Commitment eligibility.

Source: Business Wire

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Global Finance News 02-18-26

Azure vs AWS vs Google Cloud: Who Wins the AI Race in 2026?

Uncover insights on Azure vs AWS vs Google Cloud: Who Wins the AI Race in 2026? Discover the leaders in AI technology.

(thesmartinvestor.com.sg)

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European Investor 02-12-26

11-03-26Global Finance News

10-26-26Global Finance News

10-15-26The Investor

10-13-26The Investor

10-02-26WS News

NYSE:ETN

Eaton Rises 3.3% as Record Orders, Backlog and Organic Growth Drive Strong Q3

Eaton (NYSE: ETN) shares rose about 3.3% after the company reported record third-quarter 2026 sales, accelerating order growth and stronger-than-expected organic growth across its electrical businesses.

Quarterly sales increased 28% year over year to a record $8.9 billion, including 19% organic growth, 8% from acquisitions and 1% from foreign exchange. Adjusted EPS reached a record $3.68, while reported EPS was $2.77.

Demand remained particularly strong in Electrical Americas and Electrical Global. Electrical Americas organic sales rose 22%, while Electrical Global organic sales increased 27%. Rolling twelve-month organic orders increased 39% in Electrical Americas and 51% in Electrical Global, with backlog up 33% and 121%, respectively.

Profitability also improved. Segment margins reached a record 25.3%, above the high end of guidance. Electrical Americas margin rose 230 basis points sequentially to 29.8%, while Electrical Global margin increased 200 basis points year over year to 21.1%.

Eaton also raised its full-year organic growth outlook to 13%-15% and expects adjusted EPS of $13.70-$13.80. Fourth-quarter organic growth is also expected at 13%-15%, with adjusted EPS of $4.05-$4.15.

The company continues to expand capacity for data center and utility demand, including its planned acquisition of COL Group in Europe.

The 3.3% gain appears to reflect the combination of record orders, strong backlog growth, margin expansion and higher organic growth guidance. The electrical businesses remain the key driver, with demand from data centers, utilities and broader power infrastructure continuing to support Eaton’s growth outlook.

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The Investor 11-03-26

Trane Technologies and Eaton Target AI Data Centers With New NVIDIA-Aligned Power and Cooling Design

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) and Eaton (NYSE: ETN) announced a strategic collaboration Monday aimed at improving the efficiency and reducing the construction costs of next-generation AI data centers.

The companies introduced an integrated reference design combining Trane’s thermal management technology with Eaton’s electrical power systems. The architecture is built for the widely adopted NVIDIA DSX AI Factory Reference Design, strengthening both companies’ exposure to rapidly expanding AI infrastructure investment.

According to the companies, the new medium-voltage approach could improve energy efficiency by as much as 15%, reduce installation costs by up to 30% and cut copper usage by as much as 80% compared with conventional low-voltage data-center designs.

AI Infrastructure Demand Creates New Growth Opportunity

The collaboration addresses one of the largest challenges facing AI data-center development: supplying enormous amounts of electricity while efficiently removing the heat generated by increasingly dense computing systems.

Trane brings expertise in large-scale cooling and thermal management, while Eaton provides power distribution and electrical infrastructure. Integrating the two systems could allow data-center operators to deploy AI facilities faster while reducing complexity and operating costs.

The companies said global data-center capacity could nearly triple by 2030, with AI accounting for approximately 70% of that growth. This creates a significant addressable market for companies supplying the power and cooling infrastructure surrounding AI chips and servers.

The reference design is also aligned with NVIDIA’s Omniverse DSX Blueprint and is designed to evolve alongside technologies such as liquid cooling and direct-current power architectures.

For Trane Technologies and Eaton, the partnership strengthens their positions as infrastructure beneficiaries of the AI investment cycle. While NVIDIA and other semiconductor companies provide the computing hardware, increasingly power-dense AI factories also require substantial investment in electrical distribution, cooling and energy-efficiency systems — areas where both companies have significant exposure.

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WS Investor 08-17-26

Eaton Shares Rise After Record Q2 Results and Higher Growth Outlook

Eaton (NYSE: ETN) shares gained 4.6% on Friday after the intelligent power management company reported record second-quarter results, driven by strong demand across its electrical businesses and raised its full-year organic growth outlook.

The company posted record quarterly sales of $8.5 billion, up 21% year over year, including 14% organic growth that exceeded the high end of management's guidance. Adjusted earnings per share reached a record $3.15, while free cash flow increased 22% to $874 million.

Electrical Business Continues to Power Growth

Eaton's Electrical Americas segment remained the company's strongest growth engine, with organic sales rising 18% and operating margins improving 190 basis points sequentially. Demand remained exceptionally strong, with rolling 12-month orders increasing 41% and backlog climbing 33% from a year earlier.

The Electrical Global business also delivered record results, with sales increasing 44%, supported by robust organic growth and contributions from the Boyd Thermal acquisition. Aerospace continued its momentum as well, posting record sales and operating profit while orders rose 17% and backlog increased 28%.

Guidance Raised as Portfolio Transformation Continues

Reflecting strong execution and sustained customer demand, Eaton raised its 2026 organic sales growth forecast to 11%–13% and expects adjusted earnings per share between $13.40 and $13.60 for the year.

The company also announced plans to separate its Mobility business through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. Management believes the move will sharpen Eaton's focus on its higher-growth Electrical and Aerospace businesses while improving long-term margins and organic growth.

What to Watch

Investors will continue monitoring demand from data centers, utilities, industrial electrification and aerospace markets, all of which remain major growth drivers for Eaton. Progress on the Mobility separation and continued strength in orders and backlog will also be key indicators of the company's long-term earnings potential.

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The Investor 07-31-26

Eaton Posts Record Quarter, Stock Falls 6.5% on Guidance Miss

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Eaton Corporation is having a very good year — and the market is making it pay for it anyway. Shares of the intelligent power management giant (NYSE: ETN) fell approximately 6.5% today despite a sweeping set of Q1 2026 records, in a pattern increasingly familiar this earnings season: beat the numbers, disappoint on the guide.

The Results: Broad-Based Strength

Q1 was Eaton's best quarter on record by several measures. Revenue hit $7.5 billion, up 17% year-over-year, driven by 10% organic growth that came in well above the company's own 5–7% guidance range. Adjusted EPS of $2.81 beat the consensus estimate of $2.73. Free cash flow surged 245% over the prior year period to $314 million.

The standout was Electrical Americas — Eaton's largest and highest-profile segment in the AI infrastructure buildout. Sales reached a record $3.6 billion, up 20%, with 14% organic growth, as data center demand continued to accelerate. Twelve-month rolling orders in the division rose 42% organically, and total backlog grew 44% year-over-year. Electrical Global and Aerospace were similarly strong, both posting record sales and operating profits. The Aerospace segment achieved a record 26.7% operating margin, up 360 basis points year-over-year. The book-to-bill ratio across Electrical held at 1.2 — meaning orders continue to outpace shipments, a reliable leading indicator of sustained growth.

Eaton also closed $11 billion in strategic acquisitions in the quarter, including Boyd Thermal (data center thermal management) and Ultra PCS Limited (aerospace systems), deepening its positioning in two of its fastest-growing verticals.

So Why Is the Stock Down?

The culprit, as with several other high-multiple industrials this season, is guidance precision. While Eaton raised its full-year organic growth outlook to 10% at the midpoint (from 8%), its EPS guidance told a slightly different story. Full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $13.05–$13.50 implies a midpoint of $13.28 — just below the analyst consensus of approximately $13.30. Q2 adjusted EPS guidance of $3.00–$3.10 also missed Wall Street's $3.12 estimate. For a stock that had rallied roughly 18% since its February earnings report and was trading at a premium valuation, even a narrow guidance miss was enough to trigger profit-taking.

Segment margins of 22.7% were above guidance but down 120 basis points from Q1 2025, a reflection of heavy capacity expansion investment and acquisition integration costs — rational uses of capital, but margin-dilutive in the near term.

The Bigger Picture

The sell-off looks more like valuation recalibration than a fundamental verdict on Eaton's business. The structural demand story — data centers, electrification, aerospace modernization — remains as compelling as ever. A 42% order growth rate in Electrical Americas and a 48% total backlog expansion in the Electrical segment are not numbers a company in trouble produces. CEO Paulo Ruiz expressed confidence in meeting or exceeding the company's 2030 targets, and the planned spin-off of the Mobility segment by Q1 2027 should further sharpen the portfolio's focus on higher-growth, higher-margin markets.

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WS Investor 05-05-26

Eaton Corporation plc reported record fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, citing accelerating orders, strong backlog growth, and expanding margins, and issued an upbeat outlook for 2026.

Fourth-quarter 2025 sales rose 13% year over year to a record $7.1 billion, driven by 9% organic growth, while segment margins reached a record 24.9%. Earnings per share increased 19% to a fourth-quarter record of $2.91, with adjusted EPS of $3.33 also setting a record. Electrical Americas orders accelerated, supported by data center demand, while aerospace orders and backlog posted double-digit growth.

For full-year 2025, Eaton delivered record sales of $27.4 billion, up 10%, with 8% organic growth. EPS rose 10% to a record $10.45, while adjusted EPS increased 12% to $12.07. The company also generated record operating and free cash flow for the year.

Looking ahead, Eaton guided for full-year 2026 EPS of $11.57–$12.07 and adjusted EPS of $13.00–$13.50, supported by expected organic growth of 7–9% and continued strength across electrical, aerospace, and infrastructure-related markets.

Source: Eaton Corporation plc press release

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WS Investor 02-03-26

Eaton announced plans to spin off its Vehicle and eMobility segments into a separate, publicly traded company, to be known as the Mobility Group. The transaction is intended to support Eaton’s 2030 growth strategy by sharpening its focus on higher-growth, higher-margin Electrical and Aerospace businesses that are closely aligned with long-term megatrends such as electrification, digitalization and AI, reindustrialization, infrastructure investment, and rising aerospace and defense demand.

Following the separation, Eaton expects to have a more focused portfolio with improved earnings consistency and margin expansion potential. The company stated that the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to organic growth and operating margins upon completion. The move builds on Eaton’s prior portfolio actions, including the divestitures of its Lighting business in 2020 and Hydraulics business in 2021.

As an independent company, the Mobility Group will operate as a global engineered solutions partner to commercial vehicle, automotive, and off-highway OEMs. The business holds leading positions in areas such as commercial truck transmissions and clutches in the Americas, as well as high-voltage EV fuses and valve actuation technologies worldwide. Eaton believes the separation will give Mobility greater strategic flexibility to pursue growth opportunities and innovation across conventional and electrified vehicle platforms.

Eaton expects to complete the spin-off by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to customary legal and regulatory approvals, including final board approval and the effectiveness of a Form 10 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The separation is expected to be tax-free to Eaton shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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WS Investor 01-26-26

Eaton posts record Q3 2025 results with strong demand across electrical and aerospace sectors

Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN) reported record third-quarter 2025 results, with earnings per share of $2.59 and adjusted EPS of $3.07, marking a new quarterly high. Sales rose 10% year over year to $7.0 billion, driven by 7% organic growth and 3% from acquisitions. Segment margins reached a record 25.0%, 70 basis points higher than a year ago.

The company highlighted strong order momentum, with a 7% rise in twelve-month rolling average orders for Electrical Americas and 11% growth in Aerospace. Backlog increased 18% in Electrical and 15% in Aerospace, with a total book-to-bill ratio of 1.1 in both segments.

Eaton generated $1.4 billion in operating cash flow and $1.2 billion in free cash flow, both third-quarter records. CEO Paulo Ruiz said robust demand and capacity investments are supporting long-term growth, driven by trends such as AI, digitalization, and infrastructure spending.

For 2025, Eaton expects organic growth of 8.5–9.5%, segment margins of 24.1–24.5%, EPS between $10.29 and $10.49, and adjusted EPS between $11.97 and $12.17. For Q4 2025, the company projects EPS of $2.75–$2.95 and adjusted EPS of $3.23–$3.43.

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WS Investor 11-04-25

Eaton Capital Raises $1 Billion Through Dual Senior Notes Offering

Eaton Corporation plc announced that its subsidiary, Eaton Capital Unlimited Company, has completed the issuance of two series of senior notes totaling $1 billion to support general corporate purposes. The offerings include €500 million of 3.625% senior notes due 2035 and $500 million of 4.450% senior notes due 2030.

Net proceeds from the offerings were approximately €493.6 million and $494.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and expenses. The funds are intended for general corporate use, which may include repayment of outstanding debt.

The notes, issued under a new indenture agreement and guaranteed by Eaton Corporation plc and certain subsidiaries, are unsecured and rank pari passu with other unsubordinated debt. Redemption provisions allow the notes to be called prior to maturity under specified yield-based pricing formulas.

Excerpt:
Eaton Capital issued €500 million and $500 million in senior notes, guaranteed by Eaton Corporation plc, to fund corporate activities including potential debt repayment.

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ME NEWS 05-12-25

Eaton Reports Record Q1 2025 Results; Raises Full-Year Guidance

Eaton posted record first-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of \$2.45, up 20% year over year, and adjusted EPS of \$2.72, up 13%. Sales rose 7% to \$6.4 billion, driven by 9% organic growth, with segment margins reaching a record 23.9%. Strong performance was seen across the Electrical and Aerospace segments, which had double-digit sales growth and solid backlog increases. Vehicle segment sales declined 15%, while eMobility rose slightly. Free cash flow was \$91 million. Eaton now expects full-year adjusted EPS between \$11.80 and \$12.20, reflecting 11% growth at the midpoint, and raised its 2025 organic growth guidance to 7.5–9.5%.

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The Investor 05-05-25

Eaton Corporation Shareholders Approve All Proposals at 2025 Annual Meeting

DUBLIN – Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE: ETN) announced the results of its 2025 Annual General Meeting held on April 23, 2025. Shareholders voted to approve all items presented, including director elections, auditor appointment, and proposals under Irish law.

All twelve director nominees were elected, with the strongest support going to Karenann Terrell and Andre Schulten, each receiving over 304 million votes in favor. The Company also received shareholder approval for Ernst & Young LLP to continue as independent auditor for 2025, with 322.9 million votes in favor.

The advisory vote on executive compensation was approved with 285.1 million votes supporting the Company’s pay practices.

Additionally, shareholders authorized:

The Board’s authority to issue shares under Irish law,

The Board’s authority to opt out of statutory pre-emption rights, and

The ability of Eaton and its subsidiaries to make overseas market purchases of its shares.

These outcomes underscore strong shareholder confidence in Eaton’s governance, strategy, and leadership as the Company continues to pursue sustainable growth and shareholder value.

💬

ME NEWS 04-25-25

09-12-26European Investor

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