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HubSpot adds Clara Shih, Meta's head of business AI, to board of directors
CNBC· 2025-11-05 21:05
Clara Shih, who's now head of business AI at Meta., speaks during the 2024 Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.HubSpot announced on Wednesday that Clara Shih, Meta's head of business AI, has been added to the software company's Board of Directors.Shih joined Meta last year to lead its artificial intelligence product team, which develops AI tools for businesses, like its digital assistant dubbed Business AI, which debuted last month. She was previously CEO of Sa ...
Hailey Bieber's Rhode brand to increae E.l.f. revenue by $200 million this year, CEO says
CNBC· 2025-11-05 21:05
Core Insights - E.l.f. Beauty's acquisition of Rhode is projected to significantly boost annual sales by $200 million in the current fiscal year, highlighting Rhode as a key growth driver for E.l.f. [1][2] - The acquisition, finalized for $1 billion, is expected to generate $300 million in revenue annually after Rhode's launch in Sephora stores, marking the largest brand launch in Sephora's North American history [2][3] Financial Performance - E.l.f. reported a net income of $3 million (5 cents per share) for the quarter ending September 30, a decline from $19 million (33 cents per share) a year earlier, despite strong sales from Rhode and other channels [4] - Total sales increased to $344 million, reflecting a 14% rise from $301 million the previous year, although the company missed revenue estimates [4][9] - The company's gross margin fell by 1.65 percentage points due to increased tariff costs, leading to an 84% drop in net income [5][6] Future Outlook - E.l.f. anticipates full-year revenue between $1.55 billion and $1.57 billion, indicating an 18% to 20% growth, but below the $1.65 billion expected by analysts [7][8] - Rhode's contribution to sales is estimated to account for approximately 13% of the projected revenue, underscoring the strategic importance of the acquisition [8] - Adjusted earnings per share are expected to be between $2.80 and $2.85, significantly lower than the $3.58 forecasted by analysts [8]
Starbucks union authorizes open-ended strike as busy holiday season begins
CNBC· 2025-11-05 19:05
Core Points - Starbucks Workers United has authorized an open-ended strike that may begin on Red Cup Day, a significant sales day for the company [1][2] - The union is preparing to strike in over 25 cities if a collective bargaining agreement is not reached by November 13 [2] - The strike authorization received 92% of votes from union members, highlighting strong support for improved working conditions [3] Company and Industry Summary - The union is advocating for better staffing hours, increased wages, and the resolution of numerous unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks [3] - The potential strike coincides with Starbucks' annual giveaway of reusable red cups, which is a popular promotional event among customers [3] - A prolonged strike could disrupt Starbucks' holiday season, a critical period for sales, as customers typically purchase seasonal drinks and merchandise [4]
New bipartisan bill would require companies to report AI job losses
CNBC· 2025-11-05 18:53
Group 1: Corporate Workforce Changes - Amazon plans to cut its global corporate workforce by as many as 14,000 roles, leveraging opportunities provided by artificial intelligence [1] - Recent layoffs across various sectors, including tech, retail, auto, and shipping, have totaled more than 60,000 roles, with companies citing reasons such as AI, tariffs, and cost-cutting [5] Group 2: Legislative Response to AI Impact - A bipartisan bill, the AI-Related Job Impacts Clarity Act, has been introduced, requiring companies and federal agencies to report quarterly on job changes due to AI [2] - The legislation aims to provide a clearer understanding of AI's impact on the workforce, addressing concerns about potential job losses [3] Group 3: Expert Opinions on AI and Employment - Anthropic's CEO warned that AI tools could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and potentially raise unemployment to 20% within the next one to five years [4] - Some experts suggest that AI may not be the sole reason for layoffs, indicating that companies might use AI as a justification for broader economic concerns and cost-cutting measures [6]
Tesla sales in Germany have cratered from last year, data shows
CNBC· 2025-11-05 18:34
Group 1 - Tesla sold only 750 electric vehicles in Germany for October 2025, a decrease of more than 53% compared to 1,607 EVs sold in the same month last year [1] - Year-to-date data from KBA indicates that Tesla sold 15,595 EVs in Germany, representing a 50% decline compared to the previous year, while the overall market for new battery electric vehicles increased by nearly 40% [2] - Tesla's assembly plant in Brandenburg, Germany, is not favored by local consumers, which may be impacting sales [2] Group 2 - Elon Musk's political rhetoric and support for the far-right AfD party have negatively affected the interest of left-leaning consumers in the Tesla brand in Germany [3]
Traders on prediction markets see a 30% chance Supreme Court backs Trump's tariffs
CNBC· 2025-11-05 18:32
Core Viewpoint - The Supreme Court's hearing on President Trump's tariffs has led to a significant decrease in market confidence regarding the legality of these tariffs, with traders adjusting their odds based on the justices' expressed doubts about the administration's authority [1][2][3][4]. Group 1: Market Reactions - Contracts on Kalshi related to the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs fell to around 30% from nearly 50% prior to the hearing [1]. - On Polymarket, similar contracts dropped to about 30% from over 40% earlier in the week, indicating a shift in trader sentiment towards the likelihood of the tariffs being struck down [2]. Group 2: Legal Context - Several conservative justices, alongside their liberal counterparts, raised concerns about the broad authority claimed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs, questioning the legal justification provided by the administration [3]. - Lower federal courts have previously ruled that Trump did not possess the legal authority to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from various trading partners, including specific tariffs on fentanyl products from Canada, China, and Mexico [4]. Group 3: Future Implications - The Supreme Court did not issue a decision on the case during the hearing, and the timeline for the court's ruling remains uncertain [5].
Trump nuclear power investment in Westinghouse could lead to IPO with U.S. government as shareholder
CNBC· 2025-11-05 18:14
The Vogtle nuclear power plant is located in Burke County, near Waynesboro, Georgia in USA. Each of the two existing units have a Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR), with a General Electric turbine and electric generator, producing approximately 2,400 MW of electricity. Two Westinghouse made AP 1000 reactors are under construction here.The Trump administration's plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on Westinghouse nuclear plants could transform it into an independent, publicly traded company ...
WBD targets Christmas deadline for announcing a sale or split, leaving Paramount in limbo
CNBC· 2025-11-05 18:12
Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance is interested in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, which is currently for sale and expected to announce its plans by mid to late December [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Interest - Paramount has communicated to Warner Bros. Discovery's board that its offer of $23.50 per share provides superior value to shareholders compared to the company's potential breakup [3][4]. - Warner Bros. Discovery is considering various strategic options, including splitting the company into two entities or selling some assets, with a formal sale process initiated following its June announcement [2][4]. Group 2: Strategic Review and Options - Warner Bros. Discovery is conducting a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to maximize asset value, with the split expected to be completed by April [4][5]. - The split is viewed as a tax-efficient method for potential sales, allowing for a tax-free transaction [5]. Group 3: Market Interest - Comcast and Netflix have expressed interest in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, with Comcast indicating that such an acquisition would complement its NBCUniversal business [6].
Retailers are raising prices to meet tariffs. Amazon is hiking more than others
CNBC· 2025-11-05 17:35
Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on U.S. retailers, highlighting that Amazon has increased prices more significantly than competitors like Walmart and Target during a period of persistent inflation [1][2][3]. Price Increases - Amazon's prices have risen by an average of 12.8% as of the end of September 2023, compared to a 5.5% increase at Target and a 5.3% increase at Walmart [3]. - The sharpest price increase for Amazon occurred between January and February, with a rise of 3.7%, which was ahead of the majority of the tariffs announced in April [5][6]. Category-Specific Price Changes - Across various categories, Amazon's price increases were notably higher than those of Target and Walmart. For instance, apparel prices at Amazon rose by 14.2%, while indoor and outdoor home goods prices increased by 15.3% [9]. - Overall, apparel prices increased by 11.5% on average across the three retailers, with Amazon leading in price hikes for specific categories [8][9]. Third-Party Seller Impact - Third-party sellers on Amazon are more exposed to tariff-driven cost increases, lacking the scale and inventory flexibility that larger retailers possess, leading them to pass higher costs onto consumers [11][12]. Economic Implications - The pricing trends observed at Amazon are expected to significantly impact the holiday season and the broader economy in Q4 2023, as Amazon is viewed as a bellwether for U.S. commodity goods pricing [13]. - Amazon's online store sales grew by 10% in Q3 2023, indicating that consumers are not deterred by the price increases [14]. Retailer Responses - Amazon's leadership emphasizes their commitment to competitive pricing, with CEO Andy Jassy stating the company aims to meet or beat prices of major competitors [15]. - Target has indicated that it would raise prices only as a last resort, while Walmart has permanently lowered prices on 2,000 items since February [16][17]. Inflation Context - The Federal Reserve estimates that tariffs contribute significantly to inflation, with core personal consumption expenditures price index being affected by these tariffs [19]. - The consumer price index showed a 3% year-over-year increase for September, with specific categories experiencing varying price changes [20].
Op-ed: The fuel for the AI boom driving the markets is advertising. It is also an existential risk.
CNBC· 2025-11-05 16:43
Group 1: AI Investment Landscape - OpenAI's recent AI browser release may further accelerate capital expenditures in the ongoing AI arms race [1] - A Harvard economist estimates that 92% of US GDP growth in the first half of 2025 is attributed to AI investment [2] - The connection between AI investment and the advertising technology (Ad Tech) industry needs further exploration [3] Group 2: Advertising Business Models - The internet infrastructure has been designed over the past 25 years to maximize advertising revenue, with Google, Meta, and Amazon leading the way [4] - These companies have utilized AI to enhance their advertising models, increasing engagement and predicting consumer behavior [5] - The advertising revenues of these major companies are being reinvested into infrastructure at unprecedented levels [5] Group 3: Disruption Potential of AI - The latest AI advancements could disrupt the advertising business models that currently support trillions in market capitalization [6] - Google, Meta, and Amazon are heavily investing in AI despite the potential risks to their existing business models, aiming for breakthroughs like Artificial General Intelligence [7] - There is an urgent need to protect or disrupt the advertising model before competitors do, as highlighted by Sam Altman's comments on misaligned AIs [8]