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Executives Remain Skittish About Buying Their Own Shares
Forbes· 2025-09-15 13:15
Insider Buying Trends - Insider buying has been below normal in 13 of the past 15 months, with August showing only 26% of purchases compared to sales [3] - Historically, the highest ratio of buys to sells was 2.01 in October 2008 during the Great Recession, indicating that insider buying can signal future recovery [4] Eastman Chemical - Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN) executives, including CEO Mark Costa and CFO McLain William Thomas Jr., made significant purchases of shares on August 27, totaling approximately $502,000 and $252,000 respectively [5] - The stock has fallen 24% this year, impacted by high tariffs on imported materials, yet it has shown profitability for over 30 years [6] - Current valuation is attractive, trading at about nine times earnings and less than one times revenue, suggesting potential for recovery [6] Eli Lilly - Eight executives at Eli Lilly (LLY) bought shares in August, including CEO David Ricks and CFO Lucas Montarce, who spent over $1 million and nearly $495,000 respectively [7] - The stock price has decreased from a high of $942 to around $755, but it trades at a high valuation of 49 times recent earnings and over 12 times revenue, indicating it may be overvalued [8] United Parcel Service - United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) shares have dropped more than 31% this year, with CEO Carol Tome purchasing over $1 million in August [9] - Despite competitive pressures, UPS maintains a strong return on equity of over 34% and trades for less than 13 times earnings, suggesting potential for future gains [10] First Citizens BancShares - At First Citizens BancShares Inc. (FCNCA), CEO Frank Holding Jr. invested over $1 million in August, alongside four other insiders [11] - The bank has shown improving profits and has consistently achieved a return on assets of 1.0% or better, with the stock trading at a reasonable valuation of 12 times recent earnings [12] Performance of Insider Buying Stocks - Stocks recommended based on insider buying have returned an average of 8.9% over 12 months, underperforming the S&P 500 Total Return Index by 1.8 percentage points [13] - Stocks to avoid despite insider buying have lagged the index by 24 percentage points, while those with ambiguous comments on insider buying have outperformed the index by 14.2 percentage points [14]
Buy, Sell, Or Hold Occidental Petroleum Stock?
Forbes· 2025-09-15 12:15
CHONGQING, CHINA - JULY 31: In this photo illustration, a person holds a smartphone displaying the logo of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), a major American oil and gas exploration and production company, in front of a screen showing the company's emblem on July 31, 2025 in Chongqing, China. (Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)Getty Images Occidental Petroleum stock (NYSE: OXY) has faced challenges this year. The stock has declined by 9%, while the S&P 500 rose by 18%. This stark diff ...
What Bonds To Own As Investors Brace For Fed Rate Cuts
Forbes· 2025-09-15 12:00
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWith the Federal Reserve widely expected to cut rates by 0.25% at its September 16 meeting, attention is turning to where investors can find value in fixed income. Many default to the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG), which tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. But just as the S&P 500 captures only part of the equity universe, AGG represents a narrow slice of the bond market, often leaving higher-yielding and diversifying opportunities on ...
Novice Investor’s Digest For Monday, September 15
Forbes· 2025-09-15 11:57
Group 1 - Stock prices showed mixed results but ended the week higher, with the S&P 500 rising 1.4%, Nasdaq Composite up 0.8%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 1.5% [3] - Investors are closely monitoring inflation and job data to gauge the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts, as lower rates can stimulate job growth and impact inflation [4][5] - There is a strong belief among investors that the Federal Reserve will prioritize job growth by implementing a rate cut, with a 96.2% chance predicted for a 0.25 percentage point reduction this week [5] Group 2 - Stock futures are up ahead of the market open, with S&P 500 futures rising 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 contracts up 0.1%, and Dow Jones futures also increasing by 0.1% [6] - The upcoming release of the Empire State Manufacturing Index is anticipated, which serves as a key gauge of business conditions and manufacturing activity in New York [7][8] - Diginex, a software provider focused on ESG reporting, is set to release its latest quarterly results after the market closes on Monday [8]
China Says Nvidia Violated Antitrust Law, Chipmaker's Shares Slip 1.5% In Premarket
Forbes· 2025-09-15 11:55
ToplineChina's top competition regulator on Monday said a preliminary investigation found chipmaker Nvidia was violating the country’s antitrust laws, in an announcement that could further inflame tensions between the U.S. and China at a time when officials from both countries are meeting to discuss a potential trade deal in Madrid. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, speaks to journalists during a trip to China.dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesKey FactsIn a brief announcement, China’s State Administration for ...
Arista Stock To $300?
Forbes· 2025-09-15 11:45
Core Viewpoint - Arista Networks Inc. has established itself as a significant player in the technology sector, driven by its growth in cloud networking solutions and AI expansion, despite not being as prominent as competitors like Nvidia or Microsoft [2][3]. Group 1: Revenue Growth - In Q2 2025, Arista reported revenue of $2.205 billion, a 30% year-over-year increase, exceeding Wall Street expectations [4]. - Over the past three years, Arista's revenue has grown at an average rate of 32%, with a notable increase from $6.3 billion to $8.0 billion in the last twelve months [4][5]. - The ongoing investment in data centers by hyperscalers and cloud giants is a key driver of this growth, positioning Arista as a foundational provider [5][6]. Group 2: Margins - Arista achieved a 40% net margin in Q2, surpassing major tech companies like Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft, indicating software-level profitability for a hardware firm [8]. - The company's Extensible Operating System (EOS) allows for high profitability, with nearly 54% of revenue converting into operating cash flow, resulting in approximately $4.0 billion in operating cash flow and $3.3 billion in net income over the past year [9][10]. Group 3: Valuation - Arista's current trading multiples are high, at 58.5x earnings, 23.9x sales, and nearly 48x free cash flow, which is more typical of SaaS companies than traditional networking firms [11]. - However, strong partnerships with hyperscalers and sustained AI-driven demand justify this premium valuation, with potential for revenue growth of 25-30% annually while maintaining margins above 40% [12]. Group 4: Path to $300 - For Arista's stock to double from $150 to $300, net income would need to increase significantly, requiring approximately $6-7 billion in profits or $16 billion in revenue at a 40% net margin [13]. - If the P/E ratio normalizes to 40x, earnings would need to reach $9-10 billion or $24 billion in revenue to support the same valuation, indicating that while the target is feasible, it depends on sustained growth and market conditions [13].
21 Companies Hiring Hybrid-Remote Jobs In 2025
Forbes· 2025-09-15 11:38
Hybrid remote roles hits the sweet spot for team morale and autonomygettyBetween remote work and full-on RTO mandates, emerges a lovechild: the hybrid work model.Hybrid remote jobs are increasingly popular post-pandemic amongst both employers and workers because they hit the sweet spot. Companies gain in-person engagement, visibility, and the team morale that comes through vibing at the office.And employees get to work from home for some part of the week, which means they obtain the best of both worlds. As ...
Is Klarna Stock Worth The Premium?
Forbes· 2025-09-15 11:10
Core Insights - Klarna, a Swedish fintech known for its "buy now, pay later" services, has expanded into a comprehensive payments ecosystem with over 100 million active users and partnerships with major retailers like Walmart and eBay [2] - The company went public on September 10, 2025, with an IPO price of $40 per share, raising approximately $1.37 billion and achieving a valuation of around $15.1 billion [3] - On its first trading day, Klarna's stock opened near $52, peaked at $57.20, and closed at $45.82, reflecting strong initial demand but also potential overvaluation concerns [3] Financial Performance - In 2024, Klarna processed approximately $105 billion in merchandise volume, generated nearly $2.8 billion in revenue, and recorded a net profit of $21 million, marking a significant turnaround from a loss of over $200 million the previous year [3][4] - In Q2 2025, revenue surged to $823 million, with the company gaining over 111 million active users and approximately 790,000 merchant partners [3] Profitability and Risks - Klarna's net profit of $21 million represents a net margin of less than 1%, indicating a thin profitability cushion [4] - Credit losses are managed better than the previous year, at about 0.5% of GMV in Q2 2025, but remain a significant risk, especially in the U.S. market [4] - The U.S. market presents both a major growth opportunity and a higher-risk credit landscape, with potential challenges from rising consumer delinquencies and regulatory scrutiny [4] Competitive Landscape - Klarna faces competition from other players like Affirm, PayPal, and Afterpay, all targeting the same merchants and consumers [5] - While partnerships with Walmart and eBay are significant, they often yield low economics for Klarna, raising concerns about the company's ability to increase its "take rate" and maintain margins [5] Valuation Considerations - Despite robust revenue growth and a vast merchant network, the narrow margin for error raises questions about the justification of Klarna's valuation [6] - For a bullish case to hold, Klarna must demonstrate the ability to scale profitably in the U.S., manage credit losses effectively, and convert merchant partnerships into high-margin growth [7]
Buy, Sell, Or Hold Boeing Stock?
Forbes· 2025-09-15 10:35
Core Viewpoint - Boeing's stock has declined nearly 5% in the last month due to ongoing certification delays, cash flow pressures, and a costly defense labor strike, raising concerns about revenue and margin pressures [2][4][6] Financial Performance - Boeing reported $67 billion in revenue for 2024 but faced a negative free cash flow of approximately $14 billion, with optimistic projections for 2025 suggesting free cash flow will only reach $5-6 billion [4][9] - The company's current valuation is around $220, equating to an equity value of approximately $166 billion, but could potentially drop by 50% if fundamentals do not improve [4] Risks and Challenges - Regulatory and certification delays for the 777-9 and other wide-body programs are costly in terms of time and capital [5] - Rising production and quality costs, including safety and quality reworks, are expected to escalate margin pressures [5][9] - Demand risks from macroeconomic slowdowns, airline bankruptcies, and geopolitical issues could hinder order momentum [9] Market Sentiment - A bearish scenario could see Boeing's stock price drop to the $100-$110 range if losses persist and cash flow remains negative [7] - The market is currently trading on a narrative of hope regarding delivery increases and cost management, but risks remain tangible [6][7] Operational Insights - Boeing improved deliveries in Q2, with 150 deliveries compared to 92 year-over-year, indicating scaling operations [9] - A robust backlog of approximately $520-600+ billion offers visibility into potential future revenues [9]
Buy Sell Or Hold Credo Stock?
Forbes· 2025-09-15 10:13
Core Insights - Credo Technology's stock surged nearly 10% and has more than doubled over the past quarter, reaching a market capitalization of approximately $28 billion [2] - The company reported a 274% year-over-year revenue increase to $223.1 million for Q1 FY'26, driven by its new Bluebird Digital Signal Processor [2][3] - Credo's revenue growth is expected to continue, with a forecast of approximately 120% growth in FY'26, significantly higher than earlier estimates of 85% [3] Company Performance - The Bluebird DSP addresses power and efficiency issues in optical transceivers, crucial for data centers supporting generative AI [3] - In Q1 FY'26, three hyperscalers accounted for over 10% of Credo's revenue, with expectations of additional collaborations [3] - Credo's revenues increased by 176% over the past year to $600 million, with quarterly growth surpassing the S&P 500 by over 40 times [5] Market Position - Major tech companies like Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta could collectively invest $364 billion in capital expenditures, positioning Credo as a preferred supplier of AI infrastructure components [4] - Credo is emerging as a crucial enabler of hyperscaler AI developments, moving beyond being just a chip supplier [4] Valuation Metrics - Credo is trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 47.3x and a price-to-earnings multiple of 227x, indicating substantial premiums compared to the S&P 500 [5] - The company maintains a strong profitability with a 20.8% net margin and a robust balance sheet, holding $480 million in cash against only $16 million in debt [5] Investment Considerations - The high valuation may deter value-focused investors, but growth-oriented investors may find the potential rewards appealing [6] - Credo addresses significant bottlenecks in AI data centers, which could justify its high multiples if adoption continues at the current rate [7]