Company Leadership Changes - Tim Noel, the head of the Medicare business, has been appointed as the new CEO of UnitedHealth Group's health insurance business, replacing the former CEO Brian Thompson who was killed [1] - The leadership change follows the tragic killing of Brian Thompson on December 4, which sparked discussions about the challenges within the US healthcare system [1][3] Company Overview and Market Performance - UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in the US, providing benefits to over 50 million Americans [2] - The company's shares increased by 1.7% to $528.52 following the announcement of the leadership change [2] Industry Context - The killing of Brian Thompson has brought attention to the broader frustrations and complexities of navigating the US healthcare system [1][3]

Ford Motor F.N is recalling 272,817 vehicles in the United States due to concerns over battery failure, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.The recall affects certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles.The recall affects certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. REUTERSThe 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail, which can result in a loss of electrical accessories, including the hazard lights, or cause a ...

Core Viewpoint - LinkedIn is facing a class action lawsuit from Premium customers for allegedly disclosing private messages to third parties for training generative AI models without consent [1][5]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in the federal court in San Jose, California, on behalf of LinkedIn Premium customers who sent or received InMail messages, claiming their private information was shared before September 18, 2024 [3][6]. - Plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California's unfair competition law, along with $1,000 per person for violations of the federal Stored Communications Act [3][7]. Group 2: Privacy Policy Changes - LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting in August 2024 that allowed users to manage the sharing of their personal data, followed by a discreet update to its privacy policy on September 18, 2024, indicating that data could be used for AI training [2][3]. - The update included a statement in the FAQ section that opting out "does not affect training that has already taken place," suggesting LinkedIn was aware of potential privacy violations [2]. Group 3: Context of the Lawsuit - The lawsuit was filed shortly after President Donald Trump announced a joint venture involving Microsoft-based OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, with a potential investment of $500 billion to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. [6].

Netflix's Subscriber Growth and Market Performance - Netflix shares soared 13% to an all-time high, driven by a record 18 9 million subscriber additions in the holiday quarter [1] - The company's global subscriber base now exceeds 300 million, solidifying its lead in the streaming industry [3] - Netflix's market capitalization was set to increase by over $50 billion, reaching approximately $370 billion [3] Strategic Focus on Sports and Content - Netflix's expansion into live sports, including a boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and NFL games on Christmas Day, contributed to its success [4][5] - The Tyson-Paul bout was the most-streamed sporting event ever, driving significant sign-ups [5] - Netflix has secured US broadcast rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cups [7] Revenue and Pricing Strategy - Despite strong subscriber growth, revenue only rose 16%, slightly above estimates, due to lower ARPU countries and ad-supported tier sign-ups [8][9] - Netflix announced price hikes in markets including the US, aiming to boost revenue as it shifts focus from subscriber growth to other performance metrics [1][10] Analyst Perspectives - Analysts noted that Netflix's subscriber additions far exceeded expectations, defying industry odds [2] - The company is expected to start bidding for other major sports rights, leveraging its success with special events [6][7]

Core Insights - Netflix added 18.9 million subscribers in the holiday quarter, exceeding Wall Street forecasts, driven by live sports and the return of "Squid Game" [1] - The company plans to increase prices for most plans in the US, Canada, Portugal, and Argentina [1] Subscriber Growth - The basic service with ads will increase by $1 to $7.99, a 14% increase, while the premium package will rise to $24.99, a 9% increase [2] - Netflix reported a churn rate of 1.8% in December, the lowest among subscription streaming services [5] Programming Success - The fourth-quarter programming slate exceeded internal expectations, with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match becoming the most-streamed sporting event [3][4] - The second season of "Squid Game" is on track to become one of Netflix's most-watched original series [4][6] Financial Performance - The company reported per-share earnings of $4.27, surpassing Wall Street's forecast of $4.20 [6] - Revenue rose 16% year-over-year to $10.2 billion, exceeding Wall Street's estimates of $10.1 billion [7][9] - Annual operating income exceeded $10 billion for the first time in the company's history [6] Future Outlook - Netflix revised its guidance, projecting revenue of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion in 2025, an increase of $500 million over the prior forecast [8] - The company enters 2025 with strong momentum, having added a record 41 million subscribers in 2024 [7]

Leadership Changes - Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon promoted 15 senior executives to lead the firm's major business units, signaling a push for the next generation of leadership [1] - Erdit Hoxha, Cyril Goddeeris, and Dmitri Potishko were appointed to jointly run the equities division [3] - Kunal Shah, Anshul Sehgal, and Jason Brauth will lead the fixed-income unit, while Kim Posnett, Matt McClure, and Anthony Gutman will head the banking division [3] - Shah and Gutman were also named co-CEOs of Goldman Sachs International [4] - Richard Gnodde, 64, will step down from running the international business to become vice chairman, as the management committee expands to 39 members [6][9] CEO Compensation and Performance - CEO David Solomon received a $39 million pay packet in 2023 and an $80 million retention bonus if he remains for another five years [2] - Under Solomon's leadership, Goldman Sachs' stock price has surged nearly 50% over the past year and 174% since he took over in 2018 [7] Strategic Focus - Solomon has refocused the bank on traditional investment banking activities after significant losses in its consumer banking arm, Marcus [8] - The leadership revamp aligns with the bank's strategy to retain top talent and strengthen its core business units [1][2]

Walmart's DEI Policy Changes - Walmart scaled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, joining other companies like Harley-Davidson, John Deere, and Tractor Supply [1][5] - The decision was celebrated by conservatives but faced pushback from shareholders and Democratic officials [1][2] - Over 30 Walmart shareholders, representing more than $266 billion in combined assets, expressed concerns about the business impact of abandoning DEI initiatives [3][4] - Shareholders accused Walmart of giving in to pressure from anti-DEI groups and ignoring risks associated with racial inequity [4] - A group of 13 Democratic state attorneys general also criticized Walmart's decision, urging the company to reconsider and protect civil rights in the workplace [5][6] Shareholder and Investor Reactions - Some investors praised Walmart's move, while others urged the company to recommit to DEI strategies that reduce bias and create inclusive workplaces [2][5] - Shareholders requested a meeting with Walmart's leadership to discuss the reversal and its implications [5] - The attorneys general warned that Walmart's decision could alienate customers and employees, negatively impacting the company's bottom line [7] Walmart's Response and Future Plans - Walmart defended its decision, stating it remains committed to creating a sense of belonging for all associates and customers [8] - The company announced it would stop funding the Center for Racial Equity and discontinue the use of terms like "LatinX" and "DEI" in official communications [9] - Walmart will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies on LGBTQ employee policies [9] - Walmart U S CEO John Furner emphasized the company's ongoing journey to ensure inclusivity and belonging for all customers and associates [9]

Group 1 - Teamsters members at Costco Wholesale voted in favor of a nationwide strike, with 85% supporting the authorization [1][2] - The vote is attributed to the company's failure to engage in constructive bargaining, with the current master agreement set to expire on January 31 [2] - Final negotiations are scheduled to begin on January 20, leading up to the contract deadline [2]

Amazon has temporarily suspended its commercial drone delivery operations in Texas and Arizona after two of its latest MK30 models crashed in rainy weather at a testing facility.The company announced on Friday that it was pausing the program to implement software updates to ensure the safety of its fleet.The crashes, which occurred in December at Amazon’s Pendleton, Ore. testing site, were attributed to a software malfunction caused by light rain. 4 Amazon has temporarily suspended its commercial drone de ...

Starbucks said Friday it plans an unspecified number of layoffs as it restructures its corporate staff.In a letter to employees, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the Seattle coffee giant needs to ensure all work has a clear and accountable owner who can make decisions. The company also needs to reduce complexity and silos.“Our size and structure can slow us down, with too many layers, managers of small teams and roles focused primarily on coordinating work,” Niccol wrote.Brian Niccol, the former ...