The Food and Drug Administration has reversed its decision not to review a new flu vaccine from Moderna, the pharmaceutical company said Wednesday.Last week, the FDA sent a missive to Moderna refusing to review its new shot, saying its application did not contain adequate research – leaving the company’s president Dr. Stephen Hoge in “complete shock.”Moderna’s flu vaccine will not be reviewed by the FDA. Rawf8 – stock.adobe.comIn an exclusive interview with The Post, Hoge said he was “completely surprised a ...

Berkshire Hathaway disclosed on Tuesday a new investment in the New York Times, marking its reentry into a sector it abandoned in 2020 when it sold its newspaper business.In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkshire said it owned about 5.07 million Times shares worth $351.7 million at the end of 2025.Berkshire’s filing contained the Omaha, Neb.-based conglomerate’s US-listed stock holdings as of Dec. 31, which comprise most of its equity portfolio.The fourth quarter was the final quart ...

Core Insights - Palantir has relocated its headquarters from Denver to Miami, joining a trend of tech companies moving to South Florida, which is increasingly viewed as a new Silicon Valley [1][3] - The migration of tech firms is driven by factors such as lower taxes, favorable weather, and safer neighborhoods [1][3] Group 1: Company Movement - Palantir was founded in Palo Alto, California, in 2003 and moved to Denver in 2020 before its recent relocation to Miami [3] - The company did not disclose specific reasons for the move [3] Group 2: Industry Trends - There is a notable influx of tech giants to Florida from traditional business hubs like New York and California [1][3] - Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has expressed enthusiasm for this trend, calling it a "watershed moment for Miami" [3] Group 3: Support for Relocation - Billionaires Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross have initiated a $10 million campaign to attract business leaders to South Florida, emphasizing the region's potential for growth [4][5] - The campaign includes national advertisements and a concierge program to assist executives with relocation and regulatory navigation [5] Group 4: Other Companies Expanding in Florida - Apple has opened a new campus in Miami, and ServiceNow plans to establish an office in West Palm Beach [6] - Amazon has signed a significant office lease in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood [6] Group 5: Key Figures in the Move - Peter Thiel, Palantir's chairman and co-founder, has increased his investments in South Florida, including opening a new office for Thiel Capital [7] - Ken Griffin, who moved from Chicago to Miami, has been vocal about the advantages of relocating to South Florida, citing safety concerns in his previous city [8]

Core Viewpoint - Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has acquired over a 10% stake in Norwegian Cruise Line and intends to initiate a turnaround strategy for the company, which has been underperforming compared to its competitors [1][2][3] Company Performance - Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's fourth-largest cruise operator by passenger numbers, valued at approximately $10 billion, but has struggled against rivals like Royal Caribbean and Carnival despite a rebound in consumer demand post-pandemic [1] - The company's stock has decreased by about 20% over the past 12 months and is among the worst performers in the S&P 500 over the last five years [4] Leadership and Management Changes - Norwegian's CEO Harry Sommer recently stepped down, and John Chidsey, a former CEO of Subway and previous board member, has been appointed as the new CEO, which led to a more than 7% drop in shares [5][6] - Elliott criticized the board for failing to select appropriate leadership and is seeking to nominate new independent directors, including Adam Goldstein, former president and COO of Royal Caribbean [8][9] Strategic Recommendations - Elliott believes that with the right strategy and execution, Norwegian's stock could potentially reach $56 per share, representing a 159% increase from current levels [4] - The activist investor has proposed a review of the current executive leadership and a new business plan, emphasizing the need for Norwegian to enhance its offerings, particularly in private island experiences, where competitors have seen success [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is set to resume negotiations with Paramount Skydance, following a revised offer from Paramount that could reignite competition with Netflix for the acquisition of WBD [1]. Group 1: Acquisition Offers - Paramount Skydance has increased its all-cash offer for WBD to $30 per share, which includes a $2.8 billion termination fee to Netflix and a "ticking fee" of $650 million for WBD shareholders [1]. - A representative from Paramount indicated a willingness to raise the offer to $31 per share if WBD engages in meaningful discussions regarding the deal [2]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The potential bidding war for WBD is heating up, with Netflix also having made an offer to acquire the company [3].

Core Viewpoint - Confidence is increasing within Paramount Skydance that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will terminate its deal with Netflix soon, potentially reopening a bidding war for the company [1] Group 1: WBD's Deal with Netflix - WBD is under significant pressure to consider Paramount Skydance's enhanced offer, which includes a breakup fee to exit the Netflix deal [2] - Investors are concerned that the nearly finalized $72 billion deal with Netflix faces substantial regulatory challenges and question its valuation [3] - There are indications that WBD may be leaking information about a new bidding process to protect itself from litigation while potentially reverting to the Netflix offer [5] Group 2: Regulatory and Valuation Concerns - The regulatory landscape poses a significant hurdle for the Netflix deal, with any Department of Justice antitrust review expected to take at least six months [6] - The valuation of WBD's cable operation spin-off is under scrutiny, with investors doubting it will achieve the promised $3 per share, leading to concerns about the overall valuation of the Netflix deal [9][10] - The potential for Netflix to gain significant pricing power by controlling major streaming services raises alarms among regulators, complicating the deal further [11]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) may need to reconsider a bid from Paramount Skydance due to regulatory pressures surrounding its nearly finalized $72 billion deal with Netflix [1][2]. Group 1: Bidding Process and Offers - WBD is under pressure to reopen the bidding process and consider a "sweetened" offer from Paramount, which has not increased its all-cash bid of $78 billion but has agreed to cover a breakup fee to exit the Netflix deal [3][5]. - Paramount's CEO David Ellison is hopeful for an increase in their offer to over $85 billion, surpassing Netflix's bid of $27.75 per share [5]. - If WBD reopens the bidding, Netflix will have the opportunity to match any new offer from Paramount [6]. Group 2: Regulatory Challenges - The regulatory environment poses significant challenges for Netflix, with potential antitrust scrutiny from the Trump administration that could delay the deal for six months or more [4][9]. - Concerns about Netflix's market power and its implications for competition are heightened, with the DOJ examining whether Netflix constitutes a streaming monopoly [12][13]. - GOP lawmakers have expressed worries about Netflix's influence over culture and programming, which may further complicate WBD's decision-making process [14].

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros Discovery is contemplating reopening sale discussions with Paramount Skydance following an amended offer from Paramount, which may present a more favorable deal compared to the current agreement with Netflix [1][4]. Group 1: Offer Details - Paramount has enhanced its bid for Warner Bros by proposing a 25-cent-per-share quarterly "ticking fee," amounting to approximately $650 million, starting in 2027 until the deal closes [5]. - Paramount has also agreed to cover Warner Bros' $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix if Warner Bros decides to withdraw from the Netflix deal [5][7]. - Despite these enhancements, Paramount has not increased its initial offer of $30 per share, which values the deal at $108.4 billion, including debt [5]. Group 2: Strategic Interests - Both Netflix and Paramount are interested in acquiring Warner Bros due to its prominent film and television studios, extensive content library, and major franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter," and DC Comics superheroes [6]. - Activist investor Ancora Holdings, holding a stake of nearly $200 million, has expressed intentions to oppose the Netflix deal, claiming that Warner Bros' board did not adequately engage with Paramount regarding its competing bid [6].

Core Viewpoint - A Pennsylvania jury awarded $250,000 to the family of Gayle Emerson, who alleged that Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder caused her ovarian cancer, highlighting ongoing litigation against the company regarding the safety of its talc products [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings and Outcomes - The jury awarded $50,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages to Emerson's family, indicating a legal victory for plaintiffs in the ongoing talc litigation against Johnson & Johnson [2][4]. - Johnson & Johnson is currently facing lawsuits from over 67,000 plaintiffs who claim that its talc-based products contained asbestos and caused various cancers, including ovarian cancer [5][9]. - The company has attempted to resolve litigation through bankruptcy, which has been rejected multiple times by federal courts, leading to a pause in many ovarian cancer cases [7]. Group 2: Product Safety and Company Response - Johnson & Johnson maintains that its talc-based products are safe, do not contain asbestos, and do not cause cancer, having ceased the sale of talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020 in favor of a cornstarch alternative [6][11]. - Prior to bankruptcy attempts, Johnson & Johnson had a mixed record in talc trials, with verdicts reaching as high as $4.69 billion, although the company has also won some trials and had other verdicts reduced on appeal [12]. Group 3: Future Litigation and Expert Testimony - Several cases are scheduled for trial in state courts in the coming months, with a potential shift in federal court proceedings as a magistrate judge ruled that plaintiffs can present expert testimony linking baby powder use to ovarian cancer [8].

Core Insights - Wendy's is planning to close approximately 5% to 6% of its US restaurants, translating to about 240 to 360 locations, following an 11.3% sales decline in its home market [1][10] - The company reported a 10% drop in global comparable sales for the fourth quarter, with the US market experiencing the largest decline [2][10] - Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $113.3 million, slightly exceeding analyst expectations, while adjusted earnings per share were 16 cents, beating forecasts [4][5] Financial Performance - Revenue for the fourth quarter was $540.75 million, aligning closely with forecasts [5] - For the full year, Wendy's reported adjusted EBITDA of $522.4 million and adjusted earnings of 88 cents per share [5] - The company projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA between $460 million to $480 million and adjusted EPS of 56 cents to 60 cents, significantly below analyst expectations of about 86 cents per share [6] Market Reaction - Wendy's shares fell sharply in premarket trading due to the weak earnings outlook and restaurant closures [4][6] - By early Friday afternoon, shares rebounded by 3.65% to $7.54 after trading within a range of $7.08 to $7.93 [7] Strategic Decisions - The company emphasized a strategy of system optimization to enhance franchisee economics and customer experience [7] - Closing underperforming restaurants is aimed at allowing franchisees to focus on locations with greater potential for profitable growth [8] Customer Sentiment - Customers have expressed dissatisfaction with rising prices and perceived declines in food quality, leading to a decrease in visits to Wendy's [12][13] - Complaints include shrinking portion sizes and changes in ingredients, which have contributed to a loss of customer loyalty [12][13]