CEO.CA's Inside the Boardroom: Oregen Energy CEO on Oil Block Strategy in Namibia's Orange BasinAugust 28, 2025 8:20 AM EDT | Source: CEO.CA Technologies Ltd.Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 28, 2025) - CEO.CA ("CEO.CA"), the leading investor social network in venture stocks, shares exclusive updates with CEOs and executives from around the globe.Founded in 2012, CEO.CA, a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc., is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canad ...

Core Insights - Square has made its product roadmap public to enhance transparency, build trust, and allow customers to plan ahead [2][6] - The company aims to address customer feedback and needs through its evolving product offerings [3][7] Product Roadmap Highlights - Reliability improvements include streamlined printer setup, default offline payments, and expanded offline payment capabilities [3] - Upcoming restaurant-focused features include combo meals, self-serve kiosks, centralized menu management, new back-of-house tools for order accuracy, automatic surcharges for credit card orders, and enhanced reporting [4] - Financial access enhancements will allow sellers to qualify for loans within the first week of processing payments, apply for credit cards without pre-approval, and introduce Bitcoin Payments, including a wallet and conversion options [5] Strategic Direction - Square's owner, Block, indicated plans to expand beyond payments to help sellers operate with the sophistication of larger businesses [7] - The company leverages its hardware and software to provide small businesses with enterprise-level tools [8]

Core Insights - Block Inc. has expanded its strategic partnerships to enhance its ecosystem and market presence, aiming to improve customer experiences and drive growth [1] Group 1: Partnerships and Integrations - Purdys Chocolatier has adopted Square's modern POS and retail solutions across over 80 locations, streamlining operations and providing deeper consumer insights [2] - Block has expanded its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services through Afterpay by partnering with Caleres, offering flexible payment options across brands like Famous Footwear and Sam Edelman [3] - Uncle Sharkii has implemented Square's all-in-one restaurant platform across its 23 locations, supporting scalable operations for franchisees [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Block's second-quarter gross profit rose 14% to $2.54 billion, with Cash App up 16% and Square up 11% year over year [5][9] - Adjusted operating income surged 38% with a margin of 22%, indicating improved scale and efficiency [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Affirm Holdings has expanded its partnership with Stripe, becoming the first BNPL provider integrated into Stripe Terminal, enhancing its reach in physical stores [6] - PayPal has launched "PayPal World," a cross-border payments platform, to enhance its global payment infrastructure [7] Group 4: Valuation and Estimates - Block shares have declined 12.8% year to date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [8] - Block is trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S) ratio of 1.75X compared to the industry's 5.58X, suggesting overvaluation [11] - Estimates for Block's EPS for 2025 have been revised upward over the past 30 days [13]

Core Insights - Block, Inc. shareholders were focused on the company's expansion into the cryptocurrency sector ahead of the Q2 2025 earnings report, but the results indicated that bitcoin trading remains a negative and volatile factor impacting quarterly financials [1] Financial Performance - The Q2 2025 earnings report is anticipated to reflect the challenges faced by Block, Inc. in the cryptocurrency market, particularly with bitcoin trading being a distraction rather than a benefit [1]

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Group 1 - Block (NYSE: XYZ) has shown signs of recovery after earlier losing investor confidence due to a guidance cut and tariff uncertainties [1] - Management has taken corrective actions to restore faith in the company's growth narrative [1] - The company is now positioned to deliver significant alpha relative to the S&P 500 through a focus on growth-oriented principles and strict valuation criteria [1] Group 2 - The investment strategy emphasizes identifying undervalued companies with strong balance sheets and management teams in sectors with long-term growth potential [1]

Core Insights - Block Advisors by H&R Block has announced the recipients of its second annual Fund Her Future grant program, providing a total of $100,000 in grants to women-owned small businesses, including one $50,000 grant and five $10,000 grants, along with one year of small business services [1][4] - The program saw a 30% increase in submissions from the previous year, with over 8,000 applicants, highlighting the growing need for funding and support among women entrepreneurs [1][5] - The 2025 grant recipients are focused on community upliftment, with businesses addressing various social issues, from health and education to environmental sustainability [2][6] Company Overview - H&R Block, Inc. provides tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions, blending digital innovation with human expertise [8] - The company aims to inspire confidence in clients and communities through its services, including year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions [8] Grant Program Details - The selection process for the Fund Her Future grant was conducted in partnership with Hello Alice, which empowers small business owners with resources and connections [5][7] - Each recipient will receive tailored Block Advisors services to support their unique business journeys, including business formation, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation [4][7] Recipients and Their Missions - Amy Peterson, founder of Rebel Nell, received the $50,000 grant and focuses on empowering women through workforce development and financial literacy [3][4] - Other recipients include businesses like Mozzie Style, Seen Nutrition, Sipwell Wine Co., That Good Good Shea, and Todo Verde, each addressing specific community needs and promoting social impact [6][7]

Group 1 - Block & Leviton is investigating PetMed Express, Inc. for potential securities law violations following significant delays in financial reporting and executive resignations [1][2][4] - PetMed Express announced a delay in its 2025 fourth quarter and year-end financial results on June 10, 2025, and further delayed the filing due to an internal investigation into revenue recognition [2] - The company's stock price has fallen by almost 30% after the resignation of its CEO and CFO on August 12, 2025 [2] Group 2 - Investors who have lost money in PetMed Express may be eligible to recover losses and are encouraged to contact Block & Leviton for more information [3][5] - Block & Leviton is recognized as a leading securities class action firm, having recovered billions of dollars for defrauded investors [7] - Whistleblowers with non-public information about PetMed Express may assist in the investigation and could receive rewards of up to 30% of any successful recovery [6]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) has enhanced its presence in the Caribbean through a significant deepwater acquisition in Trinidad and Tobago, securing a production sharing contract (PSC) for a frontier block larger than the country itself [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - ExxonMobil signed a PSC with the Government of Trinidad & Tobago for the Ultra Deepwater 1 (UD-1) block, covering approximately 7,100 square kilometers, which is larger than Trinidad and Tobago [2][9] - The UD-1 block is awarded exclusively to ExxonMobil with a 100% working interest, consolidating seven separate blocks from the February 2025 Deep Water Competitive Bidding Round [2][9] Group 2: Strategic Importance - John Ardill, ExxonMobil's vice president, highlighted the deal as a milestone for the company's regional strategy, enhancing its ability to utilize industry expertise in Trinidad and Tobago [3] - The acquisition marks ExxonMobil's return to Trinidadian waters, where it last signed a PSC in 1998, indicating a renewed focus on leveraging advanced deepwater drilling technology in unexplored areas [4] Group 3: Broader Implications - The UD-1 acquisition strengthens ExxonMobil's deepwater presence in the Caribbean, allowing the company to unlock new reserves and extend its influence in the Western Hemisphere [6] - This deal diversifies Trinidad's energy portfolio and aligns with ExxonMobil's long-term strategy of pursuing large-scale offshore opportunities [6] Group 4: Ongoing Developments - ExxonMobil is currently leading oil development in Guyana, with the Yellowtail project recently commencing production, expected to yield an initial average of 250,000 barrels of oil per day, marking it as the largest oil project in Guyana to date [5]

Core Viewpoint - Block's stock has significantly declined from its peak, but the company is taking steps to streamline operations and reignite growth, making it a potential investment opportunity [1][2]. Group 1: Business Segments - Block's Square segment is a strong growth driver, with a gross profit of $1.03 billion in Q2, an 11% increase year over year, contributing to a total segment gross profit of $2.54 billion [4]. - The Cash App is popular among younger users, generating $1.5 billion in gross profit in Q2 2025, a 16% year-over-year increase, and has 57 million monthly active users in the U.S. [5][7]. Group 2: Growth Strategy - CEO Jack Dorsey emphasizes efficient growth using the "Rule of 40," aiming for a balance between growth and profitability, with a target run rate by the end of 2025 [9][10]. - In Q2, Block reported a gross profit growth of 14% year over year and adjusted operating income margins of 22%, totaling 36, close to the Rule of 40 goal [11]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Block raised its full-year gross profit forecast to $10.17 billion, driven by the approval of Square Financial Services to issue consumer loans for Cash App Borrow, potentially doubling eligible users for loans [12][13]. - The company's current valuation at 1.97 times sales and 15.9 times earnings is considered cheap relative to its recent history, providing a margin of safety for investors [14].