In a pivotal moment for the energy sector, Chevron Corporation‘s CVX has won a dispute with Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM over Hess Corp’s HESS offshore oil assets in Guyana.Exxon CEO Darren Woods confirmed the latest news in an interview with CNBC on Friday.The International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) ruling, which favors Chevron, allows the oil major to complete its $53 billion acquisition of Hess.“We disagree with the ICC panel’s interpretation but respect the arbitration and dispute resolution process. A ...

Core Insights - JR Research is recognized as a top analyst in technology, software, and internet sectors, focusing on growth and GARP strategies [1] - The investment approach emphasizes identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities with robust price action to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1][2] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in high-potential opportunities across various sectors with a focus on strong growth potential and contrarian plays [3] Investment Strategy - The strategy combines sharp price action analysis with fundamental investing to identify growth opportunities with significant upside potential [2] - The focus is on avoiding overhyped and overvalued stocks while targeting battered stocks that have recovery possibilities [2] - The investment outlook typically spans 18 to 24 months for the thesis to materialize [3] Target Audience - The group is designed for investors looking to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals, buying momentum, and turnaround plays at attractive valuations [3]

I am a full-time analyst interested in a wide range of stocks. With my unique insights and knowledge, I hope to provide other investors with a contrasting view of my portfolio, given my particular background.If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via a direct message on Seeking Alpha or leave a comment on one of my articles.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the ...

Core Viewpoint - Block, once a high-flying fintech stock, has seen a significant decline since its peak in August 2021, trading 76% below its record as of July 14, with a 21% decline in 2023. Despite this, the company's profits are increasing, and it currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.7, raising questions about long-term investment potential based on Bitcoin's trajectory [2][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - Block operates two main ecosystems: Square, which provides tools for small- and medium-sized merchants, and Cash App, a personal finance platform with 57 million users [4][5]. - Square has shown a year-over-year gross profit growth of 9% in the first quarter, benefiting from customer switching costs [5]. Group 2: Bitcoin Strategy - CEO Jack Dorsey emphasizes the importance of Bitcoin for Block's future, viewing it as a means to enhance economic empowerment and financial freedom [6][7]. - Block owns 8,584 bitcoins valued at over $1 billion, and its success in the coming years is closely tied to Bitcoin's price trajectory [8][10]. - The company is developing initiatives to support Bitcoin adoption, including allowing merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments and selling a Bitcoin self-custody hardware wallet [10][11]. Group 3: Financial Impact - Currently, Bitcoin-related activities contribute only $65 million in gross profit, approximately 3% of Block's total [10]. - If Bitcoin's price rises, Block could see significant benefits from hardware wallet sales and increased demand for its services [11][12].

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testifies during a remote video hearing held by subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on "Social Media's Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation" in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2021.Block jumped more than 5% on Monday, leading a rally in shares of fintech companies as analysts downplayed the threat of JPMorgan Chase's reported plan to charge data aggregators for access to customer financial information.The recovery followed steep decl ...

Key Takeaways HRB has returned 6.2% YTD, outperforming its industry's 4.8% decline, with a Zacks Rank #2 and VGM Score of A. Fiscal 2025 EPS is projected to grow 18.4% to $5.20, with long-term earnings growth pegged at 12.5%. Programs like "Make It Legit" and Fund Her Future support gig workers and women entrepreneurs with tax tools.H&R Block, Inc. (HRB) is a tax return preparation service provider that has performed decently year to date and has the potential to sustain momentum in the near term.What Mak ...

Core Insights - Investing in the intersection of financial services and technology presents significant growth opportunities for companies like Block and SoFi [1] Group 1: Block - Block, originally known as Square, has evolved from a small credit card reader provider to a comprehensive financial services company, handling $54 billion in gross payment volume in Q1 [3] - The Cash App platform, which serves as a personal finance tool, ended Q1 with 57 million monthly active users and offers various services including direct deposit and Bitcoin trading [4] - Despite strong growth in gross profits, Block's CEO has shifted focus towards Bitcoin, developing a hardware wallet and crypto mining equipment, which could enhance business if Bitcoin adoption increases [5][6] Group 2: SoFi - SoFi has established itself in the financial services sector by focusing on innovation and a strong user experience, currently boasting 10.9 million customers, more than tripling since the end of 2021 [7][8] - The company's revenue surged 20% year-over-year in Q1 to $772 million, with significant growth in financial services, where revenues more than doubled [9] - SoFi has transitioned from posting net losses to reporting positive net income, with expectations for rapid profit growth in the coming years [10] Group 3: Stock Performance - Over the past year, Block's stock price has increased by 4%, while SoFi's stock has surged by 211% [11] - Block's business growth has been notable despite macroeconomic challenges, while SoFi continues to demonstrate solid financial performance and improving profitability [12]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), in collaboration with QatarEnergy, has discovered a new natural gas reservoir offshore Cyprus, specifically in Block 10, with preliminary drilling results indicating a gas-bearing reservoir approximately 350 meters thick at a depth of 1.9 kilometers [1][9] - This discovery follows the earlier successful finds at the Glaucus-1 well in February 2019 and the Glaucus-2 appraisal in March 2022, which confirmed the presence of a high-quality natural gas reservoir [3][9] - Cyprus aims to leverage its offshore gas reserves to enhance energy security and attract foreign investment, particularly in light of global energy market disruptions [4] Exploration and Development - The ExxonMobil-QatarEnergy consortium will continue to assess and appraise the reservoir's commercial viability in Block 10 over the coming months [2][5] - Despite multiple discoveries, Cyprus has not yet commenced commercial extraction or exports of its gas reserves [4] Industry Context - The Eastern Mediterranean is viewed as an untapped gas frontier, with the ExxonMobil-led consortium positioned as a key player in this region [3][9] - The geopolitical landscape has increased interest in diversified natural gas sources, making Cyprus's offshore reserves strategically significant [4]

Market Overview - The market is currently at an all-time high, with speculative stocks that lack profits experiencing significant increases in value [1] - Conversely, more stable companies are not receiving the same level of investor interest [1] Investment Strategy - A long/short partnership approach is suggested, emphasizing the importance of fundamental analysis and skepticism towards pro-forma figures declared by companies [2] Analyst Position - The analyst holds a beneficial long position in the shares of HRB, indicating a personal investment interest in the company [3]

Core Insights - Block experienced a 10% gain in share price in June, driven by a product launch in an important overseas market and positive analyst notes [1] Analyst Recommendations - Evercore ISI upgraded Block's rating to outperform from in line, raising the price target to $75 per share from $58 [2] - Barclays's Ramsey El-Assal also increased his fair value assessment to $75 per share from $57 while maintaining an overweight recommendation [6] Market Trends and Product Developments - Analysts noted stable consumer spending trends that support small and mid-sized businesses using Block's Square payment system [4] - New product rollouts in hardware and software were positively received, contributing to the stock's valuation being considered cheap compared to peer fintech companies [5] Competitive Landscape - Block's stock faced some volatility due to reports of U.S. retailers exploring stablecoin payments to save on transaction fees [7] - The announcement of the Square Handheld rollout to the U.K. market was seen as a positive development, targeting the restaurant demographic [8] Company Strategy and Risks - Block is recognized for its strong performance in transaction management for small and mid-sized businesses, but its ventures into other finance segments, such as cryptocurrencies, introduce a degree of unpredictability and risk [9]