Core Viewpoint - A union-aligned investment group is inquiring about the financial and supply chain impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies on major companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Alphabet [1] Group 1: Company Impact - The investment group sent letters to Amazon, Walmart, and Alphabet, seeking information on how immigration policies are affecting their operations [1] - The focus is on understanding the financial implications and supply chain disruptions caused by these policies [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The inquiry reflects broader concerns within the industry regarding the effects of government policies on business performance and operational efficiency [1] - Companies are being urged to disclose how external political factors influence their financial health and supply chain management [1]

Core Insights - Big Tech is accelerating its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives across various sectors, including productivity tools, infrastructure, content, and consumer hardware [1] Google - Google has launched a new AI agent named CC, integrated into Gmail, Google Calendar, and Drive, aimed at enhancing user productivity by providing personalized daily briefings and assisting with tasks like drafting emails and setting appointments [3][4] - CC is designed to operate within existing productivity workflows, positioning itself as a "second brain" for users, which is a strategic move to compete with Microsoft's Copilot and OpenAI's offerings [5] OpenAI and Amazon - OpenAI is reportedly in discussions with Amazon for a potential investment exceeding $10 billion, which may lead to deeper collaboration on AI chips and infrastructure, particularly leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) [6] - A stronger partnership with OpenAI could enhance AWS's competitive position against Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud in the AI compute market, as OpenAI seeks to diversify its computing infrastructure beyond Nvidia [7] Amazon - Amazon has introduced generative AI features in its Kindle ecosystem, including "Ask This Book," an AI assistant that allows readers to engage with text without revealing spoilers, and "Recaps," which provides summaries of book series [8][9] Meta - Meta Platforms is shifting its AI strategy from open-source development to proprietary, revenue-focused AI models, with a new project codenamed Avocado set for release next spring [10][11] - The company is also enhancing its AI-enabled smart glasses with features like Conversation Focus and Spotify integration, indicating ongoing investment in real-world AI applications and global accessibility [12]

Core Insights - Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL) is a significant entity in the land management and resource sector, primarily focused on West Texas, managing extensive land holdings and engaging in oil and gas royalties, water services, and land sales [1] - TPL will execute a stock split on December 23, 2025, offering shareholders 3 shares for every 1 share owned, aimed at enhancing stock liquidity and accessibility for a wider range of investors [2][5] - Following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Bolt to develop data center campuses in West Texas, TPL's stock surged by 8%, indicating strong market response despite a broader market downturn [3][5] Stock Performance - TPL's current stock price is $876.41, reflecting a $55.72 or 6.79% increase for the day, with trading fluctuations between $830.34 and $892.00 [4] - Over the past year, TPL's stock has experienced a high of $1,462.78 and a low of $807.70, with a market capitalization of approximately $20.14 billion and a trading volume of 130,525 shares on the NYSE today [4]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Instacart due to concerns over its AI-driven pricing tool, Eversight, which has been criticized for offering different prices to different shoppers for the same groceries [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The FTC has issued a civil investigative demand to Instacart, seeking information regarding the Eversight pricing tool [1]. - The agency has expressed concern over the alleged pricing practices of Instacart, reflecting a broader unease among consumers [2]. Group 2: Eversight Pricing Tool - Instacart's Eversight pricing tool enables retailers to experiment with various pricing strategies using artificial intelligence [3]. - A recent study highlighted that shoppers on Instacart received varying prices for identical grocery items, raising ethical questions about the pricing model [2].

Core Viewpoint - Alaska Air Group's stock performance has been volatile, with a recent decline of 2.25% while still showing a significant gain of 34.24% over the past month, outperforming both the Transportation sector and the S&P 500 [1][2] Financial Performance - The upcoming earnings report for Alaska Air Group is expected to show earnings of $0.19 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 80.41% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects full-year earnings of $2.22 per share, a decrease of 54.41% from the previous year, alongside a revenue forecast of $14.26 billion, which is an increase of 21.51% [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Alaska Air Group indicate changing business trends, with positive revisions suggesting a favorable outlook [3][4] - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 7.84% over the past month, and Alaska Air Group currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5] Valuation Metrics - Alaska Air Group has a Forward P/E ratio of 23.61, which is higher than the industry average of 12.15 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.16, compared to the Transportation - Airline industry's average PEG ratio of 0.85 [7] Industry Context - The Transportation - Airline industry is currently ranked 143 out of over 250 industries, placing it in the bottom 43% of the Zacks Industry Rank [8]

Company Performance - Boston Scientific (BSX) closed at $94.48, reflecting a +1.65% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.16% [1] - Prior to this trading session, BSX shares had decreased by 6.32%, underperforming the Medical sector's gain of 1.68% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.03% [1] Earnings Projections - The upcoming EPS for Boston Scientific is projected at $0.78, indicating an 11.43% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to reach $5.27 billion, representing a 15.44% increase year-over-year [2] Full-Year Estimates - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $3.04 per share and revenue of $20.06 billion, reflecting year-over-year changes of +21.12% and +19.76%, respectively [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates suggest optimism regarding the company's business and profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - Boston Scientific has a Forward P/E ratio of 30.62, which is higher than the industry average Forward P/E of 19.24 [6] - The company holds a PEG ratio of 1.87, compared to the Medical - Products industry's average PEG ratio of 1.93 [6] Industry Context - The Medical - Products industry, part of the Medical sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 170, placing it in the bottom 32% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Insights - Snap's stock price increased by 1.76% to $7.50, outperforming the S&P 500's decline of 1.16% on the same day [1] - Over the past month, Snap's shares have decreased by 10.67%, underperforming the Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 [1] Earnings Expectations - Snap is expected to report an EPS of $0.15, reflecting a decrease of 6.25% year-over-year [2] - Revenue is projected to be $1.7 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 9.12% [2] Fiscal Year Projections - For the fiscal year, earnings are estimated at $0.32 per share and revenue at $5.91 billion, representing increases of 10.34% and 10.31% respectively from the previous year [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest optimism regarding Snap's business and profitability [3] Zacks Rank and Valuation - The Zacks Rank for Snap is currently 2 (Buy), with an upward shift of 8.03% in the consensus EPS estimate over the past month [5] - Snap's Forward P/E ratio is 23.03, which is lower than the industry average of 28.79 [5] PEG Ratio - Snap has a PEG ratio of 1.06, compared to the Internet - Software industry's average PEG ratio of 1.88 [6] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry is ranked 55 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the top 23% of over 250 industries [7] - Strong industry rankings correlate with better performance, with the top 50% rated industries outperforming the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices have shown an upward trend in early Asian trading, driven by supportive market conditions [1] Group 1 - The increase in gold prices is attributed to favorable tailwinds in the market [1]

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 17, 2025) - Corton Capital Inc. ("Corton") today announces cash distributions for the Class ETF Units of the Corton Enhanced Income Fund for the month of December. The cash distributions will be paid on or about January 8, 2026 to unitholders of record on December 31, 2025.Details regarding the per unit cash distribution amount are as follows: Corton ETF TSX Ticker Cash Distribution Corton Enhanced Income Fund RAAA $0.06 per unit For further information, includi ...

Core Insights - Old Dominion University has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first institution to receive dual validation from the NSA for its innovative cyber and artificial intelligence programs, setting a new national benchmark in cybersecurity education [1][6] - The university's cybersecurity programs are validated through 2030, demonstrating a long-term commitment to excellence in the field [2][6] - Old Dominion University is the only institution in Virginia and one of ten nationwide to earn all three of NSA's Centers of Academic Excellence designations, highlighting its leadership in preparing students for the intersection of artificial intelligence and cyber defense [3][6] Program Details - The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity with a Major in Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity received AICyber validation, while the Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a concentration in AI Security was validated for the SecureAI program [2] - The School of Cybersecurity has grown significantly since its inception in 2015, enrolling approximately 1,700 students this fall and graduating over 1,500 alumni [4] Partnerships and Opportunities - Old Dominion University has developed partnerships with national agencies and companies, including local military bases, the NSA, and Amazon, to provide students with internship, research, and certification opportunities [5] - This commitment to innovation ensures that graduates are well-equipped to lead in the cybersecurity industry [5]