Alphabet-owned Waymo in talks to raise $15 billion in funding
CNBC· 2025-12-17 00:45
Core Insights - Waymo is in discussions to raise $15 billion in funding, aiming for a valuation of up to $110 billion [1][2] - The funding will come from Alphabet and outside investors, highlighting Waymo's leadership in the U.S. robotaxi market [2] Funding and Valuation - Waymo plans to secure billions from its parent company Alphabet and other investors [1] - The anticipated valuation of Waymo could reach $110 billion [1] Market Position and Expansion - Waymo is currently operating, planning to launch, or testing its robotaxis in 26 markets both in the U.S. and internationally [2] - The company has been investing heavily to expand its fleet and services [2] Financial Outlook - Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai indicated that Waymo is expected to make a "meaningful" contribution to Alphabet's financials by 2027 [2]
Blackstone Leads $400 Million Investment in Cyber Startup Cyera
WSJ· 2025-12-17 00:44
Core Insights - The investment values the company at $9 billion, indicating a significant increase in investor interest in cybersecurity startups [1] Company Summary - The company has attracted substantial investment, reflecting a growing trend in the cybersecurity sector [1] Industry Summary - There is a notable rise in investor interest in cybersecurity startups, suggesting a robust market demand and potential for growth in this industry [1]
Jim Cramer talks where he is looking for growth stocks
Youtube· 2025-12-17 00:43
Group 1 - The focus on identifying growth stocks beyond data centers is crucial to avoid a portfolio collapse when the data center trend fades [1] - Healthcare is highlighted as a sector with potential for double-digit growth sales, indicating opportunities for investment [1] - Aerospace is noted for its insatiable demand for travel, suggesting a strong growth outlook for companies in this industry [2] Group 2 - Growth retailers are expected to continue expanding, indicating resilience and potential for investment in this sector [2] - Fintech companies like Affirm and Square (now Block) remain popular, showcasing ongoing interest and investment potential in the fintech space [2] - Resource-based companies, particularly in gold and silver, have provided stability in the market during periods of volatility, indicating their importance for investors [3]
LARRY KUDLOW: Trump’s drill, baby, drill is paying off
Fox Business· 2025-12-17 00:41
A lot of numbers came out today, as the government gears up after the shutdown. One of the biggest themes in the jobs report for October and November was the continued restructuring of the economy, where Joe Biden’s big government socialism is coming to an end. And President Trump’s re-privatization continues ahead. So far this year, federal jobs have fallen by roughly 270,000, while private jobs have increased nearly 700,000. Also related to Trump policies, native-born jobs are up some 2.7 million. While f ...
Mixed Markets Reflect Weaker Jobs, Still-Strong Consumer
ZACKS· 2025-12-17 00:41
Market Overview - Markets were mixed, with the Nasdaq rising by +0.23% due to positive news from Tesla, while the Dow, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 declined by -0.62%, -0.24%, and -0.45% respectively [1] - The U.S. jobs report showed a net gain of +64K jobs in November, recovering from an October loss of -105K jobs, contributing to concerns about economic stability [2] Retail Sales and Economic Indicators - Retail Sales for October remained unchanged at 0.0%, missing expectations of a +0.1% increase, while ex-auto sales rose by +0.4% [3][4] - The S&P flash Services PMI for December was reported at 52.9, down from 54.1, and Manufacturing PMI dropped to 51.8 from 52.2, but both remain above the growth threshold of 50 [5] Oil Market Dynamics - Global crude oil prices are nearing five-year lows, with West Texas crude trading at $55 per barrel, marking ten consecutive days below $60, which may help keep inflation low but negatively impacts companies like Phillips 66, which saw a nearly -7% drop [6] Company Performance: Lennar Home - Lennar Home reported Q4 earnings, missing bottom-line expectations due to a one-time charge of $156 million, with earnings of $1.93 per share and revenues of $9.37 billion, surpassing the consensus of $9.13 billion [7] - New orders for Lennar Home decreased by +18% year-over-year, indicating challenges in the overall market, with expectations for new deliveries falling below analyst estimates [8][9]
Why Sezzle Stock Crushed it Today
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-17 00:36
The company continues to upsize its stock buyback initiatives.Ambitious fintech company Sezzle (SEZL +10.37%) was a sizzling-hot item on the stock market Tuesday. The spark that lit the fire was the company's announcement that it was doubling down on its share repurchasing activity; cheered by this news, investors bid up Sezzle stock by more than 10% that trading session. Back to buybacksJust after market close Monday, Sezzle announced that its board of directors authorized the company to repurchase up to $ ...
Lennar (LEN) Q4 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-12-17 00:31
Core Insights - Lennar reported revenue of $9.37 billion for the quarter ended November 2025, a decrease of 5.8% year-over-year, with EPS at $2.03 compared to $4.03 in the same quarter last year, indicating a significant decline in profitability [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.13 billion by 2.66%, while the EPS fell short of the consensus estimate of $2.23 by 8.97% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Average sales price for deliveries was $386.00, slightly above the estimated $385.77 [4] - New orders totaled 20,018, below the average estimate of 20,431 [4] - Deliveries amounted to 23,034 homes, surpassing the estimate of 21,855 [4] - Active communities totaled 1,708, slightly below the estimate of 1,714 [4] - Backlog of homes was 13,936, lower than the estimated 15,022 [4] Revenue Breakdown - Financial Services revenue was $308.83 million, slightly below the estimate of $313.21 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.4% [4] - Homebuilding revenue from sales of homes was $8.85 billion, exceeding the estimate of $8.76 billion, but down 6.8% year-over-year [4] - Revenue from sales of land was $21.19 million, significantly below the estimate of $28.56 million, reflecting a 46.5% year-over-year decline [4] - Multifamily revenue reached $158.66 million, close to the estimate of $158.92 million, with a substantial year-over-year increase of 78.4% [4] - Other homebuilding revenue was $9.24 million, exceeding the estimate of $7.09 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 13.7% [4] - Overall homebuilding revenue was $8.89 billion, above the estimate of $8.66 billion, but down 7% year-over-year [4] - Revenue from Lennar Other was $14.85 million, significantly above the estimate of $7.73 million, showing a remarkable year-over-year increase of 213.5% [4] Stock Performance - Lennar's shares returned +4.9% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.3% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]
'UNBELIEVABLE NUMBERS': 'Kudlow' panel analyzes jobs report
Youtube· 2025-12-17 00:30
Economic Outlook - The economy is expected to perform well in the upcoming year due to a combination of factors including lower oil prices, tax cuts, and a new Federal Reserve chairman [5][25][43] - Oil prices have significantly decreased, with Brent crude below $60 per barrel and West Texas around $55, down from $80 at the start of the year, which is anticipated to lower inflation [7][21][23] Job Market - The recent jobs report showed an increase in private sector jobs, averaging 75,000 over the past three months and 88,000 over the last year, despite a decline in federal jobs by nearly 300,000 [6][10][16] - Wage growth for production workers has increased, with average hourly earnings rising at an annual rate of 1.6%, although there are concerns about tapering wage growth [11][12] Consumer Impact - Lower oil prices are viewed as a tax cut for consumers, which is expected to support household spending and overall economic growth [18][20][25] - The reduction in oil prices is seen as beneficial for lower-income individuals, who are typically more affected by price spikes [13][14] Stock Market Performance - The stock market has shown significant gains, with the S&P 500 up approximately 35% since early April, indicating positive investor sentiment about future economic conditions [40][41][42] - The Dow Jones transport index and the small cap Russell 2000 have also seen substantial increases, suggesting a broad-based market recovery [41][42] Future Projections - Anticipation of a strong economic year in 2026 is based on current trends in job openings, productivity, and capital spending [19][32][36] - The upcoming CPI report is expected to provide insights into the impact of lower oil prices on inflation [31]
Roomba Maker iRobot Declares Bankruptcy. Its Stock Is Plunging
Investopedia· 2025-12-17 00:30
Key Takeaways Roomba robot vacuum maker iRobot announced a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sunday.A deal for Amazon to buy the company fell through last year. Shares of iRobot (IRBT) plummeted over 70% Monday morning after the Roomba robot vacuum maker announced a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sunday. The company said it plans to have one of its lenders and its primary contract manufacturer, a Chinese robotics firm called Picea, acquire 100% of its equity, with iRobot set to continue operating as a ...
This High-Yield Dividend Stock Trades at a Third of Its Record Highs: Is It a Buy for 2026?
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-17 00:30
The S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) dividend yield has plummeted to levels last seen during the late 1990s, prompting comparisons between the dot-com bubble and the feared artificial intelligence (AI) bubble. Meanwhile, the dividend yield of the world's most popular index has fallen because dividends haven’t kept pace with the rapid rise in stock prices. However, we see the opposite in many stocks, whose dividend yields have actually spiked this year. For instance, sneaker giant Nike (NKE) currently boasts a divide ...