Core Viewpoint - Ellington Financial (EFC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on mortgage investments, specifically as a mortgage REIT (mREIT) [1] Company Overview - The company offers a dividend yield of 11.4%, which is a significant attraction for income-focused investors [1] Investment Focus - The current investment strategy emphasizes income generation through common shares, preferred shares, or bonds, with occasional analysis of broader economic conditions or specific company situations [1]

Bitcoin’s price is at risk of collapsing another 88% to hit $10,000 in 2026, a Wall Street analyst warns. Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, said on LinkedIn he expects the top cryptocurrency’s price to crater 90% below its $126,000 record by next year. “Bitcoin’s rally above $100,000 may have sparked a cycle back toward $10,000, potentially in 2026,” McGlone said. “Wealth-creation reversion will likely drive the next recession, led by a collapse in highly speculative, u ...

Core Insights - Aberdeen Investments has signed an agreement to acquire MFS' management of closed-end fund assets totaling £1.5bn ($2bn) [1] - The transaction will consolidate nine MFS funds and one Aberdeen CEF into two active CEFs, enhancing scale [1][2] - A new municipal bond fund with approximately $1bn in AUM will be created by merging four MFS municipal bond CEFs and one Aberdeen municipal bond CEF [1] - Five MFS taxable fixed income funds will combine to form a multi-sector fixed income closed-end fund, including private credit, with around $1.4bn in AUM [2] - Jonathan Mondillo, Aberdeen's fixed income global head, will manage both newly formed funds [2] - No employees or corporate entities will be transferred as part of the acquisition [2] - Aberdeen Group CEO Jason Windsor expressed satisfaction with the acquisition, highlighting its synergistic nature [2] - The firm aims to become the UK's leading Wealth and Investment group, focusing on areas of strength with significant growth potential [3] - As of September 30, 2025, Aberdeen Investments managed approximately £382bn on behalf of clients [3] - The acquisition reflects Aberdeen's strategy to enhance its US closed-end fund platform [2][3] - MFS has a historical significance in the mutual fund industry, having pioneered US mutual funds in 1924 [4] - Earlier in August, Aberdeen Group agreed to divest its financial planning unit to Ascot Lloyd [4]

The year started with a bang, with President Donald Trump taking office and launching tariffs that caused shockwaves in the stock market, leading investors to sell, sell, sell, then buy, buy, buy. Supply-chain issues have pumped up the cost of everything from groceries to clothing to cars. ...

Core Viewpoint - December is historically a favorable month for stocks, with the S&P 500 averaging a gain of 0.6% over the past 20 years, but the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) may face increased risks as the month progresses [1][2]. ETF Performance and Historical Context - The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF has increased by nearly 3% month-to-date and has averaged a December gain of 1.47% since 2010, indicating that December weakness is not typical for this fund [4][5]. Holdings and Sector Risks - U.S. Bancorp and Moody's, significant holdings in the ETF, have historically underperformed in the latter half of December, which could pose risks to the ETF's performance [6]. - The recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may negatively impact banks and insurance companies, which constitute over 40% of the ETF's holdings, leading to potential lower returns [8][9]. - A decrease in consumer holiday spending could adversely affect the ETF, as four of the top five U.S. credit card issuers are among its top holdings [9]. Key Holdings and Leadership Changes - Berkshire Hathaway is the largest holding in the ETF, accounting for 11.6% of its weight, but its performance has been hampered this year, with shares only up 9.21% [10]. - The retirement of CEO Warren Buffett and recent executive departures at Berkshire could introduce additional challenges for the ETF in December [11].

iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ:IRBT) , the company behind the popular Roomba cleaning robots, has filed for bankruptcy after 35 years in the business. The stock has plunged 83.42% in the Monday pre-market.iRobot Files Chapter 11, To Go PrivateOn Sunday, the Massachusetts-based robotics company announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware court. The company will be acquired outright by its main manufacturer and lender, Shenzhen PICEA, a vacuum cleaner maker with R&D and ...

This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: South Korea-based LS Cable & System is planning to spend an additional $689 million for a manufacturing campus in Chesapeake, Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. The company expects to break ground on the project in 2026. The project will be initiated through three of the communication cable and system company’s subsidiaries, in ...

Core Insights - The article discusses various strategies for individuals to accumulate wealth, particularly emphasizing the importance of reaching the first $100,000 in savings as a significant milestone for financial freedom [4][5]. Group 1: Investment Strategies - Acorns is highlighted as a robo-investing app that helps users invest spare change from everyday purchases by rounding up transactions to the nearest dollar and investing the difference into diversified ETFs [1][6]. - Investing $833 monthly can lead to reaching $100,000 in just over seven years, leveraging the historical 10.26% compounded annual return of the S&P 500 since 1957 [2][3]. - The concept of a tipping point in wealth accumulation is introduced, where earnings from previous contributions surpass new contributions, illustrating the power of compound interest over time [3]. Group 2: Real Estate Investment - Real estate is identified as a popular investment option, with 36% of respondents in a Gallup survey considering it the best investment, despite challenges posed by rising housing prices [9]. - Turnkey real estate investments through crowdfunding platforms are presented as a way to invest in real estate without the burdens of property management, allowing investments with as little as $100 [10][14]. - Home Equity Agreements (HEAs) are introduced as a method for investors to gain exposure to real estate markets while minimizing risks associated with traditional property ownership [11][12]. Group 3: Retirement Savings - Utilizing employer-sponsored 401(k) matching programs is recommended as a strategy to accelerate wealth accumulation, with 98% of companies offering some form of matching in 2023 [17]. - The lack of retirement plans in many businesses is noted, with 47% of American workers employed in companies without any retirement plan options [18]. - Self-directed IRAs are suggested as an alternative for individuals without employer-sponsored plans, allowing for greater control over investment choices [19].

Saint Petersburg, Florida-based Jabil Inc. (JBL) is a global manufacturing services provider that designs, engineers, and produces electronic and mechanical solutions for leading companies across industries such as healthcare, automotive, industrial, cloud, and consumer electronics. With a market cap of $23.8 billion, the company offers digital prototyping, printed electronics, device integration, circuit designing, and volume board assembly services. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally des ...

Core Insights - Tesla's board of directors has earned over $3 billion through stock awards, significantly exceeding compensation at peer technology firms [7] - The compensation structure, primarily based on stock options, has drawn criticism for potentially compromising directors' independence and oversight of the company [10][25] Compensation Structure - Tesla's directors have been compensated primarily through stock options rather than shares, a practice criticized for magnifying potential gains without corresponding risks [1][8] - Between 2018 and 2024, Tesla directors averaged $1.7 million annually in compensation, despite a suspension of pay for part of this period [14] - The average compensation for Tesla directors during 2018-2020 was approximately $12 million, eight times that of Alphabet directors [5] Performance and Wealth Accumulation - The value of stock awards for Tesla directors has increased alongside the company's share price, contributing to substantial wealth accumulation [4][6] - Notable earnings include Kimbal Musk at nearly $1 billion, Ira Ehrenpreis at $869 million, and Robyn Denholm at $650 million [6] Governance and Oversight Concerns - Experts argue that the high compensation levels may undermine the board's ability to effectively oversee CEO Elon Musk and the company [10][28] - Critics suggest that directors should be compensated in restricted stock to better align their interests with shareholders [11] Legal and Regulatory Context - Tesla's board faced a shareholder lawsuit over excessive compensation, leading to a suspension of director pay starting in 2021 [5][12] - A Delaware court ruling invalidated a previous pay package for Musk, citing excessive compensation and conflicts of interest among board members [12] Comparison with Peers - Tesla's directors' compensation is notably higher than that of peers in the "Magnificent Seven" tech firms, with Tesla directors earning two-and-a-half times more than those at Meta [3][14] - Other firms in the cohort have not faced similar legal challenges regarding director compensation, indicating that Tesla's practices are out of line with industry norms [24]