DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #Contactless--Talus and Ingenico enable businesses and integrators to offer secure Tap to Pay acceptance on NFC devices in minutes—no card reader required. ...

Good morning. At Fortune 500 companies, AI governance has become a top priority for boards, as many are still working to deploy AI at scale.Sedgwick, a global risk and claims administration partner, published its 2026 forecasting report identifying key AI trends across sectors. The results contend that 70% of Fortune 500 executives surveyed say their companies have AI risk committees, 67% report progress on AI infrastructure, and 41% have a dedicated AI governance team. Yet only 14% say they are fully ready ...

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 is projected to finish 2026 around $7,500, indicating an 11.5% price upside from the current level of $6,728, along with a dividend yield of over 1% [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The investment philosophy focuses on deep fundamentals, impactful narratives, and Austrian economics [1] - Long-horizon research emphasizes digital assets, macroeconomic factors, and general value opportunities, while short-horizon research targets options and volatility for income generation and hedging [1] Group 2: Market Outlook - The analysis presents a global, long-run macro view as the foundation for investment considerations, suggesting a balanced approach to market conditions [1]

Core Insights - Investors are gravitating towards safer, low-beta stocks due to anticipated market uncertainty [1] - Companies are increasingly utilizing complex borrowing methods for funding data center projects, contributing to market nervousness [1] Stock Recommendations - Suggested low-beta stocks include J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF), USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) [2] Stock Characteristics - Beta measures the volatility of a stock relative to the market, with a beta of less than 1 indicating lower volatility [3][4] - A beta range of 0 to 0.6 is used as a screening criterion for less volatile stocks [5] Screening Criteria - Stocks must have a positive price change over the last four weeks [5] - Average 20-day trading volume should exceed 50,000 [6] - Stock price must be at least $5 [6] - Zacks Rank of 1 indicates strong buy potential [6] Company Profiles - **J & J Snack Foods**: Strong balance sheet, negligible debt, focused on capital return to shareholders, and plans to accelerate stock repurchases [7] - **USA Compression Partners**: Positioned to benefit from rising demand for cleaner fuels and LNG exports, with plans to add new equipment by year-end [8][9] - **Natural Gas Services**: Benefits from increased LNG exports, leading to higher demand for compression equipment [10] - **The Vita Coco Company**: Leading producer of coconut water, experiencing strong demand growth across regions [11]

Core Insights - The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is currently above $56 per barrel, significantly down from approximately $70 per barrel a year ago, impacting the upstream business of integrated energy companies like Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) [1] - XOM operates in advantageous locations such as the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana, but lower oil prices are expected to negatively affect profits despite the company's strong balance sheet [1] Group 1: Financial Health and Debt Management - XOM's debt to capitalization ratio is 13.6%, which is considerably lower than the industry average of 28.7%, allowing the company to navigate low pricing environments effectively [2] - Chevron Corporation (CVX) and EOG Resources Inc (EOG) also maintain strong balance sheets with debt to capitalization ratios of 17.52% and 20.26%, respectively, indicating lower exposure to debt capital [4] Group 2: Market Performance and Valuation - XOM's shares have increased by 15.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry composite stocks, which improved by 13.7% [5] - The enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio for XOM is 7.62X, higher than the industry average of 4.69X, suggesting a premium valuation [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XOM's 2025 earnings has not seen any revisions in the past week, indicating stability in earnings expectations [10]

Joining us now to discuss the year of IPOs and his outlook for 2026 is NASDAQ President Nelson Griggs. Good morning to you. Congratulations on what was a pretty great 2025.>> Yeah. >> When you think about 2026, people are already speculating about names like Open AI and Anthropic and SpaceX. I mean, we could be in a whole new realm.So, where are we really. And is that uh pie in the sky or is that reality. >> Uh, I think there's a lot of reality there.I think this year we went in probably with higher expecta ...

Core Insights - Ventripoint Diagnostics Ltd. has engaged Dana Friesen and Summit Sciences to develop advanced financial and ROI models aimed at enhancing the economic evaluation of its VMS+ technology for cardiac diagnostics [1][2][3] Group 1: Strategic Partnership - The collaboration focuses on refining financial modeling frameworks that emphasize cost savings, operational efficiencies, and clinical outcomes associated with Ventripoint's AI-driven 3D heart modeling system [2] - This partnership aims to provide tailored insights for healthcare providers, demonstrating clear ROI through improved processes and resource allocation [2][3] Group 2: Leadership and Expertise - Hugh MacNaught, President & CEO of Ventripoint, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the combined expertise of Dana Friesen in healthcare transformation and Summit Sciences' data-driven consulting [3] - Dana Friesen, CEO of Summit Sciences, noted the importance of real-world data in accelerating the commercialization of VMS+ and expanding access to advanced cardiac imaging [3] Group 3: Technology Overview - Ventripoint's VMS+ platform utilizes AI to create accurate 3D models of the heart from standard 2D ultrasound images, providing a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional MRI scans [4] - The VMS products are based on proprietary Knowledge Based Reconstruction technology, offering accurate volumetric cardiac measurements equivalent to MRI [5] Group 4: Summit Sciences Background - Summit Sciences has a two-decade history of working with clinical agencies, delivering billions in lifetime partner savings through critical data for informed decision-making in technology adoption [6] - The firm employs advanced research methodologies to provide actionable insights that enhance patient care while optimizing resource utilization [6][7]

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cardlytics Inc. (NASDAQ: CDLX) today announced the appointment of David Evans as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective January 12, 2026. Evans is returning to Cardlytics, having previously held several executive roles including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. As the returning Chief Financial Officer, Evans will oversee Cardlytics' finance, accounting, and investor relations functions as the company continues to execute against its longer-. ...

Core Viewpoint - Holley Inc. (NYSE: HLLY) is facing a federal securities fraud class action lawsuit, with allegations that the company misled investors regarding its financial health and relationships with resellers and distributors [2][3]. Group 1: Allegations of Misleading Statements - The lawsuit claims that Holley Inc. made false or misleading statements about its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel, which negatively impacted its relationships with resellers and distributors, crucial for the majority of its revenue [2]. - It is alleged that Holley's discounting strategies to promote the DTC channel undermined pricing discipline, further damaging relationships with resellers and distributors [2]. - The complaint states that due to strained relationships, resellers and distributors reduced their purchases of Holley products and returned products at levels significantly above historical norms [2]. Group 2: Financial Impact and Operational Issues - Holley's DTC channel growth was insufficient to offset the negative financial impacts stemming from deteriorating relationships with resellers and distributors [2]. - The company reportedly failed to integrate and capture synergies from its acquisitions, leading to inefficient operations, excess costs, and inventory management problems [2]. - Holley is accused of misleading investors about the sustainability of its sales growth, which was temporarily boosted by COVID-related stimulus funds [2]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings - The court has determined that the complaint has sufficiently pleaded allegations of falsity and scienter, meeting the necessary criteria to survive a motion to dismiss [3]. - Current shareholders of Holley who held shares since on or shortly after July 21, 2021, can seek corporate reforms and a court-approved incentive award at no cost [4].

Core Insights - American Battery Technologies (ABAT) is positioned strategically in the U.S. for the development of onshore critical materials, particularly in battery recycling and materials [1] Company Overview - ABAT is based in Reno, Nevada, and focuses on battery recycling and materials [1] Industry Context - The company is at the forefront of the strategic development of critical materials in the U.S., which is increasingly important for sustainability and energy transition [1]