Core Insights - The article discusses the best defensive dividend stocks for 2025, focusing on companies that are well-positioned to endure market fluctuations and have strong financial performance. Consumer Spending Trends - Global consumer spending is still below pre-pandemic levels, with persistent inflation affecting budgets [2] - There is a declining connection between consumer spending and sentiment, making future consumer behavior unpredictable [2] - Behavioral changes from COVID, such as reliance on digital platforms and prioritizing convenience, have become ingrained in consumer habits [3] Generational Insights - Generation Z is emerging as the largest and wealthiest generation, with spending habits evolving faster than previous generations [4] - This generation prioritizes financial success over traditional milestones, such as marriage or having children [4] - Consumers are increasingly favoring local brands over imported products to support domestic businesses and ensure affordability [4] Market Adaptations - Consumers are now more purposeful in their spending, focusing on volume growth rather than price increases due to rising costs [5] - Digital shopping experiences are preferred for their convenience, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards online platforms [5] Company Highlights - **Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP)**: - Hedge Fund Holders: 46 - Dividend Yield: 3.44% - Recent acquisition of JDE Peet's for $7 billion aims to address investor concerns about debt levels [11] - Jefferies maintains a Buy rating despite a price target reduction from $41 to $39 [12] - The company has a history of increasing dividend payouts and plans for expansion [13] - **Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)**: - Hedge Fund Holders: 55 - Dividend Yield: 2.38% - Analyst Bernstein maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $134 [14] - Appointment of Travis Nixon as Senior VP of AI Optimization to enhance operational efficiency [15] - The company aims to drive innovation and improve customer experience through AI integration [16]

Core Viewpoint - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP) is considered one of the best low-priced stocks to buy according to analysts, with a "Hold" rating maintained by TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow and a price objective set at $32.00 [1][2] Group 1: Investment and Financial Strategy - The involvement of Apollo and KKR in significant investments through joint ventures and convertible preferred stock adds complexity to Keurig Dr Pepper's financial landscape [2] - The company announced a binding commitment letter and term sheet for a $4 billion investment in a new K-Cup® pod and other single-serve manufacturing joint venture, co-led by Apollo and KKR, with participation from Goldman Sachs Alternatives [4] Group 2: Analyst Perspective - The analyst acknowledges that while such investments can provide returns and manage financial leverage without excessive shareholder dilution, the long-term impact remains uncertain [3] - Keurig Dr Pepper's proactive approach in addressing investor concerns and governance issues is positively noted, but the "Hold" rating reflects a balanced view of potential risks and rewards [3]

认同盘主的观点，“虽然这件事对于币价基本没啥帮助，但至少这点基本面能让 SEI 平安活到下一轮行情”。熊市如果来的话，大浪淘沙，能存活才是第一位的。引入币安作为 @SeiNetwork 的验证者可能能够很大程度增加存活率，讲真，Sei 同期的公链感觉基本都已经挺不太住了。。。后面出来的 move 之类的也基本 GG可以看出 Sei 现在在合规化的路子上坚持走到底了，在币安成为验证者之前，他们已经获得了 BlackRock, Brevan Howard, Hamilton Lane, and Apollo 的代币基金，获得了 Circle、Securitize、KAIO 等机构的支持加密韋馱｜Skanda 🇹🇭 (@thecryptoskanda):一片红里唯一的好消息（虽然连SEI logo也是红的）币安做了SEI的验证节点虽然这件事对于币价基本没啥帮助，但是假设这一轮山寨就这样了。至少这点基本面能让SEI平安活到下一轮行情 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net investment income (NII) per share for Q3 2025 was $0.38, corresponding to an annualized return on equity (ROE) of 10.3% [5][26] - GAAP net income per share was $0.29, corresponding to an annualized ROE of 8% [6][26] - Net asset value (NAV) per share decreased by 0.6% to $14.66 compared to the prior quarter [6] - Total investment income for the quarter was approximately $82.6 million, up 1.6% from the previous quarter [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New commitments totaled $138 million across 21 transactions during the quarter [6][16] - The weighted average spread on new commitments was 521 basis points [16] - The weighted average yield at cost of the directly originated lending portfolio decreased to 10.3% from 10.5% [24][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. economy showed resilience, easing recession concerns, but inflation remained elevated [15] - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points in both September and October [15] - Increased sponsor M&A activity was noted, driven by private equity firms needing to deploy capital [15][41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its strong position in the middle market to source attractive investment opportunities [7][9] - The focus remains on maintaining a diversified portfolio with a significant portion in first lien loans [9][18] - The company is actively working on initiatives to offset the impact of declining base rates on net investment income [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about ongoing M&A activity due to improved market conditions and reduced volatility from tariffs [41] - The company anticipates a positive impact on portfolio company credit quality if base rates decline as expected [20] - Management is focused on a measured approach to deploying capital while maintaining portfolio granularity [46] Other Important Information - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share, payable on December 23, 2025 [11] - The company experienced an increase in non-accrual investments, which now represent 3.1% of the portfolio at fair value [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the increase in non-accruals? - Management noted that there was no common theme among the companies that went on non-accrual, with some impacted by tariffs and others by weakened consumer sentiment [32][33] Question: Is the increase in M&A activity sustainable through 2026? - Management indicated that ongoing demand for M&A activity is expected due to private equity firms needing to deploy capital and improved market conditions [40][41] Question: How is the company evaluating the timing of mitigating actions against lower base rates? - Management emphasized a deliberate approach to deployment, balancing the need to return to target leverage with the opportunity to create a granular portfolio [46] Question: What are the latest thoughts on dividend coverage given the current rate outlook? - Management confirmed that the dividend remains intact, with several levers in place to mitigate the effects of lower base rates [60]

Ecosystem Expansion - Robinhood listing $SEI provides millions of users with direct access [1] - Binance's validator role demonstrates confidence in Sei's infrastructure [1] - Tokenized funds from BlackRock, Brevan Howard, Hamilton Lane, and Apollo are now live within the Sei ecosystem [1] Partnerships & Backing - Sei ecosystem is supported by partners like Circle, MetaMask, Securitize, KAIO, Etherscan, and Ondo [1] Infrastructure & Technology - Sei's infrastructure is built for speed, reliability, and global scale [1]

is the right way to think about a data center, utility lines, electrical lines 70, 80, 90 years ago when day one all you were doing is wiring the house for lights and then you hire wired the house for a dishwasher, a TV and everything else that goes with it and how do you think about that technology and what really is the advantage of that data center in 5 10 15 years with the power supply. I differentiate that with how you might finance a portfolio of chips GPUs that rapidly depreciate over three to five y ...

Core Insights - The New York credit investor is on track to meet a $275 billion annual goal for new investments this year [1] Investment Goals - The company aims to achieve a significant milestone in its investment strategy, targeting $275 billion in new investments for the year [1]

Papa John’s plunged following a report that Apollo pulled its bid to take the pizza chain private. https://t.co/snu0GdROvR ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, net revenue reached $36.2 million, a record high, reflecting a $1.2 million or 3.3% increase from the prior year [12] - Gross profit for the quarter was $20.8 million, also a record, representing a $1.8 million or 9.3% increase year-over-year [14] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $8.3 million, an increase of $400,000 or 5.6% from the previous year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Patient services net revenue increased by $1.6 million or 7.6%, driven by higher treatment volumes in oncology and wound care [12] - Oncology net revenue rose by nearly $700,000 or 3.6%, while wound care revenue surged by 116% to $2 million, primarily due to increased volume from partnerships and acquisitions [13] - Device solutions net revenue decreased by $400,000 or 2.9%, attributed to lower biomedical services revenue and a significant equipment sale in the prior year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company secured a significant new contract with a large hospital system for oncology, contributing to increased market share and revenue growth [9] - A multi-year contract extension with a national insurance payer included a price increase and enhanced service coverage, indicating strong contract relationships [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on integrating AI and automation in its billing processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs [7] - Strategic priorities include executing with discipline, delivering profitable growth, and driving long-term value creation for shareholders [20] - The company aims to target an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20% or greater and revenue growth between 6%-8% over the next four years [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the biomedical services segment but emphasized that profitability is a key driver of shareholder value [11] - The company is optimistic about future growth in patient services, particularly in wound care and oncology, despite anticipated headwinds in device solutions [27] Other Important Information - The company generated over $17 million in operating cash flow year-to-date, an increase of $4.8 million from the prior year [16] - Net debt decreased by $5.7 million during Q3 2025, with available liquidity totaling nearly $55 million as of September 30, 2025 [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Enhancements in wound care business - Management discussed ongoing improvements in AI and automation for the revenue cycle, which are expected to enhance efficiency [22][23] Question: Impact of biomedical services contract changes - The revenue reduction from the contract is estimated at $6-$7 million annually, but the changes will lead to improved operating income due to reduced costs [24][25][26] Question: Growth profile of patient services vs. device solutions - Future growth is expected to be stronger in patient services, particularly in wound care, while device solutions may face headwinds due to contract adjustments [27] Question: Balancing margin improvement with revenue momentum - Management emphasized focusing on areas with lower capital requirements and higher returns on invested capital to balance margin and revenue growth [30][31] Question: Updates on pricing negotiations with Smith & Nephew - Management reported positive developments in the market for pneumatic compression devices, with increased placements expected [61][62]

Apollo’s third-quarter earnings surpassed Wall Street estimates as the buyout giant edged closer to reaching $1 trillion of assets https://t.co/MdMyLwgRj1 ...