By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. economy likely grew at a brisk clip in the third quarter, driven by solid consumer spending and business investment, but momentum appears to have since faded amid the rising cost of living and recent government shutdown. The Commerce Department's initial estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product on Tuesday is also expected to show the ​economy was supported by lower imports, which helped to curb the trade deficit. Much of the anticipated ac ...

Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) Q2 2026 Earnings Call December 18, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsJohn Tumazos - PrincipalTim Adams - VP and CFOMelissa Dykstra - VP of Corporate Communications and Investor RelationsGeoff Gilmore - President and CEOConference Call ParticipantsPhil Gibbs - Managing Director and Metals Equity Research AnalystMartin Englert - Senior Equity Research AnalystOperatorGood morning and welcome to Worthington Steel's Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Call. All lines have been ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for the second quarter were $871.9 million, with adjusted EBITDA at $48.3 million and adjusted earnings per share at $0.38, reflecting a solid performance despite market headwinds [4][15] - Adjusted EBIT increased to $26.6 million, up from $14.3 million year-over-year, driven by higher direct volumes and improved direct spreads [15][16] - Earnings for the quarter were reported at $18.8 million or $0.37 per share, compared to $12.8 million or $0.25 per share in the prior year quarter [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Direct sales volume made up 65% of the mix in the current quarter, up from 55% in the prior year quarter, with direct volumes increasing by 13% year-over-year [16] - Automotive shipments increased by 26% year-over-year, reflecting market share gains and a return to normal production levels at a key OEM [16][17] - Energy shipments rose by 50% year-over-year, driven by project-based solar programs, while agriculture volume increased by 1% [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American light vehicle output is expected to hold near 15.2 million units in calendar year 2025, essentially flat with 2024 [5] - The construction market remains stable but subdued, with pockets of strength in power and infrastructure [6] - The heavy truck and trailer market is expected to see a rebound beginning in late calendar year 2026 [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on long-term strategies, including electrical steel growth plans, new product development, and business optimization through transformation [7][9] - Expansion projects for electrical steel are on track, with initial production in Mexico expected in the first quarter of calendar year 2026 [7][8] - The integration of CDEM is progressing well, enhancing the company's capabilities in stamping electrical steel laminations and improving competitiveness [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for early 2026, anticipating improvements as interest rates ease and policy uncertainties subside [6][14] - The company is well-positioned to navigate uncertainty and act decisively when opportunities arise, maintaining a strong balance sheet and generating consistent cash flow [21][22] - Management highlighted the importance of transformation and artificial intelligence in driving operational efficiency and cost savings [10][50] Other Important Information - The company received recognition as a 2025 Supplier of the Year by Schaeffler Group USA and was named a Military Friendly Employer for the 11th consecutive year [11][12] - The 2025 Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Report was released, showcasing progress in safety, emissions reduction, and community support [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the nature of the SG&A increase? - The increase in SG&A was primarily due to higher compensation and benefits, with professional fees related to strategic projects being more one-time in nature [26][27] Question: What contributed to the automotive momentum? - The automotive momentum was largely due to market share gains from new programs reaching expected volumes, rather than solely from the cold-rolled strip segment [33][34] Question: What is the impact of compressed galvanized spreads? - Decreased demand, particularly in construction, has contributed to compressed galvanized spreads, but management expects margin expansion moving forward [45][46] Question: What are the top transformation initiatives for calendar year 2026? - Key initiatives include focusing on back-office transformation and leveraging artificial intelligence to drive operational efficiencies [49][50]

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Lazard (NYSE:LAZ) Conference Summary - December 10, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Lazard - **CEO**: Peter Orszag, who assumed the role on October 1, 2023, and became Chairman on January 1, 2025 [1][3] Key Points Cultural and Structural Transformation - Significant transformation within the advisory division, with 87 managing directors separated and 91 hired or promoted over two years [3][4] - Currently, 40% of managing directors are in their first three years, expected to decrease to 30%, which could increase productivity by approximately $1 million per managing director [4][5] Market Positioning and Growth Opportunities - Increased client emphasis on "contextual alpha," which involves comprehensive analysis for decision-making in M&A and financing [6][7] - Advisory revenue from private capital has grown from 25% in 2019 to 40% currently, with a target of 50% [8][9] - Anticipation of strong M&A activity in 2026, driven by private equity sponsors needing to return cash to LPs, alongside ongoing restructuring and liability management [9][10] Economic and Regulatory Environment - The U.S. economy is increasingly reliant on AI, with growth concentrated in AI sectors while non-AI sectors lag [22][23] - The regulatory environment for M&A has become more accommodating, but requires nuanced strategies to navigate [26][27] Advisory and Asset Management Insights - Strong expectations for European IPOs due to private companies growing too large for alternative exits and regulatory simplifications [30][33] - Lazard is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the Middle East, particularly with sovereign wealth funds across various sectors [34][35] Future Strategic Directions - Focus on expanding the Private Capital Advisory (PCA) business and enhancing restructuring services due to increased demand [39][40] - New leadership in asset management under Chris Hoffman, with a focus on active management strategies and AI integration [41][42] Financial Performance and Projections - Projected positive net inflows for 2026, with year-to-date net inflows of $8.7 billion, excluding a previously mentioned low-fee account [13][50][51] - Targeting a 60% or lower compensation ratio, with revenue per managing director as a key driver for operating leverage [53][54] Capital Return Strategy - Plans to offset dilution from deferred compensation and explore inorganic growth opportunities while maintaining discipline [58] Additional Insights - The cultural transformation within Lazard has been noted as remarkable, contributing to a more vibrant internal environment [11] - The firm is committed to leveraging AI to enhance its competitive edge in the market [24][57] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the conference, highlighting Lazard's focus on growth, transformation, and market positioning in the evolving financial landscape.

Summary of Allstate Corporation Conference Call (December 10, 2025) Company Overview - **Company**: Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) - **Industry**: Property and Casualty Insurance Key Points Financial Performance - Property liability premiums increased to **$56.8 billion**, an **8.2%** increase year-over-year [2] - Net investment income rose to **$3.4 billion**, an **18%** increase [2] - Net income reached **$8.3 billion**, over **100%** increase from the previous year [2] - Adjusted net income was **$7.6 billion**, a **72.8%** increase [2] - Return on equity stood at **34.7%** [2] - Total shareholder return was slightly over **15%** [2] - Price-earnings ratio at **7.4**, significantly below market averages [2] Market Position and Strategy - Allstate aims to increase personal property liability market share and expand protection offerings [2] - The personal property liability market exceeds **$500 billion** in premiums, with significant competition [3] - Allstate's auto insurance combined ratio was **97.1**, below the industry average, indicating strong profitability [4] - Homeowners insurance combined ratio was **92.3**, outperforming many competitors [5] - Market share in auto insurance increased from **9.3%** to **10.2%** since 2019 [6] - Homeowners insurance market share also increased to **8%** [6] Growth Initiatives - Transformative growth plan initiated in 2019 includes five components aimed at increasing market share [6] - Significant cost reductions allowed for competitive pricing while maintaining returns [6] - Distribution expanded through acquisitions and new product launches [7] - Marketing investments increased to **$2.2 billion**, up from **$900 million** in 2019 [8] - New products launched in **42 states** for auto and **24 states** for homeowners insurance [8] Artificial Intelligence and Technology - Allstate is developing a large language intelligence ecosystem called ALI to enhance customer service and operational efficiency [11] - Generative AI is being utilized for billing, software coding, and financial work [11] - Future plans include agentic AI to improve customer interactions and analytics [11] Competition and Market Dynamics - Competition in auto insurance remains intense, particularly from Progressive and State Farm [14] - GEICO has lost market share due to previous poor business decisions [15] - Allstate's multi-channel approach positions it well against competitors [16] Retention and Customer Value - Retention rates have declined over the past five years, influenced by significant price increases [19] - Strategies are in place to improve retention by enhancing customer value and reducing prices for millions of customers [22][23] - Bundling of auto and home insurance is being emphasized to improve retention [29] Future Outlook - Allstate expects policy growth to continue in 2026, despite competitive pressures [12] - The company is focused on maintaining profitability while growing market share [31] - Plans to further reduce expenses and improve operational efficiency through technology [35][36] Capital Management - Allstate maintains a favorable capital position, with a focus on organic growth and potential share repurchases [39] - The company has successfully executed acquisitions that have significantly increased premium volumes [41][42] Conclusion - Allstate is positioned for sustainable growth through strategic initiatives, technological advancements, and a focus on customer value, despite competitive challenges in the insurance market [12][39]

President Donald Trump decided to let Nvidia sell its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China after concluding the move carried a lower security risk because the company’s Chinese archrival, Huawei, already offers AI systems with comparable performance, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. https://t.co/jOXR06nGtB📷: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg ...

Core Perspective - O.N.E Amazon advocates for redefining biodiversity as critical global infrastructure, highlighting its essential role in the stability of economies, climates, and societies, particularly through the Amazon rainforest [1] Group 1: Biodiversity as Infrastructure - The panel discussed how biodiversity underpins water security, food systems, climate regulation, economic resilience, and national stability, emphasizing the need for improved data, governance, and investment models to address ecological challenges [3] - O.N.E Amazon's CEO described the Internet of Forests (IoF™) as a foundational step to measure and value biodiversity, enabling conservation to become an investable opportunity [4] Group 2: Technological and Regulatory Developments - The convergence of new regulatory clarity in the U.S., advancements in blockchain compliance standards like ERC-3643, and the evolution of AI has created conditions for nature-backed Digital Asset Securities to operate under full regulatory compliance [4][5] - O.N.E Amazon's selection as the first regulated Digital Asset Security under the SEC Project Crypto Innovation Exemption is a significant milestone for compliant tokenization, demonstrating the practical application of global standards for identity, compliance, and investor protection [5] Group 3: Financial Architecture for Conservation - O.N.E Amazon aims to transform conservation into investment through the O.N.E Amazon Coin (OAC), supported by the IoF™ and the One Amazon Impact & Sustainability Fund (OAIF), making conservation financially valuable [6] - The company commits to investing 85% of all funds raised into local initiatives, ensuring measurable impact for nature, people, and investors [7]