Core Insights - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TMQ) and NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB) are both active in the mining sector, focusing on mineral and metal exploration primarily in North America [1][2] - Both companies are benefiting from the increasing demand for minerals in electric vehicles and renewable energy markets, as well as advancements in technologies like AI and automation [2] Trilogy Metals - Trilogy Metals is concentrating on its Ambler mining district project in Alaska, which is currently in the pre-production exploration stage [3] - The company has successfully completed its summer field program at the Bornite camp, which included environmental data collection and maintenance activities [4] - For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, Trilogy incurred costs of $3.8 million related to ongoing programs, with its share of the loss being approximately $2.2 million, indicating controlled spending [5] - The company's progress in the Ambler mining district positions it for significant transformation and long-term growth [6] - Trilogy Metals shares have surged 168.5% in the past three months, significantly outperforming NioCorp [11][13] NioCorp Developments - NioCorp is advancing its Elk Creek Project in Nebraska, which aims to produce niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earth elements essential for electric vehicles and clean energy [7] - The company is working on drilling programs to enhance resource estimates and feasibility studies, facilitating the project's transition to commercial operations [8] - NioCorp raised approximately $60 million through public offerings in September 2025 to support its progress and is seeking additional funding, including a loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank [9][12] - The acquisition of additional land in Johnson County allows NioCorp to host its planned underground mine and processing facility [10] - NioCorp's stock has risen 17.5% over the past three months, but it requires about $1.1 billion in funding to move the Elk Creek project into production [12][13] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TMQ's fiscal 2025 bottom line is a loss of four cents per share, reflecting a 20% year-over-year increase [15] - For NB, the fiscal 2026 bottom line is estimated at a loss of 28 cents per share, also indicating a 20% year-over-year increase [16] Valuation - TMQ is trading at a trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of negative 85.40X, significantly below its three-year median of negative 8.78X [18] - NioCorp's trailing earnings multiple is negative 12.96X, lower than its median of negative 3.04X over the same period [18] Conclusion - NioCorp is positioned to meet the growing demand for critical minerals but faces challenges in securing substantial funding for its Elk Creek project [19] - Trilogy Metals is making steady progress at the Ambler mining district with disciplined spending, enhancing investor confidence [20] - Based on current factors, TMQ appears to be a more favorable investment compared to NB, with TMQ holding a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and NB a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [21]

Company Overview - EPAM Systems, Inc. is valued at a market cap of around $10 billion and is a global provider of digital platform engineering and software development services, offering solutions in cloud and data services, customer experience design, cybersecurity, and full-cycle product development across various industries including financial services, retail, technology, healthcare, and media [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, EPAM shares have declined by 26.2%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 11%. Year-to-date, EPAM shares have dipped 22.6%, compared to the S&P 500's 12.3% return [2] - EPAM's stock has underperformed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, which has seen over a 17% increase in the same period [3] Recent Financial Results - On November 6, EPAM reported stronger-than-expected Q3 2025 adjusted EPS of $3.08 and revenue of $1.39 billion. The company raised its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to between $11.36 and $11.44 and increased its expected revenue growth for 2025 to 14.8% - 15.2%, driven by strong demand in AI, cloud, automation, and modernization spending [4] Analyst Expectations - For the fiscal year ending in December 2025, analysts expect EPAM's EPS to rise 1.9% year-over-year to $9.04. The company has a promising earnings surprise history, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters. Among 17 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 10 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and six "Holds" [5] Price Target and Analyst Ratings - Mizuho analyst Sean Kennedy increased EPAM's price target to $228 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The mean price target of $209.40 represents a 15.7% premium to EPAM's current price levels, and the Street-high price target of $255 suggests a potential upside of 40.9% [6]

Core Viewpoint - The ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF has gained significant attention and performance due to its focus on technology and artificial intelligence, making it a potential investment opportunity despite inherent risks in tech stocks [1][2]. ETF Overview - The ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF has approximately $1.8 billion in net assets and typically holds around 30 to 50 stocks, focusing on companies that benefit from technological advancements and automation [3]. - The fund has a relatively high expense ratio of 0.75%, indicating higher fees compared to many other funds [4]. - The top five holdings include Tesla (12.2%), Teradyne (9.4%), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (7.3%), Palantir Technologies (6.2%), and Advanced Micro Devices (5.2%), with North American companies making up 91% of the holdings and a median market cap of $38 billion [5]. Performance Analysis - As of November 17, the ETF has achieved a return of 36% for 2025, outperforming the S&P 500, which is up by 13% [6]. - Notably, Kratos has seen a year-to-date performance increase of 166%, Palantir at 126%, and Advanced Micro Devices at 99%, while Tesla's performance has been relatively flat at 1% [6][7]. - The strong performance of top holdings like Kratos and Palantir, which benefit from increased government defense spending, has significantly contributed to the ETF's success [7][8]. Investment Considerations - The ARK ETF is projected to generate over 30% returns for a third consecutive year, driven by bullish market sentiment towards artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics [9]. - However, the ETF's lack of diversification poses risks, especially highlighted by its 47% decline during the 2022 market crash, compared to a 19% drop in the S&P 500 [10]. - Current high valuations in the tech sector suggest caution, with recommendations to consider a wait-and-see approach before investing, especially as the ETF has recently reached an all-time high and is experiencing a downward trend [11].

In what’s being reported as the largest workforce reduction in company history, Verizon is preparing to cut approximately 13,000 jobs. The telecom giant, which employed about 100,000 people at the end of 2024, is racing to stay competitive in a tough wireless service and home internet market, according to CBS News (1). Must Read Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Dave Ramsey warns nearly 5 ...

Core Insights - Microsoft has laid off thousands of workers, including long-term employees like Mike Kostersitz, who has worked there for 31 years and is now seeking employment for the first time in decades [1][2] - The layoffs at Microsoft are part of a broader trend in the tech industry, with other major companies like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet also reducing their workforces due to shifts towards AI and automation [3][4] Industry Trends - In October 2025, the tech industry announced 33,281 job cuts, a significant increase from 5,639 in September, marking the highest number of layoffs in any private sector that month [5] - For the entirety of 2025, tech firms have reported 141,159 job cuts, reflecting a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [5] - Cost-cutting and AI advancements are cited as the primary reasons for job reductions, indicating a shift in workforce requirements and skills needed in the industry [4][6] Job Market Dynamics - Despite relatively low overall U.S. unemployment, competition for tech roles has intensified, with many skilled professionals vying for fewer job openings that increasingly require updated skills in AI, data science, and automation [6]

Core Insights - Walmart is shifting from a defensive strategy to actively competing with Amazon in logistics efficiency, leveraging automation to reduce costs and improve operational leverage [1][5] Automation and Cost Efficiency - Walmart's CFO highlighted that over 50% of fulfillment center volume is now automated, indicating a significant structural shift towards scaling automation [2] - The company has consistently reduced shipping costs in the 30% range, marking a notable improvement in its profit and loss statement [3] - This quarter marks the first time in two years that Walmart has demonstrated leverage in its business, showcasing the tangible benefits of its tech investments [3] Competitive Landscape - Walmart's confidence in its logistics capabilities suggests a changing competitive dynamic, as it builds a network that utilizes automation to lower costs and improve speed [4] - The company is positioning itself as a viable competitor to Amazon, which has long been seen as the leader in warehouse robotics and logistics [4] Implications for Investors - If Walmart continues to reduce costs through automation while Amazon invests heavily in robotics, the valuation gap between the two companies may narrow [5] - Walmart's ability to operate a modern retail supply chain at lower costs and with rising leverage could challenge Amazon's long-standing dominance in the sector [5]

Core Insights - Deutsche Bank AG's India arm is considering the sale of its retail and wealth management business, a move that aligns with its strategy to simplify operations and focus on core markets [1][5][8] Business Overview - The potential sale includes 17 retail branches and a significant wealth management platform that caters to high-net-worth clients [2][9] - Deutsche Bank's India business reported total assets of INR25,038 crore ($2.8 billion) and revenues of INR2,455 crore ($277.4 million) in fiscal 2025 [4][9] Market Interest - Initial interest in the sale has been shown by Kotak Mahindra Bank and Federal Bank, with discussions currently at a preliminary stage [3][9] Strategic Rationale - The planned exit is part of Deutsche Bank's long-term strategy under the "Global Hausbank" growth phase, which emphasizes capital efficiency and market leadership [5][8] - The company aims to achieve a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of over 13% by 2028, focusing on scalable, capital-light businesses [6][7] Future Growth Focus - Deutsche Bank intends to redirect resources from non-core markets like India towards areas that promise long-term value creation, including automation and AI-enabled efficiency [7][8]

Robotics Industry & Dexterity - Looper Robotics believes robotics will be the biggest industry in human history, with dexterity being the bottleneck [2][3] - The industry is studying and codifying dexterity learned from people using smart gloves to capture hand movements and senses [4] - This data is used to teach robot hands practical skills, transferring human dexterity to robots [5] Applications & Potential - Today, these gloves teach robots to grasp and assemble, potentially reducing workplace injuries and tackling food insecurity [6] - Tomorrow, they could guide robotic surgeons in rural hospitals or disaster zones and restore touch through prosthetic hands [6] - In 10 years, fleets of machines could share dexterity, rebuilding cities, repairing underwater cables, or exploring dangerous environments [7] Labor Market & Automation - The United States has 380,000 unfilled jobs in manufacturing, with a potential shortfall of up to 3 million workers within a decade [7] - Demographics and math are forcing the largest automation wave in modern American history [9] - Robotics can shrink inequality if built with intention, but could also displace millions of workers and concentrate power [9][10] Economic & Geopolitical Implications - Labor is becoming a commodity once more, like "the next oil," with repeatable physical and cognitive work becoming measurable and programmable [11][12] - The nations and firms that control this new commodity will have significant leverage [12] - The US needs to rewire itself to use AI at scale, seeing it as a lubricant to make systems run better, not just perfecting models [15] Policy & Strategy - An actionable idea would be a robot tax index to automation intensity, rechanneling gains into training and safety [14] - The US has no shot at winning the AI race without robotics, as AI's value is in what it touches [14][15] - Robotics is synonymous with the manufacturing of labor and should be scaled to create infrastructure that extracts value from AI [16]

Funding and Development - Pibit AI has secured $7 million in a Series A funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from Y Combinator and Arali Ventures [1] - The funding will expedite the development of its centralized underwriting risk environment (CURE) and support wider use of its AI platform [1] Product Features and Capabilities - The CURE platform coordinates all stages of the underwriting process, including submissions, research, document processing, risk evaluation, and workflow management [2] - Key modules of the CURE platform include ClearCURE for triage, ResearchCURE for real-time data updates, DocumentCURE for document processing, RiskCURE for portfolio analysis, and WorkflowCURE for task management [3] Automation and Human Oversight - Pibit AI employs automation alongside human oversight to support verification and contextual assessment at each step of the underwriting process [3] - The company's philosophy emphasizes that AI should empower underwriters rather than replace them, focusing on transparency and trust [4] Client Impact and Performance Metrics - Clients of Pibit AI have reported achieving up to 85% more speed in underwriting cycles, a 32% growth in gross written premium per underwriter, and an improvement of up to 700 basis points in loss ratios [5]

Core Insights - Kyndryl Holdings Inc. is recognized as a potentially undervalued stock in the US market, particularly following its expanded collaboration with Dow [1][4] - The partnership aims to modernize Dow's infrastructure applications through AI and automation, enhancing operational agility and innovation [1][3] Group 1: Collaboration Details - The expanded agreement with Dow focuses on modernizing infrastructure applications, leveraging AI and automation [1][3] - This collaboration builds on a nearly 20-year relationship, during which Kyndryl has helped Dow improve operational efficiency globally [2][3] - Kyndryl provides a range of IT infrastructure services for Dow, including cloud, network, digital workplace, and security services [2] Group 2: Strategic Importance - The application modernization initiative is a significant step in Dow's digital transformation journey, as noted by Dow's IT Director [3] - The partnership is expected to enhance Dow's application landscape, integrating advanced technologies to drive efficiency [3]