Core Viewpoint - Spectral Capital Corporation has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the equity of 42 Telecom Ltd., a Maltese-based telecommunications infrastructure provider, marking a strategic expansion into high-growth areas such as enterprise messaging, AI-enhanced fraud prevention, and quantum-integrated blockchain technology [1][4]. Company Overview - Spectral Capital Corporation is a deep technology company focused on AI technology and Quantum Computing, with over 20 years of expertise in accelerating emerging technologies [7][8]. - 42 Telecom Ltd. is recognized as a leading provider of international messaging infrastructure, particularly known for its SMS traffic into Vietnam, delivering billions of messages annually [2][9]. Transaction Details - Under the acquisition agreement, Spectral will issue 8,000,000 shares of common stock to Heritage Ventures Ltd., the sole shareholder of 42 Telecom, with an additional 8,000,000 shares placed in escrow for earnout and valuation protection tied to 42 Telecom's financial performance in 2025 and 2026, guaranteeing revenues of $15 million in 2025 [3]. - The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and board approvals, and upon closing, 42 Telecom will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Spectral [6]. Strategic Implications - The acquisition provides Spectral access to advanced messaging infrastructure and a unique position in Southeast Asian markets, enhancing its enterprise client base [4]. - The combined capabilities of Spectral's technologies in compression, fraud prevention, and data mining, along with 42 Telecom's messaging gateway and compliance tools, will target enterprise messaging use cases in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government [4][5]. Intellectual Property and Innovation - The acquisition is expected to add numerous patentable inventions to Spectral's intellectual property portfolio, including next-generation fraud detection and blockchain-integrated messaging verification frameworks developed by 42 Telecom [5].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for AMEC, indicating a positive outlook for the company's performance in the semiconductor industry [1][7][10]. Core Insights - AMEC is experiencing solid order growth driven by clients' capacity expansion and increasing adoption of domestic equipment in China. The company is actively expanding its product offerings, which include deposition, etch, and metrology & inspection tools [1][6]. - Management projects a revenue growth of over 30% year-on-year, supported by strong bookings from both memory and logic customers. The local supply ratio for advanced technologies is expected to grow significantly [6][7]. - The company is accelerating its R&D cycle for new products, reducing the development time from 2-3 years to 1.5-2 years, which is attributed to improved design processes and increased client collaboration [6][7]. Revenue and Orders Outlook - AMEC's management is optimistic about achieving over 30% year-on-year revenue growth, with a strong operational performance in the first half of the year and a solid outlook for the second half [6]. - The company anticipates continued growth from the increasing adoption of local equipment by Chinese customers, with significant room for growth in the local supply ratio, especially in advanced technologies [6]. Product Expansion - AMEC plans to enhance its product coverage in deposition tools to approximately 80% by 2026, up from around 30% currently. The company has begun generating revenues from its WU series deposition products in 2024 [6][7]. - The company is also developing next-generation etching tools and expanding into metrology and inspection tools, including the launch of a Critical Dimension Scanning Electron Microscope (CDSEM) [6][7]. R&D Process Acceleration - The new product development cycle has been shortened to 1.5-2 years, compared to the previous 2-3 years. This improvement is due to platform product design, increased client trust, and the integration of AI technology in simulations [6][7]. Valuation and Price Target - The 12-month target price for AMEC is set at Rmb275, based on a P/E ratio of 29x for 2029 estimates, reflecting an attractive valuation as the company trades below its historical average [8][10]. - The report indicates a potential upside of 52.3% from the current price of Rmb180.58 [10]. Financial Projections - Revenue projections for AMEC are as follows: Rmb9,065.2 million for 2024, Rmb12,590.1 million for 2025, Rmb16,330.5 million for 2026, and Rmb20,477.2 million for 2027 [10]. - EBITDA is projected to grow from Rmb1,560.9 million in 2024 to Rmb6,244.6 million by 2027 [10]. Conclusion - AMEC is positioned to benefit from the ongoing expansion of the semiconductor industry in China, with a strong focus on product development and local market penetration, making it a compelling investment opportunity [1][7][10].

It could happen to anybody. I mean, everybody, it's Especially if you're a public figure, they just got to get enough like they could take the interview out of here today and change it around. As soon as I found out about it last week, I I reerred it to the FBI, diplomatic security, and others.It won't be the last time you see me or others for that matter. Maybe some of you will be impersonated. Um, but it's just a reality of this AI technology that's going on, and it's a real threat.How did you find out. O ...

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia has become the first publicly listed company to reach a market value of $4 trillion, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory driven by the AI technology boom [1][2]. Company Performance - Nvidia's share price increased by over 2% at market open, contributing to its achievement of the $4 trillion market cap [1]. - Since its market debut in 1999, Nvidia's share value has surged by 409,825%, reflecting its strong performance over 26 years [2]. - The company has transformed from a gaming hardware provider to a key player in AI infrastructure, with its chips now essential for various applications including natural language processing and robotics [12]. Market Context - The recent rise in Nvidia's stock value has coincided with a broader trend of optimism in US stock markets, attributed to delays in the implementation of tariffs by the Trump administration [8]. - Despite concerns regarding global AI demand and competition from low-cost alternatives like DeepSeek, analysts believe Nvidia's market value has further growth potential [3][9]. Future Outlook - Analysts project that while Nvidia may face slower growth and increased competition, it remains an attractive investment opportunity with a forecasted top-line growth of over 50% this year [14]. - The company's trading at a relatively modest 32 times expected earnings suggests continued potential for investors looking to capitalize on the AI boom [14].

RT Mark Gurman (@markgurman)BREAKING: Apple is considering using AI technology from Anthropic or OpenAI to power Siri, sidelining its own in-house models in a potentially blockbuster move aimed at turning around its AI effort. https://t.co/piY6Fag41a ...

Philippe Laffont, Coatue founder and portfolio manager, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest market trends, state of the 'Magnificent Seven', future of tech investing, his thoughts on bitcoin, state of the economy, impact of AI technology, who'll come on top in the AI arms race, the Fed's interest rate policy, future of TikTok, the NYC mayoral race, and more. ...

This hamburger chain is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3.7%. Revenues are expected to be $557.59 million, down 2.3% from the year-ago quarter. Earnings and revenue growth expectations certainly give a good sense of the potential strength in a stock, but empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements. Wendy's (WEN) shares soared 6% in t ...

Lemonade rating: 3 out of 5 stars Lemonade pet insurance stands out for its great prices. If you’re looking for a rather bare-bones pet insurance policy at a good price, check out Lemonade’s pricing for your pet. Lemonade sells additional coverage as add-ons for extra cost, so you’ll pay more if you want a pet insurance policy comparable to many competitors, which include broader coverage in their base plans. Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide. Lemonade pet insurance pros and ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3, total revenue was $821.1 million, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter [21] - Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million [22] - Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 1%, while comparable store retail sales decreased by 3.8% [22] - Adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million, or 5.9% of total revenue, compared to $47.9 million, or 5.9% of total revenue in the prior year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant cost of goods sold was 26.2% of restaurant sales, up from 25.9% in the prior year, primarily due to menu mix and commodity inflation [23] - Retail cost of goods sold was 48.9% of retail sales, down from 49% in the prior year, driven by higher vendor allowances [24] - Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, down from 37.8% in the prior year, due to improved productivity [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Off-premise sales accounted for 19.1% of restaurant sales, compared to 18.9% in the prior year [22] - Pricing for the quarter was approximately 4.9%, consisting of 1.5% carry forward pricing from fiscal 2024 and 3.4% new pricing from fiscal 2025 [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on brand refinement and enhancing guest engagement through various initiatives, including partnerships and promotions [11][12] - The transformation plan is aimed at driving relevancy, delivering food and experiences guests love, and growing profitability [19] - The company is leveraging AI technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness across various operations [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in executing the business and transforming for the future [18] - The company raised its guidance for total revenue and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025, reflecting positive trends and strong start to Q4 [30][31] Other Important Information - The company is actively working to mitigate tariff impacts, with approximately one-third of retail products sourced from China [17] - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share payable on August 13, 2025 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does a strong start to Q4 mean in the context of the 1% restaurant same-store sales number reported in Q3? - Management noted improving trends from Q3 into Q4, particularly pleased with the Campfire promotion resonating with guests [33][34] Question: Can you provide more detail on managing expenses in Q3? - Management indicated that they adjusted discretionary expenses and G&A to align with the challenges faced in Q3 [35][36] Question: How do you view G&A as a percent of sales for the upcoming year? - Management stated that fiscal 2025 is an investment year, and G&A will return to historical levels as the transformation plan progresses [38] Question: Can you share average check size and mix benefits for Q3? - The average check was up 6.6% for the quarter, with 4.9% from pricing and 1.7% from mix [40][41] Question: What is the anticipated impact of tariffs on Q4? - Management expects a $5 million net tariff impact on Q4 EBITDA, with ongoing efforts to mitigate this through vendor negotiations and alternate sourcing [30][51] Question: Can you elaborate on the back of house optimization initiative? - The initiative aims to improve food quality and ease of operations, with expectations for benefits to flow through in Q4 and into fiscal 2026 [61][65] Question: What have you learned from the remodeling initiatives? - Management indicated that they will provide more insights in September regarding the impact of remodels and future plans [70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, total revenue was $821.1 million, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter [20] - Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million [21] - Adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million, maintaining 5.9% of total revenue, compared to $47.9 million in the prior year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 1%, while comparable store retail sales decreased by 3.8% [21] - Off-premise sales accounted for 19.1% of restaurant sales, compared to 18.9% in the prior year [21] - Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, down from 37.8% in the prior year, primarily due to improved productivity [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pricing for the quarter was approximately 4.9%, consisting of 1.5% carry forward pricing from fiscal 2024 and 3.4% new pricing from fiscal 2025 [21] - Commodity inflation was approximately 2.9%, driven mainly by higher beef, egg, and pork prices [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on brand refinement and enhancing guest engagement through partnerships, such as with Speedway Motorsports for the Cracker Barrel 400 NASCAR race [10][11] - The transformation plan aims to improve operational efficiency and profitability, with initiatives like back of house optimization and menu innovation [8][9] - The company is leveraging AI for traffic forecasting and guest relations to improve efficiency [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in the ongoing transformation and positive trends in guest engagement [17][18] - The company raised its guidance for total revenue and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025, reflecting strong performance and positive momentum [29][30] Other Important Information - The company is actively managing tariff impacts, with approximately one-third of retail products sourced from China, and is implementing strategies to mitigate these effects [15][16] - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on August 13, 2025 [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does a strong start to Q4 mean in the context of the 1% restaurant same-store sales in Q3? - Management noted improvements in trends from Q3 into Q4, particularly pleased with the Campfire promotion's resonance with guests [32][33] Question: Can you provide more detail on managing expenses in Q3? - Management indicated that they adjusted discretionary expenses and expect G&A levels in Q4 to align more closely with Q1 and Q2 [34][35] Question: How do you view G&A as a percent of sales moving forward? - Management stated that G&A will return to historical levels as the transformation plan progresses, with more details to be provided in September [37] Question: What was the average check size and mix benefit in Q3? - The average check was up 6.6%, with 4.9% from pricing and 1.7% from mix, indicating a successful pricing strategy [39][40] Question: How is the $5 million tariff impact factored into your guidance? - Management explained that improvements in labor and menu mix are helping offset the tariff impact, with ongoing adjustments being made [46][48] Question: What are the expected benefits from the back of house optimization initiative? - Management anticipates more benefits in Q4 and into 2026, with a focus on improving food quality and operational efficiency [60][64] Question: Can you discuss the remodeling initiative and what has been learned? - Management indicated that they will provide more insights in September regarding the remodeling efforts and their impact on the business [66][68]