M&A Market Dynamics - Oppenheimer upgraded Microsoft to outperform with a $600 price target, citing AI revenue as a major driver [1] - Early in the year, M&A activity was hindered by market volatility, making it difficult to finalize deals [4][5] - Antitrust scrutiny is perceived to be more pragmatic under the current administration compared to the previous one [6][8] - The current administration is seen as more willing to negotiate and find solutions to get deals approved, contrasting with the prior administration's approach [9] - The market has stabilized from a volatility perspective, leading to expectations of increased M&A activity [9][11] Antitrust and Regulatory Environment - The previous administration was viewed as employing outdated antitrust theories and hindering deal-making [7] - The approval of the T-Mobile deal with Sprint by the current administration is cited as an example of a pragmatic approach that benefits consumers [8] - The Hewlett Packard deal for Juniper, approved with divestitures, demonstrates the current administration's willingness to negotiate [9] - Anti-corporate sentiment was perceived to have influenced antitrust decisions in the past [11][12] - While the current administration is populist and aims to protect consumers, it is also taking a pragmatic approach to antitrust [12][13]

Ten-Year Legacy Brand Joins THCT Portfolio, Expanding National Craft Cannabis Footprint and Female-Founded LeadershipMEDFORD, Ore., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- THC Therapeutics, Inc. (“THCT” or the “Company”), (OTC: THCT), a company focused on the legal and regulated cannabis industry, is proud to announce the acquisition of all issued and outstanding membership interests of STHoldings Group LLC, the parent company of iconic Eugene, Oregon cannabis brand SugarTop Buddery, in an all-share transaction v ...

Core Insights - KULR Technology Group has successfully deployed 3,570 Bitmain S19 XP 140T Bitcoin mining machines in Asuncion, Paraguay, increasing its operational capacity to 750 petahash per second (PH/s) [1] - The company employs a dual acquisition strategy, combining both mining and purchasing Bitcoin to enhance its BTC holdings efficiently [1][2] - KULR aims to scale its mining operations to reach 1.25 exahash per second (EH/s) later this summer [3] Company Strategy - KULR's CEO highlighted that Bitcoin has outperformed major asset classes in 11 of the last 14 years, emphasizing the importance of a dual-pronged model to capture value from both hash price and coin price [2] - The company has expanded its strategic relationship with a U.S. exchange-listed company through a leasing agreement for ASIC miners and a consulting agreement for comprehensive support in Bitcoin mining operations and treasury management [2] Financial Management - Since late 2024, KULR has included Bitcoin as a primary asset in its treasury program, committing to allocate up to 90% of its excess cash for Bitcoin acquisition [4]

Merck is closing in on an approximately $10 billion deal to acquire respiratory drugmaker Verona Pharma, the Financial Times reports https://t.co/M1uekdxh0f ...

Packaged food giants Conagra Brands (CAG 1.18%) and The Campbell's Company (CPB 0.71%) are both down more than 25% year to date and are hovering around their lowest levels in over a decade.Both companies are industry giants. Conagra owns brands like Orville Redenbacher's, Slim Jim, Boom Chicka Pop, Hunt's, Reddi-Wip, Marie Callender's, and more. In addition to its flagship soup line, Campbell's also owns a variety of pasta sauce and dip brands, as well as snacks like Pepperidge Farm, Kettle, Cape Cod, Snyde ...

feeling about the battle for talent with Mark Zuckerberg and Meta. Fine. Fine.Good. Um, and are you concerned about hiring or not having enough people to hire in this market. Um, I think we have a incred I mean, obviously we have an incredibly talented team.I think they really love what they're doing. Obviously, some people will go to different places. There's a lot of excitement, I guess we could say, in the industry, but no, I think we'll find some to Mark and maybe some of your talents.I have not, but I' ...

Key Takeaways The acquisition of Frauscher is expected to boost Wabtec's Digital Intelligence portfolio The deal is expected to be EPS accretive in year one and improve margins and ROIC over time. Frauscher's strong Europe and India presence supports WAB's global rail signaling growth strategy.Wabtec Corporation (WAB) ) is strengthening its operations through strategic acquisitions. To this end, Wabtec has inked a deal to purchase Frauscher Sensor Technology Group for an enterprise value of €675 million i ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Building Products – Wood industry is currently facing challenges such as rising construction costs, potential housing project delays, and affordability concerns for consumers [1] - Spending on home repair and remodeling has decreased from pandemic highs due to elevated mortgage rates impacting consumer budgets [1][2] - There is a strong need for investments in critical replacements and modernization of aging housing stock, alongside increased funding for infrastructure and carbon/ESG-related projects [2][6] Trends Impacting the Industry - The U.S. housing market is constrained by high interest rates and low consumer confidence, affecting demand for lumber and remodeling [4] - The reimplementation of tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber could lead to supply shortages and increased material costs, as Canada supplies about 30% of U.S. softwood lumber [4] - Volatility in lumber prices remains a significant concern, impacting inventory costs and profit margins [5] Company Strategies - Companies are focusing on acquisitions, product innovation, and efficient cost-reduction strategies to navigate current challenges [7][8] - Operational excellence is being emphasized, including improvements in merchandising, harvest, and transportation efficiencies [8] Industry Performance - The Zacks Building Products – Wood industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 over the past year, gaining 21.6% compared to the sector's 8.8% and the S&P 500's 12.3% [13] - The industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 155, placing it in the bottom 37% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating dull near-term prospects [9][10] Earnings Outlook - Analysts have shown decreasing confidence in the industry's earnings growth potential, with aggregate earnings estimates for 2025 declining from $2.22 to $2.11 per share [11] - Despite the bleak near-term outlook, some companies are highlighted for their potential to capitalize on fundamental strengths [12] Notable Companies - **Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (WOR)**: Gained 48.4% over the past year, with an upward estimate revision for fiscal 2026 earnings to $3.65 from $3.14 per share [22] - **PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH)**: Gained 5% over the past year, with an upward estimate revision for 2025 earnings to 88 cents from 83 cents per share [26] - **Trex Company, Inc. (TREX)**: Experienced a loss of 20.9% over the past year, but has seen an upward estimate revision for 2025 earnings to $2.21 from $2.16 per share [30]

Key Takeaways Royal Gold will acquire Sandstorm Gold in an all-stock deal valued at $3.5 billion. RGLD will buy Horizon Copper for $196 million in cash, pending Sandstorm deal completion. Sandstorm Gold deal expands RGLD's portfolio with producing, development, and exploration-stage assets.Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) announced that it inked agreements to acquire Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (SAND) and Horizon Copper Corp. These transactions will reinforce Royal Gold’s position as a leading North American precious meta ...

Core Insights - Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) has implemented a disciplined acquisition strategy to enhance its asset base, operational scale, and shareholder returns, highlighted by its merger with WPX Energy in 2021, which created a leading operator in the Delaware Basin [1][2][4] - The company has made opportunistic acquisitions, including Validus Energy for $1.8 billion in 2023 and Grayson Mill Energy's Williston Basin business in 2024, diversifying production sources and improving cash flow resilience [2][3] - Devon's acquisition strategy focuses on high-return, low-breakeven-cost assets, allowing for sustainable production growth and capital returns through dividends and share buybacks, positioning the company as shareholder-friendly [3][4] Acquisition Strategy - Devon's acquisitions broaden its asset portfolio, enhance operational efficiency, and realize cost savings, which are crucial for performance across fluctuating commodity price environments [5] - Other oil and gas companies, such as Occidental Petroleum and Chevron, have similarly benefited from strategic acquisitions, enhancing their positions in key basins and improving cash flow generation [6] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline of 19.09% in 2025 earnings per share, with a slight increase of 3.11% expected in 2026 [7] - Devon's recent acquisitions support cash flow and capital returns while maintaining low-cost production across volatile cycles [8] - The company's current trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA is 3.55X, significantly lower than the industry average of 10.99X, indicating a relative discount [10] Share Performance - Devon's shares have increased by 5.2% over the past three months, compared to a 10.7% rise in the Zacks Oil & Gas- Exploration and Production- United States industry [12]