Choosing an age to begin claiming Social Security is one of the most important retirement decisions you'll make, as it will affect your monthly income for the rest of your life. You'll receive 100% of your earned benefit by filing at your full retirement age -- which is between ages 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. Claim earlier than that, and your payment will be reduced by up to 30%. By delaying benefits past your full retirement age, you'll earn up to 32% extra on top of your full benefit. Wil ...

The price of silver has been highly volatile this year. After a historic rally in 2025 that sent the price of the white metal from about $31 an ounce in January 2025 to $115 an ounce in January of this year, the price of silver plummeted over the first few weeks of February to under $74 an ounce. That's a drop of more than a third from its recent high. Analysts attributed the sell-off to a drop in demand for silver at the higher price level, as well as investor nervousness about the AI boom, which had he ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company generated net sales of $3 billion, flat compared to 2024, with adjusted EBITDA of $83 million, resulting in a 2.8% adjusted EBITDA margin [14][26] - The net loss for Q4 2025 was $8.6 million, or $1.08 per share, primarily due to higher net interest expense and M&A-related expenses [21][27] - Adjusted net income for the full year was $7.8 million, or $0.97 per diluted share [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty products net sales in Q4 2025 were $505 million, up over 4% year-over-year, driven by higher volumes and the addition of Disdero [22] - Structural products net sales were $211 million in Q4 2025, down 7% year-over-year, primarily due to lower pricing for lumber and panels [23] - Specialty gross margin was 18.1%, slightly down from 18.4% in the previous year, while structural gross margin was 10%, down from 10.8% [22][23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The multifamily channel grew volumes by 19% in 2025, contributing significantly to the company's sales despite a challenging market [9][14] - Single-family housing starts were down 7% year-over-year in 2025, impacting overall market conditions [4] - Average lumber prices decreased by 12% and panel prices by 20% in Q4 2025 compared to the previous year [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on profitable sales growth strategies, targeting both single and multi-family end markets with product and service expansions [4][8] - The acquisition of Disdero Lumber Co. is expected to enhance specialty product sales and strengthen the company's presence in the Western U.S. [12][13] - The company is investing in digital transformation and AI initiatives to improve operational efficiency and customer service [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management views current market pressures as temporary, citing a persistent housing shortage and potential government policies that could stimulate recovery [16][18] - The company remains committed to its multifamily channel, anticipating long-term growth due to affordability challenges in housing [9][17] - Management expressed optimism about the potential for government proposals to boost the housing market [18] Other Important Information - The company generated operating cash flow of $62 million and free cash flow of $56 million in Q4 2025, reflecting effective working capital management [30] - Liquidity at the end of the year was $726 million, including $386 million in cash and cash equivalents [13][29] - The company completed $38 million in share repurchases in 2025, demonstrating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [13][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the primary drivers of the sequential improvement in specialty products gross margin? - Management indicated that part of the improvement was due to one-time rebate-related true-ups with a vendor, and the rest was attributed to maintaining pricing discipline in a challenging market [34] Question: Is EWP pricing stabilizing, and what is the broader pricing outlook? - Management agreed that EWP pricing has stabilized and expressed confidence in maintaining solid margins despite competitive pricing pressures [39] Question: What are the incremental costs associated with the AI focus versus traditional e-commerce platforms? - Management stated that incremental costs are currently unknown but expected to be immaterial compared to traditional e-commerce costs [73] Question: How is the company approaching M&A to complement Disdero? - The company is evaluating potential targets to grow its specialty product mix and support geographic expansion, with a pipeline of opportunities being nurtured [81]

BlueLinx (NYSE:BXC) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 25, 2026 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsAditya Madan - Senior Equity Research AssociateJeffrey Stevenson - VP of Equity DivisionKelly Wall - CFO and TreasurerShyam Reddy - CEOTom Morabito - Investor Relations OfficerConference Call ParticipantsJohn McGlade - Associate Equity Research AnalystOperatorLadies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the BlueLinx Holdings' fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, ...

Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) 2026 Investor Day February 25, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAna White - EVP and Chief People OfficerBill Matthews - Managing DirectorBrent Bensten - Chief Technology OfficerChris Stansbury - EVP and CFODavid Barden - Partner and Head of North America Telecommunications and Digital InfrastructureFrank Louthan - Managing Director Communications ServicesJeff Sharritts - Chief Revenue OfficerJim Fowler - Chief Technology and Product OfficerKate Johnson - President and CEOK ...

Core Insights - The ETF marketplace offers easy and low-cost access to a wide range of investments, including stocks, bonds, commodities, and more [1] - There are over 4,000 ETFs available, which can be overwhelming for beginners, but with proper guidance, creating a diversified portfolio is achievable [2] - A simple stock/bond portfolio is recommended for beginners, with the option to diversify further over time [3] ETF Recommendations - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is highlighted as a comprehensive investment option in U.S. stocks, covering over 3,500 companies with a low annual expense ratio of 0.03% [6] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is a strong choice for those preferring large-cap investments, but the preference for a broader market exposure is noted [7] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is recognized for its strict stock selection process, focusing on financial health and dividend history, narrowing down to the top 100 stocks [8] - Dividend-paying stocks have shown the ability to enhance returns and reduce risk, providing stability and income to improve total returns [9]

This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.Happy Wednesday. The restaurant reservation platform wars are heating up, and I'm wondering whether my fascination with this story is a sign that I eat out too often.Stock futures are higher this morning after a positive session yesterday.Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:1. Trump's talkUS President Donald Trump, right, and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from ...

Quick Read Workday (WDAY) beat Q4 estimates with $2.47 non-GAAP EPS and revenue of $2.532B, up 14.5%. Workday guided FY2027 subscription revenue to $9.925B to $9.950B, representing 12-13% growth and slowing from FY2026. Shares fell 8% after-hours on guidance concerns, and 12.8% in Wednesday’s premarket. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY) delivered a strong Q4 FY2 ...

Leading SaaS platform for intelligently connected properties February 2026 Safe Harbor Statement F O R W A R D - L O O K I N G S T A T E M E N T S This presentation contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this presentation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our potential market opportunity in both the residential and commercial markets and growth drivers, including addressable markets and ...

We recently published an article titled 12 Best Retail Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On February 23, Bernstein raised its price target for Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) to $180 from $170 while maintaining a Market Perform rating as part of a fourth-quarter preview for off-price retailers. The firm cited very strong holiday trends across the segment, supported by real-time data showing positive and accelerating foot traffic as well as robust card spending throughout the quarter. During the third ...