Five things to know ahead of the holiday shortened trading week. US Airlines predicting a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period with 31 million people taking to the skies. The busiest day expected to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving with 3.4% million passengers.Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency, it now has ceased to exist. who was supposed to be in operation till July of next year. But the Trump administration's chief human resources officer now saying the initiative has come to an end ...

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications is implementing a significant job cut of up to 13,000 positions as part of a cost-cutting initiative led by new CEO Dan Schulman to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness in the market [1][3]. Group 1: Job Cuts and Cost-Cutting Strategy - The job cuts will primarily affect non-unionized positions within the organization, confirming earlier reports of potential cuts of up to 15,000 [1]. - Schulman emphasized the need for the company to evolve to meet customer needs and improve market leadership, stating that the current cost structure limits investment in customer value [2][3]. - The company aims to become "simpler, leaner, and scrappier," with a multi-year commitment to reducing costs while investing in marketing and customer experience [5]. Group 2: Market Position and Competitive Landscape - Schulman, who previously served as CEO of PayPal, is focused on driving profitable expansion in both wireless and broadband sectors amid increasing competition from AT&T and T-Mobile [5][7]. - Analysts noted that Verizon faces significant challenges in increasing its postpaid phone customer base, particularly in 2025, while competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile are better positioned to meet their targets [11][12]. - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with major carriers rolling out aggressive promotions to attract new customers as subscriber growth slows [11]. Group 3: Financial Strategy and Customer Focus - Schulman indicated that Verizon's financial growth has been overly reliant on price increases, which is not sustainable in the long term [7]. - A shift towards a customer-first culture is expected to create a more efficient cost structure that supports investments in enhancing customer experience, without compromising profit margins [9][10]. - The company believes there is significant potential for improved bottom-line performance in the industry [10].

Core Insights - Verizon is implementing its largest single layoff by cutting more than 13,000 jobs as part of its strategy to reduce costs and restructure operations [1] Company Summary - The job cuts are a significant move for Verizon, indicating a shift in its operational strategy aimed at improving financial performance [1] - This decision reflects broader trends in the telecommunications industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on cost management and efficiency [1]

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Papa Johns appointed its CFO and Executive Vice President, International Ravi Thanawala to the dual role of finance chief and president, North America, the pizza chain announced Tuesday in a press release and securities filing. Effective Tuesday, Thanawala will lead the Louisville, Kentucky-based company’s North American business as part of the president rol ...

Dover Corporation (DOV) is a diversified global industrial manufacturer headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. With a market cap of around $25.1 billion, Dover operates across five major segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions, and Climate & Sustainability Technologies, offering equipment, consumables, software, and services for customers in markets including aerospace, industrial, fueling, refrigeration, and more. Dover has significant ...

Core Viewpoint - International Paper (IP) is closing packaging plants in Compton, California, and Louisville, Kentucky, as part of a cost-cutting strategy in response to weak demand [4] Group 1: Company Actions - The closure of the facilities is set to be completed by January 2026 [4] - A total of 218 employees will be affected by the plant closures [4] Group 2: Industry Context - The decision to consolidate operations reflects the current weak demand environment in the packaging industry [4]

Core Insights - The former CEO of Verizon, Hans Vestberg, who was ousted last month, may still receive a significant portion of his $20 million pay package despite the company's struggles with customer losses and stock decline [1][3][11] Compensation and Performance - Vestberg's total compensation for the previous year was $24.16 million, which included a $1.5 million base salary along with stock awards and bonuses [2][7] - He is eligible for most of his compensation package if he meets certain performance thresholds [3][11] Customer Loss and Market Position - Verizon lost 7,000 net customers in Q3, missing Wall Street expectations of adding 19,000 customers [3][20] - The company has experienced two consecutive quarters of customer losses, with a third expected [4][11] Leadership Changes - Mark Bertolini, the new chairman, indicated that Verizon's poor performance necessitated a leadership change, noting a drop from the number one position in market cap, bond ratings, and market share to number three [8][10] - Dan Schulman, former PayPal CEO, has been appointed to take over immediately [10][13] Strategic Decisions and Financial Impact - Under Vestberg's leadership, Verizon invested over $50 billion in 5G spectrum but has not seen the expected returns, continuing to lose customers to competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile [10][11] - Schulman plans to implement cost cuts, potentially leading to the layoff of about 15,000 employees [16][17] Future Outlook - Schulman emphasized the need for Verizon to become more customer-focused and less bureaucratic, acknowledging the company's failure to perform for shareholders [21][22]

The telecommunications company is looking to reduce costs as it works to stem customer losses. ...

By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Walt Disney signaled on Thursday it was girding for a potentially prolonged fight with YouTube TV over distribution of its television networks, worrying investors about the outlook for its already declining TV business. The company also missed quarterly revenue expectations as the ​cable weakness overshadowed strong growth in the company's streaming and parks businesses central to its growth. Shares were down 8.3% in afternoon trading Thursday. ...

Core Insights - Disney's stock has shown a modest increase of 3% in 2025, remaining close to a 52-week high of $124 per share, despite a somewhat stagnant performance throughout the year [1][2] - The company is transitioning from aggressive cost-cutting measures implemented by CEO Bob Iger to a focus on long-term growth, raising investor concerns about the effectiveness of this strategy [2][3] Financial Performance Expectations - For Q4, Disney's sales are projected to rise by 1% to $22.88 billion, while EPS is expected to decline by 9% to $1.03 due to challenges in traditional TV and sports broadcasting [6] - Annual earnings for fiscal 2025 are anticipated to increase by 18% to $5.87 per share, with total sales expected to grow by 4% to $94.84 billion [6] Streaming and Profitability - Wall Street is keenly observing the profitability of Disney's streaming segment, which became profitable in Q2 2025, generating $346 million in operating income [7] - The combined streaming subscribers of Disney+, now merging with Hulu, exceed 200 million, positioning Disney in close competition with Amazon's Prime Video [11] Strategic Focus and Investments - Disney is reallocating resources towards high-growth areas such as streaming and global theme parks while cutting costs in underperforming assets like its legacy TV business [8] - The company plans to invest $6 billion in its Experiences segment, which includes theme parks and cruises, and is expanding into the Middle East with a new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi [9] Valuation Metrics - Disney's stock is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 17X, which is lower than the S&P 500's 25X and the industry average of 22X, indicating potential for long-term upside [12] - The stock is trading significantly below its decade-long high of 134X forward earnings and offers a slight discount to the median of 20X during this period [13] Market Outlook - The average price target for Disney shares is set at $135, suggesting a potential upside of 20% from current levels, with Q4 results and guidance being critical for demonstrating the success of the company's strategic expansion [14]