Let's talk about this and more and get critical analysis with retired Colonel Jack Jacobs. Uh Colonel Jacobs, it's it's great to have you on, although I feel like when I have you on or when we talk to you, it's because there's something that's very tense in the world. Do you think it is possible that the United States will go to some form of a physical war with Venezuela.>> It's unlikely. It's difficult to envision how we would do that. I mean, we've tried that in other countries down through the ages and I ...

Company News - UniFirst Corp (NYSE:UNF) received an acquisition proposal from Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) for $275 per share in cash, valuing UniFirst at approximately $5.2 billion, representing a 64% premium to its 90-day average closing price as of December 11, 2025 [2] - Adeia Inc (NASDAQ:ADEA) shares surged 28% to $16.38 after signing a long-term media IP license agreement with Disney and raising its 2025 outlook [8] - Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU) shares increased by 88% to $2.18 after being awarded a contract under the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD IDIQ program [8] - Blacksky Technology Inc (NYSE:BKSY) shares rose 17% to $22.55 after Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $23 [8] - Luminar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAZR) shares dropped 61% to $0.24 after previously jumping around 175% on Friday, following the announcement of voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings [8] - EUDA Health Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:EUDA) shares fell 45% to $1.55 after announcing a strategic technology integration for its Digital Health and Rewards Platform [8] - Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANEB) shares decreased by 21% to $1.72 as the company announced its intent to commence a self tender offer [8] Market Performance - U.S. stocks traded higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 150 points, up 0.39% to 48,322.06, NASDAQ up 0.46% to 23,417.50, and S&P 500 rising 0.46% to 6,866.26 [1] - In commodity news, oil traded up 2.1% to $57.71, gold up 1.8% to $4,464.20, silver up 2.2% to $68.94, while copper fell 0.2% to $5.4970 [5]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced an upward trend, with the Nasdaq Composite increasing by over 100 points on Monday. The Dow rose by 0.18% to 48,222.17, the NASDAQ increased by 0.56% to 23,439.24, and the S&P 500 gained 0.45% to 6,864.96 [1] - Asian markets closed higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.81%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.43%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.69%, and India's BSE Sensex increasing by 0.75% [6] Sector Performance - Energy shares rose by 1.3% on Monday, while utilities stocks fell by 0.5% [1] Commodity Prices - Oil prices increased by 2.2% to $57.75, gold rose by 1.7% to $4,463.30, silver was up 2.5% to $69.150, and copper fell by 0.1% to $5.5085 [4] European Market Performance - European shares were lower, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 declining by 0.3%, Spain's IBEX 35 Index falling by 0.2%, London's FTSE 100 down by 0.5%, Germany's DAX 40 decreasing by 0.3%, and France's CAC 40 dropping by 0.5% [5] Notable Stock Movements - Haoxin Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:HXHX) shares surged by 118% to $0.7513, while Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU) increased by 78% to $2.0650 after receiving a contract from the Missile Defense Agency [8] - Jyong Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ:MENS) shares rose by 36% to $4.32 [8] - Luminar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAZR) shares dropped by 60% to $0.2396 after announcing voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings [8] - EUDA Health Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:EUDA) shares fell by 25% to $2.09 following a strategic technology integration announcement [8] - Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANEB) shares decreased by 20% to $1.74 as the company announced a self tender offer [8]

Russia’s flagship Urals crude oil slumped to about $34 a barrel amid ballooning discounts in a signal that US sanctions are hurting Moscow https://t.co/ktxOjp8WOg ...

Core Viewpoint - As oil and energy investors look towards 2026, balance-sheet strength, capital discipline, and earnings visibility are becoming increasingly important alongside production growth. Baytex Energy and Canadian Natural Resources are diverging in their strategies and risk profiles, with Baytex emerging from a major reset while CNQ focuses on scale and stability [1]. Baytex Energy (BTE) Case - Baytex is transforming into a different company by 2026, having simplified its business through the sale of Eagle Ford assets, which has significantly reduced financial risk and improved its balance sheet [2]. - The company is now focused on high-return Canadian assets, with heavy oil production from Clearwater, Peace River, and Lloydminster forming the backbone of its cash flow, which remains positive even in softer oil price environments [3]. - With over 80% of its 2025 capital spending already completed, Baytex is positioned for better free cash flow visibility heading into 2026, allowing for increased shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks [4]. - Challenges include a heavier weighting towards heavy oil, which increases exposure to price discounts during downturns, and recent reductions in free cash flow expectations due to weaker oil prices [5]. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Case - CNQ represents stability and consistency, with a C$6.3 billion capital program aimed at sustaining low-cost, long-life production while delivering steady returns to shareholders, expecting a modest production growth of about 3% [6]. - The company's asset base features low decline rates and long reserve life, reducing the need for heavy reinvestment and supporting predictable cash flow across commodity cycles [7]. - CNQ's operational efficiency is enhanced by its scale and technology, allowing for steady output and flexibility in response to price changes, although its size limits rapid growth potential [8]. - Looking towards 2026, CNQ is characterized by reliability rather than rapid growth, offering dependable cash flow but limited near-term upside compared to smaller companies like Baytex [9]. Price Performance - Baytex shares have outperformed recently, gaining 65.3% over the past six months, while CNQ shares have decreased by 0.6%, indicating market confidence in Baytex's post-divestment strategy [11]. Valuation - On a forward 12-month price-to-sales basis, CNQ trades at 2.54X and Baytex at 2.45X, suggesting that Baytex may have more room for valuation expansion if its execution continues to improve [12]. EPS Outlook - Baytex is projected to see a 9.5% year-over-year EPS growth in 2025, while CNQ is expected to experience a modest 0.8% decline, indicating stronger earnings leverage for Baytex heading into 2026 [14][16]. Conclusion - Both companies have their merits, but they cater to different investor needs. CNQ is a dependable operator with a proven capital-return model, while Baytex's cleaner balance sheet and improving cash flow profile give it a competitive edge at this time [17].

Core Insights - FinHeim Research specializes in investment analysis and portfolio management with a global perspective on financial markets [1] - The firm focuses on thematic investing research and thematic ETFs, aiming to uncover hidden value in both traditional companies and technology sectors [1] - The main goal is to provide objective analysis to assist investors in selecting optimal options for their investment strategies [1] Group 1 - FinHeim Research has a background in asset management and emphasizes expertise in portfolio construction and optimization [1] - The firm is characterized as a long-term investor with a passion for identifying value across various sectors [1] - Macroeconomics is a key area of interest for the firm, indicating a comprehensive approach to investment analysis [1]

Core Insights - The U.S. military campaign against Venezuela is significantly impacting the oil market, threatening an $8 billion revenue loss for the country [1][3] - President Trump's threats have escalated tensions, leading to a blockade on Venezuelan tanker traffic and increased military presence off the coast [2] - The situation has resulted in many tankers idling off the Venezuelan coast, with only half of them on the U.S. sanction list [3] Oil Trade Dynamics - Sanctioned tankers, referred to as the "shadow fleet," account for approximately 70% of Venezuelan oil trade, with around 900 vessels involved in transporting crude mainly to Asia [4] - Tactics used by these vessels to evade sanctions include ship-to-ship transfers, sailing under false flags, and turning off transponders [5] - The U.S. Navy's presence has complicated these tactics, making it more challenging for Venezuelan crude trade to continue [5]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting with competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of complex financial instruments like cryptocurrencies and CFDs [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party materials intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute a recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - The content is not tailored to individual financial situations or needs, highlighting the necessity for users to exercise their own discretion [1]. Group 2 - The website discusses the high risks associated with cryptocurrencies and CFDs, noting that they are complex instruments with a significant potential for financial loss [1]. - It encourages users to conduct their own research before making investment decisions and to fully understand the workings and risks of any financial instrument [1].

The hit series “Landman” kicked off its second season with a fiery speech by lead actor Billy Bob Thornton. It was about breakfast.The actor, who plays an oil-company fixer, has become a mouthpiece for writer Taylor Sheridan. https://t.co/2jxbwne6EP ...

And joining me now to take a look at the current market setup and talk trends. We want to welcome in our next guest that's Ahmed Riaco, chief investment officer of Insignia. And thank you so much for joining us today.So we've got earning season behind us and the big AI headlines still swirling to some degree. When you think about what's driving markets now, what's your focus on. >> Well, first of all, good morning.Great to be here with you and just want to let you know, you know, gardening season was great. ...