This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. The ex-CFO of a Kentucky health care company has filed a suit claiming her former employer attempted to coerce her to commit fraud. In a Jan. 23 complaint filed in Kentucky’s Floyd Circuit Court, Rebeckah Hall alleged that Mountain Comprehensive Care Center directed her to bill for services under a federally qualified health center designation “to increase revenue even when ...

Key Takeaways The U.S. economy is growing at a healthy pace, but job growth is lagging behind. AI technology may be contributing to the job slump by automating tasks that would otherwise be given to entry-level hires. A wave of AI job losses is one of the risks that could trigger the next recession, according to economists at Moody's Analytics. By many measures, the U.S. economy is doing well, with the gross domestic product growing steadily and stock indexes routinely hitting record highs. But on ...

ICON shares plunged in premarket trading after the health care services contractor said it may have overstated some of its past revenue and pulled its guidance for the year https://t.co/IqTRxRpIvV ...

Core Insights - Many boards are approving AI strategies without clear visibility into the effectiveness of underlying controls, exposing CFOs to scrutiny from regulators, auditors, or investors [1] - Health care organizations face significant challenges in AI governance and controls, with many lacking essential capabilities [4][5] Industry Challenges - 53% of organizations cannot remove personal data from AI models once used, leading to long-term compliance risks under GDPR and other regulations [2] - 63% of organizations cannot enforce purpose limitations on AI agents, 60% lack kill-switch capabilities, and 72% do not have a software bill of materials for AI models [3] - The government sector faces the steepest challenges due to legacy systems, while health care is particularly weak in AI governance [4] Health Care Sector Insights - Over 80% of health care respondents have no API agents planned, reflecting a conservative approach to AI spending [5] - Health care has lagged behind other industries in adopting advanced technologies due to economic constraints, with operating margins typically around 2-3% [6][7] - AI is increasingly viewed as essential for financial sustainability in health care, with leaders recognizing its potential to improve operational efficiency [6] CFO Perspectives - Health care CFOs are under pressure to balance AI investment with limited resources, making technology decisions feel critical rather than experimental [7] - Quantifying AI's return on investment is challenging, complicating the decision-making process for CFOs [7][8] - CFOs are being asked to approve significant technology investments without the necessary internal expertise to evaluate or manage them [8]

Market Overview - The U.S. markets ended the final trading week of 2025 on a mixed note, with optimism over AI growth offset by caution regarding Federal Reserve policy signals [1] - Despite thin year-end liquidity, late pullbacks in all three major benchmark indexes kept the broader bull trend intact as market participants positioned for 2026 [1] Macroeconomic Indicators - Initial jobless claims fell unexpectedly by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 199,000 for the week ended Dec. 27, the lowest since the end of November, signaling continued labor market strength [2] - Pending home sales unexpectedly rose 3.3% in November, marking the largest seasonal rise since 2023 [2] Federal Reserve Policy - The Fed has successfully kept inflation stable and near its 2% target, with a current overnight borrowing rate in the range of 3.50-3.75% [3] - The pace of further easing may slow, even though markets are expecting two additional quarter-point cuts in 2026 [3] Dividend-Paying Stocks - Investors looking to diversify their portfolios can consider dividend-paying stocks, which indicate a healthy business model and can counter market upheavals [4] - Stocks that have raised dividends recently tend to outperform non-dividend-paying entities in a highly volatile market [4] Company Highlights The Ensign Group - The Ensign Group provides health care services in the post-acute care continuum and has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5] - On Dec. 19, ENSG declared a dividend of 7 cents a share, with a dividend yield of 0.1% [5] - Over the past five years, ENSG has increased its dividend five times, with a payout ratio of 4% of earnings [6] Invesco Mortgage Capital - Invesco Mortgage Capital is a real estate investment trust with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [7] - On Dec. 18, IVR declared a dividend of 36 cents a share, reflecting a dividend yield of 17.3% [7] - IVR has increased its dividend four times in the past five years, with a payout ratio of 58% of earnings [8] ABM Industries - ABM Industries is a provider of integrated facility solutions with a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [9] - On Dec. 17, ABM announced a dividend of 29 cents a share, yielding 2.5% [9] - Over the past five years, ABM has increased its dividend six times, with a payout ratio of 31% of earnings [11] Franklin Resources - Franklin Resources is a global investment management company with a Zacks Rank 3 [12] - On Dec. 17, BEN declared a dividend of 33 cents a share, yielding 5.5% [12] - Over the past five years, BEN has increased its dividend five times, with a payout ratio of 58% of earnings [13] Norwood Financial - Norwood Financial is a bank holding company with a Zacks Rank 3 [14] - On Dec. 16, NWFL announced a dividend of 32 cents a share, yielding 4.4% [14] - Over the past five years, NWFL has increased its dividend six times, with a payout ratio of 47% of earnings [14]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration's implementation of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications has been upheld by a federal judge, posing challenges for US technology companies that depend on skilled foreign labor [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Ruling and Implications - US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the increase in H-1B visa fees is lawful, supporting the administration's immigration restrictions and promoting the demand for US workers [2]. - The ruling allows the Trump administration to proceed with the fee, which the US Chamber of Commerce argues makes H-1B visas prohibitively expensive for businesses [3][4]. - Howell's decision indicates that the President has broad authority to address perceived economic and national security issues through such measures [2]. Group 2: Opposition and Ongoing Legal Challenges - The US Chamber of Commerce plans to appeal the ruling, emphasizing the need for the H-1B visa program to function as intended by Congress, allowing businesses to access global talent [3]. - A coalition of 19 state attorneys general is also contesting the fee, focusing on its potential negative impact on public sectors like healthcare and education that rely on H-1B visas [5]. - Other lawsuits are pending, including one from a global nurse-staffing agency, with hearings scheduled that could lead to further legal challenges against the new fee [6][7].

Omada Health FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Omada Health (NasdaqGS:OMDA) - **Industry**: Health Care Services and Technology - **Recent Event**: IPO over the summer of 2025, indicating strong market interest and performance [2][3][5] Core Business Model - Omada Health operates as a "between-visit care provider," focusing on chronic disease management [5][9] - The business model involves charging self-insured employers, fully insured plans, and integrated systems a monthly membership fee for comprehensive services [9][10] - The mission is to improve health outcomes and reduce costs through persistent longitudinal care [5][9] New Service Offerings - Introduction of the **GLP-1 Care Track** aimed at supporting weight loss for members on therapy, showing a 28% increase in weight loss outcomes [18][19] - The service is designed to help members optimize medication use and reduce waste, addressing employer concerns about medication costs and effectiveness [19][20] Financial Insights - The monthly fee structure will increase if clients opt for the prescribing capability, which is expected to be accretive to revenue and margins [24][25] - Long-term targets include achieving over 20% operating margins while maintaining growth [31] Market Dynamics - Anticipated that the GLP-1 prescribing care track will contribute to the P&L primarily in 2027, with some potential deployments in 2026 [37] - The selling season for 2026 is characterized by strong interest from employers, with a mix of those willing to cover medications and those unable to afford them [39][42] AI Integration - Omada is leveraging AI technologies to enhance member engagement and operational efficiency, with tools like Omada Spark and Meal Map [49][50] - AI is seen as a means to improve care team efficiency and increase revenue per user (ARPU) while maintaining quality of care [53][54] Strategic Partnerships - Collaboration with telehealth partners for medication prescriptions to streamline operations and enhance member experience [32][36] - Positive feedback from channel partners like CVS, indicating a gradual build-up of trust and client acquisition [47] Future Outlook - Omada aims to maximize the benefits of new medications and technologies through integrated care solutions, positioning itself as a leader in the health tech space [57] - The company is focused on product innovation and expanding its service offerings to meet diverse employer needs [57][58]

Core Insights - Nvidia's shares experienced a decline of 3.2% despite a strong earnings report, reflecting a broader trend in the tech sector where major U.S. equity indexes closed lower [2][3] - Walmart's shares surged nearly 7% after reporting quarterly earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations, indicating positive consumer spending trends [6][7] - Other AI chipmakers, including AMD and Broadcom, also saw significant declines, with AMD dropping nearly 8% and the PHLX Semiconductor Index falling by nearly 5% [3][4] Nvidia Performance - Nvidia's stock was one of the worst performers in the Dow, contributing to a 0.8% decline in the index, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell by 1.6% and 2.2%, respectively [3] - The decline in Nvidia's stock occurred despite the company posting better-than-expected quarterly results, highlighting volatility in the tech sector [7] Retail Sector Insights - Walmart's strong performance was driven by year-over-year growth in e-commerce sales and advertising revenue, suggesting a positive outlook for U.S. consumer spending as the holiday season approaches [6][7] - Jacobs Solutions saw a significant drop of nearly 11% in its shares due to a year-over-year decline in quarterly profits, attributed to changes in the value of its investment in Amentum [4] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin's price continued to decline, hovering around $87,000, which negatively impacted shares of Robinhood Markets and Coinbase Global, with declines of about 10% and 7.4%, respectively [5] Regulatory Approvals - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for its Eylea HD eye treatment, leading to a 5% increase in its shares, indicating positive developments in the healthcare sector [8] Mergers and Acquisitions - Solventum announced its acquisition of Acera Surgical for $725 million, with potential additional payments of up to $125 million, resulting in a nearly 3% increase in its shares [9]

Company Overview - Agilon Health partners with primary care doctors to deliver coordinated, value-based senior care [3] Allegations and Financial Impact - Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating potential violations of federal securities laws involving Agilon Health due to allegations of providing potentially misleading business information [1] - On August 4, 2025, Agilon Health announced its second-quarter 2025 results, with the Executive Chair acknowledging that industry challenges had become more severe than expected, leading to the suspension of its full-year financial guidance [4] - Following this announcement, Agilon Health's stock plummeted by 51.5% on August 5, 2025 [4]

Core Insights - Advocate Health, the third-largest not-for-profit health care organization in the U.S., has successfully implemented Workday's AI-powered platform for Human Capital Management, Financial Management, and Supply Chain Management, marking a significant step in its digital transformation [1][2][3] Group 1: Digital Transformation and Operational Efficiency - The merger of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health in 2022 led to the formation of Advocate Health, which aims to streamline operations for its 160,000 employees across over 60 hospitals and 1,000 care sites in six states [2] - Workday, in partnership with PwC, was chosen to provide a unified platform that connects HR, finance, and procurement data, enhancing operational efficiency [2][3] - The implementation of Workday's platform allows Advocate Health to centralize its HR, finance, and supply chain data, improving decision-making and care delivery [3][5] Group 2: Employee Experience and Patient Care - Workday HCM simplifies daily tasks for employees, enabling them to manage time-off requests, approve schedules, and check pay via mobile devices, thus allowing more focus on patient care [4] - Workday Financial Management offers a real-time view of financial data, facilitating faster book closing and smarter decision-making [5] - The integration of AI-powered automation in Workday SCM enhances inventory tracking and expense processing, ensuring that resources are efficiently allocated to caregivers and patients [5][6] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook - Advocate Health views Workday as a trusted partner in navigating the changing healthcare landscape and enhancing operational capabilities [3][6] - The collaboration with PwC and Workday demonstrates how digital transformation can yield immediate value in healthcare, improving both employee experience and patient care quality [6]