Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban isn't letting the absurdity of America's healthcare costs slide—not when a scan can cost more than some used cars. On Saturday, Cuban reignited his crusade for healthcare reform by highlighting what he sees as a glaring pricing failure. "Explain to me why the insurance company will pay $2500 for an MRI when there is a center down the street that will do it for $350?" he wrote on X. The question wasn't random. It came during a thread where Cuban had already been ventin ...

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the challenges faced by small and medium-sized pharmacies in the current market, emphasizing the importance of digital tools for procurement and inventory management to enhance profitability and efficiency. Group 1: Challenges in the Pharmacy Industry - Many small pharmacy owners are struggling with rising costs such as rent and labor, leading to compressed profit margins [1] - The industry is experiencing a phenomenon known as "killing the familiar," where long-term relationships with suppliers may lead to overpaying due to a lack of price comparison [3] - On average, small pharmacies incur hidden losses of 50,000 to 80,000 yuan annually due to improper procurement practices [3] Group 2: Digital Tools and Their Benefits - Successful pharmacies are utilizing digital tools like the "Drug Procurement Browser," which aggregates data from multiple B2B platforms to find the best prices [5][6] - This tool allows pharmacy owners to have a "God's perspective," enabling them to negotiate better prices and make informed purchasing decisions [7] - Implementing data-driven decision-making can significantly improve inventory turnover rates, with reported increases of over 30% [9] Group 3: Future of the Pharmacy Industry - The industry is anticipating a major shift by 2026, with stricter regulations and market consolidation, making digitalization essential for survival [10] - Efficiency will become a key competitive factor, and traditional methods like phone calls and Excel spreadsheets will not suffice [10] - Pharmacy owners are encouraged to adopt digital tools as price comparison aids to avoid overpaying due to information asymmetry [11][12]

Key Points Building on a strong 2025, CVS Health's outlook for 2026 and beyond looks promising. Amgen is developing newer drug products that will address a recent patent cliff. Both stocks are strong options for dividend seekers to add to their portfolios. 10 stocks we like better than CVS Health › Last year was a rebound one for CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) and Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN). After underperforming broader equities in 2024, both healthcare giants bounced back in 2025, outperforming the market ha ...

Fortune and other outlets have reported Cost Plus Drugs can slash the price of some generics from thousands of dollars a month to double‑digit sums, especially for patients who are uninsured or stuck with high deductibles. Cuban argues if similar transparency and direct‑to‑consumer models were applied across health care—combined with rules like letting cash prices count toward insurance deductibles—the country could strip out layers of waste that burden both families and, ultimately, public budgets.Cost Plu ...

Core Viewpoint - BofA Securities has lowered its price target for GoodRx Holdings to $2.60 from $3.00 while maintaining an Underperform rating due to ongoing uncertainty regarding the company's near-term growth outlook [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - Changes in the pharmacy ecosystem are expected to create additional headwinds for GoodRx through 2026, with retail pharmacy chains like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens closing locations [2] - Reimbursement changes in the pharmacy market are anticipated to negatively impact GoodRx's core prescription transaction business in 2025 [2] - Recent shifts in pharmacy benefit manager contracts with plan sponsors may accelerate net pricing at the pharmacy counter, adding further uncertainty to GoodRx's primary revenue stream [2] Group 2: Company Developments - GoodRx has made progress in diversifying its revenue base over the past year, including launching new subscription offerings for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and weight loss, as well as expanding partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers [3] - Despite these efforts, the majority of GoodRx's business remains tied to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), indicating a need for the company to strengthen its industry positioning to stabilize growth in 2026 and beyond [3] Group 3: Valuation and Rating - BofA reiterated its Underperform rating and reduced its price objective to $2.60, reflecting a valuation of 4.0x calendar-year 2026 EBITDA, down from 4.5x previously, aligning with lower peer multiples [4]

MIAMI, FL, Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTC: ETST) (“ETST” or the “Company”), a strategic holding company, today announced that it has engaged Hayden IR, a nationally recognized investor relations and capital markets communications firm, to support the Company’s investor outreach, communications strategy, and market awareness initiatives. The engagement follows ETST’s successful completion of its FINRA 15c-211 clearance and advances its strategy of scaling its businesses into ...

Core Insights - The American high street experienced significant bankruptcies in 2025, affecting well-known brands like Rite Aid and Party City [1][2] Group 1: Bankruptcy Trends - A combination of rising debt and changing consumer habits led to the downfall of many household names, as inflation prompted shoppers to favor online retailers like Amazon and large stores like Target [2] - Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six years in March 2025, having previously declared bankruptcy in 2019 [3][4] - Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in 2023 due to over $4 billion in debt, exacerbated by legal issues related to the opioid crisis, and filed again in May 2025 [8] Group 2: Company-Specific Details - Forever 21, once generating over $4 billion in annual revenue, struggled to adapt to changing consumer preferences and faced competition from brands like Shein and Temu [3][5] - Rite Aid, which peaked with over 5,000 locations, closed 500 stores to reduce debt but ultimately shut down its last 89 stores in October 2025, transferring millions of prescriptions to competitors [7][8]

Bankruptcy Trends - Corporate bankruptcies in the US have reached levels not seen since the Great Recession, with at least 717 companies filing for bankruptcy through November 2025, marking a 14% increase from the previous year and the highest total since 2010 [1] Affected Companies - Notable bankruptcies include pharmacy chain Rite Aid, genetics testing firm 23andMe, fast-casual dining spot Hooters, and no-frills carrier Spirit Airlines [2] Driving Factors - The surge in bankruptcies is attributed to a combination of persistent cost pressures, tight credit conditions, and aggressive trade policies that have increased the price of imported materials and disrupted global supply chains [3][11] - Industrial companies are experiencing the most significant distress, a shift from previous years when consumer retailers dominated bankruptcy filings [4] Sector Analysis - Manufacturers, construction firms, and transportation providers now represent the largest share of new bankruptcy filings, contrasting with recent trends where consumer-facing companies were more prevalent [4] - The manufacturing sector lost over 70,000 jobs in the year ending in November, despite claims that tariff strategies would boost domestic production [4] Consumer Behavior - Consumer-facing companies selling discretionary goods are also facing increased bankruptcy filings, indicating that inflation is causing Americans to reduce nonessential spending [8] - Retailers in sectors like fashion and home décor are particularly vulnerable as consumers prioritize essential expenses [8] Bankruptcy Types - The filings include both Chapter 11 reorganizations, which allow companies to restructure while operating, and Chapter 7 liquidations, which typically result in shutdowns and asset sales [9] Mega Bankruptcies - There has been a notable increase in "mega bankruptcies," with 17 companies having more than $1 billion in assets filing for bankruptcy in the first half of 2025, the highest in any six-month period since the COVID-19 crisis [10] Tariff Impact - Tariffs on steel, components, and energy-related equipment have severely impacted manufacturers and suppliers, with effective tariff rates on imported solar cells and panels rising to about 20% from less than 5% in prior years [15] - Smaller companies are particularly strained by these tariffs, which have led to significant cash flow issues [16] Specific Company Cases - Solar installer PosiGen filed for Chapter 11 in November due to the rollback of federal clean-energy incentives and new tariffs on imported solar equipment [12] - Electric truck maker Nikola filed for Chapter 11 in February after struggling with production scaling and costs related to a battery recall, alongside facing a $125 million civil penalty from the SEC [17]

Key Points CVS Health is slowly righting the ship after several challenging years. Abbott Laboratories' strong business should improve thanks to an acquisition. Both healthcare leaders have attractive long-term prospects and solid dividend programs. 10 stocks we like better than CVS Health › No one knows how the stock market will unfold in 2026. Perhaps broader equities will experience significant volatility but perform well by the end of the year, just as they seem to be doing in 2025. Or maybe ...

Key Takeaways CVS began offering MMR vaccines in South Carolina, and the stock rose 2.4% following the announcement. CVS Health's Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness unit runs 9,000 sites and posted 12% revenue growth in Q3 2025. CVS' Aetna is rolling out a generative AI chat experience to help members navigate benefits more easily.CVS Health (CVS) has recently announced the offering of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to residents post the current outbreak in South Carolina. Both CVS Pharmacy stores and Minu ...