Primary Ventures has closed a $625 million Fund V focused on seed investing nationwide, which is a sizable fund for a firm that focuses solely on early-stage investing. It perhaps showcases how the size of early-stage rounds has dramatically increased in the age of AI. Ben Sun, a co-founder and general partner at Primary Ventures, told TechCrunch the average check size for this fund will range from $5 million to $10 million, and he hopes the firm will invest in 40 to 50 companies over the course of three ...

Operations generated net income of $24.1 million for the December 2025 quarter, up from $23.8 million in the prior-year period, according to the CFO.Nichols noted that earnings-per-share comparisons were adjusted to account for a three-for-one stock split reported in December 2024. He also said that in comparing the December quarters, the allocation of general and administrative expenses declined to 9.6% from 9.7% , while margin improved to 23.3% from 23.2% . However, an increase in the company’s effective ...

Investor Relations 2026 In risk management, timing is everything. We act fast to provide the right support at the right moment - keeping claims on track and people on the path to recovery. We stand on experience Decades of delivering results have made us a proven partner for organizations nationwide. We bring consistency, care, and a deep understanding of what drives better outcomes. We Push Care Forward For us, innovation means more than technology. It's about combining powerful tools with the empathy and ...

Core Insights - Truepic has appointed Kerry Whorton Cooper to its Board of Advisors, bringing over 20 years of executive leadership experience in various sectors including consumer, eCommerce, retail, and energy [1][2][3] - Cooper's expertise will support Truepic's efforts to combat retail, recall, and warranty fraud as the adoption of its technology increases in response to rising AI-driven fraud [2][4] Company Overview - Truepic is a leader in Visual Risk Intelligence, providing a platform that authenticates images and data to prevent fraud and reduce operational risk in the AI era [5] - The flagship platform, Truepic Vision, features the Truepic Risk Network, which is the first visual risk shared intelligence system aimed at alerting suspicious activity across the financial sector [5] Industry Context - Retailers and manufacturers are facing significant challenges due to the acceleration of AI-driven fraud, impacting margins, safety, and customer trust [4] - Truepic's technology aims to bring rigor and verification to processes that have traditionally relied on assumptions, thereby enhancing operational protection for businesses [4]

Core Insights - The broader equity markets experienced a mini recovery, ending a four-day losing streak, driven by cooling inflation and strong performances from key blue-chip stocks [1][2] - The November consumer price index report indicated an annual inflation increase of 2.7%, lower than the expected 3.1%, while core consumer price inflation was at 2.6%, compared to a forecast of 3% [1] Investment Opportunities - Investors are encouraged to focus on "cash cow" stocks with high return on equity (ROE) to maximize returns, as high ROE indicates effective reinvestment of cash [2][3] - TE Connectivity plc (TEL), ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (ZTO), Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC), Assurant, Inc. (AIZ), and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) are highlighted as stocks with high ROE and favorable efficiency scores [2][7] Financial Metrics - ROE is defined as Net Income divided by Shareholders' Equity, serving as a key indicator of a company's profitability and financial health [3] - A higher ROE signifies better management efficiency in generating profits without new equity capital [4] Screening Parameters - Stocks were screened based on criteria including cash flow greater than $1 billion, ROE greater than the industry average, price/cash flow ratio lower than the industry average, return on assets (ROA) greater than the industry average, and a 5-year EPS historical growth greater than the industry average [5][6][7] - Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) was also considered, indicating stocks likely to outperform the market [7] Company Profiles - **TE Connectivity**: A global technology company focused on connectivity and sensor solutions, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 12.3% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.5% [8][9] - **ZTO Express**: A leading express delivery service in China, with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a long-term earnings growth expectation of 3.1% [10][11] - **Pilgrim's Pride**: Engaged in the production and distribution of chicken products, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.4% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [11][12] - **Assurant**: A provider of risk management solutions, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.7% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [12][13] - **Host Hotels**: A leading lodging REIT with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [14][15]

Core Insights - Black Titan Corporation has introduced the second pillar of its DAT+ strategic framework, focusing on a structured approach to risk evaluation and diversified asset assessment [1] Group 1: Risk Evaluation - The new pillar establishes a disciplined review process that evaluates governance quality and ecosystem credibility [1] - It also assesses technical resilience and security track record [1] - Liquidity stability across trading venues is a key consideration in the evaluation process [1] Group 2: Economic Sustainability - The framework emphasizes economic sustainability and tokenomic design as critical factors [1] - A multi-category diversification review is incorporated, highlighting the importance of distributing exposure across various protocols [1] - The diversification includes infrastructure, application-layer, and service-layer protocols [1]

Core Insights - Tokio Marine has agreed to acquire Commodity & Ingredient Hedging (CIH) for $970 million, enhancing its risk management solutions in the agricultural sector [1][4] - CIH provides integrated risk management services, including consulting, brokerage, and insurance, through a proprietary technology platform [1][2] - The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval [4] Company Overview - CIH is based in Chicago and specializes in risk management for clients in agriculture and commodity sectors [1] - The company combines advisory and execution functions, allowing clients to manage commodity price exposure effectively [2][3] - CIH's technology platform offers a unified method for clients to monitor, analyze, and manage risk [3] Strategic Implications - The acquisition will enhance Tokio Marine's specialty offerings in the US agricultural sector and broaden its non-insurance risk solutions capabilities [4] - Tokio Marine HCC's CEO highlighted the importance of CIH's agricultural expertise and innovative technology in managing price volatility [5] - This partnership aligns with Tokio Marine Group's long-term strategy to diversify and grow through fee-based services [5]

Core Insights - Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Commodity & Ingredient Hedging (CIH), a leading provider of risk management solutions for the agricultural and commodity sectors, from Falfurrias Capital Partners [1] - The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar year 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals [1] Company Overview - CIH is headquartered in Chicago and assists agricultural producers, grain merchandisers, and other businesses in managing commodity price risk through an integrated suite of consulting, brokerage, and insurance services [2] - CIH's proprietary technology platform enables clients to view, model, and manage exposure through a single interface, combining education-driven advisory sessions with real-time execution capabilities across insurance and derivatives markets [2] Strategic Implications - The acquisition will enhance Tokio Marine's specialty offerings in the U.S. agricultural sector and expand its non-insurance risk solutions capabilities [3] - This move is expected to strengthen the capabilities of Tokio Marine HCC's agricultural business, diversify the group's earnings, and benefit customers in the agricultural economy [3]

Market Overview - The equity market experienced erratic movements, leading to volatility and a potential shift in the rate-cut narrative [1] - NVIDIA's strong quarterly performance initially boosted the market, but concerns about AI firm valuations have emerged [1] - Experts predict that growth in AI firms may not match the significant investments, suggesting a market correction may be imminent [1] Federal Reserve and Economic Indicators - Investors are anxious about the Federal Reserve's decision on lowering the benchmark borrowing rate in its upcoming meeting [2] - The delayed September jobs report indicated the economy added 119,000 jobs, exceeding expectations and reducing rate cut anticipations [2] - A "wait-and-see" approach is prevalent among investors, who are advised to focus on "cash cow" stocks with high returns [2] Investment Strategy - Identifying cash-rich stocks is essential, but it must be supported by strong efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE) [2] - High ROE indicates effective reinvestment of cash at high returns, distinguishing profitable companies from less efficient ones [3][4] Screening Parameters for Stocks - The primary screening criteria include Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE exceeding the industry average [5] - Additional metrics for screening include: - Price/Cash Flow lower than the industry average, indicating better value for cash flow [6] - Return on Assets (ROA) greater than the industry average, reflecting profitability per dollar of assets [6] - 5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than the industry average, indicating sustained earnings momentum [7] - Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), suggesting potential outperformance [7] Featured Companies - **TE Connectivity**: A global technology company with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 12.3% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.5%, carrying a Zacks Rank 2 [8][9] - **ZTO Express**: A leading express delivery service in China with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 1.7%, also holding a Zacks Rank 2 [10][11] - **Corning**: Known for its glass technologies, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 18.2% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.1%, carrying a Zacks Rank 2 [11][12] - **Assurant**: A global provider of risk management solutions with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.7% and a Zacks Rank 2 [12][13] - **VICI Properties**: An experiential real estate investment trust with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 4.2% and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.4%, also holding a Zacks Rank 2 [14][15]

Group 1 - Aon plc is recognized as one of the 12 Best European Dividend Stocks to Buy Now [1] - UBS analyst Brian Meredith has reduced the price target for Aon plc to $390 from $400 while maintaining a Neutral stance on the stock [2] - In Q3 2025, Aon reported a total revenue growth of 7% and an organic growth of 7%, driven by the Aon United strategy and the 3×3 Plan [3] Group 2 - Net income attributable to shareholders increased by 34% to $2.11 per diluted share compared to $1.57 a year earlier [4] - For the first nine months of 2025, operating cash flow rose by $249 million to $2.1 billion, marking a 14% improvement year-over-year [4] - Free cash flow for the same period grew by 13% to $1.9 billion, supported by stronger operating cash generation [4] Group 3 - Aon plc is a global professional services company specializing in risk management, insurance, and human capital solutions, headquartered in London [5]