Core Points - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a $9.5 million settlement with Booking Holdings to resolve allegations of deceptive "junk fee" practices [1][2] - The lawsuit claimed that Booking Holdings misrepresented room rates and obscured mandatory fees at checkout [2][6] - The settlement mandates Booking Holdings to disclose any additional fees upfront [3] Company Response - A spokesperson for Booking Holdings stated that the settlement does not imply any admission of wrongdoing and allows the company to avoid prolonged litigation [3][4] - The company emphasized its commitment to transparency and supporting a clear national standard for displaying total prices [5] Regulatory Context - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a Junk Fees Rule aimed at ensuring consumers are not surprised by additional fees when booking hotels or tickets [5] - The rule requires businesses to be upfront about prices but does not limit the types or amounts of fees [6]

Group 1: Booking Holdings - Booking Holdings has turned a $1,000 investment into approximately $180,000 over the past 20 years, reflecting significant growth in online booking services [2][3] - The company generated over $914 million in sales in 2004, with profits of $31.5 million, and reported $23.7 billion in sales and $5.9 billion in profits last year [2][3] - Despite potential near-term economic challenges, Booking Holdings is viewed as a solid long-term investment in the travel industry [4] Group 2: Apple - Apple, with a market cap of $3.3 trillion, has transformed a $1,000 investment into about $151,000 over the past 20 years [5][8] - Recent revenue growth has been modest at 4%, but the services segment has shown a 14% increase, contributing over $26.3 billion to total revenue [6][7] - The company has generated more than $98 billion in free cash flow over the trailing 12 months, making it a reliable investment option [7] Group 3: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has increased a $1,000 investment to approximately $125,000 over the past 20 years, with significant growth in sales and profits [8][9] - The company generated over $14.2 billion in sales for 2024, with net income exceeding $4.4 billion, and its Eylea medication brought in $6 billion in revenue last year [9][10] - Regeneron has a strong pipeline of drug candidates and is considered a good buy-and-hold investment, trading at just 14 times its estimated future earnings [10]