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Sonos Slips 0.65% After Hours Despite Return to Growth and Higher Profitability Sonos (NASDAQ: SONO) shares fell about 0.65% in

Sonos (NASDAQ: SONO) shares fell about 0.65% in after-hours trading despite reporting a return to annual revenue growth, sharply higher profitability and strong fourth-quarter...

11-11-26

Astronics Falls 13% After Hours Despite Record Q3 Sales and Profitability Astronics (NASDAQ: ATRO) shares fell about 13% in after-hours

Astronics (NASDAQ: ATRO) shares fell about 13% in after-hours trading despite reporting record third-quarter sales, operating income and adjusted EBITDA, as investors appeared to...

11-11-26

Resideo Falls 3.3% After Hours as GAAP Profit Drops Despite Margin Expansion Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI) shares fell about 3.3%

Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI) shares fell about 3.3% in after-hours trading after the company reported modest revenue growth and higher adjusted EBITDA but a...

11-11-26

Rigetti Falls 2.8% After Hours as Revenue Remains Small Despite Quantum Hardware Progress Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) shares fell about

Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) shares fell about 2.8% in after-hours trading after the company reported continued technical progress in its quantum computing roadmap but...

11-11-26

German Inflation Eases to 2.8% in October as Consumer Prices Fall 0.2% Monthly Germany’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.8%

Germany’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.8% in October 2026 from 3.3% in the previous month, matching market expectations. On a monthly basis, consumer...

11-11-26

Mercury Systems Rises 1% After Hours as Record Bookings and Backlog Drive Higher FY2027 Outlook Mercury Systems (NASDAQ: MRCY) shares

Mercury Systems (NASDAQ: MRCY) shares rose about 1% in after-hours trading after the defense electronics company reported record first-quarter bookings, revenue and adjusted EBITDA...

11-11-26

Telefônica Brasil Rises 0.8% After Hours as Profit and Cash Flow Accelerate Telefônica Brasil (NYSE: VIV) shares rose about 0.8%

Telefônica Brasil (NYSE: VIV) shares rose about 0.8% in after-hours trading after the company reported strong third-quarter earnings growth, margin expansion and higher free...

11-11-26

CoreWeave Jumps 18% After Hours as Revenue Surges and 2026 Guidance Rises CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) shares surged about 18% in

CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) shares surged about 18% in after-hours trading after the AI cloud infrastructure provider reported a sharp acceleration in third-quarter revenue, expanding...

11-11-26

Alcon Falls 6.8% After Hours as Narrowed Outlook Overshadows Q3 Growth Alcon (NYSE: ALC) shares fell about 6.8% in after-hours

Alcon (NYSE: ALC) shares fell about 6.8% in after-hours trading after the eye-care company reported third-quarter growth but narrowed parts of its 2026 outlook...

11-11-26

Australia Home Loans Fall 5.3% in Third Quarter Australian home loans declined 5.3% in the third quarter of 2026, extending

Australian home loans declined 5.3% in the third quarter of 2026, extending the weakness seen in the previous period. The latest reading represented a...

11-11-26

Agilent Expands Hematologic Cancer Profiling Portfolio with New Pan Heme NGS Solution Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) launched SureSelect Cancer Research

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) launched SureSelect Cancer Research Pan Heme, a new next-generation sequencing research solution designed for comprehensive genomic profiling of hematologic malignancies....

11-10-26

Diamondback Energy and KKR to Acquire Full Ownership of Deep Blue Midland Basin Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) and KKR agreed

Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) and KKR agreed to jointly acquire Five Point Infrastructure’s 70% stake in Deep Blue Midland Basin, giving the two companies...

11-10-26

NASDAQ:CRWV

CoreWeave Jumps 18% After Hours as Revenue Surges and 2026 Guidance Rises

CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) shares surged about 18% in after-hours trading after the AI cloud infrastructure provider reported a sharp acceleration in third-quarter revenue, expanding margins and higher full-year guidance.

Third-quarter revenue reached $3.66 billion, up from $1.37 billion a year earlier and more than $1 billion higher sequentially. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $2.26 billion, representing a 62% margin, while adjusted operating income reached $379 million and adjusted operating margin improved to 10%.

The company remained deeply loss-making on a GAAP basis, however. Net loss widened to $709 million from $110 million a year earlier, largely reflecting heavy financing costs. Net interest expense reached $846 million, while adjusted net loss was $529 million.

Demand visibility strengthened significantly, with revenue backlog reaching approximately $132.5 billion at the end of September. CoreWeave also expanded active power capacity to more than 1.7 GW and contracted power to more than 4.6 GW as it continued building out AI infrastructure globally.

Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $13.0-$13.3 billion and increased adjusted operating income guidance to $1.275-$1.375 billion, representing a 26% increase at the midpoint from its prior outlook. The company also lifted its year-end annualized run-rate revenue target to $20-$21 billion.

Capital spending remains extremely high, with CoreWeave now expecting 2026 capex of $37-$39 billion, while fourth-quarter interest expense is projected at $1.05-$1.15 billion.

The 18% after-hours rally appears to reflect the combination of accelerating revenue growth, a massive backlog, earlier-than-expected margin expansion and higher full-year guidance, outweighing continued concerns around leverage, interest expense and capital intensity.

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Global Finance News 11-11-26

CoreWeave Gains as JPMorgan Upgrades CRWV to Overweight, Raises Target to $125

CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) shares rose about 4% Thursday after JPMorgan upgraded the AI infrastructure company to Overweight from Neutral and raised its December 2027 price target to $125 from $120.

Analyst Samik Chatterjee cited strong demand for AI compute capacity, a favorable pricing environment and CoreWeave’s ability to secure short-term contracts at premium rates. Recent contracts have included terms of roughly three to six months, while higher compute pricing appears to be more than offsetting increased costs and supporting stronger contribution margins on new agreements. JPMorgan also pointed to pricing increases across the GPU compute market as evidence that demand remains tight (Blockspace).

The upgrade comes as CoreWeave continues to expand rapidly. Second-quarter revenue reached $2.58 billion, up 112% year over year, while backlog stood near $104 billion before including more than $25 billion of additional customer commitments secured early in the third quarter.

CoreWeave shares were trading around $90.29, up roughly 3.9%. JPMorgan’s new $125 target reflects expectations that strong AI infrastructure demand and improved pricing could continue to support revenue growth and margins.

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WS Investor 09-24-26

11-11-26Global Finance News

10-19-26WS News

09-12-26European Investor

NYSE:JNJ

Johnson & Johnson Reports Second Positive Phase 3 Study for CAPLYTA in Bipolar Mania

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported positive results from a second pivotal Phase 3 study of CAPLYTA in adults with bipolar I disorder experiencing manic episodes, strengthening the case for a planned U.S. FDA submission in the indication.

In Study 452, once-daily CAPLYTA 42 mg produced a statistically significant improvement in manic symptoms versus placebo after three weeks. The drug achieved a 3.7-point greater reduction on the Young Mania Rating Scale, with benefits appearing as early as Day 3 and continuing through Week 3.

Clinical response rates were also materially higher. At Week 3, 43.9% of CAPLYTA-treated patients achieved at least a 50% improvement in YMRS scores compared with 23.7% of patients receiving placebo. CAPLYTA also significantly improved overall illness severity on the CGI-S scale.

Safety was consistent with CAPLYTA’s established profile, with dizziness, dry mouth and somnolence or sedation among the most common treatment-related adverse events.

Together with the previously positive Study 451, the results provide two successful pivotal Phase 3 trials supporting Johnson & Johnson’s planned regulatory submission for bipolar mania. CAPLYTA is already approved for bipolar depression, schizophrenia and as adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder, but is not currently approved for manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

Johnson & Johnson Reports 73% PSA Response With Experimental Prostate Cancer Combination

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported encouraging Phase 1 results for an experimental prostate cancer immunotherapy combination, with 73% of patients at the recommended regimen achieving at least a 50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen.

The regimen combines pasritamig, a KLK2-targeting bispecific antibody, with JNJ-9401, a PSMA-targeting bispecific designed to provide a complementary T-cell activation signal. Among 15 patients treated at the recommended dose, 11 achieved PSA reductions of at least 50%, while seven, or 47%, achieved reductions of at least 90%.

The responses also appeared durable in this early dataset. All seven patients with PSA reductions of at least 90% remained on treatment for more than six months without disease progression. Four patients achieved undetectable PSA levels.

Safety was also encouraging at the recommended regimen. No Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events, dose-limiting toxicities, treatment-related discontinuations or deaths were reported. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in three patients, but all cases were mild Grade 1 events.

The combination is now being evaluated in the Phase 3 KLK2-comPAS study in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, representing an important next step for Johnson & Johnson’s prostate cancer pipeline.

While the Phase 1 results are based on a small patient group and require confirmation in larger studies, the depth of PSA responses and early safety profile suggest the dual-targeted approach could become a meaningful new option in advanced prostate cancer.

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The Investor 11-09-26

Johnson & Johnson Wins FDA Approval for Rybrevant Faspro in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) said the U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval to Rybrevant Faspro as a single-agent treatment for certain adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose disease progressed after platinum chemotherapy and an anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.

The approval is the first for a dual EGFR- and MET-targeted therapy in this treatment setting and marks Rybrevant Faspro’s first indication beyond non-small cell lung cancer. The therapy is administered as a subcutaneous injection.

FDA clearance was supported by the Phase 1b/2 OrigAMI-4 study, where the confirmed overall response rate was 42%, including complete responses in 15% of patients. Among responders, 56% maintained their response for more than six months.

The indication excludes HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and continued approval may depend on confirmation of clinical benefit in the ongoing Phase 3 OrigAMI-5 study.

The approval broadens Johnson & Johnson’s oncology franchise by extending amivantamab into another difficult-to-treat solid tumor and could increase the commercial opportunity for the Rybrevant platform beyond lung cancer.

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Global Finance News 11-07-26

Johnson & Johnson Reports Strong VARIPULSE and OMNYPULSE Data in Atrial Fibrillation

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported new clinical data for two pulsed field ablation platforms at the APHRS 2026 meeting, highlighting strong acute procedural results for VARIPULSE Pro and encouraging 12-month outcomes for the investigational OMNYPULSE system.

In the VARIPURE study, which included 225 patients across 19 European centers, the VARIPULSE Pro Platform achieved 100% acute procedural success. The study reported one primary adverse event, representing a 0.4% rate, with no reported stroke, coronary spasm, acute kidney injury or death. Mean ablation time was 17.9 minutes, and a single-catheter mapping-and-ablation workflow was used in 88.9% of cases.

VARIPULSE Pro is currently available in Europe, Japan and certain other international markets, but is not approved in the United States.

Separately, the Omny-IRE study evaluated 136 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. At 12 months, 82.5% of patients remained free from documented atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia recurrence under stringent monitoring, rising to 90.1% under standard-of-care monitoring. The reported adverse-event rate was 2.9%, and all safety events were resolved.

Patients treated with OMNYPULSE also showed a 25.5-point mean improvement in the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life score, along with reductions in antiarrhythmic medication use and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations. OMNYPULSE remains investigational and is not approved or available for sale.

Johnson & Johnson also cited real-world database results suggesting lower long-term atrial-fibrillation-related acute-care utilization with its CARTO 3 mapping system compared with EnSite, with patients treated using EnSite showing a 31% higher risk of AF/AFL/AT-related inpatient readmission or emergency-room visits in that analysis.

The findings add clinical evidence across Johnson & Johnson’s electrophysiology portfolio and support the company’s broader push into pulsed field ablation, although the OMNYPULSE results remain investigational and VARIPULSE Pro is not yet approved in the U.S.

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European Investor 10-22-26

Johnson & Johnson Falls 4.8% Despite Q3 Beat as MedTech Weakness and 2027 EPS Dilution Weigh on Shares

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) shares fell about 4.8% even as the company reported third-quarter operational sales growth of 6%, ahead of analyst expectations, and raised its full-year 2026 guidance.

Innovative Medicine remained the main growth engine, with operational sales up 7.9%. Oncology grew about 17%, while RYBREVANT sales increased 64% and TREMFYA surged 68%. SPRAVATO also delivered 36% growth, highlighting continued momentum across several of J&J’s key pharmaceutical franchises.

The weaker area was MedTech, where operational sales increased just 2.5% and management acknowledged that performance fell short of expectations. J&J specifically pointed to Cardiovascular and Surgery outside the U.S. as areas needing improvement, while ABIOMED continued to face pressure from physician selectivity.

J&J raised its 2026 operational sales growth outlook to 6.7%-7.1%, representing about $100.7 billion at the midpoint. Reported sales are expected to reach roughly $101.2 billion at the midpoint. Adjusted reported EPS guidance was tightened to $11.05-$11.15.

However, investors may be focusing more heavily on the company’s 2027 earnings outlook. Management said the Firefly Bio acquisition and Sail Biomedicines collaboration are expected to reduce full-year 2027 adjusted EPS by a combined $1.36 per share, a meaningful near-term earnings headwind despite their longer-term pipeline potential.

The quarter also included the previously announced $5.5 billion agreement to resolve ovarian talc litigation, subject to participation by at least 95% of remaining claimants. The charge is reflected in third-quarter GAAP results.

The 4.8% decline therefore appears to reflect a combination of softer-than-expected MedTech performance, especially in Cardiovascular and Surgery, and concern over substantial acquisition-related EPS dilution expected in 2027, outweighing the strong pharmaceutical growth and improved 2026 guidance.

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European Investor 10-13-26

Johnson & Johnson Reports Two-Year ICOTYDE Data Showing Durable Skin Clearance in Plaque Psoriasis

Johnson & Johnson reported new two-year Phase 3 data for ICOTYDE, or icotrokinra, showing sustained skin clearance in patients with plaque psoriasis affecting difficult-to-treat areas including the scalp, genitals, hands and feet.

In the ICONIC-TOTAL study, 70% of ICOTYDE-treated patients achieved clear or almost clear skin at Week 112, up from 57% at Week 16. Complete clearance rates at Week 112 reached 60% for scalp psoriasis, 89% for genital psoriasis and 63% for psoriasis affecting the hands or feet.

Nail psoriasis also continued to improve over time, with the average improvement in the modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index reaching 71% at Week 112.

Safety findings through two years remained consistent with ICOTYDE’s established safety profile, with no new safety signals identified.

ICOTYDE is a once-daily oral peptide designed to block the IL-23 receptor. It is approved in the U.S. for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and patients aged 12 and older who meet treatment criteria, and is also approved in Europe, Japan and China.

The long-term results strengthen Johnson & Johnson’s case for ICOTYDE as an oral systemic treatment option, particularly for patients with psoriasis affecting sensitive or highly visible areas where treatment can be especially challenging.

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Global Finance News 10-02-26

Johnson & Johnson Highlights Two-Year IMAAVY Data Showing Sustained Disease Control in gMG

Johnson & Johnson reported new two-year data for IMAAVY in generalized myasthenia gravis, showing sustained improvements in daily function and muscle strength among adolescents treated in the Phase 2/3 Vibrance-MG study.

At Week 108, patients with available data maintained a mean 2.88-point improvement in the MG-ADL score and an 8.25-point improvement in the QMG score from baseline. Corticosteroid use also declined, with three of six adolescents taking steroids at study entry reducing their dose and one discontinuing treatment after two years. No new safety signals were identified.

Johnson & Johnson also presented retrospective real-world data from healthcare professionals treating adults with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody-positive gMG. Fluctuating symptom control was cited as the most common reason for stopping a previous advanced therapy.

Among 97 patients who switched to IMAAVY, 73.2% were reported as “much improved” or “very much improved.” Among patients receiving prednisone, 76.4% reduced their dose and 5.5% discontinued it.

IMAAVY is an FcRn blocker approved for adults and patients aged 12 and older with antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis. The new findings add longer-term evidence supporting sustained disease control and reduced corticosteroid dependence.

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WS Investor 09-29-26

Johnson & Johnson Highlights Two-Year IMAAVY Data Showing Sustained Disease Control in gMG

Johnson & Johnson reported new two-year data for IMAAVY in generalized myasthenia gravis, showing sustained improvements in daily function and muscle strength among adolescents treated in the Phase 2/3 Vibrance-MG long-term extension study.

At Week 108, patients with available data maintained a mean improvement of 2.88 points on the MG-ADL scale and 8.25 points on the QMG scale from baseline. Corticosteroid use also declined, with three of six adolescents on steroids at study entry reducing their dose and one discontinuing treatment after two years. No new safety signals were identified over the treatment period.

Johnson & Johnson also presented real-world survey data from healthcare professionals treating adults with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody-positive gMG. Fluctuating symptom control was the most frequently cited reason for discontinuing a prior advanced therapy, while a consistent treatment schedule and expectations for improved efficacy were the main reasons for switching to IMAAVY.

Among 97 patients who transitioned to IMAAVY, healthcare professionals reported that 73.2% were “much improved” or “very much improved.” Among patients receiving prednisone, 76.4% reduced their dose and 5.5% discontinued it.

IMAAVY is an FcRn blocker approved for adults and patients aged 12 years and older with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis. The latest data strengthen Johnson & Johnson’s clinical case for the treatment by showing durability of response and potential steroid-sparing benefits across longer-term use.

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WS Investor 09-29-26

Johnson & Johnson’s TREMFYA Meets Key Endpoints in Phase 4 Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Study

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) said TREMFYA (guselkumab) met the primary and major secondary endpoints in the Phase 4 STAR study evaluating biologic-naïve adults with active psoriatic arthritis and axial involvement. The company said the treatment improved spinal pain, stiffness and other axial symptoms while also reducing MRI-confirmed inflammation.

TREMFYA achieved a significant improvement in the BASDAI disease activity score at Week 24 versus placebo and also met secondary endpoints measuring axial symptoms through ASDAS-CRP and inflammation of the sacroiliac joints by MRI. Johnson & Johnson said the safety profile was consistent with TREMFYA’s established profile in psoriatic arthritis, with no new safety signals identified.

The STAR study enrolled 411 patients and is notable for using MRI-confirmed axial inflammation both for patient selection and for assessing treatment response. Johnson & Johnson said the results strengthen the evidence for TREMFYA in axial psoriatic arthritis, an area where dedicated prospective trials remain limited.

TREMFYA is already approved for active psoriatic arthritis and several other inflammatory diseases, and Johnson & Johnson recently received an FDA label expansion recognizing its ability to inhibit progression of structural joint damage in adults with active PsA. Detailed STAR efficacy and safety data are expected at an upcoming scientific congress.

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Global Finance News 09-25-26

Johnson & Johnson Highlights Strong Long-Term Survival Potential for TECVAYLI-DARZALEX Combination

Johnson & Johnson reported new MajesTEC-3 analyses suggesting that TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO could materially improve long-term outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma treated as early as second line.

A model-based analysis estimated that about 87% of patients receiving the combination could eventually have a mortality risk similar to an age-matched general population. Projected remaining life expectancy was 18.5 years with TECVAYLI-DARZALEX versus 4.9 years with the standard-of-care comparator, approaching 21.1 years for the matched general population.

A separate analysis showed that the combination reduced the risk of disease progression by 90% versus standard care. At 36 months, progression had occurred in 8.7% of patients receiving TECVAYLI-DARZALEX compared with 62.1% in the control group. Overall survival at three years was 83.3% versus 65.0%, while non-relapse mortality was not significantly different between the groups.

The findings build on the Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 trial, which evaluates the combination in patients who had received one to three prior therapies. Johnson & Johnson said continued follow-up will be needed to determine whether the model-based long-term survival projections are borne out over time.

The data strengthen the case for moving TECVAYLI earlier in the multiple myeloma treatment pathway and reinforce Johnson & Johnson’s broader strategy of combining bispecific antibodies with established myeloma therapies.

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The Investor 09-23-26

05-02-26WS News

12-30-25European Investor

10-14-25European Investor

10-04-25European Investor

04-15-25WS News

NYSE:TDG

TransDigm Rises 1.6% as Q4 Results Top Guidance and Fiscal 2027 Outlook Signals Continued Growth

TransDigm Group (NYSE: TDG) shares rose about 1.6% on Tuesday after the company reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results, with revenue and EBITDA As Defined exceeding the high end of its most recent guidance.

Fourth-quarter net sales increased 23% year over year to $2.99 billion, including 14% organic growth. Adjusted EPS rose 15% to $12.44, while EBITDA As Defined increased 20% to $1.58 billion. Reported EPS climbed 33% to $10.33.

Net income declined 4% to $586 million, primarily due to higher interest expense from increased gross debt and higher tax expense. However, adjusted net income rose 12% to $706 million.

For fiscal 2026, revenue increased 20% to $10.56 billion, while EBITDA As Defined rose 17% to $5.56 billion. TransDigm also deployed more than $7 billion of capital during the year, including approximately $4.4 billion toward acquisitions and a record $2.8 billion of share repurchases.

Management issued fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $11.95 billion-$12.15 billion, implying 14% growth at the midpoint. EBITDA As Defined is expected to reach $6.20 billion-$6.35 billion, while adjusted EPS is projected at $47.09-$47.94, representing approximately 15% growth at the midpoint.

TransDigm expects commercial OEM revenue to grow in the high-single-digit to low-double-digit range, with commercial aftermarket and defense revenue both growing at high-single-digit rates.

The 1.6% gain appears to reflect stronger-than-guided fourth-quarter performance, continued double-digit organic growth and a solid fiscal 2027 outlook, partly offset by higher interest expense and modest margin dilution from recent acquisitions.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

TransDigm Completes $1.07 Billion Acquisition of Prince & Izant

TransDigm Group completed its acquisition of Prince & Izant for approximately $1.066 billion in cash, including certain tax benefits, using cash on hand.

Prince & Izant is a Cleveland-based designer and manufacturer of highly engineered brazing alloys and specialty metal components used in aerospace and defense, aeroderivative turbines and transportation. Its aerospace applications include aircraft engine fuel nozzles and rocket engines.

The business generates most of its revenue from the aftermarket and supports a large installed base, fitting TransDigm’s strategy of owning proprietary aerospace products with recurring demand. Prince & Izant offers nearly 10,000 active SKUs, with much of its revenue tied to specialty metals including gold, silver and platinum alloys.

TransDigm now expects Prince & Izant to generate about $390 million in calendar 2026 revenue. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and New York and employs roughly 220 people.

The acquisition broadens TransDigm’s exposure to specialized aerospace materials and components while adding another aftermarket-heavy business to its portfolio.

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European Investor 09-28-26

TransDigm Stock Falls 2.7% as Melius Research Cuts Rating to Hold

TransDigm Group shares fell 2.7% to $1,109.80 on Monday after Melius Research moved its rating on the aerospace components manufacturer to Hold from Buy. The firm maintained a $1,331 price target, still implying roughly 20% upside from the current share price.

Beyond the analyst action, the decline may reflect profit-taking and valuation concerns following the aerospace sector’s strong longer-term performance. TransDigm typically commands a premium valuation because of its high-margin portfolio of proprietary aircraft components and substantial exposure to recurring aftermarket demand.

Investors may also be weighing the impact of higher interest rates. TransDigm has historically operated with significant leverage, making elevated borrowing costs and bond yields more relevant to its valuation than for less leveraged industrial companies.

Monday’s decline therefore appears more consistent with valuation caution and the less-bullish analyst stance than a fundamental deterioration in the company’s long-term aerospace exposure.

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WS Investor 09-14-26

TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) will report fiscal 2026 second quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

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The Investor 04-27-26

TransDigm Group Incorporated announced it has completed the acquisition of Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings for approximately $2.2 billion in cash.

The acquired companies specialize in aftermarket aerospace components and services, primarily serving commercial aviation and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers. Together, they generated around $280 million in revenue in 2025.

TransDigm said the acquisition strengthens its position in the high-margin aerospace aftermarket segment, expanding its portfolio of proprietary engineered components.

The deal was financed through a combination of cash on hand and proceeds from recent debt offerings.
PRNewswire

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WS Investor 04-07-26

TransDigm Group disclosed in a Form 8-K that it plans to raise up to $2.0 billion in new debt, subject to market conditions, to finance previously announced acquisitions.

The proposed financing consists of a $1.0 billion private placement of senior subordinated notes and up to $1.0 billion of new tranche N term loans to be launched concurrently. The notes will be offered under Rule 144A and Regulation S and will be guaranteed by TransDigm Group and certain subsidiaries.

TransDigm intends to use the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to fund the acquisitions of Stellant Systems and Jet Parts Engineering along with Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings, as well as related transaction fees and expenses.

Completion of the debt offerings and the credit agreement amendment remains subject to market and customary conditions, with no assurance provided on timing or completion.

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Global Finance News 02-09-26

TransDigm Group Incorporated reported strong fiscal 2026 first-quarter results, driven by robust demand across its commercial OEM, aftermarket, and defense markets, and raised its full-year outlook.

For the quarter ended December 27, 2025, TransDigm posted net sales of $2.29 billion, up 14% year over year, with organic growth of 7.4%. Net income totaled $445 million, while GAAP EPS was $6.62 and adjusted EPS rose 5% to $8.23. EBITDA As Defined increased 13% to $1.20 billion, representing a margin of 52.4%. The company noted that higher interest expense weighed on net income, partially offset by sales growth and operating execution.

Following the quarter, TransDigm announced agreements to acquire Stellant Systems, Jet Parts Engineering, and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings for a combined approximately $3.2 billion, expanding its portfolio of proprietary aerospace and defense components. Based on first-quarter performance, the company raised its fiscal 2026 guidance, now forecasting net sales of $9.85–$10.04 billion and EBITDA As Defined of $5.14–$5.28 billion.

Source: PRNewswire

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WS Investor 02-03-26

TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) announced it will report fiscal 2026 first quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

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The Investor 01-26-26

TransDigm Group Incorporated announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings, portfolio companies of Vance Street Capital, for approximately $2.2 billion in cash, including certain tax benefits. The transaction strengthens TransDigm’s position in the aftermarket aerospace components segment and is expected to expand its portfolio of proprietary aircraft parts.

Source: TransDigm Group Incorporated (PRNewswire)

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Global Finance News 01-18-26

TransDigm Group reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results, supported by double-digit sales growth and record profitability.

Fourth-quarter net sales rose 12% year over year to $2.44 billion, while net income increased 30% to $609 million. Earnings per share climbed 34% to $7.75, and adjusted EPS reached $10.82, up 10%. EBITDA As Defined grew 15% to $1.32 billion, with a margin of 54.2%.

For the full fiscal year, net sales reached $8.83 billion, up 11%, and net income rose 21% to $2.07 billion. Full-year EPS advanced 25% to $32.08, and adjusted EPS was $37.33, up 10%. EBITDA As Defined increased 14% to $4.76 billion with a 53.9% margin.

The company distributed a $90 per share special dividend during the quarter, totaling about $5.2 billion, funded by a $5 billion debt issuance. It also repurchased $0.5 billion in stock during the year and $0.1 billion more after year-end.

TransDigm acquired Simmonds Precision Products from RTX in October 2025 and completed major refinancing activities, including repricing term loans and issuing new debt with maturities extending into the 2030s.

For fiscal 2026, the company expects net sales between $9.75 billion and $9.95 billion, up about 11.5% at the midpoint. EBITDA As Defined is projected between $5.08 billion and $5.23 billion, up 8%, and adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $36.49 to $38.53. Growth will be led by commercial OEM revenue in the high single to mid-teens range, with continued gains in aftermarket and defense segments.

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Global Finance News 11-12-25

NASDAQ

U.S. CPI Rises More Than Expected in October as Core Inflation Holds at 0.3%

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% month over month in October, above the 0.3% forecast but slowing from September’s 0.6% increase.

Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.3%, also exceeding the 0.2% forecast and matching the previous month’s pace.

Separately, ADP’s weekly employment measure showed private payrolls increasing by 19,800, slightly above the previous reading of 19,500.

U.S. equities traded modestly lower following the data. The S&P 500 was down 0.19%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.35%, and the Nasdaq declined 0.06%.

The hotter-than-expected headline and core CPI readings suggest underlying inflation pressures remain persistent, potentially reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will remain cautious about further monetary-policy easing.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 189,000 as Tech Stocks Slide

U.S. initial jobless claims fell to 189,000, below the 197,000 forecast and down from 195,000 previously, pointing to continued resilience in the labor market.

Continuing jobless claims, however, increased to 1.718 million from 1.695 million, slightly above the 1.710 million forecast. The combination suggests layoffs remain low, while workers already unemployed may be taking somewhat longer to find new jobs.

U.S. equities traded mixed following the data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 0.54%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.32% and the Nasdaq declined 1.12%.

The stronger initial claims reading may reinforce expectations that the labor market remains relatively firm, potentially limiting the case for faster monetary easing. The heavier decline in the Nasdaq suggests rate-sensitive technology stocks were under greater pressure, while the Dow showed relative strength.

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The Investor 11-05-26

U.S. Stock Futures Rally After Democratic Midterm Sweep as ADP Employment Matches Prior Month

U.S. stock futures moved sharply higher on Wednesday as investors digested the Democratic sweep of both chambers of Congress and a stronger-than-expected private-sector employment report.

Dow futures climbed about 2.1%, S&P 500 futures rose 1.1%, while Nasdaq futures gained 0.4%. The broader move followed confirmation that Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, creating a divided government with Republican President Donald Trump.

Labor-market data also provided support. ADP reported that U.S. private payrolls increased by 86,000 in October, matching the previous month’s reading and exceeding the 67,000 forecast. The result points to continued hiring momentum, although employment growth remains relatively moderate.

The market reaction suggests investors are balancing two themes. The election outcome has increased expectations that large legislative changes may become more difficult, while the ADP report indicates the labor market has not weakened sharply. Together, those factors supported cyclical shares and helped push Dow futures substantially higher.

The Nasdaq’s smaller gain also reflects a more complicated post-election backdrop for technology stocks. Democratic victories have increased investor focus on possible tighter oversight of AI infrastructure and data-center development, particularly after election campaigns in several states highlighted concerns over energy use, utility costs and local opposition to new data centers.

Overall, the combination of greater political clarity and resilient employment data is supporting U.S. equities ahead of the opening bell. However, investors are likely to remain focused on how the new congressional balance may affect fiscal policy, AI regulation and future Federal Reserve decisions.

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WS Investor 11-04-26

U.S. Stocks Rise as Oil Plunges and ISM Manufacturing Beats Forecasts

U.S. stocks extended gains Monday as sharply lower oil prices eased inflation concerns and stronger-than-expected ISM manufacturing data supported confidence in the economy.

The Dow Jones rose 1.03% to 52,304.31, the Nasdaq gained 0.87% to 25,658.79, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.62% to 7,627.00.

Brent crude fell more than 6% to around $106.41 a barrel. The sharp decline in energy prices provides a favorable backdrop for equities by reducing concerns over fuel-driven inflation and potentially lowering costs for businesses and consumers.

Economic data also offered support. The ISM Manufacturing PMI increased to 55.5 in October, beating the 54.5 forecast and improving from 54.5 previously. The reading remained well above the 50 threshold, indicating continued expansion in U.S. manufacturing activity.

At the same time, the ISM Manufacturing Prices index eased to 75.2 from 77.9 and came in below the 77.2 forecast. Although input-price pressures remained elevated, the decline provided some reassurance on the inflation outlook. Manufacturing employment slipped slightly to 52.4 from 52.7 but remained in expansion territory.

Construction spending was the major weak point, falling 1.9% month over month in September compared with expectations for a 0.4% increase and a previous 2.0% gain.

Overall, the rise in U.S. indexes appears to reflect a combination of sharply lower oil prices, stronger manufacturing activity and some moderation in manufacturing price pressures. The weak construction spending figure limited the otherwise positive macro picture but was not enough to offset the broader improvement in investor sentiment.

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European Investor 11-02-26

U.S. Stocks Trade Mixed as Wider Trade Deficit Offsets Inventory Growth

U.S. stocks were mixed after fresh economic data showed a wider-than-expected goods trade deficit alongside stronger retail inventory growth. The S&P 500 rose 0.15% and the Dow gained 0.27%, while the Nasdaq was nearly unchanged, down 0.01%.

The U.S. goods trade deficit widened to $134.90 billion in September, larger than the $130.40 billion consensus estimate and the previous $132.07 billion deficit. The deterioration suggests imports continued to outpace exports and could weigh on the trade component of third-quarter GDP calculations.

Retail inventories excluding autos increased 0.4% in September, accelerating from 0.1% previously. Higher inventories can provide some near-term support to GDP, although persistent inventory accumulation can become a negative signal if it reflects weaker-than-expected final demand.

Overall, the releases offered a mixed economic signal: stronger inventory accumulation was offset by a larger trade deficit, helping explain the relatively subdued reaction across major U.S. equity indexes.

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WS Investor 10-28-26

Wall Street Rises as Strong Consumer Confidence Offsets Mixed U.S. Economic Data

U.S. stocks moved higher Tuesday, with the Nasdaq gaining 1.19%, the S&P 500 rising 0.66% and the Dow Jones adding 0.14%, as investors digested a mixed batch of economic data.

Conference Board Consumer Confidence climbed to 91.7 in October, well above the 81.2 forecast and up from 84.2 previously. The stronger-than-expected reading pointed to improved household sentiment and provided the clearest positive signal from the day’s releases.

New home sales also came in better than expected at an annualized 676,000 in September, compared with the 651,000 forecast, although sales edged down from 680,000 previously.

Other indicators were softer. Building permits slipped to 1.398 million, slightly below the 1.400 million forecast and 1.403 million prior reading. Weekly ADP employment growth slowed to 16,800 from 18,500, suggesting some moderation in private-sector hiring.

Durable goods orders rose 1.8% in September, a sharp improvement from the prior 0.1% increase but slightly below the 2.0% consensus estimate.

Overall, the data presented a mixed economic picture, with stronger consumer confidence and housing demand offsetting softer employment and building activity. The stronger move in the Nasdaq suggests risk appetite remained relatively firm despite the uneven macro signals.

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European Investor 10-27-26

Wall Street Falls as Mixed Jobless Claims and Surging Oil Keep Rate and Inflation Concerns in Focus

U.S. stocks traded lower after the latest labor-market data sent a mixed signal while a sharp rise in crude oil added to inflation concerns.

Initial jobless claims fell to 194,000, better than the 200,000 consensus estimate and down from 200,000 previously. The reading suggests layoffs remain relatively contained and the labor market is still holding up.

Continuing jobless claims, however, rose to 1.728 million, above the 1.720 million forecast and up from 1.703 million previously. That points to some difficulty for unemployed workers in finding new jobs even as new layoffs remain low.

Equities were under pressure, with the S&P 500 down about 0.78%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average off 0.15%, and the Nasdaq falling roughly 1.42%. The heavier Nasdaq decline suggests continued pressure on rate-sensitive growth and technology stocks.

At the same time, Brent crude climbed about 2.4% to $111.48 per barrel. Higher oil prices can complicate the inflation outlook by increasing energy and transportation costs, potentially reinforcing concerns that the Federal Reserve may need to keep monetary policy restrictive for longer.

Overall, the combination of resilient initial claims and rising oil prices appears to be weighing on risk appetite, even as the increase in continuing claims points to some underlying softening in the labor market.

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WS News 10-22-26

Wall Street Trades Mixed as Hotter PPI and Strong Retail Sales Reinforce Rate Concerns

U.S. stocks traded mixed after a batch of economic data showed stronger consumer spending, hotter producer inflation and continued labor-market resilience. The S&P 500 fell 0.26% to 7,698.99 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.86% to 26,463.05, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.55% to 51,907.65.

September retail sales increased 0.8% month over month, well above the 0.3% consensus estimate, although growth slowed from 1.3% previously. Core retail sales rose 0.9%, also beating the 0.6% forecast but easing from 1.4%.

Inflation data were more concerning. Producer prices jumped 1.3% month over month, more than double the 0.6% expected and sharply above the prior 0.5% increase. Core PPI rose 0.7%, compared with a 0.3% forecast and 0.2% previously.

The labor market remained firm. Initial jobless claims were 199,000, matching expectations and little changed from 198,000, while continuing claims came in at 1.710 million, exactly in line with forecasts and slightly below 1.714 million previously.

Manufacturing data were also much stronger than expected, with the New York Empire State Manufacturing Index jumping to 25.5 in October from 7.6, far above the 12.1 consensus estimate.

The data combination points to an economy that remains resilient but is also experiencing renewed inflation pressure. That backdrop may reinforce expectations for interest rates to remain elevated for longer, which appears to be weighing particularly on the rate-sensitive Nasdaq even as the Dow moves higher.

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The Investor 10-15-26

Wall Street Falls as September Inflation Comes in Hotter Than Expected

U.S. stocks moved lower after September inflation data showed broader price pressures remained firmer than economists expected. The S&P 500 fell 0.76% to 7,745.85, while the Nasdaq dropped 0.99% to 26,934.31. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.14% to 51,597.18.

Headline CPI increased 0.6% month over month in September, matching expectations but accelerating from 0.4% in August. On a year-over-year basis, inflation rose to 3.7%, above the 3.6% consensus estimate and up from 3.4% previously.

More importantly for the Federal Reserve outlook, core inflation also came in hotter than expected. Core CPI rose 0.3% month over month versus the 0.2% forecast, while the annual core rate accelerated to 2.6% from 2.4%, also exceeding the 2.5% consensus estimate.

The combination of higher headline inflation and an upside surprise in core prices suggests underlying inflation pressures remain persistent. That could reduce expectations for near-term monetary easing or reinforce the case for keeping interest rates elevated for longer.

The Nasdaq’s larger decline is consistent with renewed rate concerns weighing more heavily on growth and technology stocks, while the relatively smaller move in the Dow suggests a more defensive market response.

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Global Finance News 10-14-26

Wall Street Trades Mixed as U.S. Housing Data Beats Expectations

U.S. stocks traded mixed Tuesday as investors digested stronger-than-expected housing data alongside another increase in weekly private-sector employment.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.07% to 7,801.82, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.11% to 27,217.00. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly higher, gaining 0.04% to 51,868.87.

U.S. existing home sales increased to an annualized 3.99 million units in September, above expectations of 3.95 million and up from 3.93 million previously. On a monthly basis, sales rose 1.5%, significantly stronger than the expected 0.8% decline and reversing the previous month’s 3.2% drop.

Separately, ADP’s weekly employment measure showed private payrolls increasing by 24,800, up from 23,800 in the previous reading.

The data points to continued resilience in parts of the U.S. economy, particularly housing and employment. However, the relatively muted equity-market reaction suggests investors remain cautious about how stronger economic activity could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate outlook.

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European Investor 10-13-26

11-05-26The Investor

10-19-26WS News

10-07-26Global Finance News

10-03-26WS News

NASDAQ:LQDA

Liquidia Slips 0.25% as YUTREPIA Sales Surge but Litigation Settlement Drives Large Net Loss

Liquidia (NASDAQ: LQDA) shares slipped about 0.25% after the company reported strong YUTREPIA sales growth and improving adjusted profitability, while a large litigation settlement drove a substantial GAAP net loss.

Third-quarter YUTREPIA net product sales reached $222.7 million, up 31% sequentially and more than fourfold from $51.7 million a year earlier. Patient shipments reached a record monthly level in October, referral-to-start conversion remained above 87%, and the prescriber base expanded to 1,300.

Excluding settlement-related charges, operating momentum remained strong. Liquidia posted its fifth consecutive quarter of higher non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, reaching $140.5 million.

However, the company recorded a $389.7 million litigation settlement charge, resulting in a quarterly net loss of $236.3 million, or $2.64 per share. The global settlement with United Therapeutics requires net payments of $380.7 million across 2026 and 2027 and also removes the PH-ILD indication from YUTREPIA’s label.

Liquidia ended September with $396.1 million in cash and cash equivalents before settlement payments and continues to advance additional YUTREPIA and L606 programs.

The modest 0.25% decline appears to reflect the financial impact and strategic consequences of the settlement, partly offset by very strong YUTREPIA commercial growth and continued improvement in adjusted profitability.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

Liquidia Stock Falls 4.5% Despite Strong YUTREPIA Growth and Rising Profitability

Liquidia Corporation (NASDAQ: LQDA) shares fell 4.5% Wednesday despite reporting another strong quarter for YUTREPIA, with product sales rising sequentially and the company delivering its fourth consecutive quarter of increasing profitability.

The decline contrasts with the company's underlying commercial momentum. With no new financial guidance provided in the release, the negative reaction may reflect high expectations already embedded in the stock, alongside rising operating expenses and investor focus on whether YUTREPIA's rapid launch trajectory can be sustained.

YUTREPIA Sales Rise 31% Sequentially

YUTREPIA generated $170.4 million in Q2 net product sales, up 31% from the first quarter. The year-over-year comparison was even stronger, with product sales increasing from just $6.5 million in Q2 2025, when the commercial launch had only recently begun.

Since its June 2025 launch, Liquidia has received approximately 5,900 unique patient prescriptions and started more than 5,000 patients on treatment through July 31.

Prescription-to-start conversion remained above 85%, while the number of prescribers exceeded 1,100. More than 30% of those physicians have prescribed YUTREPIA to at least five patients, suggesting adoption is broadening beyond initial use.

Management also said the overall inhaled prostacyclin category has expanded almost 40% since YUTREPIA's launch, with the product capturing an increasing share of that growth.

Liquidia Delivers Another Profitable Quarter

Rapid commercialization has transformed Liquidia's financial profile.

The company generated Q2 net income of $74.7 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared with a $41.6 million loss a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA reached $96.3 million.

Cash and cash equivalents increased to $284.2 million at the end of June from $190.7 million at the end of 2025. Cash also increased by $61.4 million sequentially during Q2, demonstrating strong cash generation from the YUTREPIA ramp.

However, investment is rising alongside commercialization. R&D expenses jumped 185% to $17.2 million, primarily reflecting increased spending on L606 and YUTREPIA development. SG&A expenses increased 48% to $57.4 million as Liquidia expanded personnel and commercialization activities.

Pipeline Investment Becomes the Next Focus

Liquidia is now progressing 10 clinical studies involving YUTREPIA and L606 across existing and potential new indications.

The company has begun site activation and enrollment for Re-Spire, the pivotal study of L606. Management sees the program as a potential next-generation inhaled treprostinil therapy that could further improve tolerability and dosing characteristics.

LQDA's 4.5% decline therefore does not appear to reflect deterioration in YUTREPIA's commercial performance. Sales, patient adoption, profitability and cash generation all continued to improve. Instead, the reaction may reflect demanding investor expectations following the product's rapid launch, combined with higher R&D and commercialization spending and the absence of a new forward financial outlook to provide an additional catalyst.

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WS Investor 08-12-26

Liquidia Corporation received a $50 million payment from Healthcare Royalty (HCRx) after initiating commercial sales of YUTREPIA™, its inhaled therapy for pulmonary hypertension. The funding follows a court ruling denying United Therapeutics' injunction against Liquidia. To date, Liquidia has secured $175 million out of a potential $200 million through its agreement with HCRx. The funds will accelerate YUTREPIA’s launch, support clinical trials, and expand manufacturing. An additional $25 million may be accessed if net sales exceed $100 million by mid-2026. Liquidia believes this funding will help reach profitability without needing more capital.

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ME NEWS 06-24-25

NYSE:ABT

Abbott Wins FDA Approval and CE Mark for UltiSynq Defibrillation Lead

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) received both U.S. FDA approval and CE Mark for UltiSynq, a new implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead designed to deliver conduction system pacing and defibrillation therapy through the heart’s natural electrical pathway.

UltiSynq is designed for implantation in the left bundle branch area, allowing physicians to combine physiologic pacing with ICD or CRT-D protection in a single lead. The device previously received FDA Breakthrough Device designation.

Approval was supported by the ASCEND CSP IDE trial. Among 205 implant attempts, implantation was successful in 98.5% of patients, while 86% of successfully implanted patients achieved confirmed or likely left bundle branch pacing.

The study also reported a 97.5% major complication-free rate at three months. Among 120 patients who underwent defibrillation testing, successful defibrillation was achieved in 100% of cases without requiring lead repositioning.

Abbott said UltiSynq’s short shock coil and true bipolar sensing are designed to improve positioning precision and reduce susceptibility to P-wave oversensing, which can potentially trigger inappropriate therapy.

The approvals expand Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management portfolio and give physicians a new option for patients who require both defibrillation protection and conduction system pacing, an approach aimed at producing a more coordinated and physiologic heartbeat.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

Abbott Launches Pivotal Trial for Cephea Mitral Valve Replacement System

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has initiated the CROWN-MV pivotal trial evaluating its investigational Cephea Mitral Valve System, a minimally invasive transcatheter replacement therapy for patients with symptomatic mitral valve disease who are not candidates for surgery or transcatheter repair.

The global prospective study will enroll up to 585 patients across the U.S., Canada and Europe. It will evaluate patients with moderate-to-severe or severe mitral regurgitation, as well as mitral valve dysfunction associated with mitral annular calcification.

Cephea is delivered through a catheter inserted through a vein in the leg and guided to the heart, where a bioprosthetic valve is implanted inside the diseased mitral valve. The system is designed to expand Abbott’s existing mitral valve portfolio, which already includes MitraClip and the Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve replacement system.

The pivotal trial follows encouraging early clinical development. Abbott said 30-day results from an early feasibility study using its third-generation Cephea delivery system will be presented at the TCT 2026 scientific meeting, with data expected to address mitral regurgitation reduction and quality-of-life outcomes.

The trial represents an important regulatory and commercial development milestone for Abbott’s structural heart business. If successful, Cephea could broaden treatment options for high-risk patients with complex mitral valve anatomy who currently have limited alternatives.

Abbott also plans to present additional TCT 2026 data across several cardiovascular platforms, including Amulet 360, SonicForce, Encantor, Amplatzer Paraclose and Navitor, reinforcing the breadth of its structural heart and cardiovascular pipeline.

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Global Finance News 11-01-26

Abbott Launches Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support With Protein, Creatine and HMB

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) launched Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support, a new powdered nutrition product that combines protein, creatine monohydrate and HMB in a single daily serving.

Each serving provides 30 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of creatine monohydrate and 3 grams of calcium HMB. Abbott said the formula is designed to support muscle building, exercise recovery and muscle preservation, targeting consumers who would otherwise combine several separate supplements.

The product reflects a broader consumer shift toward strength, active aging and muscle health. Abbott noted that ingredients such as creatine are moving beyond traditional sports nutrition as more adults focus on maintaining strength and physical function over time.

Ensure Max Protein 3-in-1 Muscle Support is available in chocolate and vanilla flavors and is being sold through major U.S. retailers including Walmart and Amazon. The product comes in a 28-ounce powder format, with a suggested daily serving of two scoops.

Abbott said the formulation is also NSF Contents Certified, providing third-party verification around ingredient quality and label accuracy.

The launch expands Abbott’s nutrition portfolio into the growing mainstream muscle-health category, combining elements of traditional protein supplementation with creatine and HMB in a single product aimed at active adults.

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Global Finance News 10-07-26

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new capabilities for its CardioMEMS HF System, allowing patients to view pulmonary artery pressure readings and receive personalized treatment updates through the CardioGuide HF App.

The update gives U.S. CardioMEMS patients direct access to their pulmonary artery pressure trends on smartphones. Rising pressure can indicate worsening heart failure weeks before symptoms such as shortness of breath or swelling appear, giving clinicians an opportunity to adjust treatment earlier.

Abbott also received approval for Dynamic Treatment Plan, a feature that lets care teams send individualized medication adjustment instructions to patients through the app based on changes in pulmonary artery pressure.

The company said the new tools are designed to strengthen remote heart failure management by keeping patients and clinicians more closely connected between office visits.

Abbott plans to make the CardioGuide HF App and Dynamic Treatment Plan available later in 2026.

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Global Finance News 10-06-26

Abbott Launches SimpleScreen CRC Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Abbott announced the U.S. commercial launch of SimpleScreen CRC, an FDA-approved blood-based colorectal cancer screening test for adults age 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease.

Developed and manufactured by Freenome and exclusively commercialized by Abbott, SimpleScreen CRC expands the company’s colorectal cancer screening portfolio alongside Cologuard Plus. The blood-based test is intended as an option for eligible patients who decline or do not complete preferred stool-based or visual screening methods.

SimpleScreen CRC uses circulating cell-free DNA in blood to detect signals associated with colorectal cancer. In the PREEMPT CRC validation study involving more than 48,000 adults, the test demonstrated 81.1% overall sensitivity for colorectal cancer, including 63.5% sensitivity for Stage I disease. It also showed 90.4% specificity for advanced colorectal neoplasia.

Abbott said the test is covered by Medicare, with no out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients with Medicare Part B. Patients can complete the blood draw through participating laboratories or mobile phlebotomy services.

The company is also extending its patient navigation infrastructure to SimpleScreen CRC, including blood-draw coordination, reminders, insurance assistance, bilingual support and follow-up services.

Abbott is positioning the launch as a way to expand colorectal cancer screening participation by offering an additional noninvasive option for patients who might otherwise remain unscreened.

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The Investor 09-30-26

Abbott Highlights Lower Mortality and Hospitalization Risk With Libre CGM in Type 2 Diabetes

Abbott reported new real-world data linking continuous glucose monitoring, including its Libre technology, with lower mortality and fewer cardiovascular complications among adults with Type 2 diabetes using basal insulin.

In a U.S. study of nearly 28,000 adults, CGM use was associated with a 45% lower risk of death at 12 months and a 36% lower risk at 24 months compared with non-users. Researchers also found fewer cardiovascular-related complications among CGM users.

A separate French observational study involving more than 253,000 people with Type 2 diabetes found that acute diabetes-event hospitalizations fell 47% among basal-insulin users after starting Libre. The reduction was 56% among people using multiple daily insulin injections and 81% among those using non-insulin therapies.

Abbott is also highlighting new FreeDM2 trial analyses showing that people using Libre 3 experienced improvements in time in range within the first 24 hours, with benefits sustained over time.

The company is also showcasing Libre Assist, an AI-powered feature that predicts how food choices may affect glucose levels and provides personalized meal guidance.

The findings strengthen Abbott’s case for broader CGM use beyond intensive insulin therapy, although the mortality results are observational and show association rather than proof of causation.

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European Investor 09-28-26

Abbott and Berry Street Partner to Expand Personalized Nutrition Support Using Lingo CGM

Abbott and Berry Street announced an exclusive partnership that combines Abbott’s Lingo continuous glucose monitor with virtual support from registered dietitians to help consumers make more personalized nutrition and lifestyle decisions.

Lingo is an over-the-counter CGM designed for adults who are not using insulin. It shows how factors such as food, exercise, sleep and stress affect glucose levels, while Berry Street dietitians will use that data to provide individualized nutrition guidance.

Through the partnership, users can access dietitians trained on Lingo and continuous glucose monitoring, receive recommendations based on their glucose patterns and meet virtually through one-on-one appointments. Berry Street is in-network with more than 1,250 health plans, and the company said 96% of clients pay no out-of-pocket cost, depending on their insurance coverage.

Berry Street users will also be able to purchase Lingo at a 15% discount on four-week plans, while dietitians can view patients’ glucose data to provide more targeted coaching.

The partnership expands Abbott’s push into consumer metabolic health by combining real-time biosensor data with human nutrition expertise, rather than positioning glucose tracking as a standalone wellness tool.

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The Investor 09-23-26

Abbott Expands Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System to Canada

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced the first commercial use of its Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System in Canada, marking an expansion of the company’s next-generation technology for treating atrial fibrillation. The first Canadian procedures were performed at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.

Volt uses high-energy electrical pulses to target heart tissue responsible for abnormal rhythms. Its balloon-in-basket catheter is designed to improve tissue contact and deliver precise energy with fewer therapy applications, while integration with Abbott’s EnSite X platform provides 3D cardiac mapping and reduces catheter exchanges.

The system can also support conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia and is designed to reduce radiation exposure during procedures, potentially improving procedural efficiency and recovery.

Health Canada authorized Volt in April 2026 following clinical evidence including Abbott’s 392-patient VOLT-AF IDE study. The system is also approved and available in the U.S., Europe and Australia, expanding Abbott’s position in the growing cardiac electrophysiology and pulsed-field ablation market.

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The Investor 09-15-26

Abbott Reaches $385 Million Settlement With DOJ Over 2022 Infant Formula Recall

Abbott said it reached an agreement to resolve U.S. Department of Justice and related state claims stemming from the company’s manufacturing operations and 2022 recall of powdered infant formula from its Sturgis, Michigan facility.

Under the agreement, Abbott will pay a total of $385 million to resolve the claims. The company emphasized that the settlement does not constitute a finding of fault or liability and said the government had previously closed its criminal investigation into the matter.

Abbott also said no unopened, distributed infant formula involved in the matter ever tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii. According to the company, FDA testing of unopened products from the homes of infants investigated during the recall was negative, while the CDC later concluded there was no definitive link between the Sturgis facility and the clinical cases under investigation.

The settlement provides greater legal clarity around a major issue that has followed Abbott since the 2022 recall, which disrupted U.S. infant-formula supplies and drew significant regulatory scrutiny. The $385 million payment represents a financial cost for Abbott, but resolving the litigation removes an important source of uncertainty surrounding its nutrition business.

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WS Investor 09-14-26

Abbott Wins FDA Approval for TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter, expanding the company’s portfolio of cardiac ablation technologies for treating atrial fibrillation.

TactiFlex Duo combines pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency (RF) energy in a single catheter, allowing physicians to use either energy source or a combination of both when treating complex AFib cases. Abbott said the flexibility can help physicians tailor procedures to individual patients while minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue.

The catheter also integrates with Abbott’s EnSite X EP System, which provides real-time three-dimensional mapping and feedback during procedures.

FDA approval was supported by results from Abbott’s FlexPulse IDE study. Data recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026 showed favorable safety and effectiveness outcomes in patients with paroxysmal AFib.

The approval strengthens Abbott’s position in the rapidly developing PFA market and follows other recent cardiac ablation approvals across the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Abbott plans to begin initial U.S. procedures soon, followed by broader commercial adoption in the coming weeks. The launch adds another treatment option to Abbott’s electrophysiology portfolio as the company expands its presence in technologies used to diagnose, map and treat abnormal heart rhythms.

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The Investor 09-08-26

01-22-26WS News

NYSE:NOW

ServiceNow Adds Agentic AI for Continuous Enterprise Control Monitoring

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) introduced new agentic AI capabilities for continuous control monitoring within its Integrated Risk Management platform, allowing organizations to monitor, interpret and remediate control failures across connected enterprise systems in real time.

The new functionality uses AI agents to configure compliance checks, interpret results and respond when controls drift or fail. ServiceNow said failed controls can automatically trigger tickets and, where policies allow, remediation actions without waiting for manual intervention.

Monitoring extends beyond the ServiceNow platform through more than 100 pre-built integrations spanning cloud, container, AI, SaaS, on-premises and business systems. The platform can also monitor connected OT, IoT and medical devices, while evidence from different systems is continuously collected into a centralized audit layer.

ServiceNow is also linking controls across multiple regulatory frameworks. A control mapped once can be applied against equivalent requirements under standards and regulations including SOX, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA and the EU AI Act, reducing duplicated testing and evidence collection.

The system is designed to support all three lines of defense, giving business units, risk teams and internal auditors access to continuously updated evidence rather than relying primarily on periodic control testing and sampling.

General availability of ServiceNow’s Agentic AI for Continuous Controls Monitoring is expected in the first quarter of 2027.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

ServiceNow Helps Raleigh Cut IT Service Desk Costs 66% With AI Agents

ServiceNow said the City of Raleigh has become the first municipal government to deploy its IT Service Desk AI Specialist in production, using autonomous AI workers to handle routine support tasks and complete workflows.

Raleigh’s four-person help desk supports about 4,400 city employees, creating pressure as internal service requests continue to grow. The city first deployed “Ral-E,” a ServiceNow AI agent that guides employees through self-service requests and answers questions across IT, HR and facilities. ServiceNow said the agent achieved a 98% deflection rate.

Raleigh then deployed “Alli,” an L1 IT Service Desk AI Specialist capable of resolving common requests from start to finish using the city’s knowledge base, historical incident data and remediation workflows.

According to ServiceNow, the deployment has reduced IT service desk costs by 66%, while nearly half of support requests are now resolved autonomously. The city is targeting 85% autonomous resolution over time. ServiceNow also reported that 98% of AI-generated incident summaries are accepted without changes and 98% of tickets are routed correctly on first contact.

Raleigh plans to extend the same AI model to its “Ask Raleigh” resident portal, which could broaden the use of ServiceNow’s autonomous workflow technology from internal government operations to public-facing municipal services.

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European Investor 10-08-26

NVIDIA and ServiceNow announced an expanded partnership to develop autonomous AI agents for enterprise use, unveiled at ServiceNow Knowledge 2026.

The collaboration focuses on delivering governed, secure AI agents capable of executing complex, multi-step workflows across enterprise systems. A key highlight is “Project Arc,” a self-evolving desktop agent designed to assist knowledge workers such as developers and IT teams by interacting directly with local systems and applications.

The solution integrates NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and open models with ServiceNow’s workflow and governance platforms, enabling enterprises to deploy AI agents with greater control, auditability, and security. The initiative also emphasizes efficiency, leveraging NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure to significantly reduce operational costs for large-scale AI deployments.

The partnership reflects a broader shift toward autonomous, action-oriented AI systems, where enterprises prioritize not just AI reasoning but real-world execution within controlled environments.

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The Investor 05-05-26

ServiceNow reported first-quarter 2026 results, with total revenue rising 22% year-over-year to $3.77 billion and subscription revenue reaching $3.67 billion. The company exceeded the high end of its guidance and raised its full-year subscription revenue outlook, supported by rapid growth in AI-driven offerings.

Demand for its AI platform remained strong, with high-value customer contracts increasing significantly and continued expansion of its “Now Assist” and autonomous AI solutions. ServiceNow also highlighted recent acquisitions and partnerships, including collaborations with Google Cloud and NVIDIA, to enhance enterprise AI capabilities.

The company emphasized that its integrated AI platform and workflow automation tools are driving adoption across industries, positioning it for continued growth as businesses scale AI deployments.

Source: Business Wire

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Global Finance News 04-24-26

ServiceNow unveiled new AI-driven solutions for the manufacturing sector, aiming to connect the entire value chain—from factory floor operations to front-office functions—on a single platform.

The new offerings integrate quality management, warranty claims, order operations, and complex product configuration into unified workflows, enabling end-to-end AI execution rather than fragmented automation. Key features include AI-powered fraud detection in warranty claims, voice-enabled order management, and configuration tools that simplify complex product quoting.

ServiceNow also introduced “Industrial Connected Workforce” and “EmployeeWorks,” designed to digitize frontline operations, preserve institutional knowledge, and provide workers with a conversational AI interface to handle tasks across IT, HR, and facilities.

The company highlighted that its platform helps manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce defects, prevent revenue leakage, and bridge gaps between internal systems and external supply chains, supporting broader digital transformation across the industry.
Business Wire

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Global Finance News 04-20-26

ServiceNow Embeds AI Across Entire Platform with New Context Engine

ServiceNow announced that all of its products are now fully AI-enabled, marking a shift toward a unified, AI-native platform for enterprise workflows.

The company introduced its new Context Engine, designed to provide real-time enterprise context—such as data relationships, policies, and decision history—to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of AI-driven actions. This allows AI agents not only to assist users but also to execute tasks autonomously across business processes.

ServiceNow also launched new developer capabilities, enabling applications to be built using external tools and deployed directly onto its platform, alongside a new tiered offering model that integrates AI, data, security, and governance by default.

The move aims to eliminate fragmented AI add-ons and accelerate enterprise adoption by providing a fully integrated system for automation, decision-making, and workflow execution.
Business Wire

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WS Investor 04-09-26

SaaSpocalypse Revisited: Three Fears, Three Answers

Explore the SaaSpocalypse Revisited: Three fears addressed and the future of SaaS stocks after recent market fluctuations.

(thesmartinvestor.com.sg)

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Global Finance News 04-08-26

ServiceNow to Announce First Quarter 2026 Financial Results on April 22

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Global Finance News 04-03-26

ServiceNow and Carahsoft Technology Corp. expanded their partnership to make the ServiceNow AI Platform available through Carahsoft’s reseller ecosystem across the United States and Canada.

Under the agreement, ServiceNow’s platform will be distributed through Carahsoft’s network of more than 10,000 resellers, system integrators and consulting partners. The expansion opens new industry channels — including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, retail and critical infrastructure — allowing organizations to procure ServiceNow solutions through established technology partners.

The companies said the move will help accelerate adoption of ServiceNow’s AI-driven workflow platform by reaching organizations that prefer to purchase enterprise software through trusted reseller networks, particularly in sectors with strict compliance and security requirements.
Business Wire

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Global Finance News 03-16-26

Cohesity and ServiceNow announced a strategic partnership to improve resilience and recovery for enterprise AI agents. The collaboration integrates ServiceNow’s AI Agent Control Tower with the Cohesity Data Cloud to allow organizations to quickly restore data and systems to a trusted state if AI agents cause disruptions due to errors, compromised prompts or corrupted data.

As enterprises increasingly deploy autonomous AI agents to manage workflows, IT operations and business processes, the companies said reliable recovery mechanisms are essential. The joint solution enables organizations to build and orchestrate AI agents within the ServiceNow AI Platform while Cohesity protects the underlying data systems and provides point-in-time recovery to verified baselines.

The partnership aims to ensure enterprise AI systems remain reliable and auditable by enabling fast restoration without rebuilding systems from scratch. Integrated capabilities between ServiceNow and Cohesity are expected to become available later in 2026.
Business Wire

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European Investor 03-10-26

10-06-26The Investor

10-02-26WS News

07-31-26The Investor

07-06-26WS Investor

05-22-26European Investor

NASDAQ:ATAT

Atour Lifestyle Falls 1.8% Despite Strong Revenue Growth as Reported Net Income Declines

Atour Lifestyle Holdings (NASDAQ: ATAT) shares fell about 1.8% on Tuesday despite strong third-quarter revenue growth and continued expansion across its hotel and retail businesses.

Third-quarter net revenue increased 30.5% year over year to RMB3.43 billion, while adjusted net income rose 26.2% to RMB615 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.8% to RMB883 million.

However, reported net income declined 5.5% year over year to RMB448 million, creating a divergence between headline profitability and adjusted performance that may have weighed on investor sentiment.

Operating trends remained generally solid. Atour ended September with 2,288 hotels and 254,800 rooms in operation, up 17.5% and 16.2%, respectively, from a year earlier. ADR increased to RMB453 from RMB447, while RevPAR edged higher to RMB373 from RMB371. Occupancy slipped slightly to 79.7% from 80.2%.

Retail remained a major growth engine, with revenue jumping 61% year over year to RMB1.36 billion.

For full-year 2026, Atour expects net revenue growth of 33%-35%. The 1.8% decline appears to reflect softer reported net income and slightly lower occupancy, despite strong top-line growth, hotel expansion and continued momentum in retail.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

Atour Stock Falls 2.7% Despite Strong Q2 Growth as Rising Costs Pressure Margins

Atour Lifestyle Holdings (NASDAQ: ATAT) shares fell about 2.7% Thursday despite reporting strong second-quarter growth, as investors appear to be focusing on rapidly rising operating costs and relatively modest hotel operating metrics.

Net revenue jumped 41.4% year over year to RMB3.49 billion, while net income increased 29% to RMB548 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 34.6% to RMB821 million.

Retail and Hotel Expansion Remain Strong

Atour's retail business was a major growth driver, with revenue surging 63.2% to RMB1.58 billion. Its hotel network expanded to 2,175 properties, up 19.2% year over year. However, occupancy slipped slightly to 76.2% from 76.4%, while RevPAR increased only modestly to RMB345 from RMB343.

Cost growth also outpaced revenue growth. Total operating costs and expenses increased to RMB2.76 billion from RMB1.88 billion, while selling and marketing expenses climbed to RMB606 million from RMB393 million. Hotel and retail costs also rose faster than their respective revenue bases.

Atour nevertheless expects full-year 2026 net revenue growth of approximately 30%.

The 2.7% decline therefore appears to reflect some profit-taking and concern over cost and margin pressure rather than weak headline results, as Atour continues to deliver strong revenue, earnings and retail growth.

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European Investor 08-20-26

Atour Lifestyle Slips 4% Despite Blowout Quarter as Growth Rate Guidance Disappoints

May 13, 2026 | NASDAQ: ATAT

Atour is dipping 4% today in a classic case of the market selling the news after a quarter that was objectively exceptional by almost any measure. The issue is not what happened in Q1 — it is what the full-year guidance implies about the pace of growth ahead.

The first quarter numbers are hard to criticize. Net revenues surged 47.5% to RMB2.811 billion (US$408 million), with net income nearly doubling, up 90.3% to RMB463 million. Adjusted EBITDA grew 51.1% to RMB716 million. The hotel network expanded to 2,088 properties with 232,298 rooms, up 21% year-on-year in hotel count, with 751 additional hotels in the development pipeline. RevPAR improved modestly to RMB312 from RMB304 a year ago, and occupancy held steady at 70.6%.

The retail business is the growth engine within the growth story. Retail revenues jumped 54.4% to RMB1.071 billion, now representing 38% of total revenue — a remarkable transformation for what began as a hospitality company. Retail cost margin also improved to 47.4% from 48.6% as higher-margin products took a greater share of the mix. The Atour Planet brand appears to be building genuine standalone consumer recognition beyond the hotel ecosystem.

The likely source of today's weakness is the full-year 2026 guidance of 24% to 28% revenue growth. Against a Q1 that delivered 47.5% growth, that guidance implies a meaningful deceleration in the remaining quarters. Some of this is mathematical — the year-on-year comparisons become tougher as 2025 progressed — but the magnitude of the step-down is enough to give investors pause, particularly for a stock that carries a premium multiple on the expectation of sustained high growth.

With minimal debt of RMB242 million against RMB3.7 billion in cash, the balance sheet is pristine. The business model is asset-light, capital-efficient, and clearly resonating with Chinese consumers. Today's 4% dip looks like a valuation recalibration rather than any fundamental concern about the business itself.

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The Investor 05-13-26

Atour reports strong 2025 growth driven by hotel expansion and retail momentum

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited delivered robust financial growth in 2025, supported by rapid hotel network expansion and strong performance in its retail segment.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 33.8% year-on-year to RMB2.79 billion, while net income increased 44.7% to RMB478 million. Adjusted EBITDA surged 60.9%, reflecting strong operating leverage.

For the full year, revenue climbed 35.1% to RMB9.79 billion, with net income up 27.4% to RMB1.62 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 40.0% to RMB2.48 billion, highlighting sustained profitability growth.

Atour expanded its footprint to 2,015 hotels and over 224,000 rooms, marking more than 20% annual growth, with an additional 779 hotels in the development pipeline. Meanwhile, its retail business emerged as a key growth driver, with revenue jumping 67% to RMB3.67 billion.

Operational metrics showed slight softness, with occupancy and RevPAR edging lower year-on-year, though average daily room rates remained relatively stable.

Management emphasized continued brand-led expansion and customer experience improvements as part of its new strategic plan for 2026 and beyond.

Globe Newswire

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European Investor 03-18-26

NASDAQ:RGTI

Rigetti Falls 2.8% After Hours as Revenue Remains Small Despite Quantum Hardware Progress

Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) shares fell about 2.8% in after-hours trading after the company reported continued technical progress in its quantum computing roadmap but only $1.4 million of third-quarter revenue and a sizable operating loss.

Third-quarter operating loss was $33.2 million, while GAAP net loss totaled $3.1 million and non-GAAP net loss was $20.5 million. For the first nine months of 2026, revenue reached $10.9 million, up about 110% from $5.2 million a year earlier.

The company maintained a strong balance sheet, ending September with $497.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments and no debt. Rigetti expects full-year 2026 revenue of approximately $20 million, assuming customer acceptance and revenue recognition from its C-DAC contract in the fourth quarter.

On the technology side, Rigetti said its Cepheus-1-108Q system achieved 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity, meeting a key performance target and further validating its chiplet-based architecture. The system reached 99.6% fidelity on an 80-qubit sublattice and 99.7% on a 50-qubit sublattice.

Rigetti is now targeting a 300-plus-qubit system with approximately 99.7% median two-qubit fidelity by mid-2028, while continuing to pursue a longer-term path toward systems with roughly 1,000 qubits and 99.9% fidelity.

The company also secured an agreement for up to $100 million of U.S. CHIPS Act funding to support research into readout electronics, cryogenic capacity and fabrication.

The 2.8% after-hours decline appears to reflect the contrast between encouraging technical milestones and Rigetti’s still-limited commercial revenue base, substantial operating losses and dependence on future contract conversion.

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Global Finance News 11-11-26

Rigetti Computing (RGTI) Q1 2026: Quantum Milestones Stack Up, But Revenue Remains Thin, Stock Flat

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Rigetti Computing is essentially unchanged today, up just 0.05%, after reporting a first quarter that showed genuine technical progress and a fortress balance sheet — but $4.4 million in revenue that reminds investors this remains a deep pre-commercial story.

The Numbers: Small Revenue, Large Cash Cushion

Total revenues were $4.4 million for Q1, growing year-over-year on the back of new on-premises Novera QPU sales and government milestones. The operating loss was $26.0 million. GAAP net income of $33.1 million was driven by non-cash fair value adjustments rather than operations — non-GAAP net loss was $14.7 million, the more meaningful figure. Rigetti ended the quarter with $569 million in cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments, and crucially, no debt. The balance sheet provides at least four to five years of runway at the current burn rate — removing near-term capital risk from the equation entirely.

The Technology Story: Cepheus-1-108Q Goes Live

The operational headline is the general availability of Rigetti's 108-qubit Cepheus-1-108Q system — the company's highest-qubit-count system to date and the largest modular quantum computing system in the industry. The system is now accessible via Rigetti's own QCS platform and through Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure Quantum, and qBraid — a distribution footprint that puts Rigetti hardware in front of the largest cloud customer bases in the world. Built from twelve interconnected 9-qubit chiplets, Cepheus-1-108Q validates the chiplet-based scaling architecture that underpins Rigetti's entire roadmap — proving that modular assembly can reach meaningful qubit counts in a production setting.

Fidelity improvements are also tracking well. The company achieved median 99.8% two-qubit gate fidelity with 40 nanosecond gate speeds on its 9-qubit system, and gate fidelities as high as 99.9% on prototype systems — numbers that matter because error rates determine when quantum computers become practically useful for real-world problems.

UK Investment: A $1,000-Qubit Ambition

Rigetti announced its intention to invest up to $100 million in the United Kingdom over the next three to four years, targeting deployment of a UK-based quantum system with over 1,000 qubits. The investment aligns with the UK government's domestic quantum infrastructure initiative and builds on Rigetti's existing UK presence. A 1,000-qubit modular system would represent a major step toward the scale at which quantum computers begin to demonstrate practical advantage over classical systems in specific workloads. It is an ambitious target — and a credible one given the validated chiplet architecture.

The Bottom Line

Rigetti's flat reaction today is the market in a holding pattern — acknowledging the technical progress while waiting for revenue to reflect it. The 108-qubit general availability, the cloud distribution partnerships, the fidelity milestones, and the UK expansion are all real and meaningful developments. But with $4.4 million in quarterly revenue against a $26 million operating loss, the commercialization gap remains wide. Rigetti is a technology company in the truest sense — the science is advancing, the balance sheet is clean, and the question is purely one of timing. When quantum advantage becomes demonstrable for commercially valuable problems, Rigetti's full-stack architecture and cloud distribution put it in a strong position. Until then, the stock will trade on milestones rather than multiples.

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The Investor 05-12-26

Rigetti Computing said its India subsidiary received an $8.4 million purchase order to deliver a 108-qubit quantum computer to India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology R&D organization. The on-premises system is expected to be installed at C-DAC’s Bengaluru center and deployed in the second half of 2026.

Rigetti said the system will use its chiplet-based architecture, positioning the deal as part of a broader push by national governments toward local, on-site quantum computing infrastructure. The company noted the order builds on a prior relationship, including a September 2025 memorandum of understanding with C-DAC to explore co-developing hybrid quantum computing systems.

Source: Globe Newswire, Rigetti Computing press release.

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WS Investor 01-20-26

rigetti computing

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European Investor 01-15-25

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12-10-25The Investor

10-07-25The Investor

09-19-25Global Finance News

NYSE:IHG

IHG Reaches 50 Open voco Hotels in Europe as Premium Brand Expansion Continues

InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE: IHG) said its voco brand has reached 50 open hotels across Europe, marking a major expansion milestone eight years after the premium hotel brand launched in 2018.

voco has become IHG’s fastest-growing premium brand, supported by a conversion-friendly model that allows hotel owners to retain more of a property’s individual character while gaining access to IHG’s distribution network, commercial platform and IHG One Rewards loyalty program.

The brand currently has another 26 hotels in its European development pipeline, extending IHG’s premium presence across city, resort and neighborhood destinations. Recent openings include voco Budapest D8, the brand’s first hotel in Hungary, and voco Antalya Konyaaltı, its first property in Türkiye.

IHG also highlighted the recent opening of the 114-room voco London Bloomsbury and voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, which it describes as its first Net Zero Carbon hotel.

Future expansion includes the first voco hotel in Tashkent, extending IHG’s premium footprint in Uzbekistan, as well as the first European voco suites in Çeşme, Türkiye, scheduled to open in 2027.

The milestone underscores IHG’s broader strategy of growing through both new-build hotels and conversions, with voco positioned as a flexible premium brand aimed at owners seeking faster routes to market and access to a global operating platform.

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WS Investor 11-10-26

InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Rises 3.7% as UBS Upgrades Shares to Buy

InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE: IHG) shares rose about 3.7% Wednesday after UBS upgraded the hotel operator to Buy from Neutral and set a $188 price target.

IHG shares were trading around $161.04, meaning UBS’s $188 target implies approximately 17% upside from the current share price.

InterContinental Hotels Group is one of the world’s largest hotel companies, with brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo. Its predominantly asset-light franchise and management model gives the company broad exposure to global travel demand while limiting direct ownership of hotel real estate.

The upgrade provides a fresh positive catalyst for IHG shares. The rating information shown does not provide UBS’s detailed reasoning, but the move from Neutral to Buy represents a clear improvement in the firm’s view of the stock.

IHG’s 3.7% gain appears to reflect favorable investor reaction to the upgrade, with UBS’s $188 target suggesting additional upside despite Wednesday’s advance.

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The Investor 09-02-26

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced an expansion in Europe through agreements to add 11 hotels across Germany, Belgium, and France. The properties, totaling more than 1,800 rooms, will be converted to the company’s Holiday Inn, voco, and Garner brands, with openings expected in the first half of 2027.

The move strengthens IHG’s presence in key European markets and introduces its midscale Garner brand to Belgium, while leveraging its global loyalty program and distribution platform to drive bookings. The expansion reflects continued confidence in European travel demand and the company’s strategy to grow through conversions and partnerships.

Source: IHG Hotels & Resorts

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The Investor 04-24-26

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed long-term franchise agreements to add 11 hotels across Germany, Belgium, and France, strengthening its European expansion.

The portfolio, comprising more than 1,800 rooms, will be converted into IHG’s Holiday Inn, voco, and Garner brands, with openings expected in the first half of 2027. The deal includes six hotels in Germany, four in Belgium, and one in France, located in key city and airport destinations.

The expansion introduces the Garner brand to Belgium and further scales IHG’s presence in Germany and across Europe. The company highlighted that the properties will benefit from its global distribution platform and loyalty program, supporting increased occupancy and international demand.

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The Investor 04-22-26

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the expansion of its lifestyle brand Atwell in Greater China with the opening of a new hotel in Hefei, following its debut property in Shanghai.

The new Atwell Hefei City Center property features 168 rooms and is designed around the brand’s “new territorial home” concept, combining modern design with local cultural elements to deliver personalized and experience-driven stays.

The move reflects rising demand for lifestyle-oriented travel in China, with IHG emphasizing quality, personalization, and local immersion as key growth drivers.

IHG plans to further expand the Atwell brand into major cities including Suzhou, Nanjing, and Guangzhou, aiming to strengthen its presence in the region’s evolving hospitality market.

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The Investor 03-27-26

IHG targets business travel growth with new digital and partnership strategy

March 26, 2026 — IHG Hotels & Resorts announced a new strategy to strengthen its position in the recovering global business travel market, focusing on three core commercial drivers: network connectivity, digital intelligence, and collaborative partnerships.

The company aims to build a more integrated B2B travel ecosystem by leveraging its extensive hotel network—over 900 properties in Greater China—and a diversified brand portfolio to meet varying corporate travel needs.

IHG is expanding digital tools across the travel journey, including booking platforms, meeting planning applications, and AI-powered concierge systems to enhance efficiency and customer experience.

The strategy also emphasizes loyalty and corporate solutions, with programs such as IHG One Rewards and IHG Business Edge designed to improve flexibility, drive repeat business, and strengthen long-term partnerships with corporate clients.

IHG said the approach will support more efficient, data-driven travel management while unlocking growth opportunities as business travel demand continues to rebound globally.

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The Investor 03-26-26

IHG Hotels & Resorts reported strong expansion in Europe, growing its room portfolio by 27% over the past three years with the addition of more than 32,800 rooms.

The company reached a milestone of 150,000 open rooms in the region, supported by record activity in 2025, including 102 hotel openings and 117 new signings. Its European portfolio now exceeds 1,230 hotels across more than 40 countries.

IHG highlighted Germany as a key growth market and noted that conversions are increasingly driving expansion, accounting for the majority of new openings. The company expects continued momentum, supported by strong travel demand and sustained investment across its brand portfolio.

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Global Finance News 03-24-26

IHG Hotels & Resorts said it will continue expanding its footprint in Greater China in the first half of 2026, highlighting a series of new hotel openings aimed at responding to increasingly diverse travel patterns and more differentiated guest expectations across the region.

IHG noted that travel demand in Greater China is evolving toward more varied stay purposes, locations and lengths of stay, with growing importance of non-tier-one cities as well as leisure- and experience-driven travel. Building on more than five decades in the market, the group plans to strengthen its presence through a balanced mix of luxury, lifestyle and mainstream brands, tailored to local market characteristics.

In the first half of 2026, new openings will include InterContinental Huzhou South Taihu, TFT Chongqing Vignette Collection, Atwell Hefei Downtown, Holiday Inn Resort Ningbo Ninghai, Holiday Inn Jinan Daming Lake and Holiday Inn Express Nanjing Confucius Temple. Additional projects such as InterContinental Taipei and Holiday Inn Shanghai Tourism Zone will target entertainment- and leisure-led short stays, while properties like THE ONE Shanghai Downtown Vignette Collection and Kimpton Shanghai 9 Tree Art Center will focus on urban lifestyle and nature-oriented experiences.

IHG said local character remains a core element of its growth strategy, with new hotels integrating regional culture and heritage into design and guest experiences. The company currently operates or has in the pipeline more than 1,400 hotels across over 200 cities in Greater China, covering 13 brands, and described the upcoming openings as part of a measured, long-term approach focused on quality growth and sustained value creation.

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European Investor 01-20-26

IHG and sedco capital to launch hotel indigo grand square jeddah

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with a fund managed by SEDCO Capital to open Hotel Indigo Grand Square Jeddah, a 150-key lifestyle property within the upcoming Grand Square development on King Abdulaziz Road. The mixed-use project integrates hospitality, retail and office space, aiming to introduce a modern urban living model in Jeddah.

The hotel will feature neighbourhood-inspired design, high-end amenities and a locally immersive atmosphere aligned with the Hotel Indigo brand. IHG says the signing supports Saudi Arabia’s growing lifestyle travel segment and aligns with Vision 2030 tourism goals.

SEDCO Capital stated that the development strengthens Jeddah’s position as a key urban and tourism hub while contributing to the Kingdom’s real estate and economic transformation. IHG currently operates 46 hotels in Saudi Arabia, with 60 more in the pipeline.

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WS Investor 12-08-25

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the U.S. debut of its Ruby brand, a premium urban lifestyle hotel concept targeting the “urban micro” segment. Founded in Germany in 2013 and now with 34 hotels open or in the pipeline across Europe, Ruby emphasizes compact but stylish rooms with premium finishes, rainfall showers, and high-quality amenities, paired with vibrant public spaces featuring locally inspired design and 24/7 destination bars.

The move marks IHG’s 20th global brand and reflects its strategy to expand Ruby into over 120 hotels worldwide within the next decade and more than 250 in the next 20 years. Ruby is positioned to appeal to cost- and style-conscious travelers in major city centers while offering developers a flexible model adaptable for new builds, conversions, or adaptive reuse projects.

IHG executives highlighted Ruby’s strong European track record and its alignment with growing demand for lifestyle-focused hotels in urban markets. By joining IHG, Ruby properties will gain access to IHG’s distribution and technology platforms, as well as its global loyalty program, IHG One Rewards.

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The Investor 09-23-25

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