American Airlines has recently taken delivery of a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 , registered as N315UA —a tail number once used by United Airlines . The aircraft, which arrived in the airline's fleet on December 24, 2024, marks an interesting chapter in American’s fleet expansion, particularly given the significance of its tail number’s previous ownership. FlightAware data shows that on December 24, the aircraft was ferried from Boeing Field in Seattle (BFI) to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where it officially entered service with American Airlines. The flight, AA9825, took off from Boeing Field at 12:35 local time and landed in Dallas at 18:05 local time. What are the possible reasons? While the aircraft is undeniably new, its registration number—N315UA—has raised eyebrows, as it was once worn by a United Airlines Boeing 737-300 , according to the data on planespotters.net . This earlier iteration of the aircraft first flew for United in December 1987, where it operated for over two decades before being retired and ultimately scrapped in late 2009. For aviation enthusiasts and industry observers, the decision by American Airlines to register its new aircraft with the old United tail number is notable for a few reasons. JonNYC, a well-known aviation watchdog, speculated that American might have opted for this specific registration because of the limitations in its existing number pool following the merger. He explained on social media that the airline likely wanted to maintain a certain nose number on the registration, but the options were limited, leading to the reuse of a number from United’s former aircraft. The N number seen on the aircraft is assigned to aircraft registered in the United States . The United States was given the designation "N" as its nationality under the 1919 International Air Navigation Convention. In general aviation aircraft, the nationality is indicated by a single letter, followed by four or five identity letters and a hyphen. American's new Boeing 737 MAX 8: The aircraft, now part of American’s growing 737 MAX fleet, is the airline’s 66th MAX delivery, further solidifying its commitment to modernizing its fleet with more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft. Passengers may enjoy a contemporary and cozy experience in the Boeing 737 MAX 8 cabin operated by American Airlines. According to the company's website , it features 172 seats in total and is separated into three sections: Main Cabin, Main Cabin Extra, and First Class. The 16 seats in First Class have a roomy 37-inch pitch and 21-inch seat width, providing plenty of legroom and entertainment for personal devices. The main Cabin Extra, which has 24 seats with a 33-inch pitch and slightly larger seats (16.6–17.8 inches), is in the bulkhead and exit rows. With a 30-inch pitch and seat widths varying from 16.6 to 17.8 inches, the Main Cabin can accommodate 132 passengers. Wi-Fi and entertainment for personal devices are available in every area, ensuring a connected and pleasurable flying experience. Furthermore, there are power outlets all around the cabin, enabling travelers to charge their electronics while traveling. The Oneworld Alliance member, commands second overall total capacity at the Arizona airport. Fleet expansion and future deliveries As of the end of 2024, American Airlines has a total of 66 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet. Of these, 64 are currently in service, while 2 are parked, planespotters.net information shows . The airline expects to take delivery of an additional 6 MAX 8s in the near future, continuing its fleet modernization efforts. With an average age of just 4.2 years, the 737 MAX 8s are relatively new additions to American’s fleet, offering improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced passenger comfort compared to older models. These aircraft are a central part of the airline's strategy to modernize its narrowbody fleet and improve overall operational efficiency. In March 2024, American ordered 260 new narrowbody planes , including 85 of Boeing’s long-delayed 737 Max 10. The carrier also said that it would also convert orders for 30 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, a model that is already in its fleet, into the larger variant Boeing 737 MAX 10 s.Think of a ‘traditional’ philanthropist, and most of the famous, celebrated names which come to mind are likely to be male. But as last week highlighted, women have played a major role in Australian philanthropy and continue to inspire each other, driving momentum to expand charitable giving across all sectors of society. We can see this ripple effect throughout our history. Take Eliza Hall, who after the death of her husband Walter in 1911, decided to use the family’s wealth to establish a medical research facility with the aim of being a birthplace of discovery for all humankind. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute gave Australia its first Nobel Prize winner in Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnett, but also touched a chord with a young Vera Ramaciotti who was inspired decades later to use the proceeds from the sale of Sydney’s Theatre Royal for the greater good. She established a charitable trust, with the first grant going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. A few years later, Ramaciotti’s foundation would provide a grant to enable Professor Graeme Clark to complete the prototype of the first Cochlear implant. The power of influencing and inspiring others through generosity is instructive as we collectively seek to double philanthropy in Australia by 2030, an ambition supported by the federal government. There is a clear need to grow our giving. Today there are 3.3 million Australians living below the poverty line, including one in six children. Over 122,000 people are facing homelessness on any given night, with service providers facing enormous challenges to provide support to those who need it. While there are deeper structural issues at work here, it is clear that we can do more both as individuals and collectively. Tax data reveals that Australians’ philanthropic efforts lag behind our international counterparts – fewer than half of Australians with a taxable income over $1 million give to charity and receive a tax deduction, compared to 90 per cent in the US. Furthermore, the proportion of Australian taxpayers who report any charitable donation has been tracking downwards since 2010-11. To shift this trajectory, women from around Australia are coming together through the She Gives campaign to discuss ways to mobilise greater giving in Australia and to celebrate and encourage giving by Australian women. Why women? Because evidence shows that the dominant image of philanthropy has been a narrow one, largely focused on men who give generously and publicly. Yet there are innumerable inspiring untold stories of women around the country who are giving their time and their wealth, their knowledge and experience to drive positive impact. She Gives is shining a spotlight on these stories to celebrate women’s giving, and to empower and motivate more women to join a growing philanthropic community that fosters systemic social change. We should be bolder in our purpose as a nation. This is a unique moment in time with an enormous intergenerational wealth transfer taking place, and we have an opportunity to share a vision for how we want our communities to benefit. In my experience, those people who talk about wanting to leave a legacy are rarely talking about purely money. They want to help contribute to a world that is better than the one they came into and better than the one they are leaving behind. Whether your gift is large or small, whether it is through time, talent or treasure – the flow-on effect can last a lifetime. Significantly, the rise of community foundations and Private Ancillary Funds over the past decade shows growing interest in collective giving and giving locally for visible impact in local communities. At a time of such need for many Australians, reaching out with care and generosity reminds us that the essence of philanthropy is a shared commitment to lifting each other up. By inspiring each other to do more, we can drive the ripple effect further for a tide of positive change.Senator gives out 200 varsity scholarships in Kwara
Tech Titans Clash! Alphabet vs. Nvidia: What Should You Buy?NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. The S&P 500 fell 66.75 points, or 1.1%, to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 333.59 points, or 0.8%, to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 298.33 points, or 1.5%, to 19,722.03. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.1%. Microsoft declined 1.7%. Each has a market value above $3 trillion, giving the companies outsized sway on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of less than 0.1% as crude oil prices rose. “There’s just some uncertainty over this relief rally we’ve witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury remained at 4.33% from late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Happy New Year 2025 Celebration: Not everyone celebrates New Year on January 1. Here's list of regions and religions with different dates for new yearsSWAC clears Jackson State football of wrongdoing in stolen practice video investigation
Petco Health and Wellness (NASDAQ:WOOF) Shares Up 5.3% – Still a Buy?Shares of NVIDIA Co. ( NASDAQ:NVDA – Get Free Report ) dropped 0.8% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $137.73 and last traded at $139.04. Approximately 44,588,053 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 379,624,219 shares. The stock had previously closed at $140.22. Analyst Ratings Changes NVDA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of NVIDIA from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. HSBC lifted their price target on NVIDIA from $145.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on NVIDIA from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on NVIDIA from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price target on shares of NVIDIA from $170.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, NVIDIA currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $164.15. View Our Latest Report on NVDA NVIDIA Stock Down 2.1 % NVIDIA ( NASDAQ:NVDA – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 20th. The computer hardware maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.12. NVIDIA had a return on equity of 114.83% and a net margin of 55.69%. The company had revenue of $35.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $33.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.38 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 93.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that NVIDIA Co. will post 2.78 earnings per share for the current year. NVIDIA Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 5th were given a $0.01 dividend. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.03%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 5th. NVIDIA’s dividend payout ratio is currently 1.57%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other NVIDIA news, Director Tench Coxe sold 1,000,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.26, for a total transaction of $131,260,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 28,671,360 shares in the company, valued at $3,763,402,713.60. This represents a 3.37 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, CFO Colette Kress sold 66,670 shares of NVIDIA stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.40, for a total value of $9,027,118.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 3,351,572 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $453,802,848.80. The trade was a 1.95 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 1,351,886 shares of company stock worth $176,825,650 over the last three months. Company insiders own 4.23% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of NVIDIA Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVDA. CGC Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of NVIDIA during the second quarter worth $26,000. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in NVIDIA during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc acquired a new position in shares of NVIDIA during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. purchased a new position in shares of NVIDIA in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, FPC Investment Advisory Inc. raised its position in shares of NVIDIA by 900.0% during the 2nd quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 290 shares of the computer hardware maker’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.27% of the company’s stock. NVIDIA Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) NVIDIA Corporation provides graphics and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; virtual GPU or vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NVIDIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NVIDIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ( NYSE:HIMS – Get Free Report )’s share price was up 3.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $29.47 and last traded at $29.16. Approximately 1,420,068 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 10,024,792 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.15. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have commented on HIMS shares. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Hims & Hers Health from $28.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Hims & Hers Health from $23.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $21.00 price target (up from $18.00) on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $22.80. Get Our Latest Research Report on Hims & Hers Health Hims & Hers Health Stock Down 6.8 % Hims & Hers Health ( NYSE:HIMS – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $401.56 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $382.20 million. Hims & Hers Health had a return on equity of 10.97% and a net margin of 8.19%. The company’s revenue was up 77.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.04) EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Hims & Hers Health, Inc. will post 0.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, COO Melissa Baird sold 58,750 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.57, for a total transaction of $1,149,737.50. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 630,166 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,332,348.62. The trade was a 8.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CFO Oluyemi Okupe sold 269,739 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.31, for a total value of $5,478,399.09. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 145,763 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,960,446.53. This represents a 64.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 1,133,132 shares of company stock worth $28,059,037 over the last ninety days. 17.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quest Partners LLC grew its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 5,944.1% during the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 3,566 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 3,507 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its position in Hims & Hers Health by 21.4% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,982 shares of the company’s stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 1,054 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Hims & Hers Health during the second quarter valued at about $111,000. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 91.0% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 6,113 shares of the company’s stock worth $113,000 after acquiring an additional 2,913 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amalgamated Bank increased its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 55.9% during the second quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 6,566 shares of the company’s stock worth $133,000 after acquiring an additional 2,354 shares during the last quarter. 63.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Hims & Hers Health ( Get Free Report ) Hims & Hers Health, Inc operates a telehealth platform that connects consumers to licensed healthcare professionals in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers a range of curated prescription and non-prescription health and wellness products and services available to purchase on its websites and mobile application directly by customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hims & Hers Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hims & Hers Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Raoul Hira explains how to become a cyber expert and way towards resilient digital world
Building Life With Generative AIAIA Group Limited (OTCMKTS:AAGIY) Short Interest Up 52.8% in December
Gazprom to suspend gas supplies to Moldova from Jan 1 An employee works at the Chisinau-1 gas distribution plant of Moldovatransgaz energy company in Chisinau, Moldova March 4, 2023. — Reuters MOSCOW: Russia’s Gazprom announced Saturday that it will halt gas supplies to Moldova from January 1 over a debt dispute during a state of emergency over energy security in the tiny country. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Moldova’s prime minister denounced what he called “oppressive tactics”. The move comes as several Eastern European countries brace for an end to Russian gas supplies, as Kyiv will block the flow of Russian gas via its territory in several days. Moldova earlier this month introduced a 60-day state of emergency before the expected cut. “Gazprom will restrict natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova to zero cubic metres per day from 0500 GMT on January 1, 2025,” the company said in a statement. Gazprom said the move was “in connection with the refusal by the Moldovan side to regulate debts” and that it “reserved the right” for further action, including terminating the supply contract. Moldovan prime minister Dorin Recean said on Facebook that the “alleged debt has been invalidated by an international audit”, accusing Russia of using “energy as a political weapon”. He said Moldova would continue to diversify its sources of energy supply and will “carefully analyze legal options, including the resort to international arbitration to protect our national interest and to seek compensation”. Russia supplies Moldova with gas piped to the breakaway region of Transnistria, backed by Russia. The country gets most of its electricity from a power station based in Transnistria that uses Russian gas.In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico of opening a “second energy front” against Ukraine on the orders of Russia, as a gas transit dispute between the countries deepened. Fico, who visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week, said on Friday Slovakia would consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine such as halting back-up electricity supplies if Kyiv stops the gas transit from Jan. 1. “It appears that Putin gave Fico the order to open the second energy front against Ukraine at the expense of the Slovak people’s interests,” Zelenskiy wrote on the X social media platform. Slovakia wants to maintain Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, saying alternative routes would hike costs and hit its own transit operations, causing it to lose 500 million euros in fees. Ukraine has been forced to import electricity from several of its neighbours since Russia began targeting its power grid in late 2022, damaging or destroying much of the country’s non-nuclear generation capacity. Zelenskiy said Slovakia currently accounted for 19% of Ukraine’s power imports, and that Ukraine was working with its European Union neighbours to bolster the supply. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Fico was siding with Putin by making “senseless threats” to cut off Ukraine’s power imports.
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By Gerald Lynch Star Weekly is looking back on its best stories of 2024. This story was originally published in July and Star Weekly has chosen to share it again for readers to enjoy. Mayors from Melbourne’s north-west have called on the state and federal governments to get on with building the Melbourne Airport Rail Link. As reported by Star Weekly, mediator Neil Scales, who was appointed to determine whether a resolution is possible between the state government and the operator of Melbourne Airport as to the location of the station, reported that the rail link project remains viable and necessary, and is well backed by all parties. In a report tabled to federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King, Mr Scales recommended the station be built above ground. Hume mayor Naim Kurt said it is time to get on with the building of the project, as it is a development that is integral for Hume residents “Melbourne Airport remains the only Australian capital city without a rail link, which unfairly impacts our residents that work from the airport,” he said. “As one of Australia’s fastest growing council’s, we need all levels of government to commit to outer suburbs by keeping this project on track, just as they have for the Suburban Rail Loop East. “Our residents’ needs should come before politics, and we hope the mediator’s report will help end the stalemate so work can begin and reduce the projected four-year delay. Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic echoed this sentiment, and said it is more than time for the rail link to be built. “The mediator has provided a clear way forward and it is time now for all the parties involved to put their differences aside, work together and get the Melbourne Airport Rail project built,” she said. “We also call on the state government to reassess its revised timeline of a four-year delay and treat the project with the same priority as the Suburban Rail Loop East, which will service the better connected and more affluent suburbs in Melbourne’s east.” The Melbourne Airport Rail will also enable development of the Sunshine Precinct, the rebuild of Albion Station and the development of the Albion Quarter. These projects are expected to generate almost 30,000 new jobs and attract more than 40,000 new residents to the west.
Vikings place LB Ivan Pace on injured reserve and sign LB Jamin Davis off Packers practice squadST. LOUIS, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Marketing Alliance, Inc. (OTC: MAAL) (“TMA” or the “Company”), announced its financial results today for its fiscal 2025 second quarter ended September 30, 2024. Fiscal Q2 2025 Financial Key Items (all comparisons to the prior year period) Revenues were $4,928,950 compared to $4,891,830. The increase was primarily due to 10% revenue growth in the insurance distribution business that was offset by a decline in construction revenue Operating income from continuing operations of $486,639 compared to $591,187 in the prior year period Net income was $401,511 or $0.05 per share compared to $236,599 or $.03 per share in the prior year period Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on October 28, the Company announced its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program to repurchase up to 800,000 shares of issued and outstanding common stock and decided to discontinue paying dividends effective immediately Management Comments Timothy M. Klusas, TMA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “While our bottom-line results were similar to the second fiscal quarter last year, this quarter showed a 10% revenue increase in the insurance distribution business. The investments in the business we made, and continue to make, appeared to begin to result in growth. During this quarter the Company filled two key open leadership roles, introduced a new logo to reflect a more modern customer-centric company, and integrated new tools and technologies on to our insurance distribution platform for customers to save time, save expense, and in turn drive better outcomes for their customers. In the construction business we completed a large job that was initiated in the prior fiscal year. We continued to maintain a very disciplined approach to only undertaking jobs that were economically profitable with respect to our capabilities. We continued to believe this approach positions us to perform better and have capacity to undertake more suitable jobs.” Mr. Klusas added, “Our general and administrative operating expenses increased this quarter due to a one-time $147,720 non-cash compensation expense. While we have worked very hard to reduce our expenses, we recognized that we may have to adjust these expenses to continue to perform at a high level. We continued to reduce debt and further strengthened our balance sheet by changing our position on dividends.” On October 28 the Company announced its approval of a share repurchase authorization and its decision to discontinue the dividend. At the time, Timothy Klusas, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The share repurchase authorization represents our financial strength and commitment to enhance shareholder value, and the Board’s willingness to change tactics to do so. The Board recognized, nor did it take lightly, that this action would be a significant change in our shareholder distribution strategy of paying dividends, which the Company has paid consistently since its founding in 1996. The Board arrived at this decision after monitoring the stock price while paying dividends and has concluded in its judgement that its dividend policy was not adequately reflected in the stock price." As of November 27, the Company has repurchased approximately 62,000 shares under this authorization. Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Review Revenues were $4,928,950 compared to $4,891,830, due to 10% growth in the insurance distribution business that was offset by a decrease in the construction business. Net operating revenue (gross profit) for the quarter was $1,367,731, compared to net operating revenue of $1,427,796 in the prior year fiscal period. While Net operating revenue was greater this quarter in the insurance business, it was offset by a decrease in the construction business versus the prior year quarter. Operating expenses increased to $881,092 compared to $836,609 for the prior year. The increase was due to a one-time non-cash expense of $147,720. The Company reported operating income from continuing operations of $486,639 compared to $591,187 in the prior year period, with differences due to factors discussed above. Operating EBITDA (excluding investment portfolio income) of $553,396 was less than the prior year quarterly EBITDA of $669,709. A note reconciling operating EBITDA to operating income can be found at the end of this release. Investment gain (loss), net (from non-operating investment portfolio) for the quarter was $61,203 as compared with ($129,263) during the same period the previous year. The Company has reduced its holdings of equity securities by 32% at the end of the quarter versus the prior year. Net income was $401,511, or $0.05 per share, compared to $236,599 or $0.03 per share. Common shares outstanding increased 100,000 pursuant to Director retention plans. Balance Sheet Information TMA’s balance sheet on September 30, 2024, reflected cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 million; working capital of $6.1 million; and shareholders’ equity of $6.4 million; compared to cash and cash equivalents of $1.8 million, working capital of $6.1 million, and shareholders’ equity of $6.5 million as of September 30, 2023. About The Marketing Alliance, Inc. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, TMA provides support to independent insurance brokerage agencies, with a goal of integrating insurance and “insuretech” engagement platforms to provide members value-added services on a more efficient basis than they can achieve individually. Investor information can be accessed through the shareholder section of TMA’s website at: http://www.themarketingalliance.com/shareholder-information . TMA’s common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets (http://www.otcmarkets.com) under the symbol “MAAL”. Forward Looking Statement Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect TMA's business and prospects. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations of growth based upon our investments in our business, our recently announced stock repurchase program, our plans to reduce expenses, and our ability to undertake more suitable jobs and generate earnings from our construction business. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our estimates, expectations or intentions only as of the date hereof, or as of such earlier dates as are indicated, and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, expectations of the economic environment, material adverse changes in economic conditions in the markets we serve and in the general economy; the ways that insurance carriers may react in their underwriting policies and procedures to the continuing risks they perceive from public health matters; the ability of our construction business to be engaged for projects and for those projects to commence on the anticipated timetable and with the anticipated profitability; our reliance on a limited number of insurance carriers and any potential termination of those relationships or failure to develop new relationships; privacy and cyber security matters and our ability to protect confidential information; future state and federal regulatory actions and conditions in the states in which we conduct our business; our ability to work with carriers on marketing, distribution and product development; pricing and other payment decisions and policies of the carriers in our insurance distribution business, changes in the public securities markets that affect the value of our investment portfolio; and weather and environmental conditions in the areas served by our construction business. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. . Note – Operating EBITDA (excluding investment portfolio income) The Company elects not to include investment portfolio income because the Company believes it is non-operating in nature. The Company uses Operating EBITDA as a measure of operating performance. However, Operating EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and when analyzing its operating performance, investors should use Operating EBITDA in addition to, and not as an alternative for, income as determined in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, its presentation of Operating EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and is therefore limited as a comparative measure. Furthermore, as an analytical tool, Operating EBITDA has additional limitations, including that (a) it is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow, as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as tax payments; (b) it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, its working capital needs; and (c) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized often will have to be replaced in the future, and Operating EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments. To compensate for these limitations, the Company evaluates its profitability by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with its analysis of cash flows from operations and through the use of other financial measures. The Company believes Operating EBITDA is useful to an investor in evaluating its operating performance because it is widely used to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to certain non-cash or unrealized expenses (such as depreciation and amortization) and expenses that are not reflective of its core operating results over time. The Company believes Operating EBITDA presents a meaningful measure of corporate performance exclusive of its capital structure, the method by which assets were acquired, and non-cash charges and provides additional useful information to measure performance on a consistent basis, particularly with respect to changes in performance from period to period.
My Favorite Phones Of 2024, RankedAxon Enterprise CPO & CTO Jeffrey Kunins sells $1.73m in stock
( MENAFN - Send2Press Newswire) SANTO ANDRÉ, Brazil, and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 28, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) - Santo André, Brazil, is a dynamic city of sophistication and opportunity. Home to three-quarters of a million people, it yet maintains its welcoming attitude and signature friendliness. Although lying within Greater São Paulo's industrial corridor, green spaces such as Parque Central, with its picturesque lakes and shady walkways, provide respite from the city's hectic urban tempo. And Parque Chácara da Baronesa transports visitors to the 18th century with its colonial-era mansion and landscaped gardens. Downtown Santo André is a center for nightlife, entertainment, and festivals. And right in the bustling center of this dynamic urban mosaic, the new Ideal Church of Scientology Mission of Santo André welcomes one and all. IMAGE CAPTION: Grand Opening of the Ideal Scientology Mission of Santo André, Brazil. Scientology Missions form the vanguard of the Scientology religion, providing the full array of basic and introductory Scientology services and Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling). And now joining the ranks of Ideal Missions, the new Scientology Mission in Santo André is designed to serve as the physical embodiment of Scientology technology in helping all to attain spiritual freedom. Community leaders, officials and guests joined Scientologists from across São Paulo and Brazil November 16 to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Ideal Church of Scientology Mission of Santo André. Joining Mission Director Ms. Andreia dos Santos da Silviera on stage were Officer Renata Breyer Correia of the city of Jundiaí Municipal Guard and Chief Marcos Antônio Pinto de Moraes, Special Class Metropolitan Civil Guard of São Paulo. Working in internal affairs and responsible for the ethics of officers accused of misconduct, Ms. Correia experienced setbacks.“We have 50 supervisors and 460 guards. Those in leadership roles are challenged to effectively guide those under their charge,” she said.“This often leads to extra burden placed on other departments. “In trying to resolve these situations both for myself and my fellows, I discovered Dianetics. I was amazed. Here were answers to why man acted irrationally. This had the answers for how to go from being unmotivated to becoming a dynamic powerhouse. For me personally, as I have learned about and used Dianetics, I have increased my own positive influence on those around me. My goal is to improve Brazilian society through the application of the knowledge I have gained.” Ms. Correia presented the Church with a Certificate of Recognition for its work to spread moral values, promote drug-free living and address immorality and illiteracy in the Greater São Paulo area and throughout Brazil. Chief Moraes became a police officer to help people, particularly those living on the street.“People who need help and are on the margins of society are invisible to many. I find those who are destitute and help bring them back up, getting them out of the life of drugs and degradation that they are suffering from and reuniting them with their families. It was by doing this type of work that I first met the Church of Scientology. “Factually, Scientology found me,” he said.“Brazilian Scientologists saw the work I was doing and got in touch with me to see how they could support me. That is when I first learned of the Drug-Free World program. This was a tool I could use in my work, both on the streets and with the police. I finally had a way to handle drug abuse before it begins. When people receive the Drug-Free World booklets, they see the truth about what drugs are and the effects they cause.” “I have never seen an organization so well managed as the Church of Scientology. And the entire reason for that level of organization is to increase the well-being of others. This is a church that takes action. If one person in the Church says 'Let's do this,' the entire group aligns and unifies behind accomplishing that goal and changing society. I believe this Ideal Mission represents a new level of action and help for our community. Together, we are going to raise our society and help it prosper.” Chief Moraes presented the Mission with a Certificate of Recognition for reaching many thousands of youth with effective drug education to ensure their own future and that of São Paulo. Mission Director Ms. Andreia dos Santos da Silviera ended the dedication by inviting one and all to tour their new facilities.“Our Mission is here to serve the individual as the central ground from which to emanate Mr. Hubbard's solutions for drug rehabilitation, drug prevention, and campaigns to salvage every sector of society. And we now open our doors to expand our help to the entire community.” Visitors to the Santo André Mission are welcome to tour the Public Information Display, featuring multimedia presentations of the basic beliefs and practices of Dianetics and Scientology as well as the life and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard. As an Ideal Church of Scientology Mission, Santo André is equipped with every facility needed to provide the full array of introductory Scientology services. These include the popular Life Improvement Courses through which anyone may find workable solutions to common challenges of everyday life-such as how to improve a marriage, successfully raise children, increase personal motivation, and set and achieve goals. The new Mission also offers seminars on a wide range of topics, including personal efficiency. The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar is based on Mr. Hubbard's watershed work Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health , the bestselling book that reveals the source of one's nightmares, unreasonable fears and irrational behavior-the reactive mind-and how to conquer it. Additionally, the Mission provides spiritual counseling, known as auditing , and the Purification Program , developed by Mr. Hubbard to free individuals from the mental and spiritual damage caused by drugs and toxins. The grand opening of the Ideal Scientology Mission of Santo André contributed to the record-breaking rollout of new Ideal Scientology Missions opened around the globe in 2024. From Quito, Ecuador, at the geographic center of the globe; to a new Ideal Scientology Mission in the thriving community of McMinnville, Oregon; back-to-back openings in Taiwan in the city of Chiayi, the gateway to the nation's cultural heritage, and the bustling metropolis of Taichung; and finally, Japan's thriving port city of Osaka. Many more Ideal Scientology Missions are planned across North and South America, Europe and Asia in the coming year. The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. Mr. David Miscavige is the Scientology religion's ecclesiastical leader . The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954, and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries. LEARN MORE: VIDEO: IMAGE: IMAGE CAPTION: Grand Opening of the Ideal Scientology Mission of Santo André, Brazil TAGS: #SantoAndré #Brazil #SãoPaulo #IdealScientologyMission #GrandOpening News Source: Church of Scientology International MENAFN28122024004236004055ID1109037685 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.