21 of the best gifts our editors are buying, all on sale for Cyber Monday
BOARDWALKTECH REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTSThough the risk-on attitude that has emerged in the back half of 2024 has lifted the stock market to new all-time highs, not every major growth stock has been a beneficiary. Investors still seem to be chasing companies with true AI tailwinds, and Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
In a season of raised expectations due to the arrivals of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Rutgers is experiencing some underwhelming moments. Off to a mediocre start through 12 games, Rutgers faces a tough test in its final nonconference game Monday night when it hosts Columbia in Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers (7-5) is hoping to avoid a second straight loss to an Ivy League opponent, and the Lions (11-1) are off to a better start than Princeton (9-4), which beat the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 21 in Newark, N.J. Four of the Scarlet Knights' losses are by five points or fewer, including a two-point loss to Kennesaw State and the 83-82 defeat to Princeton when it gave up a last-second basket along with 19 offensive rebounds and 23 second-chance points. It was the sixth time Rutgers allowed at least 80 points this season and it is 2-4 in those games. "I thought we played hard and did some good things out there, but a lot of second shots and just gotta be one possession better," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "We scored plenty of points to win." Harper scored 22 points and has scored at least 20 in four straight games and 10 of 12. Bailey collected 15 points and 12 rebounds but has shot less than 50 percent in five of his past eight games after making 6 of 16 shots vs. Princeton. Columbia has lost the past 10 meetings and is seeking its second win over a power-conference opponent. The Lions earned a 90-80 win at Villanova on Nov. 6 and are on a three-game winning streak since a 15-point loss to Albany on Dec. 4. Columbia is averaging 83.3 points so far and scored at least 80 for the ninth time when it shot a season-beat 57.7 percent (30 of 52) in Saturday's 85-72 win over Fairfield. The Lions are led by Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, whose 19.6 scoring average is third in the Ivy League. Rubio De La Rosa is also shooting 53.7 percent and is second in the Ivy League at 46.4 percent from 3-point range. Rubio De La Rosa has scored at least 20 points seven times, including a 27-point outing against Fairfield when he shot 8-of-15 after a scoreless opening half. Rubio De La Rosa also scored 22 in Columbia's win over Villanova. "With the break we had we just need to get into it, I wasn't surprised we were so slow in the first half," Columbia coach Jim Engles said. "Now we got to play top-five draft picks, so that's bad scheduling." --Field Level MediaPet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel within UK ‘an outrage’
Barclays fires over a dozen bankers, traders before Christmas — without giving them bonuses: sources
NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are pulling Wall Street toward another record amid mixed trading on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in afternoon trading after closing its best month of the year at an all-time high . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 86 points, or 0.2%, with a little more than an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 31.1% to lead the market. Following accusations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 2.9% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 1.1% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 3.7% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.6%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.3%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.3%. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday's headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October's lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
How Chicagoland Pressure Washing Helps the Chicago, IL Community 12-27-2024 09:56 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Chicago, IL - Pressure washing is a surface cleaning technique that is trusted by people the whole world over. However, the practice has benefits that specifically uplift the Chicago, IL area, and for this reason, many local residents and business owners swear by it. There are many companies that provide professional pressure washing [ https://www.chicagolandpowerwash.com/pressure-washing-company-in-chicago-il/ ] services, too - including Chicagoland Power Washing. [ https://www.chicagolandpowerwash.com/ ] The local business has helped contribute to the overall appeal of the Chicago community in multiple ways and outlines a few of them in the paragraphs below. Restoring Chicago's Historical Architecture Chicago is home to many different historical buildings. From the Wrigley Building and the Palmer House to early skyscrapers such as the Rookery Building, the city is like a museum that is constantly open, and its artifacts are the buildings. These living pieces of history deserve to be preserved, and one of the ways that Chicagoland Power Washing contributes to the community's well-being is by keeping buildings old and new in the best possible condition. Pressure washing has two primary benefits for exterior surfaces, including those at historic properties. First and foremost, it increases visual appeal, lending Chicago a clean and inviting atmosphere. Secondly, it helps surfaces last longer due to the removal of harmful debris. This eliminates the risk of related surface erosion, allowing structures to stay strong and sturdy for many more decades to come. Revitalizing Chicago's Commercial Districts Business owners all across the globe have to vie for the attention of potential customers. This is accomplished in many different ways. Advertisements make people aware of the products or services offered; friendly employees encourage patrons to make return visits; clean properties have a similar effect. To expound upon that last point, many business owners turn to pressure washing to give their commercial properties the most attractive exteriors possible. This is especially true in a busy city such as Chicago where exterior surface debris can rapidly accumulate if it is not put into check. This is where companies such as Chicagoland Power Washing step in. They are able to clean these properties' exterior surfaces, including front walks, parking lots, outside walls, front patios, and more. Commercial pressure washing immediately boosts the curb appeal of Chicago's businesses and allows them to more easily draw in locals and tourists alike. Saving Time and Energy For Homeowners Beyond the heart of downtown Chicago are the suburbs. Evanston, Oak Park, and Naperville are just a few examples, and they all host one-story houses, two-story houses, and other residential buildings. Those who live in these properties likely want to keep them in clean condition because better-looking homes lend to less frustrated residents. However, the do-it-yourself pressure washing process has several barriers to entry. It requires the use of personal time and energy, and it also demands sophisticated pieces of equipment that most people do not possess. Companies such as Chicagoland Power Washing provide full-service pressure washing so that local residents do not have to do the work for themselves. This allows homeowners to schedule an appointment and spend the time however they like as professionals clean their exterior surfaces on their behalf. About Chicagoland Power Washing Chicagoland Power Washing is Chicago's [ https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nphv3HJVwsyKN3S2A ] go-to source of pressure washing and exterior cleaning services. The company, which employs a full team of professionals and maintains comprehensive insurance policies, ensures satisfactory results at efficient speeds. Additionally, Chicagoland Power Washing uses a fair pricing system based on individual project sizes to ensure every customer pays a reasonable final cost. For more information about Chicagoland Power Washing, visit their website [ https://www.chicagolandpowerwash.com/ ] or call (708) 575-5561. Media Contact Company Name: Chicagoland Power Washing LLC Contact Person: Richard McInnis Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=how-chicagoland-pressure-washing-helps-the-chicago-il-community ] Phone: (708) 575-5561 City: Chicago State: Illinois Country: United States Website: https://www.chicagolandpowerwash.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Brisbane news live: Hundreds of bridge crashes caught on camera
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail on Wednesday as he awaits a May sex trafficking trial by a judge who cited evidence showing him to be a “serious risk” of witness tampering and proof he has tried to hide prohibited communications with third parties while incarcerated. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled in a five-page order following a bail hearing last week. At the hearing, lawyers for the hip-hop mogul argued that a $50 million bail package they proposed would be sufficient to ensure Combs doesn’t flee and doesn’t try to intimidate prospective trial witnesses. Two other judges previously had agreed with prosecutors that the Bad Boy Records founder was a danger to the community if he is not behind bars. Subramanian concurred. “There is compelling evidence of Combs's propensity for violence,” Subramanian wrote. Lawyers for Combs did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the decision. Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for prosecutors, declined comment. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years, aided by associates and employees. An indictment alleges that he silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. A federal appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan considers his bail request. That appeal was put on hold while Subramanian, newly appointed to the case after an earlier judge stepped aside, considered the bail request for the first time. Subramanian said he took a fresh look at all the bail arguments and the evidence supporting them to make his decision. Prosecutors have insisted that no bail conditions would be sufficient to protect the public and prevent the “I'll Be Missing You” singer from fleeing. They say that even in a federal lockup in Brooklyn, Combs has orchestrated social media campaigns designed to influence prospective jurors and tried to publicly leak materials he thinks can help his case. They say he also has contacted potential witnesses through third parties. Lawyers for Combs say any alleged sexual abuse described in the indictment occurred during consensual relations between adults and that new evidence refutes allegations that Combs used his “power and prestige” to induce female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers known as “Freak Offs.” Subramanian said evidence shows Combs to be a “serious risk of witness tampering,” particularly after he communicated over the summer with a grand jury witness and deleted some of his texts with the witness. The judge also cited evidence showing that Combs violated Bureau of Prisons regulations during pretrial detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn when he paid other inmates to use their phone code numbers so he could make calls to individuals who were not on his approved contact list. He said there was also evidence that he told family members and defense counsel to add other people to three-way calls so their communications would be more difficult to trace and that he made efforts to influence his trial's jury pool or to reach potential witnesses. Subramanian said his “willingness to skirt” jailhouse rules to conceal communications was “strong evidence” that any conditions of release would not prevent similar behavior. The judge said defense claims that Combs stopped using one particular phone technique criticized by prosecutors was belied by the fact that Combs apparently used it again on Sunday, two days after his bail hearing last week. Even a bail proposal that would include the strictest form of home confinement seemed insufficient, the judge said. “Given the nature of the allegations in this case and the information provided by the government, the Court doubts the sufficiency of any conditions that place trust in Combs and individuals in his employ — like a private security detail — to follow those conditions,” Subramanian wrote.UK-based Kurdish advocacy groups have condemned the arrest of seven people by counter-terrorism police in London as part of an investigation into the banned Kurdistan Workers’ party, known as the PKK. Four men aged 23, 27, 56 and 62, and two women aged 31 and 59, were arrested at separate addresses during dawn raids in the capital on Wednesday and remain in custody, the Metropolitan police said. A 31-year-old man was arrested Wednesday afternoon in west London. All are yet to be charged. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, disorder broke out in Haringey, north London, with large numbers of people turning out to prevent further raids in the area. Searches were taking place at eight addresses, including the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey where police said their investigation could take up to two weeks. Acting commander Helen Flanagan, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This activity has come about following a significant investigation and operation into activity we believe is linked to the terrorist group PKK. These are targeted arrests of those we suspect of being involved in terrorist activity linked to the group. “I hope that these arrests show that we will not tolerate any sort of terrorist activity and that we will take action where we believe there is harm being caused to communities here, in the UK or elsewhere.” The force said there was no imminent threat to the public. Kurdish community groups called for the “immediate release of those detained” and said the arrests were an “affront to the principles of democracy, justice, and human rights that the UK claims to hold”. In Haringey Green Lanes, the heart of the UK’s Turkish-speaking community, the usually quiet streets saw scenes of disorder on Wednesday. More than 100 people took to the streets, chanting “shame on you” at police and blocking officers from conducting further raids in the area. The Kurdish Community Centre was among the sites targeted by police. The Kurdish People’s Assembly in the UK, an advocacy group for the community, is based in the building. Ishak Milani, co-chair of the Kurdish People’s Assembly in the UK, said: “We, the Kurdish community in London, strongly condemn the recent unjust and heavy-handed raid conducted by British police on our community spaces. “This aggressive act is not only an attack on our people but also an affront to the principles of democracy, justice, and human rights that the UK claims to uphold. “We demand accountability for this raid and a clear explanation for the actions taken.” Speaking outside the centre, Milani said: “We woke up in shock, because the UK police attacked our friends, our political activists. They arrested six of them and raided our community centre, which is really important to us.” He said police had raided the centre almost on the same date last year: “We are really worried about today. Last year, during our celebrations, they raided our community centre and attacked us.” Day-Mer, another community group for the Turkish-speaking community in London, condemned the raid on the Kurdish Community Centre and called for “the immediate release of those detained”. One man said his sister was among those arrested and he was staying with her when the police came. “At 3 o’clock in the morning, I was staying at my sister’s house. They broke the door down, I thought it was a robbery,” he said. “I’ve never seen police like this, they didn’t look like Metropolitan police. They covered their face.” When he spoke to the Guardian, he had stitches on his forehead and dried blood on his ear. “I ran into my sister’s bedroom. I closed the door then they broke it and they broke my face. Half an hour later, they took me to hospital. Blood was coming down my hand and my face,” he said. “My sister was scared. They called the ambulance and arrested her. I don’t know where she is now.” He said his sister is often detained when travelling abroad. “My sister, when we go to Europe, they always keep her. Last month, they kept her for eight hours, from 8pm to four in the morning,” she said. Feryal Clark, the first Kurdish-British Labour MP, said on Wednesday night she was concerned by the raid. “I have raised the matter with the relevant ministers and I’m in contact with the local authorities & leaders,” the MP for Enfield North posted on X. The PKK is a separatist group that wants an independent Kurdish state in south-east Turkey. It has been banned in the UK since 2001. The group has been fighting against the Turkish state since the early 1980s.
After the resignation announcement from Bonneville County Coroner Rick Taylor, the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee will begin the process of interviewing candidates for coroner Tuesday night. The interviews will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Annex, 3750 East Lincoln Road, in Ammon. Only precinct committee officers can question, nominate and vote during the meeting, but the public is invited to attend. “As precinct committee officers, it is part of our role to provide our county commissioners with three names of qualified applicants to fill the office of coroner. We’re grateful to Coroner Rick Taylor, who served our county for more than a decade, and are prepared to fulfill our responsibilities to the voters of Bonneville County who placed their trust in us,” BCRCC Chairman Michael Colson said. According to Idaho Code 59-906, the county central committee of the same political party shall fill any vacancies within county offices. Taylor’s resignation goes into effect on Dec. 28.First Quarter Highlights Revenue grows 26% year-over-year to $628.0 million Calculated billings grows 13% year-over-year to $516.7 million Deferred revenue grows 27% year-over-year to $1,783.7 million GAAP net loss of $12.1 million compared to GAAP net loss of $33.5 million on a year-over-year basis Non-GAAP net income of $124.3 million compared to non-GAAP net income of $86.4 million on a year-over-year basis SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zscaler, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today announced financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2025 , ended October 31, 2024. “Growing customer engagements and strong sales execution drove a solid Q1 with all metrics exceeding our guidance. The combination of Zero Trust and AI is creating exciting new opportunities, which we are well positioned to capture with our large and expanding platform,” said Jay Chaudhry, Chairman and CEO of Zscaler. “With our customer obsession, the world’s largest cybersecurity cloud, and an upleveled go-to-market machine, we are driving strong growth.” First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Revenue: $628.0 million, an increase of 26% year-over-year. Income (loss) from operations: GAAP loss from operations was $30.7 million, or 5% of revenue, compared to $46.1 million, or 9% of revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Non-GAAP income from operations was $134.1 million, or 21% of revenue, compared to $89.7 million, or 18% of revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Net income (loss) : GAAP net loss was $12.1 million, compared to $33.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Non-GAAP net income was $124.3 million, compared to $86.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Net income (loss) per share, diluted: GAAP net loss per share was $0.08, compared to $0.23 in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Non-GAAP net income per share was $0.77, compared to $0.55 in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Cash flows: Cash provided by operations was $331.3 million, or 53% of revenue, compared to $260.8 million, or 53% of revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Free cash flow was $291.9 million, or 46% of revenue, compared to $224.7 million, or 45% of revenue, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Deferred revenue: $1,783.7 million as of October 31, 2024, an increase of 27% year-over-year. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments: $2,707.9 million as of October 31, 2024, an increase of $298.2 million from July 31, 2024. Recent B usiness Highlights Zscaler’s cloud security platform reached a new scalability milestone, surpassing half a trillion daily transactions, which is nearly 60 times greater than the total number of Google searches per day. This milestone underscores the unparalleled scalability, resilience, and trust customers have placed in the Zscaler platform, which enables organizations to secure users, applications, and devices, while simplifying operations and consolidating costs. Appointed Adam Geller as Chief Product Officer to accelerate Zscaler’s next phase of innovation and growth. Geller’s proven security product and engineering experience will be invaluable to the development of Zscaler’s AI-driven security operations platform. Announced a set of AI and Zero Trust integrations with the CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform to advance security operations by providing advanced threat detection, response, and risk management. Announced four new integrations with Okta designed to accelerate joint customers' Zero Trust transformation by delivering end-to-end, context-aware security. Together, Okta and Zscaler are helping customers reduce risk, improve the user experience, and enable cross-domain response through shared telemetry and threat intelligence. Published the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Mobile, IoT, and OT Threat Report, which provides detailed insights covering mobile and IoT/OT cyber threat landscape from June 2023 through May 2024. ThreatLabz found that the Zscaler cloud blocked 45% more IoT malware transactions than last year–indicating botnets continue to proliferate across IoT devices. Change in Non-GAAP Measures Presentation Effective August 1, 2024, the beginning of our fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, we are using a long-term projected non-GAAP tax rate of 23% for the purpose of determining our non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods in fiscal 2025 and beyond. Given the significant growth of our business and non-GAAP operating income, we believe this change is necessary to better reflect the performance of our business. We will continue to assess the appropriate non-GAAP tax rate on a regular basis, which could be subject to changes for a variety of reasons, including the rapidly evolving global tax environment, significant changes in our geographic earnings mix, or other changes to our strategy or business operations. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this change. Financial Outlook For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, we expect: Revenue of $633 million to $635 million Non-GAAP income from operations of $126 million to $128 million Non-GAAP net income per share of approximately $0.68 to $0.69, assuming approximately 163 million fully diluted shares outstanding and a non-GAAP tax rate of 23% For the full year of fiscal 2025, we expect: Revenue of approximately $2.623 billion to $2.643 billion Calculated billings of $3.124 billion to $3.149 billion Non-GAAP income from operations of $549 million to $559 million Non-GAAP net income per share of $2.94 to $2.99, assuming approximately 164 million fully diluted shares outstanding and a non-GAAP tax rate of 23% These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Forward-Looking Statements safe harbor below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Guidance for non-GAAP income from operations excludes stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes, amortization of debt issuance costs, and amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. We have not reconciled our expectations of non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measures because certain items are out of our control or cannot be reasonably predicted. For those reasons, we are also unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, the variability of which may have a significant impact on future results. Accordingly, a reconciliation for the guidance for non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share is not available without unreasonable effort. For further information regarding why we believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release. Conference Call and Webcast Information Zscaler will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter of fiscal 2025 and outlook for its second quarter of fiscal 2025 and full year fiscal 2025 today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time). Upcoming Conferences Second quarter of fiscal 2025 investor conference participation schedule: UBS Global Technology and AI Conference in Scottsdale Wednesday, December 4, 2024 BTIG Virtual Software Forum Monday, December 9, 2024 Scotiabank Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Barclays Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Needham Growth Conference Thursday, January 9, 2025 and Friday, January 10, 2025 Sessions which offer a webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Zscaler website at https://ir.zscaler.com/ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future financial and operating performance, including our financial outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and full year fiscal 2025. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including but not limited to: macroeconomic influences and instability, geopolitical events, operations and financial results and the economy in general; risks related to the use of AI in our platform; our limited operating history; our ability to identify and effectively implement the necessary changes to address execution challenges; risks associated with managing our rapid growth, including fluctuations from period to period; our limited experience with new products and subscriptions and support introductions and the risks associated with new products and subscription and support offerings, including the discovery of software bugs; our ability to attract and retain new customers; the failure to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new products and subscriptions as well as existing products and subscription and support; rapidly evolving technological developments in the market for network security products and subscription and support offerings and our ability to remain competitive; length of sales cycles; useful lives of our assets and other estimates; and general market, political, economic and business conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” set forth from time to time in our filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, filed on September 12, 2024, as well as future filings and reports by us, copies of which are available on our website at ir.zscaler.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements, as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial information provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. For further information regarding why we believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this press release. About Zscaler Zscaler (Nasdaq: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust ExchangeTM platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 160 data centers globally, the SSE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform. ZscalerTM and the other trademarks listed at https://www.zscaler.com/legal/trademarks are either (i) registered trademarks or service marks or (ii) trademarks or service marks of Zscaler, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Investor Relations Contacts Ashwin Kesireddy VP, Investor Relations and Strategic Finance (415) 798-1475 ir@zscaler.com Natalia Wodecki Media Relations Contact press@zscaler.com (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes as follows: (2) Includes amortization expense of acquired intangible assets as follows: ___________________ (1) Effective August 1, 2024, the beginning of our fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, we are using a long-term projected non-GAAP tax rate of 23% for the purpose of determining our non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods in fiscal 2025 and beyond. Given the significant growth of our business and non-GAAP operating income, we believe this change is necessary to better reflect the performance of our business. We will continue to assess the appropriate non-GAAP tax rate on a regular basis, which could be subject to changes for a variety of reasons, including the rapidly evolving global tax environment, significant changes in our geographic earnings mix, or other changes to our strategy or business operations. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this change. (2) Adjustment related to the difference between the GAAP provision for income taxes and Non-GAAP provision for income taxes. (3) The sum of the fully diluted earnings per share impact of individual reconciling items may not total to fully diluted non-GAAP net income per share due to the weighted-average shares used in computing the GAAP net loss per share differs from the weighted-average shares used in computing the non-GAAP net income per share, and due to rounding of the individual reconciling items. The GAAP net loss per share calculation uses a lower share count as it excludes potentially dilutive shares, which are included in calculating the non-GAAP net income per share. (4) We exclude the in-the-money portion of the convertible senior notes for non-GAAP weighted-average diluted shares as they are covered by our capped call transactions. Our outstanding capped call transactions are antidilutive under GAAP but are expected to mitigate the dilutive effect of the convertible senior notes, and therefore are included in the calculation of non-GAAP diluted shares outstanding. The capped calls have an antidilutive impact when the average stock price of our common stock in a given period is higher than their exercise price. ZSCALER, INC. Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to our results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), we believe the following non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use the following non-GAAP financial information to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance. However, non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, as it has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In particular, free cash flow is not a substitute for cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, the utility of free cash flow as a measure of our liquidity is further limited as it does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for a given period. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. A reconciliation of our historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures stated in accordance with GAAP has been included in this press release. Investors are cautioned that there are a number of limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures and key metrics as analytical tools. Investors are encouraged to review these reconciliations, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. Expenses Excluded from Non-GAAP Measures Stock-based compensation expense is excluded primarily because it is a non-cash expense that management believes is not reflective of our ongoing operational performance. Employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation, which is a cash expense, are excluded because these are tied to the timing and size of the exercise or vesting of the underlying equity incentive awards and the price of our common stock at the time of vesting or exercise, which may vary from period to period independent of the operating performance of our business. Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets and amortization of debt issuance costs from the convertible senior notes are excluded because these are non-cash expenses and are not reflective of our ongoing operational performance. Effective August 1, 2024, the beginning of our fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, we are using a long-term projected non-GAAP tax rate of 23% for the purpose of determining our non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods. Given the significant growth of our business and non-GAAP operating income, we believe this change is necessary to better reflect the performance of our business. We will continue to assess the appropriate non-GAAP tax rate on a regular basis, which could be subject to changes for a variety of reasons, including the rapidly evolving global tax environment, significant changes in our geographic earnings mix, or other changes to our strategy or business operations. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this change. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Gross Margin . We define non-GAAP gross profit as GAAP gross profit excluding stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes and amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. We define non-GAAP gross margin as non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of revenue. Non-GAAP Income from Operations and Non-GAAP Operating Margin . We define non-GAAP income from operations as GAAP loss from operations excluding stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes and amortization expense of acquired intangible assets. We define non-GAAP operating margin as non-GAAP income from operations as a percentage of revenue. Non-GAAP Net Income per Share, Diluted . We define non-GAAP net income as GAAP net loss excluding stock-based compensation expense and related employer payroll taxes, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, amortization of debt issuance costs, and the non-GAAP provision for income taxes adjustment. We define non-GAAP net income per share, diluted, as non-GAAP net income plus the non-GAAP interest expense related to the convertible senior notes divided by the weighted-average diluted shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially diluted common stock equivalents outstanding during the period and the anti-dilutive impact of the capped call transactions entered into in connection with the convertible senior notes. Calculated Billings . We define calculated billings as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue in a period. Calculated billings in any particular period aims to reflect amounts invoiced for subscriptions to access our cloud platform, together with related support services for our new and existing customers. We typically invoice our customers annually in advance, and to a lesser extent quarterly in advance, monthly in advance or multi-year in advance. Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Margin . We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, equipment and other assets and capitalized internal-use software. We define free cash flow margin as free cash flow divided by revenue. We believe that free cash flow and free cash flow margin are useful indicators of liquidity that provide information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated from our operations that, after the investments in property, equipment and other assets and capitalized internal-use software, can be used for strategic initiatives.
NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses, she said. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Labor, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump's transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely," Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Police swept Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices, New York State Police said. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had also been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe." In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area" Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations ended with no charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot, with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.Less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden and criticized his prosecution as a "miscarriage of justice," prosecutors in special counsel David Weiss' office defended the integrity of their work in a pair of court filings and fiercely rebutted the president's allegation that their charges were motivated by politics. "In total, eleven different [federal] judges appointed by six different presidents, including his father, considered and rejected the defendant's claims, including his claims for selective and vindictive prosecution," wrote prosecutor Leo Wise in a ten-page filing in Hunter Biden's tax case on Monday. President Biden on Sunday issued a blanket pardoned to his son, who earlier this year was convicted on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to separate tax-related charges, and was scheduled to be sentenced in both cases later this month. MORE: How President Biden came to the decision to pardon his son Hunter In Monday's filing, prosecutors urged the federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden's tax case in California not to dismiss his indictment, and instead close the docket -- which would allow the record to continue to exist. "The government does not challenge that the defendant has been the recipient of an act of mercy. But that does not mean the grand jury's decision to charge him, based on a finding of probable cause, should be wiped away as if it never occurred," Wise wrote. "It also does not mean that his charges should be wiped away because the defendant falsely claimed that the charges were the result of some improper motive." Mark Osler, an expert in presidential pardons at the University of St. Thomas, said Weiss' overture raises "a technical issue -- either way, the case goes away -- but an important one." "[Prosecutors] want the indictment to remain on the record," he told ABC News. Without directly addressing President Biden's criticism of the case as selective and unfair, the filing highlighted how Hunter Biden's lawyers made "every conceivable argument" to dismiss the case and failed to provide evidence that prosecution was vindictive. "The court similarly found his vindictive prosecution claims unmoored from any evidence or even a coherent theory as to vindictiveness," the filing said. "And there was none and never has been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case. The defendant made similar baseless accusations in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Those claims were also rejected." Prosecutors also opposed dismissing Hunter Biden's indictment on gun charges in Delaware, arguing in a similar filing that “because there was no defect in the grand jury’s indictment, there is no reason to dismiss it here.” “Defense counsel misrepresents the law. Nothing requires the dismissal of the indictment in this case,” that filing said.WORTHINGTON — Approximately two dozen Nobles County Homeschoolers students will host a Maker’s Market from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Phileo’s in downtown Worthington. The students, which range from kindergarteners through 12th graders, have made a variety of items that they are offering for sale. ADVERTISEMENT Sally Enderson, who has two children participating in the event, said shoppers will find everything from sourdough bread and homebaked goods to bird feeders and bird baths made of wood, candles, blankets and more. “Some of them are a bit more experienced entrepreneurs and there are brand new entrepreneurs,” she said of the students. “There will be an extreme variety of things that people can use for gifts or for their house, stocking stuffers and also food items.” This is the first time the Nobles County Homeschoolers have planned a Maker’s Market. Enderson said the state of Minnesota has a Venture Upward program available to homeschool families to provide students with different opportunities for learning experiences. The online platform can be done as part of homeschooling or to supplement homeschooling education. “This year we had enough kids to actually join the program to start a Venture School, which meets on Thursdays,” Enderson said. The nationwide program incorporates different educational sessions throughout the year. In communities where there is a larger homeschool population, students come together to learn about business, becoming an entrepreneur and developing marketable products. Katie Kouba is Nobles County Homeschoolers’ point person. Thursday’s Makers Market was open to all Nobles County homeschoolers but Venture Upward provided the platform for what it should look like, Enderson said. ADVERTISEMENT She and fellow home educators taught students about creativity and coming up with their own ideas on how to be an entrepreneur. “It’s fun to see their creativity,” Enderson shared, noting that students came up with their own ideas, determined how much they should sell their creations for by considering fair pricing, how to display their goods in a booth, and more. Enderson said her 7-year-old son had an idea to recycle crayons. He peels the paper wrapping off broken crayons, breaks the crayons down further and puts them in molds. His finished product — animal shaped crayons that are ready to be reused. “He has been truly on his own,” Enderson said. “He’s even woken up early in the morning (to work on his business).” Enderson’s 13-year-old, meanwhile, is building wooden bird feeders and bird houses to sell. “There’s a wide range of creativity and it’s exciting,” she said. “We’re asking the community to come and stop by and encourage all of the hard work that these kids have done.” The Maker’s Market will be set up inside Phileo’s Coffee & Eatery, 212 10th St., Worthington, in the back room and/or upstairs. Signs will direct people on where to find the student booths. ADVERTISEMENT Enderson said each student participating will decide what to do with the money they earn on Thursday. Some may donate it, others will use it to buy Christmas gifts or to simply cover their costs involved in making the items.