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FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setupInvestors can appreciate that putting money to work in the stock market and having a very long-term mindset can end up resulting in truly remarkable results. This makes investing something I believe all people should at least learn the basics of. While the overall market has climbed over time, there have been certain businesses that have been massive winners. In fact, there's one dominant retail stock that has generated a monster total return of 3,330,000% (as of Dec. 18) since its initial public offering in September 1981. That means a $10,000 investment made just over four decades ago would be worth an astonishing $333 million today. You don't want to miss this company. Perhaps it deserves a closer look right now. Boring is beautiful It's quite amazing to think that Home Depot ( HD 1.97% ) has been able to put up such a fantastic performance. I'm sure most readers would've assumed the business in question had exposure to the technology sector. However, the world's leading home improvement chain has taken care of its shareholders by operating a simple business model, which is to sell tools, supplies, and equipment to both DIY and professional customers via a network of physical stores. That playbook hasn't really changed. About 30 years ago in fiscal 1993, Home Depot generated $9.2 billion in total sales. And it had 264 stores in operation. The management team in those days understood quickly that the correct strategy was to invest aggressively to rapidly expand the footprint across the country. These days, there are 2,345 Home Depot locations in all, with 2,024 in the U.S. and its territories, 182 in Canada, and 139 in Mexico. What's more, the company claims that 90% of the population in this country is within 10 miles of a Home Depot. That broad reach is hard to overstate. Of course, it's not a shocker that all of that growth has resulted in a dominant retail enterprise. In the last 12 months, Home Depot reported $155 billion in revenue, astronomically higher than in fiscal 1993. And the business posted almost $15 billion in net income in the last year. Capital returns Home Depot's financial position these days affords it the ability to return copious amounts of cash back to shareholders. The company paid out $6.7 billion in dividends in the last nine months. The dividend yield is just over 2.3% right now. Even more impressive is the fact that the quarterly payout has increased 281% in the past decade. Management also focuses on share repurchases. In the past five years, the diluted outstanding share count has shrunk by 9.2%. This raises the ownership stake of existing investors. Keep Home Depot on your radar While Home Depot's historical track record of growth is undeniable, the company is facing a difficult reality today. Tighter macro conditions in recent years, particularly higher interest rates and inflationary pressures, have discouraged consumers from taking on renovation projects. This helps explain why same-store sales dipped 3.2% in fiscal 2023, with the expectation that they will decline 2.5% in the current fiscal year. However, Home Depot does benefit from some favorable industry tailwinds. The median age of a home in the U.S. has steadily increased over time. Older houses understandably need more repairs and upgrades. Additionally, the U.S. continues to face a substantial housing inventory shortage. Low housing supply incentivizes people not to move, instead investing in renovations at their current dwellings. At a high level, I think it's safe to assume that the overall housing and home improvement industry will continue to be critical parts of the economy decades from now. Investors shouldn't expect forward returns to resemble the past, but Home Depot certainly deserves to be on your watch list.
NonePanthers vs. Buccaneers Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread – Week 13
Since their NWSL title-winning season in 2021, it’s been a bumpy road for the franchise, missing out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons while compiling a 10-19-18 record overall. “Back then, it clearly wasn’t sustainable because after ’21, we kind of tanked,” goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury said. Change was certainly needed, but over the course of those two seasons, the foundation for future success under current team owner Michele Kang was placed. Those building blocks came in waves, from homegrown talent like Trinity Rodman and Tara McKeown to international signings like Leicy Santos and Esme Morgan. Saturday was a massive step in this rebuild as Washington returned to the NWSL Championship with an unforgettable semifinal win over NJ/NY Gotham FC. “Insane,” defender/midfielder Gabrielle Carle said. “It’s so insane to play in an environment like this.” Deafening is the only way to truly explain what it was like once Kingsbury saved her third and final penalty as 120 minutes of soccer wasn’t enough to decide a winner. Penalties were needed and the longtime keeper for the Spirit, someone who’s seen first-hand the highs and lows of the club, stood on her head to save all three Gotham penalties. “Going into that, I wasn’t nervous at all,” Kingsbury said. “It’s just like another day at training. I’ve made those saves many times, so I think that helped prepare me emotionally for those big moments.” Audi Field was literally shaking from the jumps of elation from more than 19,000 fans, who packed in for Washington’s third sellout of the season. They were treated to an instant classic, a match that saw everyone on the edge of their seats. “That was one of the most electric games I’ve ever played in,” defender Casey Krueger said. “The fans were just unreal.” Those clamoring for a big moment, especially after Gotham took a 1-0 lead off an Esther González header in the 56th minute, got just that from a pair of homegrown talents, part of this youth revolution happening with the Spirit. Clemson teammates and 2024 rookies Makenna Morris and Hal Hershfelt connected on a goal in the third minute of added time in the second half to level the score at 1-1. “It went over my head and then it was almost slow-motion,” defender Esme Morgan said. “I just saw her come from nowhere and then I actually watched it go into the top corner. It was amazing.” Hershfelt’s presence on the team only happened because Ashley Sanchez, one of the league’s best midfielders, was shockingly traded to North Carolina for the fifth overall pick in the NWSL Draft. The move sent ripples throughout the league, but already, Washington’s return in that move has produced an iconic moment in club history. “It’s not a coincidence,” head coach Jonatan Giráldez said. “It’s everything what she’s doing in the training session, in the way she believes in the training, how she develops her skills in the training and everything, what she’s doing.” Two weeks ago, another homegrown talent, defender Tara McKeown, made her mark in the quarterfinals, scoring her first goal of the season in the 86th minute, the equalizer against Bay FC in an eventual 2-1 win for Washington. Both were named to the NWSL Best XI second team this season, a deserving recognition for two shining examples of the now fortified foundation of this club. Last weekend, the Spirit got a glimpse of the summit and now, they have a chance to reach it, taking on the Orlando Pride on Saturday in Kansas City. “There’s just this belief that we’re never out of it, that whatever you throw at us, we’re going to find a way to win,” Kingsbury said. “... We just got one more to go.”
A young Florida resident became a millionaire after she bought a $10 scratch-off lottery ticket at a Publix grocery store, lottery officials said. Dominic Valerio, 24, claimed her winnings at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee, officials said in a Dec. 5 news release. The Orlando resident chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump-sum of $1,280,000, officials said. She bought the TRIPLE 777 ticket from the Publix store on South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. TRIPLE 777 has more than six million winning tickets with over $158.8 available in cash prizes and eight top prizes of $2 million, officials said. “With overall odds of 1-in-3.51, players can win up to 15 times, including DOUBLE revealing 77 and TRIPLE uncovering 777,” officials said. Scratch-off games are one of the lottery’s most popular games in Florida, making up 74% of ticket sales in fiscal year 2023-2024, officials said. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player’s ‘extraordinary streak of luck’ lasts 3 months. How much did he win? Lucky gambler bets $66 on slot machine — then wins life-changing prize in Florida Three lottery players win big during lucky weekend in NC. Where were tickets sold?US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, a prominent Indian American entrepreneur and venture capitalist, as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. This announcement is part of a broader initiative to bolster the US's leadership in AI, as Trump named several new officials in this area. Krishnan, who has an impressive background leading product teams at major tech companies like Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snap, will collaborate with David O. Sacks, the new White House AI & Crypto Czar. Together, they will coordinate AI policy across various government sectors and ensure the nation remains at the forefront of AI innovations. The appointment has garnered positive reactions from the Indian American community. Indiaspora executive director Sanjeev Joshipura praised Krishnan, emphasizing his blend of expertise in public policy, international affairs, investing, and technology. Indiaspora hopes to engage closely with Krishnan to further its leadership work on AI domestically and internationally. (With inputs from agencies.)