Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Business

Rio Tinto and China's Chalco Forge Joint Venture to Seize Control of Brazil's CBA in $900M Deal

Mining giant Rio Tinto and state-owned Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) have entered a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling 68.6% stake in Brazil's Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) from Votorantim, valuing the deal at approximately $902.6 million. The move signals a major consolidation in the global low-carbon aluminum sector.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Northeast Bank's Loan Surge and New SMB Product Spark Investor Debate Amid Rising Charge-Offs

Northeast Bank's Q2 2026 results reveal a bank in transition: record loan growth and a promising new small business product are countered by rising charge-offs and a token dividend, leaving analysts divided on its investment narrative.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Marsh Caps 2025 with Strong Q4, Unveils Brand Restructuring as Profits Climb

Marsh & McLennan's insurance brokerage giant Marsh reported a 4.2% rise in Q4 net income to $821 million, capping a year of robust growth and strategic brand realignment under the new 'Marsh Risk' banner.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Swatch Group Sees Sharp Profit Drop Amid Sluggish Sales and Rising Costs

Swiss watch and jewelry giant Swatch Group reported a steep decline in full-year profit and revenue, with pre-tax earnings nearly halved as consumer demand softened and operational costs climbed.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

H&M Rewards Shareholders with Higher Dividend and Buybacks Amid Profitability Push

H&M Group announces a proposed dividend hike for 2026 and the completion of a major share buyback, signaling confidence in its ongoing profitability turnaround even as sales face headwinds from rivals like Zara and Shein.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Valero Energy Caps Record Year with Soaring Q4 Profits, Eyes Policy Shifts and Venezuelan Crude

Valero Energy reported a robust fourth quarter, with net income surging to $1.1 billion, driven by strong refining margins and record operational performance. While renewable diesel faced headwinds, ethanol profits soared. The company outlined disciplined capital plans and highlighted potential tailwinds from policy clarity and increased access to discounted heavy crude.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

AMD and GIGABYTE Forge Deeper AI Alliance, Targeting the Next Wave of Gaming PCs

AMD and GIGABYTE have significantly expanded their partnership to co-develop a new generation of AI-accelerated gaming laptops, motherboards, and monitors. This strategic move aims to bring powerful, on-device AI capabilities directly to consumers, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics in the PC gaming hardware market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

BofA Doubles Down on Hesai Group, Boosts Price Target on Lidar Leadership and Regulatory Tailwinds

Bank of America Securities has reaffirmed its Buy rating on Hesai Group (HSAI), raising its price target to $32, citing the lidar maker's technological milestones, strategic partnership with NVIDIA, and favorable regulatory developments for autonomous driving.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Private Equity and Sovereign Wealth Funds Profit from UK's Special Educational Needs Crisis

As demand for specialist education soars, private investors—from Abu Dhabi to private equity firms—are capitalizing on a strained system, drawing criticism for extracting profits from vulnerable children and cash-strapped councils.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Norfolk Southern Navigates Soft Demand, Touts Safety Gains and Cost Discipline in Q4

Despite a weaker-than-expected volume environment, Norfolk Southern reported in-line cost performance for Q4 and highlighted significant strides in operational safety and efficiency. Executives pointed to a pivotal year of structural change while outlining cost and capital expenditure guidance for 2026.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Murphy Oil Navigates Price Volatility, Bets Big on Vietnam and Offshore Growth in 2026

Despite a challenging price environment, Murphy Oil (MUR) reported strong operational execution for 2025 and laid out a capital plan focused on funding key international and offshore projects. While near-term production is set to dip, CEO Eric Hambly highlighted a transformative discovery in Vietnam and strategic portfolio expansion as pillars for future growth.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

National Fuel Gas Kicks Off Fiscal 2026 with Strong Upstream Performance, Eyes Pipeline Growth and Ohio Acquisition

National Fuel Gas (NFG) reported robust first-quarter earnings, driven by a 29% surge in upstream EBITDA. Executives highlighted progress on pipeline expansions, strategic hedging against volatile gas prices, and the planned acquisition of CenterPoint's Ohio utility, while reaffirming full-year guidance.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bank of America Bullish on Apellis, Upgrades to 'Buy' on Strong Drug Launch and Kidney Disease Prospects

Bank of America has upgraded Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) to 'Buy,' citing robust early adoption of its drug Empaveli and significant undervaluation of its potential in treating rare kidney diseases, despite a more cautious outlook from Wells Fargo.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Beazer Homes Charts Course Through Market Headwinds, Bets Big on Solar and Share Buybacks

Despite a softer-than-expected first quarter, Beazer Homes USA outlines a dual strategy of solar-powered community expansion and aggressive capital returns to shareholders, aiming to boost profitability in a stabilizing housing market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southern Copper Soars on Record Profits and Dual Dividend Payout, Fueling Investor Debate

Shares of Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) surged nearly 18% following the release of its blockbuster 2025 financial results, which featured record annual earnings and a dual cash-and-stock dividend. The performance underscores the miner's robust cash generation but also intensifies scrutiny over its lofty valuation and the execution risks of its massive project pipeline.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

International Seaways Charts New Course: Fleet Reshuffle and Full Tankers International Takeover Fuel Valuation Debate

International Seaways (INSW) is aggressively repositioning its fleet, securing full control of Tankers International and selling older vessels. As its stock surges, analysts are divided on whether the strategic moves have already been priced in or if significant upside remains.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Royal Caribbean Charts Course for Record Growth as Cruise Demand Hits New Highs

Buoyed by a banner 2025 and surging consumer appetite for ocean voyages, Royal Caribbean Group forecasts double-digit profit growth for 2026, signaling a full-throttle recovery for the cruise industry.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

L3Harris Declares "Best Year Ever," Charts Course with Missile Unit IPO and Strategic Portfolio Shift

Defense contractor L3Harris Technologies capped off a record 2025 with surging orders and a strategic pivot, announcing plans to take its high-growth Missile Solutions unit public in 2026 while securing a novel $1 billion investment from the Department of War to accelerate production.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Southwest Airlines Charts Aggressive Course After 'Year of Transformation,' Forecasts Earnings Surge in 2026

Southwest Airlines capped off 2025 with record revenue and improved operations, positioning the carrier for what executives project will be a dramatic earnings acceleration next year, driven by new initiatives like assigned seating and a refined loyalty program.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Carpenter Technology Soars on Aerospace Demand, Posts Record Q2 Profit and Raises Outlook

Driven by surging demand in aerospace and defense, Carpenter Technology (CRS) announced record-breaking quarterly profitability and raised its full-year forecast, citing constrained supply and favorable long-term pricing agreements.

Jan 30, 2026