PLS Group

Business

Horace Mann Navigates Growth and Headwinds: Q4 Sales Climb but Margins Face Test

Horace Mann Educators posted a 6.3% year-over-year revenue increase to $434.8 million in Q4 2025, though it slightly missed top-line estimates. Earnings per share of $1.21 edged past consensus. The insurer's push into new markets and partnerships fuels growth, but management warns of returning catastrophe costs and inflationary pressures ahead.

Feb 4, 2026

World

AIPAC-Aligned Super PAC Targets Moderate Democrat in New Jersey, Signaling Broader Primary Strategy

A super PAC linked to AIPAC has launched a $2.2 million ad campaign against former Rep. Tom Malinowski, a moderate Democrat who questioned unconditional aid to Israel. Critics see the move as a warning to other candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Feb 4, 2026

World

BHP Faces Landmark UK Damages Trial Over 2015 Brazil Mine Catastrophe

A British court has set a 2027 trial date to determine compensation owed by mining giant BHP for the devastating 2015 Fundão dam collapse in Brazil, a disaster that claimed 19 lives and caused widespread environmental ruin.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Sony and TCL Forge Unprecedented TV Alliance: A Strategic Shift in the Home Entertainment Landscape

In a landmark deal set for 2027, Sony's iconic TV and audio business will be operated under a new joint venture majority-controlled and manufactured by TCL, signaling a major realignment in the global television market.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Sugar Glut Deepens: Global Surpluses Send Prices Tumbling to Multi-Year Lows

Sugar futures extended their decline this week, with prices hitting multi-year lows in London, as analysts project persistent global surpluses for the coming seasons, driven by robust harvests in Brazil and India.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Coffee Market Plunges as Rains in Brazil, Robust Vietnam Exports Ease Supply Fears

Arabica and robusta coffee futures extended losses this week, hitting multi-month lows, as favorable weather in top grower Brazil and strong shipments from Vietnam point to improving global supplies.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Tech Rout Sparks Rotation: Why Market Strategists See a 'Healthy' Broadening Beyond Big Tech

As the Nasdaq stumbles, a significant shift in capital flows suggests a long-awaited market rotation is underway, with defensive and value sectors gaining favor.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Euronet Worldwide: A Deep-Value Play in Payments as Digital Shift Gains Momentum

Despite recent headwinds, Euronet Worldwide (EEFT) presents a compelling bull case. Trading at a significant discount to historical valuations, the company's accelerating digital transformation and resilient core infrastructure suggest potential for a re-rating if operational momentum improves.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Iconic Outdoor Retailer Eddie Bauer Reportedly Weighs Bankruptcy, Potential Closure of 200 Stores

The 106-year-old outdoor apparel brand Eddie Bauer is reportedly preparing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, a move that could shutter its entire North American store fleet. This would mark the third major financial crisis for the heritage brand in two decades.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Ciena's Network Wins and MWC Spotlight Fuel Investor Debate on Valuation

Ciena (CIEN) is drawing renewed investor scrutiny following significant contract wins with Telekom Srbija and Trans Pacific Networks, coupled with anticipated showcases at the upcoming Mobile World Congress. This comes as the stock rides a wave of strong momentum, raising critical questions about whether its current price fully reflects future growth prospects in the high-capacity networking arena.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

BTQ Technologies Forges Key Quantum Chip Alliance with Taiwan's ITRI, But Valuation Concerns Loom

BTQ Technologies announces a strategic collaboration with Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute to validate its quantum computing memory chip. While the deal highlights its post-quantum cryptography ambitions, the company's steep valuation premium and mounting losses present a stark contrast to its recent share price slump.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

China's Lithium Price Slump Tests Albemarle's Resilience Ahead of Earnings

A sustained decline in Chinese lithium carbonate spot prices is exerting fresh pressure on global producers like Albemarle, casting a shadow over its upcoming earnings report and long-term investment thesis tied to the energy transition.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

The High Cost of Flexibility: 'Rent Now, Pay Later' Services Under Scrutiny

As housing costs soar, services that split rent into installments are gaining traction. But consumer advocates warn that the associated fees can translate into exorbitant effective interest rates, potentially deepening financial strain for vulnerable renters.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Eddie Bauer Faces Potential Shutdown of All North American Stores as Parent Company Weighs Bankruptcy

The future of Eddie Bauer's brick-and-mortar presence in North America hangs in the balance as its corporate parent, Catalyst Brands, prepares a potential bankruptcy filing that could shutter the outdoor retailer's entire store network.

Feb 4, 2026

World

‘A Journey Through Humiliation’: Palestinian Women Detail Israeli Interrogation at Rafah Crossing

Exclusive accounts from Palestinian women returning to Gaza through the partially reopened Rafah crossing reveal a harrowing process of detention, intensive interrogation, and confiscation of personal belongings by Israeli forces, raising fresh concerns over humanitarian access.

Feb 4, 2026

US

Noem Fires Back at Democrats Over Border 'Compassion' Debate During Arizona Visit

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, during a visit to the Arizona border, sharply criticized Democratic immigration policies, framing the administration's approach as a misguided definition of compassion that compromises law and order.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Medtronic Bolsters Chronic Disease Arsenal with AI Acquisition and Diabetes Milestone

Medtronic moves to acquire AI-powered coronary analysis firm CathWorks while securing key U.S. coverage for its latest automated insulin delivery system, signaling a dual-front advance in cardiovascular and diabetes care.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Corporación América Airports: A High-Stakes Bet on Latin American Infrastructure

An analysis of the bullish investment thesis for Corporación América Airports S.A. (CAAP) reveals a complex picture of significant potential upside weighed against substantial macroeconomic and operational risks, particularly its heavy exposure to Argentina's volatile economy.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Jim Cramer Backs Intuit as a 'Very Good Company' Amid Software Sector Shakeout

CNBC's Jim Cramer singled out Intuit Inc. as a standout in the S&P 500, noting its resilience while broader software valuations face pressure. The commentary comes as investors scrutinize technical signals and sector business models.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Cramer Points to ServiceNow as Bellwether for Broader Software Sector Struggles

CNBC's Jim Cramer highlighted ServiceNow's sharp decline as emblematic of the pressures facing software stocks, noting its nearly 24% pullback places it among the sector's worst performers recently.

Feb 4, 2026