Gen Z embraces skilled trades as higher education faces uncertainty
As Gen Z grapples with education uncertainty, guest columnist Mary Kelly points out that a surprising career path is gaining traction.
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Top Fintech Stocks That are Transforming the Future of Finance
An updated edition of the April 15, 2025 or financial technology, is revolutionizing how individuals and businesses manage money by offering faster, more affordable and user-friendly financial services. From digital payments and mobile banking to artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insurance platforms, robo-advisors and blockchain solutions, fintech is redefining traditional finance through innovation and digital transformation is particularly resonating with Millennials and Gen Z, who are driving widespread adoption thanks to fintech's mobile-first, on-demand convenience. Routine financial activities like transferring money, making payments, investing and getting financial advice can now be done effortlessly via smartphones or laptops. As a result, the global fintech market is expanding rapidly. The market, valued at $340.10 billion in 2024, is projected to surpass $1.12 trillion by 2032 at a CAGR of 16.2% (Fortune Business Insights report), highlighting its potential for long-term growth and truly sets fintech apart is its fusion of finance with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning and blockchain. These tools are reshaping how banks, lenders and investment platforms operate by enhancing security, personalizing user experiences and driving down consumer preferences continue to shift toward digital solutions, both startups and established financial institutions are investing heavily in fintech to stay competitive. For investors, this presents a compelling opportunity to tap into a dynamic, high-growth sector poised to redefine the global financial ecosystem. Hence, stocks like Robinhood Markets Inc. HOOD, Nu Holdings Ltd. NU and SoFi Technologies, Inc. SOFI are gaining traction. Our Fintech Screen will help you identify the right stocks now to ride the wave of this trillion-dollar revolution. Leveraging advanced tools, our thematic screens identify companies shaping the future, making it easier to capitalize on emerging to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 30 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity. Robinhood, founded in 2013 by Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt, democratized finance by providing commission-free stock trading. Launched in 2015, its app quickly gained popularity among younger investors, disrupting traditional brokerage firms. The platform became a major force in retail investing, particularly during the pandemic, when a surge in retail trading fueled its rapid has evolved from a brokerage firm mainly trading in digital assets to a more mature and diversified entity, striving to widen its market and reach. The company operates in multiple financial sectors, offering stock and ETF trading, options trading, cryptocurrency transactions, retirement accounts and cash management services. The company has also expanded into prediction markets and launched the Robinhood Wallet for self-custodial crypto storage. These diverse offerings make it a key player in the fintech industry, attracting millions of users with its user-friendly and innovative approach. The company intends to become a one-stop shop for building generational plans to expand internationally, particularly in Europe and Asia, while introducing services for institutional investors. The company, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), is developing AI-powered investment tools and exploring Decentralized Finance (DeFi) integration to enhance its offerings. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks these initiatives, the company will continue to reshape the financial industry by making investing more accessible and technologically advanced. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HOOD's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 22.3% and 12.8%, Holdings is reshaping traditional finance in Latin America by targeting underserved and digitally native consumers with a broad suite of app-based services across lending, banking and investing. As of March 31, 2025, the company had amassed a staggering 118.6 million customers, a clear signal that its influence on the region's financial future is deepening a digital-first, highly scalable model, Nu Holdings has reduced operational costs while boosting efficiency and accessibility. This strategy not only disrupts legacy banking structures but also promotes financial inclusion in markets long underserved by traditional players. Its flagship platform, NuBank, has become one of the most trusted and recognized financial brands in Latin America. Ongoing digital adoption across the region is expected to further accelerate its growth diversified revenue streams — lending, interchange fees and marketplace services — offer both resilience and scalability. Credit cards and personal loans remain strong contributors, supporting the platform's monetization and customer engagement a space where many fintechs prioritize rapid growth over profitability, Nu Holdings stands out for balancing scale with financial discipline. With continued innovation, disciplined execution and a growing footprint across emerging economies, this Zacks Rank #3 firm is not just expanding its reach, it's establishing itself as a long-term leader in the global digital finance Zacks Consensus Estimate for NU's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 28.5% and 20%, respectively. SoFi is redefining traditional finance through its app-based digital banking platform, offering a wide array of services, including lending, banking, investing and insurance. In 2024, the company surpassed 10 million members, a testament to its growing consumer appeal and the strength of its all-in-one financial ecosystem.A major catalyst for SoFi's growth is Galileo, its B2B financial services platform, which powers seamless payment and lending integrations for other fintechs and financial institutions. Galileo not only diversifies SoFi's revenue streams but also cements its position in the rapidly expanding embedded finance market. Its adoption by a growing roster of high-profile clients enhances the company's credibility and market land-and-expand strategy remains a core strength. By offering a broad spectrum of financial products, the company attracts new users and creates a strong cross-selling dynamic. This integrated model encourages deeper customer engagement while incentivizing partners to embed more of their offerings within SoFi's ecosystem, ultimately driving higher lifetime value per a strong first-mover advantage in U.S. fintech and an aggressive growth mindset, this Zacks Rank#3 company is well-positioned for continued earnings expansion. Its increasing cross-sell capabilities and platform scalability point to a compelling long-term outlook in a fast-evolving digital finance landscape. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SOFI's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 26.2% and 80%, respectively. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) : Free Stock Analysis Report SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
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Why Tapestry and CLO are Extending Coach Play's Co-Creation Concept to a Design Contest
CLO Virtual Fashion and Tapestry are opening up Coach handbags for reinterpretation through a global design contest. Dubbed 'The Handbag Edit,' the competition—which opened this month—is asking entrants to build a capsule collection fit for a Coach Play store using CLO's 3D design tools as a digital sandbox. This contest offers Coach the chance to engage with emerging design talent while also promoting the use of digital product creation tools. More from Sourcing Journal Capri Holdings Plots Turnaround After Steep Q4 Losses Tapestry Tops Q3 Estimates and Raises Outlook Despite Difficult Backdrop Coach Parent, eBay and More Join The Fashion ReModel Initiative 'While CLO is widely recognized for its powerful 3D simulation capabilities in garment design, many people don't realize that it's also great for creating all types of bags,' said Joon Lee, global brand communications lead at CLO. 'We wanted to showcase how easily CLO can be used for designing leather goods and inspire our users to push the boundaries of what the software can do, so we can keep improving. Coach, a brand with a rich heritage of craftsmanship and proven track record of innovation, felt like the perfect partner to bring our vision to life.' The Coach Play store concept caters to the Gen Z consumer with a focus on co-creation and fostering connections. These experiential spaces offer interactive opportunities like customization and live events. First introduced in 2023 in Chicago, Coach Play has since expanded globally to locales including Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei and Salt Lake City. 'Coach Play is all about inviting consumers into the creative process—blurring the lines between designer and audience,' said Giovanni Zacariello, senior vice president, visual experience at Coach. 'This contest embodies that ethos by giving participants the tools and freedom to design pieces that reflect their personal style and values. Gen Z seeks authenticity, personalization and purpose in the brands they support. This competition speaks to the digital fluency and desire for self-expression among Gen Z, and through this partnership with CLO, we're meeting them where they are and inviting them to shape the future of Coach alongside us.' To help contestants get inspired to reinterpret the 84-year-old house's codes, Coach is providing them with a downloadable color palette and brand standards such as trim and hardware options via the contest page on CLO's Connect platform. A mood board also sets the tone, visualizing the design brief that includes descriptors like 'playful and innovative' and 'youthful and adventurous.' Entrants can submit up to five designs through July 31. While the focus is on leather goods and each entry must include a handbag, designers are invited to flesh out their capsules with garments and other items such as bag charms. Following a judging process conducted by three Tapestry executives, seven winners will be announced on Aug. 25. Along with cash prizes totaling $5,000, the winning designers will be featured on Coach and CLO's media channels. 'Our goal [for this competition] is to keep building deeper engagement with a digitally native audience and showcase how emerging technologies like CLO can transform the design process,' said J.J. Camara, senior director, digital product creation at Tapestry. 'Ultimately, we want to drive innovation and stay close to the consumer as they evolve. It also aligns with Tapestry's broader digital strategy, which emphasizes experimentation, iteration and customer-centric innovation.' Tapestry was an 'early adopter' of CLO's 3D design tools, which it uses group-wide for digital product creation (DPC) across ready-to-wear, accessories and special projects. The software solution allows creators to visualize their designs in real-time as they adjust choices such as patterns or colors. Calling CLO a 'valued tool in our DPC toolbox,' Camara added that the group is widening its use cases for the software. As an example, Tapestry has been training its ready-to-wear technical designers on CLO, and it is exploring 'co-create opportunities' that would see them generate digital assets that could be used throughout the entire product journey—including consumer-facing implementations. As 3D tools continue to catch on, one of the main barriers to entry is a lack of digitally trained talent, which 52 percent of industry respondents pinpointed as a challenge in Kalypso's 2023 Digital Product Creation in Retail Research survey. Efforts like CLO and Tapestry's competition could encourage up-and-coming designers to get more familiar and play around with digital tools. 'We're noticing that many brands, suppliers and vendors are accelerating their adoption of 3D solutions to stay ahead, and leading fashion schools are ensuring their students enter the industry equipped with the skills and knowledge to use these tools,' said CLO's Lee. 'As 3D design becomes more embedded in the end-to-end workflow, we believe it will soon be—and in a way, already is—the default way fashion designers work.'
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Shaving Creams Present a $31.5 Billion Global Market Opportunity by 2030: Beiersdorf (Nivea), Cremo Company, and P&G Lead the Charge
The market sees key opportunities in expanding e-commerce platforms, driving accessibility and convenience for consumers. Demand for premium products, driven by increased personal grooming awareness, is strong. Natural and organic formulations are trending, aligning with clean beauty preferences and offering niche growth potential. Shaving Cream Market Dublin, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Shaving Cream Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2020-2030F" has been added to offering. The Shaving Cream Market was valued at USD 19.75 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 31.49 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 8.15%. This growth is driven by expanding e-commerce platforms that enhance accessibility and convenience for consumers seeking a variety of shaving products. The market is also seeing increasing demand for premium and specialized shaving creams, particularly those formulated for sensitive skin or unique grooming needs. Rising disposable incomes, especially in developing regions, along with the adoption of Western grooming trends, are contributing to broader market penetration. Social commerce is further accelerating this trend by making products more visible and accessible to new consumer segments. Key Market Driver Rising Awareness of Personal Grooming and Hygiene: The growing emphasis on personal grooming and hygiene across both developed and emerging markets is a major driver for the shaving cream industry. Consumers, especially men, are increasingly incorporating shaving into their broader skincare and grooming routines. The influence of social media, changing beauty norms, and increasing acceptance of self-care practices are reshaping grooming behaviors. In India, for instance, the Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) market is projected to reach a GMV of USD 30 billion by 2027, driven by this shift. Men and women alike are now seeking products that offer more than basic shaving utility - such as creams with moisturizing or soothing ingredients for a more comfortable experience. This evolving mindset, coupled with growing awareness around grooming standards in professional settings, is pushing demand for both regular and premium shaving products across age groups and genders. Key Market Challenge Growing Preference for Beard Culture and Alternative Grooming Styles: The growing popularity of beards and alternative grooming styles is a major obstacle for the shaving cream market. Beard culture, especially among millennials and Gen Z, has gained mainstream traction and reduced the frequency of traditional shaving. Influencers and public figures have normalized and glamorized bearded looks, while the "no-shave" trend continues to gain momentum. As a result, the demand for daily shaving products like creams and foams has seen a relative decline. Additionally, modern grooming preferences have shifted towards beard maintenance, leading consumers to invest more in oils, balms, and trimmers. This change in consumer behavior limits the core audience for shaving creams and forces brands to diversify into beard care or reposition their products for hybrid grooming routines. Key Market Trend Rise of Natural and Organic Shaving Creams: A significant trend in the shaving cream market is the growing preference for natural, organic, and chemical-free formulations. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing clean ingredients and ethical production processes, avoiding products that contain sulfates, parabens, and synthetic additives. This is fueling demand for plant-based shaving creams featuring ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, shea butter, and essential oils. These formulations are particularly favored by those with sensitive skin or concerns about long-term skin health. In line with the global clean beauty movement, brands are also focusing on sustainable packaging and eco-friendly production methods. Labels such as "cruelty-free," "vegan," and "biodegradable" are becoming influential in purchase decisions, especially among younger consumers. This shift enables premium pricing and opens opportunities for niche players and major brands to tap into a fast-growing market segment. Key Market Players Profiled: Beiersdorf AG (Nivea) Cremo Company, LLC The Procter & Gamble Company Colgate-Palmolive Company BULLDOG (Edgewell Personal Care) Bombay Shaving Company Dollar Shave Club Captain's Choice Dorco Co. Ltd. L'Oreal Groupe Report Scope In this report, the global Shaving Cream Market has been segmented into the following categories: Shaving Cream Market, By Type: Aftershave Pre-shave Shaving Cream Market, By Price: Low Medium High Shaving Cream Market, By Distribution Channel: Hypermarkets/Supermarkets Convenience Stores Online Others Shaving Cream Market, By Region: North America United States Canada Mexico Europe France Germany Spain Italy United Kingdom Asia-Pacific China Japan India Vietnam South Korea Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Turkey South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 180 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $19.75 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $31.49 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.1% Regions Covered Global For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Shaving Cream Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
