
Hull sack Ruben Selles despite Championship survival
Hull City have sacked their third manager in 12 months after parting company with Ruben Selles on Thursday.
Selles only arrived at the MKM Stadium in December to fill the vacancy left by Tim Walter and eventually steered the club away from Championship relegation on the season's final day.
The 41-year-old had a contract running until the summer of 2027 but Hull's owner, Acun Ilicali, has opted to fire the Spaniard.
Advertisement
It is the second year running that Ilicali has sacked a head coach at the end of a season, following the call to part company with Liam Rosenior last May when narrowly missing out on the Championship play-offs.
Selles took charge of 28 games as Hull boss, winning only nine, but the final position of 21st was enough to avoid relegation to League One on goal difference.
Assistant head coach James Oliver-Pearce and first-team coach Tobias Loveland have joined Selles in leaving their positions.
'Following a thorough review of football operations after a challenging campaign, the club feels a change in leadership is necessary to move the team forward in line with our ambitions,' said a club statement.
'We would like to thank Ruben, James and Tobias for their hard work and dedication during their time at the MKM Stadium and wish them well for their future careers.'
Hull will now look for a sixth permanent head coach since Ilicali's arrival as owner in January 2022. The Turkish businessman has made no secret of his aims to reach the Premier League but in a Championship season that saw them use 37 different players, they were the lowest scorers and won only 12 games.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rick Carlisle reveals he felt "very" comfortable not calling a timeout before Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner: "If we get a stop and get the rebound, we're gonna go"
Rick Carlisle reveals he felt "very" comfortable not calling a timeout before Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner: "If we get a stop and get the rebound, we're gonna go" originally appeared on Basketball Network. At this point, no one's shocked the Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 of the Finals in Oklahoma City. What stood out, though, was the tactical precision behind it. The Pacers' endgame execution and resilience were sharp, but so was Rick Carlisle's decision-making, especially his choice to hold the timeout and let his team play it out on the decisive possession. Advertisement "Very (comfortable)," Carlisle told a reporter how he felt about not calling a timeout after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a midrange jumper with 10 seconds left. "We talked about it. We still didn't know the outcome of the challenge yet, but we said, if it is their ball, let's get a stop because there is gonna be a difference in the shot clock and the game clock." "If we get a stop and get the rebound, we're gonna go. Hopefully, we get it to Tyrese's hands and hope to make a play," said the 2002 NBA Coach of the Year. Effective use of the timeout Whether or not the last play panned out or not, Carlisle's decision to let the players take complete reins of the final play was consistent with the Pacers' identity. The squad thrived on organized chaos and randomness, and that's exactly what the last seconds of Game 1 boiled down to. Advertisement Tactically, it was the absolute best decision. The Thunder's halfcourt defense is the best in the league, and the Pacers couldn't risk giving them time to set up. After all, OKC forced Indiana to commit 19 first-half turnovers! Carlisle's no-timeout call kept Lu Dort — who had hounded Haliburton all night — out of the picture, giving Hali just enough space and confidence to hit the winner over Cason Wallace. Dort was doing a marvelous job on Haliburton all evening, limiting the two-time All-Star to 12 points on five-for-12 shooting before making the game-winning jumper. The 2011 championship coach has shown impeccable timing with his timeouts throughout the 2025 postseason. After challenging a call with 22 seconds left (and losing that challenge, by the way), Carlisle mapped out instructions a couple of plays in advance to set up the game-winning possession. In their Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, Carlisle only used two timeouts in the fourth quarter, showing complete trust in his boys to make decisions down the stretch. Indiana eventually secured the five-point win, 114-109, for a 2-0 series lead. Advertisement The Championship coach's timeout management has been masterful — measured when needed and withheld when it matters most. His trust in flow and preparation over control has repeatedly tipped close games in Indiana's favor in this postseason run. Related: "God, if you let me get through this, I won't play no more" - Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good The Nembhard factor Carlisle's comfort level in not calling a timeout in the evening's most crucial play was remarkable, but that mastery might have gone down the drain without his players' defensive execution, especially Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard went at SGA on offense, especially in the fourth, and successfully prevented a midrange bucket from the 2025 MVP. Advertisement "He made big plays on both ends," Rick said of Nembhard. "The one stop on Shai at the end, and then we got the rebound, and there's the stepback three, which was a big momentum play. I think (the lead) went from six to three, and then there was an and-one… A lot of big plays." Basketball is a game of inches and instincts, and the Pacers HC's hands-off approach proved decisive. Nembhard bridged the gap with gritty poise, and Haliburton made sure the story ended on Indiana's terms. There is still plenty of basketball to be played, but if this is any indication of what's next, we are in for a treat. Related: "They teach you that lesson more than anybody else in the league the hard way" - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to shocking Game 1 loss vs. Pacers This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why Qualcomm's (QCOM) Long-Term Prospects Shine, Even if the Stock Doesn't
Qualcomm (QCOM) has underperformed over the past year, declining 26%, primarily due to macroeconomic factors rather than internal company mechanics. Although the company's fundamentals remain very solid, it has faced some headwinds, such as concerns that its business is too concentrated on Apple (AAPL) for modem revenue, despite its broader operations still being more rooted in the Android ecosystem. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Still, that doesn't stop me from seeing the stock as a long-term Buy—especially since my bullishness comes from Qualcomm's key competitive advantage: its ability to build the Snapdragon platform, which integrates a modem, CPU, and even a GPU chip—something no other competitor can currently match. This positions the company to tap into new business opportunities that could help offset its current customer concentration. Beyond that, Qualcomm's asset-light model allows it to generate very high returns on its investments, highlighting its operational efficiency, strong financial health, and consistent value creation for shareholders. This helps justify the company trading at a slightly stretched valuation when considering its operational profits relative to enterprise value. When looking for value stocks, one of the most important factors—if not the most important—is a company's ability to generate consistent earnings. Examining QCOM's balance sheet reveals a capital-light, high-margin model driven by intellectual property (IP) and characterized by heavy investment in research and development (R&D). As a fabless semiconductor company, Qualcomm relies on external manufacturing partners such as TSMC (TSM) and Samsung (SSNLF) for chip production. Notably, only approximately 7% of its $55.3 billion in total assets is allocated to property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), which is relatively low compared to the industry average. This underscores the efficiency of its asset-light business model and the minimal physical infrastructure required to support its operations. Roughly 18% of its assets are classified as goodwill, indicating a strong track record of acquisitions, which is clearly part of its strategy to acquire intellectual property (IP) or talent rather than build everything in-house. One recent example is the $2.4 billion acquisition of the UK-based semiconductor firm Alphawave. Additionally, approximately 12% of Qualcomm's total assets are tied to IP licensing and chip design. That makes sense, given its dominant position in the Android smartphone chip market, especially in the high-end segment with its Snapdragon lineup. Given that around 37% of Qualcomm's total assets are intangible, it's worth considering the company's actual operational efficiency once these intangibles are excluded. To gain a clearer picture, it is sensible to examine how Qualcomm allocates its limited tangible capital to generate profits. Over the past twelve months, Qualcomm produced an operating profit of $12.3 billion. During the same period, its net working capital was approximately $2.7 billion, and its invested capital—mainly property, plant, and equipment, and other intangibles—totaled roughly $8.28 billion. Dividing the operating profit by this invested capital plus working capital yields an eye-catching ~112% return on capital (ROC). That kind of number highlights Qualcomm's exceptional operational efficiency, something typically only seen in asset-light, IP-driven tech or software companies. For context, most of these firms operate with a return on capital (ROC) well below 50%. In short, despite a balance sheet loaded with intangibles, Qualcomm proves that it's highly efficient with the real capital it uses. And that translates into three key advantages: sustainable value creation, a durable competitive moat, and stronger financial flexibility. Even a company with a high return on capital isn't necessarily a buy—not if you're overpaying for it. That's why it's vital to assess operating profitability in relation to the company's total valuation, not just traditional P/E or P/B metrics. One way to do this is by comparing operating profit to enterprise value (EV), which reflects what the market is actually paying for the entire business. In Qualcomm's case, we can measure this by dividing its operating profit by its enterprise value (EV). Over the last twelve months, Qualcomm generated $12.3 billion in operating profit, while its current enterprise value stands at $164.6 billion. That results in an earnings yield of 7.5%. To interpret that number correctly, it should be compared to Qualcomm's cost of capital. Using a 10-year treasury yield of 4.5%, a beta of 1.2, and an equity risk premium of 4–5%, the estimated cost of equity falls between 9% and 10%. Since the earnings yield of 7.5% is below this range, Qualcomm doesn't appear particularly cheap at the moment. However, judged against historic performance against the S&P 500 (SPX), QCOM stock has underperformed. That said, this isn't necessarily a red flag. Even if the stock looks a bit expensive on this metric, Qualcomm continues to create value through its exceptional return on capital and strong cash generation. This is reflected in its sustainable 2.28% dividend yield and $16.5 billion in share buybacks over the past four years. Given Qualcomm's maturity, profitability, and operational efficiency, a lower earnings yield may be viewed as acceptable, reflecting a premium for quality and stability. Analyst sentiment on Qualcomm stock is somewhat mixed. Out of 17 experts who've issued ratings in the past three months, eight are bullish, eight are neutral, and just one is bearish. Still, there's little hesitation when it comes to upside expectations. Qualcomm's average stock price target is at $177.75, suggesting ~14% in potential upside over the next twelve months. While traditional valuation metrics may indicate that Qualcomm is undervalued, I believe that perspective overlooks the company's strong operational efficiency. Qualcomm doesn't need to appear 'cheap' to represent a compelling investment opportunity. Its robust, above-average returns on capital, driven by an asset-light business model, demonstrate its ability to create substantial shareholder value and may, in fact, justify a valuation premium. Viewed through this fundamental lens, and given Qualcomm's consistent track record of long-term value creation, I consider it a solid long-term investment, even at its current, relatively full valuation. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and shelves empty
NEW YORK — A string of recent cyberattacks and data breaches involving the systems of major retailers have started affecting shoppers. United Natural Foods, a wholesale distributor that supplies Whole Foods and other grocers, said this week that a breach of its systems was disrupting its ability to fulfill orders — leaving many stores without certain items. In the U.K., consumers could not order from the website of Marks & Spencer for more than six weeks — and found fewer in-store options after hackers targeted the British clothing, home goods and food retailer . A cyberattack on Co-op, a U.K. grocery chain, also led to empty shelves in some stores. Cyberattacks have been on the rise across industries. But infiltrations of corporate technology carry their own set of implications when the target is a consumer-facing business. Beyond potentially halting sales of physical goods, breaches can expose customers' personal data to future phishing or fraud attempts. Here's what you need to know. Despite ongoing efforts from organizations to boost their cybersecurity defenses, experts note that cyberattacks continue to increase across the board. In the past year, there's also been an 'uptick in the retail victims' of such attacks, said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a U.S. nonprofit. 'Cyber criminals are moving a little quicker than we are in terms of securing our systems,' he said. Ransomware attacks — in which hackers demand a hefty payment to restore hacked systems — account for a growing share of cyber crimes, experts note. And of course, retail isn't the only affected sector. Tracking by NCC Group, a global cybersecurity and software escrow firm, showed that industrial businesses were most often targeted for ransomware attacks in April, followed by companies in the 'consumer discretionary' sector. Attackers know there's a particular impact when going after well-known brands and products that shoppers buy or need every day, experts note. 'Creating that chaos and that panic with consumers puts pressure on the retailer,' Steinhauer said, especially if there's a ransom demand involved. Ade Clewlow, an associate director and senior adviser at the NCC Group, points specifically to food supply chain disruptions. Following the cyberattacks targeting M&S and Co-op, for example, supermarkets in remote areas of the U.K., where inventory already was strained, saw product shortages. 'People were literally going without the basics,' Clewlow said. Along with impacting business operations, cyber breaches may compromise customer data. The information can range from names and email addresses, to more sensitive data like credit card numbers, depending on the scope of the breach. Consumers therefore need to stay alert, according to experts. 'If (consumers have) given their personal information to these retailers, then they just have to be on their guard. Not just immediately, but really going forward,' Clewlow said, noting that recipients of the data may try to commit fraud 'downstream.' Fraudsters might send look-alike emails asking a retailer's account holders to change their passwords or promising fake promotions to get customers to click on a sketchy link. A good rule of thumb is to pause before opening anything and to visit the company's recognized website or call an official customer service hotline to verify the email, experts say. It's also best not to reuse the same passwords across multiple websites — because if one platform is breached, that login information could be used to get into other accounts, through a tactic known as 'credential stuffing.' Steinhauer adds that using multifactor authentication, when available, and freezing your credit are also useful for added lines of defense. A range of consumer-facing companies have reported cybersecurity incidents recently — including breaches that have caused some businesses to halt operations. United Natural Foods, a major distributor for Whole Foods and other grocers across North America, took some of its systems offline after discovering 'unauthorized activity' on June 5. In a securities filing , the company said the incident had impacted its 'ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders.' United Natural Foods said in a Wednesday update that it was 'working steadily' to gradually restore the services. Still, that's meant leaner supplies of certain items this week. A Whole Foods spokesperson told The Associated Press via email that it was working to restock shelves as soon as possible. The Amazon-owned grocer's partnership with United Natural Foods currently runs through May 2032. Meanwhile, a security breach detected by Victoria's Secret last month led the popular lingerie seller to shut down its U.S. shopping site for nearly four days, as well as to halt some in-store services. Victoria's Secret later disclosed that its corporate systems also were affected, too, causing the company to delay the release of its first quarter earnings . Several British retailers — M&S , Harrods and Co-op — have all pointed to impacts of recent cyberattacks. The attack targeting M&S, which was first reported around Easter weekend, stopped it from processing online orders and also emptied some store shelves. The company estimated last month that the it would incur costs of 300 million pounds ($400 million) from the attack. But progress towards recovery was shared Tuesday, when M&S announced that some of its online order operations were back — with more set to be added in the coming weeks. Other breaches exposed customer data, with brands like Adidas, The North Face and reportedly Cartier all disclosing that some contact information was compromised recently. In a statement, The North Face said it discovered a 'small-scale credential stuffing attack' on its website in April. The company reported that no credit card data was compromised and said the incident, which impacted 1,500 consumers, was 'quickly contained.' Meanwhile, Adidas disclosed last month that an 'unauthorized external party' obtained some data, which was mostly contact information, through a third-party customer service provider. Whether or not the incidents are connected is unknown. Experts like Steinhauer note that hackers sometimes target a piece of software used by many different companies and organizations. But the range of tactics used could indicate the involvement of different groups. Companies' language around cyberattacks and security breaches also varies — and may depend on what they know when. But many don't immediately or publicly specify whether ransomware was involved. Still, Steinhauer says the likelihood of ransomware attacks is 'pretty high' in today's cybersecurity landscape — and key indicators can include businesses taking their systems offline or delaying financial reporting. Overall, experts say it's important to build up 'cyber hygiene' defenses and preparations across organizations. 'Cyber is a business risk, and it needs to be treated that way,' Clewlow said.