Latest news with #AMS


Time Magazine
18 hours ago
- Science
- Time Magazine
Two Meteor Showers Are Peaking Tonight. Here's How to See Them
Two meteor showers will hit their peak visibility on Tuesday night, lighting the skies in glowing streaks into the following morning. The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids will be active until just Aug. 12th. Tonight marks a particularly good time to look up at the starry sky and catch them, however, as the moon will only be 27% full, increasing the visibility for the showers. The cosmic phenomena are precursors to the Perseids shower, considered the 'best meteor shower of the year' according to NASA. That shower is due to hit its peak in just a few weeks, though its visibility could be affected by the moon. Meteor showers are caused by the entrance of cosmic debris into the Earth's atmosphere at elevated speeds. They are best viewed on a clear night. Here's what to know. What are the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids? The Southern Delta Aquariids are a meteor shower typically active for a few weeks starting from mid-July. The shower travels at a velocity of 25 miles per second, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS) and is best seen by those living further south. They are typically difficult to spot due to their faint light, NASA reports, and most visible when the moon is not out. The Alpha Capricornids are not a particularly strong shower, and rarely have more than 5 meteors per hour. However, they are remarkable because those that are visible often have bright fireballs. 'If you are looking for that one spectacular event to happen during a watch session, an Alpha Capricornid may be the one that gets you the most excited,' Nick Moskovitz, an astronomer with the Lowell Observatory in Arizona told NPR. That shower will be well seen by those on either side of the equator, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS). It also travels more slowly, sailing through the sky at a velocity of 14 miles per second. When and where can you see them best? Meteor showers are best seen after midnight, according to the AMS, as the darker night makes them easier to spot. That means the moon's peak also affects visibility: If the moon is more than one half illuminated when meteor showers peak, they will be difficult to observe. Onlookers should also move away from the big city to avoid pollution and other light sources interfering with their view. The Southern Delta Aquariids will be best seen in the early morning hours, AMS reports. The organization says that showers can best be spotted some 30 degrees away from their radiant—the point where meteors appear to come from. The radiant point of the Southern Delta Aquariids is located within the Aquarius constellation, while the Alpha Capricornids' is in the Capricornus constellation. Both are in the southern part of the sky, meaning those hoping to view the showers should move to a location with an unobstructed view of that area. Those who miss the two meteor showers can still try to observe the Perseids shower, which will hit its peak on August 12-13.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Private companies are Heineken N.V.'s (AMS:HEIA) biggest owners and were hit after market cap dropped €3.3b
Key Insights The considerable ownership by private companies in Heineken indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy The largest shareholder of the company is L'Arche Green N.V. with a 52% stake 22% of Heineken is held by Institutions AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. To get a sense of who is truly in control of Heineken N.V. (AMS:HEIA), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are private companies with 52% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. And last week, private companies endured the biggest losses as the stock fell by 7.6%. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Heineken. View our latest analysis for Heineken What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Heineken? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Heineken does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Heineken's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Heineken. Our data shows that L'Arche Green N.V. is the largest shareholder with 52% of shares outstanding. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 2.2% and 2.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Heineken The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Heineken N.V.. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own €36m of stock. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 27% stake in Heineken. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 52%, of the Heineken stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Heineken that you should be aware of. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.


Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Two meteor showers peak this week, while the Perseids are active, too
Stargazers have the opportunity to spot three active meteor showers this week, with two of those showers reaching their peak. The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers begin their peak on Tuesday, July 29, which comes as the Perseids nears its own peak in mid-August, according to the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids peak from Tuesday night, July 29 into Wednesday morning, July 30, and the showers will remain active until Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to the AMS. The Perseids, considered the "best meteor shower of the year," peak in roughly two weeks, from the night of Aug. 12 through the morning of Aug. 13, according to NASA. The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to the society. However, the night the meteor shower peaks (Aug. 12) will coincide with the full moon. The light of the moon can hinder the stargazing experience, making it harder to see the meteor shower. However, late July could be a worthwhile time to look for the Perseids, according to Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator. Not only will two other meteor showers have their peak, but the moon will not be as bright and meteors could be easier to see. "With the moon bothering the Perseids this year, the last couple of days of July might be a good opportunity to see some meteors without any moon," said Lunsford. Those hoping to see the shower should also do the following, according to the AMS: For optimal comfort, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray and bring a blanket or a reclining chair. No, onlookers will not need any equipment to see the meteor showers, according to the society. However, Lunsford said that those interested in purchasing equipment should steer clear of telescopes that cost less than $500. He advises beginners to opt for a telescope with a lens instead of a mirror, and for those seeking a more affordable option, he recommends a pair of binoculars. Backyard astronomers can use apps, like SkyView, which is available on the App Store or Google Play, or other star-gazing apps, to help them spot Mercury and other planets and constellations.


USA Today
2 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
Two meteor showers peak this week, while the Perseids are active, too
Stargazers have the opportunity to spot three active meteor showers this week, with two of those showers reaching their peak. The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers begin their peak on Tuesday, July 29, which comes as the Perseids nears its own peak in mid-August, according to the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids peak from Tuesday night, July 29 into Wednesday morning, July 30, and the showers will remain active until Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to the AMS. The Perseids, considered the "best meteor shower of the year," peak in roughly two weeks, from the night of Aug. 12 through the morning of Aug. 13, according to NASA. Best place to view the Southern Delta Aquariids in the sky Best place to view the Alpha Capricornids in the sky When is the best time to see the Perseids? The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to the society. However, the night the meteor shower peaks (Aug. 12) will coincide with the full moon. The light of the moon can hinder the stargazing experience, making it harder to see the meteor shower. However, late July could be a worthwhile time to look for the Perseids, according to Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator. Not only will two other meteor showers have their peak, but the moon will not be as bright and meteors could be easier to see. "With the moon bothering the Perseids this year, the last couple of days of July might be a good opportunity to see some meteors without any moon," said Lunsford. How to prepare before going to see the meteor shower Those hoping to see the shower should also do the following, according to the AMS: For optimal comfort, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray and bring a blanket or a reclining chair. Do you need any equipment to see the meteor shower? No, onlookers will not need any equipment to see the meteor showers, according to the society. However, Lunsford said that those interested in purchasing equipment should steer clear of telescopes that cost less than $500. He advises beginners to opt for a telescope with a lens instead of a mirror, and for those seeking a more affordable option, he recommends a pair of binoculars. Apps for stargazing Backyard astronomers can use apps, like SkyView, which is available on the App Store or Google Play, or other star-gazing apps, to help them spot Mercury and other planets and constellations. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@


Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
THEON presents its H1 2025 Trading Update
PRESS RELEASE Bloomberg (THEON:NA) / Reuters ( 28 July 2025 – Theon International Plc (THEON) (AMS: THEON) is today providing its H1 2025 Trading Update ahead of publishing its H1 2025 Report on 2 September 2025. H1 2025 performance was characterised by robust order intake, achievement of financial targets and solid progress in THEON's growth strategy. Financial Summary (Amounts in €) H1 2025 H1 2024 Change Order intake 167.9 m 77.0 m +118.1% Revenue 183.7 m 152.4 m +20.6% Adjusted EBIT1 47.4 m (45.9 m) 38.1 m (36.9 m) +24.4% Adjusted EBIT margin1 25.8% (25.0%) 25.0% (24.2%) +0.8 p.p. Earnings per share 0.48 0.41 +17.1% Capex 6.7 m 5.1 m +31.4% (Amounts in €) Jun 2025 Mar 2025 Change Soft backlog 622.2 m 668.6 m -6.9% Net working capital 165.4 m 160.0 m +3.4% Net cash 38.1 m 61.2 m -37.7% 1 Reflects a change in accounting policy to include the Group's share of profits from core equity-accounted investees within operating profit. The Group reassessed its presentation approach and reclassified its equity-accounted investments into core and non-core categories. Core investments, those aligned with the Group's strategic operations, are now included within operating profit. This change provides a more relevant reflection of the Group's performance and aligns with industry practice among listed defense peers. The share of profits from non-core investees continues to be reported below operating profit. Numbers in brackets are before the accounting policy change. Financial Highlights Strong order intake continued with new orders reaching €167.9 million in H1 2025, 118% higher than in H1 2024, and coming from multiple countries worldwide. Order intake represents a book-to-bill ratio of 0.9x. On top of that, more than €100 million of options have been added, which come with a very high probability of conversion to backlog. Soft backlog of €622.2 million at the end of H1 2025, 45% higher than in H1 2024, provides solid visibility for the year ahead with an additional €378.2 million of contractual options providing further headroom for growth. Already experiencing strong traction in Q3 with additional orders expected to be announced shortly and more than replace orders invoiced in H1 as well as those expected to be invoiced in H2 2025. Revenue reached €183.7 million in H1 2025, representing the strongest H1 top-line performance in THEON's 28-year history, and continued strong confidence in reaching the current guidance of €430 million, which was revised upwards in June 2025. Adjusted EBIT of €47.4 million, 24.4% higher vs H1 2024, with an Adjusted EBIT margin of 25.8% (25.0% in H1 2024) demonstrating industry leading margins and in line with the mid-twenties guidance. Earnings per share reached €0.48 in H1 2025, increasing by 17% vs H1 2024, with focus on operating leverage and efficiency as volumes continue to build, including contribution from the product diversification strategy. Capex rising to €6.7 million, in line with the guided Capex of €20 million for FY 2025, to support the acceleration of the growth strategy (detailed below). This amount includes investment in capacity expansion of Harder Digital and development of new men-portable and platform-based products, leveraging THEON'S c.80 in-house engineers working on Design and Development. Net working capital of €165.4 million (c.43% LTM Revenues), stable on Q1 2025, with unwinding towards the mid-term target of 35% expected over the coming quarters. Net cash position decreased to €38.1 million, primarily as a result of dividend payment of €23.8 million in June (35% of the Net Income of FY 2024, in line with the IPO prospectus and guidance). Operational and Strategic Highlights Several recent contract wins for THEON's market-leading Night Vision products as well as its new digital products to an increasingly diversified customer base in many countries around the globe. Currently active in several tender processes, with demand for digital products expected to accelerate in H2 2025, as advanced armed forces seek to enhance their situational awareness capabilities and maintain a competitive edge. The first new production line of Harder Digital has been fully deployed and is in the process of scaling up production output, increasing the yield. THEON Korea also commenced product assembly following the revamp of the production line, enabling faster delivery of APAC region orders and improving logistics efficiency. Plans announced to expand THEON's global footprint through a strategic investment in Latvia, via the local subsidiary of Harder Digital, to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility focused on the production of critical Image Intensifier Tube (IIT) components. The facility will also provide essential assembly and maintenance services for THEON's end-products destined for the broader Baltic region. THEON's majority shareholder completed a second placement in June 2025 and increased free float to 30% solely to address further demand by the investor community, broadening THEON's investor base and improving stock liquidity. Discussions and visible progress made with several identified acquisition targets, with the aim to provide THEON with access to leading technologies and adjacent products as well as support global expansion. THEON is also on track to complete additional investments in new technologies. Growth Strategy and Capital Markets Day THEON's success to-date has been delivered by its market-leading Night Vision products. From FY 2026 THEON expects to start realising increasingly material contributions from its product diversification strategy outside Night Vision and new product launches. The revenue contribution from its A.R.M.E.D. and Thermal Imaging products is expected to more than double to approximately 20% in FY 2026, continuing to increase thereafter, as evidenced by expressed interest following product demonstrations. In addition, THEON expects to also start achieving material sales of its new Platform-based products from FY 2027, supporting a mid-term target of achieving 50% of revenues from products outside of Night Vision. The new products, with A.R.M.E.D series already beginning to gain strong commercial traction amongst existing and new customers globally as evidenced by recent tender wins and direct purchase orders, significantly increases THEON's overall addressable market. The addressable market for THEON's market-leading Goggles products is currently estimated at above €1 billion in FY 2025 (Source: RSA, July 2025). Demand is expected to remain high, driven by still-low penetration rates for Night Vision equipment in THEON's core markets. After equipping soldiers with NVGs, armies will accelerate purchases of digital products with additional capabilities including fused vision, interconnectivity and smart targeting capabilities. The introduction of these new products more than doubles THEON's overall addressable market, projected to reach €2.8 billion by 2030 (Source: RSA, July 2025), not including platform-based products. This supports a material growth trajectory for THEON over the coming years as it delivers on its ambition of becoming the trusted market leader in next generation optronics. THEON intends to host a Capital Markets Day (CMD) in Q4 2025 where it will announce and provide details on the THEON NEXT Vision & Strategy. The Strategy is a continuum and enhancement of the current strategy, involving: i) organic growth and investment; ii) M&A, strategic and commercial agreements; iii) ongoing product innovation and traction for its new products including its A.R.M.E.D. ecosystem of products; all combining to establish THEON's status in the modern warfare era. Details of the CMD event will be provided during August 2025. Guidance and Current Activity The current performance to-date in FY 2025 provides THEON with strong confidence that it will deliver FY 2025 results in line with guidance, with revenue as previously announced at the top-end of the originally provided guidance of €410-430 m. The Company is actively participating in several larger tenders, the outcomes of which should be known over the coming weeks and months. Following that, THEON will provide specific guidance for FY 2026. The relatively low capital requirements of the business model, even accounting for the increased investment to support the growth strategy, also allows for shareholder returns in the form of dividends as included in THEON's guidance communications. FY 2025 Medium – Term Revenue €430 m Organic growth >15%2 Adjusted EBIT margin Mid-twenties Capex €20 m 3.5% of revenue Dividend (% of Net Income) 30 – 40% 2 Expected annual growth in defence spending of the major NATO states ( Source: Renaissance Strategic Advisors , July 2025 ) Dimitris Parthenis, CFO of THEON, commented: 'Our half-year performance demonstrates strong financial discipline and our commitment to delivering a best-in-class mid-twenties EBIT margin, along with resilient order intake from a diversified customer base. We expect an acceleration in the second half of 2025, in line with normal order activity, with backlog expansion providing even greater visibility into future performance. We also expect to continue growing faster than the increase in defence spending of the NATO states in our addressable market. Specific guidance for FY 2026 will be provided by the end of November 2025.' H1 2025 Report Publication Theon will publish its H1 2025 Report on Tuesday, 2 September 2025 after market close, and hold a webcast for analysts and investors shortly after. Webcast details will be provided closer to the date, and on the Company's website. For further information, please contact: About THEON GROUP THEON GROUP of companies develops and manufactures cutting-edge night vision and thermal imaging systems for Defense and Security applications with a global footprint. THEON GROUP started its operations in 1997 from Greece and today occupies a leading role in the sector thanks to its international presence through subsidiaries and production facilities in Greece, Cyprus, Germany, the Baltics, the United States, the Gulf States, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Singapore and South Korea. THEON GROUP has more than 220,000 systems in service with Armed and Special Forces in 71 countries around the world, 26 of which are NATO countries. ΤΗΕΟΝ ΙΝΤΕRNATIONAL PLC has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam (AMS: THEON) since February 2024.