Latest news with #AlanShaw
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific
Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger One of the key beneficiaries of the proposed Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger is a largely under-the-radar activist investor who's been shaking up underperforming transportation companies, one after another: C.H. Robinson, Forward Air, and Norfolk Southern. Ancora Holdings, an activist investor known for its hands-on approach, has recently played a pivotal role in reshaping the trajectory of Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC). This involvement has been marked by a series of strategic maneuvers that culminated in significant changes within the railroad company's management and its impending merger with Union Pacific, a move set to redefine the landscape of North American rail transport. Ancora's engagement with Norfolk Southern shareholders began in early 2024 when the investor mounted an aggressive campaign to enhance the company's operational efficiency and financial performance. Discontented with the existing management and cost structure under CEO Alan Shaw, Ancora sought to push for better strategic outcomes. Despite initial resistance, Ancora's persistence paid off, resulting in Shaw's removal following an internal investigation into his inappropriate relationship with the company's chief legal officer, Nabanita C. Nag. This series of events underscored Ancora's influence, which was further solidified as they secured three seats on Norfolk Southern's board of directors, providing a platform to advocate for deeper structural changes. Amidst these boardroom shake-ups, Ancora maintained a keen focus on Norfolk Southern's financials. The investor's likely entry point can be traced back to when Norfolk Southern's stock was trading predominantly between $220 and $260 per share earlier in 2024. This estimated cost basis would position Ancora well to reap substantial returns through strategic initiatives aimed at revitalizing the company's performance and shareholder value. The proposed merger with Union Pacific, valued at $85 billion, is set to create the first U.S. coast-to-coast freight operator, merging Union Pacific's extensive western network with Norfolk Southern's sprawling eastern connections. This merger has garnered unanimous support from the board, including the three members installed by Ancora, highlighting the investor's endorsement of the strategic alignment and future prospects of the combined entity. With Union Pacific agreeing to purchase Norfolk Southern at $320 per share, Ancora stands to achieve a significant return on investment. Assuming an average cost basis in the range of $220 to $240 based on when Ancora built its position in the name, Ancora could potentially realize a return of 33% to 45%, depending on its precise cost basis. Ancora's intervention in Norfolk Southern comes at a crucial juncture for the transportation industry, which has been grappling with fluctuating freight volumes and rising operational costs. In particular, a soft trucking market has put persistent downward pressure on intermodal rates, and Norfolk Southern has the most exposure to intermodal of any Class I railroad. The broader sector has seen lackluster stock performance, reflecting a challenging market environment. Perhaps most importantly, Wall Street has been waiting to see what the next chapter of the railroad industry, after the industry-wide adoption of versions of Hunter Harrison's precision scheduled railroading, and the subsequent plunge operating ratios took into the 60s. After a decade of efficiency gains and deep cost cuts, what would come next? Within this context, Ancora's Norfolk Southern trade highlights the role activist investors play in catalyzing change within companies, not only to unlock shareholder value but also to compel management to pursue operational excellence and strategic growth. Ancora's investment in Norfolk Southern is emblematic of a wider trend where activists seek to instigate corporate transformations, particularly in industries where traditional business models are under pressure. By intervening in Norfolk Southern and endorsing its merger with Union Pacific, Ancora aims to position the company favorably amidst the evolving economic landscape, ensuring robust returns for its investors while contributing to the consolidation and rationalization of North America's rail network. The post Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger appeared first on FreightWaves. 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
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific
Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger One of the key beneficiaries of the proposed Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger is a largely under-the-radar activist investor who's been shaking up underperforming transportation companies, one after another: C.H. Robinson, Forward Air, and Norfolk Southern. Ancora Holdings, an activist investor known for its hands-on approach, has recently played a pivotal role in reshaping the trajectory of Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC). This involvement has been marked by a series of strategic maneuvers that culminated in significant changes within the railroad company's management and its impending merger with Union Pacific, a move set to redefine the landscape of North American rail transport. Ancora's engagement with Norfolk Southern shareholders began in early 2024 when the investor mounted an aggressive campaign to enhance the company's operational efficiency and financial performance. Discontented with the existing management and cost structure under CEO Alan Shaw, Ancora sought to push for better strategic outcomes. Despite initial resistance, Ancora's persistence paid off, resulting in Shaw's removal following an internal investigation into his inappropriate relationship with the company's chief legal officer, Nabanita C. Nag. This series of events underscored Ancora's influence, which was further solidified as they secured three seats on Norfolk Southern's board of directors, providing a platform to advocate for deeper structural changes. Amidst these boardroom shake-ups, Ancora maintained a keen focus on Norfolk Southern's financials. The investor's likely entry point can be traced back to when Norfolk Southern's stock was trading predominantly between $220 and $260 per share earlier in 2024. This estimated cost basis would position Ancora well to reap substantial returns through strategic initiatives aimed at revitalizing the company's performance and shareholder value. The proposed merger with Union Pacific, valued at $85 billion, is set to create the first U.S. coast-to-coast freight operator, merging Union Pacific's extensive western network with Norfolk Southern's sprawling eastern connections. This merger has garnered unanimous support from the board, including the three members installed by Ancora, highlighting the investor's endorsement of the strategic alignment and future prospects of the combined entity. With Union Pacific agreeing to purchase Norfolk Southern at $320 per share, Ancora stands to achieve a significant return on investment. Assuming an average cost basis in the range of $220 to $240 based on when Ancora built its position in the name, Ancora could potentially realize a return of 33% to 45%, depending on its precise cost basis. Ancora's intervention in Norfolk Southern comes at a crucial juncture for the transportation industry, which has been grappling with fluctuating freight volumes and rising operational costs. In particular, a soft trucking market has put persistent downward pressure on intermodal rates, and Norfolk Southern has the most exposure to intermodal of any Class I railroad. The broader sector has seen lackluster stock performance, reflecting a challenging market environment. Perhaps most importantly, Wall Street has been waiting to see what the next chapter of the railroad industry, after the industry-wide adoption of versions of Hunter Harrison's precision scheduled railroading, and the subsequent plunge operating ratios took into the 60s. After a decade of efficiency gains and deep cost cuts, what would come next? Within this context, Ancora's Norfolk Southern trade highlights the role activist investors play in catalyzing change within companies, not only to unlock shareholder value but also to compel management to pursue operational excellence and strategic growth. Ancora's investment in Norfolk Southern is emblematic of a wider trend where activists seek to instigate corporate transformations, particularly in industries where traditional business models are under pressure. By intervening in Norfolk Southern and endorsing its merger with Union Pacific, Ancora aims to position the company favorably amidst the evolving economic landscape, ensuring robust returns for its investors while contributing to the consolidation and rationalization of North America's rail network. The post Activist investor to reap handsome return in Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger appeared first on FreightWaves. 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
CNBC
24-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
This health care stock forming a 'big base breakout' is ready to separate from the pack, charts indicate
While the health care sector has been a chronic underperformer in recent years, our process is showing that a number of stocks in this struggling sector are exhibiting real signs of strength. With an encouraging earnings report this week, followed by an impressive breakout above resistance, Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) may be setting up for significant gains beyond current levels. The daily chart shows how BSX is setting up with a classic "big base breakout" pattern, where a multi-month consolidation pattern is finally exited with a significant upside move. As legendary technical analyst Alan Shaw used to say, "The bigger the base, the higher in space!" So after six months of sideways price action, including a test of the 200-day moving average at the April low, BSX appears to be completing a bullish rotation above resistance around $106.50. In terms of upside price targets after a breakout of this magnitude, a common technique is to take the height of the consolidation pattern and project that range to the upside. Given the range of around $20 for this pattern, that would imply a minimum upside objective around $126, representing about a 17% gain from current levels. To further validate this breakout scenario, we can analyze volume indicators to determine whether there is enough buying power represented in the charts. Here we're showing Boston Scientific along with three volume indicators. First, we have the raw daily volume readings, shown just below the daily price bars. Then we are showing the Accumulation/Distribution Line, which represents the trend in volume over time. Finally, we've included the Chaikin Money Flow, which uses daily price and volume movements to measure periods of accumulation and distribution. We can see that Wednesday's rally after the earnings release was marked by about double the normal volume. This shows that significant demand was seen for Boston Scientific as investors literally bought into the bullish case for future earnings growth. The Accumulation/Distribution Line has been trending higher for most of the last 12 months, and the Chaikin Money Flow remains firmly above the zero level. These two technical indicators suggest that BSX is in a period of accumulation, suggesting a bullish outlook with further upside potential. The weekly chart shows that the consolidation from the last six months has indeed represented a brief pause within a multiyear rally phase for Boston Scientific. Since a key breakout above resistance in early 2023, BSX has remained in a consistent uptrend phase with improving relative strength. Two major pullbacks during the uptrend phase, in October 2023 and March 2025, saw this health care name find support at an ascending 40-week moving average. So while BSX has underperformed the S & P 500 in recent months, the long-term trend remains on solid footing. Many investors have been ignoring the health sector in 2025, given the chronic underperformance and questionable technical configurations. But charts like BSX provide an important reminder that even the most chart-challenged sectors can often include stocks that stand out with bullish setups. -David Keller, CMT DISCLOSURES: (None) All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
Newsweek
24-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
What Coldplay Kisscam Scandal Says About America's Leadership Crisis
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. America's so obsessed with its own hype it's forgotten how to think. AirPods blur the line between presence and absence, reducing opportunities for mindfulness. Social media crowns swagger over substance. And leadership? It's just a glossy headshot with a corner office. Then one grainy video—a CEO caught cuddling with his HR chief at a Coldplay concert—did what no politician, pundit, or X post ever could: it united a fractured nation in stunned, meme-fueled disbelief. The now-infamous Coldplay kiss-cam moment wasn't just a viral blooper. It was a mirror held up to an important problem: the staggering lack of self-awareness among many of today's leaders. Even more ironic? The woman in the photo wasn't just any executive—she was the company's Chief People Officer, the person tasked with guarding its culture and aligning talent around core values. It's hard to imagine a more striking disconnect between stated purpose and public perception. This isn't a sitcom. It's America in 2025, where blind spots don't just affect individual leaders—they fracture trust, corrode boardrooms, and deepen the divide between the powerful and everyone else. The examples keep piling up. Kohl's ousted its CEO after just four months when it was revealed he funneled millions to a vendor led by his undisclosed romantic partner. MillerKnoll's CEO sparked outrage when, during a virtual town hall, she told employees—who were being asked to forgo bonuses while she kept hers—to "leave pity city." BP's Bernard Looney, Norfolk Southern's Alan Shaw, and McDonald's Steve Easterbrook were all forced out over inappropriate relationships with subordinates. These aren't isolated missteps—they reveal a troubling pattern: leaders so cocooned in power and affirmation that they begin to believe they're invisible, untouchable, and exempt from the standards they set for others. Self-awareness isn't a soft skill; it's the spine of leadership. Yet psychologist Tasha Eurich found that 95 percent of people swear they're self-aware, while only 10–15 percent actually are. At Heidrick & Struggles, our analysis of 75,000-plus leadership assessments pin it at a measly 13 percent. That's not just a self-deception gap—it's a five-alarm fire. This crisis isn't just for C-suites; it's a cultural contagion. In a world of curated feeds and algorithmic applause, we're all dodging reality. Empathy tanks. Teams coddle egos. Innovation flatlines. Truth becomes the first casualty of a culture that prizes performance over presence. Power makes it worse. Climb the ladder, and feedback vanishes faster than a budget surplus. Leaders get trapped in the "CEO Bubble"—a cozy echo chamber of yes-people and flattery where pride festers and accountability is a dirty word. The result? A nation of self-awareness haves and have-nots, where the powerful delude themselves into thinking they're indispensable. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 22: Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at Nissan Stadium on July 22, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 22: Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at Nissan Stadium on July 22, 2025 in Nashville, of a blind spot as a scotoma—a dead zone in your vision. In driving, it's the patch that causes wrecks if you don't adjust your mirrors. My daughter, exasperated in driver's ed, once snapped, "Why do cars have blind spots? It's stupid!" She's right. Smart cars now have sensors to catch what we miss. Leadership needs the same: feedback, reflection, and a swift kick of humility to shrink the danger zone. Our digital age is a self-awareness assassin. Social media fuels narcissism, not reflection. Leaders chase likes instead of truth, curating personas while ignoring their impact. At Heidrick & Struggles, we see it daily: teams dodge hard conversations to "keep the peace," only to breed chaos. When organizations reward charm over candor, blind spots don't just grow—they metastasize. Here's the kicker: what you are aware of, you control. What you are unaware of controls you. Self-awareness isn't just about dodging scandals—it's about unleashing potential. It's the key to trust, resilience, and leading with guts instead of gloss. That video from the Coldplay concert didn't just roast one CEO and an HR chief—it exposed a nation fed up with leaders who can't see past their own egos. But it also lit a spark: a craving for authenticity, for leaders who aren't just Instagram-ready but battle-ready—grounded, present, and unafraid to face the mirror. From the 2008 financial meltdown to Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, blind spots don't just sink leaders—they crater economies. If no one dares tell the emperor he's naked, why would he check? But leaders who confront their flaws don't just dodge disaster—they spot trouble miles away. They're mindful of their strengths, honest about their limits, and—dare I say it—almost too aware to fail. This takes guts. Strengths like charisma or decisiveness can become liabilities without a leash. Leaders need external discipline—360 feedback, candid advisors—and internal rigor: daily self-checks. My AWARE framework lays it out: Alert to blind spots. Will to face flaws. Attentive to strengths. Reflect on risks and derailers. Exercise superpowers to lift others up. It's not easy in a world that fetishizes confidence and punishes vulnerability. But the payoff? Leaders who inspire trust, not snark. Who build trust and loyalty, not memes. That viral video wasn't just a gotcha—it was a warning shot. One CEO's lapse cost him his job, but the actual cost is ours: a culture where leaders sleepwalk into catastrophe. We don't need more rock-star CEOs. We need ones who know their flaws, own their impact, and lead with eyes wide open. America's begging for it. Will leaders finally look in the mirror—or keep posing for the next viral disaster? The irony of this Coldplay viral video surely can't be lost on us. The band's biggest hit, "Viva La Vida," opens with a haunting confession: "I used to rule the world. Seas would rise when I gave the word. Now in the morning I sleep alone... Sweep the streets I used to own." It's a fitting anthem for a generation of leaders undone not by enemies, but by their own blind spots. Les T. Csorba is a partner in the CEO and Board of Director Practice of Heidrick & Struggles and author of the forthcoming book, AWARE: The Power of Seeing Yourself Clearly – Diary of a Corporate Headhunter (August 2025). The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Peer-Reviewed Study Confirms FeedKind ® Pet Protein Is Safe, Well Tolerated and Digestible; Opens the Door for Cultured Protein in Pet Food
SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calysta, the global leader in large-scale cultured protein, has published new peer-reviewed research confirming that FeedKind Pet protein is a safe, highly digestible ingredient for adult dogs with promising early signs of supporting gut health. Animals, the eight-month target animal safety study was designed under FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine guidelines and supports Calysta's planned GRAS notification for the US market. Thirty-two healthy adult beagles were fed diets containing up to 8% FeedKind Pet protein for six months, followed by a two-month period on a control diet. The results reaffirm that FeedKind Pet protein can be safely included in dog food, maintaining healthy weight and body condition scores throughout, with no impact on feed intake and high digestibility. Protein and energy digestibility exceeded 80%, and fat digestibility exceeded 90%. The study also revealed positive shifts in the dogs' fecal microbiome, increasing alpha diversity, an early sign of potential gut health benefits. Key findings from the study: Long-term safety confirmed: All dogs maintained normal health, weight, and body condition. High digestibility: Protein and energy digestibility consistently above 80%, fat above 90%. No feed intake impact: Dogs readily accepted FeedKind Pet at all inclusion levels. Positive microbiome effect: Inclusion increased alpha diversity and promoted healthy bacteria, signs of gut health support. Alan Shaw, CEO and Co-Founder of Calysta, said: "This new peer-reviewed research is the most robust and longest study we've ever done on FeedKind Pet protein, adding to years of evidence showing it is a safe, high-quality protein source for animals. A science and safety focus has been key to our journey from pilot production to the thousands of tonnes shipped this year. For the pet food industry, FeedKind Pet is a pioneering cultured protein ingredient that brings real innovation and new formulation choices, backed by proven performance and supply security." Herman Sloot, VP of Global Sales at Calysta, added: "Customers in Europe are already using FeedKind Pet protein to strengthen supply chains and deliver high-quality nutrition for pets. This latest long-term study sets us up to meet the requirements for US GRAS status and gives our customers the confidence to plan for global availability; knowing they have a secure, well-tolerated protein source that works for pets and owners everywhere." Produced by natural fermentation, FeedKind Pet requires no arable land and minimal water, providing pet food manufacturers with a stable, scalable supply of protein that does not compete with human food resources. Building on the proven success of FeedKind Aqua, Calysta is ready to supply FeedKind Pet at scale as global demand grows for reliable, high-quality protein ingredients. About Calysta Calysta, Inc., San Mateo, CA, is a large-scale protein producer and innovator working towards a future where the world's growing population has guaranteed food security. Calysta makes protein without limits by fermenting low-cost carbon to create new feed and food products. Calysta's sustainable protein ingredients add to the global food supply. FeedKind ® protein is made using very little water and no agricultural land by fermenting carbon to create a safe, nutritious, and traceable protein. Cultured via natural fermentation, it is non-GMO, has a complete amino acid profile, is highly digestible, and helps promote a healthy gut.
