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Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Fiber Broadband Association Marks Industry Investment in U.S. Manufacturing
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today at , the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) released data that shows the positive potential of NTIA BEAD (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment) broadband infrastructure funding program, reflected through its members' investment response to comply with Build America, Buy America (BABA) for the program. A number of FBA's BABA-compliant members reported nearly $650 million of investments to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and 5,600 new jobs created to date. This effort has led to an additional 1,325,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity added with either new manufacturing facilities being built and/or expanded over the past two years -- representing 72+ manufacturing facilities across 28 states. Fiber is the primary network technology required by the BEAD Program to comply with BABA. "The fiber broadband industry creates thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the American economy. The BEAD program has catalyzed FBA members to onshore fiber manufacturing investment and jobs. The continuation of BEAD funding is critical for closing the digital divide, preserving good jobs, stimulating the economy, and maintaining American leadership," said Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy, Fiber Broadband Association. The Buy America Preference applies to BEAD funded infrastructure projects. In a February 2024 Notice of Final Waiver, the Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a limited waiver for certain construction materials and manufactured products used in BEAD funded projects. For instance, DOC found that all optic glass used in manufacturing fiber and fiber optic cable must be BABA compliant, although it provided a waiver for non-optic-glass inputs to the optical fiber pre-form process, and that key fiber transmission electronics needed to be manufactured in the U.S., although it waived the 55 percent cost of components requirement needed. The BEAD BABA Waiver is available at 'The amount of time, effort, commitment, and training required to bring these jobs back to the U.S. cannot be understated, nor should the value these jobs and facilities are having on the communities that will benefit from this new capacity,' said Anis Khemakhem, Chief Marketing Officer, Clearfield. 'The BABA commitment reaches every level of the companies involved, permeating the supply chain and demanding focused organizational alignment. The investment spans from soft costs, such as training, to hard costs, such as product tooling.' Stay updated by subscribing to the Fiber Broadband Association's weekly newsletter here. About the Fiber Broadband Association The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The ‘Buy America' strategy has stopped working in the tariff era. What investors should do next
For the past decade or so, it was easy for the average investor to pursue a winning strategy: Load up on low-cost ETFs that tracked the S&P 500 or another big basket of U.S. stocks, then sit back and watch the returns pile up. This strategy became even more appealing as the U.S. tech sector roared and the stock prices of 'the Magnificent Seven' climbed to nosebleed heights. This approach, or variations on it, came to be known as Buy America, and it worked splendidly. Until it didn't. 'If you'd come to me 10 years ago, I would have said, 'Just buy an index fund and don't worry about it,'' says Stephanie Guild, chief investment officer of Robinhood Markets. Now she suggests investors consider a more active approach to their portfolios—and give them a lot more geographic variety. Many investors came to a similar conclusion in April after President Trump announced his 'Liberation Day' tariffs, which signaled that his administration would pursue his goal of expanding the manufacturing sector, even if it incurred near-term damage to a U.S. economy that had been the envy of the world since the Great Financial Crisis. The market response was immediate. The punishing tariff measures not only sent stocks tumbling but also triggered a decline in the value of the dollar and U.S. Treasury bonds. Meanwhile, a flood of capital began to head overseas, leading some to invoke a new investment mantra: Sell America. That advice is likely overstated, especially as some markets have recovered from the shock of the initial April tariffs. But the recent 'Sell America' cries can also be seen as an exclamation point on a broader trend. According to many investment experts, it's been apparent for some time that the lopsided weighting of tech stocks in many portfolios was not sustainable. And many casual investors may be unaware they've built up an oversize helping of Big Tech. Most index funds are asset-weighted, which means that the bigger the Magnificent Seven grew in market valuation, the more space in a set-it and-forget-it portfolio they came to occupy. 'The Magnificent Seven are truly magnificent, but they've become outsize and very expensive,' says Erik Knutzen, a co–chief investment officer at Neuberger Berman. As for recent asset flight away from U.S. stocks: 'We don't think this is some kind of dire perspective on the U.S.—more of a normal, rational rebalancing.' For retail stock owners, the sudden shift is a reminder of one of the bedrock principles of investing: diversification. Research shows that more diverse portfolios perform better over the long run because a decline in one category of assets will typically be mitigated or offset by the performance of other assets. 'This year has been a powerful reminder that you don't want to let yourself get too concentrated in any one industry or asset class, no matter how bright it might shine at the moment,' says Katie Klingensmith, chief investment strategist at Edelman Financial Engines. The entire global economy, to be sure, is still absorbing the shock from Trump's tariff policies, which means that the current period of volatility is far from over and investors could feel more pain. But the pain could also be easily reversed, and diversification gives investors a chance to benefit from good news, wherever it surfaces. So if a passive strategy centered on U.S. assets is no longer optimal, what should investorsdo instead? First off, investing pros make clear that shifting away from U.S. assets does not mean turning away from them altogether. The U.S. economy is still stronger than many others, and its equities are still a good bet, including the 'other 493' (the S&P outside of the Magnificent Seven). The case for bonds, though, may be weaker. Robinhood's Guild says the conventional wisdom that calls for steadily increasing the proportion of bonds in one's portfolio as one gets older has become outdated. She points out that bond volatility has increased and it's no longer a given that bonds' returns will display a negative correlation to stocks. This also means that those looking for income may get a better payoff from high-dividend stocks—a category that does not include Big Tech companies, which pay little or nothing in the way of dividends. Microsoft is the best of the bunch with a dividend of around 0.75%. Tesla and Amazon offer no dividend at all. Compare those with other Fortune 500 names Pfizer and Ford, which paid out annual dividend yields over 6%. Meanwhile, a series of developments are underway abroad—some of them hastened by economic and geopolitical disruptions unleashed by Trump—that are lifting some investors' outlook for stocks in Europe and Asia. Knutzen pointed to Germany, in particular, whose government has shifted away from a rigid fiscal policy to pursue broader spending on defense. Knutzen also says his firm is encouraged by pro-growth policies adopted by governments in France and Italy that are invigorating the private sector. At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May, investing titans Jonathan Gray of Blackstone and Marc Rowan of Apollo both described assets in Germany and the rest of the continent as a bargain, and expressed optimism that an era of hyper-regulation could be receding. The pair also spoke favorably of the investment climate in Japan and India. Knutzen of Neuberger Berman says his firm is likewise keen on Japan, where, he notes, new governance policies have resulted in systemic improvements to how companies are managed. He adds that he is also spending considerable time speaking with more affluent clients about alternative investments like real estate and the booming private credit market. For those looking to build or rebalance a portfolio, Guild proposes different ideas based on age, investment goals, and risk tolerance. For most people around age 35, she suggests a mix of about 75% U.S. stocks balanced with a helping of European equities packaged in large-cap ETFs. To round it out, she'd consider adding Asian tech stocks and commodities such as gold or Bitcoin. The calculus for those on the cusp of retirement is different, since those investors will typically want lower risk and ready access to cash. For them, Guild recommends a more conventional portfolio of around 60% stocks and 40% bonds, though she adds the latter portions should consist primarily of short-duration bonds given the current volatility of the markets. For self-directed investors, these calls for a more diverse and complicated portfolio may pose a challenge since it will likely mean wading into unfamiliar asset categories. Hiring an active manager offers a solution to this. As always, one should feel confident that doing so will deliver additional gains that exceed the fees they charge. The good news for considering an active approach is that many advisors' fees are dropping as a growing number of financial institutions push into wealth management services, creating more competition. (Of course, those fees will never approach those of leading ETFs, which can be as low as five basis points.) Another benefit of working with advisors: They can talk you out of yanking all your money out of the markets during a rough week. More broadly, investors should treat the market events of 2025 in the context of a return to basics. On fundamental principle of investing that came to be overlooked during the go-go days of Buy America is that diversification will strengthen any portfolio and help it withstand shocks ranging from tariffs and pandemics to the popping of bubbles. 'We are working with clients of all types on making sure they don't have too much concentration,' says Knutzen. Until early this year, investors could make out handsomely by focusing on the few big U.S. tech stocks known by the movie-inspired moniker 'the Magnificent Seven.' Inevitably, though, that playbook grew outdated as those stocks became expensive and new opportunities emerged. For those looking to balance their portfolio, here are three strategic suggestions: Investors may have overlooked other gems from the S&P 500. Stephanie Guild, chief investment officer of Robinhood Markets, likes these three: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) This stock is already a darling, but the company has a unique, in-demand product— surgical robots—that gives it plenty of room to grow. (ANET) In the AI era, Big Tech firms are hungry for data centers, and Arista specializes in making network equipment for those vital hubs. Inc. (GAP) An apparel company with a rocky past and huge exposure to tariffs sounds like a stock toavoid. A closer look, though, reveals a firm well on its way to a turnaround story, with a new CEO doing many things right. Long shunned by many investors owing to slow growth and excessive regulation, Europe is displaying a new economic vitality as its major economies begin to pursue pro-growth policies. European stocks, traditionally undervalued compared with their U.S. counterparts, are more so than ever. This, combined with a weaker U.S. dollar, makes them look like a buy. Euro Stoxx 50 ETF Guild recommends this low-cost ETF, which packages the 50 largest companies in the eurozone, providing broad and diverse exposure to the continent's most promising businesses. Many Asian economies have recently made giant strides in key sectors. Here are three countries to scope for stock deals: China The roller coaster that is the country's tech sector is zooming upward on the strength of achievements in AI. Chinese tech stalwarts like Alibaba and Tencent, both AI players, look particularly attractive. Japan The Land of the Rising Sun has instituted reforms to improve transparency and corporate governance. This new turn means investors should consider multinational exporters like consumer giant Sony and Tokyo Electron, which supplies equipment to chipmakers. India Growing ties with the United States and multiple bright spots across the economy make broad-based India-focused ETFs a promising bet. In the age of app-based stock buying, it's easy to forget that there is one popular asset you can store in a safe or bury in your backyard: gold. It's also beautiful: A handsome doubloon or gleaming ingot will fetch a lot more compliments than the bits of digital dust that make up the rest of your portfolio. On the downside, unlike owners of run-of-the-mill stocks, gold owners must pay significant sums to safely transport and store their holdings, and face a very real risk of robbery from burglars or shifty visitors. Gold has other drawbacks, too, of course: Unlike stocks or bonds, it provides no income yield, and physical gold is not always the easiest thing to convert to cash. But for all its quirks, gold has been one of the best-performing assets of the past year. Recent economic turmoil has seen it live up to its reputation as the safest of safe havens: On April 22, the price of gold crossed the $3,500-an-ounce mark for the first time ever. For those who want to hold the real thing in their hands, Costco offers one of the lowest premiums for physical gold (around 2% compared with as much as 5% at other outlets). And for those who are not craving a physical asset, there is the cheap and more practical—though decidedly less pulse-quickening—alternative of an ETF. Be aware, though, that selling gold at a profit (including in its ETF forms) will incur higher capital gains taxes than stock transactions will, since gold is classified as a collectible and taxed at a higher rate of up to 28%. For casual investors who have caught a touch of gold fever, Fortune has listed the pros and cons of popular purchasing options below. Typically issued by national governments. The American Gold Eagle coin and the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf are popular Beautiful to hold and More expensive than other options. Typically sold in flat one-ounce rectangles imprinted with a company or government logo. You can also buy larger bars—often called ingots—that are primarily traded in wholesale As basic as it gets and cheaper than Still comes with a premium to order and ship. Among the world's most popular ETFs, these are shares in a trust that trades like a stock, backed by reserves of physical gold stored by a bank or financial By far the cheapest Nothing shiny to behold; the gold is held by a third party. This article originally appears in the June/July 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline 'Tariffs have halted the 'Buy America' era. Here's what to do next.' This story was originally featured on 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
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Made in America: Inovair High-Efficiency Blowers Are the First to Meet BABA Requirements
Lenexa, Kansas , May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Building on over 30 years of innovation and manufacturing excellence, Inovair has been recognized by EPA as the first and only manufacturer of high-efficiency blower packages that are fully compliant with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. This milestone achievement delivers immediate benefits to municipalities and engineering firms seeking to leverage federal infrastructure funding while minimizing regulatory risk and procurement staff onsite at Wastewater Treatment plant (WWTP)As a vertically-integrated, U.S.-based manufacturer since 1994, Inovair's blower packages are designed, built, and supported in the United States. From fabrication to final assembly, every step meets BABA domestic content guidelines—offering customers a risk-free, Made-in-USA solution backed by responsive, domestic support.'Being first to meet BABA requirements in our industry isn't just an achievement for Inovair—it's a win for our customers and for American manufacturing,' said David Sperber, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Inovair. 'This positions Inovair customers to more easily secure BABA and IIJA funding while benefiting from the performance and efficiency for which our aeration blower packages are known.' For municipalities planning blower upgrades or new installations, Inovair offers a proven, compliant path forward with unmatched performance, compact design, and the lowest total cost of ownership. Learn more: blower being assembled at Kansas City headquartersAbout Inovair Blowers Inovair, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, is a leader in the design and manufacturing of high-efficiency, compact geared centrifugal blower systems for the wastewater, industrial, and aviation markets. With a focus on innovation, energy efficiency, and American-made quality, Inovair is redefining what's possible in blower technology. Press inquiries Inovair Blowers David Sperber (913) 338-7256 14801 W. 114th TerraceLenexa, KS 66215 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
Business Standard
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
STL reports FY25 results; well-positioned to unlock growth
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 17: STL (NSE: STLTECH), a leading optical and digital solutions company, today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March, 2025. The Company reported revenues of INR 1052 Cr for the quarter and INR 3996 Cr for FY25 across its business units - Optical Networking and Digital. STL delivered EBITDA margins of 13.8% and EBITDA of INR 146 Cr, highest in the last six quarters. With a focus on customer centricity, product innovation, and cost leadership, STL continues to be a partner of choice for the global Digital Infrastructure build. As we navigate evolving tariff dynamics, we remain focused on leveraging our global manufacturing footprint in the U.S., Europe, and India and diversified supplier partnerships to drive company performance. In Q4 FY25, Optical Networking Business reported a 26% revenue growth and 110% EBITDA as compared to Q4 FY24. This was driven by accelerating momentum in the Enterprise Connectivity and Data Centre Business and a ~22% attach rate in the Optical Connectivity Business (OC). Enterprise and Data Centre Business has seen robust demand in Europe and India as STL supported key players in these regions to expand their end customer connectivity solutions. STL Digital - Achieved EBITDA positive for consecutive 2 quarters with a steady YoY revenue growth and a robust order book. STL Digital has strategic partnerships with 40+ technology companies and has acquired more than 25 global customers across India and the U.S. Some key highlights for FY25 - Global Services Business* - STL completed the demerger of its Global Services Business that transitioned from Sterlite Technologies (STL) to STL Networks Limited under the brand name 'Invenia.' - Our marquee wins - STL added diversified customers across geographies, forming deep partnerships with service providers like Archtop Fiber in the U.S., Connexin, Netomnia and Wyre in the UK and Europe, Vocus in Australia, du Telecom in MEA and Bharatnet and Vedanta in India. - Product innovation and co-creation with customers - STL has aggressively driven product innovation, focusing on co-creation with customers and next-gen optical solutions with development of ultra-thin optical fibre of 160-micron, 180-micron and 864F Microcables, AI-led data centre solutions, Multi-core fibre (MCF) for quantum communications and silicon photonics, and Optical Connectivity portfolio for the U.S. STL also unveiled Rapid series of Optical products, compliant with the 'Build America, Buy America' (BABA) regulations. STL ended the year with a patent count of 740 with 76 new patents filed in FY25. - Our Net Debt: Equity has improved to 0.68 times against 1.39 times post demerger and Post QIP (YoY). "FY25 was marked by resilience and customer-focus. By doubling down on our core priorities--Customer and Cost Leadership--we not only sustained momentum but also laid the groundwork for future growth. The strengthening order pipeline and customer engagements signal a promising shift in market dynamics," remarked Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director, STL. "The trifecta of AI-ready infrastructure, rural fiberisation, and data centre expansion will be the cornerstone of global digitalisation, and we're are fully prepared with our extensive Connectivity solutions," he added. *Pursuant to receipt of necessary statutory approvals and in accordance with the Scheme of Arrangement between STL and STL Networks Limited, the Company has demerged its Global Service business effective March 31, 2025, as approved by NCLT. Consequently, the financial results of the Global Service business for the respective quarters and year ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024 have been presented as discontinued operations to reflect the impact of this demerger.
Business Upturn
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
STL reports FY25 results; well-positioned to unlock growth
Reports EBITDA of INR 146 Cr, highest in the last six quarters; 31% QoQ growth MUMBAI, India , May 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — STL (NSE: STLTECH), a leading optical and digital solutions company, today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March, 2025 . The Company reported revenues of INR 1052 Cr for the quarter and INR 3996 Cr for FY25 across its business units – Optical Networking and Digital. STL delivered EBITDA margins of 13.8% and EBITDA of INR 146 Cr, highest in the last six quarters. With a focus on customer centricity, product innovation, and cost leadership, STL continues to be a partner of choice for the global Digital Infrastructure build. As we navigate evolving tariff dynamics, we remain focused on leveraging our global manufacturing footprint in the U.S., Europe , and India and diversified supplier partnerships to drive company performance. In Q4 FY25, Optical Networking Business reported a 26% revenue growth and 110% EBITDA as compared to Q4 FY24. This was driven by accelerating momentum in the Enterprise Connectivity and Data Centre Business and a ~22% attach rate in the Optical Connectivity Business (OC). Enterprise and Data Centre Business has seen robust demand in Europe and India as STL supported key players in these regions to expand their end customer connectivity solutions. STL Digital – Achieved EBITDA positive for consecutive 2 quarters with a steady YoY revenue growth and a robust order book. STL Digital has strategic partnerships with 40+ technology companies and has acquired more than 25 global customers across India and the U.S. Some key highlights for FY25 Global Services Business* – STL completed the demerger of its Global Services Business that transitioned from Sterlite Technologies (STL) to STL Networks Limited under the brand name 'Invenia.' – STL completed the demerger of its Global Services Business that transitioned from Sterlite Technologies (STL) to STL Networks Limited under the brand name 'Invenia.' Our marquee wins – STL added diversified customers across geographies, forming deep partnerships with service providers like Archtop Fiber in the U.S., Connexin, Netomnia and Wyre in the UK and Europe , Vocus in Australia , du Telecom in MEA and Bharatnet and Vedanta in India . – STL added diversified customers across geographies, forming deep partnerships with service providers like in the U.S., and in the UK and , in , in MEA and and in . Product innovation and co-creation with customers – STL has aggressively driven product innovation, focusing on co-creation with customers and next-gen optical solutions with development of ultra-thin optical fibre of 160-micron , 180-micron and 864F Microcables, AI-led data centre solutions, Multi-core fibre (MCF) for quantum communications and silicon photonics, and Optical Connectivity portfolio for the U.S. STL also unveiled Rapid series of Optical products, compliant with the 'Build America, Buy America' (BABA) regulations. STL ended the year with a patent count of 740 with 76 new patents filed in FY25. – STL has aggressively driven product innovation, focusing on co-creation with customers and next-gen optical solutions with development of ultra-thin optical fibre of , and Microcables, solutions, (MCF) for quantum communications and silicon photonics, and Optical Connectivity portfolio for the U.S. STL also unveiled Rapid series of Optical products, compliant with the 'Build America, Buy America' (BABA) regulations. STL ended the year with a patent count of Our Net Debt: Equity has improved to 0.68 times against 1.39 times post demerger and Post QIP (YoY). 'FY25 was marked by resilience and customer-focus. By doubling down on our core priorities—Customer and Cost Leadership—we not only sustained momentum but also laid the groundwork for future growth. The strengthening order pipeline and customer engagements signal a promising shift in market dynamics,' remarked Ankit Agarwal , Managing Director, STL. 'The trifecta of AI-ready infrastructure, rural fiberisation, and data centre expansion will be the cornerstone of global digitalisation, and we're are fully prepared with our extensive Connectivity solutions,' he added. Financial highlights (INR Cr) Financials** INR Cr FY25 FY24 Q4FY25 Q4FY24 Revenue 3996 4083 1052 843 EBITDA 452 527 146 44 **All financials are from continued operations *Pursuant to receipt of necessary statutory approvals and in accordance with the Scheme of Arrangement between STL and STL Networks Limited, the Company has demerged its Global Service business effective March 31, 2025 , as approved by NCLT. Consequently, the financial results of the Global Service business for the respective quarters and year ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024 have been presented as discontinued operations to reflect the impact of this demerger. About STL – Sterlite Technologies Ltd: STL is a leading global optical and digital solutions company providing advanced offerings to build 5G, Rural, FTTx, Enterprise and Data Centre networks. Read more, Contact us, | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube For more information, contact: Media Relations: Shaily Rai Sinha [email protected] Investor Relations Ajay Jhanjhari [email protected]
