Latest news with #Count
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota child care advocates rally against federal cuts
Members of the Head Start program and Kids Count on Us participate in the Protect Our Kids rally at the Minnesota State Capitol Monday, May 12, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) It's been a disappointing year for Minnesota's parents of young children and the advocates hoping to secure more investments in child care. Across the state, child care centers are shutting down, exacerbating the shortage of day care spots. Meanwhile, the cost of care continues to climb; only Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts have higher average infant child care prices. Child care workers in Minnesota earn on average just over $15 per hour, often less than they could make at Target or a restaurant. Now, a plan by President Donald Trump to cut funding is threatening the already-precarious child care system. Teachers and advocates for Head Start, the federal program that provides subsidized child care to low-income families, gathered at the Capitol Monday — with hundreds of preschoolers in tow — to protest proposed Head Start cuts and the lack of state action to counteract them. More than 12,000 Minnesota children could lose their care if Head Start funding expires at the end of September. Advocates with Kids Count On Us — a child care advocacy group affiliated with the religious organization ISAIAH — rallied for state and federal spending on child care in conjunction with National Day Without Child Care events around the country. 'Minnesota needs to be bold about raising revenue to fund the things we need, like a fully funded child care system, so it is affordable and accessible for all families,' said Reneé Olsen, who runs child care centers in Barnum and Willow River. The threats to Head Start come on the heels of an especially difficult six months for child care. Although Gov. Tim Walz says he wants to make Minnesota 'the best state to raise a family' — and Vice President J.D. Vance fancies himself a beacon of pro-family public policy — neither the state nor the federal government plan major investments in child care anytime soon. In Washington, Republicans are rolling back programs that provide child care to low income families, at the behest of Vance and the world's richest man, presidential advisor/donor Elon Musk. Vance co-authored an essay in the Wall Street Journal in 2021 arguing against child care subsidies; instead, the government should reward parents who choose to stay at home and raise children, Vance wrote. More than 80% of stay-at-home parents are women. And in Minnesota, there's not money in the state coffers this year to make up for the potential loss of federal funds. The state is already spending more money than it's bringing in, and with tax increases off the table for Republicans, Walz and legislative leaders are looking for ways to cut spending. November's budget forecast, which predicted a $5 billion deficit in 2027 and 2028 if current spending trends continue, ended hopes of wide-scale state-level investment in child care before the legislative session began. State Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, said a tax on social media companies, which was included in the Senate's recently released tax bill, could help pay for investments in child care. But in the House, which is tied 67-67, Republicans have vowed to vote against any tax increase.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mediawan Scores Key Licensing Deals on Bille August's ‘The Count of Monte Cristo' in U.S., U.K. and More Key Territories (EXCLUSIVE)
Mediawan has scored a raft of major licensing deals on 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' the highly anticipated epic series directed by two-time Palme d'Or winner Bille August. A lushly lensed adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' iconic masterpiece, the series will have a gala premiere on closing night of Canneseries where it will play out of competition in the Lumière Theatre, in the presence of August, and his key cast, Sam Claflin ('Peaky Blinders') and Ana Girardot ('The Returned'). More from Variety French Production Reached Near Record in 2024, While Streamers' Financing Skyrocketed by 60% Canneseries Industry: Soo Hugh, Beau Willimon, Jane Tranter, Eric Rochant, Malin Sarah Gozin to Talk at First Edition Canneseries Unveils Lineup, Including J.J. Abrams' 'Duster,' 'The Walking Dead: Dead City,' 'The Agency' Produced by Palomar and DEMD Productions, two Mediawan companies, 'The Count of Monte Cristo' has lured PBS Masterpiece in the U.S. and UKTV in the U.K., along with TVE in Spain, RTS in Switzerland, and the Nordic PSB alliance which includes SVT, NRK, DR, YLE and RUV. The eight-episode series will also be broadcast in Eastern European countries, including Poland with TVP, Hungary with TV2, and the Czech Republic with Ceska TV. Mediawan is also in negotiation to close more major territories. Claflin stars in 'The Count of Monte Cristo' as Edmond Dantes, a nineteen-year-old sailor who was falsely accused of treason and is imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille. After many years of captivity he finally escapes and, under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, he plans to take revenge on those who have wrongly accused him. 'The Count of Monte Cristo' already premiered in Italy where it broke rating records. On Rai1, the miniseries was a massive success, attracting nearly 6 million viewers, a 30.5% market share. Mediawan said the ratings on Rai marked the broadcaster's highest score on that slot within the last three years. The show was commissioned by France Télévisions in France and RAI in Italy, and distributed worldwide by Mediawan Rights in cooperation with CAA for North America and with the participation of Entourage Vleeschhouwer, Mediawan Rights' managing director, said the show's 'global resonance underscores Mediawan Rights' enduring commitment to supporting the best talents and the best IPs.' Vleeschhouwer said 'The Count of Monte Cristo' taps into the 'needs of a dynamic global market' for 'appealing premium content.' Nicola Serra, Palomar CEO, praised the series' 'wonderful talents.' 'Their amazing work made this show a worldwide event for a global audience. We hope they will love the show as much as we loved to make it,' said Serra. August, the revered Danish filmmaker whose credits include 'Pelle the Conqueror,' 'The Best Intentions' and 'Les Misérables,' shot the series on location in Europe over five-months. 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is the first international series of that caliber fully produced as well as distributed by Mediawan, and financed with Entourage. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Count (ASX:CUP) shareholders have earned a 44% return over the last year
Passive investing in index funds can generate returns that roughly match the overall market. But you can significantly boost your returns by picking above-average stocks. For example, the Count Limited (ASX:CUP) share price is up 35% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market decline of around 1.9% (not including dividends). That's a solid performance by our standards! However, the longer term returns haven't been so impressive, with the stock up just 14% in the last three years. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Over the last twelve months, Count actually shrank its EPS by 47%. Given the share price gain, we doubt the market is measuring progress with EPS. Therefore, it seems likely that investors are putting more weight on metrics other than EPS, at the moment. Absent any improvement, we don't think a thirst for dividends is pushing up the Count's share price. It seems far more likely that the 47% boost to the revenue over the last year, is making the difference. After all, it's not necessarily a bad thing if a business sacrifices profits today in pursuit of profit tomorrow (metaphorically speaking). The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Count, it has a TSR of 44% for the last 1 year. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! We're pleased to report that Count shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 44% over one year. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 2% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Count that you should be aware of before investing here. But note: Count may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. 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.
Reuters
10-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Tom Watson casts doubt on likelihood of PGA-LIV deal
April 10 - Count Tom Watson among those who don't envision the PGA Tour and LIV Golf being able to come together as a means to unify the professional game. Watson, 75, said Thursday that there are too many issues to overcome for the PGA Tour to come to terms with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has financed the upstart circuit since its inception in 2022. "They made their choice to play their own tour, and that's where they are right now," the eight-time major champion said during a news conference at Augusta National Golf Club. "I don't see a real working mechanism for the two tours to get back together. I think that's one of the reasons you haven't seen an agreement since June two years ago." As it stands, 12 LIV Golf members will compete at the Masters. More than half of that number have lifetime exemptions due to past wins at Augusta National, while Joaquin Niemann received a special exemption to earn his place in the field. Watson, however, referenced Scottie Scheffler's speech at the champions dinner as reason for optimism. "The one thing I do know is that Scottie Scheffler in his speech at the past champions dinner on Tuesday night said, 'I'm glad we're all together again.' So the players would like to get together," said Watson, a two-time Masters champion. "But it's really up to the powers that be to see if there's a framework in which the two tours can cooperate. I don't see that framework happening. "Maybe they're smarter people than I am, but the key element of the PGA Tour, the one thing that is required of you is to get permission to play in a competing tournament, conflicting event rule. That's there to protect the sponsors of our PGA Tour so that the fields are not depleted of all the good players as they go and play other tournaments. That's the main requirement." --Field Level Media
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Poor Financial Prospects Dragging Down Count Limited (ASX:CUP Stock?
Count (ASX:CUP) has had a rough month with its share price down 8.1%. To decide if this trend could continue, we decided to look at its weak fundamentals as they shape the long-term market trends. Specifically, we decided to study Count's ROE in this article. ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments. Check out our latest analysis for Count The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Count is: 5.6% = AU$6.7m ÷ AU$121m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. So, this means that for every A$1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of A$0.06. So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don't share these attributes. When you first look at it, Count's ROE doesn't look that attractive. We then compared the company's ROE to the broader industry and were disappointed to see that the ROE is lower than the industry average of 12%. Therefore, it might not be wrong to say that the five year net income decline of 32% seen by Count was probably the result of it having a lower ROE. We reckon that there could also be other factors at play here. For example, it is possible that the business has allocated capital poorly or that the company has a very high payout ratio. That being said, we compared Count's performance with the industry and were concerned when we found that while the company has shrunk its earnings, the industry has grown its earnings at a rate of 4.9% in the same 5-year period. Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. It's important for an investor to know whether the market has priced in the company's expected earnings growth (or decline). By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. If you're wondering about Count's's valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry. Count's very high three-year median payout ratio of 117% over the last three years suggests that the company is paying its shareholders more than what it is earning and this explains the company's shrinking earnings. Paying a dividend beyond their means is usually not viable over the long term. You can see the 3 risks we have identified for Count by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here. In addition, Count has been paying dividends over a period of at least ten years suggesting that keeping up dividend payments is way more important to the management even if it comes at the cost of business growth. In total, we would have a hard think before deciding on any investment action concerning Count. Particularly, its ROE is a huge disappointment, not to mention its lack of proper reinvestment into the business. As a result its earnings growth has also been quite disappointing. With that said, we studied the latest analyst forecasts and found that while the company has shrunk its earnings in the past, analysts expect its earnings to grow in the future. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more. 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. Sign in to access your portfolio
