Latest news with #Fortune500
Time Business News
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Decoding Consumer Behavior: Marpany's AI Advertising Analysis for 5.3x ROAS
Introduction: 'Data is useless without insight – this is where AI revolutionizes advertising.' While businesses drown in analytics, artificial intelligence is the lifeline that transforms numbers into actionable intelligence. At Marpany, we pioneer AI advertising and analysis that predicts campaign success before launch, identifies micro-trends competitors miss, and turns every dollar into measurable growth. Through proprietary machine learning models processing 2.3 million data points hourly, we deliver the predictive ad performance insights Fortune 500 brands trust. Discover how our award-winning approach moves beyond reactive reporting to proactively shape marketing strategy – and why clients like LuxeAuto achieved 40% lower CPA in 90 days. AI doesn't just optimize ads – it deciphers the why behind every click and conversion. Blind spots: 68% of customer journeys cross 3+ devices (untracked by last-click models) Lag time: Manual reports arrive 7-10 days post-campaign Surface-level: Metrics like 'impressions' reveal nothing about purchase intent Marpany's INSIGHT Engine™ forecasts outcomes with 92% accuracy by analyzing: Historical conversion patterns Seasonality trends Real-time market sentiment Example: Predicted Q4 CPG demand surge 11 days early, saving $220K in wasted spend Our NLP models scan 50K+ daily social mentions to quantify: Emotional sentiment (joy/frustration ratios) Emerging complaint themes Competitor weakness opportunities Impact: Beverage brand increased positive sentiment 37% in 6 weeks AI processes data in 3-second cycles: Ingest: Consolidates paid/organic/social/email metrics Cluster: Groups users by behavioral fingerprints Predict: Scores conversion probability per segment Our multi-touch AI attribution: Values each touchpoint by influence weight Credits offline conversions via geo-fenced campaigns Adjusts model weekly based on new patterns Results from Marpany clients: KPI Pre-AI Post-AI ROAS 2.1x 5.3x CPA $89 $52 Test Efficiency 14 days 38 mins AI detected these before human teams: 22% spike in 'sustainable packaging' searches (3 weeks pre-trend) Gen Z abandoning Instagram Reels for TikTok EDU content Price sensitivity thresholds shifting by income bracket Our solution: AI filtration: Automatically discards irrelevant 73% of data Anomaly detection: Flags statistically significant changes Automated summaries: Delivers 1-page 'executive insight' reports Marpany's Unified Data Hub: Connects 120+ platforms via API Resolves user identities across devices Complies with CCPA/GDPR through zero-party data protocols Soon: 'What-if' simulators for budget reallocations Creative fatigue prediction alerts Competitor response forecasting 2025 innovations: In-store cam analytics + mobile ad triggers Voice assistant mood detection for ad tone Smart TV viewership → retargeting flows Challenge: $1.2M monthly ad waste from misattributed conversions Marpany Solution: Deployed predictive CPA modeling Built real-time creative fatigue alerts Automated budget shifts via IBM Watson-integrated platform Results in 90 Days: 40% lower CPA 28% higher customer LTV $3.8M annualized savings CTA: Stop guessing – start predicting. Book your AI Advertising Analysis Audit and receive a free Predictive ROI Projection Report within 48 hours. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EOG Resources bets big on Ohio oil boom with $5.6 billion Encino deal
EOG Resources is making a big bet on an Ohio oil boom with the $5.6 billion acquisition of leading Buckeye State producer Encino Acquisition Partners announced May 30. EOG, ranked 169 in the Fortune 500, is considered a leading trendsetter in the world of U.S. shale oil and gas. Essentially, where EOG explores or acquires, others tend to follow. With nearly half of the nation's record-high oil production coming from the booming Permian Basin, the West Texas shale play is maturing, and leading players are looking for future avenues to churn out more oil volumes. EOG has now identified the Utica as a key position for the future. 'It's not often that a transformative event like this comes along for a company,' EOG chairman and CEO Ezra Yacob said in a call with analysts. Encino is Ohio's largest oil producer and the state's third-biggest producer of natural gas. Houston-based EOG already had established a footprint in Ohio's emerging oil window in the Utica Shale, which was previously known just for natural gas. But the Encino deal will increase EOG's Utica volumes from 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to about 275,000 barrels daily with plenty of room to grow. The deal gives EOG a third 'foundational pillar' along with the Permian and South Texas' Eagle Ford Shale, Yacob said, with the chance to transform Ohio's Utica from an emerging oil position to a true oil boom. 'The exciting thing for us is, with this transaction, we're really moving the Utica position from being an emerging asset into one that can easily scale up and handle more activity as it's become a real foundational core asset for the company,' Yacob added. EOG intends to buy Encino, including its debt in the $5.6 billion total, from parent Encino Energy and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $3.5 billion of debt and $2.1 billion in cash on hand. 'Most importantly,' Yacob said, EOG will not use any equity in the deal. EOG is known for its organic growth and exploration, rarely making big deals. EOG's last major acquisition was nine years ago for Yates Petroleum in the Permian's western Delaware Basin. 'This acquisition is more than a timely opportunity,' Yacob said. 'It represents a strategic advancement in the deliberate and methodical process that EOG has taken to study the Utica and apply our operational excellence to build a high-quality, low-cost position through a combination of organic leasing, small bolt-on acquisitions, mineral purchases, and, finally, a large transformative acquisition.' The acquisition includes Encino's 675,000 net core acres, increasing EOG's Utica position to a combined 1.1 million net acres, representing more than 2 billion barrels oil equivalent of undeveloped resources, according to EOG. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025. While the timing is unexpected amid oil pricing volatility, the deal could end up well-timed as EOG makes a big move for a 'dominant Utica position,' said Kevin MacCurdy, managing director of Pickering Energy Partners, in an analyst note. 'We expect the market will have many questions for EOG given their prior reluctance to make an acquisition, but we think this resembles the type of deal they have been looking for and could be a potential better use of cash that is sitting on the balance sheet,' MacCurdy added. The deal also potentially helps jumpstart oil and gas dealmaking again after the industry has been largely frozen in a wait-and-see mode since President Trump's tariff announcements in early April. When the timing of the deal was questions, Yacob highlighted that the acreage also gives EOG a stronger position for Utica natural gas, especially as gas demand is prepared to take off from new liquefied natural gas export facilities and the data center construction boom. 'We see significant upside on the gas play here. So, it gives us a strong option,' Yacob said. 'This is the timing that worked out for the stakeholders involved,' he said. 'We do see and recognize the near-term volatility in the oil markets. That's balanced by what we see to be a stronger momentum on that natural gas demand story in North America. We've long held that 2025 would be a bit of an inflection point for natural gas demand.' 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
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Group has an unusual new CEO pay package
In today's CEO Daily: Geoff Colvin on UnitedHealth Group's controversial CEO pay package. The big story: U.S.-China trade talks stall. The markets: Mixed in the face of tariff uncertainty. Analyst notes from UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Macquarie. Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune. Good morning. Geoff Colvin writing today. It has been quite a year for UnitedHealth Group (UHG)—and now in addition to myriad other troubles, UHG is adding a controversial CEO pay package to its plate. The giant healthcare concern has seen an unprecedented loss of value recently. UHG is America's largest healthcare company, No. 3 on the Fortune 500, but in April it reported a surprisingly terrible first-quarter performance. The stock price plunged, then kept plunging for weeks. CEO Andrew Witty resigned abruptly for unspecified personal reasons, and the board chairman, Stephen Hemsley, took over as CEO. Hemsley, who turns 73 in June, will be trying to rescue the colossus he helped build as CEO from 2006 to 2017. While investors might have expected he would hold the job only until a new CEO is found, Hemsley and the board have other ideas. The highly unusual pay package they created for him shows how. He will get a base salary of $1 million a year—big money but actually below the usual salary for CEOs of such large companies. More importantly, he would get a one-time $60 million grant of stock options, with a twist: He would get the payoff only if he remains CEO for three years. He would get no other stock-based awards in that period. Shareholders will get to vote on that unconventional pay plan at UHG's June 2 annual meeting. Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), the largest firm that advises major shareholders on how to vote, advises they vote No. They cite a lack of performance criteria and the fact that the stock is so beaten down he might get a windfall for a mere share price rebound. UHG struck back, sending shareholders an explanation of what ISS allegedly missed and why they should vote for Hemsley's pay package. Bottom line, Hemsley and UHG will probably get the pay package they negotiated. ISS's recommendations are taken seriously, but shareholders usually vote in favor of management. Even if UHG loses the vote, which companies must hold by law, the result is non-binding and advisory only; the board of directors could simply ignore the shareholders' wishes. In addition, UHG notes that ISS's main competitor, Glass Lewis, is recommending shareholders vote in favor of Hemsley's pay package. Regardless of the outcome, the contested vote will be significant. It will raise the already high stakes for UHG, its directors, and for Hemsley. More news CEO Daily via Diane Brady at 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
Business Journals
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Truist commercial banking leader talks about what's driving growth in Columbus
Columbus is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., defying broader economic headwinds and emerging as a hub for innovation, logistics, and workforce talent. The region is projected to add more than 700,000 residents by 2050, with a diverse economy — anchored by sectors like health care, construction and advanced manufacturing — fueling that momentum. At the heart of this growth is a vibrant business community. Doug Muszynski, Central Ohio market president at Truist and 36-year Columbus resident, has witnessed the city's evolution and has a front-row seat to today's forward momentum. Since taking the reins in 2023, Muszynski has significantly grown Truist's Commercial Banking team in Central Ohio to serve as a strategic partner to businesses navigating both opportunity and complexity across the region. In this Q&A, Muszynski shares what makes Columbus a destination for investment, how Truist shows up differently for its clients and why now is a pivotal moment for the region. expand Columbus has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. What factors do you believe contribute to this exceptional growth? Doug Muszynski: Columbus benefits from a rare combination of assets. It starts with geography — our central location makes us a natural logistics hub, especially as supply chains continue to shift. We've also seen catalytic investments by Fortune 500 companies in recent years as they select Columbus for major battery plants and semiconductor facilities, which are drawing new businesses and talent to the region. Add to that our strong higher ed presence — Ohio State University and others are fueling research and workforce pipelines — and it creates a compelling environment for innovation and long-term growth. With that growth comes growing pains. What are some of the challenges local businesses are facing today? Muszynski: The current economic environment has brought uncertainty for local owners who are weighing the potential impacts of tariffs, reduced government spending and other factors on their business. Today, costs from materials and labor to transportation remain volatile and middle market companies in particular, are feeling the squeeze. Inflation has also changed the game for a lot of businesses and it's forced them to rethink everything from pricing models to expansion strategies. That's where I see Truist stepping in — not just as a lender, but as a strategic advisor to help our clients navigate the changing landscape. How are Columbus' business leaders responding to those challenges? Muszynski: Automating rote tasks is front and center as companies aim to unlock time for employees to focus on strategic, long-term initiatives that drive growth. What's exciting is how Columbus is positioned to lead on this front. Our proximity to Ohio State University's innovation ecosystem is a huge advantage —companies have access to R&D talent and emerging tech that helps them stay competitive. I'm having more and more conversations about how to finance this type of change and make sure it aligns with business goals. As local companies look to scale, how should their leaders lean on their banking partners and what can they expect? Muszynski: What sets us apart at Truist is our ability to meet clients wherever they are in their growth journey. We have deep industry expertise across sectors like building products, health care and food and beverage, and we bring tailored solutions to the table — from customized capital structures to cash flow optimization. But beyond the products, we focus on relationships. We take the time to understand our clients' businesses, their goals and their challenges. That allows us to show up not just with capital, but with insights and care. And in a market like Columbus, where things are moving quickly, that kind of partnership matters. Why Columbus, why now Columbus isn't just growing — it's evolving. With its mix of infrastructure investment, innovation and community spirit, the region is becoming a model for balanced growth. Truist is proud to be part of that story, helping local businesses scale with purpose and resilience. This isn't just a moment of growth — it's a moment of transformation, and Truist is here to help shape what comes next.
Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Skyfire & Cequence enable secure digital access for AI agents
Skyfire and Cequence Security have announced a partnership aimed at enabling secure, compliant access to digital services for autonomous AI agents. The partnership focuses on integrating Cequence Security's API security and bot management capabilities with Skyfire's payment and identity network, which has been developed specifically for the AI agent economy. Cequence Security reports that it currently secures over 8 billion API interactions daily and protects more than 3 billion user accounts across numerous Fortune 500 and global enterprises. Its existing systems distinguish between malicious and benign bots. With the addition of Skyfire's technology, Cequence's platforms can now identify Skyfire-verified AI agents as trusted automation. The growing role of AI agents as consumers of online services is presenting challenges for both access and security. Many digital platforms require credentials, identity verification, and payment authorisation, which tend to presume the presence of a human user. Without these, AI agents are often blocked from engaging with such services. Skyfire addresses this limitation by providing infrastructure that allows AI agents to present verified credentials and payment methods programmatically. This allows digital services—ranging from paywalled websites to private APIs—to be accessed autonomously and securely, using peer-to-peer connections similar to those used by human users. Cequence's support for the Skyfire identity and payment protocol enables security teams to recognise and authorise verified AI agents while continuing to block untrusted automation that may be associated with scraping, fraud or abuse. Amir Sarhangi, CEO and co-founder of Skyfire, commented, "AI agents aren't just scraping the surface of the web anymore. They're transacting, subscribing, booking, and buying. But they've been locked out by security measures that assume every brand engagement is coming from a user who has fingers and a keyboard. Through our partnership with Cequence, we're enabling an internet where agents are first-class participants in the digital economy, and where identity and security protocols work with them, not against them." Skyfire's protocol assigns AI agents programmable wallets, which can be funded through various sources, including payment cards, ACH, wire transfers, or USDC. These wallets are integrated with identity credentials and payment rules, making them suitable for enterprise use. Cequence Security's bot management platform evaluates a range of behavioural and contextual signals—including new Skyfire-issued identifiers—to enhance trust in automated interactions with business services. The organisations say that this combination addresses the challenge of AI agents accessing valuable digital content behind login walls, anti-bot systems, or compliance requirements that previously blocked non-human users. Securing APIs is evolving beyond simply blocking attacks; there is increased demand to distinguish and enable trusted forms of automation without compromising performance or customer experience. Cequence Security's platform is described as combining API visibility with native enforcement. This approach allows teams to detect abnormal behaviour, interpret intent, and enforce access controls without requiring modifications to their existing applications or deploying additional third-party tools. Where other security approaches may rely on JavaScript, SDKs, or basic risk scores, Cequence employs context-aware detection grounded in traffic patterns and adaptive machine learning to remain ahead of automated threats, while now also authorising verified AI agents. Ameya Talwalkar, CEO of Cequence, said, "Security should never be a barrier to business. Our mission has always been to protect the internet without slowing innovation, and that includes AI agents. With Skyfire, we now have a shared framework to verify and trust additional non-human users at the edge. This unlocks a new era where businesses can safely serve AI agents the same way they serve human users, securely, seamlessly, and at scale." Through this integration, both companies aim to support the emerging needs of the AI agent economy by providing secure, autonomous access to digital services while maintaining compliance and protection against fraud.
