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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What to Expect From CDW's Next Quarterly Earnings Report
Valued at a market cap of $23.6 billion, CDW Corporation (CDW) is a leading provider of technology products and solutions tailored for business, government, education, and healthcare clients across the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Illinois, the Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company distributes over 100,000 products and services from more than 1,000 brands, including PCs, servers, networking equipment, storage, and software. The tech company is expected to release its Q2 2025 earnings before the market opens on Wednesday, July 30. Ahead of this event, analysts project CDW to report earnings of $2.38 per share, which represents a 1.7% growth from $2.34 in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in two of the past four quarters while missing on two other occasions. More News from Barchart Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Earns $93,150 Every Hour from Coca-Cola Dividends Alone OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Calls DeepSeek's Bluff: 'I Don't Think They Figured Out Something Way More Efficient' These Are the Highest Yielding Dividend Aristocrats Today (Entire List) Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast CDW to report an EPS of $9.31, marking a marginal increase from $9.24 reported in fiscal 2024. Moreover, in fiscal 2026, its earnings are expected to grow 6% year-over-year to $9.87 per share. Shares of CDW have declined 23.2% over the past 52 weeks, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 13.6% gain and the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLK) 16.3% return during the same period. On May 7, CDW shares surged 7.1% after the company reported strong Q1 earnings. Net sales climbed 6.7% year-over-year to $5.2 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations, fueled by robust demand for mobile devices, desktops, software, and services. The company's adjusted operating margin improved to 8.5% from 8.3% a year ago, contributing to a 10% increase in adjusted operating income to $444 million. Additionally, adjusted EPS rose 11.9% year-over-year to $2.15, topping analyst forecasts. Analysts' consensus view on CDW is moderately optimistic, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 11 analysts covering the stock, opinions include five "Strong Buys," two "Moderate Buys," and four "Holds.' Its mean price target of $208 suggests a 15.8% upside potential from current price levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published 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
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Who did this guy become?' This creator quit his job and lost his TikTok audience
If you've built an audience around documenting your 9-to-5 online, what happens after you hand in your notice? This new tax deduction in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' lets people cash in on charitable donations up to $2,000. Here's what to know These are the 3 best questions to ask at the end of your job interview Ikea is launching new smart home products, and they're designed to be extra easy to use That's the conundrum facing Connor Hubbard, aka ' a creator who amassed a huge following by sharing the mundane details of his corporate life as a senior analyst at a Fortune 500 company. In April 2024, The Guardian dubbed him 'the most boring man on the internet,' with some of his most popular videos showing viewers his lunch breaks and daily 9-to-5 routine. The internet couldn't get enough. 'It just seemed to get a lot of traction, because I think most of the world is working,' he told GQ in an interview. 'They have to work for a living. They can't all be influencers.' Then he quit. Not for another job, but to become a full-time influencer. Clips from a recent livestream began circulating after Hubbard told viewers he wouldn't answer questions unless they sent him a 'Galaxy,' a TikTok gift that costs 1,000 coins, or about $13. Unsurprisingly, this didn't go over well with fans. 'We need studies on the downfall of Hubs Life,' one TikTok user posted. 'Who did this guy become?' Hubbard has fallen into the relatability trap—one that often trips up influencers who go viral by sharing their ordinary lives. As their follower count grows, their lifestyle—as well as their content—inevitably shifts. Maybe it's a bigger house, more lavish brand trips, or, in Hubbard's case, quitting the job that made him famous in the first place. Suddenly, the content no longer reflects what drew the audience in. 'He left his 6-figure job FOR THIS,' one person commented. 'This storyline would be a good Black Mirror episode,' another added. (Fast Company has reached out to Hubbard for comment.) For audiences, watching their favorite influencers change in real time can feel disheartening—sometimes even like a betrayal. The backlash can be swift and harsh, or fans simply lose interest and move on. 'Hubs Life assumed people loved him, not the content,' another TikTok user observed. The internet is rarely forgiving, especially when followers feel responsible for someone's rise. It's a lesson Hubbard is learning the hard way. As one particularly brutal comment put it: 'We made the wrong person famous.' This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter: 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
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nordstrom hires Dollar General's turnaround CFO behind stock surge
Good morning. Kelly Dilts turned heads by steering Dollar General through massive operational shifts and soaring stock gains—now she's set to bring her playbook from deep discounts to the deep pockets of the luxury world of Nordstrom. Dilts resigned from her role of EVP and CFO at Dollar General (No. 112 on the Fortune 500) on July 11, and her final day is Aug. 28, according to an SEC filing. The company has begun a search for her successor. Dollar General declined to provide additional comments. On Aug. 29, Dilts will join Nordstrom, Inc. (No. 291) as CFO, the retailer announced on Thursday. Dilts became CFO at Dollar General in May 2023. She joined the company in July 2019 as SVP of finance, where she oversaw financial planning, procurement, margin planning, decision science and analytics, and investor relations. Previously, she served as EVP and CFO at Francesca's Holding Corp. and held senior finance roles at other major retailers. With nearly three decades of financial leadership experience, Dilts was praised by Nordstrom co-CEO Erik Nordstrom in a statement, calling her a leader with 'a proven track record of driving strong results at large-scale omnichannel retailers.' He expressed confidence in her ability to help strengthen the business. As of late May 2025, Nordstrom is no longer a publicly traded company, having completed its transition to private ownership under the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool. In Thursday's announcement, Dilts said, 'Nordstrom is a company with a strong legacy, a clear sense of purpose, and a deep commitment to its customers, employees, and brand partners. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to build on that foundation.' Dilts succeeds Cathy Smith, who left Nordstrom in March to join Starbucks as CFO. Shrinking 'shrink' Dollar General has faced notable challenges, responding to shifting consumer needs, regulatory pressures, and competitive headwinds, along with CEO transitions. In a December 2023 earnings call, Dilts said that 'shrink'—an industry term referring primarily to theft—'has been pretty significant for us for a while, and it's definitely going to carry into 2024.' She has credited improvements in this area to the company's Back-to-Basics strategy. Notably, Dollar General used AI to analyze self-checkout purchases, identify stores with the highest levels of theft and mis-scanned items. That determined the company's decision, led by CEO Todd Vasos, to eliminate the option of self-checkout in the vast majority of its stores. In Q1 2025, Dollar General's gross profit as a percentage of sales rose to 31%, up by 78 basis points, a gain Dilts attributed to reduced shrink and higher inventory markups. 'Our shrink mitigation efforts have continued to drive positive results, including a year-over-year improvement of 61 basis points in the first quarter,' she said on the June 3 earnings call. A top-performing retail stock Amid tariffs and inflation, Dollar General and other discount retailers have attracted more middle- and higher-income shoppers. After strong Q1 results, Dollar General raised its full-year guidance. DG stands out as the leading consumer/retail stock and one of the biggest movers since the market's February high. DG's share price increased from about $74 in mid-February to more than $113 by mid-July, a gain of over 50%. It is especially noteworthy as the leading gainer among major retailers and a driving force behind the S&P 500's latest rally. For the rest of the year, Morningstar equity analyst Dan Su expects Dollar General to remain attentive to tariffs, given that about 20% of sales are from imports. Su told me that the company has done a 'solid job' in attracting new shoppers, and he anticipates continued investments in merchandising, store renovations, and labor to sustain same-store sales growth. As Dilts moves on to Nordstrom, she will have the opportunity to once again execute a transformative strategy at another major retailer. Have a good weekend. Sheryl 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
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Why Belief Might Be Your Team's Most Underrated Performance Tool
David Meade is one of the world's leading keynote speakers, trusted by Fortune 500 brands to inspire their people. I've spent the past decade traveling the world, delivering more than 150 keynotes a year to some of the world's most ambitious, high-performing organizations. I've shared stages with global leaders, heard the unfiltered doubts of frontline teams and witnessed the epidemic sweeping modern workplaces. It's not burnout. It's not skill gaps. It's belief. More precisely, belief's slow—yet unmistakable—erosion. At a time when everything feels in flux (economies, technologies, patterns of work), teams are increasingly tempted to think smaller, to hedge their bets and expect less. But here's what I've come to realize about high performance: Our belief about what's possible is often more influential than what's actually possible. Now, before you mistake this for motivational fluff, let me reassure you: I'm not asking you to chant affirmations in front of a mirror or hug a tree. This is real science. And some of the most fascinating research I've encountered lately sits at the convergence of performance psychology and something we usually associate with medicine: the placebo effect. Belief Is The Real Drug Let's start with a wild one. In a Minnesota clinical trial testing antidepressants, a participant overdosed on what he believed was the active drug. He collapsed with all the classic symptoms (low blood pressure, vomiting) and required hospitalization. The medical team treated him aggressively for four hours until they called the trial organizer. That's when they discovered something remarkable. The patient had been taking sugar pills. The moment he was told this, his symptoms vanished almost instantly. That's the nocebo effect—the evil twin of the placebo. Both share one thing: the extraordinary power of belief to influence biology. And it doesn't stop at the hospital doors. Designer Sunglasses, Real Results In another study, participants were given identical sunglasses but told they were either high-end or budget-brand versions. Then they were asked to read aloud under bright sunlight. Those who believed they were wearing the premium brand read faster and made fewer errors. They didn't just 'think', 'feel', or 'believe' they were performing better; they were demonstrating marked and measurable improvement. Their belief changed their posture, focus and engagement. All without a single change to the product. It's a tidy metaphor for performance in your workplace. What if your team's 'tools' haven't changed, but their belief in those tools or themselves has? Sing Like You Mean It Harvard Business School ran one of my favorite studies of all time using the world's most scientifically terrifying task: karaoke. Participants were divided into three groups before being asked to sing Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'.' Before gracing the stage, one group was told to recite repeatedly 'I'm nervous,' another said 'I'm excited,' and a separate control group said nothing. All experienced the same physiological symptoms—racing heart, clammy palms—but the 'I'm excited' group outperformed everyone else, scoring 81% on vocal accuracy compared to just 69% in the 'I'm nervous' group. Same person. Same day. Same circumstances. Different belief. Better performance. This has nothing to do with karaoke and everything to do with reappraising anxiety as energy. It's a trick I now use myself before going on stage. That heart-thumping feeling before a big audience? I don't fight it. I frame it. The Batman Effect Is Real The placebo effect isn't just about pills. It's about adopting mindsets that give us permission to level up. Take the 'Batman Effect,' where kids imagining themselves as someone brave (like Batman) persist longer and perform better when tested. Adults need the same trick. In one study, adults in flight simulators were told to act like professional pilots. Those who took the role seriously actually performed better on vision tests afterward. Their eyesight didn't improve. Their belief did. Here's a fun corporate exercise: Ask your team, 'How would the best in our industry handle this?' What would Serena do? What would Tesla's product team do? What would Batman do? They don't need a mask and a cape. They need a task and a belief. Expectations Shape Outcomes Consider the Pygmalion Effect. Teachers were told certain students (chosen at random) were gifted. Those supposedly virtuosic students later outperformed their peers, not because they were smarter, but because they were treated like they were. This is why leaders must marshall their own emotional leakage on a journey to high performance. Saying, 'Let's manage expectations. It's a tough year,' may feel honest. But what your team hears is permission to underperform. You've handed out a psychological pass to fall short. And performance, like belief, trickles down. Frame Belief Carefully Let's be clear: This isn't about toxic positivity. I'm not suggesting we celebrate saving on heating bills while our house is burning down. That's demoralizing. What I'm advocating is intentional framing. So, instead of shielding your team from challenges, reframe them. 'This client feedback stings, but it's insight we'd never get otherwise.' 'This quarter was brutal, but it has exposed exactly where we need to focus.' My Own Placebo Moment Years ago, in my twenties, I decided I wanted a TV show. With no broadcast experience, I told my mum I was going to pitch one to the BBC. She said, 'Oh no, what if they say no?' I didn't reply, but I remember thinking, 'Yeah, but what if they say yes?' I pulled together a team, pitched the idea, and five weeks later, the BBC commissioned the show. It ran for several seasons and changed the trajectory of my career. The only difference between yes and no was belief. I nearly didn't do it. I nearly let someone else's worry become my truth. Lead Like A Placebo In the most uncertain of times, your job isn't to predict the future. It's to shape what people believe is possible within it. So, here's your placebo checklist: • Model belief. Your team needs to see confidence, not just hear it. • Share progress. Tell stories of people succeeding under pressure. It becomes contagious. • Reframe the narrative. Especially when things go sideways. • Don't fake it, focus it. Direct energy toward what can be learned, gained or grown. Ultimately, the total effect of anything—your leadership, your performance, your outcomes—is a combination of what you do and what you believe about what you're doing. And that, my friends, is the science of belief. Placebo or not, it works. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘Who did this guy become?' This creator quit his job and lost his TikTok audience
If you've built an audience around documenting your 9-to-5 online, what happens after you hand in your notice? That's the conundrum facing Connor Hubbard, aka ' a creator who amassed a huge following by sharing the mundane details of his corporate life as a senior analyst at a Fortune 500 company. In April 2024, The Guardian dubbed him 'the most boring man on the internet,' with some of his most popular videos showing viewers his lunch breaks and daily 9-to-5 routine. The internet couldn't get enough. 'It just seemed to get a lot of traction,' he told GQ in an interview, 'because I think most of the world is working. They have to work for a living. They can't all be influencers.' Then he quit. Not for another job, but to become a full-time influencer. Clips from a recent livestream began circulating after Hubbard told viewers he wouldn't answer questions unless they sent him a 'Galaxy,' a TikTok gift that costs 1,000 coins, or about $13. Unsurprisingly, it didn't go over well with fans. 'We need studies on the downfall of Hubs Life,' one TikTok user posted. 'Who did this guy become?' Hubbard has fallen into the relatability trap—one that often trips up influencers who go viral by sharing their ordinary lives. As their follower count grows, their lifestyle—and content—inevitably shifts. Maybe it's a bigger house, more lavish brand trips, or, in Hubbard's case, quitting the job that made him famous in the first place. Suddenly, the content no longer reflects what drew the audience in. 'He left his 6 figure job FOR THIS,' one person commented. 'This storyline would be a good black mirror episode,' another added. (Fast Company has reached out to Hubbard for comment.) For audiences, watching their favorite influencers change in real time can feel disheartening—sometimes even like a betrayal. The backlash can be swift and harsh, or fans simply lose interest and move on. 'Hubs Life assumed people loved him not the content,' another TikTok user observed. The internet is rarely forgiving, especially when followers feel responsible for someone's rise. It's a lesson Hubbard is learning the hard way. As one particularly brutal comment put it: 'We made the wrong person famous.'
