Latest news with #HolyWeek
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VINCI Autoroutes and VINCI Airports traffic in April 2025
Nanterre, 20 May 2025 VINCI Autoroutes and VINCI Airports traffic in April 2025 I- Change in VINCI Autoroutes' intercity networks trafficApril YTD at the end of April (4 months)% change 2025/2024 % change 2025/2024 VINCI Autoroutes +3.9% +2.6% Light vehicles +4.8% +2.9% Heavy vehicles -1.1% +0.9% In April, traffic across all vehicle categories rose by almost 4% : the positioning of the Easter weekend1 was favorable for light vehicle traffic (+5%), but unfavorable for heavy goods vehicle traffic (-1%).2 Overall, since the beginning of the year, traffic is up (+2.6%) for both light and heavy vehicles. 1 entirely in April this year, unlike 2024. 2 due to the Spanish public holidays preceding Holy Week. II- Change in VINCI Airports passenger traffic1April YTD at the end of April(4 months)% change 2025/2024 % change 2025/2024 VINCI Airports +9.4% +7.1% Portugal (ANA) +8.1% +4.1% United Kingdom +3.7% +2.9% France +9.9% +7.0% Serbia +11% +3.3% Hungary +20% +17% Mexico (OMA) +19% +12% United States of America +5.1% +0.4% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) -11% -12% Costa Rica +5.2% +3.2% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) +2.3% +5.8% Brazil +15% +9.4% Japan (Kansai Airports) +15% +13% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) +17% +21% Cabo Verde +22% +17% 1 Data at 100%, irrespective of percentage held, including airport passenger numbers over the full period Passenger traffic at VINCI Airports showed a marked acceleration in April (+9.4% overall), in almost all countries in the network. The acceleration was particularly strong in Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Mexico and Japan. III- Change in VINCI Airports commercial movements (ATM)2April YTD at the end of April(4 months)% change 2025/2024 % change 2025/2024 VINCI Airports +8.1% +6.8% Portugal (ANA) +5.9% +3.2% United Kingdom +2.5% +3.4% France +5.8% +4.9% Serbia +6.1% +1.5% Hungary +14% +14% Mexico (OMA) +12% +11% United States of America +36% +31% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) -14% -15% Costa Rica +5.2% +1.0% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) -2.5% +2.5% Brazil +7.6% +5.2% Japan (Kansai Airports) +11% +7.5% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) +17% +21% Cabo Verde +23% +19% 2 Data at 100%, irrespective of percentage held, including commercial movements over the full period About VINCIVINCI is a world leader in concessions, energy solutions and construction, employing 285,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCI's ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general. This press release is an official information document of the VINCI Group. PRESS CONTACTVINCI Press DepartmentTel: +33 (0)1 57 98 62 CP VINCI_trafic april 2025_20250520_VAError 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
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Hans India
A journey through Zamora's Semana Santa
I was on my way to Zamora city, the capital of Zamora province in the Castile and León region of northwest Spain- a less explored and charming part of the country. Outside, swathes of golden rape fields and emerald meadows stretched like silken tapestries, while the icy breath of a one-degree morning clung to the car windows. I was en route to witness Semana Santa—the Holy Week—in this ancient city, often called Spain's Romanesque treasure. Zamora, perched above the Duero River, is a city suspended in time. With the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe—24 dating from the 12th and 13th centuries—it's often described as a living museum of stone and faith. I checked into the Palacio del Duero, a tranquil hotel carved out of a 14th-century convent, and met my guide, Cristina, who led me through the heart of Zamora's storied past. We began at Balborraz Street, a medieval artery sloping steeply toward the river lined with picturesque low-rise houses with balconies and wooden gazebos that overlook the street. This street hosts one of the key processions of Holy Week, and the air seemed to echo with the slow, solemn steps of hooded penitents. Everywhere we walked, I found the city reflecting the mood of the Holy Week: right from Semana Santa inspired window dressings to figurines of Christ in sorrow. Traffic lights were discreetly covered so as not to disturb the sacred aesthetic during processions. The statue of the Merlú in Plaza Mayor captivated me—two bronze figures frozen in time, playing the drum and the cornet. They once roamed the city at dawn, waking the faithful for the processions. Thetradition continues even today, at 5 a.m. on Good Friday, five such pairs march through the streets, their haunting rhythms stirring souls from sleep. Cristina led me through the Romanesque mile: San Juan de Puerta Nueva, with its beautiful rose window; Santa María Magdalena, home to a mystical sepulchre and a smiling Christ, decorative elements, and stunning apse. San Isidoro, San Vicente, and Santiago del Burgo, each had its own charm. The Church of San Pedro y San Ildefonso (the Saint patron of Zamora) houses the relics of San Ildefonso and San Atilano. Here the Virgin of Beautiful Love—Virgen del Amor Hermoso, carved in wood, is adorned with real earrings donated by devotees seeking good fortune in love. She is depicted triumphing over evil, her foot crushing a devil-serpent bearing an apple in its jaws. We went past the Theatre of Ramos Carrion-a beautiful blue building; explored Viriato Square with the imposing sculpture of the Portuguese shepherd; admired the 'Stone Bridge', one of the most iconic landmarks of Zamora- a Romanesque bridge from the 12th century consisting of sixteen oval arches that elegantly span the river. The Cathedral of Zamora stood like a sentinel over the city, crowned with its unique Byzantine dome. Christoph Strieder- councillor of tourism in the town hall of Zamora, my cheerful host, received me warmly, took me around and introduced me to the local luminaries. Inside the cathedral, light filtered softly over carved choir stalls and Renaissance gates. I felt I was in a period filmset: clergymen in velvet robes and rosaries holding staffs and the brotherhood standing solemnly in penitence. Protected from the cold I sat snugly inside the church and watched as they prepared for the procession. As hundreds of people viewed through the last rays of the sun, the solemn gathering in front of the cathedral made a picture of divine spirituality. Incense permeated the air as the penitents took an oath of silence. Holding candles, they then started moving slowly and so did the Pasos, carried reverently by the brotherhood members. As I watched a stork feeding her young atop the Cathedral, with passion flowers blooming below, I knew I hadn't merely observed Semana Santa—I had lived it, in a city where faith is etched in every stone and whispered in every silence.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
From two popes to journos
WORLD Press Freedom Day came and went on May 3. Weren't we all so preoccupied with one thing or another so significant that the day passed us by? Two popes have some reminders. 'In our different roles and services, never give in to mediocrity. The church must face the challenges posed by the times. "In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history. "Saint Augustine reminds us of this when he said, 'Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times.'' – Pope Leo XIV's address to the media on May 12, 2025. Mark that word: mediocrity. Only four days into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV, 69, the first United States-born and Augustinian pope, found time to meet with members of the international media – not only to acknowledge their special coverage and backbreaking work that lasted from Holy Week to the death and funeral of Pope Francis, and then keeping vigil while the conclave to elect the new pope was going on – but, more importantly, to deliver a message so distinctly written for the media. The first words newly elected Pope Leo XIV exclaimed on the balcony facing thousands at St. Peter's Square were greetings of peace. 'Peace be to all of you,' Jesus' own words after His resurrection. The new pope's first words to members of the international media were also about peace. 'In the Sermon on the Mount,' he began, 'Jesus proclaimed: 'Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matthew 5:9). This is a Beatitude that challenges all of us, but it is particularly relevant to you, calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication ... we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.' While I was reading the full text of his address (a little more than 800 words, the length of an Inquirer column piece), I imagined him writing it himself in the dead of night, aware that he would be facing communicators, storytellers, and truth-tellers of different stripes who, like him, have come from the trenches. It was therefore not a surprise when in his second paragraph, he expressed 'the church's solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth, while also asking for their release.' I thought of 26-year-old journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been languishing in a Tacloban City detention cell for five years now, facing terrorism charges. 'The church recognises in these witnesses – I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives – the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices. "The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations, and the international community calls on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and the press.' The new pope stressed that 'communication is not only the transmission of information, it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion.' He noted the 'immense potential' of artificial intelligence, which, he said, 'nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all so that it can benefit all of humanity.' Pope Leo XIV did not miss out on Pope Francis' own message for this year's World Day of Social Communications: 'Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism, and even hatred, let us free it from aggression. "We do not need loud, forceful communication but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.' When Pope Francis honoured two veteran Vatican journalists in 2021, he gave the exhortation 'Listen, deepen, tell.' 'Your mission is to explain the world,' he said, 'to make it less dark, to make those who live there fear it less and look at others with greater awareness and also with more confidence ... "It is difficult to think, meditate, deepen, stop to collect ideas and to study the contexts and precedents of a news item. The risk, you know well, is that of letting oneself be crushed by the news instead of being able to make sense of it. 'This is why I encourage you to preserve and cultivate that sense of mission, which is at the origin of your choice. "And I do it with three verbs that I think can characterise good journalism: listen, deepen, tell.' For truth-tellers, here's one from St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D): 'The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.' I hear a leonine roar. Mabuhay si (Long live) Pope Leo XIV at si +Pope Francis! — Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (ARCO) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with ...
Release Date: May 14, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (NYSE:ARCO) reported total revenue of $1.1 billion, maintaining levels from the previous year despite challenging conditions. Digital sales accounted for almost 60% of system-wide sales in the first quarter, with notable strength in loyalty programs and mobile order and pay. The company saw a strong rebound in Argentina, contributing to a 38.7% rise in comparable sales in the SLAT division. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (NYSE:ARCO) has a robust marketing plan for the remainder of the year, which is expected to improve sales performance. The company has a strong balance sheet with an investment-grade rating from Fitch and no material debt maturities until 2029. First quarter consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $91.3 million, down from the previous year due to weaker local currencies and margin pressure in Brazil. Brazil's margin contraction was mainly due to higher food and paper costs from rising beef prices. The QSR industry in Brazil and NOLAD experienced reduced traffic, attributed to lower consumer purchasing power. The company faced significant headwinds from calendar effects, including Leap Day and Holy Week, impacting sales comparisons. There was a decline in first-quarter EBITDA margin due to higher food, paper, occupancy, and other expenses as a percentage of revenue. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with ARCO. Q: Could you comment on sales trends in the early 2nd quarter of 2025, especially in Brazil and NOLAD, under a more normalized quarter in terms of calendar effects? How much of the weak comparable sales in the first quarter is attributable to negative calendar effects versus a weaker consumption environment? A: (Marcelo Raba, CEO) In NOLAD, particularly Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica, we faced reduced traffic in the QSR industry due to calendar effects like Holy Week. However, April showed strong performance, especially in Mexico, which is a significant market for us. We see a positive outlook for NOLAD in the coming quarters. (Luisagannao, COO) In Brazil, the calendar impact was significant, but the QSR visits were down due to lower consumer purchasing power. We remained cautious with pricing, but delivery performed strongly. We expect improved performance as the year progresses. Q: How does the company see competition passing higher beef prices into prices, and when should we start seeing a recovery in margins in Brazil? A: (Mariana Tannenbaum, CFO) During the first quarter, we faced increased beef prices in Brazil, impacting margins. We expect to stabilize gross margins through pricing strategies, supplier negotiations, and revenue management initiatives. We anticipate margins for 2025 to be similar to 2024, excluding last year's payroll expense reversals and credits in Brazil. Q: What is the company's perception of recent consumption trends in Argentina, and how can we think about the region's outlook for 2025? A: (Luisagannao, COO) Argentina showed a strong rebound due to a more stable economic environment. We expect sustained growth in volumes, sales, and margins throughout the year. The market team is doing an excellent job, and we anticipate continued positive performance in Argentina and the SLAT region. Q: Can you expand on why you only expected a 10 basis points decline in the royalty expense on a consolidated basis? A: (Marcelo Raba, CEO) The new MFA with McDonald's set a 6% contract royalty rate, eliminating the growth support concept. Brazil now pays 6% of sales, while NOLAD and SLAT pay 6% instead of 7%. This results in a 10 basis points reduction in royalties, providing a small positive impact on EBITDA margins. Q: Can you talk about consumption in Brazil and whether there are signs of improvement? A: (Marcelo Raba, CEO) The leap day had a 110 basis points impact on comparable sales, and Holy Week affected Mexico significantly. While trends are improving, the consumption environment remains volatile. We focus on maintaining customer traffic and offering competitive promotions to build a sustainable business. Despite challenges, we are gaining market share and are well-positioned for future growth. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arcos Dorados Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Surpass
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.'s ARCO first-quarter 2025 earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues beat the same. On a year-over-year basis, the bottom line grew while the top line the quarter, management highlighted the impact of adverse foreign currency translation effects and macroeconomic pressures in several key markets. While revenues in constant currency grew year over year, U.S. dollar-denominated figures were dragged down by weaker local currencies, especially in Brazil and Argentina. Additionally, cautious consumer spending across Latin America limited traffic growth at its the results, the company's shares lost 5.6% during trading hours yesterday. The company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 7 cents, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 13 cents by 46.2%. In the year-ago quarter, it reported an adjusted EPS of 14 cents. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. Quote The quarterly revenues of $1.08 billion topped the consensus mark of $1.07 billion by 0.9% but declined 0.4% year over year. The performance was tempered by calendar effects such as Leap Day and Holy Week, and significantly impacted by currency depreciation in several key markets. On a constant currency basis, the quarterly revenues grew 14.1% from last year's the first quarter, the company's systemwide comparable sales grew 11.1% year over year compared with 21.5% growth reported in the prior-year quarter. The quarter's digital sales increased 6.3% year over year. During the first quarter, food and paper costs came in at $366.6 million compared with $360.9 million reported in the prior-year quarter. General and administrative expenses were up 6.8% year over year to $73.3 operating income was $45.1 million compared with $67.6 million reported in the prior-year EBITDA during the quarter came in at $91.3 million compared with $108.9 million reported in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 160 basis points (bps) year over year to 8.5%. As of March 31, 2025, Arcos Dorados had total cash and cash equivalents of $404.6 million, up from $135.1 million at financial debt as of March 31, 2025, was $1.16 billion, up from $707.6 million as of 2024-end. In the first quarter of 2025, Arcos Dorados expanded its footprint by adding 12 new Experience of the Future (EOTF) restaurants, including 10 free-standing units. By the end of March 2025, it operated a total of 1,669 EOTF restaurants, representing 68% of its overall restaurant portfolio. The company aims to ramp up its development pace throughout the year to meet its full-year target of opening 90 to 100 new locations. Arcos Dorados currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here. Domino's Pizza, Inc. DPZ reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 results with earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while revenues missed the same. The company reported adjusted EPS of $4.33, up from $3.58 reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $1.11 billion increased 2.5% on a year-over-year reported benefits from the Hungry for MORE strategy during the quarter, registering growth in market share across the U.S. and international segments. DPZ continued to manage controllable factors well despite a tough global environment. The strategy supported an increase in sales, store openings and profits. These factors are important for long-term value creation for franchisees and International, Inc. EAT reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported adjusted EPS of $2.66, up from $1.24 reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $1.43 billion increased 27.2% on a year-over-year quarterly performance benefited from strong fundamentals, leading to better guest experience and steady business growth. The ongoing increase in traffic continues to drive the company's Brands, Inc. YUM reported first-quarter 2025 results, with adjusted earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and revenues missing the same. The company reported adjusted EPS of $1.30, up from $1.15 reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $1.79 billion increased 12% on a year-over-year company's performance reflects solid contributions from the KFC and Taco Bell divisions. On the digital front, it reported meaningful progress, with digital sales nearing $9 billion and accounting for 55% of total sales. Franchisee feedback on Yum!'s proprietary digital platform, Byte by Yum!, remained positive, reinforcing the brand's strategic push toward tech-driven growth. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research 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
