Latest news with #Maximus
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
US firm that tests eligibility for UK disability benefits pays out £10m in dividends
A US contractor that profits from testing whether some people in the UK should receive disability benefits has paid out £10m in dividends to its investors. Maximus, a Virginia-based business, reported a 23% rise in pre-tax profit for its UK arm, from £23.6m to £29.1m, in its financial year to the end of September. Its revenue rose 2%, from £294m to £300m. The company is the biggest provider of functional assessment services, or FAS, for the Department for Work and Pensions. These tests determine a person's level of function and ability to perform everyday tasks. The UK arm of the business paid out £10m in dividends to investors, equivalent to £10,000 per ordinary share, according to accounts filed at Companies House. The company also paid out £10m in dividends to its investors in the 2023 financial year. Maximus secured a five-year contract from the government in 2023 to provide functional assessment services, at an estimated value of £800m over the period, with the option to extend for a further two years. In a green paper published in March, the Department for Work and Pensions said experiences of assessments for the personal independence payment (Pip) were 'not always positive'. The national disability charity Sense said 'nobody should be rewarded for treating disabled people with disrespect'. Tom Marsland, of the charity, said: 'Sense's research found that half of disabled people with complex needs who've been through a benefits assessment found it humiliating, and almost half didn't get the right communication support to properly demonstrate why they need support. 'These statistics are shocking and show a deep-rooted problem with the current assessment process. 'We would like to see the government introduce clear standards to ensure benefits assessments are fair and accessible for disabled people, with no one left feeling like a criminal simply for trying to access the support they need,' he said. 'There should also be financial penalties for assessment providers who fail to provide the right communication support and accessibility measures.' The government is planning to reduce eligibility for Pip and the health component of universal credit. As a result, official figures suggest that 3.2 million people could lose an average of £1,720 a year and 250,000 people could be pushed into relative poverty. Maximus UK is part of a bigger US organisation that is listed in New York with a market value of $4.2bn (£3.1bn). Shares in the business, which also provides administration and services for US programmes such as Medicaid and Medicare, have dropped 12% in the past year. Bruce Caswell, the chief executive of Maximus, was paid a base salary of $886,904 in 2024, with stock awards, incentive plans and other compensation taking his total package to $10.2m. Maximus declined to comment. The government was approached for comment.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Freddie Freeman, wife Chelsea make big donation to OC hospital that treated their son
ORANGE, Calif. - Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and his wife Chelsea are making a big donation to the Orange County hospital that treated their son Maximus when he became suddenly ill last year. The Freemans have announced that they're donating $1 million to Children's Hospital Orange County, after being inspired by the doctors' care for their son. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Freddie Freeman reveals his 3-year-old son Max is battling rare neurological disorder The backstory The couple's 3-year-old son, Maximus, was hospitalized at Children's Hospital Orange County last July after suffering from paralysis. At the time, Chelsea Freeman said Maximus was unable to walk, sit or stand for days, and had difficulty breathing. Doctors eventually put Maximus on a ventilator. Freeman took time away from the Dodgers to be with his family while Maximus was in the hospital. Doctors diagnosed Maximus with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can result in paralysis. They treated the 3-year-old for days, and Maximus was eventually able to have the ventilator removed and go home with his family. What they're saying Freddie Freeman said that the family's time in the hospital moved them. He told ESPN's Jeff Passan that "Seeing every room full in the PICU each and every day impacted Chelsea and I deeply," adding that doctors "saved Maximus' life." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Freddie Freeman in tears discussing 3-year-old son's battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome On his Instagram story on Wednesday, the Dodger first baseman said simply "Thank you for everything," then tagged the hospital's account. Months later, the Dodgers went on to win the franchise's eighth World Series title. Freeman was named World Series MVP. The Source Information in this story is from Freddie Freeman's Instagram page, Chelsea Freeman's X account, and an X post from ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Tears at Littermates' Reaction to Meeting After Being Separated As Puppies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A throwback video of a touching reunion between two dogs has melted hearts online in a now-viral clip. Bullmastiff dogs Maximus and Morpheus were separated in 2021 when Maximus was adopted by Hilary Calton and her family in Denver, Colorado. But two months later, they were reunited, in an adorable moment caught on camera. As they are reunited, Maximus and Morpheus start to sniff before a clear rush of recognition. Their tails wag and playtime begins, proof of their adorable bond. "We adopted Maximus in January 2021 and Morpheus a few weeks later," Calton told Newsweek. "After bringing Maximus home and having the best experience with him, we found out his brother—the last of the litter—was available. We just knew in our hearts he was meant to be ours too." What followed was a snowy adventure: Calton's husband drove through a blizzard to bring Morpheus home. The video captured the first meeting between the siblings since their separation—what Calton calls a "nose magnet" moment of instant connection. "Their noses touched, they circled each other, then just walked off together and played for hours," she said. "They ended the day snuggled up in a puppy pile." Pictures from 2021 of the moment the puppies remember each other. Pictures from 2021 of the moment the puppies remember each other. @maximusandmorpheusbb/TikTok Since that day, the pair have been inseparable. They sleep, eat, and even bathe together. Despite their connection, the duo have their own personalities. Maximus is described as the adventurous outdoorsman, while Morpheus prefers mall strolls and human company. The reunion has gained over 5 million views on TikTok as people delighted in seeing the pair reunited, and now four years later their antics are shared across their own TikTok and Instagram accounts. "What a beautiful reunion," said viewer Kealey. While TikToker Judy said: "His face.. he knew." Do Dogs From the Same Litter Remember Each Other? Whether dogs remember each other from the same litter depends on their early development. Littermates that remain together or regularly see each other during the first 12 to 16 weeks of life are much more likely to recognize each other even years later. If siblings are separated before around 16 weeks, they are much less likely to recognize each other if reunited later. A study published in 1994 by researchers at The Queen's University of Belfast used scent-based tests to determine whether dogs recognized their mother or siblings two years after leaving the litter. They found that by the age of two, dogs could only recognize a sibling they lived with—not any of their other siblings. But they could recognize their mothers after two years apart, and mothers recognized their puppies too. Calton hopes their story continues to challenge misconceptions about guardian breeds like the bullmastiff, showing the sweet, playful, and loyal sides of these gentle giants. "We love showing people how these breeds can be protective, but also so full of love," she said. "Their personalities are unique, and their bond is a joy to witness every single day."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maximus (MMS): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q1 Earnings?
Over the last six months, Maximus's shares have sunk to $75.01, producing a disappointing 5.3% loss while the S&P 500 was flat. This might have investors contemplating their next move. Is now the time to buy Maximus, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Dive into our full research report to see our analyst team's opinion, it's free. Even with the cheaper entry price, we're cautious about Maximus. Here are three reasons why there are better opportunities than MMS and a stock we'd rather own. Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company's potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Maximus's revenue to stall, a deceleration versus its 6.5% annualized growth for the past two years. This projection is underwhelming and suggests its products and services will see some demand headwinds. If you've followed StockStory for a while, you know we emphasize free cash flow. Why, you ask? We believe that in the end, cash is king, and you can't use accounting profits to pay the bills. As you can see below, Maximus's margin dropped by 5.9 percentage points over the last five years. If its declines continue, it could signal increasing investment needs and capital intensity. Maximus's free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was 4.1%. A company's ROIC, or return on invested capital, shows how much operating profit it makes compared to the money it has raised (debt and equity). We like to invest in businesses with high returns, but the trend in a company's ROIC is what often surprises the market and moves the stock price. On average, Maximus's ROIC decreased by 2.9 percentage points annually over the last few years. Paired with its already low returns, these declines suggest its profitable growth opportunities are few and far between. Maximus's business quality ultimately falls short of our standards. After the recent drawdown, the stock trades at 11.7× forward P/E (or $75.01 per share). This valuation multiple is fair, but we don't have much faith in the company. We're fairly confident there are better stocks to buy right now. Let us point you toward one of our all-time favorite software stocks. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. 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
Geek Tyrant
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
FALLOUT's Maximus Actor Says the Show Has a Season 5 or 6 Finish Line — GeekTyrant
Amazon's Fallout series may have only just wrapped filming on Season 2, but it turns out the creative team already knows exactly where this wasteland journey is heading. Actor Aaron Moten, who plays Maximus, a Brotherhood of Steel initiate with a complicated path, recently dropped some insight saying that the show's endpoint is already locked, and we might be in it for the long haul. Moten revealed during a panel at Comic Con Liverpool: 'When I signed on to do the series, we would have a starting point and they gave me the endpoint, and that endpoint hasn't changed. But it is Season 5, 6 type of endpoint. We've always known that we were gonna take our time with the development of the characters.' It's an exciting and ambitious roadmap, especially considering how well Season 1 was received. Amazon's adaptation of the beloved Bethesda game franchise exploded in popularity with its debut, winning over longtime fans and newcomers alike. The post-apocalyptic world, amusing satire, and interesting character arcs all struck a chord. With Season 2 already in the can, it seems like Amazon is betting big on the show's momentum. That said, five or six seasons is a tall order in today's streaming world. A lot will ride on whether the audience sticks around and whether Amazon keeps seeing Fallout as a core part of its original programming slate. But based on the energy around the series, it certainly feels like it's got the juice to go the distance. As for what's next, Season 2 will take us to New Vegas. The show is heading straight into one of the most iconic locations in Fallout lore. Set leaks have already shown glimpses of the glittering Lucky 38 casino. We also know Mr. House is in the mix, though his exact role remains a mystery. Season 2 currently doesn't have a premiere date, but it's expected to drop in the first half of 2026. Production was delayed due to the LA fires, but filming has officially wrapped. Walton Goggins even marked the occasion by peeling off his Ghoul prosthetics. Goggins also shared his excitement for what's coming next, saying: 'I can tell you, being a big fan of the first season, that I'm so proud of – I'm not talking about my work, but all of the work that so many artists kind of put into that, like all the love that went into that. 'This is a whole 'nother level. I wasn't prepared for where the story was gonna go and, uh, and how fully fleshed out on the other side of introducing this world to people. 'Now it is so lived in as if it's been there for two hundred years. It's really quite something. I can't wait for people to see it.' If the creative team can keep this energy going, and the wasteland continues to expand in bold and unexpected ways, Fallout might just have what it takes to see its long-term vision come to life. Are you ready to go all the way to the end of the road with Maximus, Lucy, The Ghoul, and this irradiated world of secrets? Via: IGN
