Latest news with #PaulBowers
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exelon (NasdaqGS:EXC) Declares US$0.40 Dividend And Appoints New Independent Board Chair
Exelon recently announced a regular dividend of $0.40 per share and appointed W. Paul Bowers as the new Independent Board Chair. These events coincide with an 18% price move in the last quarter. In contrast to a broad market decline amid weak GDP reports and a shift in executive roles across several firms, Exelon's consistent earnings growth and stable dividend may have provided some level of investor confidence. The share appreciation appears consistent with broader market trends, as the market had rallied before a recent downturn, suggesting these developments might have supplemented broader movements. We've identified 2 possible red flags with Exelon (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored) and understanding the impact should be part of your investment process. Diversify your portfolio with solid dividend payers offering reliable income streams to weather potential market turbulence. The recent news of Exelon's regular dividend announcement and leadership change could positively influence investor sentiment, potentially reinforcing the narrative of stable governance and continued earnings growth. With Exelon preparing for substantial energy transformation investments, these developments might bolster confidence in the company's ability to sustain its payout while strategically expanding its transmission capabilities. The commitment to investing US$38 billion from 2025 to 2028 aims to drive revenue and improve earnings potential, aligning with existing forecasts of a 5% to 7% annual earnings increase through 2028. Over a five-year period, Exelon has delivered a total return of 119.34%, a testament to its capacity for creating shareholder value. This long-term performance provides context to the company's current state, indicating a strong track record of growth and capital appreciation. In comparison, Exelon's one-year performance has outpaced the broader US Electric Utilities industry, which returned 15.8%, further exemplifying its recent momentum. Despite recent fluctuations and a current share price of US$47.37, Exelon's stock remains close to the analysts' consensus price target of US$45.97. This minimal difference suggests that the market perceives Exelon to be fairly valued according to projections. With revenue expected to grow at 3.4% annually, slightly lagging the US market's 8.2% growth rate, and earnings forecasted to reach US$3.1 billion by 2028, the company appears positioned for moderate, steady growth. The future revenue growth, supported by favorable regulatory conditions and significant project wins, looks poised to strengthen Exelon's operational and financial outlook amid potential external challenges. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Exelon stock in this financial health report. This 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. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:EXC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Majority of attempts to ban books in US come from organised groups not parents
A large majority of attempts to ban books in the US last year came from organised groups rather than parents. 72% of demands to censor books were initiated by pressure groups, government entities and elected officials, board members and administrators, reported the American Library Association (ALA). Just 16% of ban attempts were made by parents, while 5% were brought forward by individual library users. 'These demands to remove and restrict books and other library materials are not the result of any grassroots or popular sentiment,' read the ALA's 2025 State of America's Libraries report, published on Monday. 'The majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from well-funded, organised groups and movements long dedicated to curbing access to information and ideas.' Many of the organisations leading the book censorship movement are so-called 'parental rights' groups – most prominently Moms for Liberty. This group has strong ties to the Republican Party and has been labelled 'extremist'. 'They aren't always moms, they don't always have kids, and they definitely don't care about 'liberty' for everyone else,' wrote the American Civil Liberties Union's Paul Bowers in late 2023. The share of censorship attempts made by organised campaigns has risen drastically in recent years. Between 2001 and 2020, pressure groups, board members, administrators and elected officials challenged an average of 46 titles per year. In 2024, these groups challenged 4,190 titles. The most common reasons for challenges were claims of obscenity, the inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes or characters, and the discussion of race, racism and social justice. 'The movement to ban books is not a movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read,' said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's office for intellectual freedom. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion In its report, the ALA also published a list of the 10 most challenged books of 2024, which included books by Toni Morrison and John Green. The most-challenged book was All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir Manifesto by George M Johnson, about the author's experience as a queer Black man growing up in New Jersey and Virginia. Last August, Moms for Liberty filed a petition to a court in New York seeking an injunction to remove All Boys Aren't Blue from a school library. The book 'contains numerous profanities and lewd content' and 'several instances of pornography including sexual molestation', read the petition. The second most-challenged title was Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, while the tied third most-challenged were The Bluest Eye by Morrison and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Other books on the top 10 list include Looking for Alaska by Green, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews and Sold by Patricia McCormick. The number of attempts to censor library books and other materials fell between 2023 and 2024, from 1,247 to 821, resulting in a fall in the total number of books challenged from 9,021 to 5,813. The ALA said that the fall in documented censorship could be due to under-reporting or cases of 'censorship by exclusion' which occurs when, for example, library workers place books in less accessible areas of the library due to fear of controversy. Documented censorship attempts may also have fallen because recent legislative restrictions on books containing 'controversial themes' have resulted in those titles being removed from libraries, according to the ALA.
