Latest news with #Progressive
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Burlington mayor signs amended resolution to clean up downtown, gives $10,000 to relocate Food Not Cops
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Burlington mayor Emma-Mulvaney Stanak signed on Monday night the city council's Resolution 8.1, which aims to help businesses in the city's downtown area, especially in the Church Street Marketplace, by calling for among other things clearer signage and a stronger police presence. Read the full resolution hereDownload The most controversial part of the resolution proved to be a clause calling for the removal of the Food Not Cops (aka Food not Bombs) food distribution center from the marketplace's garage. Democratic members of the city council have said the food distribution attracts the same people who engage in anti-social behavior in the neighborhood, including drug use and theft, while Progressive members have protested based on a lack of presented evidence. City Council passes resolution for downtown issues The Burlington City Council currently has a 7-5 Democratic majority, and the resolution passed on May 19 with a clause with softened language requiring a proposal to relocate the center, rather than a full relocation, by July 14. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, who is a Progressive, announced at last night's city council meeting $10,000 in city funding to ease the relocation and help Food Not Cops find a new place to operate. In a statement Tuesday, the mayor had mixed feelings about the outcome of the council's deliberations. 'My administration has worked for nearly a year to build relationships with Food Not Cops and with community partners in an effort to find a mutually beneficial path forward. 'The debate around Resolution 8.1, and the insistence upon placing a deadline on these efforts has only hindered our ability to make progress on this work.' Small businesses express concern about conditions in Downtown Burlington But some city council members said they felt like a compromise had already been reached, and were glad to be able to move forward. 'I mostly want to thank the mayor for dealing with this head-on,' said councilor Sarah Carpenter. 'I'm saddened we couldn't get to language… but think we're on a really good path.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Michael Moore proposes new Pledge of Allegiance against Trump and 'MAGA-heads'
Progressive filmmaker and activist Michael Moore rewrote the words of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance on Monday, asking his readers to unite against President Donald Trump and "MAGA-heads" in the country. "I pledge allegiance to the people of the United States of America. And to the democracy for which we all stand: One person, one vote, one nation, part of one world, everyone! A seat at the table! Everyone! A slice of the pie! With liberty and justice, equality, and kindness and the pursuit of happiness for all," Moore wrote on his Substack account. The "Fahrenheit 9/11" director said he wrote the new pledge "[f]or the people and for the country that deep down — in spite of its MAGA-heads, in spite of its insanity — we've decided to fight for its survival, holding onto a belief that we can make it better, that we can fix it, that we can end the madness and create a true Democracy for which it stands." After providing his pledge, Moore called on readers to act and offered several actions that would take just a few minutes, including emailing a one-sentence message to an elected official, calling a member of Congress, signing up for a local progressive group or creating a sign for an upcoming rally. He implored readers to take at least one political action every day. "Our hearts do not go more than a second without creating a beat. Our lungs do not skip more than 3 seconds without taking a breath. Can we all, all of us, together, pledge to not skip a day right now without taking some simple sort of political action?" Moore wrote. Moore has come out against staples of the United States in the past but has usually targeted the Second Amendment, which protects the right to gun ownership. In 2022, he proposed a "28th Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution to repeal the Second Amendment and enforce nationwide gun control. "The inalienable right of a free people to be kept safe from gun violence and the fear thereof must not be infringed and shall be protected by the Congress and the States. This Amendment thus repeals and replaces the Second Amendment," Moore wrote at the time.
Campaign ME
2 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Active and Progressive Communications form cross-regional partnership
Dubai-based integrated communications agency Active has entered a strategic partnership with Singapore's Progressive Communications to provide clients with integrated cross-regional support across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The collaboration brings together Active's two decades of experience in the UAE and wider region with Progressive's earned-first public relations capabilities in APAC. According to the agencies, clients looking to expand across markets – particularly those with a presence in Dubai or Singapore – will gain access to a unified team offering brand positioning, PR and media strategy and market-entry planning. 'This partnership gives our clients access to expert communications counsel across APAC through Progressive's network and capabilities,' said Louay Al Samarai, CEO and Founder of Active. 'We look forward to unlocking new business opportunities together and delivering bold, impactful work that resonates in every market we serve.' Founded in 2003, Active offers services across public relations, influencer engagement, lead generation, digital marketing, content production, exhibition stand builds, and event management. The agency is known for culturally attuned campaigns that speak to local nuance while achieving global relevance. 'We're excited to join forces with Louay and the team at Active,' said Tarun Deo, Founder and Managing Director of Progressive Communications. 'They bring deep regional insight, strong media relationships, and a strategic mindset that perfectly complements our strengths in communications planning and storytelling. Together, we offer a powerful, compelling proposition for brands ready to expand across borders.' Progressive Communications works with clients including Zespri International, SAP Concur and Swire Coca-Cola. The agency combines senior consulting experience with a creative, insights-driven approach and maintains a global network of partners. Both Active and Progressive Communications will retain their independent branding and operations while aligning on approach, execution and client servicing. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to deliver integrated, scalable solutions to brands operating across increasingly interconnected global markets.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Finance Stocks Lagging Popular (BPOP) This Year?
Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Popular (BPOP) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Finance peers, we might be able to answer that question. Popular is a member of our Finance group, which includes 857 different companies and currently sits at #5 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Popular is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BPOP's full-year earnings has moved 4.8% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive. Based on the most recent data, BPOP has returned 10.6% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Finance sector has returned an average of 5.4% on a year-to-date basis. As we can see, Popular is performing better than its sector in the calendar year. Another stock in the Finance sector, Progressive (PGR), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 20.5%. The consensus estimate for Progressive's current year EPS has increased 6.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Breaking things down more, Popular is a member of the Banks - Southeast industry, which includes 53 individual companies and currently sits at #62 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has lost an average of 6.9% so far this year, meaning that BPOP is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. In contrast, Progressive falls under the Insurance - Property and Casualty industry. Currently, this industry has 43 stocks and is ranked #43. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +11.3%. Investors interested in the Finance sector may want to keep a close eye on Popular and Progressive as they attempt to continue their solid performance. 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 Popular, Inc. (BPOP) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Progressive Corporation (PGR) : 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
Globe and Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Berkshire Moves Above 200-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ( BRK.B ) continue to trend up, driven by its dominant market presence, diverse business activities, and, above all, the name Warren Buffett. BRK.B is now trending above its 200-simple moving average (SMA), indicating the possibility of an uptrend ahead. Shares closed at $503.11 yesterday, a 7.2% discount from its 52-week high of $542.07, indicating room for growth. The 200-day SMA is a key indicator for traders and analysts to identify support and resistance levels. It is considered particularly important as it is the first marker of an uptrend or downtrend. Berkshire Price Movement Vs. 200-Day Moving Average Berkshire's Price Performance YTD Shares of BRK.B have gained 11% year to date, underperforming the industry 's increase of 15.8% but outperforming the Finance sector's increase of 4.8% and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's decline of 0.3% in the said time frame. Berkshire vs. Industry, Sector, S&P 500 Shares of Chubb Limited CB and The Progressive Corporation PGR have gained 5.5% and 15.2% year to date, respectively. Chubb, a leading global provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance and reinsurance, is committed to tapping into the growth opportunities within the middle-market segment both in domestic and international markets. To drive long-term growth, the company is strengthening its core package offerings and expanding its portfolio of specialty products. Additionally, Chubb is advancing its strategic priorities through focused investments in key initiatives. Progressive, one of the largest auto insurance groups in the United States, is poised to record consistent profitability, thanks to its robust market position, diverse range of products and services, and strong underwriting and operational expertise. The company has refined its strategy by placing greater emphasis on auto bundling, minimizing exposure to high-risk properties and advancing segmentation efforts through the introduction of new products. BRK.B Shares Are Trading at a Premium The stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book multiple of 1.65, higher than the industry average of 1.62. While Berkshire is relatively cheap compared to Progressive, it is expensive compared to Chubb. Average Target Price for BRK.B Suggests Upside Based on short-term price targets offered by four analysts, the Zacks average price target is $541.50 per share. The average suggests a potential 7.6% upside from the last closing price. What's Working in Favor of Berkshire Hathaway? Berkshire Hathaway's insurance segment, which accounts for approximately one-quarter of its total revenues, is well-positioned for long-term growth. This strength is likely to be driven by expanded market exposure, disciplined underwriting and favorable pricing dynamics. As the insurance business grows, it increases the company's float, boosts earnings and improves return on equity. Beyond insurance, the company's other major segments — Utilities and Energy, as well as Manufacturing, Service, and Retail — are more sensitive to economic fluctuations. The Utilities and Energy segment has benefited from greater contributions by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., though challenges such as an unfavorable business mix and declining fuel surcharge revenues remain. Still, rising demand for utilities is expected to support future earnings growth. The Manufacturing, Service and Retail divisions are also poised to benefit from a stronger economic environment, with increased consumer demand driving both revenues and margin expansion over time. With a substantial cash reserve, Berkshire Hathaway continues to pursue strategic acquisitions, ranging from transformative large-scale deals to smaller bolt-on acquisitions that enhance current operations. The company has built a strong balance sheet, supported by more than $100 billion in cash, minimal debt, and a high credit rating. This financial strength also allows Berkshire to consistently repurchase shares, a strategic use of capital that effectively returns value to shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway's Return on Capital Return on equity ('ROE') in the trailing 12 months was 7.2%, underperforming the industry average of 7.8%. Return on equity, a profitability measure, reflects how effectively a company is utilizing its shareholders' funds. It is noteworthy that though BRK.B's ROE is lagging the industry average, the company has been continuously generating improved ROE. The same holds true for return on invested capital (ROIC), which has increased every year since 2020. This reflects BRK.B's efficiency in utilizing funds to generate income. However, ROIC in the trailing 12 months was 5.7%, lower than the industry average of 5.9%. Mixed Analyst Sentiment on BRK.B The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings implies a 6.7% year-over-year decrease, while the same for 2026 suggests a 5% increase. The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings has moved 0.2% north while that for 2026 has moved 2.7% south in the past seven days. How to Play BRK.B Shares Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate with more than 90 subsidiaries engaged in diverse business activities. Thus, holding shares of Berkshire Hathaway renders dynamism to shareholders' portfolios. BRK.B has delivered significant value to shareholders for almost six decades under the leadership of Buffett. All are now waiting to see how the behemoth fares when Greg Abel succeeds Warren Buffett as CEO of Berkshire, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Warren Buffett will continue to be the company's executive chairman. Given Berkshire Hathaway's trading at a premium valuation, unfavorable return on capital and the mixed analyst sentiments surrounding the company, it is better to adopt a wait-and-see approach on this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is among the most innovative financial firms. With a fast-growing customer base (already 50+ million) and a diverse set of cutting edge solutions, this stock is poised for big gains. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up 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 Chubb Limited (CB): Free Stock Analysis Report Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B): Free Stock Analysis Report The Progressive Corporation (PGR): Free Stock Analysis Report
