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Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Business Technology News: Intuit Introduces QuickBooks Bill Pay
Signage for financial software company Intuit at the company's headquarters in the Silicon Valley ... More town of Mountain View, California, August 24, 2016. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images). Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? This Week in Business Tech News Business Technology News #1 – Intuit introduces QuickBooks Bill Pay. Intuit has launched QuickBooks Bill Pay – a fully integrated solution aimed at streamlining business-to-business payments and automating accounts payable (AP) for small and mid-sized businesses. Some of its capabilities include automated bill creation. Businesses can forward their vendor invoices to QuickBooks, which auto-generates bills for review and approval. Flexible payment options allow vendors to be paid via ACH transfers or paper checks. Digital records store bills and payments in one place improving financial visibility. Transactions are automatically recorded and matched in your books, reducing manual entry up to 48 percent. QuickBooks Bill Pay has three pricing tiers – Basic (free), Premium, and Elite – each offering different levels of ACH payments, automation, and team controls. (Source: The Paypers) Why this is important for your business: This was inevitable. For years QuickBooks has been integrating with other similar services like BILL, which are all great. But now Intuit has decided to offer their own. On the plus side it should ultimately be seamless and easier to integrate. But on the other side products like BILL will offer more features and likely better support as this is the flagship offering. Regardless, all businesses using QuickBooks should be investigating and implementing automatic bill paying services to save time and increase productivity. New AI-based features will make these products even more powerful soon. Business Technology News #2 – Google's AI can now make phone calls for you. Google has just rolled out a major upgrade to its Search experience – AI-powered phone calls. The AI calling agent can call local businesses on your behalf based on the query entered in Search. Example – if you search for 'pet groomers near me,' you'll see an option to 'have AI check for availability.' Google's assistant will make the calls and summarize the results. It will then ask follow-up questions like when you need the service and how you want to receive updates. \ (Source: The Verge) Why this is important for your business: I do believe that automated phone calls will continue to grow in popularity. Our job as business owners is to be prepared to receive these calls. Will training be required? Will Google offer some way to automatically accept these calls without humans in our companies being involved? Business Technology News #3 – Microsoft promises to crack one of the biggest problems with Windows 11: slow performance. Microsoft is tackling one of Windows 11's biggest complaints: sluggish performance, especially on older PCs. In preview builds, Microsoft collects performance logs when testers experience slowdowns. These logs are stored locally and only sent to Microsoft if users submit feedback via the Facebook hub – 'System Sluggishness.' By expanding the scope of performance data, Microsoft hopes to pinpoint and fix speed-related issues more effectively. Common pain points include laggy File Explorer and slow search functionality. Microsoft is prioritizing these in its performance initiative. This effort is part of a broader push to make Windows 11 faster and more responsive, especially for users who've found it less snappy than Windows 10. (Source: TechRadar) Why this is important for your business: Frankly, I have not heard reports about slow Windows 11 performance from clients using the operating system but if Microsoft is doing this it's clearly a problem somewhere. To be sure make sure all of your devices are regularly updated the most recent version of the operating system and don't ignore notifications that new updates are available. Business Technology News #4 – Insurers making the turn to agentic AI – report. Insurers are cautiously embracing agentic AI – a form of artificial intelligence that can autonomously manage complex tasks and workflows. According to a new report from the Capgemini Research Institute, 20 percent of insurance firms are piloting agentic AI, and 12 percent have implemented it at scale. However, only 4 percent fully trust these systems as confidence in fully autonomous AI agents dropped from 43 percent to 27 percent over the past year due to concerns about accountability, explainability and ethical use. Insurers are integrating AI agents into workflows to assist brokers, underwriters, and service teams, embracing human-AI collaboration. Capgemini estimates agentic AI could generate up to $450 billion in value by 2028, but reaching that potential will require strategic investments, governance, risk frameworks and organizational design. (Source: Insurance Business) Why this is important for your business: This industry is ripe for agentic AI. The process of evaluating, approving and then writing up an insurance policy can be repetitive and doesn't have to require as much human effort as what's currently being spent. I'm sure that no insurance company is relying on agentic AI to do this right now but I can understand why they're investing in and testing these options heavily. As with so many other things around AI these are things that will be common in the not so distant future. Business Technology News #5 – Slack gets smarter: New AI tools summarize chats, explain jargon, and automate work. Slack is stepping up its AI game with a suite of new features designed to make workplace communication smoother, smarter, and more productive. An AI assistant embedded in Slack Canvas can generate project briefs, extract action items, and reformat meeting notes – all from your conversations. Enterprise Search lets connected users search across connected apps like Salesforce, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams from one interface, turning scattered data into actionable insights. Hover over acronyms or jargon and Slack will instantly explain them using your organization's unique vocabulary and history. Slack can also identify and highlight follow-ups and deadlines from messages where you're mentioned. Slack Huddles now include automatic transcript and summaries. (Source: VentureBeat) Why this is important for your business: According to VentureBeat Salesforce – Slack's parent company – is also restricting external AI access to Slack data, betting its native tools will outperform third-party alternatives. If you're relying on Slack for your communications and workflows it's important that you understand and start testing these new features internally. I strongly recommend getting training from a Slack week I round up five business technology news stories and explain why they're important for your business. If you have any interesting stories, please post to my X account @genemarks
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Will Q4 Results Move Seagate Stock Higher?
Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) is scheduled to disclose its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (June fiscal year). Analysts anticipate that the company will announce earnings of $2.43 per share on sales of $2.42 billion. This would indicate no growth in earnings and a 28% rise in sales compared to the previous year's figures of $2.44 per share and $1.89 billion, respectively. Historical data reveals that the stock has risen 55% of the time in the one day following earnings announcements, with a median increase of 6.1% and maximum one-day positive returns reaching 12%. Seagate forecasts Q4 adjusted EPS (June fiscal year) to range between $2.20 and $2.60, on revenue of $2.25–$2.55 billion. Consensus predicts 38% revenue growth in FY 2025 and 13% in FY 2026. The company currently has a market capitalization of $32 billion. Revenue over the past twelve months amounted to $8.5 billion, and the company was operationally profitable with $1.6 billion in operating profits and a net income of $1.5 billion. While much depends on how results compare to consensus and expectations, understanding historical trends could improve the odds in your favor if you are a trader focused on events. There are two strategies to consider: understand the historical chances and position yourself before the earnings release, or analyze the correlation between immediate and medium-term returns post-earnings and adjust your position accordingly after the earnings are announced. If you are looking for upside with lower volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers an alternative, having outperformed the S&P 500 and delivered returns exceeding 91% since its inception. See earnings reaction history of all stocks. Seagate's Historical Chances of Positive Post-Earnings Returns Here are some insights regarding one-day (1D) post-earnings returns: Additional data for recorded 5-Day (5D) and 21-Day (21D) returns post earnings are aggregated along with the statistics in the table below. 5-Day (5D) and 21-Day (21D) returns post earnings Correlation Between 1D, 5D, and 21D Historical Returns A relatively lower-risk strategy (though not effective if the correlation is weak) is to understand the correlation between short-term and medium-term returns after earnings, identify a pair with the highest correlation, and make the appropriate trades. For instance, if 1D and 5D reveal the highest correlation, a trader may take a "long" position for the following 5 days if the 1D post-earnings return is positive. Below is some correlation data based on a 5-year and a more recent 3-year history. It is important to note that the correlation 1D_5D refers to the correlation between 1D post-earnings returns and successive 5D returns. Correlation Between 1D, 5D, and 21D Historical Returns Discover more about Trefis RV strategy that has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (a combination of all three: the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000), providing strong returns for investors.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Buy AMZN Stock At $230?
Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images (NASDAQ:AMZN) stock has increased by 4% this year, trailing the S&P 500's 7% growth slightly. This modest underperformance primarily results from a mix of valuation apprehensions and the company's significant investment cycle. Having invested $53 billion into capital expenditures in 2023 and $83 billion in 2024, Amazon is now forecasting a substantial $100 billion expenditure this year, mainly aimed at enhancing its AI capabilities. While these considerable investments may affect short-term profitability, they are essential for Amazon's long-term growth and competitive advantage. At present, with AMZN trading at $230, the crucial question for investors is straightforward: should you buy, sell, or hold? We believe there is further upside potential for AMZN stock from its current levels. Our conclusion is based on an analysis of AMZN's current valuation in relation to its recent operational performance and its current and historical financial status. Our thorough evaluation of across key metrics—Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Downturn Resilience—indicates a company with robust operational performance and a solid financial base, as elaborated further below. However, if you are looking for upside potential with lower volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers an alternative — having outperformed the S&P 500 and yielded returns over 91% since its launch. Additionally, see – Block Inc.: What's Happening With XYZ Stock? How Does Valuation Look vs. The S&P 500? Based on what is paid per dollar of sales or profit, AMZN stock appears costly in comparison to the broader market. How Have Revenues Grown Over Recent Years? Revenues have experienced significant growth in recent years. How Profitable Is The profit margins of are lower than those of most companies in the Trefis coverage universe. Does Look Financially Stable? balance sheet appears robust. How Resilient Is AMZN Stock During A Downturn? AMZN stock has experienced an effect that was marginally better than the S&P 500 benchmark during one of the two recent downturns. Concerned about the effect of a market crash on AMZN stock? Our dashboard How Low Can Stock Go In A Market Crash provides a detailed analysis of the stock's performance during and after previous market crashes. Putting All The Pieces Together: What It Means For AMZN Stock In conclusion, performance across the metrics outlined above is as follows: On the whole, has shown strong performance across key indicators. From a price-to-sales (P/S) standpoint, a ratio of 3.6 times trailing revenues, combined with low double-digit revenue growth, seems reasonable to us. While the current price-to-earnings ratio for AMZN may seem slightly elevated, we expect a more substantial growth trajectory in the upcoming years. This is largely due to the increasing impact of Amazon Web Services (AWS), its more profitable cloud computing segment, on the total revenue mix. Related – Amazon Stock: Path To 2x Growth. Considering these aspects, we believe there is still significant upside potential for AMZN stock from its current position. Naturally, our evaluation might be incorrect. Investors may be reluctant to assign a higher valuation multiple, especially given Amazon's considerable capital expenses, increasing competition, and slower-than-anticipated growth in certain business segments. However, if you are working with a 3-5 year investment horizon, AMZN stock could be a beneficial addition to your investment portfolio. While it appears there is further upside to AMZN stock, consider the Trefis Reinforced Value (RV) Portfolio, which has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (combination of the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 benchmark indices) to deliver strong returns for investors. Why is that? The quarterly rebalanced mix of large-, mid-, and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks offers a responsive method to capitalize on favorable market conditions while minimizing losses when markets decline, as explained in RV Portfolio performance metrics.
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Flesh-Eating Virus Kills Four In Florida
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. Four people have died in Florida due to infections from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium commonly known as "flesh-eating" for its ability to cause severe and sometimes fatal tissue damage. Newsweek has reached out to Florida's Department of Health via email for comment. Why It Matters Record cases of Vibrio vulnificus surged to record levels last year in Florida, with 82 cases and 19 deaths, Florida's health department reported at the time. The majority came after the hurricanes Helene and Milton. Flagellated Vibrio vulnificus bacterium revealed in the 26367x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Janice Haney Carr. Flagellated Vibrio vulnificus bacterium revealed in the 26367x magnified scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, 2005. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Janice Haney Carr. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images What To Know Fatalities have been reported across Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St. Johns counties, according to the Florida Department of Health, who reported the fatalities on July 11. This marks the first fatalities in connection with the bacterium this year. There have been a total of 11 confirmed infections across the state so far this year. The Florida Department of Health did not confirm the sources of these cases. What is Vibrio Vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in coastal waters, including salt and brackish water. There are around a dozen kinds of Vibrio, which cause the human illness, vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the U.S., of which 52,000 cases are the result of eating contaminated food. The most common species that cause human illness in the U.S. are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Buffalo, told Newsweek over email, "The range of Vibrio vulnificus is defined by warm, brackish, and coastal marine environments, with ongoing expansion into higher latitudes as global temperatures rise. This organism is most prevalent in regions with water temperatures above 20°C and moderate-to-high salinity." "Cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer," Aileen Marty, professor of Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, told Newsweek, "The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)." Marty told Newsweek, "Symptoms often appear within 12–24 hours and include gastrointestinal distress, fever, blistering skin lesions, and potentially life-threatening sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis after wound exposure. Most severe cases occur in people with underlying health problems; mild or asymptomatic cases are likely underreported, as healthy individuals may experience few or no symptoms." Russo also told Newsweek, "Entry of V. vulnificus into an open wound (pre-existing or acquired while in the water) is the most common means of acquisition. Eating raw seafood is another, especially raw oysters." "Although healthy individuals can develop infection, which can be severe, individuals with chronic liver disease, hemochromatosis, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, and iron overload states are at higher risk for developing severe infection, which can be fatal," Russo said. What People Are Saying Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Buffalo, told Newsweek over email, "Infections can occur with the combination of environmental exposure and host-factors... If you have a wound, cut, or disruption of your skin for whatever reason (e.g. recent surgery, tattoos et al) stay out of the water (seawater or brackish water) or cover the wound if exposure cannot be avoided. If you get a cut or injury while in the water, get out asap and wash the area," Russo said. Aileen Marty, professor of Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, told Newsweek over email, "The primary transmission routes are through the ingestion of raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, or exposure to brackish water through wounds. Individuals at highest risk include those with chronic liver disease (such as hepatitis B or C), diabetes, immune suppression, alcohol use disorder, malignancy, renal disease, or iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis." William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy, told Newsweek over email, "The precautions are straightforward. Avoid going into the coastal water if you have broken skin. If you sustain an injury in the water, wash it off promptly and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if the wound looks infected or the area becomes painful. Tell your provider of your water contact. Persons with chronic liver disease or who are immunocompromised should avoid eating raw oysters." What's Next Whether cases will rise this year remains to be seen.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Merck's Verona Acquisition: Plugging A $4B Hole In A $20B Gap
Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Merck's recent acquisition announcement sends a strong signal regarding its urgency to tackle the impending Keytruda patent cliff. The pharmaceutical leader has made an agreement to acquire the COPD drug manufacturer Verona Pharma for $10 billion, adding yet another potential blockbuster to its expanding collection of post-Keytruda assets. The Verona Deal: What Merck Gets Verona Pharma's most valuable asset is Ohtuvayre, an inhaled medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that received FDA approval in June 2024. With anticipated peak annual sales of $4 billion, the drug is a significant addition to Merck's revenue diversification strategy. This acquisition was expected given our earlier analysis underscoring Merck's urgent need to address the Keytruda patent cliff set for 2028. Additionally, see – ProKidney: What's Happening With PROK Stock? The Math Still Doesn't Add Up Although this acquisition signifies progress, it's evidently insufficient to resolve Merck's fundamental issue. The company anticipates a potential $15-20 billion decline in Keytruda's sales as biosimilar competition enters the market. Even if Ohtuvayre achieves its peak sales forecast, this acquisition is expected to generate only $3-4 billion in annual revenue contributions, covering roughly 20% of the anticipated Keytruda decline. The Bigger Picture This deal aligns with Merck's broader diversification strategy, which incorporates the promising Winrevair for pulmonary arterial hypertension and a robust pipeline of 20 potential blockbuster drugs with a combined potential of $50 billion. The company has shown its readiness to invest capital aggressively, following prior acquisitions such as the $11.5 billion Acceleron purchase and the $680 million Harpoon Therapeutics deal. Nevertheless, the overall impact of these actions still seems inadequate to completely counterbalance the eventual decline of Keytruda. While Merck has built a solid pipeline and commenced new product launches, the timeline remains tight and the revenue gap significant. The Investment Reality For Merck stock to experience substantial growth, the company must assure investors that it has a thorough solution to not only mitigate the effect of Keytruda biosimilar competition but also to achieve sales growth even after the patent expiration. That level of assurance does not appear to be materializing at this time. For context, Merck stock has decreased by 16% year-to-date, lagging behind the broader S&P 500 index, which has risen by 7%, and several of its peers such as Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie, both of which have increased by 6% The acquisition of Verona Pharma is a step forward, yet it also underscores the scale of Merck's challenge. At $10 billion for a drug with $4 billion peak sales potential, the company is investing in assets that provide only partial remedies to a significant revenue gap. Looking Forward Merck's acquisition strategy reflects management's understanding of the Keytruda cliff and their determination to address it. However, the company will require several more transactions of a similar scale, effective pipeline execution, and possibly some level of market expansion to completely substitute Keytruda's contribution. Until investors perceive a clearer trajectory for growth beyond 2028, Merck's valuation is likely to remain under pressure despite these strategic initiatives. For context, at its current price of around $85, MRK stock is trading at a little under 11 times its trailing adjusted earnings of $7.79 per share. This is lower than the stock's historical average price-to-earnings ratio of roughly 15 times. Of course, other factors are also influential, including slowing Gardasil sales in China. Additionally, see – Merck's Valuation Ratios. In summary, the race against the 2028 patent cliff persists, and although Merck is putting forth significant effort, it remains uncertain whether the company can maintain its growth narrative. Merck's heavy dependence on Keytruda is a considerable concern for investors, as nearly half of the company's total sales are derived from this single product. This is precisely why sector diversification is a crucial factor we evaluate for our Trefis High Quality (HQ) portfolio. This strategic focus on achieving a balanced mix of companies across sectors has allowed the HQ portfolio to outperform the S&P 500, attaining returns exceeding 91% since its inception. Invest with Trefis Market-Beating Portfolios See all Trefis Price Estimates
