Latest news with #Tidal
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Block, Inc. (XYZ): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Block, Inc. (XYZ) on Daniel Romero's Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on XYZ. Block, Inc. (XYZ)'s share was trading at $58.74 as of 23rd May. XYZ's trailing and forward P/E were 14.26 and 16 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Block Inc. is undergoing a pivotal transformation, evolving from a high-growth fintech into a vertically integrated ecosystem that bridges commerce, banking, consumer finance, and emerging technologies. At the heart of this shift are Cash App and Square—dominant platforms in their respective markets—now reinforced by a regulated bank, Square Financial Services, enabling more profitable in-house lending. Cash App serves over 57 million monthly users and has become a central financial tool for younger demographics, particularly with the integration of Afterpay. Meanwhile, Square is pushing deeper into business services, recently launching over 100 new features, including the Square Handheld POS, demonstrating a renewed focus on quality and innovation. Financially, Block is stabilizing, showing 9% YoY revenue growth (ex-Bitcoin), 28% adjusted operating income growth, and improving margins, signaling it is moving from a startup mindset to operating as a scaled platform. The most underappreciated asset may be Tidal, which under Jack Dorsey's vision could evolve into a 'Square for musicians,' integrating payments, royalties, and AI-powered tools for creators. Block's AI push is accelerating, with deployment of NVIDIA's new GB200 systems powering tools across its ecosystem—ranging from AI-assisted website builders and communications to the potential for AI-driven music innovation. Despite recent earnings-driven stock volatility, Block's ambitions to merge its products into a seamless, high-performance ecosystem—spanning business, consumer, Bitcoin, and AI—make its $36B valuation appear reasonable. If executed well, Block could emerge as a misunderstood giant, delivering durable long-term value by unifying commerce and finance with proprietary infrastructure and cutting-edge technology. Previously, we have covered Block, Inc. (XYZ) in March 2025, wherein we summarized a bullish thesis by Long-Term Pick on Substack. The author highlighted Block's strong 2024 growth in profit and cash flow, driven by Square and Cash App, with expectations for continued expansion and margin improvement in 2025. Since our last coverage, the stock is down 6% as of 27th May. Block, Inc. (XYZ) is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 76 hedge fund portfolios held XYZ at the end of the first quarter which was 81 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of XYZ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than XYZ but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. 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
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unity Wealth Partners and Tidal Financial Group Announce the Closure of the Unity Wealth Partners Dynamic Capital Appreciation & Options ETF (Nasdaq: DCAP)
MILWAUKEE, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tidal Financial Group and Unity Wealth Partners today announced the upcoming closure and liquidation of the Unity Wealth Partners Dynamic Capital Appreciation & Options ETF (Nasdaq: DCAP). The Board of Trustees of Tidal Trust III has determined that closing and liquidating the fund is in the best interest of the fund and its shareholders. The Unity Wealth Partners Dynamic Capital Appreciation & Options ETF (the fund) will cease trading on the Nasdaq at the close of regular trading on June 13, 2025 (the 'Closing Date'), and will no longer accept creation orders as of that date. Shareholders may sell their holdings in the fund prior to the Closing Date through standard brokerage transactions, which may be subject to customary brokerage fees. After June 13, 2025, shareholders will be unable to buy or sell shares on an exchange and may only redeem shares through select broker-dealers. There is no assurance that there will be an active market for the fund during the period between the Closing Date and Liquidation. Between June 13, 2025 and June 20, 2025 (the 'Liquidation Date'), DCAP will begin liquidating its holdings and increasing its cash position in preparation for final distribution. During this period, the fund's portfolio will depart from its stated investment strategy and objective. On or around June 20, 2025, DCAP will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders of record who have not sold their shares prior to liquidation. This final distribution will be made in cash on a pro rata basis and will generally be treated as a taxable event. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to understand the potential implications related to capital gains, losses, or dividends arising from the liquidation. After the distribution of net assets is complete, the fund will be officially terminated. About Tidal Financial Group Formed by ETF industry pioneers and thought leaders, Tidal Investments LLC sets out to revolutionize the way ETFs have historically been developed, launched, marketed, and sold. With a focus on growing AUM, Tidal offers a comprehensive suite of services, proprietary tools, and methodologies designed to bring lasting ideas to market. Tidal is an advocate for ETF innovation. The firm is on a mission to provide issuers with the intelligence and tools needed to efficiently and to effectively launch ETFs and to optimize growth potential in a highly competitive space. For more information, visit CONTACT: Contact Gavin Filmore at gfilmore@ for more information.
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Believe it or not: CDs are back to steal the spotlight from streaming
Like vinyl records surging back into popularity over the past decade, CDs, which many believed had faded into obscurity, are once again capturing the interest of music enthusiasts across South Africa and beyond. Image: Pexels/ Emine Canpolat Believe it or not, but amidst the sprawling dominance of digital music platforms, compact discs (CDs) are experiencing a revival that seems almost conflicting in the age of streaming. Like vinyl records surging back into popularity over the past decade, CDs, which many believed had faded into obscurity, are once again capturing the interest of music enthusiasts across South Africa and beyond. Not so long ago, physical media formats felt like antiques of the past. The rapid rise of smartphones and digital streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and YouTube Music led to a noticeable decline in CD sales. Manufacturers even began to phase out CD drives from laptops and cars, further diminishing the physical format's relevance. SA saw significant ramifications from this decline, with prominent music retail chains like Musica effectively closing the curtain on physical sales when it shut its doors for good in May 2021. Adding a dash of intrigue to this unexpected revival was South African singer-songwriter Zonke, who took a bold step by releasing her latest album "Embo" on CD, USB, and vinyl in 2023. Zonke's decision to release her album through these physical formats marked a deliberate return to an old-school approach that goes against the tide of widespread digital releases. In a post on her social media, she expressed her desire to offer fans something tangible in a world saturated with ephemeral digital music. 'As we all know, digital platforms are crowded, and most people go there and drown because it's crowded,' Zonke articulated. 'Even the best music drowns there, so I felt that it's not a platform for me. My old music will stay there; however, for this album, I just want to try new things, even if those things are old these days.' Her commitment to embracing the CD format was not merely a whimsical throwback, but rather a strategic decision stemming from the feedback collected at her concerts. Many of her fans, who share her passion for collecting music and appreciating the finer details of album art and liner notes, echoed a desire for physical formats. 'So I wanted to try this old school way of doing things, going back to CDs,' she said. So why the resurgence? The nostalgia factor For many, CDs represent a cherished part of their musical journey, with beautifully designed album covers and liner notes that were a staple of the listening experience. The nostalgic allure of holding a physical piece of art has led fans to seek out new releases in CD form to relive the joy of collecting. Additionally, music enthusiasts often share memories tied to their favourite albums while flipping through their CD collections, creating a shared experience that digital downloads simply cannot match. The return to quality Another critical factor in the resurgence of CDs is the audio quality that they offer. With the rise of lossy formats in the digital realm, many audiophiles are dissatisfied with the sound quality of streaming music. CDs, on the other hand, boast a higher fidelity sound that appeals to those who desire a truly immersive listening experience. As more artistically inclined musicians seek to cater to their dedicated fanbase, the emergence of limited edition and remastered albums on CD formats adds an enticing layer to this musical renaissance. Vinyl's influence on consumer behaviour Interestingly, the renewed interest in vinyl records has also played a crucial role in bringing CDs back into the limelight. Just as vinyl records are celebrated for their analog warmth and distinct sound, CDs are being recognised for their own unique advantages - portability and durability, to name a few. The comparison of these formats leads consumers to reconsider their preferences, creating a landscape where CDs stand shoulder to shoulder with their vinyl counterparts, each offering its unique charm.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Forbes
Qobuz Connect Goes Live For The Hi-Res Music And Downloading Platform
The hi-res streaming and downloading service now has Qobuz Connect, a way of controlling everything ... More via the Qobuz app and streaming directly rather than via a smartphone using AirPlay or Google Cast. For some years now, both Spotify and Tidal music streaming services have had a Connect mode. The mode enables users to stream music to their speakers or hi-fi with a direct connection using one app. Both Spotify and Tidal Connect pull music directly from their servers instead of via a smartphone using AirPlay or Google Cast. The music streaming doesn't rely on a smartphone being present. Now it's the turn of Qobuz to get the Connect treatment. The French high-resolution music streaming and download platform has announced today that users of a wide range of audio equipment can now access Qobuz Connect. Some of the big names that now support Qobuz Connect include Arcam, Denon, HEOS, Marantz, McIntosh, Rotel and WiiM. The French streaming service is aimed at music lovers who want ultra-high-quality audio streams. The new feature transforms the listening experience while offering simplified control and seamless continuity between devices. Qobuz Connect enables users to stream music directly using Qobuz to control their compatible hi-fi devices without the need for third-party applications. With Qobuz Connect, users can control their music from the Qobuz application without the need to juggle between different remote controls or applications. All users need to do is select an audio device and then control everything directly from the Qobuz app with music streaming directly from the Qobuz servers without being relayed through a smartphone. Qobuz Connect lets users pick up where they left off and seamlessly switch from one device to another without losing the thread of the music, whether using headphones, hi-fi or wireless speakers, without interruption. With Qobuz, you can drill down deep into an artist's catalog and find lots of essays and features ... More about music. With a single application to manage everything, users can control the desktop application using a mobile device and vice versa for a seamless listening experience. With Qobuz Connect there's no need to switch between apps and the user can enjoy the editorials and features that Qobuz produces to accompany the music and playlists are curated by experts 'Qobuz Connect is a feature that has been eagerly awaited by our subscribers. We are proud to offer the most complete Connect solution on the market today, combining high resolution, app synchronization and remote control. Our priority has been to develop a simple, intuitive interface to facilitate the experience of all our listeners,' says Axel Destagnol, Chief Product Officer at Qobuz. As a music streaming service, Qobuz's USP is hi-res sound quality with more than 100 million tracks in resolutions up to 24-bit / 192kHz and lossless CD quality. Qobuz Connect is now available on iOS, Android, Windows and macOS applications. The new feature has been developed in collaboration with StreamUnlimited Engineering, a technology partner to other premium audio brands. To find out if your audio equipment is compatible with Qobuz Connect, visit
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Fiona Apple's musical return: a heartfelt call for justice for mothers in pre-trial detention
Fiona Apple is back after a five-year hiatus, but this time her music carries a weighty purpose. Image: Terry Doyle Fiona Apple, the iconic singer-songwriter who captured the hearts of a generation in the '90s, is back after a five-year hiatus, but this time her music carries a weighty purpose. The artist has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at highlighting the plight of mothers in pre-trial detention, a vital social issue that often remains shrouded in silence. Apple, now 47, first dominated the music scene with her 1996 debut album, 'Tidal', which catapulted her into stardom thanks to its intense lyricism and emotional resonance. Her career has been characterised by exceptionally personal, at times controversial, works that continue to echo across multiple generations. However, her recent journey has shifted focus; rather than just exploring her own experiences, she is now advocating for those unjustly affected by the criminal justice system. In her latest track 'Pretrial', released on Wednesday, May 7, Apple utilises her music as a powerful protest anthem. The song, which she performed with her hand percussion, addresses the harsh realities faced by women who are incarcerated simply due to an inability to afford bail during their pre-trial period. The accompanying video reinforces her message, opening with the striking words: 'For over two years, I observed thousands of court hearings as a courtwatcher. I saw so many people caged away simply because they could not afford bail. Before they even got to trial. While they were still presumed innocent.' The imagery within the video alternates between heart-warming home videos of mothers with their families and the stark reality of incarceration, demonstrating the rippling effects of a system that impacts not just the individuals but entire communities. Apple writes touching verses that resonate with frustration and empathy: "She took on extra shifts, still couldn't pay the bail / No danger, no flight risk, but she will stay in jail / She was not convicted of anything..." These lines capture the essence of her campaign, culminating in the plea, "Won't you let her go home?" echoing throughout the chorus. The last release Apple shared with the world was in 2020 with her critically-acclaimed album 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters', which not only earned her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album but also accolades for her song "Shameika'. Yet, her new direction resonates with a potent urgency, as she steps into the role of advocate, using her artistry to speak for those often overlooked by society.
