Latest news with #VITAS
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vietnam Completes Second Round of Trade Talks With U.S.
The United States and Vietnam have concluded a second round of trade negotiations according to Vietnam's trade ministry, which noted significant progress being made in talks scheduled from May 19-22 in Washington. In a statement on Thursday, the trade body said that both sides engaged in substantive discussions on all agenda items outlined ahead of the session. Vietnam faces one of the highest tariff impositions announced by president Trump's administration in April, at 46 percent. More from Sourcing Journal Trump Lashes Out at Walmart, Says Retailer Should 'Eat the Tariffs' Tariffs Tank China's US Exports, but Southeast Asia and India Cash In Vietnam-to-US Exports, Freight Rates Soar on Tariff Drama Nguyễn Hồng Diên, minister of industry and trade in Vietnam met with Ambassador and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to review the outcomes of the second round and identify key issues. According to a statement from the ministry on Thursday, discussions will continue at the end of June. The 90-day pause on the proposed 46-percent tariffs ends on July 8. Hồng Diên spoke about the intent to foster a balanced and sustainable economic and trade relationship with the U.S., for the benefit of both countries' peoples and businesses', while Ambassador Greer praised Vietnam's goodwill and efforts to address US concerns and expressed a desire to continue technical-level and ministerial-level exchanges to reach an agreement as soon as possible. According to the office of the U.S. Trade representative, the trade deficit of Vietnam with the U.S. was $123.5 billion in 2024, with the U.S. importing goods worth $136.6 billion in 2024, as against exporting goods worth $13.1 billion to Vietnam. Meanwhile, the industry in Vietnam has been gathering at several forums over the past few weeks to get a handle on what the 46 percent tariff levied against Vietnam could mean for the industry. Vietnam exported apparel worth $44 billion in 2024, with an approximate 38 percent of this to the U.S, an increase of 12.33 percent over the previous year according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS). At a forum organized by Cascale in Ho Chi Minh City on May 14-15, Vu Duc Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association (VITAS) mirrored the feeling that appeared to be reverberating through the 600 industry professionals present. 'None of us can go alone—collaboration is the only way. When brands, manufacturers, organizations and governments come together and share responsibility, any goal can be achieved,' he said in his keynote address. The point was amplified through the event. 'The Cascale Forum in Ho Chi Minh City reminds us that while policy can shift and stall, manufacturers have a great opportunity to lead. Our ongoing mandate is to ensure that this progress isn't slowed by uncertainty—but accelerated through collaboration,' Andrew Martin, executive vice president, Cascale, said in a session. Cascale, a global nonprofit alliance formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, empowers collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry, and owns and develops the Higg Index, which is available on Worldly, a comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Sharing their thoughts, and in urgent discussions that often skirted around the looming tariffs were manufacturers, leading brands, service providers, and supply chain partners. Other important issues including decarbonization, regulatory changes, facility improvements, responsible contracting and worker rights were also discussed. Vietnamese manufacturers attending the event told Sourcing Journal about their fears that global brands would pressure them to shoulder the costs of tariff impacts, while underlining the need to protect workers as the apparel industry in Vietnam employs more than three million people. Discussions about how this situation should be handled were also ongoing. As Lindsay Wright, director of communications and strategic partnerships, Better Buying, Cascale observed: 'Manufacturers are clear: Global brands should not use tariffs as an excuse to roll back on their responsible business commitments. If they do, the consumer goods industry will have to pick up the pieces later.' Massimiliano Tropeano, garment, trade and sustainability expert at GIZ-EuroCham Cambodia, noted that while tariffs focused on reshaping physical trade flows, the real story is much more complex. 'The complexity of a topic like tariff trade cannot be simplified, however, the base number on which the trade imbalance have been calculated are intrinsically wrong. Take the iPhone. Designed in California, yes—but manufactured in China. This shows up as China's export numbers, not America's. And it's not just hardware. Software giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet sell digital products and services globally—but often book the revenue through offshore entities in low-tax jurisdictions like Ireland or the kicker to all of this is that ironically the above is adding to the very trade imbalance that U.S. tariffs aimed to correct.' 'As we move forward in a world of digital globalization, maybe it's time to rethink how we measure economic power, national competitiveness, and fair trade,' he said. Important points to note for manufacturers included the focus on managing regulations as well as sustainability and environmental concerns. 'In the Asia-Pacific region, regulation is fast becoming strategy,' Cascale's Martin emphasized. 'We are increasingly seeing many countries stepping up with more progressive policies. To support this, Cascale advocates for clear, consistent guidance that manufacturers can actually use. We're actively engaging across all three regions to push for global and regional frameworks that are practical, aligned, and grounded in manufacturers' realities. 'Our shared mission is driving positive impact across the largest engaged supply chain network in the industry,' said Adele Stafford, chief growth officer at Worldly at the event. She spoke about the growing momentum on the platform: 'Over 20,000 Higg Facility Environmental Modules (FEMs) have already been completed in 2025, with each supplier sharing data with an average of four brands, improving efficiency.' While economists are calling for 'increased self reliance,' manufacturers are also looking at ways to speed past the possible deadline on July 8. The HCM City Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting has called for ramping up production to increase shipments before the tariff increases kick in. 'There's only so much we can do to sidestep this huge tariff,' a manufacturer said, asking not to be named. 'Meanwhile, we're just counting on negotiations turning this new avalanche around.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vietnam Negotiations: What's the Winning Hand?
Call it capitulation—or savvy business? Vietnam quickly got past the shock of the 46 percent tariffs announced by president Trump last Wednesday with a zero tariff (both ways) alternative. More from Sourcing Journal Ex-Asia Shipments Expedited, Paused or Delayed Ahead of Tariff Deadline Bangladesh May Face a Bigger Tariff Bill Than Thought Macron Puts CMA CGM's $20B US Pledge in Line of Fire A call was set up on Friday—indicating early-mover and decisive action from the Vietnamese government. President Trump noted on Truth Social Friday: 'Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S. I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future.' Both the government and the industry have been moving fast in Vietnam, thinking through possible solutions, brainstorming, and working with the industry as well as policy makers. The shock has still to settle, but they're moving with the speed of an industry that has become accustomed to growth. Apparel manufacturers told Sourcing Journal that they were 'beyond shocked.' Several manufacturers who asked not be named, said that the impact of such a heavy duty would decapitate exports as margins in the apparel and textile sector were already slim. 'While duties on China were expected to be high, we had not anticipated anything more than 10 percent at a maximum for Vietnam,' a manufacturer in Ho Chi Minh city said. Vietnam became the second largest apparel exporter in the world in 2024, overtaking Bangladesh. Approximately 38 percent of those expoers were to the U.S. with an increase of 12.3 percent over the previous year according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS). Overall, imports from Vietnam to the U.S stood at $136.6 billion in 2024, up about 19 percent from 2023, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Vietnam is also an important footwear manufacturer. In 2024, approximately half of Nike footwear, and 28 percent of its apparel was made in Vietnam. Thirty-nine percent of Adidas' footwear is also manufactured there. Analysts are hurrying to find solutions. While president Trump has said that these were based on the trade deficit with the U.S in each country, some analysts are noting that the high duty for Vietnam could be a retaliatory measure against China as a large number of Chinese companies have moved production to Vietnam. Other analysts have commented that the proactive efforts being made by the Vietnamese government could result in a reduction of the tariffs levied, and were likely 'an exercise to bring more global players to the negotiating table.' 'The 46 percent duty is a significant and unexpected blow to the sector,' Truong Van Cam, vice chairman, VITAS observed. 'Our manufacturers already operate with slim margins in a highly competitive environment. A tariff this steep—far higher than those imposed on competitors—will push many businesses to the brink.' He said that VITAS has also called on the government to work with the U.S. to revise the tariff—potentially adjusting it by product category. A few manufacturers told Sourcing Journal that they were already in conversations with global brands to find ways to handle the situation which is set to go into effect from Wednesday. 'Time is running out,' one of them said, 'but we are hopeful that the government will be able to get an agreement with the U.S. for delaying enforcement of the duty by a few months while we can work out negotiations and find the best way forward.' In a survey carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam in February more than 81 percent of U.S. businesses operating in Vietnam said they were 'apprehensive about the potential disruptions and reduction in trade volume' that would be caused by tariffs. The numbers concerned with supply chain interruption and diminished competitiveness in the manufacturing sector rose to 92 percent. The Vietnamese government has been reaching out to the U.S., but also to industry leaders. Deputy prime minister Ho Duc Phoc met with representatives of textiles companies on Friday, taking in suggestions and concerns and possible outcomes. He left for the U.S. on Sunday where he is expecting to find a way to continue the conversation and seek alternative solutions. Meanwhile, the government continues to underline the need to maintain strong economic ties; a task force to provide quick responses on this issue was set up by prime minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday, who said in his understated fashion: 'the tariff is not in line with the good relationship between the two countries.' 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
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
VIDEO: California Firefighter ‘Living the Best of These Last Months' on Hospice Care
IRVINE, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 'Hospice is not something that means death right away. It means health and happiness,' said Debbie Forrester, spouse and patient caregiver for former firefighter Jim Forrester of Orange County, California. In a new video, launched during Patient Experience Week, VITAS® Healthcare shares the story of a patient with terminal cancer whose life was dramatically impacted by the help of his hospice care team. Within a week of being cared for by the interdisciplinary team at VITAS, Mr. Forrester, who had been depressed and was unable to walk, began enjoying time with his grandchildren and even riding his bike again.A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Mr. Forrester was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer, a condition that spread to other parts of his body, causing him intense pain and discomfort. 'He was depressed and cried on the couch three or four times a day,' his wife recalled. 'Watching him in such excruciating pain was very hard. I thought, there's got to be a better way.' When a physician determined Mr. Forrester was hospice eligible, meaning his life expectancy was six months or less, his wife knew he wanted to spend that time at home. The Forresters selected hospice care through VITAS. 'In three days, my husband was up walking. He was eating and sleeping,' Mrs. Forrester recalled. 'In a week, he was riding a bike. He was doing amazing things that hadn't happened in 18 months; that's how great he felt. Jim became the person we all knew again.' 'The treatment that I've received through VITAS is tremendous,' said Mr. Forrester. 'I look back now at how I felt three months ago—from having pain, being down with my cancer, to being lifted up now and feeling like I did a long, long time ago. I feel so much better. Every day I wake up is a new day, and I enjoy the day.' According to his wife, the care VITAS provided significantly improved Mr. Forrester's quality of life during his last months. She said it remains one of the best decisions they ever made. 'VITAS is committed to providing compassionate, dignified care to every patient throughout their journey with us,' said Sandhya Bhalla, MD, VITAS regional medical director. 'Patients and families who choose hospice consistently report greater levels of comfort through effective symptom management and a dedicated support system that addresses their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Mr. Forrester's experience is a testament to this approach.' Four months after he chose compassionate hospice care, Mr. Forrester passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones. The Value of Advance Care Planning When a patient's disease state has progressed to advanced or enters end stage, especially as daily living activities grow more difficult, hospice care can offer physical, emotional, spiritual and psychosocial support for patients and their loved ones. Research shows that earlier referrals and greater utilization of hospice during the last six months of life is associated with increased satisfaction and quality of life—for both patients and their loved ones. Longer stays amount to better outcomes, fewer unwanted and costly hospitalizations and less strain on caregivers. 'I knew what he wanted, we talked about it early on in our marriage,' Mrs. Forrester said about the decision to select hospice. 'He got sick, and he wanted to be home.' Having advance directives in place is critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one's end-of-life wishes. It empowers the patient and removes the decision-making burden from families. Having this conversation early on ensured that the care Mr. Forrester received aligned with his goals, values and beliefs, even if he became unable to make decisions himself. As the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, VITAS hospice teams are committed to providing goal-focused care with plans that align with a patient's wishes and values, including pain and symptom management, to maintain their quality of life. For patients like Mr. Forrester, that can mean a world of difference. Patient Experience Week, observed this year from April 28 to May 2, is an annual celebration that honors the healthcare professionals who impact patients' lives through empathy, connection and high-quality care. VITAS celebrates this week by recognizing how each team member plays a vital role in shaping meaningful end-of-life experiences for patients and their families. About VITAS® Healthcare Established in 1978, VITAS Healthcare is a pioneer and leader in the American hospice movement. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 56 hospice programs in 15 states (Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. VITAS employs 12,001 professionals who care for patients with advanced illness, primarily in the patients' homes, and also in the company's 30 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the first quarter of 2025, VITAS reported an average daily census of 22,336. Visit Media inquiries contact: media@ 877-848-2701
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Q4 Earnings Highs And Lows: Chemed (NYSE:CHE) Vs The Rest Of The Senior Health, Home Health & Hospice Stocks
As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it's time to take stock of this quarter's best and worst performers in the senior health, home health & hospice industry, including Chemed (NYSE:CHE) and its peers. The senior health, home care, and hospice care industries provide essential services to aging populations and patients with chronic or terminal conditions. These companies benefit from stable, recurring revenue driven by relationships with patients and families that can extend many months or even years. However, the labor-intensive nature of the business makes it vulnerable to rising labor costs and staffing shortages, while profitability is constrained by reimbursement rates from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. Looking ahead, the industry is positioned for tailwinds from an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, and a growing preference for personalized in-home care. Advancements in remote monitoring and telehealth are expected to enhance efficiency and care delivery. However, headwinds such as labor shortages, wage inflation, and regulatory uncertainty around reimbursement could pose challenges. Investments in digitization and technology-driven care will be critical for long-term success. The 7 senior health, home health & hospice stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 2%. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.8% on average since the latest earnings results. With a unique business model combining end-of-life care and household services, Chemed (NYSE:CHE) operates two distinct businesses: VITAS, which provides hospice care for terminally ill patients, and Roto-Rooter, which offers plumbing and water restoration services. Chemed reported revenues of $640 million, up 9.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts' expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts' full-year EPS guidance estimates. The stock is up 10.6% since reporting and currently trades at $605. Is now the time to buy Chemed? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. With a nationwide network of 177 locations serving 43 states and a team of over 4,500 clinicians, Option Care Health (NASDAQ:OPCH) is the largest independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services, delivering medications and clinical support to patients across the United States. Option Care Health reported revenues of $1.35 billion, up 19.7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 4.9%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' full-year EPS guidance estimates and a solid beat of analysts' EPS estimates. Option Care Health pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $33.39. Is now the time to buy Option Care Health? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. With a network of over 650 communities serving approximately 59,000 residents across 41 states, Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE:BKD) operates senior living communities across the United States, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. Brookdale reported revenues of $780.9 million, up 3.5% year on year, in line with analysts' expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' EPS estimates. Brookdale delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 20.4% since the results and currently trades at $6.39. Read our full analysis of Brookdale's results here. With a network of approximately 680 locations serving patients across all 50 states, AdaptHealth (NASDAQ:AHCO) provides home medical equipment, supplies, and related services to patients with chronic conditions like sleep apnea, diabetes, and respiratory disorders. AdaptHealth reported revenues of $856.6 million, flat year on year. This number surpassed analysts' expectations by 3.3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance slightly topping analysts' expectations. AdaptHealth had the slowest revenue growth and weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 5.1% since reporting and currently trades at $8.11. Read our full, actionable report on AdaptHealth here, it's free. Serving approximately 66,000 clients across 22 states with a focus on "dual eligible" Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, Addus HomeCare (NASDAQ:ADUS) provides in-home personal care, hospice, and home health services to elderly, chronically ill, and disabled individuals. Addus HomeCare reported revenues of $297.1 million, up 7.5% year on year. This result beat analysts' expectations by 2.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts' sales volume estimates and a decent beat of analysts' EPS estimates. The stock is down 5.3% since reporting and currently trades at $102.97. Read our full, actionable report on Addus HomeCare here, it's free. In response to the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed's 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump's presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Join Paid Stock Investor Research Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chemed Corporation (CHE) Shares Retreated by -13% During TimesSquare U.S. FOCUS Growth Strategy's Holding Period
TimesSquare Capital Management, an equity investment management company, released its 'U.S. Focus Growth Strategy' fourth-quarter 2024 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the fourth quarter, the strategy returned -1.35% (gross) and -1.56% (net) compared to 8.14% for the Russell Midcap Growth Index. In the fourth quarter, the U.S. small to mid-cap growth equities with the greatest valuation (P/E), lowest quality (return on equity), or highest risk (beta or volatility) provided the strongest gains. In this environment, the portfolio's fourth-quarter performance fell short of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, resulting in poor performance for the year. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2024. In its fourth quarter 2024 investor letter, TimesSquare Capital Management U.S. Focus Growth Strategy emphasized stocks such as Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE). Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) is a company that offers hospice and palliative care services. The one-month return of Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) was 0.10%, and its shares lost 4.13% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On April 4, 2025, Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) stock closed at $597.34 per share with a market capitalization of $8.743 billion. TimesSquare Capital Management U.S. Focus Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) in its Q4 2024 investor letter: "We also exited Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE), which operates through the VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments. VITAS offers hospice and palliative care services. Roto-Rooter includes plumbing, drain cleaning, and water restoration. While results from VITAS were in line with expectations, Roto-Rooter missed due to lower call volumes. Although the company's VITAS business is well positioned for future growth, their Roto-Rooter business has poor visibility and that led us to sell out of stock, which retreated by -13% during the time it was held in the quarter." A close-up of an experienced nurse administering hospice and palliative care. Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 39 hedge fund portfolios held Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) at the end of the fourth quarter which was 27 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that 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 as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. We covered Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) in another article, where we shared TimesSquare Capital U.S. Focus Growth Strategy's views on the company in the previous quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q4 2024 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and A New Dawn Is Coming to US Stocks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
