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Trump says ‘something’s going to happen very soon’ with Iran as he pushes to negotiate nuclear deal

President Donald Trump signaled that a nuclear deal with Iran could emerge in the near future, just over a month after his administration reinstated a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Tehran. 

Trump on Friday told reporters that the U.S. is ‘down to the final moments’ negotiating with Iran, and that he hoped military intervention would prove unnecessary. 

‘It’s an interesting time in the history of the world. But we have a situation with Iran that something is going to happen very soon, very, very soon,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. ‘You’ll be talking about that pretty soon, I guess. Hopefully, we can have a peace deal. I’m not speaking out of strength or weakness, I’m just saying I’d rather see a peace deal than the other. But the other will solve the problem.’ 

Trump revealed he sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pushing for Tehran to agree to a nuclear agreement — or face military consequences, according to a clip released Friday from an interview with FOX Business that is set to air Sunday. 

‘I would rather negotiate a deal,’ Trump told FOX Business. ‘I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily.’ 

‘But the time is happening now, the time is coming up,’ he said. ‘Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran, and I’ve written them a letter, saying I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them.’

Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Iran program, said that it seemed Trump was ‘putting all options on the table, from good to bad.’ 

‘But the President should be careful,’ Ben Taleblu said in a statement. ‘Tehran has set a trap for him, hoping to lure him into endless diplomacy that is used to blunt maximum pressure and dampen the credibility of an American or Israeli military option while buying time to creep towards a nuclear weapon.’

Trump’s remarks also come days before the 18th anniversary of the abduction of retired FBI Special Agent Robert ‘Bob’ Levinson from Kish Island, Iran, on Sunday, which also marks National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. 

The FBI has continued to offer up to a $5 million reward for information that leads to Levinson’s recovery, while the State Department has offered $20 million for such information, as well as details on those who are wanted for their alleged involvement in his disappearance. 

Trump told reporters in February he believes Iran is ‘close’ to developing a nuclear weapon, but that the U.S. would stop a ‘strong’ Tehran from obtaining one. He also signed an executive order instructing the Treasury Department to execute ‘maximum economic pressure’ upon Iran through a series of sanctions aimed at sinking Iran’s oil exports. 

‘They’re very strong right now, and we’re not going to let them get a nuclear weapon,’ Trump said Feb. 4. 

Trump’s first administration also adopted a ‘maximum pressure’ initiative against Tehran, issuing greater sanctions and harsher enforcement for violations.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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NEWT GINGRICH: How House Democrats became zombies

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

As I wrote earlier this week, after attending President Donald J. Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress, it occurred to me that the House Democrats have become like zombies.

Their members sat mute and motionless no matter what the president said or who he honored – including a young cancer survivor, a newly accepted West Point cadet, and an American who had been held hostage in Russia. Not one House Democrat exhibited any trace of human compassion or interest. It was a bit eerie.

As I thought more about this, a lot of other things began to make sense.

The House Democrats have evolved from being a relatively rough and tumble, argumentative, and rebellious bunch in the 1960s and 1970s into a tame, passive, robotic group today.

Of course, historically, the Democratic Party has had a deep tradition of machine politics going back to the founding of Tammany Hall in New York City in 1786. Virtually every major city run by Democrats today operates this way. Over the long-term, the Democratic system simply tends to breed conformity. But this zombie-ism is a new, more extreme phenomenon.

You can start to track it with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Recall when Pelosi held up the nearly 1,000-page Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and said, ‘we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.’ At the time, I thought it was a foolish slip of the tongue. In hindsight, the Pelosi Speakership often involved Democratic members voting blindly as instructed by their elected leadership.

As Speaker in the first two years of Joe Biden’s presidency, Pelosi took full advantage of this blind loyalty to pass a slew of massive bills with no elected officials really knowing the details.

Democrat after Democrat voted for deeply unpopular policies which barred parents from knowing what their children were doing and learning in school, allowed men to play women’s sports, opposed tax cuts, left the southern border open, etc. For a long time, I could not figure out how House Democrats could so brazenly ignore the will of the American people. Now I get it. They were turning into zombies.

For a long time, I could not figure out how House Democrats could so brazenly ignore the will of the American people. Now I get it. They were turning into zombies.

Of course, Pelosi didn’t do it alone. The teachers’ and public employee unions kept people in line by threatening to fund primary opponents. The left-wing billionaires and activist groups also policed House Democratic members.

The propaganda media also gladly reminded Democrats of the party-movement line. From ‘The View,’ to MSNBC, to the New York Times, and the Washington Post, the signals went out. This is who we are. This is what we believe. Those who broke rank became ostracized and isolated. Just ask Sen. Joe Manchin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Finally, there was sheer social pressure from other Democrats. Walking to vote and getting on an elevator with five or six hard-left-wing members could have a significant influence on whether someone voted against Democratic leadership. At a practical level, losing committee assignments and watching more obedient members get the better committees is a real lever of power. I encountered this in the 1980s when several southern Democrats voted with President Ronald Reagan. They suddenly found their committee assignments and proposed legislation in jeopardy.

The ultimate example of zombie behavior in the Democratic Party was the replacement of President Biden by Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden had won every primary. He had a virtually unanimous delegation which would have dominated the Democratic National Convention. Vice President Harris had received zero votes. Yet within a few hours, the zombies took down Biden and elevated Harris.

In a party which had spent four years lecturing about democracy, this instant switch would only have been possible in a party of zombies. They did as they were told. Applauded when they were told. And lied to themselves when they were told.

It will be interesting to see how House Democrats deal with the challenges of a dynamic, creative, and aggressive Republican Party. I expect President Trump will cheerfully run circles around the House Democrat zombies just as he did Tuesday night.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Trump announces US ambassador nominations that include mayor of Michigan city

President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social Friday that he had appointed a number of new ambassadors.

Trump announced Amer Ghalib will serve as the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait. 

‘As the Mayor of the City of Hamtramck, Michigan, Amer worked hard to help us secure a Historic Victory in Michigan,’ Trump wrote.

Ghalib earned a medical degree from the Ross University School of Medicine and continues to serve his community as a proud healthcare professional. 

‘I know he will make our Country proud in this new role. Congratulations Amer,’ Trump wrote.

Trump then announced Duke Buchan III would serve as U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco. 

‘Duke will play a pivotal role as we strengthen Peace, Freedom, and Prosperity for both of our Countries,’ Trump wrote. ‘Congratulations to Duke and his wonderful family!’

Trump named Lynda Blanchard the next U.S. ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. 

‘During my First Term, Lynda did a great job as U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia,’ the president wrote. ‘She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Auburn University and, alongside her husband, she helped build a very successful Real Estate company. I know she will work incredibly hard for our Nation. Congratulations Lynda!’

The final announcement named Michel Issa as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon. 

‘Michel is an outstanding businessman, a financial expert, and a leader with a remarkable career in Banking, Entrepreneurship, and International Trade,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Friday night. ‘I have no doubt that he will serve our Country with Honor and Distinction. Congratulations Michel!’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol freed from prison after canceled arrest

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was freed from prison on Saturday after a court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for rebellion without being physically detained.

This comes after Yoon was arrested and indicted by prosecutors in January over his martial law decree on Dec. 3 — leading to political turmoil in the country — that the National Assembly voted to reverse just hours later. The National Assembly also voted to impeach him, resulting in his suspension from office.

Yoon was seen on Saturday waving his hand, clenching his fists and bowing to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and U.S. national flags. He entered a black van to travel to his residence in Seoul.

In a statement, Yoon said he ‘appreciates the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality,’ in what appeared to be a reference to questions over his arrest. He also thanked his supporters and urged people who are on hunger strike against his impeachment to end it.

The Constitutional Court has been deliberating whether to formally dismiss or reinstate Yoon as president. If the court upholds his impeachment, an election for a new president will be held within two months.

The Seoul Central District Court said Friday it accepted Yoon’s request to be freed from prison, pointing to the need to address questions over the legality of the investigations of the president.

Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the investigative agency that detained him prior to his formal arrest lacked legal authority to probe rebellion charges.

The court in Seoul also said the legal period of his formal arrest expired ahead of his indictment.

Yoon’s release from prison came after prosecutors opted against appealing the ruling by the Seoul Central District Court. South Korean law allows prosecutors to continue to hold a suspect in custody as they pursue an appeal, even after the arrest is canceled by a court.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which led Yoon’s impeachment in December, criticized the prosecutors for their decision not to appeal, labeling them as ‘henchmen’ of Yoon, who is a former prosecutor general.

Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae called on the Constitutional Court to dismiss Yoon as soon as possible to avoid further public unrest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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UN draft report on children in conflict zones raises eyebrows with framing of Israelis

The United Nations’ annual report on children in conflict zones isn’t set to come out until June, but the draft report obtained by Fox News Digital is already causing concern. The report excludes several examples of Israeli victims of the ongoing war, while lobbing accusations at the Jewish state.

Throughout the section of the report on Israeli and Palestinian children, there are instances of the U.N. conflicting verified and unverified data. Though the report admits that there is unverified data, it does not give any information on who was responsible for verifying the other figures. This lack of transparency leaves room to doubt the report’s accuracy.

‘We will not cooperate with a report that serves as a platform for baseless slander against Israel,’ Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement sent exclusively to Fox News Digital. 

The report claims that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) kidnapped a Palestinian girl. While it is stated that the incident was verified, the U.N. provides no information on who did the verification. There are also no details about the incident in the report. It does not say where the child was allegedly abducted or whether she is alive.

In one of its more egregious claims, the report accuses IDF soldiers of using 27 Palestinian children as human shields in the West Bank and Gaza. Once again, the report claims these cases have been verified but does not say who confirmed them. The use of human shields is not a known IDF practice, but it is something Hamas has been accused of doing for years.

‘There are reports of the use of human shields by Hamas’ Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip,’ the draft of the report reads.

There is another Hamas tactic that the U.N. appears to pin on Israel in its report — the use of schools and hospitals as military outposts. Both Israel and the U.S. have verified that Hamas used hospitals in Gaza for military purposes. 

In November 2023, just weeks after the war began, IDF Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus posted a video tour of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza showing weapons caches, Hamas paraphernalia and ammunition scattered throughout the facility.

Israel is also slammed in the report for denying Palestinians humanitarian aid. However, there is no mention of Hamas and Palestinian armed groups looting aid trucks. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said in November 2024 that of the 109 aid trucks that crossed from Israel into Gaza, 97 were ‘violently looted.’

What the U.N. left out of the report is also telling. While it does say that two Israeli boys were killed in captivity in Gaza, it does not name Kfir and Ariel Bibas, nor does it mention that they were killed by their captors. Additionally, the draft report contains no mention of the 12 Druze children killed by Hezbollah rocket fire while playing soccer in northern Israel.

‘The secretary-general once again chooses to blatantly ignore the violence and harm done to Israeli children. Based on this report, Israeli lives do not matter and are not worthy of attention. Israel will not let diplomatic terrorism prevail,’ Ambassador Danon told Fox News Digital.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Applebee’s owner Dine Brands to lean on value, marketing to reverse sales declines

Dine Brands hopes to boost sales this year with a wider swath of value meals and buzzier advertising after a rough 2024 for Applebee’s and IHOP.

“We had a soft year in 2024, which disappoints us, but we’re focused on improving that in 2025,” Dine Brands CEO John Peyton told CNBC. “We’ve got to have compelling messages and compelling promotions and compelling reasons to drive traffic into the restaurants.”

Dine on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter U.S. same-store sales dropped 4.7% at Applebee’s and 2.8% at IHOP, ending the year with four straight quarters of domestic same-store sales declines for its two flagship brands. Shares of Dine have fallen 50% over the last 12 months, dragging its market cap down to $386 million.

The company’s down year followed three years of strong growth for the company, driven by pent-up demand as diners returned to IHOP and Applebee’s after the pandemic. But like many restaurant companies, Dine saw a pullback last year from customers who make less than $75,000. After several years paying higher prices for groceries, rent, gas and other necessities, consumers opted to stay home to cook their meals or visit other chains that offered better deals or flashy promotions.

The slowdown in restaurant spending led a slew of casual-dining restaurant chains to file for bankruptcy over the last 12 months. Familiar names like Red Lobster and TGI Friday’s sought bankruptcy protection to reorganize their struggling businesses and offload their worst-performing restaurants. Most recently, On the Border filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Applebee’s promotions have failed to cut through much of the noise from the so-called value wars that have ignited across the restaurant industry, at chains from McDonald’s to Bloomin’ Brands’ Outback Steakhouse. Even a triad of recent pop-culture moments last year couldn’t boost its profile: a pivotal cameo in the tennis drama film “Challengers,” an Applebee’s-motivated meltdown on “Survivor” and a shoutout from football legend Peyton Manning during Netflix’s roast of his former rival Tom Brady.

“You’ve got most of the restaurant companies are advertising value, and they’re advertising full meal deals, and so it’s harder to break through with a message when there are so many similar messages out there,” Dine’s Peyton said.

But it’s not impossible to break out from the pack. Chili’s, which is owned by Brinker International, won over diners with its viral Triple Dipper and $10.99 burger combo after spending months turning around its business.

In its most recent quarter, Brinker reported same-store sales growth of 27.4%. Thanks to its dramatic comeback, the company has become the rare casual-dining darling of investors. Brinker’s stock has soared over the last year, nearly tripling its value in the same period and raising its market cap to $6.29 billion.

For now, the star of Applebee’s value promotions, the two for $25 deal, routinely accounts for roughly a fifth of the chain’s tickets, according to Peyton. But Applebee’s is looking to add to its value offerings later this spring or in the early summer with options that appeal to larger groups or to customers who don’t want to order with their dining partner.

Dine is also trying to improve its social media presence.

“At both IHOP and Applebee’s, we know we need to do better there. We know we need to be more relevant. We know that we have to be part of the conversation and the culture,” Peyton said.

A new president for Applebee’s could help with that goal.

Peyton is currently pulling double duty serving as interim president for the chain after Tony Moralejo stepped down effective Tuesday. Peyton said the company is looking for a replacement “with a great marketing background” who understands how to connect with younger customers, on top of being a great leader with an understanding of franchising and some restaurant experience. (Yum Brands’ Lawrence Kim joined Dine as IHOP’s president in early January, succeeding Jay Johns.)

Looking to 2025, Dine is trying to communicate better with its customers and use its menu innovation to attract younger diners, according to Peyton.

But Dine’s confidence in its ability to attract customers seems shaky. For 2025, the company is projecting Applebee’s same-store sales to range between a 2% decline and a 1% increase and IHOP’s same-store sales to range between a 1% decrease and a 2% gain.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Walgreens to go private in roughly $10 billion deal

Struggling drugstore chain Walgreens is going private. 

The company on Thursday said it inked a deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners that will take it off the public market for an equity value of around $10 billion.

Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share in cash for Walgreens. Shareholders could also receive up to $3 more per share in the future from sales of Walgreens’ primary-care businesses, including Village Medical, Summit Health and CityMD. Walgreens said the total value of the transaction would be up to $23.7 billion when including debt and possible payouts down the line.

Walgreens and Sycamore expect to close the take-private deal in the fourth quarter of this year. Shares of Walgreens jumped more than 5% in after-hours trading on Thursday before being halted.

The historic deal ends Walgreens’ tumultuous run as a public company, which began in 1927. As of Thursday morning, shares of the company were up more than 15% for 2025, but the stock was still down more than 48% for the last year and had fallen 70% for the past three years. 

“While we are making progress against our ambitious turnaround strategy, meaningful value creation will take time, focus and change that is better managed as a private company,” Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth, who stepped into the role in 2023, said in a release on Thursday. “Sycamore will provide us with the expertise and experience of a partner with a strong track record of successful retail turnarounds.

Stefan Kaluzny, Sycamore’s managing director, said in the release the transaction reflects the firm’s confidence in Walgreens’ “pharmacy-led model and essential role in driving better outcomes for patients, customers and communities.”

Walgreens will maintain its headquarters in Chicago. The company currently has more than 310,000 employees globally and 12,500 retail pharmacy locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America, according to the release. Walgreens still plans to release its second-quarter earnings on April 8.

Walgreens’s market value reached a peak of more than $100 billion in 2015 as investors gained confidence in its health-care business and expansion plans, making it one of the most prominent American retail companies. 

But the company’s market cap shrank to under $8 billion in late 2024 due to competition from its main rival CVS, grocery chains, big-box retailers and Amazon, along with a slew of challenges. Walgreens has been squeezed by the transition out of the Covid pandemic, pharmacy reimbursement headwinds, softer consumer spending and a troubled push into health care.

Both Walgreens and CVS have pivoted from years of store expansions to shuttering hundreds of retail pharmacy locations across the U.S. to shore up profits. But unlike CVS, which has diversified its business model by offering insurance and pharmacy benefits, Walgreens largely doubled down on its now-flailing retail pharmacy business. 

In October, Walgreens said it plans to close roughly 1,200 of its drugstores over the next three years, including 500 in fiscal 2025 alone. Walgreens has around 8,700 locations in the U.S., a quarter of which it says are unprofitable. The company has also scaled back its push into primary care by cutting its stake in provider VillageMD. 

Walgreens tapped health-care industry veteran Tim Wentworth as its new CEO in late 2023 to help regain its footing. 

The company has reportedly been seen as a potential private equity target in the past. 

In 2019, private equity firm KKR made a roughly $70 billion buyout offer to Walgreens, the Financial Times and Bloomberg reported at the time. 

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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FTSE MIB index analysis: here’s why Italian stocks are surging

Italian stocks are doing well this year, with the blue-chip FTSE MIB index surging to a record high. It has risen in the last six days and is trading at €39,000. It is up by 14% this year, beating its American counterparts like the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indices that have pulled back and erased their year-to-date gains.

ECB interest rate cuts and spending

The FTSE MIB index, which tracks the biggest companies in Italy, has been in a strong rally this year. This surge has mirrored that of other European indices like CAC 40 and DAX index.

Most of these gains are mostly because of the ongoing monetary policy by the European Central Bank (ECB).

The ECB has delivered five interest rate cuts since last year. It continued its rate cuts this week, slashing them by 0.25%, and hinted that more cuts would happen if the economic growth remains under pressure.

Analysts anticipate more cuts later this year as the European economy prepares for Donald Trump’s tariffs. Trump has hinted that he will move ahead with a 25% tariff on European goods. Those tariffs would affect Italy, a country with a long trade relationship. The two countries do trade worth over $130 billion.

The ongoing ECB interest rate cuts have led to a retreat of Italian bond yields. Data shows that the short-term and long-term Italian bond yields have retreat in the past few months.

The FTSE MIB index has jumped because of the ongoing boost in spending by European governments. Just this week, German bond yields surged after the government hinted that it would boost defense spending.

Top Italian stocks performance

Most companies in the FTSE MIB index have surged this year. The most notable one was Leonardo, the biggest defense company in the country, has jumped by over 75% this year. Leonardo is a top company that focuses on aerospace, defence, and security. 

Its performance has surged as many European countries focus on boosting spending because of Donald Trump. 

IVECO Group, one of the biggest truck makers in Europe, has surged by 71% this year as demand jumped.  The most recent results showed that IVECO Group’s revenue stood at €15.3 billion, while the EBOT jumped to over €982 million. Its stock has also benefited from its defense business. 

Unicredit stock price has surged by 50% this year, as it fires on all cylinders. This surge has continued to woo Commerzbank, the second-biggest German bank.

The other top companies in the FTSE MIB index are Banco Pop Sondrio, Intensa Sanpaolo, Moncler, Mediobanca, Unipol, and Generali. 

On the other hand, the top laggards in the FTSE MIB index are firms like Saipem, Amplifon, Interpump Group, and Stellantis.

FTSE MIB index analysis

FTSE MIB chart by TradingView

The weekly chart shows that the FTSE MIB index has been in a strong bullish trend in the past few years. It has jumped from a low of €20,220 in 2022 to €38,780. 

The index recently moved above the key resistance level at €35,400, the upper side of the inverse head and shoulders chart pattern. It has remained above the 50-week and 100-week Exponential Moving Averages (EMA).

Further, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the MACD indicators have done well, pointing to more momentum. Therefore, with the FTSE MIB index moving into the overbought level, there is a likelihood that it will pull back and retest the support at €35,400. 

A break-and-retest pattern at €35,400 would be a bullish sign, raising the possibility that it will jump to the resistance at €40,000. 

The post FTSE MIB index analysis: here’s why Italian stocks are surging appeared first on Invezz

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Top FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares to watch next week

The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices pulled back this week as investors focused on the ongoing geopolitical issues. The mid-cap FTSE MIB index has retreated by over 4% from its highest level this year, while the blue-chip FTSE 100 fell by over 2.50%.

These indices reacted to key earnings results by some of the biggest companies in the UK. Some of the most notable ones that published their results this week were Entain, Flutter Entertainment, ITV, Harbour Energy, and Admiral Group. 

The UK earnings season has largely ended, meaning that there will be no major companies that will publish their numbers next week. Some of the top FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares to watch next week will be Helios Towers, Legal & General, Balfour Beatty, and Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

Legal & General Group

Legal & General, one of the biggest insurance and asset management companies in the FTSE 100 index, will be in the spotlight next week as it publishes its financial results on March 12. 

These results come as its share price has moved sideways this year and underperformed Aviva its biggest competitor. Its results came a few weeks after the company sold its US protection business to Meiji Yasuda.

It also boosted its capital return strategy, with the anticipated buyback being £1 billion. It expects to return about 40% of its market cap in the next three years.

The most recent financial results showed that the core operating profit rose to £849 million in the first half of the year. Its profit after tax rose to £223 million, while its assets under management jumped to £1.13 trillion.

Read more: Legal & General (LGEN) share price has plunged: what next?

Helios Towers

Helios Towers is a top company in the telecommunication industry, where it offers infrastructure used by some of the biggest firms. It mainly focuses on Africa, where it has partnerships with leading brands like MTN and Safaricom. 

Helios Towers share price has underperformed the market in the past few years and is now 57% below its all-time high. 

The most recent results showed that Helios Towers had 14,185 sites in Africa, a 2% increase from a year earlier. Its revenue rose by 11% to £350 million, while the adjusted EBITDA rose by 19% to £206 million. The management guided to a full-year EBITDA of between £410 million and £420 million. 

Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty is a leading company in the infrastructure industry. It is a top company that offers engineering solutions across industries like real estate, roads, and utilities. 

Balfour Beatty share price has soared to 447p this year, and is up by 65% from the lowest level last year.  

The most recent trading statement showed that its order book jumped by 5%, helped by the UK energy and US building industries. Its full-year revenue, which will come out next week, is expected to show its revenue rose to £10 billion, a 2% increase.  Balfour Beatty’s profit after tax is expected to be higher than what it made a year earlier. 

The other top FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares to watch next week will be firms like 4imprint, PensionBee, CAB Payment Holdings, Savills, and Berkeley Group Holdings.

The post Top FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares to watch next week appeared first on Invezz

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Carvana stock price is crumbling: is it safe to buy the CVNA dip?

Carvana stock price has moved into a bear market after plunging by over 36% from its highest level this year. CVNA has fallen to its lowest level since January 26, giving it a market cap of $46 billion. So, is Carvana a good stock to buy now?

Carvana is growing, but concerns remain

Carvana has become one of the fastest and best-performing companies in Wall Street after surging by over 180% in the last five years. It rose by over 6,300% from its lowest level in 2023, bringing its market cap to over $43 billion.

Carvana stock has jumped after the management successfully handled its debt burden, which threatened its existence a few years ago.

The company has also benefited from strong revenue growth as it continued to gain market share in the US. As a result, its revenue jumped to over $13.6 billion in 2024, up from $10.7 billion a year earlier. 

It has also become a highly profitable company, with the annual figure rising to $210 million. This profitability is because of its cost reduction, with its advertising expense per unit falling by 25% to $550.

Carvana’s stock has also jumped as the management has prioritized profitability over revenue growth. This prioritization has pushed the management to ensure that all vehicles it sells are delivered profitably. 

Carvana has attracted substantial criticism and praise in the past. Most critics point to its valuation and its arrangement with DriveTime, a company started by Carvana’s founder father. Hindenburg Research, a popular short seller company that shuttered its operations this year, accused the company of trade manipulation.

It also accused Carvana of having a toxic loan book, comprising of $15.4 billion in asset-backed securities (ABS) and substantial delinquencies. Carvana has rejected all these claims and maintained that its business was doing well.

CVNA growth continued soaring in Q4

The most recent results showed that Carvana continued doing well in 2024. It sold 416,348 vehicles during the year, a big increase from the 312,847 it sold a year earlier. These vehicles brought in its revenue to $13 billion.

Notably, Carvana’s annual retail units were lower than the 425,237 and 412,296 that it sold in 2021 and 2022. That is a sign that the company is benefiting from higher vehicle prices sold on its platform. Indeed, the gross profit per unity rose to $7,196, up from minus $201 a decade earlier.

The management expects that its business will continue doing well this year. While it did not give a number, Wall Street analysts anticipate that the first quarter revenue will rise by 27% to $3.9 billion. The annual revenue figure will grow by 19% to $16.34 billion, followed by $19.5 billion next year.

The biggest concern for Carvana stock price is that it is still one of the most overvalued companies on Wall Street. It has a trailing P/E ratio of 117.52 and a forward multiple of 69. 

Read more: JPM raises Carvana stock target: how high could CVNA go in 2025?

Carvana stock price analysis

CVNA chart by TradingView

The daily chart shows that the CVNA share price has crashed after peaking at $292.87 earlier this year. It has now plunged by over 30% to $186, and moved below the key support level at $267, the highest swing in November last year. This price was the double-top point. 

The stock has crashed below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages and is nearing the neckline at $175.50, the lowest swing on January 3. Also, the Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO) and other oscillators have all pointed downwards.

Therefore, because of the double-top pattern, there is a risk that it will have a strong bearish breakdown, with the next point to watch being at $150. 

The post Carvana stock price is crumbling: is it safe to buy the CVNA dip? appeared first on Invezz

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