Good for the Soul
'Who would've ever thought I'd walk out of prison and the Bureau of Justice would give me funding?'
There's nothing conventional about Shawntelle Fisher – including her ideas.
When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn't know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing this.Shawntelle Fisher, founder and CEO of the SoulFisher Ministries
In 2019, Fisher pitched the unique concept of employer workshops for justice-involved people to an independent judging panel to earn a $25,000 grant from Regions Bank. And at this year's Regions Bank Community Convening in St. Louis, Fisher addressed the audience of 100-plus nonprofit leaders about the exponential growth her nonprofit The SoulFisher Ministries has realized since.
'When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn't know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing this,' she said. 'We were really just getting on our feet; we were still struggling getting people to believe that people with criminal records were worth investing in.'
Not anymore.
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance has been a believer since 2018, investing millions to support SoulFisher's AGAPE Reentry program and Successful Second Chances program focusing on workforce development, job search assistance and job placement for people transitioning back into the community following incarceration.
Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we've envisioned from the beginning.
'Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we've envisioned from the beginning,' said Fisher. 'Just seeing that application was a motivator for something possible – to just do it and don't look back.'
What else has Fisher been doing?
'Where do I start?' she said. 'There are so many exciting things going on. The program Regions funded is still active and thriving. It's becoming a pillar in the community around workforce development.'
The six-year journey represents more than organizational growth; it's also involved significant personal reflection.
'Even when I was in prison, I was still a leader, just not the positive influence in my own community like I am today,' said Fisher. 'I had everything in me to do what I'm doing today; all I needed was the support and guidance.'
Someone who's delivered valuable support to Fisher and SoulFisher? Eric Madkins, Regions Community Development manager in Missouri.
These aren't just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success.
'Eric is our longest-serving board member,' said Fisher. 'He's been our treasurer; he's our current vice-chair. Eric is ever present. When you see us, you see Eric. It's an honor to have Regions supporting him through his service.'
Through his involvement, Madkins has seen the impact Fisher and team are making.
'These aren't just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success,' said Madkins. 'People deserve the chance to rebuild their lives, and The SoulFisher Ministries makes that possible. I'm beyond proud to support an organization opening so many doors for our community.'
Despite all her success, Fisher will tell you opening those doors doesn't always come easily.
'I still face challenges because I've been incarcerated,' Fisher said. 'I'm doing things the world didn't think I could do; that I didn't know I could do. I just have to stay focused and remember God called me to do this. If it were easy, anyone could do it. It's difficult but rewarding work.'
Seeing others thrive motivates Fisher to keep doing more – and to keep thinking unconventionally.
'We're doing amazing work in St. Louis and lives are being changed because of it,' she said. 'We believe restoration is possible and success is real.'
'Whenever I'm having conversations in the community and find out someone is doing something interesting, I say, 'Do you want to come do that with our kids?''
Through that one strategic move, Shawntelle Fisher introduced something new to SoulFisher's six afterschool sites five years ago.
The Black Squares Chess Club, led by nonprofit Dream Builders 4 Equity, is focused on increasing access to chess to youth ages 6 to 18.
For youth served by SoulFisher, it's become more than a hobby; it's a passion.
'They've become chess wizards at all six sites,' said Fisher. 'They absolutely love it, and it's helps inspire their confidence. When the world tells them they can't play chess, they know differently.'
Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Regions Bank
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Suge Knight Reveals Bombshell New Claims About Tupac's 1996 Death — Including Alleged Connections of Rapper's Mother and Diddy (Exclusive)
Suge Knight interviewed with PEOPLE from prison to discuss the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, claiming his mother assisted him in his death and friends smoked his cremated ashes Duane 'Keefe D' Davis has been charged with Shakur's murder and pleaded not guilty Court filings include past police interviews in which Davis claimed Sean "Diddy" Combs was involved in ordering the hit on Shakur and rap mogul Suge Knight. Combs has long denied any involvement in the shooting and Las Vegas police say he "has never been considered a suspect"Nearly three decades ago, around 11 p.m. on September 7, 1996, Marion 'Suge' Knight — then the 31-year-old CEO of Death Row Records and one of the most feared kingpins in the music business — drove a black BMW 750 sedan east through Las Vegas, a block off the strip. In the passenger seat sat rapper Tupac Shakur aka 2Pac, just 25, whose cultural footprint had already eclipsed his multi-platinum catalog. Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match. Trailing behind Knight and Shakur was the Death Row convoy of about ten cars that snaked through traffic like shadows. Then, at the corner of Flamingo and Koval, beneath the buzz of the Strip's neon haze, a white, late-model Cadillac pulled up alongside. According to Las Vegas prosecutors' July 2024 filings, South Side Compton Crips member Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson didn't have the correct angle to shoot. This came after a separate court filing in December described him as the alleged shooter. Anderson allegedly handed the semiautomatic .40 Glock to fellow gang member Deandre 'Big Dre' Smith, who opened fire from the backseat of the vehicle — 13 shots in total. Four bullets struck Shakur in the chest, arm and thigh. Knight was grazed in the head by shrapnel but survived. Shakur, who had worn a bulletproof vest regularly, was not wearing one that night. Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Inside the BMW, Tupac's unreleased 1997 track 'Never Had a Friend Like Me' was playing, Knight recalls. Speaking from California's Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where he is serving 28 years for a fatal hit-and-run, Knight, now, 60, reflected on the moment that altered everything as the only living witness to the deadly shooting. 'Tupac is my favorite person in the world. It was a part of me that changed my life forever,' he says, voice quivering. 'He didn't have to die. A part of me died when he died.' Related: Suge Knight Says Diddy Belongs in Prison for Assaulting Cassie: 'Never Disrespect a Woman Like That' (Exclusive) For nearly 30 years, no one was held accountable for Shakur's murder. The shooting occurred on one of the most surveilled intersections in America, amid surging tensions between rival gang-affiliated record labels. Many have pointed to a deeper reason the case went cold: an unwillingness to cross lines of influence, power and fear that ran far beyond music. But in September 2023, the tides finally turned. Duane 'Keefe D' Davis — a former Crips leader and the last known living suspect from the infamous white Cadillac that night — was arrested and charged with orchestrating the hit. Prosecutors allege Davis played point man in the murder that's haunted hip-hop for decades. Months later, in a bombshell court filing dated July 18, 2024, the Clark County District Attorney's office revealed a long-buried 2009 police interview in which Davis, speaking as a former confidential informant for two years, not only allegedly detailed his own role in the killing — but repeatedly pointed the finger at music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, then known as Puffy, as the man who allegedly ordered Tupac Shakur's assassination. Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Davis accused Combs of being enraged by Tupac's relentless taunts. The DEA and U.S. Department of Justice also released a report about a 2008 interview in which Davis claimed Combs said he "needed to get rid of Knight and Shakur" and offered Davis $1 million to "handle the problem." Knight, still grappling with it all, doesn't mince words: 'I end up with a bullet an inch into my skull, but at the same time, everybody knows where a million dollars came from,' he says, pausing momentarily. "Like what would Pac want? What he really want is truth. I believe that if something smells like sh--, look like sh--, it's sh--.' Combs has long vehemently denied any role in the shooting, and a public information officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told PEOPLE on July 24, 2024. "Sean Combs has never been considered a suspect in the Tupac Shakur homicide investigation." He has never been charged in connection to the murder. Combs is currently facing serious unrelated federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. His fate will be decided by twelve jurors in the coming weeks in the Southern District of New York. Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Is Not Testifying at His Sex-Trafficking Trial (Exclusive) Davis, who pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, remains in custody awaiting trial, which is now delayed until February 9, 2026. His defense claims new witness testimony could place him outside of Vegas and 300 miles away in Los Angeles during the time of the incident. But prosecutors continue to cite his own confessions, most notably his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend. Back in '96 in Vegas, after shots were fired, Knight — bleeding from his scalp — made a frantic U-turn and headed west at a high speed toward Las Vegas Boulevard. Meanwhile, two patrol officers on an unrelated call nearby had heard the gunfire and called for backup. They chased down the BMW, which had two blown tires. Once stopped, officers called for medical assistance. 'I got out and tried to tell the officers what happened while I was bleeding everywhere,' says Knight. 'Also, I then was getting Tupac out the car, even when the door was open. I had to go over there bleeding everywhere, take the seat belt off him. When we get into the ambulance, Pac is funny as f---. He cracking jokes. I'm cracking jokes. Pac's like, 'Sh--, when we heal up, you know what we doing.' That type of sh--.' The ambulance transported them to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. At the hospital, Knight was treated for minor injuries and released while Shakur was listed in critical condition. 'When I came to see him, Pac was sitting up talking. He [allegedly] said, 'Well, look. One, bring me a blunt. Matter of fact, bring me two blunts.' And I said, 'You going to smoke in the hospital?' He [allegedly] said, 'Yeah, I am.'' Knight chuckles softly recalling that moment — Tupac joking, allegedly requesting Hennessy too. Knight says Shakur grabbed him closer, as Knight kissed him on his forehead, and the two said, "I love you" to each other. But that joy cracked under the weight of what came next. Before the second of two emergency surgeries, including one to remove Shakur's right lung to stop internal bleeding, he made a chilling request. As he lay in his hospital bed, fading in and out of consciousness, Knight claims Shakur allegedly turned to him, desperately begging to be killed. He spoke with eerie clarity, suggesting they could even capture it on camera, that he'd record a will or even lay down a song explaining everything. It wouldn't matter, Shakur said. The world would still make Knight pay the ultimate price for it. Knight recalls them both laughing, but beneath the nervous laughter was a hard truth: Shakur believed he was going to be sent back to prison once the chaos subsided, a payback for the brutal casino beatdown caught on security footage hours before the brutal shooting. Prison, to Tupac, wasn't just a fear — it was a fate he believed was worse than death. "I'll die before I go back," he allegedly told those around him. Still, suicide was off the table. According to Knight, he believed taking his own life would bar him from heaven, a line he wouldn't cross. So instead, he turned to his crew — and then to Knight. "Kill me. Shoot me," he urged. Knight says he refused. 'No, Pac. We can't do it.' In the haze of hospital lights, beeping monitors and heartbreak, Knight claims Shakur made a final, desperate request to his mother, Afeni: let him go. According to Knight, who was by the rapper's side as he lay wracked with pain and failing fast, Shakur pleaded with his mother to help him end his life. Knight claims she allegedly gave him pills in an attempt to honor his wishes. 'The doctors came in and brought him back,' Knight recalls. 'And his mom [allegedly] said, 'Don't ever do that again. If he's having complications, don't touch him. Don't bring him back. Let him go.'' It was a mother's raw act of mercy, Knight says — a final promise to her son to respect his suffering. Doctors, trying to relieve pressure on his battered body, reportedly placed Shakur in a medically-induced coma and hooked him to a respirator, according to Knight. But the damage was irreversible. On September 13, at 4:03 p.m., Shakur was pronounced dead. What followed, Knight claims, was as surreal and raw as Tupac himself. Immediately after his death, Knight says Afeni, who died at age 60 in May 2016, turned to him and insisted her son be cremated, right then and there. 'She came up to me and said, 'Get it done. Now,'' Knight remembers. 'I told her, 'Look, I don't know if I can do that.'' He said he hesitated not out of defiance, but because Shakur, just weeks earlier, had allegedly laid out a different vision for his send-off. They had talked about it in the studio. 'He told me, 'When I go, I want every rapper at my funeral to grab the mic. I want them to kiss me head to toe. Just like in 'Life Goes On.'' Knight pauses. 'He didn't want to be cremated.' Related: Tupac Shakur's Mother Afeni Shakur Davis Dies at 69: Police But Afeni wouldn't hear it. 'She gave me one of those mama looks, like, 'Shut your a-- up and do what I said.' Then she started cussing me out. 'Get this sh-- done!'' Knight says. He did what she asked. 'I paid someone a million dollars cash to take care of it.' Later that night, a circle of Shakur's closest friends gathered to honor him the way they believed he would've wanted. The bag containing Tupac's cremated ashes was passed around. Some, allegedly, were rolled into a blunt and smoked. 'I was so happy to say I was on probation — I couldn't smoke,' Knight says. 'I told his mother, 'Moms, I'd love to, but if I hit that, I'll get in trouble.'' He laughs. 'I was probably the only one who didn't hit him.' Shakur came into the world already bearing the weight of revolution. His lyrics dripped with pain, purpose and paranoia — songs about "thug life," desperation and street justice that read like dispatches from the front lines of America's forgotten neighborhoods. But for all his fire and charisma, Shakur was, at his core, a troubled and sensitive soul. He spent his early years ricocheting through one inner-city zip code after another, chasing stability that never came. By the time the spotlight found him, Tupac had already become a walking contradiction: platinum-selling poet, convicted felon, street prophet, media pariah. Shakur's fourth album, All Eyez on Me, was climbing the charts again and had sold nearly 3 million copies, while his previous release, 1995's Me Against the World, sold 2 million copies. He appeared in three movies: Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993) and Above the Rim (1994) and just wrapped two 1997 films—Gridlock'd and Gang Related, in which he played a detective. Since '91, he'd been arrested eight times. He served eight months in prison for a sexual abuse conviction in 1994 and was named in two wrongful-death lawsuits — one involving a 6-year-old boy caught in the crossfire between Shakur's crew and rivals in Northern California in Marin City in 1992. It was settled for an undisclosed amount in November 1995. Still, nothing could match the chaos that followed his death. Rumors ignited within hours: who pulled the trigger, who ordered the hit, who knew more than they were saying. In a 179-page court filing submitted in 2024, prosecutors finally unpacked years of whispers and street talk in granular detail, laying out an explosive account of what allegedly happened before, during and after that fateful night in Las Vegas. The evening had started with spectacle: Mike Tyson knocked out Bruce Seldon at a boxing title match at the MGM Grand, where Knight and his Mob Piru Blood affiliates were in attendance. After the fight, the entourage ran into Orlando Anderson, an alleged South Side Crip connected to Bad Boy Records, then headed by Sean "Diddy" Combs. It wasn't a random encounter. The crew recognized Anderson from a previous scuffle where he allegedly tried to steal a Death Row necklace off Trevon "Tre" Lane. According to a 2009 police interview with Davis, the response was immediate and violent. Shakur, Knight, and Lane swarmed Anderson, throwing fists and kicks, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Security broke it up. By 8:55 p.m., the Death Row crew had left the building. But police haven't determined if Anderson or Smith allegedly pulled the trigger. The orders, prosecutors allege, came from Davis himself. According to grand jury testimony cited in the filing, Davis allegedly said he 'commanded' his soldiers (Anderson, Smith and driver Terry Brown) to 'confront Knight and Shakur and hunt them down.' Davis, who was riding in the passenger seat at the time of the shooting allegedly said he gave his gang members the 'ultimate green light to do something to their a----.' Davis added, according to the filing: 'Tupac chose the wrong game to play and the wrong n----s to play with." In the 2009 police interview, Davis said he obtained the firearm from drug trafficking associate Eric 'Zip' Martin. Homicide detective Dan Long asked Davis, 'Um, Puffy Combs. Does he play a role in this thing?' 'Yeah, I think he did,' Davis responded. 'That's what we think. That's word on the street.' He claimed that Diddy was terrified of Knight, and once, in front of a crowd of about 45 men, Combs allegedly said, "Man, ah, I would give anything for that dude['s] head," referring to Knight. According to Davis, 'He was real scared of the guy,' he continued. 'He said that s— in front of everybody.' 'Was [Combs] implying that he would pay to have it done?' Davis' attorney asked. 'Yeah, yeah,' Davis responded. 'He said it.' This wasn't the first time Combs and Knight had been at odds. At the 1995 Source Awards in New York City, Knight took a direct shot from the stage to diss Diddy without calling him out by name: 'Any artist out there that want to be an artist and stay a star, and don't have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the videos, all on the record, dancing… come to Death Row!' he said. Knight mocked Diddy for inserting his ad-libs on Bad Boy artists' songs and shimmying throughout their videos. 'It was real embarrassing the way he did it,' Davis said in his recorded statement to police. '[Diddy] was real scared of [Knight]. He didn't even want to come out here [to California]. Davis admitted Knight probably would have tried to kill Diddy if he'd had the chance. 'Did Puffy have any problems with Tupac?' Detective Long pressed Davis in 2009. '[Tupac] told [Diddy] he's a f----- and all that s---." Davis replied, claiming Combs had said, 'Yeah, f--- that dude.'" By then, the war between Bad Boy and Death Row was boiling over. After Tupac was ambushed and shot five times in the lobby of Quad Studios in Times Square 1994, he blamed Combs and the Bad Boy crew for setting him up, which Combs has always denied. But a year later, Combs released Biggie's single 'Who Shot Ya?' which was widely viewed as taking aim at Shakur, who responded with the vicious 'Hit 'Em Up,' pushing their rivalry to the brink. In the aftermath of Shakur's murder, new claims emerged. According to a grand jury exhibit cited in the prosecutors' filing in 2024, Davis alleged that Combs asked Davis after Shakur's murder, 'Is that us?' The filing states: 'Sean Combs reached out to defendant [Davis] wondering if South Side Crips were responsible for Shakur's death. Defendant, beaming with pride, answers, 'Yes.'' After the shooting, Davis claimed Combs owed him and his crew money. 'I knew we was like, 'Damn, we can get paid now,'' Davis said to police in 2009. A few months later, Davis said he met "Zip" Martin at a hot wings restaurant in Los Angeles. Although Davis claimed he had plenty of money back then, he wanted his nephew Anderson and his crew to get paid. Davis claimed Martin told him that he would check with Combs and have the money sent to them, but Martin never followed through. 'I wish I never met Puff Daddy, period, I swear to God,' Davis told police in 2009. 'He messed up my life, man. I was rich, up under the radar, all that, man. It's all gone.' Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Years later, Knight finally got the confrontation he'd imagined. In June 2007, he says the moment he'd long anticipated finally arrived: an alleged face-to-face with Combs. But this wasn't some back-alley confrontation in Compton or backstage standoff, it happened at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, with Prince allegedly playing puppet master. 'I'm sitting there, eating,' Knight recalls, leaning into the memory like a punchline. 'And everybody's always thinking the gangster's the guy in the room looking all hard and tough. But let me tell you, the gangster was Prince.' According to Knight, the icon himself sent someone mid-show to summon him. 'They come over and say, 'Man, Prince is performing right now, and he wants you to come watch the show.' Who gonna say no to Prince? Sh--' Knight says, laughing. 'You already know.' Escorted through the venue, Knight was led to a special table Prince had set aside, which was prime real estate in a packed house. 'Prince comes up playing the guitar, I never seen Prince smile so much in my life,' Knight remembers. 'Laughing, happy. And I tell him, 'We both had two of the best rappers in hip-hop.'' Then, Knight saw the seating arrangement. 'He set me down at this table where Puffy was there. Nas was there, other people. Prince knew what he was doing. Must've been pissed at Puffy. I think he [allegedly] planted me at that table on purpose.' Knight claims the tension cracked soon after. 'I got under Puff's skin,' he says, claiming he whispered some things in his ear, it probably hit a nerve. 'I told him, 'Let's go to the restroom together and get it out of the way.' You know, settle it.' But Combs, Knight claims, wasn't interested in squaring up. 'He stood up, heated. That's when I realized he wasn't ready for it — 'cause not only did they rush him out, they [allegedly] threw coats and shit over his head so you couldn't see his face and had jackets to hide him.' For Knight, the moment was peak Hollywood meets hip-hop war story, velvet rope diplomacy brokered by the most unlikely shot-caller in purple. "This story is beyond ridiculous and completely false," Combs told in 2008 about a retracted Los Angeles Times story that claimed he had knowledge of Shakur's death. "Neither Biggie [Smalls, the late rapper] nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself." Combs' legal team could not be reached for comment. 'I just want to take a deep breath and heal,' Knight says quietly, reflecting on the night that changed everything. Then, without hesitation, he adds: '[I believe] Diddy does deserve jail for it.' Knight also told PEOPLE in June he believes Combs deserves to be behind bars for assaulting Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel on March 5, 2016. Related: Suge Knight Says Diddy Belongs in Prison for Assaulting Cassie: 'Never Disrespect a Woman Like That' (Exclusive) For Knight, everything — his empire, his purpose, his identity — shifted after Tupac's death. He says it altered his life. It wasn't just the end of a great friendship; it was the death of an era. 'There is nothing better than Pac. There is no one greater than him, better than him,' Knight says, his voice thick with finality. The loss ran so deep, it pushed him out of the very world he helped define. 'After Tupac's passing, I exited the music business. 'Cause there was just... no way. I didn't wanna be in the studio with another artist. I didn't wanna go on tour with another artist. I didn't wanna. I lost trust in so many people. I lost trust in hip-hop.' Related: Tupac Shakur's Death: Details of the Rapper's 1996 Murder and Ongoing Investigation Even now, while incarcerated, he can't bring himself to play Tupac's music. The memories, once electric, are too heavy. 'Every time I heard a Tupac song, I didn't play it. Because it brought back so much... great things. But it made me wanna do bad things.' What still haunts him most is the look in Tupac's eyes that night in Vegas: the trust, the bond, the unspoken vow between them. 'When those bullets was going in the car, I knew I saved his life — for a little while. He trusted me. I knew he really loved me, and I loved him,' Knight says. 'I grabbed him, pulled him down. It was like slow motion. When something hits you in the head, your thoughts slow down. You just know, you're pretty much dead. And when Pac died, I saw the whole sky turn a reddish orange.' Knight didn't feel the pain. Not then. All he felt was responsibility. 'That was my watch. I got him out of prison. It was on me to make sure he became the artist everybody knew he already was… the best.' And even now, all these years later, Suge Knight is still trying to make peace with the weight of that promise. Read the original article on People
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HD is also navigating a complex global trade environment, with rising tariffs.(You can read the full research report on Home Depot here >>>)Micron Technology's shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry over the year-to-date period (+42.5% vs. +26.5%). The company's latest quarterly performance underscores its strategic positioning in the rapidly expanding AI-driven memory and storage markets. The positive impact of inventory improvement across multiple end markets is adding to the top-line growth. The surging demand for HBM and robust DRAM pricing recovery will aid significant revenue and earnings growth in the coming quarters. Its solid financials, positive free cash flow and strong balance sheet provide the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives while enhancing shareholder value. Its long-term customer agreements and expanding AI partnerships reduce volatility and enhance revenue visibility. However, weakness in NAND pricing due to oversupply conditions and slower-than-expected demand recovery might hurt overall financial performance. An escalating trade war is another concern.(You can read the full research report on Micron Technology here >>>)Shares of Autoscope Technologies have outperformed the Zacks Technology Services industry over the past year (+41.5% vs. +38.3%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $40.70 million offers a resilient, royalty-driven business model with a 100% gross margin due to fully amortized software costs and outsourced production. Despite a 32% drop in first-quarter 2025 royalty revenues, margins and cash flows remained robust, supported by recurring royalties (97% of revenues). Cost discipline preserved a 20.3% operating margin and 7 cents EPS amid a 30% revenue decline. The launch of Autoscope Analytics and a strong surge in product revenues (more than 319% year over year) expand TAM and diversify income streams. Capital-light operations enable flexibility and dividends without compromising liquidity or innovation. Additionally, Autoscope is well-positioned to benefit from U.S. government-funded Smart City and traffic safety programs, leveraging its broad installed base and exclusive distribution with Econolite.(You can read the full research report on Autoscope Technologies here >>>)Nova LifeStyle's shares have outperformed the Zacks Furniture industry over the year-to-date period (+109.6% vs. -16.8%). This microcap company with market capitalization of $19.33 million pivot to premium furniture continues to drive margin expansion, with gross margin rising to 46% in first-quarter 2025, supported by a 26% ASP increase offsetting a 12% volume decline, signaling strong premium brand loss narrowed significantly due to deep cost cuts, though net losses persist. Revenues rose 10.9% year over year, driven solely by pricing, highlighting volume and diversification concerns. Liquidity remains constrained amid surging supplier prepayments and minimal cash. Revenue growth remains ASP-led amid shrinking volume and geographic reach. Supply chain fragility and uncertain tariff policy add cost volatility. While valuation appears modest, execution risks, scalability doubts, delisting risks and financial fragility temper optimism around NVFY's high-margin transformation strategy.(You can read the full research report on Nova LifeStyle here >>>)Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR), Constellation Energy Corp. (CEG) and HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA).Mark VickerySenior EditorNote: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>> Today's Must Read J&J's (JNJ) Innovative Medicine Strong, MedTech Slows Down Home Depot's (HD) Interconnected Strategy to Propel Sales Supply Stabilization, Higher AI Spending Aid Micron (MU) Featured Reports AUM Growth Aids KKR & Co. (KKR) Amid Rising ExpensesPer the Zacks analyst, KKR & Co's diverse investment strategies aid its asset under management (AUM) growth. However, elevated expenses is a concern. Focus on Renewable Energy Aid Constellation Energy (CEG)Per the Zacks analyst, Constellation Energy gains from expansion of renewable portfolio. Its position as an industry leader in the safe operation of nuclear plants helps it increase its nuclear output Improving Top Line, Acquisitions Aid HCA Healthcare (HCA)Per the Zacks analyst, its growing revenues driven by increasing admissions have led to significant growth. Strategic acquisitions have helped it expand and remains a driving factor. Cost Actions Aid Sherwin-Williams (SHW) Amid Weak DemandPer the Zacks Analyst, the company's aggressive cost-control initiatives will help counter the impact of weak demand in Europe, slow recovery in China, and higher interest costs. Venture Global (VG) to Benefit From Key LNG Export ProjectsVenture Global is set to benefit from stable revenue growth from major LNG export projects along the Gulf Coast. However, supply-chain issues and debt challenges concern the Zacks analyst. Dividends & Buybacks Aid Delta (DAL), High Labor Costs AilDAL's high labor costs bother the Zacks analyst. Efforts to reward shareholders through dividends & buybacks, however, represent a tailwind. LEAR's (LEA) Acquisitions Aid Growth, Consumer Concentration a RiskPer the Zacks analyst, LEA is expanding through acquisitions, partnerships and various innovative products but worry sources from the concentration of customer base in the hands of few companies. New Upgrades The Estee Lauder Companies (EL) Gains on Solid Online SalesPer the Zacks analyst, EL is gaining on efforts to boost online sales. The company is expanding its omnichannel capabilities to aid flexible and convenient shopping options for consumers. Juniper (JNPR) Benefits From Regulatory Clearance for HPE MergerPer the Zacks analyst, settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice will likely expedite the Juniper-HPE merger process. The acquisition will drive innovation in the JNPR's AI networking portfolio. Groupon's (GRPN) Local and Travel Categories Drive GrowthPer the Zacks analyst, Groupon is benefitting from strong momentum across its local and travel categories, particularly in the North American region. New Downgrades SONY Plagued by Macro & Geopolitical Headwinds in Key UnitsPer the Zacks analyst, Sony's performance is likely to be hurt by the ongoing macro and geopolitical challenges, notably in G&NS, ET&S & I&SS units. Stiff rivalry and FX volatility are concerns. Macroeconomic Woes, Stiff Competition Hurt Chemed (CHE)The Zacks analyst is worried about inflation, high logistics and staffing costs weighing on Chemed's margins, with tariffs adding to the risks. Fierce rival pressure could hurt its market share. High Costs & Macro Woes Ail Norwegian Cruise (NCLH)Per the Zacks analyst, Norwegian Cruise's performance is being hurt by elevated onboard and other expenses. Also, inflationary pressures and currency woes are concerns. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) : Free Stock Analysis Report KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) : Free Stock Analysis Report HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nova Lifestyle, Inc (NVFY): Free Stock Analysis Report Autoscope Technologies Corporation (AATC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
