White House and Trump double down on decision to fire Commissioner of Labor Statistics
U.S. Political Analyst Eric Ham joins CTV to discuss how U.S. President Donald Trump's decision will impact the economy, and public trust going forward.
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Globe and Mail
15 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
3 Popular Stocks to Consider as Earnings Approach: DIS, FTNT, SHOP
There will be many notable companies reporting their quarterly results this week, and several have stocks with pleasant ratings regarding the renowned Zacks Rank. With representation from the consumer discretionary and tech sectors, here are three of these popular stocks that investors may want to consider as their quarterly reports approach on Wednesday, August 6. Disney – DIS Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) Reporting results for its fiscal third quarter, Disney's DIS return to prominence as a consumer discretionary leader appears to be around the corner. The media conglomerate has seen its stock rise over +30% in the last year, hitting a 52-week high of $124 a share in late June. Cost-cutting initiatives and strategic pivots have led to strong performance across Disney's core businesses. To that point, Disney has seen a comeback at the box office with major screen hits like Inside Out 2 and Lilo & Stitch topping $1 billion in global receipts while also seeing increased profitability in its streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Hulu. Like Netflix NFLX, Disney has cracked down on password sharing and introduced extra-member fees for its streaming services, boosting monetization. Plus, the recent release of the latest Fantastic Four movie and the upcoming Freakier Friday reboot are keeping Disney atop the domestic box office, with 2% and 6% growth expected on its top and bottom lines during Q3. Reassuringly, DIS still checks the box in regard to value at a reasonable 20.1X forward earnings multiple with a price to sales ratio near the optimum level of less than 2X. Fortinet – FTNT Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) In the tech sector, Fortinet FTNT is increasing in popularity thanks to its next-generation AI-powered threat detection and post-quantum cryptography readiness, which prepares organizations for a future where quantum computers could break today's widely used encryption algorithms. Coming off a record Q1 for revenue, operating margin, and free cash flow, Fortinet's top line is thought to have stretched 13% to what would be a Q2 peak of $1.62 billion. Furthermore, Q2 EPS is expected to be up 3% to $0.59, with it noteworthy that Fortinet has fueled investor sentiment by exceeding earnings expectations for a remarkable 29 consecutive quarters dating back to May of 2018. Notably, over the last year, FTNT is sitting on gains of more than +70% with the impressive quarterly EPS beats illustrated by the green arrows in the Price, Consensus, and Surprise chart below. Shopify – SHOP Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) Rounding out the list of popular stocks to watch on Wednesday is Shopify SHOP, which has seen its stock spike over +15% year to date and now has staggering gains of +140% in the last year. Shopify's commerce platform has continued to grow in popularity after introducing AI-powered tools like its virtual assistant "Sidekick" and to help merchants navigate global trade complexities. Strategic partnerships with Meta Platforms META, Amazon AMZN, and TikTok have also expanded Shopify's ecosystem by increasing merchant reach and engagement. Shopify's Q2 sales are projected to spike 24% to $2.54 billion, with Q2 EPS expected to rise 8% to $0.28. Furthermore, analysts expect Shopify's Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) to reach $81 billion, continuing a streak of seven consecutive quarters of 20%+ GMV growth. Bottom Line As it relates to portfolio-worthy stocks to consider, Disney, Fortinet, and Shopify will be three popular companies to watch as their quarterly results approach. To that point, these popular top-rated stocks look poised for more upside, but a post-earnings selloff could lead to even more compelling long-term opportunities. Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be. With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028. See This Stock Now for Free >> 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 The Walt Disney Company (DIS): Free Stock Analysis Report Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT): Free Stock Analysis Report Shopify Inc. (SHOP): Free Stock Analysis Report Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report Netflix, Inc. (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis Report Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): Free Stock Analysis Report
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Two of Canada's most senior ministers head to Mexico to discuss trade
The flags of Mexico and Canada fly near the Ambassador Bridge, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Two of Canada's most senior cabinet ministers will be in Mexico City this week holding bilateral meetings with government officials and the Mexican president, as Canada looks to improve its trading partnerships outside the United States. Senior government officials confirmed to CTV News that the meeting, which will involve Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, will take place Tuesday and Wednesday. The talks are expected to cover trade and the larger relationship between the two countries. That relationship suffered in the past year, when Ontario Premier Doug Ford called on Canada to seek a unilateral trade deal with the United States – without Mexico – and accused the country of undercutting North American manufacturers. Canadian business leaders say the upcoming talks show an effort to strengthen ties at a time when both countries are facing volatility from the United States. 'When we talk to Mexico, when we talk to their embassies in Canada, they are very eager to reset the relationship,' Catherine Fortin-LeFaivre, senior vice-president of International Policy and Global Partnerships at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said Sunday. While Canada faces new blanket 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods that aren't covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Mexico received a 90-day extension to continue trade talks with the U.S. before it sees blanket tariffs increase from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke over the phone, with the two leaders agreeing to improve trade collaboration between the two nations. Carlo Dade, director of international policy at the University of Calgary's School of Public Police, said Canada having open dialogue and strong ties with Mexico is 'a good sign.' 'If we weren't talking to Mexico, there would be reason to be concerned and worried,' Dade told CTV News. He added that Canada hasn't taken advantage of being in close proximity to a country like Mexico that has a higher per-capita GDP than China. 'The infrastructure is there, we have CPKC - Canada-Pacific Kansas City Railroad - so there's (an) integrated North American railroad,' Dade said. 'We have a trade agreement, we have decades of strong, strong, political and economic relations – the only missing factor has been a willingness of Canadian business to seize the opportunities. Mexico has been marked as a priority market to expand trade with by Export Development Canada. While it is already Canada's third-largest trading partner, with nearly $56 billion dollars in two-way merchandise crossing the border in 2024, it represented just over one per cent of Canadian exports that year. Fortin-LeFaivre said those relations will be crucial, particularly if the United States looks to move from a trilateral free trade agreement to two bilateral deals. 'It will be imperative that if that is happening that we have a very strong connection with Mexico directly, without the U.S. being there,' she said. Friday, Carney reiterated Canada's commitment to the CUSMA agreement while condemning Trump's recent tariff increase.
Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
Whitecaps: Does pending Thomas Müller signing speak to club stability in Vancouver?
Thomas Müller could go anywhere he wanted in MLS. He's a big enough deal that the league would have figured out a way to make any landing spot happen for him. The fact that the Bayern Munich legend is on his way to the Vancouver Whitecaps — there continue to be reports that an official announcement is coming any day now and there have been no rebuttals to that from any of the parties involved — would seem to bode well for the stability of the Whitecaps in the Lower Mainland. Bayern Munich is the lone pro club that Müller, 35, has ever known. The midfielder has been there for 17 seasons and has played over 500 times for them. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. With that history, you get the feeling that Müller is the type who wouldn't want to be a part of something that might be messy. He and his camp would have certainly done their due diligence. And the fact that these marquee players help the gate throughout the league makes it imperative for the MLS to do its best to put him a good situation. The MLS needs more of these additions. The Whitecaps do, of course, remain up for sale. There were as well potshots back and forth between MLS commissioner Don Garber and officials from B.C. Place about the Whitecaps' lease agreement at the downtown dome, and the Whitecaps haven't backed away from wanting their own new stadium, with their sights set on Hastings Park. Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster has been adamant since it was announced that the team was looking to sell that the goal is to keep the team in Vancouver. Schuster's never wavered from that. Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt, who's been front and centre in coverage of Müller coming to the Whitecaps , told Global B.C. on the weekend that there were teams from all the globe interested in adding Müller. Veth said that Vancouver as a city, plus the success of the team this season and the connection Müller was able to create with Schuster — who's also German — were keys in Müller wanting to come to the Whitecaps. Had @ManuelVeth on @GlobalBC this morning to chat about the Thomas Müller situation. #VWFC Postmedia's Patrick Johnston suggests that Müller's Whitecaps' debut at home could be Aug. 17 , when Houston comes to town. For the remainder of the season, there are reports he'll make $687,000 US, and then $6.8 million US next season. The Whitecaps' lease for B.C. Place is up at end of this season. Garber's comments at the recent MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas — 'We have no plans to move the Vancouver Whitecaps. But right now they don't have a viable stadium situation and they need one,' Garber told reporters — feels like him trying to up the temperature on any negotiations in that regard and put public pressure on PavCo, the Crown corporation that runs the B.C. Place . Even if the Whitecaps can make a stadium work at Hastings Park, it's going to take time to build, and they're going to need a place to play until then. ' Vancouver Whitecaps FC can confirm that discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding potential stadium development at the PNE fairgrounds site are progressing, ' a recent team statement said. ' While the club is taking all necessary action to keep moving this process forward, it is a complex undertaking that can take considerable time. Our objective is to continue to move the project forward as quickly as possible, working with the city, the province, and MLS. ' The Whitecaps (13-5-6) are second in the Western Conference, one point behind San Diego FC (14-7-4) with a game in hand. We'll see what Müller brings when he eventually enters the lineup. We'll see, too, what he brings to the team in regards to a boost in attendance. The Whitecaps sit 20th in the 30-team league according to Transfermarkt, averaging 19,295 fans per game. This is the kind of move you make if you're trying to win a league title. Things certainly appear to be trending in the right direction for the Whitecaps. SEwen@
