Headline Asia Partner Akio Tanaka
Headline Asia's Tanaka on Investment Strategy Akio Tanaka, Co-founder and Partner at Headline Asia, discusses his firm's latest Fund V funding round of $145 million, and speaks about his strategies for investing in tech startups across Asia Pacific. He speaks with Annabelle Droulers on the sidelines of BEYOND Expo in Macau on "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade". (Source: Bloomberg)
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trip.com Group (NASDAQ:TCOM) Is Doing The Right Things To Multiply Its Share Price
If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. So on that note, Group (NASDAQ:TCOM) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Group: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.084 = CN¥14b ÷ (CN¥248b - CN¥77b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2025). So, Group has an ROCE of 8.4%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 10% average generated by the Hospitality industry. Check out our latest analysis for Group In the above chart we have measured Group's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Group for free. The Trend Of ROCE While in absolute terms it isn't a high ROCE, it's promising to see that it has been moving in the right direction. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 8.4%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 33% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Group thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. The Bottom Line To sum it up, Group has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. Since the stock has returned a staggering 119% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. While Group looks impressive, no company is worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic for TCOM helps visualize whether it is currently trading for a fair price. While Group may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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
Android Authority
2 hours ago
- Android Authority
The AYANEO Pocket S2 is the most powerful Android handheld I've ever tested, but is it the best?
AYANEO Pocket S2 The Pocket S2 is the most powerful Android gaming handheld you can buy, with a massive battery to boot. Only small sticks and a non-OLED screen keep it from achieving absolute perfection, if you can afford it. When it comes to truly premium Android gaming handhelds, AYANEO practically owns the market. Its devices are admitedly niche compared to the likes of Retroid and ANBERNIC, but they offer premium devices with performance that blows away the competition. So when it was announced that the Pocket S2 would be one of the first devies to get the Qualcomm's new handheld-focused G series chips, I was immediately intrigued. Could this be the first of a new generation of ultra powerful Android gaming handhelds? After a week of testing, I'm confident that the answer is yes. Does that mean you should actually buy it? That's still up for debate. Sleek and slender Before I get to the chipset, let's talk about the design of the AYANEO Pocket S2. At first glance, the all glass front and flat form-factor make it look an awful lot like a phone, which doesn't sound like good news for ergonomics. But I'm happy to say that it actually feels great to hold. The aluminum frame is perfectly curved and smooth, with the plastic back providing a little extra grip for your fingers. It uses the same flat design philosophy as the Nintendo Switch, but with a more premium build. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority The other thing that makes it comfortable to hold are the stacked triggers. Like the Nintendo Switch, they flare out from the back, and provide a nice little ledge to rest your fingers on. They're much more pronounced than the triggers on my OG Switch, and the triggers themselves have a nice, grippy texture. The Pocket S2 is more comfortable to hold than a Switch, with a premium feel. Unlike the Switch, the rest of the controls are also great. The buttons offer a satisfying amount of resistance, although I did find them a bit on the small side. The sticks are also on the smaller side and I'd highly recommend picking up bigger stick caps or replacing the sticks altogether if you're going to play FPS games. They pop right off, so it's a quick fix. Size aside, they are high-end TMR electromagnetic sticks. This technology is essentially the successor to Hall effect sticks, providing many of the same benefits but with better precision, resolution, and battery efficiency. I'm sure these will never drift as badly as my Switch sticks do, even after replacing them once. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority The D-pad, on the other hand, is perfect. It's an absolute joy to use, and if you swing for the Pocket S2 Pro, it comes with a second, shield-style alternative. There's a small tool to pluck out the D-pad to install the other one, and it's just as easy as swapping the keys on a mechanical keyboard. It's completely unnecessary and no one else does it, but it does spark joy. Speaking of sparking joy, the Pocket S2 marks the return of a fan favorite feature: a headphone jack. I'm glad AYANEO decided to listen to the fans on this one, because it doesn't make much sense to omit them on gaming handhelds. On phones you can argue it helps with water resistance, but I'm not taking the Pocket S2 anywhere close to the pool, no matter how hot it gets this summer. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority My only complaint, other than the smaller sticks, is the screen. It's a gorgeous, 6.3-inch 1440p IPS display with great colors and brightness, but at this price, it feels like it should be more. Don't get me wrong, I love gaming on this screen, but OLED should be the standard here. Or at the very least, a 120hz refresh-rate to enable black frame insertion on retro titles. That's available on cheaper devices like the Odin 2 Portal or even the ANBERNIC RG 477M. The screen is the only component that isn't top-spec. Still, the whole package looks and feels premium. It's also relatively light for the size, weighing in at 440g. That's very similar to the Odin 2 Portal (430g) and significantly less than something like the Steam Deck OLED, which weighs a whopping 640g. Obviously the Steam Deck is a different class of device, but there's a reason I'm comparing them, and it's because the Pocket S2 packs way more power than any other Android handheld released until now. Unmatched power Nick Fernandez / Android Authority I ran the Pocket S2 through our standard suite of benchmarks, and it confirmed what I already knew: this thing is a beast. Let's compare the scores to other popular handhelds, including the AYANEO Pocket ACE (Snapdragon G3 Gen 2), AYN Odin 2 Portal (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1 (also the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3), and the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 (Snapdragon 865). In terms of multi-core CPU performance, we're looking at a more than 25% increase over the previous leader, the AYN Odin 2 Portal. It even outperforms the SUGAR 1, which has the same chipset. That device has two screens and a less-than-ideal cooling setup, but it could also be chalked up to AYANEO's years of experience with Android handhelds. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority Moving on to GPU performance, we see even more drastic results. The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 is essentially a gaming-oriented Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so it makes sense that it outperforms the competition. Still, I wasn't expecting the delta to be so large. It scored 20% higher than the Pocket ACE, and more than 40% higher than the Odin 2 Portal. Needless to say, the Retroid Pocket Flip 2's older chipset is completely outclassed here. It isn't easy to see in the graphs, but the G3 Gen 3 on the Pocket S2 also made gains in terms of sustained performance. These tests rate devices for stability, essentially comparing the best and worst results after 20 runs, and the G3 Gen 3 scored roughly 91%. That's up from 85% on its predecessor, but still less than the 99% on mainline chips. Temperatures were also well within control, peaking at just 42 degrees celcius. Compared to 46 degrees on the Pocket ACE, that's remarkably cool. Those temperatures are also focused in the center of the device, so I never felt any heat on my hands while holding it. In other words, it's the new most powerful Android gaming handheld on the market by a heathly margin when looking at the raw data. But how does it perform in Android games and emulators? Spoiler: also great. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority This thing ran literally everything I could throw at it. Obviously retro games play like a dream, even with very heavy shaders. Revisiting some of my favorite retro titles with the CRT-Royale shader is an incredible experience, even with the black bars on the sides. PS2 with widescreen hacks also ran at 3X resolution without breaking a sweat. When it comes to more modern stuff, it still gets the job done. I was actually surprised how well Nintendo Switch emulation worked on this device. Nearly every game was playable, including some titles that don't work on the previous generation of powerful handhelds. It's still not perfect and games still play better on original hardware, but this is the first time that I wouldn't mind playing through an entire Switch game on non-Switch hardware. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority For these kinds of emulators, it all really comes down to drivers. When the Snapdragon G3 Gen 2 debuted on the Pocket EVO and DMG, it was a major issue, even with Android games. Now, it's a total non-issue. You can spoof other devices in settings, but I doubt you'll ever need to. AYANEO announced that it's working closely with Qualcomm on drivers starting with this release, and it really shows here. The company also sent test devices (including the Pocket S2) to the developers behind the Nintendo Switch emulator Eden, which might explain why it works so well right out of the box. The Pocket S2 is the most powerful Android handheld on the market. I'll also note that this chipset is great for game streaming, with WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 supported. However, the smaller sticks on the Pocket S2 made it a little uncomfortable to play modern PC games, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for that. There are cheaper devices with larger sticks that perform every bit as well. Another big selling point for the Pocket S2 is battery life. The standard model comes with a massive 8,000mAh battery, while the Pro model ups that to 10,000mAh. That was enough for well over five hours of intense gaming, or more than a dozen in lighter retro titles. Charging is also speedy, jumping from 20% to 90% in about 75 minutes. The 60W max charging speeds I tested are exclusive to the Pro model, however, with the standard maxing out at 40W. Even so, you won't need to spend much time tethered to a charger with the Pocket S2. AYANEO Pocket S2 Pro review: Should you buy it? Nick Fernandez / Android Authority AYANEO Pocket S2: 8/128GB: $499 ($439 early bird) 12/256GB: $559 ($499 early bird) AYANEO Pocket S2 Pro: 16/512GB: $619 ($559 early bird) 16GB/1TB: $719 ($659 early bird) While I was very impressed throughout my testing period with this device, the events of the past week have made it considerably harder to recommend. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic device and you will probably love it if you decide to buy it, but the premium price tag is tough to stomach, especially when AYANEO itself is releasing compelling alternatives. The standard version of the AYANEO Pocket S2 comes with 8-12GB of RAM and 128-256GB of internal storage. The Pro model bumps that up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB-1TB of storage, plus a larger battery and a swappable D-pad. Personally, I think the lowest tier of the Pro model is the best value, since you'll be able to play everything at the highest quality. That said, it will run you $559 during the crowdfunding campaign, and $619 retail. That's well into Windows handheld territory in terms of pricing. The problem is that unless you absolutely need the maximum amount of power, there are plenty of devices that cost a lot less or have more interesting designs. Just this week AYANEO announced the dual-screened Pocket DS, which has the previous G3 Gen 2 but pairs it with a massive 7-inch 165Hz OLED panel and a 5-inch LCD panel on the bottom. That makes it an extremely unique handheld, and although full pricing hasn't been revealed, we already know it's going to be cheaper than the Pocket 2S. Unless you want maximum power, there are compelling alternatives, even from AYANEO. It also announced a sub-brand called KONKR, and its first device, the Pocket FIT, looks like a solid alternative to the Pocket S2. It has a 6-inch 144Hz LCD display, and it's powered by the the same G3 Gen 3 as the Pocket S2. That means you can get the same incredible performance for what will surely over a hundred dollars less, although there will be other tradeoffs in build quality. Neither of those products have launched yet, so you won't be able to get your hands on them until fall or winter. We also don't have all of the details yet, so there may be downsides that make the Pocket S2 look more attractive in hindsight. Outside of AYANEO's offerings, you've got reliable devices like the AYN Odin 2 Portal ($329 at Manufacturer site). You're trading the extra power of the newer chipset for a 120Hz AMOLED display, albeit at 1080p instead of 1440p. That device has been available for more than six months now, so you can find it for $200 less than the Pocket S2. That said, if you do want power, the AYANEO Pocket S2 is the most powerful Android gaming handheld you can get right now. This device is at the absolute bleeding edge of performance, and if you can't wait for other devices to catch up, your best bet is to buy one before the crowdfunding campaign ends in mid-August. AYANEO Pocket S2 AYANEO Pocket S2 Incredible performance • Beautiful screen • Premium build MSRP: $499.00 The most powerful Android gaming handheld ever The Pocket S2 is the first of the next generation of ultra-powerful Android gaming handhelds. See price at Manufacturer site Follow
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
This More Than 4%-Yielding Stock's Smart Strategy Continues to Pay Big Dividends
Key Points Brookfield Infrastructure reported solid second-quarter results. The company made excellent progress on its capital recycling strategy. That smart strategy positions it to deliver strong growth in the coming years. 10 stocks we like better than Brookfield Infrastructure › Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIPC)(NYSE: BIP) has a straightforward investment strategy. The global infrastructure operator acquires high-quality assets on a value basis, enhances their operations, and, eventually, sells the mature business. The company then recycles that capital into new investments with higher returns. This strategy has driven healthy growth in its funds from operations (FFO) and its high-yielding dividend. The payout, which yields over 4%, has grown at a 9% compound annual rate over the past 16 years. The company's wise strategy was on full display during the second quarter. It puts Brookfield in an excellent position to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend, making it an appealing option for those seeking passive dividend income. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Image source: Getty Images. Another solid showing Brookfield Infrastructure generated $638 million of FFO during the second quarter. This is a 5% increase from the prior year. The company benefited from strong organic growth and recently closed acquisitions. Organic growth drivers included inflation-linked rate increases in its utilities and transport sector. It also received contributions from over $1.5 billion in capital project completions, primarily new data centers. These growth catalysts helped mitigate the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and asset sales associated with its capital recycling initiatives. The company's data segment provided the largest quarterly boost. FFO jumped 45% to $113 million. Brookfield benefited from its acquisition of a tower portfolio in India, which closed last year. It also commissioned several new data centers. Brookfield's midstream sector also delivered a strong quarter. FFO rose 10% to $157 million. The company's diversified midstream operations in Canada were standout performers thanks to high customer activity. This helped offset the sale of its U.S. gas pipeline in the second quarter. The robust growth from these two segments offset relatively flat results from the company's transportation and utilities businesses. Solid organic growth from rate increases and capital project completions muted the impact of asset sales and foreign exchange fluctuations in those businesses. Ready for the next wave Brookfield Infrastructure has been busy executing its capital recycling strategy this year. The company has already secured $2.4 billion in proceeds from nine asset sales. "This would be a good result in any given year, and we are only in July," the company noted in the second-quarter earnings press release. It secured four sales in the second quarter. Brookfield sold a 23% interest in its Australian export terminal, a 60% stake in a 244-megawatt portfolio of European data centers, a 33% interest in a portfolio of fully contracted shipping containers, and a partial interest in its U.K. ports operation. The company is selling these assets at very attractive values. The infrastructure operator will deploy this capital in new, higher-returning investment opportunities. Brookfield has secured three new investments to enhance its data, transport, and midstream sectors: Hotwire: Brookfield is investing $500 million into Hotwire, a leading bulk fiber-to-the-home service company. This business generates stable and steadily rising cash flow backed by long-term, take-or-pay, and inflation-linked contracts. Hotwire currently has over 300,000 billing customers and a significant contracted backlog. Railcar leasing platform: Brookfield is investing $300 million into a leading railcar leasing platform through a joint venture with GATX. The portfolio is the second-largest railcar leasing platform in North America, with over 125,000 railcars that generate very stable cash flow. Colonial Enterprises: The company is investing $500 million into the acquisition of Colonial, the largest refined products pipeline system in the country. It's paying an attractive value for an asset that generates very stable cash flows. Brookfield expects even more deals ahead. The company has several additional asset sales in advanced stages that could close in the coming months. These deals will provide more capital to recycle into new investment opportunities, which should be plentiful. In its earnings release, the company wrote, "We also continue to advance a large and diversified array of new investment opportunities that continues to grow and is driven by the digitalization, decarbonization, and deglobalization megatrends impacting our entire investable universe." The company believes that its organic growth and capital recycling strategy will drive annual FFO per share growth of over 10% in the long term. That supports its plan to increase its high-yielding dividend by 5% to 9% per year. Brookfield's brilliant growth strategy continues to pay big dividends Brookfield's approach of selling mature assets to reinvest in higher-return opportunities continues to drive growth. While the asset sales side of this strategy was a minor headwind in the second quarter, it should become a tailwind as the company closes its recently secured new investments. This strategy should also continue boosting its results in the future as Brookfield secures additional sales and new investments. Combined with healthy organic growth drivers, Brookfield should have plenty of power to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend going forward. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Infrastructure right now? Before you buy stock in Brookfield Infrastructure, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Brookfield Infrastructure wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $625,254!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,090,257!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,036% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Infrastructure and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
