Boots Increases Dollar Loan Offering, Further Trims Bond Size
The pharmacy chain upsized its dollar-denominated term loan B on Thursday to $1 billion from $750 million. It also trimmed its secured notes by $250 million-equivalent. As a result, the Boots Group 's total term loan B package now stands at $3 billion-equivalent, up from $2.75 billion.
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Americans have reached their tipping point as gratuities spiral ‘out of control' — where Dave Ramsey draws a firm line
Tipping has become ubiquitous, but many Americans are burning out. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it According to a recent survey by WalletHub, nearly nine in 10 believe tipping culture has 'gotten out of control,' and 83% think automatic service charges should be banned. Nearly 3 in 5 Americans think businesses are replacing employee salaries with customer tips. On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, hosts Dave Ramsey and Jade Warshaw attempted to answer the question: When is it actually appropriate to leave a tip? When should you tip? Warshaw advised to always tip in restaurants. 'Where you're sitting down, you're placing an order, there's somebody attending to your table … tip between 18 to 20%," she asserted. "I feel like if you can't afford to leave a nice tip, you can't go." Ramsey agreed, saying staff are working for tips and often aren't paid well otherwise. For close-contact services like haircuts or nails, Warshaw recommends starting around 15%. But for quick barista service or grocery delivery? She says it depends on how great the service was, if she knows the person or if they went through a tough time to serve her, like delivering items in the rain. "For me, tipping falls in the bucket with generosity, so I overdo it," Ramsey admitted, even if the food wasn't that good. "Here's the thing: The kitchen might have screwed up, not the poor waitress." He typically wants to tip, and leaves $20 on his bed for the maid every day he stays at a hotel, but clarified, "The times that I walk up to the counter and someone spins an iPad at me and I leave a tip [are] precisely zero. I do not tip there, ever." Ramsey feels no guilt about this practice he calls a "manipulation at checkout … it's nickel-and-diming you to death.' All in all, the pair lean towards tipping and showing empathy for service workers and what they must deal with at the workplace — a sentiment not entirely reflected in the average American's view. Tipping fatigue Driven by inflation, menu price hikes and pressure to tip on basic transactions, tipping expectations are probably fueling exhaustion, resentment, and blown budgets among consumers. The same WalletHub survey found some telling information: almost 60% of Americans feel businesses are using tips to replace employee salaries, while close to 30% end up tipping less when prompted with a tip suggestion screen. What's more, 40% believe an instant employee rating system, which businesses can use to determine staff wages, should replace tipping. Read more: Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can People are possibly feeling confused and overwhelmed by the higher number of situations for which they're expected to tip, including in quick-serve food establishments and rideshares or taxis. In fact, one-third (33%) of U.S. adults say the frequency or amount they're expected to tip has increased in the last five years, according to a Morning Consult survey. Regardless of consumer sentiment around tipping, the service industry still depends on it, since for many people, tips are essential to their income and will remain so unless their wages increase. Tips without budget stress Want to show gratitude without breaking the bank? Consider these budget-friendly ideas: Cash-only tip jar: Keep a small bill, like $1 or $2, for cash-only gratuities at coffee shops or convenience stores. Daily tracking: Add a 'tips' category to your monthly budget, so you can splurge or skip deliberately. Service-based tipping: Only tip at sit-down restaurants, delivery orders, valet and services like nail or hair — no need at counters. Modest weekly tip budget: For frequent routine services (e.g. your daily barista) to cap your spending. Evaluate, prioritize and trade off: For example, you might prefer splurging on a nice dinner out with friends each month to your convenient, weekly quick-service lunch. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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What if the dollar has bottomed?
-- A recent rebound in the U.S. dollar may mark the end of its year-to-date slide, potentially easing pressure on European equities and resetting key assumptions across global markets. The dollar, down around 10% from January highs, has recently bounced following U.S. trade agreements with Japan and the EU. Barclays analysts say this move could reflect the early stages of a broader shift, particularly as speculative positioning against the dollar looks stretched and U.S. earnings and macro data remain firm. The rally in the euro, driven more by capital flows than interest rate differentials, has been a drag on European earnings, especially for exporters. Barclays' FX strategists expect the euro to weaken gradually, forecasting EUR/USD to fall toward 1.13. That shift would reverse some of the eurozone's year-to-date 'exorbitant benefit' from dollar weakness, which had exacerbated the impact of deteriorating terms of trade due to tariffs. European stocks have lagged U.S. peers in part due to this FX dynamic. Barclays says the stronger euro has hit corporate earnings harder than tariffs, contributing to a wave of EPS downgrades in export-heavy sectors. But a dollar turnaround may offer some relief, with the potential to put a floor under European earnings estimates. Medium-term risks remain. Concerns around Federal Reserve independence and potential rate convergence in 2026, especially if German or EU growth surprises to the upside — could limit sustained dollar strength. Still, Barclays concludes that FX is no longer a one-way bet. If the dollar has in fact bottomed, it would mark a meaningful shift in global equity drivers, the brokerage said. Related articles What if the dollar has bottomed? After soaring 149%, this stock is back in our AI's favor - & already +25% in July If Powell goes, does Fed trust go with him?
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Oppenheimer Predicts Up to 590% Rally for These 2 ‘Strong Buy' Stocks
There's a lot to say about the economy and markets today. Earnings season is well underway, with 317 S&P 500 companies having reported so far, and the results have been broadly encouraging – 83% have topped profit forecasts. That strength has helped drive both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ toward record highs, although August began with a pullback as investors reacted to a weaker-than-expected jobs report and the rollout of new tariffs from President Trump. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Even with those headwinds, Oppenheimer's chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus remains optimistic about the path ahead. 'This year reminds us of the classic Charles Dickens quote, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Although much uncertainty and worry prevailed for some time both with trade policy and geopolitical events, and given the multitude of potential outcomes, we'd note that cooler heads prevailed – leading to positive outcomes at least for now. Monetary policy by the Fed has brought down the pace of inflation (if not yet to its 2% target level) without thus far causing a recession. This in our view is a substantial achievement… We are revising our year-end price target for the S&P 500 to 7,100 from 5,950,' Stoltzfus noted. That S&P target implies a gain of ~14% from current levels, a solid gain by any standard. But some stocks are going to outperform, even substantially – and Oppenheimer analysts are predicting much stronger rallies for 2 names in particular, including one with a potential upside as high as 590%. Using the TipRanks database, we've looked at the big-picture view on both of these picks, and it seems the broader Street agrees with Oppenheimer's bullish stance – both stocks hold Strong Buy consensus ratings, with forecasts pointing to potential triple-digit gains. Let's dig into what makes these high-upside picks so compelling. Climb Bio (CLYM) We'll start with Climb Bio, a biotech research firm focused on developing new treatments for immune-mediated diseases. These conditions – affecting an estimated 1 in 7 people worldwide – often stem from malfunctioning B cells, which can mistakenly attack the body's own tissues. Climb is developing therapies that target this root cause, aiming to address a range of serious and underserved diseases. The company's pipeline includes two drug candidates: its lead program, budoprutug, is currently being tested in three clinical trials and one preclinical study, while its second candidate, CLYM116, remains in preclinical development. Budoprutug is an anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody designed to deplete B cells. The drug has shown encouraging early clinical data and is now being evaluated in clinical trials across three distinct indications: primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In pMN, a rare autoimmune kidney disorder that causes damaging protein leakage into the urine, budoprutug is entering a Phase 2 open-label, dose-ranging trial to assess safety and efficacy. This follows positive data from a small Phase 1b study, in which 3 of 5 patients who completed all four doses achieved complete remission of proteinuria. All five patients in that study experienced rapid and sustained B-cell depletion, even at the lowest tested dose of 100 mg, and no serious drug-related adverse events were reported. Meanwhile, in ITP, Climb has received FDA clearance to begin a Phase 1b/2a study, with the trial now advancing. ITP is an autoimmune disorder in which B cells produce antibodies that target and destroy platelets. Budoprutug is being tested in this setting based on its CD19-targeting mechanism, which may offer an advantage over CD20-based therapies by depleting a broader range of B-cell populations, including plasma cells that drive the underlying disease process. The drug is also being explored in SLE, a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause widespread inflammation and tissue damage across multiple organs. A Phase 1b trial has been cleared by the FDA and is set to run at ex-U.S. sites. This open-label study is designed to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and early signs of clinical efficacy. Climb's B-cell-targeted approach is supported by the well-established role these cells play in driving lupus pathogenesis. To further expand its reach, Climb is also developing a subcutaneous formulation of budoprutug, with a Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers expected to begin by year-end. Beyond budoprutug, Climb is advancing its second candidate, CLYM116, an Fc-engineered anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody with a novel pH-dependent mechanism. Currently in preclinical development, CLYM116 is being explored as a treatment for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a serious kidney disorder also known as Berger's disease. Climb expects to report preclinical data and submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application or Clinical Trial Application (CTA) by year-end. With CLYM trading at $1.45, Oppenheimer analyst Leland Gershell views the stock as a high-potential opportunity, pointing to the company's advancing clinical pipeline and the therapeutic promise of budoprutug. 'We have a favorable outlook on budoprutug across its three indications in primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)… Each of these indications has clear IgG-driven pathophysiology and significant residual unmet need, despite existing first- and second-line therapies, where budoprutug has opportunity to shine above… We see $1B+ sales potential across these indications, and a subcutaneous, potentially use-at-home version offers upside optionality… With shares reflecting little credit for the company's opportunities and cash runway into 2027, we see favorable risk-reward and encourage investors to build a position. We would expect positive results in pMN to generate considerable stock upside potential,' Gershell opined. So how much upside does Gershell see overall? The analyst rates CLYM an Outperform (i.e., Buy), with a $10 price target – implying a substantial 590% surge over the next year. (To watch Gershell's track record, click here) Supporting this optimistic outlook, CLYM has 3 recent analyst reviews on record – all unanimously positive – earning the stock a Strong Buy consensus rating. With an average price target of $9, analysts expect shares to be changing hands at ~521% premium over the next 12 months. (See CLYM stock forecast) Wave Life Sciences (WVE) The next Oppenheimer pick is Wave Life Sciences, a biotech company developing a lineup of RNA medicines through its proprietary platform, dubbed PRISM. RNA therapeutics represent a fast-growing frontier in biotechnology, and Wave is harnessing innovations in chemistry and human genetics to create targeted treatments for serious, genetically driven diseases that have historically lacked effective solutions. This ambitious vision is translating into a diverse clinical pipeline. Wave is advancing four distinct programs, each built on a separate RNA modality: WVE-006 uses RNA editing, WVE-007 employs RNA interference (RNAi), WVE-N531 leverages exon skipping, and WVE-003 utilizes allele-selective silencing. By tackling different mechanisms and indications, the company is positioning itself to address multiple areas of high unmet medical need. WVE-006 is a GalNAc-conjugated, subcutaneously delivered RNA editing oligonucleotide (AIMer) designed to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a genetic disorder affecting the lungs and liver. The drug is currently in the Phase 1b/2a RestorAATion-2 trial, with key clinical data from both the 200 mg single and multidose cohorts expected in the third quarter of 2025. Additional results from the 400 mg single-dose cohort are anticipated later this fall. Progress is also accelerating with WVE-007, an RNAi therapy targeting obesity. This GalNAc-siRNA candidate works by silencing the INHBE gene and has shown strong preclinical efficacy in reducing weight while preserving muscle mass. Following promising initial safety and pharmacodynamic results in Cohort 1, Wave expanded enrollment in Cohort 2 and expects data from the first two cohorts in Q4 2025, with high-dose cohort results to follow in early 2026. The third program, WVE-N531, is an exon-skipping oligonucleotide developed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe and progressive neuromuscular disorder. In a Phase 2 open-label trial, the therapy showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in Time-to-Rise, a key measure of functional strength. Wave plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) in 2026 to pursue accelerated approval. Rounding out the clinical pipeline is WVE-003, an allele-selective oligonucleotide designed for Huntington's disease (HD). This first-in-class candidate has demonstrated selective reduction of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) while preserving healthy wild-type HTT – an approach believed to protect neuronal function. A Phase 2/3 trial is in planning, with Wave aiming to submit an IND in the second half of 2025. This pipeline, and its potential for success, has caught the attention of Oppenheimer analyst Cheng Li, who writes: 'We think RNA medicine is poised to become an important therapeutic modality for future medicine, leveraging its unique target engagement mechanism compared to other modalities. The PRISM platform further enhances the potency, durability, tissue distribution, and pharmacological properties of oligonucleotides in a multimodal fashion… We are optimistic about WVE's four clinical programs, each having its own merits and collectively providing validation to the platform technology that propels a next wave of programs for high-value targets with differentiated approaches… We anticipate multiple meaningful clinical catalysts from WVE-006 for alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and WVE-007 for obesity, with current valuation offering a favorable risk/reward setup.' Reflecting this conviction, Li assigns WVE an Outperform (i.e., Buy) rating, along with a $24 price target that suggests shares could surge 178% over the next year. (To watch Li's track record, click here) Li's bullish stance is echoed across the Street. The stock has picked up 12 recent analyst reviews, supporting a Strong Buy consensus rating, with an 11-to-1 split favoring Buys over Holds. Shares currently trade at $8.63, and the average price target of $18.18 points to a potential upside of ~111% over the next 12 months. (See WVE stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue 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
