US-EU trade deal wards off further escalation but will raise costs for companies and consumers
The tariffs, or import taxes, paid when Americans buy European products could raise prices for U.S. consumers and dent profits for European companies and their partners who bring goods into the country.
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Globe and Mail
2 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
The Most Anticipated Stock Split of 2025 May Be Announced Later Today
Key Points Next to artificial intelligence (AI), excitement surrounding stock splits has been a dominant trend on Wall Street. Three prominent non-tech companies have announced and completed forward splits in 2025. Retail investors own more than 27% of the outstanding shares of what could become Wall Street's blockbuster stock-split stock of 2025. 10 stocks we like better than Meta Platforms › For much of the past three years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been the hottest thing since sliced bread on Wall Street. But it's not the only trend investors have gravitated to. Euphoria surrounding stock splits in highly influential businesses has played a key second fiddle to AI. A stock split is a tool publicly traded companies have at their disposal to cosmetically adjust their share price and outstanding share count by the same factor. These adjustments are considered cosmetic in the sense that they don't alter a company's market cap or in any way effect its underlying operating performance. Though stock splits can increase or decrease a company's share price, investors perceive these actions very differently. Reverse splits, which increase a company's share price, are often avoided by investors since they're typically conducted from a position of operating weakness. Meanwhile, forward splits, which reduce a company's share price to make it more nominally affordable for everyday investors who can't buy fractional shares, are adored. This type of split is associated with businesses that are out-innovating and out-executing their competition. Additionally, public companies completing forward splits have a knack for outperforming Wall Street's benchmark stock indexes in the 12 months following their initial split announcement. This is why investors are always on the lookout for the next blockbuster stock-split stock. Although there's no guarantee of which premier business will take the plunge next, the most-anticipated potential stock split of 2025 may be announced later today by none other than social media colossus Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). 2025 is waiting on its first true blockbuster stock split announcement Last year, more than a dozen high-profile companies announced a split -- only one of which was of the reverse variety. Quite a few of these forward splits traced back to the tech sector, and more specifically AI stocks. Through nearly seven months of 2025, only three prominent businesses have announced and completed a stock split; and none are from the tech space. Though O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) wasn't the first to complete a split this year, it was the first notable public company to declare a split (15-for-1). In addition to the company benefiting from Americans hanging onto their vehicles for a longer period of time, O'Reilly has steadily repurchased shares of its stock since January 2011. Over the last 14 years and change, it's bought back roughly $26.6 billion worth of its common stock and retired almost 60% of its outstanding shares. This is having a decisively positive impact on earnings per share. Automated electronic broker Interactive Brokers Group (NASDAQ: IBKR) announced its first-ever forward split (4-for-1) in mid-April, which was completed two months later. All facets of Interactive Brokers' key performance indicators are rocketing higher, with customer accounts up 32% year-over-year, as of the end of June, and daily average revenue trades soaring 49% from the prior-year period. Its investments in technology and automation are paying dividends. Finally, wholesale industrial and construction supplies company Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) was the last of 2025's prominent stock-split announcements (2-for-1), but the first to actually complete its split. This marked the ninth time Fastenal has split since going public in 1987, which is a reflection of the company becoming more ingrained in industrial supply chains. Everything from internet-connected vending machines to inventory bin technology is helping Fastenal better understand its clients supply chain needs. While O'Reilly Automotive, Interactive Brokers Group, and Fastenal are amazing companies, they're not Wall Street blockbusters. If Meta Platforms was to announce its first-ever split when reporting its second-quarter operating results after the closing bell on July 30, it would be the undisputed star among 2025's stock-split stocks. Facebook parent Meta appears primed for a stock split To be clear, there's more to picking out Wall Street's next stock-split stock than just finding a public company with a high share price. Not all companies are interested in splitting their stock. Additionally, if retail investor ownership is minimal, there's not much of an incentive for a company's board to approve a split. Meta finds itself in the sweet spot where a stock split would make sense. Its board hasn't offered any opposition to the idea of a stock split, and more than 27% of its outstanding shares are held by retail investors. With Meta's share price consistently above $700 in recent weeks, the catalyst to make its stock more affordable for everyday investors is absolutely present. More importantly, the building blocks are in place for Meta stock to head even higher. Before delving into its AI ambitions, don't overlook the important role its social media platforms continue to play. Collectively, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Facebook Messenger helped to lure 3.43 billion people, on average, to its family of apps daily in the month of March. No other social media company comes particularly close to this figure, which allows Meta to charge a healthy premium for ad placements. To build on this point, ad-driven businesses are typically well-positioned for long-term success. Periods of economic expansion last substantially longer than recessions, which bodes well for ad-based operating models over the long run. Meta has pretty consistently generated 98% of its net sales from advertising. However, the company's future is very much dependent on the success of artificial intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is spending aggressively to build out his company's AI data centers. Some of this technology is already being incorporated into Meta's platforms, with generative AI solutions becoming available to businesses advertising on its social sites. Other aspects of AI will come into play years down the road, with Zuckerberg's company still aiming to be a critical on-ramp to the metaverse. Meta's cash-rich balance sheet and cash generation also suggest its stock isn't done heading higher. With more than $70 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities available, as of the end of March, and the company generating $24 billion in net cash from operations in the first three months of 2025, there's more than enough capital to direct to innovation, share buybacks, and dividends. The table is set for Meta Platforms to become Wall Street's most-anticipated stock-split stock of 2025. We'll know shortly if the company's board agrees. Should you invest $1,000 in Meta Platforms right now? Before you buy stock in Meta Platforms, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Meta Platforms 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 $633,452!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,083,392!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,046% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% 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 Sean Williams has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Interactive Brokers Group and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $175 calls on Interactive Brokers Group and short January 2027 $185 calls on Interactive Brokers Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Winnipeg Free Press
32 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Australia bans YouTube accounts for children under 16 in reversal of previous stance
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government announced YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16-years-old from December, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that will ban Australian children younger than 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X. Communications Minister Anika Wells released rules Wednesday that decide which online services are defined as 'age-restricted social media platforms' and which avoid the age limit. The age restrictions take effect Dec. 10 and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for 'failing to take responsible steps' to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said. The steps are not defined. Wells defended applying the restrictions to YouTube and said the government would not be intimidated by threats of legal action from the platform's U.S. owner, Alphabet Inc. 'The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,' Wells told reporters, referring to government research. 'We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.' Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. YouTube said the government's decision 'reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.' 'We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media,' a YouTube statement said, noting it will consider next steps and engage with the government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. 'I know from the discussions I've had with other leaders that they are looking at this and they are considering what impact social media is having on young people in their respective nations,' Albanese said. 'It is a common experience. This is not an Australian experience.' Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. Last year, the government commissioned an evaluation of age assurance technologies that was to report last month on how young children could be excluded from social media. The government had yet to receive that evaluation's final recommendations, Wells said. But she added the platform users won't have to upload documents such as passports and driver's licenses to prove their age. 'Platforms have to provide an alternative to providing your own personal identification documents to satisfy themselves of age,' Wells said. 'These platforms know with deadly accuracy who we are, what we do and when we do it. And they know that you've had a Facebook account since 2009, so they know that you are over 16.' Exempt services include online gaming, messaging, education and health apps. They are excluded because they are considered less harmful to children. The minimum age is intended to address harmful impacts on children including addictive behaviors caused by persuasive or manipulative platform design features, social isolation, sleep interference, poor mental and physical health, low life-satisfaction and exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, government documents say.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Takeda Announces First-Quarter FY2025 Results With Significant Late-Stage Pipeline Progression
Article content OSAKA, Japan — Takeda ( TOKYO:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced earnings results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 (three months ended June 30, 2025), with generic erosion of VYVANSE significantly impacting revenue and Core Operating Profit in line with company expectations for the quarter. The company expects these impacts to moderate in future quarters. Article content Takeda also achieved several important milestones in its R&D pipeline, reinforcing its long-term growth trajectory and underscoring its commitment to delivering sustainable value through innovation. Most notably, both Phase 3 studies of oveporexton successfully met all primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating statistically significant improvements across doses. These results reinforce the potential of oveporexton to transform the standard of care in narcolepsy type 1. Article content In addition, Takeda received U.S. FDA approval for GAMMAGARD ® LIQUID ERC and European Commission (EC) approval for ADCETRIS ® in new indications and presented promising clinical data for rusfertide at the 61st American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Plenary Session. These developments underscore the strength of Takeda's late-stage pipeline and its potential to drive future growth. Article content Takeda chief financial officer, Milano Furuta, commented: Article content 'The impact of VYVANSE generic erosion on Takeda's FY2025 Q1 results was very significant, but consistent with our expectations, and there is no change to our full-year outlook announced in May. Article content 'Our late-stage pipeline continues to advance with the announcement in July of positive results from two pivotal Phase 3 studies for oveporexton in narcolepsy type 1, with both studies meeting all primary and secondary endpoints. These results represent a significant scientific milestone, and we are very excited about the potential for our late-stage pipeline to deliver value to the patients we serve and to position Takeda for sustainable growth.' Article content Core (Non-IFRS) (Billion yen, except percentages and per share amounts) FY2025 Q1 FY2024 Q1 vs. PRIOR YEAR (Actual % change) vs. PRIOR YEAR (CER % change) Revenue 1,106.7 1,208.0 -8.4% -3.7% Operating Profit 321.8 382.3 -15.8 % -11.9% Margin 29.1% 31.6% -2.6 pp ― Net Profit 237.0 276.8 -14.4% -10.3% EPS (Yen) 151 176 -14.1% -10.0% Article content FY2025 Outlook (unchanged from May 2025) (Billion yen, except percentages and per share amounts) FY2025 FORECAST FY2025 MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE Core Change at CER (Non-IFRS) Revenue 4,530.0 — Core Revenue (Non-IFRS) 4,530.0 Broadly flat Operating Profit 475.0 — Core Operating Profit (Non-IFRS) 1,140.0 Broadly flat Net Profit 228.0 — EPS (Yen) 145 — Core EPS (Yen) (Non-IFRS) 485 Broadly flat Adjusted Free Cash Flow (Non-IFRS) 750.0-850.0 — Annual Dividend per Share (Yen) 200 — Article content Additional Information About Takeda's FY2025 Q1 Results Article content For more details about Takeda's FY2025 Q1 results, commercial progress, pipeline updates and other financial information, including key assumptions in the FY2025 forecast and management guidance as well as definitions of non-IFRS measures, please refer to Takeda's FY2025 Q1 investor presentation (available at Article content Article content ). Article content About Takeda Article content Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit Article content . Article content For the purposes of this notice, 'press release' means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ('Takeda') regarding this press release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Article content The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, 'Takeda' is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words 'we', 'us' and 'our' are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. Article content The product names appearing in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Takeda, or their respective owners. Article content Forward-Looking Statements Article content This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda's future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as 'targets', 'plans', 'believes', 'hopes', 'continues', 'expects', 'aims', 'intends', 'ensures', 'will', 'may', 'should', 'would', 'could', 'anticipates', 'estimates', 'projects', 'forecasts', 'outlook' or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda's global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States and with respect to international trade relations; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including tax, tariff and other trade-related rules; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic; the success of our environmental sustainability efforts, in enabling us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or meet our other environmental goals; the extent to which our efforts to increase efficiency, productivity or cost-savings, such as the integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, in our business or other initiatives to restructure our operations will lead to the expected benefits; and other factors identified in Takeda's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda's other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda's website at: Article content Article content .Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda's future results. Article content Takeda's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'). Article content This press release and materials distributed in connection with this press release include certain financial measures not presented in accordance with IFRS, such as Core Revenue, Core Operating Profit, Core Net Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company, Core EPS, Constant Exchange Rate ('CER') change, Net Debt, Adjusted Net Debt, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Takeda's management evaluates results and makes operating and investment decisions using both IFRS and non-IFRS measures included in this press release. These non-IFRS measures exclude certain income, cost and cash flow items which are included in, or are calculated differently from, the most closely comparable measures presented in accordance with IFRS. Takeda's non-IFRS measures are not prepared in accordance with IFRS and such non-IFRS measures should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, measures prepared in accordance with IFRS (which we sometimes refer to as 'reported' measures). Investors are encouraged to review the definitions and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to their most directly comparable IFRS measures, which are in the Financial Appendix appearing at the end of our FY2025 Q1 investor presentation (available at Peak Sales and PTRS Estimates Article content References in this press release to peak revenue potential ranges are estimates that have not been adjusted for probability of technical and regulatory success (PTRS) and should not be considered a forecast or target. These peak revenue potential ranges represent Takeda's assessments of various possible future commercial scenarios that may or may not occur. Article content References in this press release to PTRS are to internal estimates of Takeda regarding the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval for a particular product in a particular indication. These estimates reflect the subjective judgment of responsible Takeda personnel and have been approved by Takeda's Portfolio Review Committee for use in internal planning. Article content Medical information Article content This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development. 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