Latest news with #Hofmann
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Zillow's Q1 Earnings Call
Zillow's first quarter results for 2025 were shaped by strong expansion in its rental marketplace and continued gains from its Enhanced Markets strategy. Management credited the 13% revenue growth to higher multifamily property counts in Rentals, which saw a 47% increase in multifamily revenue, and growing adoption of digital tools like Real Time Touring. CEO Jeremy Wacksman also highlighted progress in integrating services across buyer and seller journeys, with Premier Agent and Zillow Home Loans working increasingly in tandem. CFO Jeremy Hofmann noted that cost discipline and operational leverage contributed to improved operating margins, despite persistent challenges in the broader housing market. Is now the time to buy ZG? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $598 million vs analyst estimates of $589.9 million (13% year-on-year growth, 1.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.41 vs analyst estimates of $0.37 (11.1% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $153 million vs analyst estimates of $138.6 million (25.6% margin, 10.4% beat) Operating Margin: -1.5%, up from -8.5% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $18.08 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Ronald Josey (Citi): Asked about the drivers of accelerating Rentals growth and the impact of multifamily partnerships. CEO Jeremy Wacksman emphasized strategy execution and growing inventory, while CFO Jeremy Hofmann detailed revenue acceleration and long-term opportunity. Bradley Erickson (RBC Capital Markets): Inquired about outperformance versus industry growth and the role of Enhanced Markets. Hofmann explained that gains were driven by high-end market strength and Enhanced Markets expansion, with Wacksman adding that methodical rollout supports future growth. John Colantuoni (Jefferies): Questioned the apparent shift in growth contributions among segments and cost discipline. Hofmann clarified that Rentals acceleration was already included in guidance and highlighted ongoing fixed cost control. Trevor Young (Barclays): Sought details on the Redfin partnership mechanics and its impact on property count. Hofmann explained that no contracts transferred and all business was won directly, with the partnership syndicating listings across platforms. Thomas Champion (Piper Sandler): Asked about the significance of new listing standards and Enhanced Markets expansion. Wacksman described the listing standards as promoting transparency, while Hofmann characterized Enhanced Markets as still in early innings but central to long-term growth. In the quarters ahead, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace of Rentals revenue acceleration and the impact of the Redfin partnership on multifamily property growth, (2) progress toward increasing the share of connections made through Enhanced Markets and subsequent adoption of integrated transaction services, and (3) the scaling and monetization of products like Showcase and Real Time Touring. Continued operational discipline and macroeconomic developments will also be key factors influencing Zillow's trajectory. Zillow currently trades at $73, up from $66.37 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. 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
Montreal Gazette
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec terror plot: Far-right extremists ‘Canadianize' U.S. rhetoric from guns to white identity
Far-right extremism has taken root in Canada, and an expert says this week's arrest of military-linked men in a Quebec terror plot signals a dangerous shift in a movement shaped by U.S. influence and tailored to Canada. Historically insulated from militia-style far-right movements common in the U.S., Canada began seeing such activity in 2016, said terrorism expert David Hofmann of the University of New Brunswick. That year, Canada saw its first American-style militia movement: a group calling itself III%ers, he said. Some observers point to the 2016 election of U.S. President Donald Trump as a catalyst for extremism, but Hofmann cautioned against oversimplifying the phenomenon. He said Trump is 'more of a symptom than an actual cause.' The far right's rise in the U.S. grew over decades, fuelled more recently by normalized rhetoric on social media, with the violent, white-supremacist 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, further energizing extremists. 'We saw within the first two to three months after (Charlottesville) a wave of excitement and energy in Canada, where (extremists) held far-right protests across Canada because they felt emboldened,' Hofmann said. The COVID-19 pandemic, which erupted in 2020, marked another turning point. 'Anti-government sentiment in Canada isn't particularly new,' said Amarnath Amarasingam, an extremism researcher at Queen's University. 'It really got ramped up with the pandemic, where mask and vaccine mandates were seen as government overreach. 'That brought together disparate movements and individuals who are part of different conspiracy movements or different far-right groups into the same kind of ecosystem.' Influencers 'Canadianize' U.S. rhetoric Radicalization methods have evolved. In the past, recruiting was mainly face-to-face, Hofmann said. That changed around 2019 and 2020, with the internet becoming 'a pivotal mechanism in the who, what, when, where and why of radicalization.' Cultural and legal differences mean some American far-right themes, especially those centred on guns, do not resonate the same way in Canada, Hofmann said. To bridge that gap, far-right influencers 'Canadianize' American narratives to 'turn them into something the average Canadian can accept,' he said. For example, aggressive gun rights rhetoric common in the U.S. is often toned down in Canada and reframed as a fight for Canadian identity. In Canada, the focus shifts from guns to a sense of defending something, Hofmann said. The message is: 'If we don't act, what it means to be Canadian will disappear.' What they're really saying, he added, is that 'white people are under attack.' On Tuesday, the RCMP announced the arrest of four men with ties to the Canadian military — two of them on active duty — allegedly involved in a terrorist plot to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area and form an anti-government militia. A large cache of weapons, explosives and other military gear was seized. In a statement, Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan said members of Canada's military 'are prohibited from participating in an activity, or being a member of a group or organization, that relates to hate-related criminal activities, and/or promotes hatred, violence, discrimination, or harassment.' She added: 'Where warranted and when jurisdiction allows, the military police investigate all matters related to alleged criminal activity.' Extremist groups have long recruited from the military and encouraged recruits to join the Forces to gain a skill set that's attractive to the far right — the use of weapons, explosives and tactical training. There have been previous plots involving extremist reservists and ex-military members. In 2021, former Canadian Forces reservist Patrik Mathews was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in what the FBI called a violent plot to trigger a 'race war' in the United States. Last week, the Ottawa Citizen reported that soldiers operated a Facebook group — the Blue Hackle Mafia — on which they posted photos of themselves in uniform exposing their genitals, along with antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic and racist comments. 'Largest cache of weaponry' Experts say Tuesday's arrests represent the most serious and troubling military-related extremism case to date. 'To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in Canadian history that we've had two serving members charged with terrorism,' said Jessica Davis, a former intelligence analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. 'In contemporary Canadian history, this is by far the largest cache of weaponry we've ever seen in a terrorism incident.' Davis, president of Insight Threat Intelligence, said only 'a small percentage of people involved in terrorism have a military connection.' But such extremists are a 'heightened public safety threat' because of their military training. Canada has seen 'increases in ideologically motivated violent extremism, both in terms of actual numbers of terrorist attacks and arrests.' However, she added, 'Canada still has very, very low rates of terrorism' compared to most countries. The RCMP is working to address violent extremism, she said. But 'there's still a long way to go, especially when you're talking about really insular communities like the military. That poses additional investigative challenges.' Another major issue: 'We really just don't have a good sense of how widespread this problem is,' Davis said. The Forces haven't 'been forthcoming in terms of having researchers study extremism.' She pointed to a research project, commissioned by the Canadian Forces, to investigate violent extremism within the ranks between 2020 and 2023. Carleton University professor Leah West, a former member of Canada's armed forces who was involved in the project, this week said the Forces 'dragged their feet and never gave us approval to interview members or conduct our work on base.' Davis said Canada must gauge the extent of extremism in the military to craft an effective strategy. 'You can't create good policies and responses until you understand the scope of the problem, the drivers, how it's happening, and the factors that are contributing to this,' she said. 'Otherwise, you're just shooting in the dark — you're just throwing things at the wall and hoping they stick.' 'Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant' Amarasingam said some extremists in the military enlist to gain operational training. Others are recruited from within the ranks or after they leave the Forces. 'They leave the military and then join far-right movements or anti-government groups because they miss the structure and the hierarchy. They find it in hate movements.' Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment is a driving force, as is the belief that 'the left is helping to dilute something essential about Canada that these guys need to protect,' Amarasingam said. In addition, 'most far-right groups have a very strict idea of what masculine identity looks like, with women's role being to repopulate and produce children for the next generation.'
Techday NZ
20-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Hornetsecurity launches AI cyber assistant for Microsoft 365
Hornetsecurity has launched a new AI Cyber Assistant to support its 365 Total Protection Plan 4, featuring tools designed to aid IT security teams and protect Microsoft Teams users from cyber threats. The new solution includes the Email Security Analyst, which automates the handling of reported suspicious emails, and Teams Protection, which is intended to detect and block malicious messages and impersonation attacks within the Microsoft Teams platform. Hornetsecurity has also confirmed updates to its AI Recipient Validation, aimed at preventing email misdirection and data leaks, now integrated into the 365 Total Protection Plan 4 suite. The AI Cyber Assistant is designed to ease workloads for security personnel while equipping end users with information to make informed decisions about potential threats. According to Hornetsecurity, the assistant continually evolves by deploying machine learning technology to support both end users and IT teams within their daily operations. Daniel Hofmann, Chief Executive Officer of Hornetsecurity, said: "To continue enhancing the next-gen security we provide, our new AI-powered Email Security Analyst automates responses to user queries about potential threats, alleviating the workload on SOC and service desk teams, while educating end users on the nature of attacks. IT security personnel benefit by gaining more time to focus on other pressing issues, while end users receive instant feedback, which also encourages them to continue reporting suspicious emails and contribute to the organisation's overall security." Email response automation The Email Security Analyst leverages a large language model to provide automated analysis and response to user-reported emails, reducing the manual review burden on Security Operations Centre (SOC) and IT Admin teams. This automation is intended to improve efficiency in handling suspicious emails flagged by users. As Hofmann explained: "Thanks to growing media attention, end users are becoming more suspicious about incoming emails. While this a welcome and positive development, each email they flag increases the burden on SOC and Service Desk teams to analyse and verify them on a case-by-case basis. Email Security Analyst replaces this traditional manual analysis and significantly reduces the time SOC teams spend on false-positive and negative reports." Providing AI-driven insights for each reported email, the tool assists in training employees to better discern malicious activity, while guiding them on necessary precautions to help strengthen organisational cybersecurity. Hofmann stated further: "Organisations have to strengthen their 'human firewall' by empowering employees to become active participants in their organisation's cybersecurity strategy. Cyber-attacks are constantly increasing, so CISOs and security teams need to strategically allocate resources that strengthen organisational security while upskilling end users to cover any blind spots." Microsoft Teams threat detection The Teams Protection feature aims to provide continuous monitoring and analysis of messages within Microsoft Teams, identifying and alerting users to potential threats using AI-driven detection methods. The technology analyses URLs and pictures within messages, employing supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms as well as computer vision models. These models scan for indicators of phishing such as brand logos, QR codes, and suspect text embedded in images. Administrators can remove conversations found to contain malicious messages and block compromised users from accessing Teams, helping to manage threats across Microsoft 365 tenants. Hofmann said: "Instant messaging platforms like Microsoft Teams are increasingly used as a main channel of business communications, and yet they tend to be overlooked as a potential attack vector. However, attackers are sending malicious links and malware both through Teams that are open externally and also via compromised internal Teams accounts. We have therefore developed Teams Protection to address this growing cybersecurity threat." User experience updates The release also brings a redesigned, multitenant control panel for 365 Total Protection, offering a streamlined interface intended to facilitate easier access to security, backup, and compliance features for Microsoft 365 users. The aim is to make administration more efficient while bringing multiple security functions together in a single platform. Hornetsecurity reports that it delivers its products and services through a global partner network, with organisations using the platform for a range of needs including email protection, backup, governance, risk and compliance, and security awareness training.
Malaysian Reserve
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
HK's Jean-Pierre nails the Paris ambiance with bistro favourites
I WANTED to try Jean-Pierre as soon as the signs went up on Bridges Street. My excitement grew when the back story emerged about Black Sheep Restaurants' Marc Hofmann looking to create a 'jubilant homage' to the bistros of Paris at one of Hong Kong's emerging gastro hot spots. Recreating the vibe seemed like a challenge, so I went in expecting clunky replica decor, courageous cooking and mildly hostile service. I was wrong about everything. Everyone wants to be a bit Parisian, from Cincinnati in the US to Tromso in Norway and Pondicherry in India and, well, results will vary. It's even a bit of a self-deprecating joke in my home town. So how close can Hong Kong get, under the scrutiny of its lively French community? Jean-Pierre, named after Hofmann's father, gives itself a massive head start. The bistro greets you with wide smiles, authentic accents and shards of laughter drifting over a blast of music — the playlist is a mix of pop classics and chanson, perhaps something you might have heard on Paris radio circa 1979. Fans of Baccara and Kiki Dee will be bopping. The dining room is just the right kind of dim and just the right amount of frenzied, with white-aproned servers gliding precariously between the tables and somehow always turning up in time. It's casual. Saturday is definitely date night, with huddled couples at the small tables in the middle and raucous groups of friends on the dark red couches around the perimeter. As chaotic as the place seems at first, it's cosy and welcoming. It feels like a neighbourhood eater y you've been frequenting for years, where your waitress knows you'll take your water sparkling and your espresso before the dessert. The amuse bouche materialises just as we finish squinting at the menu, which is barely legible behind a plastic sheet in a nice touch of authenticity. It's prom- ising: Crunchy cheese buns and a surprising clutch of crisp radishes, conjuring up the image of a chef spending the morning at the local market to find the best-looking fresh produce. We go for the classics: Pate, onion soup, escargot (HK$128 [RM69.28] each), and later find a plate of steak tartare that somehow ends up among our order (HK$198, we weren't charged for it). For mains, I picked the boeuf bourguignon (HK$308) as the duck confit was out, and my guest chose the gnocchi Parisienne (HK$268). We were undecided on the dessert just yet, but there's baba au rhum (yeast-risen cake soaked in hot rum) on the menu, noted. Unfortunately, we find that the radishes were the last bit of culinary excitement. The rest of the fare is well made but avoids any risk; the spices and textures are dialled way back. The onion soup is the highlight, its initial thinness slowly giving way to a satisfying, cheesy depth. The pate is fine, if a bit salty, but it comes with chewy, tough toast. The escargot is scintillatingly buttery, but the herbs fall flat. Both mains are lacking conviction and an extra kick of flavour. They do the basics, but don't scream passion project. Maybe the desserts will get us over the hump? Can't avoid the baba au rhum (HK$188) at this point and let's throw in a mille-feuille (HK$158). Both are immediately forgettable beyond the sugar high and their intimidating size. It's fine. A night of old-time favourites done competently at your neighbourhood bistro is fine. Perfect for a weeknight bite or in a supporting role to your dazzling conversation, your blistering romance. The ambiance is special, which goes a long way. It's in the eye of the beholder whether that's enough to justify very nearly HK$3,000 for two people. The Vibe: Cosy chaos. It's a neighbourhood bistro, gregarious and relaxed, it feels well lived-in even after such a short time. The main dining room was full on a Saturday night, there were people milling about at the bar and hang- ing out on the terrace. Can You Conduct a Meeting Here? Definitely, it's dark and loud, with a lot happening everywhere. Nobody will pay attention to your murmurings, whether you're trading the latest mergers and acquisitions (M&A) buzz, workplace gossip or engaged in a more intimate liaison. What We'd Order Again: The onion soup certainly hit the spot. I had a nagging feeling about the duck confit and wouldn't mind a go at a couple of the signatures we skipped: The steak au poivre and the three-yellow chicken. How's the Food? Utilitarian. The portions are generous, especially the desserts, and the menu has all the bistro favourites. Need to Know: Jean-Pierre is on 9 Bridges Street. It takes reservations online and it's worth planning a few weeks ahead for Friday or Saturday evenings. The restaurant is open Monday to Wednesday 6pm to 1p.m, Thursday to Satur- day 6pm to 11:30pm and closed on Sundays. — Bloomberg This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Finally Found the Psychedelic Source of LSD
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The fungus from which LSD was first synthesized has finally been observed and described by researchers who suspected a fuzz inside the seed coats of morning glory plants. Now known as Periglandula clandestina, this fungal symbiote that coexists with morning glories was so difficult to find because it lives inside the plant as opposed to its Periglandula relatives which live on the outsides of plants and are more easily observable. In the future, P. clandestine could lead to new and more powerful pharmaceuticals that treat migraines and neurodegenerative conditions. In 1963, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann discovered what gave morning glories psychoactive properties, the lysergic acid amides that would later lead him to (accidentally) create LSD. Hofmann already knew about a mind-altering hallucinogen in morning glories that had been used in Mesoamerican religious rituals since ancient times. Seeing these chemicals in a plant was unexpected, since they are usually associated with fungi. The morning glory fungus eluded him. Finding it would prove to be a trip. Morning glories (Convolvulaceae) are known for having symbiotic relationships with fungi that produce ergot alkaloids. These are the mycotoxins from which some hallucinogens, along with powerful medications for conditions such as dementia and migraines are derived. Many of the fungi that produce these substances belong to the family Clavicipitaceae. While many species of morning glories have been found to contain ergot alkaloids, their fungal symbionts have not always been observed easily. Clavicipitaceae are often detected through DNA or their disappearance when a plant is treated with fungicide. Researchers Corinne Hazel and Daniel Panaccione of West Virginia University knew of evidence for a psychotropic fungus in morning glories. The seed-borne fungus is a Clavicipitaceous genus known as Periglandula, and lives in symbiosis with the morning glory species Ipomoea tricolor, but had never been described further. 'The presence of ergot alkaloids in I. tricolor was associated with [genetic] sequences of an undescribed fungus of the family Clavicipitaceae,' Hazel and Panaccione said in a study recently published in Mycologia. 'Further evidence of a fungal symbiont of I. tricolor included suppression of ergot alkaloid synthesis through treatment with [a] fungicide.' The researchers sought to isolate the fungus and sequence its genome so they could finally describe it. Plant tissues were magnified up to 200 times to search for visible signs of mycelium. Hyphae are the filaments in mycelium which branch out and connect networks of mushrooms underground and make up that dreaded white fuzz seen on moldy bread. Some of morning glory tissues were stained so the mycelium would be easier to identify, and other tissues were given nutrients to promote fungal growth. Because Clavicipitaceae live in seeds, DNA from was also extracted from morning glory seed coats. Hazel knew she was onto something when she spotted white fuzz growing insides of sed coats and suspected fungi. When scientists sequenced the genome of the fungus was sequenced, they found a previously undescribed species of Periglandula. Hazel named it Periglandula clandestina because of how it hides itself within the morning glory plant, which separates it from the other known Periglandula species that grow on the outside of the plant and are not as secretive. Ergot alkaloids were found throughout the plants. They are even present in the roots, where there was no evidence of P. clandestina DNA. The most common alkaloid found in the plants was lysergic acid alpha-hydroxyethylamide (LAH). This alkaloid is one of the lysergic acid amides Hofman identified in his studies. LSD aside, the discovery of the fungus it is synthesized from could open opportunities for significant pharmaceutical discoveries in the future. 'Because P. clandestina produces exceptionally high quantities of ergot alkaloids, the genes in its ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway may be a resource for engineering model organisms to overproduce pharmaceutically relevant ergot alkaloids,' said Hazel and Panaccione. The discovery that flowered from a suspicion about fuzz on a seed coat is almost as accidental as the discovery of a substance that will forever be associated with the undulating rainbows of '60s psychedelia, the Beatles' iconic 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,' and even cult pop culture icons like Futurama's Hypnotoad. Even Hoffman himself is quoted as saying, 'I did not choose LSD. LSD found and called me.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
