Latest news with #Panama
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Four things we learned from the USMNT's Gold Cup group stage
For as much as the Gold Cup gets denigrated, it's a much tougher tournament than it might appear. The ongoing tournament is the 11th edition in the last two decades, and this year's US are just the 10th team to make it through three group matches unscathed (Panama became the 11th on Tuesday). US manager Mauricio Pochettino has to be pleased with his team's performance. After rough showings in the pre-tournament friendly matches, a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago was cathartic, while a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 2-1 victory against Haiti also showed that the US are trying to make winning a habit as their manager has asked. If Pochettino took lessons from those exhibitions and applied them to the tournament, it stands to reason that he'll take the learnings from the group stage and put them toward what the US hopes will be three knockout contests. Here are four things we learned from the USMNT in the group stage: The days ahead of the tournament began were filled with worry about the fact that Christian Pulisic would not be part of the competition, opting for summer rest rather than trying to win what would be his first career Gold Cup title (a decision that caused no shortage of drama and discourse). There is no doubt the US would be a better team with Pulisic, and when he wants to come back into the team, he'll likely go straight back into the XI barring a real showdown with manager Mauricio Pochettino. But in the group stage, the US has shown that it has players in the pool who can provide an attacking spark. Malik Tillman is most notable among them, scoring three goals in the group stage including a pair against Trinidad and Tobago and the opener against Haiti. Consistently dangerous and also hard-working, Tillman has been the breakout star of the tournament, putting the form he has often displayed with PSV on the field with the national team. 'What a player, no? What a player that is showing in this camp his talent and (ability),' Pochettino said. Indeed. It's not just Tillman, a Bayern Munich product who reportedly is drawing interest for a Bundesliga return, who is bolstering the US. Diego Luna continues to inject energy and try to create chances when he's on the field, and Quinn Sullivan certainly isn't afraid to try a few things – notably going for a rabona against Haiti but also putting a number of shots on target and linking up well with Tillman and the other attackers when he's on the field. While Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte had to pull out with injuries, Pochettino's top two goalkeepers remained in camp and look to be in open competition for the starting spot going forward. Or maybe the newer of those faces, NYCFC shot-stopper Matt Freese, is ahead for now. Freese started the first friendly of the summer against Turkey, while previous US No 1 Matt Turner played the friendly match against Switzerland that saw the Americans concede four goals in the first half. While it seems the competition is somewhat cut-throat, Pochettino laughed off the idea that Freese conceding on an error against Haiti would lead to some sort of conversation between the manager and the goalkeeper. 'Remember, the most important action is the next one. If you're thinking about the last one, you're dead. You're going to make another mistake,' Pochettino said. 'This type of accident happens and it'll happen in the future, but we're so happy with him and the quality of our keepers, of course, the way they're supporting each other.' For his part, Freese said he immediately put the error out of his mind and focused on not allowing another goal. 'You have to move on very quickly, so, thankfully, the guys we all support each other in the bad moments and in the good moments,' he said. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion We'll see where the coaching staff's thoughts are when the starting lineup comes out against Costa Rica, a team with no goalkeeping battle thanks to anchor Keylor Navas. The US came into the summer hoping they would enjoy the returns of right back Sergiño Dest, left back Antonee Robinson and striker Folarin Balogun. Instead, all three are missing the tournament because of injuries. Though striker Patrick Agyemang has scored twice in the group stage, the balance of his play has yet to convince that he's polished enough at this point in his career to be a consistent option up top. The US needs Balogun and Ricardo Pepi fit and ready to go at the 2026 World Cup. Otherwise, the may find themselves in a situation like 2022, with no great goal-scoring options in a knockout game. A similar dynamic exists among the wide defenders. While Alex Freeman has been a pleasant surprise as a serviceable option at right back, both of Robinson's replacements – Max Arften and John Tolkin – have had a few adventures, and it's clear Robinson is the best American left back by a wide margin. While the US has looked great through three group games, their chief Concacaf rivals haven't. Mexico managed just a draw with Costa Rica, and while they still have far more of their key contributors than the US does, they've struggled to score from open play, even struggling a bit against the Dominican Republic in the opener. Their Gold Cup has seen them relying on set pieces and a defense that is stingy with center back Johan Vázquez back and partnering César Montes once again, allowing Edson Álvarez to break things up in midfield. Canada struggled, and eventually drew, with Curaçao. The US will have no such margin for error now. It wouldn't be out of the question for a team with as much experience and talent as Costa Rica to relish being a stumbling block on the US's road to redemption after the last-place Nations League Final Four finish and the miserable friendlies. A great day from Navas (and perhaps a goal from Alonso Martínez) are both within the realm of possibility. It was a strong start, but the finish will matter much more, not just for this Gold Cup, but for momentum heading into the big show next year.
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Four things we learned from the USMNT's Gold Cup group stage
For as much as the Gold Cup gets denigrated, it's a much tougher tournament than it might appear. The ongoing tournament is the 11th edition in the last two decades, and this year's US are just the 10th team to make it through three group matches unscathed (Panama became the 11th on Tuesday). US manager Mauricio Pochettino has to be pleased with his team's performance. After rough showings in the pre-tournament friendly matches, a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago was cathartic, while a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 2-1 victory against Haiti also showed that the US are trying to make winning a habit as their manager has asked. If Pochettino took lessons from those exhibitions and applied them to the tournament, it stands to reason that he'll take the learnings from the group stage and put them toward what the US hopes will be three knockout contests. Here are four things we learned from the USMNT in the group stage: The days ahead of the tournament began were filled with worry about the fact that Christian Pulisic would not be part of the competition, opting for summer rest rather than trying to win what would be his first career Gold Cup title (a decision that caused no shortage of drama and discourse). There is no doubt the US would be a better team with Pulisic, and when he wants to come back into the team, he'll likely go straight back into the XI barring a real showdown with manager Mauricio Pochettino. But in the group stage, the US has shown that it has players in the pool who can provide an attacking spark. Malik Tillman is most notable among them, scoring three goals in the group stage including a pair against Trinidad and Tobago and the opener against Haiti. Consistently dangerous and also hard-working, Tillman has been the breakout star of the tournament, putting the form he has often displayed with PSV on the field with the national team. 'What a player, no? What a player that is showing in this camp his talent and (ability),' Pochettino said. Indeed. It's not just Tillman, a Bayern Munich product who reportedly is drawing interest for a Bundesliga return, who is bolstering the US. Diego Luna continues to inject energy and try to create chances when he's on the field, and Quinn Sullivan certainly isn't afraid to try a few things – notably going for a rabona against Haiti but also putting a number of shots on target and linking up well with Tillman and the other attackers when he's on the field. While Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte had to pull out with injuries, Pochettino's top two goalkeepers remained in camp and look to be in open competition for the starting spot going forward. Or maybe the newer of those faces, NYCFC shot-stopper Matt Freese, is ahead for now. Freese started the first friendly of the summer against Turkey, while previous US No 1 Matt Turner played the friendly match against Switzerland that saw the Americans concede four goals in the first half. While it seems the competition is somewhat cut-throat, Pochettino laughed off the idea that Freese conceding on an error against Haiti would lead to some sort of conversation between the manager and the goalkeeper. 'Remember, the most important action is the next one. If you're thinking about the last one, you're dead. You're going to make another mistake,' Pochettino said. 'This type of accident happens and it'll happen in the future, but we're so happy with him and the quality of our keepers, of course, the way they're supporting each other.' For his part, Freese said he immediately put the error out of his mind and focused on not allowing another goal. 'You have to move on very quickly, so, thankfully, the guys we all support each other in the bad moments and in the good moments,' he said. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion We'll see where the coaching staff's thoughts are when the starting lineup comes out against Costa Rica, a team with no goalkeeping battle thanks to anchor Keylor Navas. The US came into the summer hoping they would enjoy the returns of right back Sergiño Dest, left back Antonee Robinson and striker Folarin Balogun. Instead, all three are missing the tournament because of injuries. Though striker Patrick Agyemang has scored twice in the group stage, the balance of his play has yet to convince that he's polished enough at this point in his career to be a consistent option up top. The US needs Balogun and Ricardo Pepi fit and ready to go at the 2026 World Cup. Otherwise, the may find themselves in a situation like 2022, with no great goal-scoring options in a knockout game. A similar dynamic exists among the wide defenders. While Alex Freeman has been a pleasant surprise as a serviceable option at right back, both of Robinson's replacements – Max Arften and John Tolkin – have had a few adventures, and it's clear Robinson is the best American left back by a wide margin. While the US has looked great through three group games, their chief Concacaf rivals haven't. Mexico managed just a draw with Costa Rica, and while they still have far more of their key contributors than the US does, they've struggled to score from open play, even struggling a bit against the Dominican Republic in the opener. Their Gold Cup has seen them relying on set pieces and a defense that is stingy with center back Johan Vázquez back and partnering César Montes once again, allowing Edson Álvarez to break things up in midfield. Canada struggled, and eventually drew, with Curaçao. The US will have no such margin for error now. It wouldn't be out of the question for a team with as much experience and talent as Costa Rica to relish being a stumbling block on the US's road to redemption after the last-place Nations League Final Four finish and the miserable friendlies. A great day from Navas (and perhaps a goal from Alonso Martínez) are both within the realm of possibility. It was a strong start, but the finish will matter much more, not just for this Gold Cup, but for momentum heading into the big show next year.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why Investors Should Bet on Copa Holdings Stock Now
Copa Holdings CPA is benefiting from its robust expansion and modernization efforts, boosting the company's operational efficiency. The shareholder-friendly initiatives are also encouraging. Owing to these tailwinds, CPA shares have performed impressively on the bourse. If you have not taken advantage of its share price appreciation yet, it's time to do so. CPA's Northward Earnings Estimate Revision: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has been revised upward by 6.4% over the past 60 days for the current year. For 2026, the consensus mark for earnings per share has moved 4.9% north in the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions indicate brokers' confidence in the stock. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Robust Price Performance: A look at the company's price trend reveals that its shares have risen 19.9% year to date, surpassing the Zacks Transportation – Airline industry's 7.1% fall. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Positive Earnings Surprise History: Copa Holdings has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 5.5%. Solid Zacks Rank: CPA currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Bullish Industry Rank: The industry to which CPA belongs currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 48 (out of 244). Such a favorable rank places it in the top 20% of Zacks show that 50% of a stock price movement is directly related to the performance of the industry group to which it belongs. A mediocre stock within a strong group is likely to outperform a robust stock in a weak industry. Reckoning the industry's performance becomes imperative. Growth Factors: Copa Holdings continues to drive long-term growth and modernization, ending the first quarter of 2025 with a streamlined fleet of 112 Boeing 737 aircraft. This uniform fleet supports cost-efficient operations and simplified maintenance. Strengthening its future plans, Copa exercised options for six additional 737 MAX-8s for delivery in 2028, raising its firm order book to 57. Operationally, the airline led the industry with a 90.8% on-time performance and a 99.9% flight completion rate, underscoring its focus on efficiency and reliability. Copa's commitment to delivering shareholder value remains strong. In 2024, the company repurchased $87 million in shares under its $200 million share buyback program, representing approximately 2% of total outstanding shares at year-end. In addition, Copa's board approved a quarterly dividend of $1.61 per share for 2025, payable on June 13 to shareholders of record as of May 30. Through share repurchases and consistent dividends, Copa continues to prioritize long-term value for its investors. Investors interested in the Transportation sector may also consider SkyWest SKYW and Air Lease AL. SKYW currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. SKYW has an expected earnings growth rate of 19.4% for the current year. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.1%. Shares of SKYW have risen 21.1% year to date. AL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a mixed earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, delivering an average beat of 5.2%. Shares of AL have rallied 18.5% year to date. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Air Lease Corporation (AL) : Free Stock Analysis Report SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research 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
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Residents forced to flee from 'disappearing island' due to heartbreaking crisis: 'There were no more friends, no more kids playing'
Rising sea levels are splitting communities apart in Gardí Sugdub and leaving people behind, possibly in danger. Gardí Sugdub, a small island off the coast of Panama, has been dubbed "the Americas' disappearing island" by the BBC as rising sea levels are swallowing up the land. One year ago, around 1,200 Indigenous Guna people were transported to the mainland by the Panama government for their safety as ocean waters encroached upon their community. New early-June reporting from Agence France-Presse has illustrated the human impacts of this displacement through the voices of island residents who have decided so far to stay behind. Delfino Davies, the owner of a small museum on Gardí Sugdub, told the AFP, "There were no more friends, no more kids playing — the place fell quiet like a dead island." Mayka Tejada said, "No one's here. Sometimes I feel sad when I'm alone," Scientists and advocates say the group of islands known as the Guna Yala archipelago, of which Gardí Sugdub is a part, could vanish by the end of this century. Some residents, though, are still choosing to stay. A local in her 60s, Luciana Pérez told the news agency, "I was born in Gardí and I will die here." Since 1880, global average sea level has increased by 8-9 inches, with the rate accelerating over the last few decades, according to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our reliance on burning dirty energy sources — such as oil, coal, and gas — means the production of huge quantities of heat-trapping gases that dramatically warm the planet and melt ice caps. The melting of these ice stores, in turn, drives sea level rise. Though freak weather events like floods and tsunamis have always existed, the scientific consensus is that human actions are heating the Earth in life-altering ways, contributing to more extreme and more frequent weather events. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. These events are bad for the planet as a whole, but, so far, they are having some of the most devastating effects on coastal communities. As sea levels continue to rise, driving destructive floods and powerful storm surges, more and more people who live near the ocean will be forced further inland. Historically marginalized communities, including Indigenous groups and residents of low- and middle-income countries, are currently facing disproportionate impacts of displacement. As time goes on, even more will face those impacts if global coordination among world leaders and other stakeholders does not sufficiently mitigate climate disaster. The AFP described the efforts to move residents of Gardí Sugdub to the mainland as "one of Latin America's first planned climate change-related migrations." The Panamanian government built 300 houses to accommodate the newcomers. This shows that governments can play a part in protecting people impacted by rising sea levels and other extreme weather events. To prevent more ice caps and glaciers from melting, governments and stakeholders must come together to meaningfully address the planet's overheating, choosing sustainability over profit on a systemic level. From reducing the use of fossil fuels and conserving forests so trees can capture harmful carbon pollution to creating more eco-friendly agricultural systems, serious structural changes will be required to mitigate the sea level rise that is reshaping life on Earth. Executive director of COP30, Ana Toni, told the AFP, "Moving people from an island to somewhere else shows the reality the planet must now face." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Here's Why Investors Should Bet on Copa Holdings Stock Now
Copa Holdings CPA is benefiting from its robust expansion and modernization efforts, boosting the company's operational efficiency. The shareholder-friendly initiatives are also encouraging. Owing to these tailwinds, CPA shares have performed impressively on the bourse. If you have not taken advantage of its share price appreciation yet, it's time to do so. Upsides for CPA CPA's Northward Earnings Estimate Revision: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has been revised upward by 6.4% over the past 60 days for the current year. For 2026, the consensus mark for earnings per share has moved 4.9% north in the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions indicate brokers' confidence in the stock. Robust Price Performance: A look at the company's price trend reveals that its shares have risen 19.9% year to date, surpassing the Zacks Transportation – Airline industry's 7.1% fall. Positive Earnings Surprise History: Copa Holdings has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company's earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 5.5%. Solid Zacks Rank: CPA currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Bullish Industry Rank: The industry to which CPA belongs currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 48 (out of 244). Such a favorable rank places it in the top 20% of Zacks show that 50% of a stock price movement is directly related to the performance of the industry group to which it belongs. A mediocre stock within a strong group is likely to outperform a robust stock in a weak industry. Reckoning the industry's performance becomes imperative. Growth Factors: Copa Holdings continues to drive long-term growth and modernization, ending the first quarter of 2025 with a streamlined fleet of 112 Boeing 737 aircraft. This uniform fleet supports cost-efficient operations and simplified maintenance. Strengthening its future plans, Copa exercised options for six additional 737 MAX-8s for delivery in 2028, raising its firm order book to 57. Operationally, the airline led the industry with a 90.8% on-time performance and a 99.9% flight completion rate, underscoring its focus on efficiency and reliability. Copa's commitment to delivering shareholder value remains strong. In 2024, the company repurchased $87 million in shares under its $200 million share buyback program, representing approximately 2% of total outstanding shares at year-end. In addition, Copa's board approved a quarterly dividend of $1.61 per share for 2025, payable on June 13 to shareholders of record as of May 30. Through share repurchases and consistent dividends, Copa continues to prioritize long-term value for its investors. Other Stocks to Consider Investors interested in the Transportation sector may also consider SkyWest SKYW and Air Lease AL. SKYW currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. SKYW has an expected earnings growth rate of 19.4% for the current year. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.1%. Shares of SKYW have risen 21.1% year to date. AL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a mixed earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, delivering an average beat of 5.2%. Shares of AL have rallied 18.5% year to date. Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA): Free Stock Analysis Report Air Lease Corporation (AL): Free Stock Analysis Report SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW): Free Stock Analysis Report
