Latest news with #RPD
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cartier watch 'bribe' over seaside tower dispute
A dispute over a landmark seaside tower led to a "likely" bribe attempt involving a Cartier watch and secret recordings, according to court papers. The High Court heard one of the parties in the case even blocked the entrance to a care home with his car to induce his rival to talk to him. The case centred on the ownership and financial arrangements relating to the Atlantis Tower in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The man named in civil court as the individual who offered the Cartier watch, Sotiris Christophi, said: "The suggestion that this was a bribe or had any improper purpose is completely at odds with my understanding and intention." The court heard how Mr Christophi, an accountant, and Dr Sanjay Kaushal, a care home owner, fell out after they jointly funded the purchase and redevelopment of the tower in November 2021. They did this through a company called RP Design and Construction Limited (RPD). Mr Christophi brought the case, arguing he and Dr Kaushal had agreed to split the ownership of the company equally in an oral agreement. Dr Kaushal denied this and said Mr Christophi's financial contribution had been a loan not an investment. Deputy High Court Judge Saira Salimi rejected Mr Christophi's claim. The Atlantis Tower has stood as a landmark on the Great Yarmouth seafront since its construction in the 1960s. The intention was to convert the upper floors into 18 residential flats and then sell them. This section of the property previously been used as a hotel. 'Blocking entrance' By early 2023 Dr Kausal and his former friend, Mr Christophi, were in serious disagreement over the project. Mr Christophi had began to behave "aggressively and unreasonably", Dr Kausal said, and that he felt intimidated. There had been heated meetings and phone calls recorded secretly by Mr Christophi, he told the court. It was alleged that at one point this included Mr Christophi posting negative reviews of a care home owned by Dr Kausal and even blocking its entrance with a car. This latter incident was a pressure tactic to make Dr Kaushal talk to him, the court heard. Dr Kausal also alleged he had even been physically prevented from leaving a room during a meeting between the pair. Mr Christophi told the BBC: "I absolutely reject any suggestion that I intended to intimidate or act unreasonably" "I sought dialogue, nothing more, and when that dialogue was repeatedly refused, I did what I believed was necessary to be heard" he added. In April 2023, Mr Christophi gave a Cartier watch to the owner of the company brought in to refurbish the property, Besnik Ademaj, and transferred £50,000 to Mr Ademaj's firm. It was alleged by Dr Kausal this was to induce Mr Ademaj to transfer his shares in RPD. Mr Christophi claimed the watch and money were a gesture of trust and friendship, meant to show goodwill during their discussions about transferring shares. The watch and money were subsequently returned, according to the judgement. Judge Salimi said it was "on the balance of probabilities" an attempt at a bribe "which did not result in success". Mr Christophi, 53, also known as Steve, is linked to a Norwich company at the centre of tax fraud allegations. The BBC revealed last year how Green Jellyfish had been raided by officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and a number of arrests made. Internal company documents described Mr Christophi as a stakeholder in the firm, which is currently being wound up. Companies House data shows an overlap between Mr Christophi's businesses and Green Jellyfish, including shared premises. Mr Christophi said he had always conducted himself "lawfully and with integrity". "I respect the rule of law, and I respect the judgment, even where I may feel that parts of my side of the story remain untold" he added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Companies raided over tax relief fraud allegations Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Profitable Stock Worth Your Attention and 2 to Avoid
While profitability is essential, it doesn't guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity". A business making money today isn't necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here is one profitable company that balances growth and profitability and two that may struggle to keep up. Two Stocks to Sell: Rapid7 (RPD) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3% Founded in 2000 with the idea that network security comes before endpoint security, Rapid7 (NASDAQ:RPD) provides software as a service that helps companies understand where they are exposed to cyber security risks, quickly detect breaches and respond to them. Why Do We Avoid RPD? Average billings growth of 4.6% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand Estimated sales growth of 2% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 2.4 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors Rapid7's stock price of $22.68 implies a valuation ratio of 1.7x forward price-to-sales. If you're considering RPD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. GEO Group (GEO) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 12% With a global footprint spanning three continents and approximately 81,000 beds across 100 facilities, GEO Group (NYSE:GEO) operates secure facilities, processing centers, and reentry services for government agencies in the United States, Australia, and South Africa. Why Is GEO Risky? Flat sales over the last five years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 31.5% annually 8.9 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company's increased investments to defend its market position At $25.50 per share, GEO Group trades at 14.3x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than GEO. One Stock to Buy: Cintas (CTAS) Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 22.8% Starting as a family business collecting and cleaning shop rags in Cincinnati, Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) provides corporate identity uniforms, facility services, and safety products to over one million businesses across North America. Why Will CTAS Outperform? Annual revenue growth of 8.6% over the last two years beat the sector average and underscores the unique value of its offerings CTAS is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders, and its growing cash flow gives it even more resources to deploy Market-beating returns on capital illustrate that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures, and its returns are growing as it capitalizes on even better market opportunities Cintas is trading at $213.01 per share, or 45.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Stocks We Like Even More The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. 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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. 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.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Watch: Mysterious animal caught on video in Rochester triggers shelter alert
Rochester police briefly issued a shelter-in-place alert late Wednesday after a security video showing what appeared to be a large wild cat began circulating on social media. The 30-second Ring security camera clip, recorded around 4 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, near East Main Street and Culver Road, shows a large animal walking across the frame. The video quickly went viral on Facebook, racking up more than 250,000 views and 1,100 shares within 12 hours. "It doesn't look like a normal cat," said homeowner Stephany Baez, who shared the clip online. 'It is something scary and I don't want anyone to get hurt.' Baez suggested the animal could be a wild cat, sparking speculation online that it might be a mountain lion. After the video spread online, Rochester police received numerous 911 calls reporting similar sightings throughout the city, according to Lt. Anthony DelVecchio. However, police say none of those reports have been verified. "None of these reports have been substantiated, and no additional video evidence has been provided," DelVecchio said Thursday. Early Friday morning, DelVecchio said that police continue to receive reports on wild cat sightings. Some of the calls are "false," he said. "We are still working to confirm the validity of such reports and will continue to respond if called in an effort to do so." Also, he noted, authorities checked in with the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, and all large cats who reside at the zoo remain at the zoo "and all are accounted for." Among the large cats who reside at the zoo, there are three African lions, two snow leopards, two Canada lynx and one Amur Tiger, according to the zoo's website. Around midnight on July 10, police responded to another report of a possible sighting near North Clinton Avenue and Rauber Street, prompting them to issue a shelter-in-place order out of caution. It was lifted shortly after, once officers were unable to confirm the presence of any wild animal. 'Until the validity of the original video can be confirmed, RPD urges the public to remain vigilant,' DelVecchio said. 'If anyone observes a large wild animal, they are advised to go indoors immediately and call 911.' This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Watch: Mysterious animal caught on video in Rochester triggers alert
Axios
09-07-2025
- Axios
Richmond police ban feds from tracking immigrants' license plate data
A federal agency was using Richmond's license plate reader system for immigration enforcement, the city's police department announced this week. Why it matters: RPD has permanently blocked all federal agencies from being able to do so, saying the action violates department policy. Catch up quick: Police said Tuesday that they learned the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been improperly accessing the automatic license plate reader data from its provider, Flock Safety, for months. RPD had granted ATF access to the data to assist with its investigations in February, a month before the federal agency got involved with immigration enforcement. Police say they found out in June that ATF agents had been making immigration-related searches in the system since March. Then RPD cut them off. What they're saying: "If ATF had formally requested access for that purpose, I would have denied it," Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said in a statement. Edwards has previously said RPD wouldn't work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to make arrests, citing a need to maintain community trust. The other side: ATF officials said in a statement that they "regret that this situation occurred" and added that the searches "were related to criminal activity, not civil immigration enforcement." The big picture: The latest incident is part of a broader pattern happening across Virginia, where advocates are scrutinizing how data from Flock Safety's automatic license plate readers (ALPR) has been used for immigration surveillance. By the numbers: A WHRO investigation found dozens of immigration-related searches across five counties, including Chesterfield, using ALPRs from June 2024 to April 2025. Richmond and Henrico have a combined 184 Flock cameras, which is among the most in the state, per WHRO. What we're watching: A new Virginia law, effective July 1, says law enforcement can use ALPR data only for in-state criminal investigations.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Value Stocks with Mounting Challenges
Value stocks typically trade at discounts to the broader market, offering patient investors the opportunity to buy businesses when they're out of favor. The key risk, however, is that these stocks are usually cheap for a reason – five cents for a piece of fruit may seem like a great deal until you find out it's rotten. Separating the winners from the value traps is a tough challenge, and that's where StockStory comes in. Our job is to find you high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. That said, here are three value stocks with poor fundamentals and some alternatives you should consider instead. Forward P/S Ratio: 1.8x Founded in 2000 with the idea that network security comes before endpoint security, Rapid7 (NASDAQ:RPD) provides software as a service that helps companies understand where they are exposed to cyber security risks, quickly detect breaches and respond to them. Why Are We Out on RPD? Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 4.6% average billings growth over the last year was weak Estimated sales growth of 2% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend Capital intensity will likely ramp up in the next year as its free cash flow margin is expected to contract by 2.4 percentage points At $24.03 per share, Rapid7 trades at 1.8x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with RPD, check out our full research report (it's free). Forward P/E Ratio: 12.1x Founded by two brothers from Texas, YETI (NYSE:YETI) specializes in durable outdoor goods including coolers, drinkware, and other gear tailored to adventure enthusiasts. Why Are We Hesitant About YETI? Muted 7.1% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers Estimated sales growth of 3.2% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging YETI's stock price of $32.75 implies a valuation ratio of 12.1x forward P/E. If you're considering YETI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Forward P/E Ratio: 13.1x Listed on the NYSE in 1947, Textron (NYSE:TXT) provides products and services in the aerospace, defense, industrial, and finance sectors. Why Does TXT Worry Us? Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth Projected sales growth of 6.7% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand Free cash flow margin shrank by 5.2 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive Textron is trading at $82.23 per share, or 13.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why TXT doesn't pass our bar. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. 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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
