THIS AND THAT: A review of the year that’s almost behind usThe tech company, Evolv, revealed in a public filing that it “received a voluntary document request from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York” on Nov. 1. It was unclear what the request was seeking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment on the request, which was first reported by the Daily News. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Evolv said the company was “pleased to cooperate with all government agencies and regulators who request information from our company.” The Massachusetts-based tech company, whose scanners have also been used at sports stadiums and schools, has faced allegations of misconduct. Last month, Evolv’s board of directors fired its chief executive following an internal investigation that found certain sales had been “subject to extra-contractual terms and conditions.” On Tuesday, the company announced it had resolved a previous probe launched by the Federal Trade Commission last year over allegations of deceptive marketing practices. The company is also under separate investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite the legal and regulatory scrutiny, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a pilot program this summer to bring a handful of scanners to the city's subways to deter gun violence. The initiative drew immediate criticism from civil liberties groups who said the searches were unconstitutional, along with questions about its efficacy. In October, the city revealed the scanners did not detect any passengers with firearms — but falsely alerted more than 100 times. At the time, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said it was still “evaluating the outcome of the pilot” and had not entered into any contract with Evolv.
PHOENIX , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Integro Bank is hosting its second annual technology summit with event sponsor, Peak Spectrum. This year-end panel event is designed to help business owners and leaders determine potential strategies and initiatives to undertake for their business in 2025. The panel will help identify the hidden risks and potential growth in technology to scale and compete effectively. The event continues the overall mission of the Integro Bank CEO Club program to lift and transform lives by helping small businesses grow. This specific event takes that assistance further by specifically addressing ways to reduce costs and secure the operations of a small business. Elaine Szeto , Chief Innovation Officer & Founder at Integro Bank stated, "With the ever-changing landscape of technology, businesses owners and leaders continue to stress the need of support and guidance when it comes to their tech stack. This event has been designed to give local businesses the information they need to develop their tech strategy for 2025." The panel speakers at the complimentary event will discuss key topics such as Cybersecurity, Public Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), Microsoft/email licensing, Unified Communications/Customer Experience, and Artificial Intelligence. The panel will also field questions and discuss specific concerns from small business owners as they prepare for the upcoming new year. Event Details: Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Time: 5: 00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Integro Bank Headquarters, 16215 North 28th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85053 This is a complimentary event for business owners and leaders. RSVP For the Event: https://www.integro.bank/CEO-Club-Event-RSVP About Peak Spectrum Peak Spectrum is a premier IT consulting services provider, offering clients a comprehensive range of IT services and solutions. They are committed to providing their clients with the best possible service and support, with a particular focus on customer satisfaction. Visit www.peakspectrum.com to learn more. About Integro Bank: Integro Bank is an FDIC-insured bank based in Phoenix, Arizona ( USA ). Our proprietary INTEGRO360 SM consultative approach and CEO Club are designed to help small businesses grow and maximize employment. Why? Because employment lifts people and transforms lives. Visit www.Integro.Bank to learn more. Media Contact: Brandon Price , at [email protected] or (602) 325-9431 SOURCE Integro BankNebraska football's nostalgic — and pricey — bowl history in New York
Global Hazelnut Market Projected to Reach $21.23 Billion by 2028 with an 8.9% Annual GrowthMassive Demand Poised to Propel Taiwan Semiconductor Forward Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s premier third-party chip producer, is no stranger to booming growth cycles. Echoing the setup it experienced back in 2020, TSMC is once again poised for a potential breakout, driven by the evolution of its chip technology and surging market demands. Strategic Technological Advancements Back in 2020, TSMC launched its groundbreaking 5nm chips, leading to a significant uptick in demand. In a parallel scenario, the company is now developing its highly anticipated 2nm chips, expected to debut by the end of 2025. This advancement will markedly enhance chip density and processing power, aligning perfectly with the increasing need for advanced technology in AI-driven applications. Surging Demand for AI Chips As the demand for AI technologies skyrockets, TSMC plans to capitalize on this trend. Management previously projected the AI chip segment to grow at a compound annual rate of 50% over five years. Astonishingly, actual growth is outpacing projections, with AI revenue expected to triple in 2024 and capture a significant share of the company’s earnings in 2025. Valuation and Market Performance The stock’s valuation is drawing comparisons to its levels in early 2020, setting the stage for potential gains reminiscent of its past performance. Although the stock price nearly doubled in 2024, TSMC now finds itself trading in a range familiar to investors from 2020, attracting attention as it seeks to maintain robust growth momentum. The question remains: will TSMC repeat its past success? While a doubling in stock price isn’t guaranteed, the current landscape suggests that the company is positioned to outperform the market in 2025. Is TSMC Unstoppable? Insights into Taiwan Semiconductor’s Strategic Conquests and Future Outlook In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) stands on the brink of transformative growth, powered by its strategic advancements and surging demand in the AI technology sector. As the world’s leading third-party chip producer, TSMC has harnessed strategic advancements, setting the stage for a promising future defined by its prowess in cutting-edge chip technology. Innovations in Chip Technology: Tapping into Unseen Potential TSMC’s commitment to innovation is underscored by its groundbreaking transition to 2nm chips anticipated by 2025. This technological leap is expected to enhance processing power and chip density, pivotal for meeting the growing demands of AI-driven applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). These chips are poised to deliver unprecedented efficiency, setting new standards in the semiconductor industry and cementing TSMC’s role as a technology leader. Pros and Cons of TSMC’s Technological Leap Pros: – Enhanced Performance: The 2nm chips will provide greater processing power, catering to the demands of next-gen AI applications. – Market Leadership: Continual innovation keeps TSMC at the cutting edge, reinforcing its market leadership. Cons: – High R&D Costs: Developing such advanced technology demands significant R&D investments. – Production Challenges: Scaling up production for new technology presents logistical and technical hurdles. AI Chip Demand: An Unstoppable Surge With AI technologies gaining rapid traction across industries, TSMC is expected to capitalize on this wave like never before. The AI chip segment is projected to triple its revenue by 2024, far exceeding initial forecasts. TSMC aims to capture substantial earnings in 2025 from AI applications, which could significantly boost the company’s profitability and market share. Reviews and Market Resilience TSMC’s market performance draws intriguing comparisons with its dynamics in early 2020, a period marked by robust growth. While stock prices experienced substantial gains in 2024, TSMC is currently navigating familiar trading ranges reminiscent of those past highs. Investors are watching to see if the company will maintain its growth trajectory, with market analysts largely optimistic about its performance in the coming years. Predictive Trends and Industry Insights Industry experts predict that TSMC’s advancements in chip technology are a harbinger of further growth, potentially outpacing other players in the semiconductor domain. The move towards more efficient and powerful chips is not only a response to market demand but also a strategic positioning that will likely yield substantial long-term benefits. Conclusion: TSMC’s Path Forward In conclusion, TSMC’s strategic advancements in chip technology and its ability to harness the booming AI demand are setting the company on a promising path. While the challenges are substantial, so too are the opportunities. As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, TSMC’s innovations position it well to potentially outperform the market. For more information on TSMC, visit the official website here .
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 20 more people that rights activists describe as political prisoners, a statement on the president’s website said Saturday. The announcement came amid persistent oppression in the run-up to presidential elections next month that are likely to extend Lukashenko’s decades-long rule. Belarusian officials did not provide the names of those released, but the statement posted on the website of the president said that all of them had been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature.” The statement said the group included 11 women and 14 of those pardoned suffered from chronic illnesses. “All of those released repented for their actions and appealed to the head of state to be pardoned,” the presidential administration said in a statement, using wording familiar from a series of previous group pardons in the past six months. Saturday’s announcement marks the eighth such pardon by Lukashenko since the summer of 2024. In all, 207 political prisoners have been freed, according to Belarus’ oldest and most established human rights group, Viasna. RELATED COVERAGE An altercation erupts at a high-level meeting of a Russia-dominated economic union Ukraine’s military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses Belarusian authorities arrest 7 journalists who worked for an independent newspaper Most were jailed following mass anti-government protests in 2020, when Lukashenko secured his sixth term in a vote widely condemned as fraudulent. According to Viasna, over 1,250 political prisoners remain behind bars. No prominent opposition figures, many of whom have not been heard from for months on end, have been released. They include Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Viasna founder Ales Bialiatski ; Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who planned to challenge Lukashenko at the ballot box in 2020 but was jailed before the vote; and Viktar Babaryka, who was also imprisoned after gaining popularity before the election. The mass pardons come amid a new wave of repression, said Viasna activist Pavel Sapelka, as Minsk prepares to hold new presidential elections in January 2025 that are likely to hand Lukashenko a seventh term in office. “Lukashenko is sending contradictory signals (to the West), pardoning some but jailing twice as many political prisoners in their place,” Sapelka said. “Repression is intensifying and authorities are trying to root out any signs of dissent before the January elections.” Belarusian authorities engineer harsh conditions for political prisoners, denying them meetings with lawyers and relatives, and depriving them of medical care. At least seven political prisoners have died behind bars since 2020, according to Viasna. Lukashenko , who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for more than 30 years, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, allowing Russia to use his country’s territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and to deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.Hugh Grant Has Always Played the Villain
Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street Tuesday during a holiday-shortened trading session ahead of Christmas. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% for its third-straight gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.9%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. While Big Tech companies, including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped push the market higher, the gains were widespread. Advancers outnumbered decliners by more than 3-to-1 on the New York Stock Exchange. Broadcom rose 3.2%, Apple gained 1.1% and Amazon closed 1.8% higher. Super Micro Computer climbed 6%. Tesla jumped 7.4% for the biggest gains among S&P 500 stocks. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended with a 0.6% gain after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Elsewhere in the market, U.S. Steel rose 1.9% a day after an influential government panel failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the nearly $15 billion proposed sale to Nippon Steel of Japan. NeueHealth surged 74.9% after the health care company agreed to be taken private in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. All told, the S&P 500 rose 65.97 points to 6,040.04. The Dow added 390.08 points to 43,297.03, and the Nasdaq rose 266.24 points to 20,031.13. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59%. European markets closed mostly higher. Markets in Asia mostly gained ground. Tuesday’s U.S. market rally comes as the stock market enters what’s historically been a very cheerful season. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. The so-called “Santa rally” also correlates closely with positive returns in January and the upcoming year. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the stock market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 26.6% so far this year and remains within roughly 1% of the all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. U.S. markets will be closed Wednesday for Christmas. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to this week, including a weekly update on unemployment benefits on Thursday.NPFL: El-Kanemi Warriors’ Coach Zubairu happy with training in BulgariaS&P 500 components ( ) and ( ), and ( ), ( ) and ( ) are in focus for this week's stock market. The Dow Jones and the S&P 500, fell Friday, slashing weekly gains. However, the stock market rally is acting well, despite remaining somewhat divided. End-of-year light trading and potential tax-related selling in early January could add some turbulence to the market. With this is in mind, investors should keep an eye on these five stocks, which are setting up and are potentially actionable, as they assess current holdings and work on watchlists for stock market action. Investors should also keep tabs on the , the and along with the list for the week's stock market start. Boston Scientific Stock BSX edged down 0.9% to 90.66 during on Friday. But shares rose 1.9% for the week, bouncing off the and . Boston Scientific stock has been trading tightly for several weeks, forming a with a 91.93 buy point as of Friday's close, according to . It should be noted the base is long, dating back to August. Boston Scientific stock has gained around 57% in 2024 but the average analyst price target sits at 101.06, according to FactSet. That represents a further 11% upside for the S&P 500 medtech. While BSX has surged in 2024, the 126 stocks in the industry group have collectively only advanced 1.5% this year. Last week, Truist analysts raised their price target on Boston Scientific to 110 from 100 and kept a buy rating on the shares. The firm broadly sees the medical technology sector as "one of the better/safer houses" in health care given its lower "front-line" exposure to health care policy rhetoric that is tied to the White House change of guard. Earlier this month, Citi also raised its BSX price target to 107 from 98. The firm predicts this year's BSX momentum will continue in 2025 with growth buoyed by the Farapulse pulsed-field ablation and continued adoption and penetration of the company's "Watchman" left atrial appendage closure device. Boston Scientific was Thursday's . Boston Scientific stock has a 93 out of a best-possible 99. The stock also has an 88 and a 92 . Burlington Stores Stock BURL fell 1% to 292 Friday, but rose 2.4% for the week. For weeks, shares have been trading in or near a from a base of 279.51 after breaking out on Nov. 22. BURL stock is technically in the buy zone from that base. But it now has a new flat base with a 298.88 buy point. Investors could use Thursday's high of 295.18 as an early entry. Burlington is featured in this . Burlington has surged 67% from its April low. The stock is up about 50% so far this year and trading around its highest level since December 2021. Shares received a number of price-target hikes in the wake of Burlington's Q3 earnings report and Black Friday sales. Burlington Stores on Nov. 26 reported a 41% increase in Q3 earnings to $1.55 per share adjusted, meeting FactSet expectations. Total revenue rose about 11% to $2.53 billion, short of estimates for $2.55 billion. Chief Executive Michael O'Sullivan noted that third-quarter comparable-sales trends started out "very strongly" for the company's winter outerwear stronghold. However, comparable sales were up 4% during the quarter if cold weather categories were excluded, which represented 15% of sales for Q3. The comp growth is consistent with the trajectory Burlington has seen since March, O'Sullivan said, adding that the company is "very encouraged" by the underlying sales trend. However, the discount retailer provided cautious guidance for the fourth quarter, expecting comparable-sales growth to range from 0% to 2%. On Dec. 2 Goldman Sachs analysts added Burlington Stores to the firm's "U.S. Conviction List" as part of its monthly update. The firm has a buy rating on BURL shares with a 334 price target. Goldman sees Burlington's value offering as "ideally positioned for today's economy." Several discounters, including off-price rival ( ), have been acting well. Burlington Stores stock has a 92 Composite Rating out of a best-possible 99. The stock also has an 86 Relative Strength Rating and an 88 EPS Rating. S&P 500: Fortinet Stock Performance Fortinet fell 1.2% to 96.08 in Friday's stock market, trading about 4% below a traditional 100.59 buy point from a flat base after a strong run-up on earnings, according to MarketSurge chart recognition. Shares ended the week just above their 21-day line. A move above this past week's high of 97.83 could offer aggressive investors an early entry. Fortinet competes in the firewall network security market vs. ( ), ( ) and others. Firewalls reside between private networks and the internet. They block unauthorized traffic and check web applications for malware. As large companies shift to off-premise cloud computing services, one view is that firewall technology will play a lesser role. Fortinet has targeted software-defined wide area networks, or SD-WANs, an emerging computer networking technology. In November, Fortinet , with expectations billings and revenue will grow at a 12% CAGR. The forecast came in slightly above analyst predictions. The company did not give preliminary 2025 guidance. Fortinet stock has a strong 99 Composite Rating. The S&P 500 stock also has a 93 Relative Strength Rating and a 99 EPS Rating. MasTec Stock MTZ shares sank 2% to 135.73 on Friday, back below its recently regained 50-day and 21-day lines. A move above the Dec. 24 high of 140.06 would break a downtrend and offer investors an early entry opportunity. The stock has a three-weeks-tight pattern with a 150.12 buy point, according to MarketSurge chart analysis. It's working on a possible flat base but will need another week. MasTec is an infrastructure and construction services firm with segments including communications, oil and gas and clean energy. The communications segment performs engineering, construction, maintenance, and customer fulfillment activities related to communications infrastructure — primarily for wireless and wireline/fiber communications. The firm is also involved in electric utility transmission and distribution along with heavy civil works projects and industrial infrastructure. The company reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings on Oct. 31, while revenue came in a little light. MasTec Q3 profit grew 70% and analyst consensus has Q4 EPS jumping 86%, according to FactSet. Analysts project annual 2024 profit increasing more than 80% and surging 160% in 2025, compared to 2023 levels. Truist analysts on Dec. 19 raised the price target on MasTec to 189 from 173, keeping a buy rating on the stock as part of a broader research note previewing 2025 for machinery and infrastructure services industrials. The price target hike represents further 36% upside for the stock. The firm wrote that after a strong 2024, the anticipated large-scale investment in infrastructure, renewable energy and data center projects supports continued long term secular growth among infrastructure services names. The stock has gained more than 80% in 2024 while the 21 stocks in the industry group have collectively advanced 70% this year. MasTec stock has a robust 91 Composite Rating. The stock also has a 91 Relative Strength Rating and a 69 EPS Rating. Vertex Stock VERX shares sank 2.1% to 52.71 during Friday's stock market action, but came off lows after undercutting the lows of its recent pullback. The financial software maker is back below its 21-day moving average. A move above Friday's high of 54.48 would break a short downtrend, offering an early entry. Vertex stock is working on a possible new base, but needs more time. Shares also could test a rising 10-week line. Vertex stock had several high volume gains throughout November, with several . Several ANTS marks on a chart can be a signal to consider some profits in the short term. But it's also a reason to watch for a new base. The stock surged more than 30% in November but is down less than 1% in December. On Dec. 18, Stifel analyst Brad Reback raised the firm's price target on Vertex to 58 from 52 and maintained a buy rating. Reback wrote that after a bumpy start to 2024, the year is "ending on a higher note" for the enterprise software group. The analyst expects management to take a more conservative approach to Q1 guidance, but overall believes that "in general top-line growth rates should at least mirror what we have seen during the back half of 2024 due to many of the above mentioned factors." Overall, the corporate tax compliance software maker has had a successful 2024, gaining around 100% so far. Recent acquisitions have helped the investment case for Vertex. At the end of 2023, Vertex announced plans to acquire e-invoicing leader for $555 million. In June, the company acquired tax-specific AI technology and on Aug. 7, the company announced its intent to acquire Ecosio GmbH, an Austrian company that provides electronic data interchange and e-invoicing services. Vertex stock has a perfect 99 Composite Rating. The stock also has a 95 Relative Strength Rating and a 93 EPS Rating.
Odisha CM, Dy CMs, Ministers to visit districts tomorrow to assess loss of crops due to unseasonal rain, watch
My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. Related Articles Movies | Review: Angelina Jolie glides through ‘Maria’ like an iceberg, but a chilly Callas isn’t enough Movies | ‘Sweethearts’ review: Breakup-focused romcom is largely engaging Movies | Making ‘Queer’ required openness. Daniel Craig was ready Movies | 18 most anticipated movies in holiday season 2024 Movies | ‘Moana 2’ review: Sequel hits big screen unable to shake its small-screen DNA But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.- Raising the mid-points of billings, revenue, margins, earnings per share, and free cash flow guidance ranges. - Janesh Moorjani appointed as chief financial officer. SAN FRANCISCO , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. All growth rates are compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2024, unless otherwise noted. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is provided in the accompanying tables. For definitions, please view the Glossary of Terms later in this document. Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights "Autodesk is leading the industry in modernizing its go-to-market motion. These initiatives enable us to build larger and more durable direct relationships with our customers and to serve them more efficiently. We have already seen significant benefits from these optimization initiatives and there's more to come in the next phase," said Andrew Anagnost , Autodesk president and CEO. "We will continue to deploy capital to offset and buy forward dilution, a practice which has reduced our share count over the last three years, and have significantly extended the duration of our repurchase program by increasing our stock repurchase authorization. Our goal is to deliver sustainable shareholder value over many years." "We generated broad-based underlying growth across products and regions. Overall, macroeconomic, policy, and geopolitical challenges, and the underlying momentum of the business, were consistent with the last few quarters with continued strong renewal rates and headwinds to new business growth," said Betsy Rafael , Autodesk interim CFO. "Given Autodesk's sustained momentum in the third quarter, and smooth launch of the new transaction model in Western Europe , we are raising the midpoints of our billings, revenue, margins, earnings per share, and free cash flow guidance ranges." Additional Financial Details Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Business Highlights Net Revenue by Geographic Area Three Months Ended October 31, 2024 Three Months Ended October 31, 2023 Change compared to prior fiscal year Constant currency change compared to prior fiscal year (In millions, except percentages) $ % % Net Revenue: Americas U.S. $ 579 $ 520 $ 59 11 % * Other Americas 126 120 6 5 % * Total Americas 705 640 65 10 % 11 % EMEA 580 516 64 12 % 13 % APAC 285 258 27 10 % 14 % Total Net Revenue $ 1,570 $ 1,414 $ 156 11 % 12 % ____________________ * Constant currency data not provided at this level. Net Revenue by Product Family Our product offerings are focused in four primary product families: Architecture, Engineering and Construction ("AEC"), AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, Manufacturing ("MFG"), and Media and Entertainment ("M&E"). Three Months Ended October 31, 2024 Three Months Ended October 31, 2023 Change compared to prior fiscal year (In millions, except percentages) $ % AEC $ 751 $ 675 $ 76 11 % AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 398 372 26 7 % MFG 307 269 38 14 % M&E 83 73 10 14 % Other 31 25 6 24 % Total Net Revenue $ 1,570 $ 1,414 $ 156 11 % Business Outlook The following are forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are set forth below under "Safe Harbor Statement." Autodesk's business outlook for the fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 considers the current economic environment and foreign exchange currency rate environment. A reconciliation between the fiscal 2025 GAAP and non-GAAP estimates is provided below or in the tables following this press release. Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Q4 FY25 Guidance Metrics Q4 FY25 (ending January 31, 2025) Revenue (in millions) $1,623 - $1,638 EPS GAAP $1.21 - $1.27 EPS non-GAAP (1) $2.10 - $2.16 ____________________ (1) Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes $0.85 related to stock-based compensation expense, $0.17 for the amortization of both purchased intangibles and developed technologies, and $0.05 for acquisition-related costs, partially offset by ($0.18) related to GAAP-only tax charges. Full Year Fiscal 2025 FY25 Guidance Metrics FY25 (ending January 31, 2025) Billings (in millions) $5,900 - $5,980 Up 14% - 15% Revenue (in millions) (1) $6,115 - $6,130 Up approx. 11% GAAP operating margin 21.5% - 22% Non-GAAP operating margin (2) 35.5% - 36% EPS GAAP $4.95 - $5.01 EPS non-GAAP (3) $8.29 - $8.35 Free cash flow (in millions) (4) $1,470 - $1,500 ____________________ (1) Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates and hedge gains/losses, revenue guidance range would be approximately 1 percentage point higher. (2) Non-GAAP operating margin excludes approximately 11% related to stock-based compensation expense, approximately 2% for the amortization of both purchased intangibles and developed technologies, and approximately 1% related to acquisition-related costs. (3) Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes $3.15 related to stock-based compensation expense, $0.61 for the amortization of both purchased intangibles and developed technologies, $0.23 related to acquisition-related costs, and $0.04 related to losses on strategic investments, partially offset by ($0.69) related to GAAP-only tax charges. (4) Free cash flow is cash flow from operating activities less approximately $30 million of capital expenditures. The fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 outlook assume a projected annual effective tax rate of 20 percent and 19 percent for GAAP and non-GAAP results, respectively. Shifts in geographic profitability continue to impact the annual effective tax rate due to significant differences in tax rates in various jurisdictions. Therefore, assumptions for the annual effective tax rate are evaluated regularly and may change based on the projected geographic mix of earnings. Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Autodesk will host its third quarter conference call today at 5 p.m. ET . The live broadcast can be accessed at autodesk.com/investor . A transcript of the opening commentary will also be available following the conference call. A replay of the broadcast will be available at 7 p.m. ET at autodesk.com/investor . This replay will be maintained on Autodesk's website for at least 12 months. Investor Presentation Details An investor presentation, Excel financials and other supplemental materials providing additional information can be found at autodesk.com/investor . Key Performance Metrics To help better understand our financial performance, we use several key performance metrics including billings, recurring revenue and net revenue retention rate. These metrics are key performance metrics and should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue. These metrics are not intended to be combined with those items. We use these metrics to monitor the strength of our recurring business. We believe these metrics are useful to investors because they can help in monitoring the long-term health of our business. Our determination and presentation of these metrics may differ from that of other companies. The presentation of these metrics is meant to be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, our financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Glossary of Terms Billings: Total revenue plus the net change in deferred revenue from the beginning to the end of the period. Cloud Service Offerings : Represents individual term-based offerings deployed through web browser technologies or in a hybrid software and cloud configuration. Cloud service offerings that are bundled with other product offerings are not captured as a separate cloud service offering. Constant Currency (CC) Growth Rates: We attempt to represent the changes in the underlying business operations by eliminating fluctuations caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates as well as eliminating hedge gains or losses recorded within the current and comparative periods. We calculate constant currency growth rates by (i) applying the applicable prior period exchange rates to current period results and (ii) excluding any gains or losses from foreign currency hedge contracts that are reported in the current and comparative periods. Design Business: Represents the combination of maintenance, product subscriptions, and all EBAs. Main products include, but are not limited to, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Industry Collections, Revit, Inventor, Maya and 3ds Max. Certain products, such as our computer aided manufacturing solutions, incorporate both Design and Make functionality and are classified as Design. Enterprise Business Agreements (EBAs): Represents programs providing enterprise customers with token-based access to a broad pool of Autodesk products over a defined contract term. Flex: A pay-as-you-go consumption option to pre-purchase tokens to access any product available with Flex for a daily rate. Free Cash Flow: Cash flow from operating activities minus capital expenditures. Industry Collections: Autodesk Industry Collections are a combination of products and services that target a specific user objective and support a set of workflows for that objective. Our Industry Collections consist of: Autodesk Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection, and Autodesk Media and Entertainment Collection. Maintenance Plan: Our maintenance plans provide our customers with a cost effective and predictable budgetary option to obtain the productivity benefits of our new releases and enhancements when and if released during the term of their contracts. Under our maintenance plans, customers are eligible to receive unspecified upgrades when and if available, and technical support. We recognize maintenance revenue over the term of the agreements, generally one year. Make Business: Represents certain cloud-based product subscriptions. Main products include, but are not limited to, Assemble, Autodesk Build, BIM Collaborate Pro, BuildingConnected, Fusion, and Flow Production Tracking. Certain products, such as Fusion, incorporate both Design and Make functionality and are classified as Make. Net Revenue Retention Rate (NR3): Measures the year-over-year change in Recurring Revenue for the population of customers that existed one year ago ("base customers"). Net revenue retention rate is calculated by dividing the current quarter Recurring Revenue related to base customers by the total corresponding quarter Recurring Revenue from one year ago. Recurring Revenue is based on USD reported revenue, and fluctuations caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and hedge gains or losses have not been eliminated. Recurring Revenue related to acquired companies, one year after acquisition, has been captured as existing customers until such data conforms to the calculation methodology. This may cause variability in the comparison. Other Revenue: Consists of revenue from consulting, and other products and services, and is recognized as the products are delivered and services are performed. Product Subscription: Provides customers a flexible, cost-effective way to access and manage 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software tools. Our product subscriptions currently represent a hybrid of desktop and cloud functionality, which provides a device-independent, collaborative design workflow for designers and their stakeholders. Recurring Revenue: Consists of the revenue for the period from our traditional maintenance plans, our subscription plan offerings, and certain Other revenue. It excludes subscription revenue related to third-party products. Recurring revenue acquired with the acquisition of a business is captured when total subscriptions are captured in our systems and may cause variability in the comparison of this calculation. Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO): The sum of total short-term, long-term, and unbilled deferred revenue. Current remaining performance obligations is the amount of revenue we expect to recognize in the next twelve months. Solution Provider : Solution Provider is the name of our channel partners who primarily serve our new transaction model customers worldwide. Solution Providers may also be resellers in relation to Autodesk solutions. Spend : The sum of cost of revenue and operating expenses. Subscription Plan: Comprises our term-based product subscriptions, cloud service offerings, and EBAs. Subscriptions represent a combined hybrid offering of desktop software and cloud functionality which provides a device-independent, collaborative design workflow for designers and their stakeholders. With subscription, customers can use our software anytime, anywhere, and get access to the latest updates to previous versions. Subscription Revenue: Includes our cloud-enabled term-based product subscriptions, cloud service offerings, and flexible EBAs. Unbilled Deferred Revenue: Unbilled deferred revenue represents contractually stated or committed orders under early renewal and multi-year billing plans for subscription, services, and maintenance for which the associated deferred revenue has not been recognized. Under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, unbilled deferred revenue is not included as a receivable or deferred revenue on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including quotations from management, statements in the paragraphs under "Business Outlook" above statements about our short-term and long-term goals, statements regarding our strategies, market and product positions, performance and results, and all statements that are not historical facts. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: our strategy to develop and introduce new products and services and to move to platforms and capabilities, exposing us to risks such as limited customer acceptance (both new and existing customers), costs related to product defects, and large expenditures; global economic and political conditions, including changes in monetary and fiscal policy, foreign exchange headwinds, recessionary fears, supply chain disruptions, resulting inflationary pressures and hiring conditions; geopolitical tension and armed conflicts, and extreme weather events; costs and challenges associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; our ability to successfully implement and expand our transaction model; dependency on international revenue and operations, exposing us to significant international regulatory, economic, intellectual property, collections, currency exchange rate, taxation, political, and other risks, including risks related to the war against Ukraine launched by Russia and our exit from Russia and the current conflict between Israel and Hamas; inability to predict subscription renewal rates and their impact on our future revenue and operating results; existing and increased competition and rapidly evolving technological changes; fluctuation of our financial results, key metrics and other operating metrics; our transition from up front to annual billings for multi-year contracts; deriving a substantial portion of our net revenue from a small number of solutions, including our AutoCAD-based software products and collections; any failure to successfully execute and manage initiatives to realign or introduce new business and sales initiatives, including our new transaction model for Flex; net revenue, billings, earnings, cash flow, or new or existing subscriptions shortfalls; social and ethical issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence in our offerings; our ability to maintain security levels and service performance meeting the expectations of our customers, and the resources and costs required to avoid unanticipated downtime and prevent, detect and remediate performance degradation and security breaches; security incidents or other incidents compromising the integrity of our or our customers' offerings, services, data, or intellectual property; reliance on third parties to provide us with a number of operational and technical services as well as software; our highly complex software, which may contain undetected errors, defects, or vulnerabilities; increasing regulatory focus on privacy issues and expanding laws; governmental export and import controls that could impair our ability to compete in international markets or subject us to liability if we violate the controls; protection of our intellectual property rights and intellectual property infringement claims from others; the government procurement process; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; our debt service obligations; and our investment portfolio consisting of a variety of investment vehicles that are subject to interest rate trends, market volatility, and other economic factors. Our estimates as to tax rate are based on current interpretations of existing tax law and could be affected by changing interpretations, further guidance, and additional tax legislation. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Autodesk are included in Autodesk's Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Autodesk disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. About Autodesk The world's designers, engineers, builders, and creators trust Autodesk to help them design and make anything. From the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive and the bridges we drive over. From the products we use and rely on, to the movies and games that inspire us. Autodesk's Design and Make Platform unlocks the power of data to accelerate insights and automate processes, empowering our customers with the technology to create the world around us and deliver better outcomes for their business and the planet. For more information, visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk. #MakeAnything Autodesk uses its investors.autodesk.com website as a means of disclosing material non-public information, announcing upcoming investor conferences and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, you should monitor our investor relations website in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, BIM 360 and Fusion 360 are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and service offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2024 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. Autodesk, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net revenue: Subscription $ 1,457 $ 1,314 $ 4,195 $ 3,777 Maintenance 9 12 31 40 Total subscription and maintenance revenue 1,466 1,326 4,226 3,817 Other 104 88 266 211 Total net revenue 1,570 1,414 4,492 4,028 Cost of revenue: Cost of subscription and maintenance revenue 105 94 305 285 Cost of other revenue 19 21 57 62 Amortization of developed technologies 23 12 62 34 Total cost of revenue 147 127 424 381 Gross profit 1,423 1,287 4,068 3,647 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 525 439 1,474 1,344 Research and development 378 339 1,092 1,021 General and administrative 161 165 477 438 Amortization of purchased intangibles 13 10 37 31 Total operating expenses 1,077 953 3,080 2,834Will Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?Nat Barr cuts interview short after politicians’ ‘feisty’ clash over Albanese poll