United Natural Foods, Inc. ( UNFI ) delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, showing resilience even as a cyber incident disrupted operations. Shares surged after the announcement, underscoring renewed investor confidence in the natural and specialty foods wholesaler. Key Points UNFI posted an adjusted quarterly loss of $0.11 per share, beating estimates of a deeper $0.16 loss. Revenue reached $7.7 billion, slightly above expectations and up 1.6% on a comparable basis. Fiscal 2026 guidance projects higher earnings and stronger cash flow, though revenue outlook is just shy of consensus. How did UNFI perform this quarter? United Natural Foods surprised investors with results that came in better than analysts expected. While the company reported an adjusted loss of $0.11 per share, that was narrower than forecasts for a $0.16 loss. Revenue of $7.7 billion edged past estimates and reflected modest growth when adjusting for last year’s extra trading week. This perfor...

Crypto markets are entering a new phase as U.S. regulators clear the path for a wave of new exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while industry giant Vanguard hints at easing its long-standing resistance to digital assets. Key Points The SEC approved expedited listing standards that could accelerate launches of crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Vanguard, with $11 trillion in assets, is weighing whether to allow crypto ETF trading on its platform. Investor flows show rotation: Bitcoin and Ethereum saw heavy outflows, while Solana and XRP attracted inflows. Why is the SEC’s decision a game-changer for crypto ETFs? The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved generic listing standards for spot crypto ETFs, removing the need for case-by-case approvals. This move paves the way for faster launches of funds tied to digital assets such as Solana and XRP, beyond the existing Bitcoin and Ethereum products. ETF experts told CNBC that within the next 60 to 90 days, inv...

DoorDash ( DASH ) is making its biggest push yet into grocery delivery through an expanded partnership with Kroger ( KR ), while Instacart ( CART ) works to strengthen its role in retail execution. The moves highlight how competition in online grocery is heating up — and investors are taking notice. Key Points DoorDash adds Kroger’s full grocery lineup : Starting October 1, nearly 2,700 Kroger-owned stores will be available on the DoorDash app. Instacart under pressure : Shares of CART dropped after the announcement, with analysts warning of market share risk. Instacart pivots toward CPG partnerships : A new tie-up with Advantage Solutions aims to improve in-store execution for consumer brands. Why is DoorDash teaming up with Kroger? DoorDash is expanding its partnership with Kroger to include grocery delivery from almost 2,700 stores across the U.S. Until now, the collaboration was limited to sushi and flowers at select locations. Starting October 1, shoppers will be a...

Electronic Arts ( EA ), the publisher behind FIFA, Madden, The Sims, and Battlefield, announced it will be acquired in a $55 billion all-cash leveraged buyout — the largest of its kind in history. Key Points EA shareholders will receive $210 per share in cash , a 25% premium to its pre-rumor stock price. The buyers include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) , private equity firm Silver Lake , and Affinity Partners , led by Jared Kushner. The deal, financed with $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt from JPMorgan , is expected to close in fiscal Q1 2027 . What makes this buyout historic? This is the largest all-cash private equity buyout ever , surpassing previous LBO records like TXU and HCA Healthcare. The $55 billion price tag reflects strong confidence in EA’s cash-generating franchises and its ability to expand outside the public markets. For perspective, the buyers are paying about 20 times EA’s projected 2026 EBITDA of $2.7 billion. That’s a r...

Carnival ( CCL ) delivered another record-setting quarter, with strong profits and improved guidance. Yet, shares fell after the release, showing a classic case of “sell the news.” Key Points Carnival reported record revenue of $8.2 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.43, topping Wall Street’s forecasts. Management raised full-year 2025 earnings guidance for the third time this year, now projecting nearly 55% growth. Despite strong fundamentals, Carnival stock dropped more than 4% as investors locked in profits after a strong run-up. Why did Carnival stock fall after strong earnings? Carnival beat analyst expectations on both revenue and earnings, posting its tenth consecutive quarter of record sales . Adjusted earnings came in at $1.43 per share, versus forecasts of $1.32, while revenue reached $8.2 billion, above the $8.1 billion consensus. Yet, the stock dropped over 4% on the day of the announcement. This decline was not about weak fundamentals — instead, it looked like...

With the S&P 500 brushing record highs and Washington bracing for a potential government shutdown, investors are weighing elevated valuations, an AI investment frenzy, and the Federal Reserve’s next move. Key Points A U.S. government shutdown looks likely, but past episodes suggest only limited impact on markets. The Fed is signaling caution as valuations stretch near dot-com era levels while jobs data could drive its next rate decision. AI investment is booming, raising comparisons to the 1990s internet bubble — though fundamentals look stronger today. Is a U.S. government shutdown really bad for the stock market? The U.S. faces another budget showdown this week. Unless Congress acts, a government shutdown begins at midnight Wednesday. Historically, these episodes have shaved only about 0.1 percentage point off GDP for each week, with growth bouncing back once federal workers receive back pay. For Wall Street, the bigger problem is not halted services but frozen dat...

TikTok’s future in the U.S. took a major turn after President Donald Trump approved a new deal that creates a U.S.-based joint venture — but with ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, still playing a central role. While American investors will control the app’s operations, ByteDance will reportedly receive about half of TikTok U.S.’s profits. Key Points ByteDance keeps control of profits:  Despite ceding majority ownership, ByteDance could capture ~50% of TikTok U.S. profits through licensing fees and its minority equity stake. Valuation lower than expected:  The deal values TikTok U.S. at $14 billion, well below analyst estimates of $35–60 billion. National security debate continues:  Lawmakers question whether the structure meets U.S. divestiture requirements. Why is TikTok U.S. valued at only $14 billion? Vice President JD Vance announced the U.S. TikTok entity would be valued at $14 billion — far less than prior Wall Street estimates of up to $60 billion. Analysts say t...

President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs that will hit pharmaceuticals, furniture, and heavy trucks, signaling an aggressive expansion of his trade agenda. The measures, set to take effect on October 1, 2025 , could reshape several key industries and spark ripple effects across global markets. Key Points Pharmaceutical imports face a 100% duty , unless the company is actively building a U.S. manufacturing plant. Furniture and building products like cabinets and vanities will be hit with tariffs of 30% to 50%. Heavy trucks will face a 25% tariff, designed to shield U.S. manufacturers like Peterbilt and Freightliner. Why are pharmaceuticals facing a 100% tariff? The most eye-catching move is Trump’s decision to slap a 100% duty on imported branded and patented drugs . However, there’s a major exception: companies that are currently building U.S. manufacturing plants won’t be taxed. This “loophole” means that large drugmakers like Merck ( MRK ), Eli Lilly ( L...