Today's Finance Pulse
Autodesk to acquire MaintainX for $3.6B, expanding into operations software
Autodesk announced a $3.6 billion purchase of MaintainX, a leader in operational‑phase software for the built environment. The deal extends Autodesk’s portfolio from design and manufacturing into ongoing building operation, creating an end‑to‑end data loop. CEO Andrew Anagnost said the acquisition unlocks a $40 billion total addressable market.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Pemberton Asset Management closes $3.7B fourth vintage fund
SEBI Board Meet on March 23 Likely to Revisit Conflict-of-Interest Rules
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will convene a board meeting on March 23 to revisit the conflict‑of‑interest and disclosure framework for its senior officials. The agenda, expected to cover around 20 items, also includes proposals to allow netting of funds for foreign portfolio investor (FPI) transactions, tighten fit‑and‑proper criteria for intermediaries, and simplify master circulars for stock exchanges. Additional items target ETF pricing mechanisms, reporting relaxations for brokers, and regulatory easing for REITs, InvITs, and impact funds. The meeting follows a December board deferment on the conflict‑of‑interest issue.
Economists Hide Real Risks of U.S. Bond Dumping
Everyone's worried about foreign countries dumping U.S. bonds, but here's what mainstream economists won't tell you about government finances. The link to the complete presentation is in the comments.
JCE: Large-Cap Equity Fund With Call Options, 8.15% Yield, And 5.7% Discount
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is a large‑cap equity closed‑end fund that employs a call‑overlay strategy to generate income. The fund offers an 8.14% distribution yield while trading at a 5.7% discount to NAV, supported by a sustainable, tax‑advantaged...
JCE: Large-Cap Equity Fund With Call Options, 8.15% Yield, And 5.7% Discount
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is a large‑cap equity closed‑end fund that employs a call‑overlay strategy to boost income. It offers an 8.15% distribution yield while trading at a 5.7% discount to NAV. The call‑overlay generates premium income but...
Top Wall Street Analysts Are Bullish on the Growth Potential of These Three Stocks
Wall Street’s top analysts are bullish on three AI‑adjacent stocks—Datadog, Vertiv Holdings, and Arista Networks—each receiving a fresh buy rating and higher price target. Datadog’s Baird analyst set a $180 target, citing a 25%+ operating margin and a large, untapped...
What to Expect in Markets This Week: Earnings From Nvidia, Home Depot, Banks, and Berkshire; Trump Speech
Nvidia’s earnings dominate this week’s market focus as AI‑chip demand remains a key driver. Home Depot and Lowe’s will report amid a housing‑market slowdown, while Berkshire Hathaway files its first post‑Buffett report under Greg Abel. Media firms Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery revive...
Indonesia Faces Record Share Sales to Meet Free-Float Goal
Indonesia must orchestrate a record‑size share sale to lift the free‑float of 267 listed firms to at least 15%, up from the current 7.5% floor. The Indonesia Stock Exchange estimates the required issuance will total about 187 trillion rupiah (approximately S$14 billion),...
In the $3 Trillion Private Credit Market, the ‘Shadow Default’ Rate Is Increasing as More Money Chases Lower-Quality Deals
Lincoln International’s Private Market Index shows the $3 trillion private‑credit sector is growing in size but slipping in quality. Enterprise value rose 1.9% while EBITDA growth slowed and the “shadow default” rate more than doubled to 6.4% over the past year....
Data-First Telecom Management: From Blind Spot to Value Driver
Enterprises are still paying for legacy telecom services that are unused, creating hidden cost leaks. A data‑first approach—digitizing invoices, consolidating contracts, and applying AI/ML analytics—provides clear visibility into service usage and pricing. Companies that adopt this model can shift telecom...
A Niche Way to Diversify Your Exposure to the AI Boom
Recent market turbulence has exposed the volatility of AI‑driven mega‑caps and the collateral damage to firms that could be disrupted by artificial intelligence. Investors are uncertain about which companies will ultimately benefit, leading to sharp price swings in both directions....
Master M&A Basics and Profit Strategies – Free PDF
Mergers & Acquisitions 101 M&A and how you can profit from it Here’s what you’ll learn: • What Is M&A? • Why M&A? • Types of M&A Deals • How M&A Works • Benefits of M&A • The Risks • Who Drives M&A? • The Hard Truth • Serial Acquirers 📚 Grab...
OMAH: Berkshire Hathaway Covered Call Income ETF, Strong Distribution Yield, Short Track Record
The VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF (OMAH) tracks Berkshire Hathaway’s largest equity positions while also holding BRK.B shares directly. It enhances income by writing covered calls on these stocks, delivering a 14.3% distribution yield but capping upside potential....
VFLO: Free Cash Flow In Vogue Amid High AI Capex Jitters
VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF (VFLO) received a reiterated buy rating, highlighted by a low 13.5× P/E multiple and a PEG ratio under 1.5×, indicating attractive valuation. The fund employs a barbell strategy, overweighting Energy, underweighting Information Technology, and maintaining...
Bitcoin Eyes $175B in Refund Liquidity as Supreme Court Nukes Trump Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 20 ruled 6‑3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize President Trump’s tariff program, nullifying roughly $133.5 billion in collected duties and raising the total overhang to about $175‑$179 billion. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent...
Can Private Litigation Hold Auditors to Account?
The episode examines the rising trend of private litigation as a tool to hold audit firms accountable, sparked by concerns over potential SEC Chairman Paul Atkins' moves to weaken the PCAOB. Host Francine McKenna references her Substack post and discusses...
Crypto Market Retraces Almost All 2024-2025 US Election Pump Gains
The crypto market has erased most of the post‑2024 election rally, shedding roughly 40% of its value since the October 2025 peak. Total3 market cap surged from $600 billion pre‑election to $1.16 trillion in December 2024, briefly topped $1.19 trillion in October 2025,...
Build Resilient Models: Separate Data, Use Named Ranges
I used to lose an entire day just updating last month's numbers. Not because the model was complicated. Because I hadn't built it to survive the roll forward. Most models break the same way every month. A new account shows up that...
LARCH CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC - Filing for Period Ending 12/31/2025
Larch Capital Partners, a Miami‑based advisory firm, reported $645.3 million in discretionary assets under management for the period ending December 31 2025, serving 323 clients. Its most recent 13F filing showed $729.1 million in managed securities, with a striking 93.6% concentration in the top...
Weaker Dollar Spurs Record Foreign Inflows
1. Chart in original post shows the weaker USD (DXY) gets, the more flows will move into USD assets...& DXY had biggest drop in 52 yrs in 1H25👇 2. So as long as DXY keeps falling 10-15%/yr, foreign** inflows will grow **37%...
FDI Feint Glorifies Global South Base
The episode examines recent trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) to emerging markets, noting that high‑frequency data shows a steady $10 billion per week inflow, while UNCTAD’s lagging figures report a 2% decline to $875 billion last year. It explores how short‑term...
SPAC IPO Terms Tracker: February 20, 2026
The SPAC IPO Terms Tracker for the week ending February 20, 2026 shows a modest rebound in special‑purpose acquisition company listings, with 12 new SPACs raising approximately $1.8 billion in aggregate. Median IPO size slipped to $150 million, down from $165 million the...
RING: The Consolidation Looks Bullish; Don't Dump Gold Stocks Now
The iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) retains a buy rating thanks to its attractive valuation and strong technical momentum. Over the past year the fund posted a 157% total return, outpacing the S&P 500 by 145 percentage points, while...
Almonty Raises $112.5M for Global Tungsten Expansion
Almonty seeks $112.5mn to advance Montana tungsten, Portugal Panasqueira expansion, and Korea Sangdong Mo drilling. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/almonty-tungsten-funding-targets-1125mn.html
The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) Reports Q4 Revenue of $1.14B Versus Consensus of $1.1B
The Chefs’ Warehouse reported fourth‑quarter revenue of $1.14 billion, topping the $1.1 billion consensus. CEO Christopher Pappas highlighted sustained demand from upscale‑casual and higher‑end dining segments across domestic and international markets. The company also announced FY26 revenue guidance of $4.35‑$4.45 billion, roughly in...
Oppenheimer Raises Its Price Target on SharkNinja, Inc. (SN) to $145 From $140 and Maintains an Outperform Rating
Oppenheimer raised its price target on SharkNinja (NYSE:SN) to $145 from $140 and kept an Outperform rating after meeting management. Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim also lifted their targets, signaling broader analyst optimism. SharkNinja reported Q4 revenue of $2.10 billion, slightly above...
Are the WNBA’s 9-Figure Losses What They Seem?
Negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA are stalled by disputed financials, with the league reporting a $50 million loss in 2024 and warning of "hundreds of millions" in losses under the union's latest proposal. Meanwhile, the league has collected nearly...
Spot Emerging Sectors Early, Enter Low‑Risk, Let Market Grow
Our job is to identify leading sectors and industries early, find a low risk entry and let the market do the rest. 📈
10% Market Slide Could Wipe $
10% equity drop could erase $7T and shave ~0.9% off GDP. Tech/AI capex and hyperscaler overinvestment raise downside risk. Trade insight: trim cyclicals & hardware suppliers. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
ECI Expands Alliance with FormedAI to Deliver AI-Powered AP Automation for E-Automate Cloud Users
ECI Software Solutions has broadened its partnership with FormedAI to embed AI‑driven accounts payable automation into the e‑automate Cloud platform for North American dealers. The integration brings the same data‑capture and invoice‑processing engine that served self‑hosted users to cloud deployments,...
Can Microsoft Teams Chat Be Monitored?
Microsoft Teams chat can be monitored using native Microsoft 365 compliance features and third‑party solutions. Monitoring requires an E5 license or an E3 plan with the E5 Compliance add‑on, after which admins enable communication‑compliance, assign roles, and create policies. Tools such...
Michael Hudson: Destiny of Civilization – Financialization & Collapse
Michael Hudson argues that the shift from industrial capitalism to finance‑driven rentier capitalism has turned economic growth into rent extraction, eroding productivity and widening inequality. He traces the historical battle against landlord rents in 19th‑century Britain to today’s debt‑financed housing,...
4 Audit Triggers To Avoid For Entrepreneurs and High Income Individuals
High‑income entrepreneurs, especially Schedule C filers, face sharply higher IRS audit rates in 2024, with audit risk more than double that of previous cycles. The article outlines four primary triggers—aggressive expense deductions, persistent losses, mortgage‑interest miscalculations, and residency errors—that can flag...
FIIs Turn Buyers in February with Rs 16,912 Crore Worth of Equity Inflows. Is This a Sign of Trend Reversal?
Foreign institutional investors turned net buyers in February 2026, channeling roughly Rs 16,912 crore into Indian equities. This marks a sharp reversal from January’s Rs 35,962 crore outflows and a year‑to‑date net outflow of Rs 19,050 crore. The buying was uneven across sectors, with IT stocks...
Watch Me Build A Construction Draw Schedule (Updated Feb 2026)
The article walks readers through building a construction draw schedule that respects a typical capital stack of equity first, then debt, and finally an interest reserve. It highlights the iterative challenge of calculating the interest reserve when debt disbursements depend...
Chariot to Raise $20 Million to Fund Offshore Angola Oil Production Stake
Chariot Plc announced a $20 million equity placing to help finance the acquisition of a producing oil interest offshore Angola. The deal, in partnership with Shell Trading and Etu Energias, targets Blocks 14 and 14K, which currently produce about 8,000 barrels per day....
Endowment Lessons
The University of Chicago announced plans to sell its Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) for about $400 million, a modest price compared with its $11 billion endowment. The move reflects a broader financial strain: operating deficits have grown tenfold since...
From Courtroom to Capital Markets: Why US Tariff Instability Matters
The Supreme Court narrowed presidential tariff authority, prompting the administration to rely on alternative statutes and refusing refunds for collected duties. This creates a new layer of substitution and retroactivity risk that markets now price into trade‑policy expectations. For capital‑intensive...
Undervalued Malaysian Hospitality Stock Sees 35x Profit Surge
Is this the most undervalued hospitality play in Malaysia right now? 🇲🇾 While everyone is chasing speculative tech, a "quiet" company just reported a 35-fold quarterly profit jump. This isn't just growth—it’s a total operational takeover. 🧵 (1/5)
LEI Chartbook Shows Strong Economic Indicator
The latest LEI chartbook is up, and it's looking pretty good, if you believe this kind of indicator that is -> https://t.co/jA0iOD7MzE
FDLO: A Short-Term Harbor, Yet Beware Of Long-Term Underperformance
The Fidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF (FDLO) tracks 126 U.S. stocks with a weighted‑average 24‑month beta of 0.78, positioning it as a lower‑risk vehicle. In 2026 the fund has outperformed the broad‑market S&P 500 ETF IVV, but it still trails pure...
AI Boosts SaaS Support, Productivity, Margins—No Price Hikes
AI doesn’t need to be sexy to move the needle. In Ep. 233 of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Luca Cartechini explains how AI is boosting support, dev productivity, and margins—without raising prices. Watch here: https://t.co/CvZiAzWspt #SaaS #AI https://t.co/DhDtGPTj5z
Corporate Leaders Gather to Shape Bitcoin’s Future
Bitcoin for Corporations 2026 convenes CEOs, CFOs, treasurers, investors, and builders shaping the future of Digital Capital, Digital Credit, and Digital Equity. Join us next week in Las Vegas — or via livestream. https://t.co/jW0hqfQeeR
Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG) Swings to Q4 Loss on Elevated Claims
Employers Holdings (EIG) posted a Q4 2025 loss of $23.4 million, with revenue slipping 21.3% year‑over‑year to $170.5 million. The full‑year net income collapsed from $118.6 million in 2024 to $10.8 million, while the GAAP combined ratio deteriorated to 106% in the quarter and...
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) Profit Rebound on Fiber Momentum
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) posted a fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue increase of 12% to $330.7 million and net income of $37.2 million, reversing a year‑earlier loss. Full‑year results showed a profit swing to $48.2 million on $1.23 billion of operating revenue, driven by accelerated...
Vedanta Resources Mobilises $350 Million in Fresh Borrowing
Vedanta Resources secured a $350 million, 3.5‑year revolving credit facility from a consortium of six banks, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan. The loan, priced at SOFR + 435 bps, will refinance existing maturities, fund interest payments and...
First Citizens Seeks New Mergers to Cross Growth Threshold
First Citizens BancShares, sitting at $230 billion in assets, is actively scouting acquisitions to push past the $250 billion regulatory threshold that imposes stricter capital and reporting rules. The bank recently secured 138 BMO Bank branches across 11 states, adding a solid...
Supreme Court Trump Tariff Decision Impact: What to Expect as Fight for Billions in Refunds Begins
The U.S. Supreme Court declared President Trump’s IEEPA‑based tariffs illegal, opening the door to massive refund claims. Estimates suggest importers could seek as much as $175 billion in reimbursements, though the Court did not specify how refunds will be administered. Treasury,...
Advisory Services: Pruning for Growth
Accounting firms are rapidly losing compliance work to AI and automation, prompting a shift toward advisory services. Experts advise firms to prune low‑margin clients and replace them with high‑value, advisory‑ready relationships. Scaling requires moving from ad‑hoc consulting to structured, team‑based...
XSMO: Compelling Value And Growth Mix Persists For These Small-Cap Momentum Stocks
The Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) retains its “buy” rating, buoyed by standout GARP characteristics and a 17.41% price gain since July 2025. It blends 20.91% estimated earnings growth with an 18.36× forward P/E, delivering a rare value‑momentum mix. Superior...
Access to Credit and Employment Growth for MSMEs: Evidence From Latin America and the Caribbean
A new IDB Invest technical note analyzes 21,696 MSMEs across 30 Latin American and Caribbean economies, linking credit access to employment growth. The study finds that an extra US$1 million in financing generates roughly four permanent jobs per year. Effects vary:...