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☆ The 1% Stock-Buyback Tax Hasn’t Slowed Repurchases. A Proposed 4% Tax Might.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Executives largely shrugged off a new 1% tax on stock buybacks as the cost of doing business. Even with the 1% tax, stock buybacks are the preferred way to return cash to shareholders, Mr. Krone said at a conference in February. Stock repurchases by Berkshire and the publicly traded companies it owns benefited investors, he wrote in the Feb. 25 letter. For one, share repurchases typically don’t commit them to continuing to buy shares, and offer flexibility on timing. “We only really consider share repurchases when we have an attractive repurchase price,” the CFO said.

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☆ White House aims to shift cybersecurity burden from individuals and small businesses to tech providers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The White House released its long-awaited National Cyber Strategy on Thursday, providing a road map for how the Biden administration aims to defend the U.S. from a rapidly growing number of online threats. "The president's strategy fundamentally reimagines America's cyber social contract," Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden said during a press briefing on Wednesday. The White House is proposing that legislation establish liability for software makers which fail to take reasonable precautions to secure their products and services. The White House said the work has already started. WATCH: Closing keynote: The White House is serious about cybersecurity

☆ Bonds back on? ETF strategies for the balance-seeking investor
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Kevin Schmidt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

And as yields on 2-year Treasurys approach 5%, single Treasury bond ETFs are attracting big inflows as investors seek balance in an uncertain inflationary environment. The 2-year Treasury yield closed the month of February on a tear, advancing more than 70 basis points for the month and climbing to 4.878% on Wednesday. The iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV) is comprised of securities with one to 12 months of remaining maturity. The SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF tracks between one and three years. Similarly, VettaFi's Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) focuses on exposure to bonds with that maturity duration.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Rivian, Kohl's, Novavax and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Revenue for the quarter came in at $663 million, falling well below analysts' estimates of $742 million, according to Refinitiv. Sarepta Therapeutics — The biotech stock soared by 17% after Morgan Stanley upgraded Sarepta shares to overweight from equal weight. Kohl's reported a loss of $2.49 per share on $5.78 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv had expected positive earnings of 98 cents per share on $5.99 billion of revenue. Monster reported $1.51 billion in revenue, falling short of analysts' expectations of $1.6 billion.

☆ Top investors share 3 tips for buying stocks in this turbulent market
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Markets have been volatile of late, leading investors to wonder which corner of the market to seek refuge in. Investors are worrying that the U.S. Federal Reserve could keep rates higher for longer amid a renewed focus on hotter-than-expected inflation . Higher rates for longer is expected to be bad news for growth stocks such as tech, which tumbled last year as the era of zero rates ended. Some Big Tech stocks are now "quite mature," Hawtin said, noting that Alphabet and Facebook are essentially dependent on advertising. Steve Eisman of "The Big Short" fame said Monday that gone are the days when investors could win by simply buying technology stocks.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Procter & Gamble, Tesla, Spotify, AbbVie & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Morgan Stanley upgrades Sarepta to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said it's bullish on the company's gene therapy drug, SRP-9001. Morgan Stanley reiterates Rivian as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on the EV maker after its earnings report on Tuesday, but says it's now a show-me story. Morgan Stanley reiterates Eli Lilly as top pick Morgan Stanley said the stock is best-in-class and that it's bullish on its diabetes drug, Mounjaro. Morgan Stanley names JD.com a catalyst driven idea Morgan Stanley said it's bullish heading into the China e-commerce company's earnings on March 9. Morgan Stanley reiterates Microsoft as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by shares of Microsoft.

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☆ 'Pretty bearish on Tesla': Market pro says price cuts will hit the EV giant's share price
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla shares are unlikely to make a comeback over the medium term partly due to the price cuts the electric automaker announced late last year, according to tech investor Mark Hawtin. "I'm pretty bearish on Tesla," said Hawtin, investment director at Zurich-based GAM Investments. This, in turn, could lead to lower demand for Tesla's products, impacting margins and profitability, according to Hawtin. "I think we will see lower demand at a time when they're ramping up factories around the world," he added. According to Jonas, the stock could jump on any new plans from the automaker for the "mass adoption of EVs at far lower price points" on its Mar.

☆ Warren Buffett praised the practice of long-term investing in his annual shareholder letter. These are the 10 longest-held stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Warren Buffett has long praised the practice of long-term investing when it comes to stocks. "The world is full of foolish gamblers, and they will not do as well as the patient investor," Buffett said in Berkshire Hathaway's 2022 shareholder letter. These are the 10 longest-held stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's $299 billion stock portfolio. These are the 10 longest-held companies in Berkshire Hathaway's $299 billion individual stock portfolio. UPSJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesTicker: UPSTime Held: 17 yearsPortfolio Value: $10.3 million7.

☆ 'High-quality' and 'reliable': Investor says Apple is a good stock for a volatile market
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But the path of interest rate hikes remains uncertain amid stubbornly high inflation and the continuing strength of the U.S. consumer, while the prospect of a recession persists in the minds of investors. Against this backdrop, tech investor Mark Hawtin believes Apple could be a safer bet within the mega-cap space. I think if the macro remains uncertain, then Apple remains a good stock to hold, because it provides certainty in an uncertain environment. "I think [Apple] will always overcome the supply chain obstacles in the end. Analysts think the stock could go higher, with about 78% of those covering the stock rating it a "buy" and giving it average upside of around 15%.

☆ Carlyle veteran Peter Clare to retire after more than three decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Carlyle Group (CG.O) veteran and chief investment officer of its corporate private equity business, Peter Clare, will retire on April 30, weeks after the buyout firm named former Goldman Sachs Inc (GS.N) executive Harvey Schwartz as its chief executive. Clare, who joined Carlyle in 1992, has held several senior leadership roles in the unit. Carlyle also said on Monday Sandra Horbach and Brian Bernasek, currently co-heads of U.S. buyout and growth platform, will assume the role of co-heads of the Americas to oversee the firm's private equity business effective immediately. The appointments comes at a turbulent time for private equity firms as stubbornly high inflation, rising interest rates and geopolitical turmoil together crimped lucrative exits from investments. Earlier this month, Carlyle reported a steep 52% slide in its fourth-quarter distributable earnings as the private equity firm cashed out on fewer investments as dealmaking slowed.

☆ As markets turn rocky, bond ETFs are giving stocks a run for their money
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

She inquired about buying Treasury bonds directly, which she has never once inquired about in the past. Asking about putting all your money into bonds and chucking the stock market is like the shoeshine boy talking about stock market tips at the top of the stock market. Individuals can of course buy Treasury bonds directly from the U.S. government through TreasuryDirect. Similar products, such as the Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF and the SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF, also have seen significant inflows in recent months. "ETFs for Treasurys are preferred by many, basically all because they trade like a stock," Morris told me.

☆ ETF Edge: High yields and no credit risk make short-term Treasurys more attractive, says F/M Investments' Morris
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailETF Edge: High yields and no credit risk make short-term Treasurys more attractive, says F/M Investments' MorrisAlex Morris, F/M Investments CIO, joins the 'Halftime Report' to discuss using ETFs to invest in Treasurys, alternatives to buying bonds and increasing investor interest in the bond market.

☆ Investor says tech has yet to bottom — and reveals the mega-cap stocks to avoid
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tech stocks have been on the up this year; the Nasdaq Composite is the best-performing Wall Street index, up around 11% since the start of 2023. But tech investor Mark Hawtin believes the sector's resurgence is nothing more than just another bear market rally. "At the end of the day, Google and Facebook are advertising businesses, they use technology to run their platforms, but they are dependent on advertising," Hawtin said. About 88% of analysts covering Alphabet rate it a "buy," and give it average upside of 36.3%. Meta is also well-liked by analysts, with 67% of its analysts giving it a buy rating, and potential upside of 19.3%.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire profit falls on investments, currencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday said fourth-quarter profit fell, reflecting lower gains from investments and foreign currency exchange losses as the U.S. dollar lost value. Berkshire also repurchased $2.6 billion of its own stock in the quarter, boosting full-year buybacks to $7.9 billion. Quarterly net income fell 54% to $18.16 billion, or $12,412 per Class A share, from $39.65 billion, or $26,690 per share, a year earlier. Operating profit fell 8% to $6.71 billion, or $4,596 per Class A share, from $7.29 billion. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire posts record annual operating profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday reported its highest-ever annual operating profit, even as foreign currency losses and lower gains from investments caused fourth-quarter profit to fall. Quarterly operating profit fell 8% to $6.71 billion, or $4,596 per Class A share, from $7.29 billion. Profit also fell at the BNSF railroad, while Berkshire generated more profit from its energy businesses and more income from its insurance investments as interest rates rose. For all of 2022, Berkshire lost $22.82 billion, largely because of losses in its $308.8 billion common stock portfolio. "We're delighted to see the growth in float," said Thomas Russo, a partner at Gardner Russo & Quinn who helps invest $8 billion, about 17% of which is in Berkshire stock.

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Warren Buffett released his latest annual shareholder letter for Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday. "And I doubt very much that any reader of this letter will have a different experience in the future." And I doubt very much that any reader of this letter will have a different experience in the future." Buffett defends stock buybacks "Gains from value-accretive repurchases, it should be emphasized, benefit all owners – in every respect. • Finally, I will add two short sentences by Charlie that have been his decision-clinchers for decades: "Warren, think more about it.

☆ Warren Buffett’s equity portfolio is focused on just 5 stocks. Here’s what they are
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway revealed that 75% of its equity portfolio was concentrated in just five names. The "Oracle of Omaha" kept his top five holdings unchanged last quarter as the stock market experienced heightened volatility amid rising rates and recession fears. At the end of 2022, Apple remained Berkshire's largest holding by far, with a value of $119 billion. Chevron was the conglomerate's third-biggest holding with a $30 billion value. In August, Berkshire received regulatory approval to purchase up to 50%, spurring speculation that it may eventually buy all of Houston-based Occidental.

☆ 'Without a doubt our favorite mega cap': Investor names the stock to buy for the next 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft offers the greatest potential reward for investors looking to invest in a stock over the next five-to-10 years, according to veteran investor Mark Hawtin. "It is without a doubt our favorite mega-cap name," he told CNBC's Pro Talks Wednesday. According to Hawtin, Microsoft will outperform the wider market as it has a diverse revenue stream. "I think one of the key things about understanding Microsoft is, they are so ingrained and embedded in so many companies," Hawtin said. Microsoft bundles its workplace collaboration software Teams with Office 365, hitting growth at rivals Zoom and Slack, which is owned by Salesforce.

☆ First-Time CFOs Get a Crash Course in Managing Inflation, Volatile Markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Kristin Broughton | Anna Mutoh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

Critical decisions made as CFO: Mr. Jepsen allowed the company to incur higher costs to expedite shipping for parts to factories and deliveries to customers. Enphase faced pressure last year from higher costs and the effects of a strong U.S. dollar. Ken Jacobson, CFO of Avnet Photo: AVNET INC.Ken Jacobson, Avnet Inc.Age: 45Career path: Mr. Jacobson, who had previously served as interim CFO from 2017 to 2018, stepped in officially as CFO in September. Mr. Jacobson says Avnet’s interest expenses on its debt have almost tripled over the past year. While there was some attrition in the beginning, it hasn’t been as bad as other companies, Mr. Jacobson said.

☆ Apollo Global appoints former U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey to board
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Apollo Global Management Inc (APO.N) said on Wednesday former U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey has been appointed to its board, effective March 15. In a political career spanning decades, Toomey represented Pennsylvania in the Senate from 2011 to 2023, serving on the Senate banking, housing, and urban affairs, budget, and finance committees. Toomey, a member of the Republican Party, previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, where he was a member of the house budget committee. Earlier in February, New York-based Apollo said its fourth-quarter adjusted net income rose 77% owing to strong earnings from its retirement services business, even as gains were partly offset by a steep decline in its PE portfolio.

☆ CNBC Pro Talks: Veteran investor Mark Hawtin talks tech investing and calls the bottom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCNBC Pro Talks: Veteran investor Mark Hawtin talks tech investing and calls the bottomIs it time for tech to stage a comeback? Mark Hawtin of GAM Investments shared what’s next for beaten-down growth stocks. Hawtin also shared his thoughts on favorites including Tesla and other Big Tech names, plus when he thinks the market will hit the bottom.

☆ The Obamas' net worth: How Michelle and Barack Obama make their money
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Hillary Hoffower | Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Barack Obama makes his money from a six-figure pension, public speaking, and his best-selling books. makes his money from a six-figure His latest memoir, "A Promised Land," sold nearly 890,000 copies within a day of its 2020 release. Michelle Obama has also penned bestsellers, while the couple give generously to charity. For her part, Michelle Obama's first memoir, "Becoming," was published in November 2018 and became that year's No. From philanthropic efforts, to vacationing where the sun shines and making long-term investments in their daughters' education, here's how the Obamas make and spend their money.

☆ CNBC Pro Talks: Veteran investor Mark Hawtin talks tech, Tesla and calling the bottom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

After a brutal year for growth investors, Mark Hawtin of GAM Investments will join Pro Talks to discuss the outlook for tech stocks and when he sees the market hitting the bottom. Hawtin, investment director of the Swiss asset management firm, will speak with CNBC's Karen Tso to share his thoughts on investor favorites such as Tesla , Big Tech stocks, and the companies he expects to grow despite a downturn. Click here to watch CNBC Pro Talks live on Wednesday, February 22 at 12 p.m. GMT / 8 p.m. SGT / 7 a.m. See more from our previous Pro Talks: Fund manager names two U.S. stocks he thinks might not survive 2023 Thinking of jumping back into Big Tech? Click here to watch CNBC Pro Talks live on Wednesday, February 22 at 12 p.m. GMT / 8 p.m. SGT / 7 a.m.

☆ Ponzi schemers who raised $650 million on cattle, pot profit promises get 6 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stachniw, 71, of Galensburg, Illinois, and Throgmartin, a 59-year-old Buford, Georgia, resident, were convicted at trial in August of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit both wire fraud and money laundering in the scam. Two people whose Ponzi scheme raised a stunning $650 million from investors by falsely promising them profits from cattle and marijuana businesses were sentenced Friday to six years in prison. Prosecutors said that the defendants operated the Ponzi scheme from late 2017 through early 2019, along with a co-conspirator, Mark Ray of Denver. Ray pleaded guilty in February 2020 in Illinois federal court to wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with the scheme. In reality, the profits paid to investors came from money placed in the Ponzi scheme by other unwitting investors, authorities said.

☆ We're investing 'as fast as we can sustain,' says hearing device maker
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe're investing 'as fast as we can sustain,' says hearing device makerDig Howitt of Cochlear says "we're a business with a huge growth opportunity, but that growth comes from investments."

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