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3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Go Parabolic 2024-04-08 04:10:00+00:00 - Investors have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as the next big thing. It stands out from other hyped-up trends and fads because it has incredible real-world implications that are already changing how we shop, do business, and more. There are multiple ways to invest in the future of AI. You can invest in stocks that are already proven AI powerhouses, like Amazon or Nvidia, or an AI-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF. Or, you could find emerging, niche AI stocks that could go parabolic. Oddity Tech (NASDAQ: ODD), Pagaya Technologies (NASDAQ: PGY), and The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD) are three that fit the bill. 1. Oddity: AI in an unexpected industry You wouldn't be able to guess from its name, but Oddity sells makeup and skincare under the brands Il Makiage and SpoiledChild. It uses AI and other technology in a number of ways that transform the traditional ways people purchase these products. It uses machine learning to drive its PowerMatch system, which shoppers can use to identify precise colors and skincare formulas with cameras on their smartphones. Its Oddity Labs segment, which creates skincare, uses AI for molecular discovery to develop formulas that meet customer needs. These features give it a leg up on competitors that use the standard selling methods. Its model is all-digital, only direct-to-consumer, data-centric, and vertically stacked, compared to competitors that sell wholesale, offline, and have a horizontal structure. It sees a global addressable market of $600 billion in beauty and wellness categories, and it's growing much faster than other beauty companies. It has been reporting high revenue growth, with a 57% year-over-year increase in 2023, exceeding guidance. Even better, it's been profitable since going public last year. Gross margin was 70.4% in 2023, and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.31 also surpassed expectations. Management is guiding for revenue growth of 23% in 2024 and EPS to reach about $1.52. Story continues There's significant opportunity for Oddity to capture more market share as consumers go digital with more confidence, and it's getting ready to launch new brands in other beauty and wellness categories to expand its market. It could skyrocket over the next few years. 2. Pagaya: AI for a better financial future Pagaya operates a double-sided platform that approves loans and helps financial companies make better credit decisions using AI. It works with top names including Visa, SoFi Technologies, and Ally Financial, and it recently signed a deal with U.S. Bancorp. Right now, this is a tough business given the high interest rate background. Creditors are being more careful in this environment since defaults rise, and fewer loans are approved under these circumstances. Despite that, Pagaya's business is growing. The other side of its model is that it sells its loans to institutional investors as asset-backed securities (ABS), and it was the top personal loan ABS issuer in the U.S. in 2023. It works with more than 100 funding partners, and it gets all of its funding up-front. It raised $6.6 billion last year. Network volume increased 33% year over year in the 2023 fourth quarter and exceeded expectations, and revenue was up 13% to $218 million. Revenue from fees less production costs (FRLPC), its favored profitability metric, increased 42% to $76 million. This model could be a game changer, and more partners are likely to switch over to Pagaya's platform over the next few years. Management said it has a strong pipeline of potential clients, and its goal is to sign two to four large lending partners annually. Pagaya is a recent initial public offering stock (IPO), and it's just getting started in disrupting a massive industry. It could explode over the next few years. 3. The Trade Desk: AI for one of the hottest growth industries The Trade Desk works with advertisers to place ads, and AI is an important part of getting the right ads to the right viewers. In the past, advertisers used limited metrics or evidence to confirm where their ideal viewers and customers consumed content, but the ability to use a data-centric approach speeds up the process with instant results that come with pinpoint accuracy. Even though The Trade Desk has been around for a few years and went public in 2016, in some ways, it's just getting started. Advertising, especially driven by AI, is an incredible growth industry right now. And because advertisers were negatively impacted by inflation, it's on the rebound now, with incredible prospects. Advertising is also moving to digital, with all kinds of content, including social media, periodicals, and ad-supported streaming networks all online. Even advertising outside of on digital channels is transacting digitally, and The Trade Desk is well positioned to benefit from this shift. It sees a massive addressable market of $830 billion in global ad spend, and it's suited specifically for this moment. The Trade Desk's revenue increased 23% year over year in 2023, and EPS increased from $0.11 last year to $0.32 this year. It has maintained amazing customer retention rates of 95% for the past 10 years, and it's well positioned to benefit from shifts in advertising in the coming years and to create shareholder value. Should you invest $1,000 in Oddity Tech right now? Before you buy stock in Oddity Tech, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oddity Tech wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of April 4, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Ally is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Jennifer Saibil has positions in SoFi Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Nvidia, The Trade Desk, U.S. Bancorp, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Pagaya Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Go Parabolic was originally published by The Motley Fool

3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy With $20 Right Now 2024-04-08 03:30:00+00:00 - If you're just getting started investing, you might not have a lot of cash you can put to work. Maybe you only have $20 to invest right now. The good news is that most brokerages have done away with account minimums and commissions, which means you can get started with any amount of money, even $20. Some brokerages will let you purchase fractional shares, which means you can buy a piece of any company in the stock market regardless of share price. But owning an entire share of a company is still possible with $20. Here are three stocks you can buy for that much that look like great opportunities today. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Carnival Carnival (NYSE: CCL) got hit hard by the pandemic, but management appears to have weathered the rough waters and set a course toward recovery. Demand for cruising has come back strong since ships started sailing again in the summer of 2021. Carnival reported all-time high booking volumes in the first quarter despite considerably higher prices. And when you compare the price of a cruise with land-based alternatives, there's still room for prices to increase. CEO Josh Weinstein says there's still a big value gap between cruising and something like an all-inclusive resort. As such, management saw prices climb higher for bookings throughout the year, with strong pricing for peak summer travel and prices remaining elevated for the fall. The strong demand and pricing power have fueled promising financial results. And with room left to keep prices climbing and new ships entering the fleet, Carnival should be able to produce excellent earnings growth, recovering to its pre-pandemic levels. Despite the positive outlook for the company, shares still trade at less than 15 times forward earnings. While there's certainly some risk with Carnival considering the increased debt load post-pandemic and cyclical nature of the company, investors might be overweighting those factors at this price. 2. Chewy Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) experienced a boom in sales at the start of the pandemic, but when sales growth slowed, investors put the stock in the doghouse. Story continues Chewy's sales climbed 10% last year, but management only expects net sales growth of 4% to 6% in 2024. That could be due to the impact of a declining customer base, which shrunk from 20.7 million at the end of 2021 to 20.1 million at the end of last year. Long term, though, there are reasons to expect stronger sales growth. First, Chewy is positioned to take a growing share of the pet care market as more sales shift to e-commerce. That's thanks in part to the growing portion of its sales coming from its Autoship service, which has the added benefits of being predictable and lowering shipping costs, increasing profit margins for Chewy. Second, Chewy is expanding its business to include veterinary care. Successfully leveraging its popular brand in this high-margin service space could provide a great source of revenue growth over the long run. And the company has a growing advertising business, which can also be a high-margin revenue contributor in the long term. Shares currently trade at a price-to-sales ratio of just 0.6. That might signal that investors overweigh the short-term pressure the company is feeling and discount the potential for high-margin service revenue to fuel growth. 3. Sirius XM Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRI) isn't a typical radio operator; it's playing a different tune. Its satellite radio business doesn't rely on advertising like most other businesses in the industry. It counts 34 million paid subscribers as its main revenue source, which produces far more predictable revenue amid economic uncertainty. And that subscriber base still has room to grow despite sitting at a standstill for the last few years. Subscriber churn remains low, touching 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the top of the funnel, which is fueled by free trials for new car purchasers, grew to 7.2 million, up from 6.8 million at the end of the year. The biggest threat to Sirius XM is streaming. That's one reason it acquired Pandora in 2019, but that business remains a small part of its overall operations. With the bulk of revenue coming from subscriptions to its satellite radio service, it benefits from better economics than streaming, thanks to lower revenue-share and royalty payments. To combat the threat of streaming, Sirius XM continues to invest in exclusive content while improving its marketing and positioning. That includes working with car manufacturers to include its newest equipment in their cars, a move that has shown improved conversion rates into self-pay customers. Despite steady operating results, Sirius XM trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 12.1. That's a valuation that's caught the eye of Warren Buffett, who put $145 million to work in the stock directly and nearly $3 billion into tracking stocks Liberty SiriusXM (NASDAQ: LSXMA) (NASDAQ: LSXMK). With the slow and steady growth of the business and its cost advantages, it's worth adding to your portfolio at its current price. Should you invest $1,000 in Carnival Corp. right now? Before you buy stock in Carnival Corp., consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Carnival Corp. wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of April 4, 2024 Adam Levy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chewy. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy With $20 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool

What Bull Market? Wall Street Says the S&P 500 Will Fall 2% Over the Rest of 2024 2024-04-08 03:05:00+00:00 - After a roaring 2023, stocks have gotten off to a great start in 2024 as well. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) jumped 10% in the first quarter, marking its best performance for the quarter since 2019, and the Nasdaq Composite was close behind with a 9% gain. Stocks are keeping the momentum going from a surge in the last two months of 2023. They've continued to climb on enthusiasm for the AI revolution and strong earnings reports. The Federal Reserve has also continued to predict three interest rate cuts this year, which would help grease the economy and make stocks more attractive compared to bonds. However, Wall Street isn't so sure the rally will continue. Of 15 Wall Street price targets, the consensus calls for the broad-market index to finish the year at just 5,062, or a 2% decline from its close on April 4. Of those 15 analysts, seven see the S&P 500 declining from here, and the price targets range from JPMorgan at 4,200 to Oppenheimer at 5,500. In other words, the fireworks that have led the stock market higher after the last several months are expected to come to an end, at least according to some of these analysts. Let's take a look at a few of the reasons why Wall Street expects a muted performance over the rest of the year. Image source: Getty Images. Valuations are getting stretched Several Wall Street analysts believe the "Magnificent Seven"-driven rally is getting fatigued. JPMorgan Asset Management CEO George Gatch noted the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio on the Magnificent Seven was around 30 in mid-March, and the overall index is well above its historical P/E average of 15.7 at 23.3. The top stocks are also trading at unusually high valuations. Microsoft, for example, is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38. At that valuation, high expectations are baked into the stock, and it would be easy for it to fall if quarterly results don't live up to those expectations. Similarly, any further gains in the stock are likely to come from increasing earnings rather than multiple expansion. Story continues Other top stocks like Apple, Nvidia, and Amazon also look expensive, meaning they're also set to fall if they don't live up to expectations. Rate cuts might not happen A significant part of the bull case for stocks is also based on interest rates falling. The Federal Reserve has forecast three interest rate cuts this year, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell has stuck to that forecast. However, inflation remains above the Fed's target. The labor market has been strong as well. That's led to market prognosticators growing more skeptical about three rate cuts happening, as the Fed typically lowers interest rates to shore up a weakening economy. If rate cuts don't happen or there are fewer than three, stocks could fall as investors adjust their expectations. Geopolitical uncertainty There's never a time when geopolitical uncertainty isn't a risk, but arguably, there's more uncertainty around the world right now than usual. Two wars are raging with no signs of ending, and tensions with China are mounting. Meanwhile, much of the world is still recovering from post-pandemic inflation and a "cost-of-living crisis." Finally, a major U.S. election hangs in the balance this year. Any of those events have the potential to throw the current bull market off track, and they can also dissuade the Fed from lowering interest rates as well. Time to sell your stocks? Before you make any moves based on the above warning signs, you should remember many of these analysts' price targets will move higher, especially if the market keeps gaining. Some of them, like JPMorgan's, were made before 2024 started. That doesn't necessarily mean they're out of date, but they don't reflect the most recent market performance and conditions. Additionally, a 2% decline from current levels isn't any reason to panic even if the consensus estimate proves accurate. The S&P 500 would still gain about 6% for the year based on that consensus. Wall Street has also been behind the curve on the bull market since it started, and many of these analysts wrongly predicted a recession. It's worth considering the rationale behind Wall Street forecasts, but you should still be making your own decisions with a long-term focus. There's no reason to sell your stocks just because Wall Street's tilting bearish. Should you invest $1,000 in S&P 500 Index right now? Before you buy stock in S&P 500 Index, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and S&P 500 Index wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $539,230!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 4, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. What Bull Market? Wall Street Says the S&P 500 Will Fall 2% Over the Rest of 2024 was originally published by The Motley Fool

Here's the $4.7 Trillion Market Nvidia Has Its Eyes on Now 2024-04-08 02:30:00+00:00 - Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) could make the same statement attributed to Julius Caesar: "Veni, vidi, vici." The phrase translates into "I came, I saw, I conquered." The chipmaker has conquered quite a bit since its founding in 1993. For years, Nvidia made most of its money in the gaming market. More recently, however, the company's growth has come largely from the deployment of its GPUs in data centers. What's the next frontier for Nvidia? Here's the $4.7 trillion market the chipmaker has its eyes on now. Big moves in a big market The U.S. spent an estimated $4.7 trillion on healthcare last year. That amounts to roughly 18% of the country's total economic output. Nvidia has recently made several major moves in this big market. To be sure, healthcare isn't a brand-new focus for Nvidia. The company's technology has been used in healthcare before. For example, Nvidia launched its Clara AI platform for medical imaging in 2018. However, the company appears to have shifted its healthcare efforts into a higher gear. Nvidia has announced multiple new healthcare collaborations and services over the last few weeks. On March 18, the company introduced a new suite of 25 "microservices" for healthcare organizations. This platform enables customers to integrate generative AI into existing applications. At its 2024 GTC AI Conference in March, Nvidia announced two major milestones with healthcare giants Johnson & Johnson and GE Healthcare. It's working with Johnson & Johnson to use AI in surgical operations. GE Healthcare used Nvidia's technology to develop a model for analyzing ultrasound images. How AI (and Nvidia) could transform healthcare It's not an exaggeration to say that AI holds the potential to transform healthcare. How? Let's start with diagnosing diseases. AI has already shown tremendous promise in analyzing medical images, as GE Healthcare is doing with Nvidia's TensorRT software. The technology can help rapidly analyze test results, create personalized medical risk assessments for patients, and provide decision support for physicians. Story continues Some biopharmaceutical companies use AI in their drug development process. In particular, AI can predict protein structures and analyze genetic sequences. Nvidia isn't just helping biotech companies on this front; it also invested $50 million in Recursion Pharmaceuticals, which uses AI for drug discovery. AI can make medical technology devices more effective. That's what J&J hopes to do by using Nvidia's IGX edge computing platform and Holoscan edge AI platform to help develop new surgical devices. One of the biggest complaints that U.S. healthcare professionals have is the amount of administrative work they must do. AI holds the potential to streamline a wide range of administrative tasks, including appointment scheduling, claims processing, and clinical documentation. This hasn't been a major area of focus for Nvidia so far, but it could present a big opportunity for the company. Should you buy Nvidia stock because of its healthcare efforts? Nvidia's ongoing expansion into the lucrative healthcare market could achieve tremendous success. However, I don't think these healthcare efforts by themselves justify buying the stock right now. But what about the combination of Nvidia's healthcare initiatives and everything else the company is doing? Its overall growth prospects remain highly attractive. My chief concern with Nvidia is that its stock has such lofty expectations baked in that any hint of less-than-spectacular results could cause shares to fall hard. Still, I think any pullback would present a great buying opportunity for this high-flying stock. And that's my view regardless of whether Nvidia conquers the healthcare market. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $539,230!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 4, 2024 Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Here's the $4.7 Trillion Market Nvidia Has Its Eyes on Now was originally published by The Motley Fool

Love Amazon? This Alternative Stock Might Have Higher Upside. 2024-04-08 01:16:00+00:00 - Tech giant Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been a sensational long-term investment, thanks to the company's apparent disregard for staying in its lane. It went from being an online store for only books to an e-commerce platform for everything. And then it even went beyond e-commerce to develop business operations for shipping logistics, digital advertising, cloud computing, healthcare services, and more. Another company with an ever-widening business vision is Singapore's Sea Limited (NYSE: SE). The company has an e-commerce platform and a video game division, and offers financial technology (fintech) services. And it's not content to sit in its core Asian markets. Rather, it aspires to have a growing global operation. Even though Sea stock is down 85% from its all-time high, I think it's surprisingly a better buy than Amazon stock today. Here's why. But first, Amazon is still a great company Don't misunderstand: Amazon is still a great company. The stock is sitting near an all-time high thanks to its soaring operating profits. Indeed, the chart below shows a strong correlation between Amazon's operating profits and its stock price over the last 20 years. AMZN Chart Over the last decade, Amazon's operating profits have largely soared because of the success of its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud-computing services -- AWS supplied 67% of the company's operating income in 2023. But operating profits pulled back in recent years as it invested heavily in logistics to accommodate skyrocketing e-commerce demand. Amazon's operating profits are now normalizing as investments wind down. Management expects to earn $8 billion to $12 billion in the upcoming first quarter alone. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon stock has more upside. Compared to Sea stock, Amazon might be a safer bet for making money. That said, Sea stock could have more upside if things go right. Why Sea stock is worth buying here First, it's important to note that Sea stock is cheaper than Amazon stock by the price-to-sales (P/S) metric. Story continues AMZN PS Ratio Chart To value a stock such as Sea at just 2 times sales suggests that investors don't believe the company can grow -- at least not profitably. But I think the company's recent results disprove both opinions. Consider the chart below that breaks down the financial results for all three of Sea's business segments. Officially, the company calls these segments e-commerce, digital entertainment, and digital financial services. Note that the profit column refers to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Segment Revenue growth Profit E-commerce 24% ($214) million Digital entertainment (44)% $921 million Digital financial services 44% $550 million Data source: Sea's press release. Chart by author. One of Sea's segments has declining revenue, and another has an adjusted EBITDA loss. But as a whole, Sea's revenue was up in 2023, and it was a profitable company. Therefore, the company can grow profitably because it's doing it right now. Therefore, the question isn't whether this company can grow profitably; the real question is whether it can capture a large opportunity. It's hard to overstate the opportunities for Sea. The company does business in growing economies that are digitizing at a fast pace, such as Indonesia, Brazil, India, and more. And with these markets comes the potential for growth. Take Sea's focus on Brazilian e-commerce, for example. In 2020, the company entered the market. In February, just four short years later, it had already opened its 10th distribution center in the country. These Brazilian distribution centers represent significant investment on Sea's part. But as mentioned, it's a big opportunity. Research group Mordor Intelligence estimates that Brazilian e-commerce is a $53 billion market today. But it predicts it will grow at an astonishing 19% compound annual growth rate through 2029. Other research groups similarly predict double-digit growth. And Sea is building the infrastructure to capitalize. Sea is spending heavily on e-commerce. But it's worth noting that its growth is becoming more sustainable. In 2023, the business segment did have an adjusted EBITDA loss of $214 million. But this was almost a $1.5 billion improvement, which shouldn't be overlooked. It's not just e-commerce. Sea's financial services division is obviously on fire. It expects a good year for its digital entertainment division as well in 2024, which is fueled by its hit game Free Fire. Management expects a return to double-digit growth this year and could soon relaunch in the massive market of India as it resolves regulatory issues. With only $13 billion in trailing 12-month revenue, Sea has ample room for upside given the size of its markets, growth in those markets, and the strong demand for the products and services that it and its competitors offer. With closer to $600 billion in trailing 12-month revenue, I'd say the upside potential for Amazon is much lower at this point, which is why Sea is a promising company for investors to consider buying today. Should you invest $1,000 in Sea Limited right now? Before you buy stock in Sea Limited, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Sea Limited wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of April 4, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jon Quast has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Sea Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Love Amazon? This Alternative Stock Might Have Higher Upside. was originally published by The Motley Fool

Target set to launch new paid membership program this week 2024-04-07 23:15:00+00:00 - Starting this month, your local Target run could reap even more rewards and savings. The popular discount retailer will now offer three new membership options for shoppers under its Target Circle loyalty program: a free membership, a retail card option, and a new paid membership, which includes same-day delivery and more perks. The revamp of its loyalty program launches during Target Circle week, April 7-13, when rewards members will be eligible for up to 40% off select spring items in addition to a one-day-only 10% off Target gift card deal on April 13. The newly launched offerings come as part of the retailer’s broad focus on delivering a more affordable and cost-effective shopping experience to its customers, a company spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. “We've prioritized building strong relationships with guests since Target’s inception, and our reimagining of Target Circle continues that commitment,” Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief guest experience officer at Target, said. It also positions Target (TGT) to go head-to-head with Amazon Prime and Walmart+ in the home delivery market. A Target store in Manhattan. (Credit: Spencer Platt, Getty Images) (Spencer Platt via Getty Images) New Target Circle 360 subscription service Launching April 7, Target 360 is a new paid loyalty program, priced at $99 for an annual subscription, with a limited-time deal of $49 through May 18. A subscription includes free same-day delivery, advertised to be received “in as little as an hour” with no fees. Members will also have free two-day shipping via Target’s delivery service Shipt. Additionally, Target Circle 360 members will have access to Shipt’s catalog of over 100 retail partners — like Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Petco for fast shipping. Members of the new Target Circle 360 will also have access to “no-rush returns,” which means they have an extra 30 days to return their purchased items. Target Circle Card members will also have access to extended return benefits. Target’s launch of its new paid membership service comes nearly two decades after Amazon (AMZN) announced Amazon Prime in 2005. The popular membership service is known for its free and unlimited same-day or two-day shipping services across the US. Story continues Today, Amazon’s offerings under the Prime membership also include deals from Amazon Fresh, where subscribers from certain cities can shop for groceries or daily products. Customers can also use their Prime membership at checkout when shopping at their local Whole Foods to receive special discounts. Prime members often look forward to Amazon Day, when they can benefit from additional discounts on Amazon products like the Kindle or Echo, as well as other major appliances and everyday goods. An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. More recently, Walmart (WMT) unveiled Walmart+, a subscription and membership plan priced at $12.95 a month, or $98 a year. Like its competitors, Walmart+ benefits include unlimited free shipping and free delivery from your store. It also includes savings on fuel, video streaming with Paramount+, and early access to promotions and events. What else is new under the Target Circle umbrella Customers shop at a Target store in Chicago. (Credit: Scott Olson, Getty Images) (Scott Olson via Getty Images) Target Circle’s free membership Target Circle is the store’s free-to-join loyalty membership, which lets you earn 1% cash back on purchases at Target and up to 5% if you have a Target credit card. While this membership will remain relatively the same, as part of the update, consumers will get more personalized offers and discounts on in-store and online items that are not available to non-members. Additionally, Target Circle members can get 5% off a single purchase on their birthday. Its main perk? Members receive automatic discounts at checkout, so you don’t have to scout for deals or savings on your own. Read more: Best cash-back credit cards Target Circle Card, formerly known as Target RedCard As part of its broad upgrade, Target Circle members who have a Target Circle Card (previously known as Target RedCard) can get up to 5% off select purchases — on top of existing store deals. But there are some exceptions. According to Target, members won’t be able to get a 5% additional discount on prescriptions, CVS pharmacy products, or paid gift cards, for example. Customers who have the Target Circle Card will also benefit from an extra 30 days to return items, free 2-day shipping when purchasing online, and a discounted price on a Target Circle 360 membership. Immediate deals during Target Circle Week A customer shops for gifts at discounted prices in a Target store in Austin, Texas. (Credit: Brandon Bell, Getty Images) (Brandon Bell via Getty Images) From April 7 through April 13, Target Circle members will be able to shop for deals, saving up to 40% on select purchases. Deals include: 40% off floor care 30% off swim and sandals for family 30% off tees, tanks, shorts, and dresses for family 30% off outdoor living 20% off all hair, nail, and sun care 20% off breakfast favorites, coffee, and cereal 30% off select toys 30% off bedding and bath Spend $50 on homecare products and get a $15 Target gift card Spend $50 in Ulta Beauty at Target and get a $15 Target gift card Gabriella Cruz-Martinez is a personal finance and housing reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @__gabriellacruz. Click here for real estate and housing market news, reports, and analysis to inform your investing decisions.

I'm 60 With $1.2 Million in an IRA. Should I Convert $120,000 Per Year to a Roth to Avoid RMDs? 2024-04-07 22:59:00+00:00 - A 60-year-old woman reviews her IRA balance as she plans for retirement. If you’re 60 years old with $1.2 million saved for retirement in a traditional IRA, you may be starting to think about required minimum distributions (RMDs) and the hefty annual tax bill they can create once you turn 73. Converting a portion of your IRA to a Roth IRA each year can help you reduce or avoid RMDs and take control of your tax bill – but also comes at a cost. Discuss your Roth IRA conversion questions with a financial advisor to determine if this strategy aligns with your broader financial plan. RMD Rules: The Basics Once you turn 73, the IRS requires that you start taking annual distributions called required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and similar tax-deferred accounts. RMDs are calculated by dividing your account balance by your life expectancy factor, a value that is set by the IRS based on your age. RMD withdrawals are treated as ordinary income. With a large IRA balance, the size of the mandatory RMDs could easily push someone into a higher tax bracket and result in a higher tax bill. Remember, a financial advisor can be a valuable resource when it comes to planning for RMDs. Roth Conversions Converting an IRA into a Roth IRA can help you reduce or avoid required minimum distributions (RMDs) later on. Roth IRAs, unlike traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, aren't subject to RMD rules. So by converting your IRA to a Roth, you could avoid having to pay extra income taxes from mandatory IRA withdrawals in retirement. The catch is that you have to pay income taxes on the amount you convert at your ordinary income rate when you convert it. This can lead to a massive tax bill if you were to convert a $1.2 million IRA to a Roth all at once. Instead, gradually converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA allows you to control when you pay taxes. Rather than unspecified mandatory RMD withdrawals, you choose when to take taxable Roth conversions. Roth withdrawals in retirement are then tax-free, provided you wait five years to withdraw those assets. Keep in mind that the five-year period applies to each conversion. If you were to convert a portion of your IRA in 2024, 2025 and 2026, you’d have to wait until 2029, 2030 and 2031, respectively, to withdraw each group of funds tax-free. Story continues If you need additional help navigating the rules surrounding Roth conversions, use this tool to match with a financial advisor. A Roth Conversion Example Assuming your investments grow at 5% each year for 13 years, your $1.2 million IRA could be worth around $2.3 million by the time you reach age 73. By that time, your first RMD would be approximately $87,000 based on the IRS life expectancy factor. Assuming you’re collecting $80,000 annually in taxable income from pensions and Social Security, adding an extra $87,000 would push you from the 22% bracket into the 24% bracket. (This assumes that the current tax brackets remain in place after 2025 when key provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act sunset.) But with 13 years of $120,000 Roth conversions already completed, the IRA balance requiring RMDs could be reduced to around $42,000 by age 73. Your first RMD would be just under $1,600. This would likely not push you into a higher bracket and save you thousands in annual taxes during retirement compared to taking the full $87,000 distribution without any prior Roth conversions. The key is to not convert your entire IRA to a Roth immediately, but rather take an incremental approach. By limiting Roth conversions to a certain amount, you can control and potentially reduce your tax liability. Spreading conversions over time allows taxpayers to fill up their current bracket without exceeding it. By staying in lower brackets, more money is shielded from future taxes than paying the IRS immediately at today's rates. But you don’t have to do it all alone. A financial advisor can help you plan out your Roth conversion strategy and manage your taxes in retirement. Roth Conversion Limitations A 60-year-old man looks over at his financial plan for retirement. No matter how you do it, Roth conversions trigger taxes. Without sufficient non-retirement savings or other sources of income, investors may struggle to pay conversion taxes or be forced to sell investments at a loss. Optimal timing and tax planning are also challenging. Tax rates and laws can change frequently, making it hard to predict brackets decades in advance. Income fluctuations from bonuses, dividends or retirement plan withdrawals also complicate projections. Converting too little defeats the purpose of avoiding higher future RMD taxes. But converting too much could push you into higher brackets now or reduce your flexibility if tax rates decline. Balancing present and future tax minimization is tricky with many uncertainties at play over long time horizons. Additional factors may also come into play. Deductions that reduce taxable income, state taxes, fluctuating investment returns and income from other sources such as part-time work are all potentially important variables that need to be considered to craft the optimal strategy for Roth conversion. If you need additional help navigating these factors, consider working with a financial advisor. Bottom Line Roth IRA conversions let investors take control of the timing of their tax liability. By paying taxes now at known rates through incremental conversions, overall lifetime taxes can be reduced compared to unpredictable mandatory RMD withdrawals decades into the future. But Roth conversions come at a cost today, require non-retirement funds to pay taxes, and involve considerable analysis and some guesswork to optimize. Retirement Planning Tips A financial advisor can help develop Roth IRA conversion strategies. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Knowing how much money you’ll need to retire and whether you’re on track to hit that target is vital when you’re planning for your golden years. SmartAsset’s retirement calculator can help you estimate how much you may have in savings when the time comes for you to retire. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages, ©iStock.com/designer491, ©iStock.com/designer491 The post I'm 60 With $1.2 Million in an IRA. Should I Convert $120,000 Per Year to a Roth to Avoid RMDs? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.

Trump vs. Biden: In Surprising Trend, One Candidate Is Gaining Favor Among Younger Voters Over Other 2024-04-07 22:21:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Recent polls indicate a surprising trend in the early stages of the 2024 presidential election, with former President Donald Trump gaining traction among the young voters, a demographic historically aligned with the Democrats. Conversely, President Joe Biden is making strides with older voters despite declining personal favorability since his election. This potential reversal of voter allegiance represents a significant departure from longstanding electoral patterns, which have consistently seen Democratic candidates win over young voters and Republicans secure the older vote. The possibility of a realignment or a miscalculation in polling is stirring discussions among political analysts. Historically, no Republican candidate has won the youth vote since George H.W. Bush in 1988, and no Democrat has captured the senior vote since Al Gore in 2000, reported Politico. The emergence of an "age inversion" in 2024 polling could significantly impact the strategic planning of both campaigns, suggesting either a profound electoral shift or raising concerns about the accuracy of current polling methods after previous underestimations of Trump's support. Also Read: Donald Trump Reportedly Hid Billionaire's Bond Offer From Court To Save Millions John Della Volpe, a polling expert at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, noted a lack of consensus on best practices for accurately polling diverse age groups, which might contribute to the current uncertainties. Various polls, including recent NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist College and Fox News surveys, have highlighted these unexpected trends, with some showing Trump leading Biden among younger voters, while others depict Biden as the preferred candidate among seniors. “Seems like we know how to poll white, middle-aged people really well,” Volpe told the outlet. “But if they’re younger, older, Black, Hispanic — there seems to be no consensus about what’s the best practice these days.” The broader implications of these polling results, if accurate, could reshape the political landscape, challenging both parties to adapt their strategies to appeal to shifting demographics. Now Read: Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims She Has Proof That Votes For Donald Trump In 2020 Were 'Lost In The Mail': 'I Think He'll Be Vindicated Easily' This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right 2024-04-07 21:25:04+00:00 - WASHINGTON (AP) — Two influential lawmakers from opposing parties have crafted a deal on legislation designed to strengthen privacy protections for Americans’ personal data. The sweeping proposal announced Sunday evening would define privacy as a consumer right and create new rules for companies that collect and use personal information. It comes from the offices of Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, both of Washington state. Cantwell chairs the Senate Commerce Committee while McMorris Rodgers leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee. While the proposal has not been formally introduced and remains in draft form, the bipartisan support suggests the bill could get serious consideration. Congress has long discussed ways to protect the personal data regularly submitted by Americans to a wide range of businesses and services. But partisan disputes over the details have doomed previous proposals. According to a one-page outline released Sunday, the bill worked out by McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell would strengthen rules requiring consumer consent before a company can collect or transfer certain kinds of information. Companies would have to notify consumers about the details of data collection and retention policies and seek consumer permission for significant changes. In addition, companies would have to ensure that any algorithms used to analyze personal data aren’t biased, and companies that buy and sell personal data would have to register with the Federal Trade Commission. Consumers would also have greater control over how their data is used under the measure. One provision of the proposal would allow consumers to opt out of targeted ads — i.e., advertisements sent to them based on their personal data. A new bureau focused on data privacy would be created within the FTC, which would have the authority to enact new rules as technology changes. Enforcement of the law would fall to the FTC as well as state attorneys general. If passed, the new standard would preempt most state privacy laws — though it wouldn’t impact certain states’ laws already on the books that protect financial, health or employee data.

Donald Trump Believes 15-Week Abortion Ban Will Appease Everyone, But Report Suggests Otherwise 2024-04-07 21:14:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Former President Donald Trump is aiming to broker a deal that satisfies both sides of the abortion debate. Trump's suggestion of a national 15-week abortion ban represents an attempt to navigate the deeply polarized landscape, an effort he believes could bring peace to a topic that has divided the nation for over half a century. This proposal has been met with mixed reactions, drawing both acclaim for its attempt at compromise and skepticism regarding its feasibility, reported Politico. While some conservatives view Trump's stance as a "reasonable conversation starter," others within the Republican Party and the pro-life movement see the 15-week ban as insufficient, fearing it doesn't go far enough to satisfy anti-abortion advocates. Critics argue that this middle-ground approach might fail to appease either camp fully, with Democrats poised to criticize any support for nationwide restrictions and pro-life groups pushing for more stringent measures, according to Politico. The debate over a national abortion strategy highlights the GOP's ongoing struggle to articulate a coherent position on abortion that resonates with the electorate. Also Read: Donald Trump Reportedly Hid Billionaire's Bond Offer From Court To Save Millions Trump's promise to negotiate a satisfactory outcome for all parties underscores the complex dynamics as the Republican Party seeks to reclaim electoral momentum. However, the proposal's reception suggests that achieving consensus on such a divisive issue may be more challenging than anticipated, Politico noted. Recent developments, such as state-level efforts to impose stringent abortion bans and judicial rulings affecting reproductive rights, further complicate the political landscape, signaling that abortion will remain a pivotal issue in the 2024 elections. As Trump and his campaign navigate these waters, the response from voters and the impact on Republican electoral prospects remains to be seen. Now Read: Marjorie Taylor Greene's Unfounded Blackmail Claims Against Speaker Mike Johnson Stir Tensions In GOP: '"Johnson Has Made A Complete Departure Of Who He Is' This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo: Shutterstock

The winner of Iowa vs. South Carolina? March Madness basketball bookies 2024-04-07 21:11:49+00:00 - UPDATE (April 7, 2024, 5:11 p.m. ET): The undefeated South Carolina women's squad held off Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes to win the Women's March Madness championship on Sunday, 87-75. 2024 is shaping up to be a milestone year for women’s sports, both in terms of investment and engagement. Turns out, when you put effort and dollars into the infrastructure of the women’s game, people watch. This year’s Women’s March Madness has been showcased on prime-time TV, while more and more outlets are maintaining regular and knowledgeable coverage of these athletes. The result has been gangbusters ratings — 14.2 million people tuned in to watch Friday’s Final Four matchup between Iowa and UConn — and, accordingly, headlines about the women’s tournament have at times outpaced the men’s. Today’s championship between Caitlin Clark-led Iowa and the undefeated South Carolina squad will be a game for the ages. As The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch put it, “Welcome to the motherf------ new world.” Turns out, when you put effort and dollars into the infrastructure of the women’s game, people watch. As viewership has continued to rise over the past few years, so too has betting on women’s sports. According to Maria Marino, host at The Action Network, FanDuel reports that LSU-Iowa was the top betting event on Monday, boasting a 28% increase in wagers over last year’s national championship game. Betting in the WNBA, which has a partnership with FanDuel, is similarly exploding. And this staggering growth is happening globally across women’s sports: Last year, a study published by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) found that betting on soccer has grown by 20% annually since 2020, while tennis, basketball and cricket saw more than 10% annual growth from 2017 to 2022. Sports betting clearly benefits women’s sports in many ways. It’s yet another metric to further prove their commercial viability, and points to the revenue they can generate. Money was always going to be the primary pathway to equality. Women’s sports thus offer the purest distillation of the current landscape of sports betting, as well as its dilemmas. That is, if we can have an honest conversation about them. Part of achieving equality with men’s sports is being scrutinized fairly and to the same degree, whether we’re talking about trash-talking, problematic coaching behavior, or, now, the realities of betting. Obviously more people watching translates to more people betting, but multiple studies have shown that betting itself can also drive higher viewership and fan engagement, for men’s and women’s sports alike. The NFL has long enjoyed an engagement boost from fans playing fantasy football, for example. Still, Marino is quick to note that she believes the betting is following the viewership, and not the other way around. “When you become interested enough in something and you want to consume it and you feel you know enough about it, that’s when most casual bettors look to bet on a sport,” she told me. “So the increase in participation as far as betting on women’s basketball, it’s just another sign of the exploding interest in that sport and its popularity.” To be sure, betting represents a new frontier in investment in women’s sports. “We talk about investment in terms of diversifying programming and marketing opportunities and advertisers. Sports betting brings in a whole new group of advertisers and stuff from the marketing side,” said Khristina Williams, a women’s basketball reporter and founder of Girls Talk Sports TV. But that new frontier has quite a few potential pitfalls. In the past few years, as more states have legalized sports betting, more betting scandals have (unsurprisingly) come to light. Just in the last few weeks, the controversy around Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and the NBA’s investigation into Jontay Porter prop bets have spurred a bevy of articles on the reckoning facing American sports when it comes to betting. Even those of us who still support legalization worry about the growing public health crisis of gambling addiction, particularly among younger bettors, challenges to the integrity of games, and increased harassment of athletes. Women’s sports are not immune to those same issues. The IBIA report detailed several instances of match-fixing in women’s sports dating back more than a decade, stressing the need for leagues and governing bodies to get ahead of corruption by increasing monitoring and regulatory efforts and striving for pay equity. “Stakeholders should actively challenge the misconception that women’s sports are less susceptible to match-fixing,” the report states, adding that there could be a correlation between lower wages and an increased vulnerability to bribes. “We should be having the same conversations for concerns and issues — and positives — that we’re having for men’s sports,” said Nicole Auerbach, a senior writer at The Athletic and a host for SiriusXM. There’s just too much money at stake, added Deitsch. “I’m hoping it doesn’t happen, but I think you would be naive if somehow you think that women’s sports would be immune to such a scandal.” Women’s sports and women athletes are often infantilized to devalue the quality, marketability and revenue potential of their game. As investment increases, that same infantilization could be twisted to ignore potential issues. Women can be bad actors, too, and are not inherently impervious to financial pressures and moral failings. Women’s sports and women athletes are often infantilized to devalue the quality, marketability and revenue potential of their game. Importantly, the infrastructure surrounding betting on women’s sports continues to lag behind men’s sports. As both Auerbach and Williams told me, betting lines are still widely unavailable and have been at times inaccurate, and even when you do find an app to bet on women, there are far fewer parlay and prop bet options. This mirrors the overall lack of data and stats available for women’s sports, a long-standing complaint among women athletes and the people who cover them. “I actually think that betting in women’s sports is pretty inequitable,” Katie Barnes, features writer at ESPN, said. “And so even as there have been surges in betting on women’s games, in particular college basketball and the WNBA, there are significantly less ways to bet on those games, which can be a good or bad thing.” The bad extends to fan behavior. Recently, we’ve seen an uptick in fans who’ve failed to hit prop bets abusing players. The NCAA is particularly concerned about online harassment against its athletes, with association President Charlie Baker calling for a ban on prop bets outright. Of the 38 states where sports betting is legal, four have already outlawed prop bets on college games. The concern over betting-related harassment should be particularly acute for women athletes, given the prevalence of both gendered and racial abuse on social media. After LSU lost to Iowa on Monday, Angel Reese spoke out about the abuse she’s faced since LSU won the national championship last year. Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall said she’s deleted social media because of “hate comments” from fans angry over the controversial offensive foul she drew that effectively ended UConn’s season in Friday’s Final Four. It’s not a stretch to think at least some of the vitriol is from bettors who feel they suffered a bad beat because of that one play. (The officiating in women’s college hoops has been under fire all season for inconsistency and lack of transparency.) Women’s sports are here to stay, and they are going to make a whole lot of people a whole lot of money. But with that money and popularity must come regulations, guidelines and equitable scrutiny. We owe it to fans, investors and athletes to get this right, and to learn from the mistakes the men have already made. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Council on Problem Gambling for help at 1-800-522-4700, or go online at ncpgambling.org/chat.

An ex-GOP congressman blasts the 'populist wave' that he says has corroded conservatism: 'Now we're impeaching people like it's some kind of carnival' 2024-04-07 20:43:34+00:00 - Ex-Colorado Rep. Ken Buck said many conservatives have compromised their values over populism. "The Constitution is just a thing of the past to the very same people who were Tea Party patriots," he told WaPo. Buck retired from the House in March, leaving months before his term was set to end. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement During his nearly decadelong tenure in the US House of Representatives, Ken Buck was well-known for his conservatism. But the former Colorado congressman recently told The Washington Post that over the years, some of his fellow conservatives shifted their focus from curtailing government spending to shielding former President Donald Trump from criticism — while becoming more partisan in the process. Related stories "I think that the populist wave has eroded the conservative values that I had when I came to this place," the former lawmaker told the newspaper. "Now we're impeaching people like it's some kind of carnival and the Constitution is just a thing of the past to the very same people who were Tea Party patriots 10 to 12 years ago." In February, Buck was one of just three House Republicans to reject the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whom GOP leaders have tussled with over the Biden administration's immigration policies. Advertisement Last month, shortly before he left Congress, the House Freedom Caucus voted to remove Buck from the group for "nonattendance," according to Axios. During his interview with the Post, Buck also stressed that the desire for ideologically pure pieces of legislation has been detrimental to the GOP's ability to secure conservative victories, adding that "you have to have consensus" to find success on Capitol Hill.

Small businesses like restaurants and cafés are now offering childcare to prevent employee turnover 2024-04-07 20:38:32+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview It's no secret parents in the United States are struggling to find, afford, and retain childcare services. Parents in some states are spending an average of $10,000 annually to send their kids to a childcare center or day care, Business Insider previously reported. Other families have had to move across the country for more affordable options. Indeed, one analysis found that the US ranks second-highest among developed nations with soaring childcare costs. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Those high costs mean some parents opt to stay home instead of working — a major problem for some small businesses. So to solve the issue of turnover, which can be costly for small businesses, they are taking matters into their own hands by providing on-site childcare. Related stories Zach Wiley, a 31-year-old in Virginia, had to leave his job at Red Rooster Coffee in 2021 because of the long commute, he told The Wall Street Journal. Now that the coffee shop has an on-site day care, Wiley has returned to his old employer and could even afford a house nearby. Advertisement "The childcare is just huge. I don't know what we would do without it," Wiley told the Journal. "Our son loves it, and I never worry about him. He's right through the next door." Wiley sends his two young children to Red Rooster Coffee's on-site facility, which charges him $2 an hour per child. The center accepts kids from one month up to nearly 13 years old, according to its profile on the Virginia Department of Social Services. Companies that offer stipends, on-site childcare, or backup care — like UPS and Etsy — have seen increased employee recruitment and retention, which they say outweighs the cost of providing childcare, Business Insider previously reported. For the employee, company-provided childcare increases their earning potential and career growth, a study by the nonprofit Moms First found. That makes a world of difference for families and, in particular, women, who are often forced to exit the workforce when childcare becomes too much of a financial burden.

A former GOP lawmaker says it's 'ironic' that he got 'more good work done' when Democrats controlled the House 2024-04-07 20:11:06+00:00 - Former GOP Rep. Ken Buck continues to criticize what he says is the dysfunction of the House. He recently told WaPo he got "more good work done" when Democrats led the lower chamber. Buck, who compiled a mostly conservative voting record, retired from Congress last month. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement It hasn't even been a month since former Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck departed Congress. But the hits keep on coming. Amid a slew of recent criticism of the Republican-controlled House — including his contention that the institution "keeps going downhill" — the conservative recently made a remarkable claim regarding his own effectiveness while he served in the chamber. Related stories While most members are thrilled when they're part of the majority party in Congress, Buck told The Washington Post that he "got a lot more good work done" when Democrats ran the House. Buck pointed to the passage of the bipartisan Speak Out Act, which bars pre-dispute nondisclosure agreements in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault claims. And he also spoke of his work tackling antitrust issues in Big Tech. Advertisement The former congressman told the newspaper that it was "ironic" that he felt more productive than when his own party led the chamber. Buck was first elected to the House in 2014 to represent Colorado's deep red 4th congressional district, and he entered the chamber when Republicans were also in the majority. But unlike the House of the mid-2010s, Republicans at the start of the 118th Congress had one of their slimmest House majorities in years. The tight majority made life impossible for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California and has made things tough for current Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. McCarthy had to navigate an ascendant ultra-conservative wing that wielded influence in the House Republican conference. And Johnson is now dealing with the same internal dynamics in a chamber that the GOP controls by a razor-thin 218-213 margin.

Big Tech needs to get creative as it runs out of data to train its AI models. Here are some of its wildest solutions. 2024-04-07 20:08:15+00:00 - OpenAI, Meta, Google, and other Big Tech firms train their AI models using online data. But AI models learn so fast that all that data could run out by 2026. So how will AI systems keep learning? Big Tech has some interesting ideas. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement More is more when it comes to AI. The more data AI systems are trained on, the more powerful they will be. But as the AI arms race heats up, tech giants like Meta, Google, and OpenAI face a problem: They're running out of data to train their models. Many leading AI systems have been trained on the vast supply of online data. But by 2026, all the high-quality data could be exhausted, according to Epoch, an AI research institute. So major tech companies are searching for new data sources to keep their systems learning. Here's a look at some of the most creative options that tech companies are considering.

Donald Trump Fundraiser In Palm Beach Surpasses Joe Biden's NYC Gala In Millions Raised 2024-04-07 19:56:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... On Saturday, a fundraising dinner held by former President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, reportedly raised over $50.5 million for his presidential campaign, dwarfing President Joe Biden's recent $26 million haul at a celebrity-filled New York City event. Hosted by billionaire John Paulson, the event attracted a convoy of luxury vehicles and a gathering of affluent donors. The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee celebrated this fundraising milestone, asserting that it underscores the campaign's readiness and resources to secure a victory in the November election. Unlike the star-studded affair for Biden at Radio City Music Hall, Trump's event offered a more intimate setting among palm trees and elite residences, further emphasizing the campaign's strategic efforts to bridge the financial gap with Democrats, reported The New York Times. An invitation suggested donations up to $814,600 to the Trump 47 Committee, reflecting a shared fundraising effort among Trump's campaign, the RNC and state parties. Also Read: Donald Trump Says It Would Be A 'Great Honor' If He Were Jailed For Breaching Gag Order: 'I Will Gladly Become A Modern Day Nelson Mandela' Trump, known for his love of superlatives, had anticipated the event on Truth Social, promising it would be the "biggest night in Fund Raising of ALL TIME!!!". The dinner saw about 100 guests, including notable Trump allies and megadonors like Rebekah Mercer, Linda McMahon and Robert Bigelow. However, some co-chairs, like John Catsimatidis, were unable to attend due to prior commitments. While the Trump campaign and the RNC boasted of raising $65.6 million in March, their best month yet, the Biden campaign raised a remarkable $90 million in the same period. Now Read: Donald Trump Reportedly Hid Billionaire's Bond Offer From Court To Save Millions This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Millennials and Gen Z's trendy new splurge: groceries 2024-04-07 19:50:56+00:00 - Groceries are the hottest new splurge category for Gen Z and millennials. Younger generations spend more on groceries than other categories, according to McKinsey. Inflation is impacting all generations, meanwhile, leading to higher grocery expenses. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement Splurging once meant spending money on buzzy restaurants, expensive vacations, and designer clothing. These days, it has succumbed to a more humble category. Groceries are shaping up to be a top spending priority for younger generations, according to a February report from McKinsey & Company. The firm asked over 4,000 people, from baby boomers to Gen Xers, about the categories they intend to splurge on this year. Groceries ranked highest for millennials and Gen Zers, outpacing restaurants, bars, travel, beauty and personal care, apparel, and fitness. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in .

An engine cover rips off a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, forcing an emergency landing 2024-04-07 19:34:47+00:00 - A Southwest Airlines flight returned to Denver after an engine cover ripped off mid-flight. The plane is a Boeing model that has had other malfunctions recently, prompting FAA inspections. Southwest's maintenance team is reviewing the aircraft while the FAA investigates. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement A Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines had to turn around mid-flight after an engine cover ripped off on Sunday. It was the latest incident in a series of problems for Boeing planes. Southwest Airlines told Business Insider in a statement that Flight 3695 returned to the Denver International Airport and landed safely after experiencing a "mechanical issue." The airline said its maintenance team is reviewing the aircraft. "Our Customers will arrive at Houston Hobby on another aircraft, approximately three hours behind schedule," Southwest said in the statement. "We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate safety for our customers and employees." Video of the incident shared online shows a section of the plane's engine cowling — a panel that covers the engine — tearing away from the aircraft. Advertisement Scary moments for passengers on a Southwest flight from Denver to Houston when the engine cover ripped off during flight , forcing the plane to return to Denver Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/BBpCBXpTsl — Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 7, 2024 FAA records indicate that the plane was registered in February 2017. That registration expires in 2030. In January, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after a section of an Alaska Airlines fuselage — a plug over what was previously a door — ripped away mid-flight. Related stories The FAA said in a statement at the time that each plane would have to undergo an eight-hour safety inspection before it's allowed to carry passengers again. Boeing Chairman Steve Mollenkopf has reached out directly to several airlines following the company's recent struggles, Bloomberg reported. Mollenkpf's move came after Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said that Boeing showed a "lack of attention to detail." Advertisement "In 2022 and 2023, we were finding little things like spanners under the floorboards, in some cases, seat handles missing, things like that," O'Leary told CNN in March. The FAA told Business Insider that it is investigating the incident. Boeing referred BI to Southwest Airlines when reached for comment on Sunday. The Alaska Airlines blowout in January has brought increased scrutiny around Boeing's quality control in the following months. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would investigate Boeing's manufacturing process. Advertisement The FAA revealed in March that its probe found "multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements." The agency also noted that it had found 27 areas in Boeing's safety procedures that were insufficient. After the Alaska Airlines incident, several key executives, including Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, announced that they would resign. In a press release, the plane manufacturer also vowed to implement more inspections on the production line and change its quality practices.

A Southwest Boeing 737 lost engine cover during takeoff, FAA is investigating 2024-04-07 19:26:00+00:00 - An engine cowling fell off of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 and struck a wing flap during takeoff from Denver International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday. The FAA said Southwest Flight 3695 was on its way to Houston's William P. Hobby Airport and safely returned to the gate at Denver at 8:15 a.m. local time. Southwest said customers on the flight transferred to a different aircraft and were scheduled to arrive at their destination three hours late. "Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft," Southwest said. The FAA said it is investigating the incident. Southwest didn't immediately respond when asked when the plane and engine last underwent maintenance. In response to a request for comment, Boeing pointed to Southwest's statement. The cowling loss comes as the FAA investigates a separate Southwest incident in March. One of its flights strayed off course and flew close to the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport as it attempted a landing in New York. The plane is an older model of the Boeing 737 than the Max jets. Boeing is under heightened regulatory scrutiny after a January incident when a door plug blew off a nearly new 737 Max 9 when the Alaska Airlines flight was at 16,000 feet, causing a near-catastrophe. Boeing's quality control issues have spiraled into safety concerns, slowing deliveries of new Max aircraft. Big Boeing customers like Southwest and United say the issues have affected their growth plans. The long-awaited FAA certification of its 737 Max 7 and Max 10 models is also behind previous schedules. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun last month said that he would step down by year's end, and Boeing replaced its chairman and chief executive of its commercial airplane unit.

An engine cover on a Southwest Airlines plane rips off, forcing the flight to return to Denver 2024-04-07 19:07:43+00:00 - DENVER (AP) — A Southwest Airlines jet returned to Denver Sunday morning after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Boeing 737 landed safely, and the passengers headed to Houston were being put onto another aircraft, Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft,” the statement reads. It’s the second mishap this week for the airline, with a flight from Texas canceled Thursday after a report of an engine fire. The Lubbock, Texas, fire department confirmed online a fire in one of the two engines that needed extinguishing. The FAA is investigating both incidents. Both planes were Boeing 737-800s, an older model than the 737 Max.