New Orleans Pelicans star center Zion Williamson has started the conditioning phase of his rehab from a left hamstring strain and is expected to return to practice next week, the team announced Tuesday. Williamson, who is considered week-to-week, has been sidelined since Nov. 6. The two-time All-Star has played in just six games this season, averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. New Orleans selected Williamson with the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. His time with the Pelicans has been marked by multiple injuries, starting with a torn meniscus during the preseason of his rookie year. Williamson has played in just 190 career games over five seasons, while also missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. He has averaged 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. --Field Level Media
A recent survey reveals that more businesses are investing in technology to support hybrid work models as employees increasingly seek work closer to home. Over 500 CEOs participated in the International Workplace Group's study, showing that 95% have spent on new technologies in the past year to enhance their hybrid working environments. This trend highlights the growing importance of hybrid work, with 43% of CEOs identifying these investments as their largest expenditure over the past 12 months. The continued growth of hybrid working is largely driven by employees' preference for work near their homes. Research shows that only 21% of people would accept a job that requires a daily commute longer than 30 minutes, while 60% prefer positions that are within a 15-minute commute from their homes. This shift in expectations is prompting businesses to adjust, and many are opting to scale back expensive central office spaces in favor of more affordable regional offices and co-working spaces. According to previous research, 44% of CEOs have downsized their office spaces by at least 25%, helping companies reduce overhead costs like energy consumption. The money saved from these reductions is being reinvested in technology, with cloud technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and cybersecurity among the most popular areas for investment. For example, 62% of CEOs are investing in cloud technology, 52% in AI and automation, and 41% in generative AI. These advances in technology are seen as crucial for supporting employees' hybrid work needs and improving their productivity. In fact, 87% of CEOs plan to keep investing in tech tools that will further enhance the hybrid work experience. Employees appear to benefit from this shift. Data from the International Workplace Group suggests that 74% of employees feel more productive when working in a hybrid model, while 76% report higher engagement levels, and 85% say their job satisfaction has improved since moving to hybrid work. Additionally, research from leading academic institutions suggests that hybrid working can boost company productivity by about $19,000 per employee per day. Human resources leaders also support the growing emphasis on hybrid work. About 86% of HR professionals agree that hybrid working has become a crucial element of employee well-being and productivity. This sentiment reflects the increasing recognition that offering flexible work options can lead to happier, more efficient workers. In the background, the shift to hybrid working began as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many businesses to adapt to remote and flexible working arrangements. Over time, the advantages of hybrid working, such as improved work-life balance, health benefits, and cost savings, have become more apparent, leading to its widespread adoption. The combination of technological advancements and changing employee expectations suggests that hybrid work is here to stay, with businesses and workers alike continuing to reap its benefits. Mark Dixon, CEO of the International Workplace Group, emphasized the lasting nature of this shift, noting that the investments made by CEOs reflect a long-term commitment to hybrid work. He pointed to advancements in technology such as video conferencing, generative AI, and cloud services as key enablers of effective remote collaboration, suggesting that businesses will increasingly move toward localized working arrangements in the future. The decision to buy or rent property in Bulgaria's major cities, particularly Sofia, is influenced by various factors, with real estate experts suggesting that buying remains more advantageous than renting in the long term Employers who neglect to adopt a hybrid work model may face significant employee turnover The EU Council has established a new legal framework enabling sanctions against Russia for hybrid attacks targeting EU member states In Bulgaria, purchasing a 100 sq.m. apartment requires the equivalent of 199 monthly salarie In the German city of Offenbach, a small Bulgarian community has taken root, with nearly 6,000 Bulgarian residents making up about 4% of the city's population Approximately 40% of individuals who receive a work permit in Bulgaria do not remain in the country to fulfill their employment Airfares around the world are expected to rise in 2025, with ticket prices reflecting both higher operational costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions As the New Year approaches, hotels, holiday resorts, and guesthouses in Bulgaria are offering a range of packages to attract holidaymakers The decision to buy or rent property in Bulgaria's major cities, particularly Sofia, is influenced by various factors, with real estate experts suggesting that buying remains more advantageous than renting in the long term Bulgaria's position in the Global Innovation Index has remained unchanged at 38th place, but the country continues to see a decline in its performance across key indicators Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA) has increased its scrutiny of individuals involved in online trading and content creation. In the first half of 2024 Wizz Air has announced four new routes from Varna for the summer 2025 seasonJoan Donovan and David Smith join The Lead
Information Analysis Holds Annual Meeting with Positive Voting ResultsCitigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in HF Sinclair Co. ( NYSE:DINO – Free Report ) by 25.1% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 200,882 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 40,341 shares during the quarter. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in HF Sinclair were worth $8,953,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Matrix Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of HF Sinclair by 122.4% in the 3rd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 576 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in HF Sinclair during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in HF Sinclair in the second quarter worth $34,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its stake in HF Sinclair by 82.2% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 820 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 370 shares during the period. Finally, Coastline Trust Co bought a new position in HF Sinclair during the third quarter valued at $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.29% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently issued reports on DINO. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of HF Sinclair from $66.00 to $57.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of HF Sinclair from $60.00 to $51.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on HF Sinclair from $57.00 to $53.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 4th. Mizuho decreased their price target on HF Sinclair from $53.00 to $50.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price objective on HF Sinclair from $58.00 to $49.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $54.27. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Franklin Myers bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $38.76 per share, for a total transaction of $193,800.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 145,293 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,631,556.68. This trade represents a 3.56 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders. HF Sinclair Stock Performance Shares of HF Sinclair stock opened at $40.97 on Friday. HF Sinclair Co. has a one year low of $38.25 and a one year high of $64.16. The company has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a PE ratio of 25.29 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.81. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $47.86. HF Sinclair ( NYSE:DINO – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $7.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.11 billion. HF Sinclair had a net margin of 1.10% and a return on equity of 5.51%. HF Sinclair’s revenue for the quarter was down 19.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.06 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that HF Sinclair Co. will post 2.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. HF Sinclair Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.88%. HF Sinclair’s payout ratio is 123.46%. HF Sinclair Profile ( Free Report ) HF Sinclair Corporation operates as an independent energy company. The company produces and markets gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, specialty lubricant products, specialty chemicals, specialty and modified asphalt, and others. It owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; and markets its refined products principally in the Southwest United States and Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and in other neighboring Plains states. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DINO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HF Sinclair Co. ( NYSE:DINO – Free Report ). 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The game of musical first basemen went full tilt in the last week, with several practitioners of the position signed or traded. Most notably not among them: Pete Alonso. The free-agent slugger saw his options dwindle, as the Yankees, Astros, Guardians, Diamondbacks and Nationals all signed or traded for a first baseman. Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe all found new homes. The flurry would seem like as strong an indicator as any that Alonso will return to his old one — with the Mets — but Alonso and his agent Scott Boras haven’t appeared in any hurry. Is there a market for Alonso outside Queens? Let’s examine a few landing spots that still could be logical, even with his options reduced. San Francisco Giants After whiffing in attempts over the last few winters to add a big bat through free agency, the team finally created a splash with Willy Adames’ arrival on a seven-year contract worth $182 million. The Giants, under a new front office headed by Buster Posey, would roar louder by bringing a Polar Bear to the chilly Bay waters (no, Boras didn’t write this). Alonso has thrived at Oracle Park, where he’s delivered seven homers in 17 career games, producing a .910 OPS. The Giants have used a platoon at first base that includes LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores (who had an underwhelming season as the right-handed part of the equation). Texas Rangers The 2023 World Series champions are still in a win-now mode with a roster that includes Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jacob deGrom. The Rangers traded Lowe to Washington over the weekend for lefty reliever Robert Garcia, leaving it conceivable the team could look to Alonso for additional pop. Jake Burger, acquired in a trade with the Marlins, is part of the first base mix, but he could also be part of the DH and third base equation if the Rangers were to sign Alonso. Seattle Mariners Would Alonso really want to spend the next several (or even few) years playing his home games in a ballpark hardly conducive to the long ball? It might take a contract with a little extra sizzle. The Mariners could certainly use a bat or two after finishing 21st in MLB in runs scored. Luke Raley, who split time last season between first base and the outfield, is atop the depth chart at the position. It was first base by committee for the Mariners last season, with Ty France and Justin Turner also included. St. Louis Cardinals Goldschmidt departed through free agency, reaching agreement last weekend with the Yankees (one year, $12.5 million). Alonso would fit, but the Cardinals have shown little inclination to spend money this offseason. Would they potentially give a nine-figure deal to Alonso? The five-year contract worth $130 million that Goldschmidt received before the 2020 season was among the biggest given to a first baseman in recent years. As it stands, the Cardinals appear set to head into spring training with Alec Burleson as the first baseman. Burleson has experience at the position and brought a respectable left-handed bat (.734 OPS) to the Cardinals’ lineup last season. Los Angeles Angels The disparity between the two Los Angeles franchises couldn’t be greater, with the Dodgers as the toast of baseball and the Orange County team searching for an identity post-Shohei Ohtani, with Mike Trout often injured. Signing Alonso would add juice to a team that lost 99 games last season. Angels owner Arte Moreno has previously shown he’s willing to pay big for bats, but might be hesitant following the Albert Pujols and Trout contracts that didn’t or haven’t worked in the club’s favor. Nolan Schanuel produced a pedestrian .705 OPS as the team’s regular first baseman last season.DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Kinkead Dent threw for 246 yards and ran for another 56 yards and a touchdown as UT Martin rolled to a 41-10 win over New Hampshire in an FCS first-round game on Saturday. The Skyhawks (9-4) advance to face unbeaten and top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. UT Martin's rushing game amassed 236 yards on 52 carries and five different backs reached the end zone. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks limited New Hampshire to 124 yards of total offense and held the Wildcats' run game to just 53 yards on 16 carries. Rashad Raymond scored from 4-yards out midway through the first quarter to put UT Martin on the board first and All-Big South/OVC first-team running back Patrick Smith added a 3-yard scoring run in the second to take a 17-7 lead. Dent capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive by nosing in from the 2 and Jaren Van Winkle kicked field goals from 30- and 36-yards to make it 24-7 at intermission. Trevonte Rucker scored from the 4 to start the fourth quarter and Glover Cook III punched in from the 1 to complete the scoring. Dent Completed 17 of 26 passes without an interception. Rucker caught nine passes for 98 yards and DeVonte Tanksley caught four for 81, including a 56-yard reception. Smith carried 15 times for 71 yards. Glover had 12 carries for 56. Seth Morgan was held to 14 of 35 passing with an interception for New Hampshire (8-5). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballJuan Soto was just a teenager when he debuted with the Washington Nationals in 2018. Few players of his caliber debut so young and change teams even once before reaching free agency. Yet Soto, still only 26, played for three different teams before heading to free agency for the first time this offseason. At each of his first two stops in MLB — first the Washington Nationals, then the San Diego Padres — Soto had a chance to get to know each team's owner. According to a new report in the New York Post , he did not get to know New York Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner over the last year as well as his C-suite counterparts Peter Seidler in San Diego and Ted Lerner in Washington. More news: Yankees Broadcaster Michael Kay Explains 'Where Fans are Dead Wrong' About Juan Soto As Soto met with interested teams in Southern California this week and last, having a chance to get to know their owners was key. That includes Steinbrenner, writes the Post's Jon Heyman : While he loved the Judge-led clubhouse, Soto is seeking a strong rapport with whatever owner he's partnering with for up to the next 15 seasons. And word is he felt better about Steinbrenner and the Yankees after their meeting, when MLB's most marquee franchise also emphasized their edge over everyone else in revenue, tradition and brand. Steinbrenner told reporters at the MLB owners' meetings this week that the Yankees' meeting with Soto lasted a couple hours. Also present, he said, were manager Aaron Boone, general manager Brian Cashman, and Yankees executive Omar Minaya. Soto is expected to sign the richest contract ever given to a baseball player. "No idea," Steinbrenner said when asked how confident he is the Yankees will re-sign Soto, as relayed by Tim Healey of Newsday . "We'll be in the mix." Hal Steinbrenner on the Yankees’ meeting with Juan Soto: “We had a good meeting. It was very honest.” He said it lasted a couple of hours. How confident is Hal that Yanks will sign Soto? “No idea,” he said. “We’ll be in the mix.” Soto's monster 2024 season was instrumental in the Yankees returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009. Batting ahead of Aaron Judge, he hit 41 homers, scored an American League-leading 128 runs, drove in 109, and reached base at a .419 clip in his first season in the Bronx. Soto also met in the last week with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to various reports. He is meeting with teams in Southern California because his agent, Scott Boras, is based in Newport Beach. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports .
Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in Archrock, Inc. ( NYSE:AROC – Free Report ) by 59.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 447,160 shares of the energy company’s stock after acquiring an additional 166,947 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. owned 0.26% of Archrock worth $9,051,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AROC. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Archrock by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,958,281 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $80,036,000 after purchasing an additional 672,663 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in Archrock by 60.3% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,343,652 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $47,389,000 after acquiring an additional 882,024 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Archrock by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,323,820 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $47,034,000 after acquiring an additional 274,763 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Archrock by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,169,768 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $43,873,000 after acquiring an additional 185,962 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Archrock by 1,680.2% in the 3rd quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 1,530,440 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $30,976,000 after purchasing an additional 1,444,471 shares during the period. 95.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on AROC shares. Citigroup initiated coverage on Archrock in a report on Friday, September 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $24.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho started coverage on Archrock in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $24.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Archrock from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Archrock in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $24.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Archrock from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Archrock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $25.17. Archrock Stock Performance Shares of AROC stock opened at $25.62 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $22.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $20.69. Archrock, Inc. has a one year low of $14.14 and a one year high of $26.36. The stock has a market cap of $4.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.15 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Archrock ( NYSE:AROC – Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The energy company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.27 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $292.16 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $286.19 million. Archrock had a net margin of 13.34% and a return on equity of 16.24%. Archrock’s revenue was up 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.20 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Archrock, Inc. will post 1.09 EPS for the current year. Archrock Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 6th were issued a dividend of $0.175 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 6th. This is a positive change from Archrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.73%. Archrock’s payout ratio is presently 76.92%. Archrock Company Profile ( Free Report ) Archrock, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Contract Operations and Aftermarket Services. It engages in the designing, sourcing, owning, installing, operating, servicing, repairing, and maintaining of its owned fleet of natural gas compression equipment to provide natural gas compression services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Archrock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archrock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .