Articles written by Shivani Kumaresan - Benzinga

NASA And Boeing Push Forward With Starliner Crew Certification

NASA and Boeing are moving forward with certifying the CST-100 Starliner for human spaceflight following its recent test mission to the International Space Station. Engineers are addressing technical challenges while preparing for key propulsion system evaluations.

Assassin's Creed Maker Ubisoft's Gaming Subsidiary Secures $1.25 Billion Tencent Backing In Major Deal

Ubisoft Entertainment is restructuring its business by creating a new subsidiary focused on Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. Tencent is investing €1.16 billion for a minority stake, valuing the entity at €4 billion.

Lockheed Martin And Google Partner To Advance AI In Defense

Lockheed Martin and Google Public Sector are teaming up to integrate advanced AI into Lockheed's AI Factory. The collaboration aims to enhance AI-driven solutions for national security, aerospace, and scientific innovation.

Rocket Lab Joins US Space Force's $5.6 Billion Launch Program; Stock Soars

Rocket Lab USA secures eligibility for the U.S. Space Force's NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1, a $5.6 billion initiative. The company plans to deploy its Neutron rocket, a reusable medium-lift vehicle, for critical national security launches. With 63 Electron missions completed, Rocket Lab strengthens its position as a key player in the defense and space industry.

Goldman Sees Premium Pet Food As Bright Spot For Colgate And General Mills Amid Consumer Caution

Colgate-Palmolive and General Mills are poised for growth in the premium pet food market, with analysts projecting a 5% annual expansion through 2030. Innovation, increased advertising, and expanded production capacity are expected to drive sales, reinforcing their market position.

Paychex Analyst Sees Limited Upside Despite Q3 Profitability Surge

Paychex reported Q3 revenue of $1.509 billion, a 4.8% YoY increase, with EPS of $1.49 surpassing expectations. RBC analyst reiterated a Sector Perform rating on the shares of Paychex.

IBM Expands Cloud Storage To On-Premises With Ceph As A Service

IBM has introduced IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, enhancing its cloud-integrated, on-premises infrastructure solutions.

Nokia Launches Six New Industry 4.0 Applications To Boost Digitalization

Nokia expands its MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platform with six new Industry 4.0 applications. These solutions, including tools from Bosch Rexroth, Ipsotek, and Nozomi Networks, enhance digital transformation in industries by leveraging AI, machine automation, and industrial connectivity for better efficiency and security.

EV Maker Mullen Automotive To Further Cut Costs And Slash Workforce: Details

Mullen Automotive has announced new cost-saving initiatives, including staff reductions, to optimize operations. Mullen continues to focus on expanding EV sales and advancing battery technology.

Cognizant, ServiceNow Launch AI-Driven Solution For Banking Disputes

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) have launched an AI-powered dispute resolution solution for mid-sized banks in North America. This BPaaS offering leverages generative AI, automation, and multi-channel intake to streamline dispute management, reduce chargeback losses, and enhance customer experience.

Fashion Retailer H&M Reports Modest Sales Growth In Q1, Faces Margin Pressures

Hennes & Mauritz saw a 3% rise in Q1 net sales, reaching SEK 55.3 billion ($5.1 billion). However, gross margin declined to 49.1% due to economic pressures and increased markdowns. Operating profit fell to SEK 1.2 billion, impacted by higher costs and logistics challenges.

Winnebago Stock Climbs On Q2 Earnings Beat, But FY25 Forecast Slashed On Market Headwinds

Winnebago Industries saw an 11.8% YoY drop in Q2 sales to $620.2 million, though it exceeded analyst expectations. Gross profit fell 21.1% as margins tightened, while adjusted EPS of $0.19 beat estimates. The company revised its FY25 revenue outlook downward to $2.8B-$3.0B, citing market challenges.

Hyundai's Metaplant Opens In Georgia, Expanding EV Production

Hyundai Motor has opened its Metaplant America in Georgia, marking a major milestone in U.S. manufacturing. With a $12.6 billion investment, the facility will produce up to 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Why Is Mobile Games Giant Playtika Soaring On Wednesday?

BofA Securities analyst upgrades Playtika to Buy, raising price target to $6.50. The company boasts the highest profitability in the mobile gaming industry, with 30% EBITDA margins and significant franchises.

Goldman Sees Bath & Body Works Valuation As Highly Attractive, Remains Bullish

Goldman Sachs analyst Kate McShane maintains a Buy rating on Bath & Body Works with a price target of $49. The company's Disney Princess collaboration boosted app downloads by 42% year-over-year, showing its strong market impact.

Exxon Mobil Eyes Semiconductor Boom With 99.999% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol Production Expansion: Details

Exxon Mobil plans to ramp up production of 99.999% ultra-pure isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to support the growing semiconductor sector. Upgrades at its Baton Rouge plant will ensure a reliable domestic supply of high-purity IPA, critical for next-gen chip production.

Visionary Holdings Launches New Fund In Hong Kong To Propel New Energy Vehicle Industry: Details

Shares of Visionary Holdings rose following the launch of its Visionary Industrial Development LPF in Hong Kong. The $50 million fund aims to back the new energy vehicle sector, supporting Visionary's PEGASUS New Energy Vehicle project.

Fresh Del Monte Acquires Avolio To Expand Into Avocado Oil Market

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NASDAQ: FDP) has acquired Avolio, Uganda's top supplier of avocado oil. This acquisition boosts Fresh Del Monte's presence in high-value specialty ingredients, allowing it to leverage Avolio's extraction technology to produce premium avocado oil.

Paychex Q3 Earnings: EPS Beat, Strong Margins, Paycor Deal Nears Completion And More

Paychex saw a 5% revenue growth in Q3 FY25, reaching nearly $1.51 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.49 exceeded estimates. The company also reported growth in Management Solutions and PEO/Insurance Solutions revenues, while expenses increased due to acquisition costs.

What's Going On With Electronics Maker Kopin's Stock Today?

Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN) announced a significant funding award from the U.S. Army to develop extended reality (XR) heads-up displays (HUD).