A Surprise from the U.S. Labor Market The Federal Reserve’s September decision just became much more complicated. U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, dramatically beating expectations of roughly 56,000. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, while the labor-force participation rate increased to 61.6%. The report signals that the U.S. labor market may be considerably…
Company Overview Adeia is an IP licensing company focused on technologies used in media, entertainment, consumer electronics, e-commerce and semiconductors. The company owns more than 14,250 patents and patent applications worldwide, licensing its technology to major technology and media companies. Its business model is asset-light, with revenue primarily generated through licensing agreements rather than manufacturing…
September Has a Bad Reputation September has historically been the weakest month for U.S. stocks. Since 1928, the S&P 500 has averaged roughly a 1.1% decline in September, and it has finished lower more often than higher. But seasonality is not a prediction. The bigger question for investors in September 2026 is whether historical weakness…
Company Overview Driven Brands is one of the largest automotive-services platforms in North America, operating a highly franchised network across the U.S. and Canada. Its portfolio includes Take 5 Oil Change, Meineke, MAACO, CARSTAR, Auto Glass Now, and 1-800-Radiator & A/C, covering oil changes, maintenance, collision repair, glass, and other vehicle services. The company had…
The Dollar Is Still Dominant—but the Trend Is Changing The U.S. dollar remains the world’s dominant reserve and trading currency. But investors are increasingly questioning whether its long-standing advantage is beginning to weaken. The dollar index has been volatile in recent months, and on August 31 it stood around 99.5, after briefly falling below 99…
Company Overview LegalZoom is an online legal-services platform serving individuals and small businesses across the U.S., combining technology with access to attorneys and legal professionals. Its services cover business formation, compliance, estate planning, intellectual property, bookkeeping and ongoing business support. The company has formed 5.0 million businesses and delivered 4.4 million estate-planning solutions since inception,…
A Strong Quarter in a Difficult Economy Canada’s economy has faced plenty of uncertainty—from U.S. trade tensions and elevated household debt to a softer housing market. Yet the country’s major banks are delivering a surprisingly strong earnings performance. Recent results from TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO, Scotiabank and National Bank show that Canada’s banking sector is…
Company Overview Island Gold District, Young-Davidson, Mulatos District and Lynn Lake. Alamos Gold is a mid-tier gold producer focused on growing production by expanding its existing high-quality assets rather than relying heavily on acquisitions. The company ended 2025 with 15.9 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves, up 32% YoY, with reserve grades increasing…
A New Phase in North American Trade Trade tensions between the United States and Canada have escalated sharply. After negotiations broke down, President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027. Canada has also announced retaliatory measures on selected U.S. goods beginning September…
Company Overview Core Business HASI finances distributed energy projects located close to the customer. These include Commercial & industrial solar, Community solar, distributed battery storage, Energy-efficiency projects, and Building efficiency upgrades. These assets can reduce customers’ energy costs while creating recurring investment income for HASI. HASI invests in larger renewable infrastructure connected directly to the…