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Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’ consumer products

Business 3 Mins Read

Amazon’s devices unit has a new team tasked with inventing “breakthrough” consumer products that’s being led by a former Microsoft executive who helped create the Xbox.

The ZeroOne team is spread across Seattle, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, and is focused on both hardware and software projects, according to job postings from the past month. The name is a nod to its mission of developing emerging product ideas from conception to launch, or “zero to one.”

Amazon has a checkered history in hardware, with hits including the Kindle e-reader, Echo smart speaker and Fire streaming sticks, as well as flops like the Fire Phone, Halo fitness tracker and Glow kids teleconferencing device.

Many of the products emerged from Lab126, Amazon’s hardware research and development unit, which is based in Silicon Valley.

The new group is being led by J Allard, who spent 19 years at Microsoft, most recently as technology chief of consumer products, a role he left in 2010, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was a key architect of the Xbox game console, as well as the Zune, a failed iPod competitor.

Allard joined Amazon in September, and the company confirmed at the time that he would be part of the devices and services team under Panos Panay, who left Microsoft for Amazon in 2023 to lead the group.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed Allard oversees ZeroOne but declined to comment further on the group’s work.

The job postings provide few specific details about what ZeroOne is building, though one listing references working on “conceiving, designing, and bringing to market computer vision techniques for a new smart-home product.”

Another post for a senior customer insights manager in San Francisco says the job entails owning “the methodology and execution of concept testing and early feedback for ZeroOne programs.”

“You’ll be part of a team that embraces design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn,” the description says. “If you’re excited about working in small, nimble teams to create entirely new product categories and thrive in the ambiguity of breakthrough innovation, we want to talk to you.”

Amazon has pulled in staffers from other business units that have experience developing innovative technologies, including its Alexa voice assistant, Luna cloud gaming service and Halo sleep tracker, according to Linkedin profiles of ZeroOne employees. The head of a projection mapping startup called Lightform that Amazon acquired is helping lead the group.

While Amazon is expanding this particular corner of its devices group, the company is scaling back other areas of the sprawling devices and services division.

Earlier this month, Amazon laid off about 100 of the group’s employees. The job cuts included staffers working on Alexa and Amazon Kids, which develops services for children, as well as Lab126, according to public filings and people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named due to confidentiality. More than 50 employees were laid off at Amazon’s Lab126 facilities in Sunnyvale, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings in California.

Amazon said the job cuts affected a fraction of a percent of the devices and services organization, which has tens of thousands of employees.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

Business 4 Mins Read

While U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs play out in U.S. courts, another one of his proposed laws could weaponize the American tax system.

Investment banks and law firms warn this step could prove to be as significant as the impact of duties on investors.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which passed through the U.S. House of Representatives last week, includes the most sweeping changes to the tax treatment of foreign capital in the U.S. in decades under a provision known as Section 899. The bill must still gain the Senate’s approval.

“We see this legislation as creating the scope for the US administration to transform a trade war into a capital war if it so wishes,” said George Saravelos, global head of FX research at Deutsche Bank on Thursday.

“Section 899 challenges the open nature of US capital markets by explicitly using taxation on foreign holdings of US assets as leverage to further US economic goals,” Saravelos added in the note to clients, under the subtitle “weaponization of US capital markets in to law.”

Section 899 says it will hit entities from “discriminatory foreign countries” — those that impose levies such as the digital services taxes that disproportionately affect U.S. companies.

France, for instance, has a 3% tax on revenues from online platforms, which primarily targets big technology firms such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. Germany is reportedly considering a similar tax of 10%.

Under the new tax bill, the U.S. would hit investors from such countries by increasing taxes on U.S. income by 5 percentage points each year, potentially taking the rate up to 20%.

Emmanuel Cau, head of European Equity Strategy at Barclays, suggested that the mere passage of the tax legislation could make dollar assets less valuable for foreign investors.

“In our view, this is a risk for those companies generating US revenues, and domiciled in countries that have enacted Digital Services Taxes (DST) or are implementing the OECD’s Under Taxed Payment Rule (UTPR),” Cau said in a Friday note to clients.

He highlighted companies such as London-listed Compass Group, which provides catering services to U.S. schools, and InterContinental Hotels, which owns at least 25 luxury hotels in the U.S., are likely to be affected by the proposed law.

“Given US net international investment position is sharply negative, there is indeed scope for capital outflows if indeed S899 passes through the Senate in its current form,” he added.

The impact of the bill won’t be limited to European companies or individuals from those states.

The bill “could significantly increase tax rates applicable to certain non-U.S. individuals and business, governmental, and other entities,” said Max Levine, head of U.S. tax at the law firm Linklaters.

This means it could also ensnare governments and central banks, which are large investors of U.S. Treasuries. France and Germany, for instance, held a combined $475 billion worth of U.S. government bonds as of March.

The proposed tax would lower returns on U.S. Treasuries for those investors as “the de facto yield on US Treasuries would drop by nearly 100bps,” Deutsche Bank’s Saravelos added. “The adverse impact on demand for USTs and funding the US twin deficit at a time when this is most needed is clear”.

“It’s very bad,” said Beat Wittmann, chairman of Switzerland-based Porta Advisors. “This is huge — this is just one piece in the overall plan and it’s completely consistent with what this administration is all about.”

“The ultimate judge for this is not our opinions, it’s the bond market,” Wittmann added. “The U.S. bond market is discounting these developments, and we have seen in the last few weeks, that if there was a safe haven move, investors clearly prefer German bunds.”

Large Australian pension funds with U.S. investments have also been reportedly concerned by the bill, since Australia operates a medicines subsidy scheme that is opposed by large U.S. pharmaceutical companies.

Legal experts at the Mayer Brown law firm suggest that “significant changes” could be made to the bill as it passes through the U.S. Senate before it’s enshrined into law by Trump.

“As such, there may be questions about whether the provisions of the proposal that override tax treaties could be included in the US Senate’s version of the tax bill,” Mayer Brown’s experts said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Analyzing SIL, USO, and NVDA: Could These Bullish Patterns Trigger?

Stock 4 Mins Read

SIL Silver Miners

SIL was among the leaders yesterday and now is close to triggering this double-bottom bullish pattern. Staying above the 43-mark would target 47. That’s not a big move, but let’s remember that SIL is sporting bullish formations on its longer-term charts, too.

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF GLOBAL X SILVER MINERS ETF (SIL).

SIL – Weekly

Firstly, the double-bottom pattern on this weekly log chart annotated in blue remains alive. This objective is up near 49.

Secondly, the area highlighted in green here is the same pattern pictured on the daily chart above. That area is sitting at the very top of a much bigger bullish inverse head-and-shoulders pattern that extends all the way back to 2021. Thus, if the short-term breakout works, it will trigger this one, as well. That target is in the mid-70s…

FIGURE 2. WEEKLY CHART OF GLOBAL X SILVER MINERS ETF (SIL).

SIL – Monthly

And that green pattern above is part of this MUCH larger, 13-year potential double bottom. We still have a while to go before this one is triggered, but it’s important to keep all of these in the back of our minds.

Anyone who trades or tracks SIL knows that short-term whipsaws are the norm. So, while these breakouts may not be clean, the bullish structures are clear. The bottom line is that if SIL continues to make higher highs and higher lows, the patterns will continue to work.

FIGURE 3. MONTHLY CHART OF GLOBAL X SILVER MINERS ETF (SIL).

USO Crude Oil

USO was among the leaders yesterday, but it’s still trying to bust through its 50-DMA, which has been the sticking point the last few weeks. If it can soon, USO could complete this potential bullish inverse H&S pattern. The upside target would be in the 77-78 range, and that would align with key short-term tops from the last year. First step, push above the 50-day line…

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF US OIL FUND (USO).

NVDA

The obvious question every time NVDA rallies is whether it’s too late to buy.  To get a true sense of the stock’s technical prospects, we need to view it across different charts and time frames.

First, here’s a view of the bullish flag pattern we cited on Tuesday (along with TSLA, GOOGL and META). Given the preceding staircase-like advance, the starting point of the flagpole is subjective. We’re using the early May low given that the stock avoided filling a gap from a few days earlier.

Regardless, the measured move counts to the 161 zone, which would be a new all-time high.

FIGURE 5. DAILY CHART OF NVIDIA CORP. (NVDA).

This second one is a daily chart that extends all the way back to 2010 and shows times when breaking below or above the 200-DMA led to strong, extended moves for the stock. From this angle, the recent 200-day breach didn’t last that long at all, and now NVDA has the chance to once again follow through after breaking back above it over the last few weeks.

FIGURE 6. LONGER-TERM DAILY CHART OF NVIDIA CORP. (NVDA).

Here’s a weekly, log chart going back to the 2022 low. NVDA has leveraged three major pattern breakouts since then to power the astounding rally the last two-plus years. With the stock last having made a new high last October and being net flat since last July, an eventual push back above the 150-zone could prompt big pattern-breakout number four.

FIGURE 7. WEEKLY CHART OF NVIDIA CORP. (NVDA).

Lastly, here are the biggest breakouts on this monthly chart that goes back over two decades. Again, looking at it from this viewpoint makes the last 11 months appear like a very small digestive phase, especially compared to the other three on the chart. Thus, the first step will be seeing how well NVDA can hold the opening gap. That’s important for today, but much more important for the days and weeks to come.

FIGURE 8. MONTHLY CHART OF NVIDIA CORP. (NVDA).

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Nuclear Power Trio: OKLO, SMR, and CCJ in Focus

Stock 6 Mins Read

Nuclear energy stocks are on a tear, and Oklo Inc. (OKLO), Cameco Corp. (CCJ), and NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) are leading the charge, fueled by presidential executive orders, investor hype, and hopes for a nuclear-powered future.

Is It Time to Go Nuclear?

These names bucked the trend on Wednesday, rising even as the major U.S. indexes fell. I found all three while running a P&F Double Top Breakout scan, with SMR also appearing in the New 52-Week Highs scan. But are these gains a sign of genuine investment opportunities, or is this high-risk subsector just radioactive for your portfolio? To analyze this, let’s break down their profiles and charts to see whether the “glow” here points to real promise—or simply masks a toxic risk.

Here’s a PerfCharts snapshot of all three stocks against the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), our broader market proxy.

FIGURE 1. PERFCHARTS OF SMR, OKLO, CCJ, AND SPY.

While CCJ steadily lagged behind the S&P 500 until this month, both OKLO and SMR began outperforming the broader market starting in mid-October of last year. Their relative performance to date is so strong that it appears almost unsustainable in the short term.

All three mid-cap stocks are also showing robust StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) scores—OKLO at 99.6, SMR at 99.3, and CCJ at 89.9 at the time of writing. While this can indicate technical strength, it can also signal irrational exuberance among retail investors.

Robust SCTR Scores but Divergent Fundamentals

Another thing to note is the notable difference in their fundamentals. SMR and OKLO have negative P/E ratios, suggesting that their surges are driven more by promise and speculation than by profits. CCJ, with a P/E ratio of 149, is raking in some profits, but may also be riding an overcrowded wave of hype.

Ultimately, while technical performance can sometimes lead to fundamental strength—or mask fundamental weakness—it’s worth taking a closer look at these leading names in the nuclear subsector to understand the opportunities and risks they present. Let’s break it down further by examining each stock’s technical picture and what it suggests about investor conviction.

OKLO: Testing Highs, Buying the Dip?

To start, here’s a daily chart of nuclear energy startup OKLO.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF OKLO. In contrast to the other two nuclear stocks, OKLO is potentially experiencing higher levels of accumulation.

OKLO recently tested its all-time high of $59 before pulling back. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows the stock was deep within overbought territory, hinting at caution. Still, what’s interesting is that OKLO’s Accumulation/Distribution Line (ADL), plotted behind the price, remains strong. This suggests that even as the price retreats, buying pressure may still be present—hinting that investors might be looking to buy the dip rather than “sell the news.”

The key thing to watch now is how deep this retracement goes. If investors are still optimistic about OKLO’s fundamental outlook, you might see a bounce within the first two quadrants marked by the Quadrant Lines on the chart. Pay particular attention to the critical support range around the center line at $38, shown in the yellow-shaded area. If the price falls below this level, it could be a sign of weakness, suggesting the stock is more of a FOMO-driven trade than one backed by long-term conviction.

SMR: Hype or Healthy Pullback?

Next, we’ll shift over to a daily chart of SMR. Among the three, SMR is the only to notch a new all-time high. But does this signal the beginning of a new leg up, or the end of a surge that lacks substance?

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF SMR. What happens next will show whether investors truly believe in the stock—or if the rally was driven by short-term hype.

SMR immediately declined after making a parabolic move to a new all-time high. As the RSI confirms, the stock was well-overbought. Now, it’s a matter of measuring the depth of the pullback.

I plotted a Fibonacci Retracement to highlight potential support levels. There are several zones of support from previous swing highs and a concentrated trading area between the 61.8% and 38.2% retracement levels. If investor confidence stays strong, expect a possible bounce between $21 and $24, marking the 61.8% and 50% Fib levels respectively. A deeper drop below the 61.8% level might still find support around $15, but that would also suggest that the rally was driven more by sentiment than strategic conviction.

CCJ: Underperforming Stock, Profitable Company

Lastly, let’s take a look at the most earnings-positive company among the three. Here’s a daily chart of CCJ.

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF CCJ. The critical level to watch is the range between $50 – $52.

CCJ has a similar technical profile to OKLO and SMR—it’s overbought, and it tested its all-time high on a parabolic surge, leading to a pullback.

However, instead of measuring the various degrees of its potential retracements (using Fib or Quadrants), I’m focusing on the key range of $50–$52. Why? Because, in addition to marking a broad level that has acted as both support and resistance since October of last year, this range also shows a high concentration of trading activity, as indicated by the Volume-by-Price indicator.

If longer-term conviction holds, CCJ should bounce at this level. If not, expect the stock to decline further—although it may eventually find support at lower levels, it likely wouldn’t be worth chasing at that point.

At the Close

Nuclear energy stocks like OKLO, SMR, and CCJ have captured market attention, defying broader trends and flashing bullish technical patterns. But while momentum and investor enthusiasm are driving these moves, each stock also faces questions about sustainability and fundamentals.

Are we looking at a healthy dip—or is Wall Street just selling the news? To answer that question, keep an eye on the key technical levels outlined above. With these standout names in an emerging (and therefore highly uncertain) subsector, the technicals will likely reveal whether the market’s leaning toward conviction or just chasing the hype.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Top 4 Vanadium-producing Countries

Investing 4 Mins Read

In 2025, the vanadium market is navigating a complex landscape shaped by its traditional role in steelmaking and its emerging importance in energy storage technologies.

Approximately 90 percent of vanadium consumption continues to be driven by the steel industry, where it is used to strengthen alloys. However, the growing adoption of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) for grid-scale energy storage is creating new avenues for demand, particularly as countries pursue decarbonization goals and renewable energy integration.

On the supply side, vanadium sees relatively limited primary production from ore and instead relies on co-production from steel slag and uranium mining, with a portion also coming from recycling. Global production has remained relatively consistent in the 2020s at around 100,000 metric tons per year.

Four countries contribute to the vast majority of that output. Below is a brief overview of these top vanadium-producing countries based on data from the US Geological Survey’s 2025 Mineral Commodity Summary.

1. China

Mine production: 70,000 metric tons

China remains the world’s top vanadium-producing country by far, with output of 70,000 metric tons in 2024. Production has remained steady out of China in 2023 and 2024. The Asian nation far outpaces all other countries in terms of vanadium output, and leads the world in vanadium consumption as well due to its high steel production. The majority of its vanadium is produced from steel slag.

In terms of vanadium exports, China’s are ‘quite small,’ according to Fastmarkets, as producers can turn a bigger profit in the domestic market.

2. Russia

Vanadium production: 21,000 metric tons

Second on the list is Russia, whose vanadium output totaled 21,000 metric tons in 2024, essentially on par with production in the previous two years. Russia’s vanadium reserves are the second largest in the world at 5,000 MT.

EVRAZ KGOK, part of EVRAZ, is a major mining company in Russia that produces vanadium. Little other information is available about vanadium mining in Russia, and the majority of the country’s vanadium production is a co-product of steel slag.

3. South Africa

Vanadium production: 8,000 metric tons

South Africa’s vanadium output declined last year, slipping to 8,000 metric tons in 2024, The country’s vanadium output had previously held above the 8,500 MT per year a level since 2019.

South Africa’s contributions to the vanadium market consist of primary production from Bushveld Minerals (LSE:BMN) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF). Bushveld Minerals’ vanadium division includes the Vametco mine and processing facility, the Vanchem processing facility, and the future Mokopane vanadium mine and the Belco production plant. Glencore’s Rhovan open-cast mine and smelter complex mainly produces ferrovanadium and vanadium pentoxide.

4. Brazil

Vanadium production: 5,000 metric tons

Brazil’s vanadium output has also contracted year-over-year, totaling 5,000 metric tons in 2024 compared to 5,420 MT in 2023.

Brazil’s vanadium production is largely thanks to Largo Resources (TSX:LGO,NASDAQ:LGO), which describes itself as the only pure-play vanadium producer. The company’s Maracás Menchen vanadium asset is one of the highest-grade vanadium mines in the world.

FAQs for vanadium

Who is the largest exporter of vanadium?

Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of vanadium, with Russia in second place and China and South Africa nearly tied. Brazil alone is responsible for over one-quarter of the metal’s global export market, and the four combined represented 84 percent of the market in 2023.

Which country has the most vanadium reserves?

Australia has the highest vanadium reserves in the world, coming in at 8.5 million MT as of 2024, although it should be noted that only 3 million MT are JORC compliant. Russia is in second place with 5 million MT of vanadium reserves, while China is next in line with vanadium reserves of 4.1 million.

What is vanadium used for?

Vanadium is essential in various alloys, with the most common being ferrovanadium, an alloy of iron and vanadium metal that is used in steel production. Beyond these traditional applications, the silvery-gray metal’s uses in the battery industry are growing — it’s increasingly being used in vanadium redox batteries for large-scale stationary energy storage.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Trump’s Nuclear Revival Plan Boosts Uranium Prices, Sends US Miners Soaring

Investing 4 Mins Read

Uranium prices are on the rise after President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at revitalizing the US nuclear industry — including measures to strengthen the domestic fuel supply and expand the nuclear workforce.

On Tuesday (May 27), the U3O8 spot price climbed to US$72 per pound, its first move above the US$70 mark since early February.

The positivity and Trump’s promise to fast track mine permits has also benefited uranium companies with projects in the US.

One of those companies is Anfield Energy (TSXV:AEC,OTCQB:ANLDF), which reported receiving federal approval from the US Department of the Interior for its Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium project in Utah on Tuesday. The approval marks the first uranium mine greenlit under Trump’s emergency declaration to revive the domestic nuclear fuel cycle.

According to the statement, the Bureau of Land Management completed the environmental review in just 14 days, a timeline officials say reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing critical mineral projects.

“This approval marks a turning point in how we secure America’s mineral future,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “We’re reducing dependence on foreign adversaries and ensuring our military, medical and energy sectors have the resources they need to thrive.”

Shares of Anfield surged to a year-to-date high of C$0.115 following the news, and have since settled in the C$0.10 range.

Rising tide raises all ships

Although the US president’s latest round of executive orders have catalyzed prices in recent days, the uranium sector’s long term fundamentals have also offered support.

The growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers, paired with a push for carbon free energy sources makes a strong case for the expansion of nuclear energy capacity. As such, the current developments have added tailwinds to several uranium and nuclear sector players up and down the supply chain.

Over the past five trading days, enCore Energy (TSXV:EU,NASDAQ:EU) shares have risen 33.33 percent, from C$2.18 on May 22 to C$2.92 on Wednesday (May 28). The company holds a portfolio of various stage uranium projects located in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota. Currently, the Alta Mesa and Rosita projects in Texas are operational.

Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) has also seen its share price increase, adding 31 percent over the same five day period, to trade for US$2.89. Boasting a portfolio of 10 US uranium assets in various stages of development from exploration to near term production, the company also owns and operates the Hobson ISR processing plant in Texas, which is operational.

Ur-Energy (TSX:URE,NYSEAMERICAN:URG), which owns the producing Lost Creek mine and the construction-stage Shirley Basin project in Wyoming, is another company experiencing heightened investor interest this past week.

Shares of Ur-Energy rose 26.53 percent over the five day session, and are currently valued at C$1.24.

Diversified players like Western Uranium and Vanadium (CSE:WUC,OTCQX:WSTRF) were also buy targets following the president’s energy directive. The company, which is focused on advancing its past-producing Sunday mine complex in Colorado, saw its shares increase 28 percent since May 21, trading for C$1.14.

ASX-listed companies were also garnering attention, Boss Energy (ASX:BOE,OTCQX:BQSSF) in particular, which holds a 30 percent stake in the producing Alta Messa uranium mine. The joint venture partner for enCore saw its share price value grow 14.27 percent in the last five days, to AU$4.13.

While these companies were first to see Trump’s executive orders boost their share prices, there are many other US-focused uranium companies with projects all over the country now awaiting pro-nuclear upticks.

All share price information was obtained from TradingView on May 28, 2025. Data on project status was retrieved from Mining Data Online.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Group Eleven Announces Appointment of Jasmine Lau as Chief Financial Officer

Investing 3 Mins Read

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTCQB: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) (‘Group Eleven’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jasmine Lau, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer (‘CFO’) of Group Eleven, replacing Jeannine Webb, effective May 30, 2025.

Jasmine is a Vancouver-based Chartered Professional Accountant with over 16 years’ experience in the resource sector, having served as the Chief Financial Officer for several mineral exploration companies. She is currently the CFO of Minaurum Gold Inc, Forte Minerals Corp., and Cascadia Minerals Ltd. Prior to that, Jasmine also served as CFO to a various number of other private and public mineral exploration companies.

‘On behalf of Group Eleven and its Board of Directors, I am very pleased to welcome Jasmine to the team,’ stated Bart Jaworski, CEO. ‘Jasmine’s appointment brings a wealth of relevant experience and skills to the Company. I would also like to sincerely thank Jeannine Webb for her valuable contributions and dedication to the Company over the past three years.’

About Group Eleven Resources

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTCQB: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration in Ireland. Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bart Jaworski, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer

E: b.jaworski@groupelevenresources.com | T: +353-85-833-2463

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company’s public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company’s mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253899

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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E.l.f. Beauty to acquire Hailey Bieber skin care brand Rhode in up to $1 billion deal

Business 4 Mins Read

E.l.f. Beauty announced on Wednesday plans to acquire Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand Rhode in a deal worth up to $1 billion as the cosmetics company looks to expand further into skincare.

The acquisition — E.l.f.’s biggest ever, according to FactSet — is comprised of $800 million in cash and stock, plus an additional potential $200 million payout based on Rhode’s performance over the next three years. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of the company’s fiscal 2026 — or later this year.

“I’ve been in the consumer space 34 years, and I’ve been blown away by seeing this brand over time. In less than three years, they’ve gone from zero to $212 million in net sales, direct-to-consumer only, with only 10 products. I didn’t think that was possible,” CEO Tarang Amin told CNBC in an interview. “So that level of disruption definitely caught our attention.”

In a news release, Bieber said she’s excited to partner with E.l.f. to bring her brand to “more faces, places, and spaces.”

“From day one, my vision for rhode has been to make essential skin care and hybrid makeup you can use every day,” said Bieber. “Just three years into this journey, our partnership with e.l.f. Beauty marks an incredible opportunity to elevate and accelerate our ability to reach more of our community with even more innovative products and widen our distribution globally.”

Launched in 2022, Rhode has more than doubled its customer base over the past year and generated $212 million in revenue in the 12 months ended March 31. The company’s growth has primarily come through its website, but it plans to launch in Sephora stores throughout North America and the U.K. before the end of the year.

As part of the acquisition, Bieber will serve as Rhode’s chief creative officer and head of innovation, overseeing creative, product innovation and marketing. The brand was launched alongside two co-founders, Michael and Lauren Ratner, but it was Bieber’s influence and name that turned it into a billion-dollar brand.

Under her direction, Rhode last year became the No. 1 skincare brand in earned media value — or exposure through methods other than paid advertising — with 367% year-over-year growth.

Rhode is a solid match for E.l.f., which has seen growth skyrocket in recent years in large part to its digital prowess. The company has legions of online fans and is known for TikTok marketing that feels more natural to consumers.

The company is also looking to dig deeper into skincare, which has become more popular with all age groups, particularly E.l.f’s younger, core consumer. In 2023, it acquired skincare brand Naturium for $355 million. Its acquisition of Rhode will allow it to build on its skincare growth and reach a higher income consumer.

“E.l.f. cosmetics is about $6.50 in its core entry price point, Rhode, on average, is in the high 20s, so I’d say it does bring us a different consumer set to the company overall, but the same approach in terms of how we engage and entertain them,” said Amin.

E.l.f. made the announcement as it posted fiscal fourth quarter results, which beat Wall Street’s expectations on the top and bottom lines.

Here’s how the beauty retailer performed compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

The company’s reported net income for the three-month period that ended March 31 was $28.3 million, or 49 cents per share, compared with $14.5 million, or 25 cents per share, a year earlier. Sales rose to $332.7 million, up about 4% from $321.1 million.

E.l.f.’s sales have increased rapidly in recent years, but investors have grown concerned as that growth started to slow and the threat of tariffs began weighing on its business. The company sources about 75% of its products from China, which currently faces a 30% duty on exports to the U.S. Last week, it announced plans to raise prices by $1 to offset higher costs from tariffs.

While U.S. duties on Chinese imports are 30% now, that could change as President Donald Trump negotiates with Beijing. As a result, E.l.f. said it isn’t providing a fiscal 2026 outlook “due to the wide range of potential outcomes related to tariffs.”

Amin said E.l.f. paid more than 145% in duties before Trump agreed to slash the levies on Chinese goods, but those costs didn’t come through during the quarter and will show up when the company reports its fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings.

E.l.f. shares dropped more than 13% in extended trading Wednesday.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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