1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Costco, Foot Locker
1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Costco, Foot Locker
• Trump’s trade war, U.S. jobs report, and last batch of Q4 earnings will be in focus this week.
• Costco’s earnings report is seen as a potential catalyst for growth, making it a stock to watch for bullish investors.
• Foot Locker is bracing for a disappointing update due to sluggish demand for discretionary apparel, making it a stock to avoid.
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U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday to wrap up a volatile week and a losing month for the major averages amid a negative mix of news related to tariffs, inflation and the economy.
The declined roughly 1% for the week and 1.4% in February. The tech-heavy lost about 4% for all of February, its worst monthly decline since April 2024. Meanwhile, the blue-chip managed to outperform, rising about 1% during the week. Month-to-date, however, the 30-stock index dropped 1.6%.
Source: Investing.com
The week ahead is expected to be another eventful one as investors react to President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs. Trump’s 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico will start on Tuesday, along with a further 10% tariff hike on ******** goods.
Most important on the calendar will be Friday’s U.S. employment report for February, which is forecast to show the economy added 156,000 positions. The unemployment rate is seen holding steady at 4.0%. That will be accompanied by a heavy slate of Fed speakers, including Chairman Jerome Powell.
Source: Investing.com
And while the earnings season is drawing to a close, a number of noteworthy reports are due, including Broadcom (NASDAQ:), CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:), Costco (NASDAQ:), Target (NYSE:), Best Buy (NYSE:), Macy’s (NYSE:), Kroger (NYSE:), and JD.com (NASDAQ:).
Regardless of which direction the market goes, below I highlight one stock likely to be in demand and another which could see fresh downside. Remember though, my timeframe is just for the week ahead, Monday, March 3 – Friday, March 7.
Stock to Buy: Costco
Costco, the Issaquah, Washington-based warehouse retailer, is poised to deliver its fiscal second-quarter earnings after the U.S. market closes on Thursday at 4:15PM ET. According to the options market, traders are pricing in a swing of 4.4% in either direction for COST stock following the print.
Recent optimism has been evident, with profit estimates revised upward 15 times in the weeks leading up to the report—compared to only five downward revisions, according to InvestingPro.
Source: InvestingPro
Despite the economic headwinds affecting retailers, Costco seems set to beat expectations as the membership-based warehouse club benefits from a shift toward frugal consumer spending amid the current economic backdrop.
Analysts project that Costco will earn $4.08 per share, representing a 4.1% increase from last year’s EPS of $3.92. Furthermore, revenue is forecast to climb 9.9% year-over-year to $63 billion, driven by strong grocery sales and favorable membership trends.
These encouraging signals suggest that Costco’s disciplined business model, loyal customer base, and robust membership program continue to generate resilience and growth even in uncertain times.
Known for its wide array of high-demand products—from groceries and household essentials to electronics and apparel—Costco has managed to carve out a niche for itself by catering to value-conscious consumers.
Source: Investing.com
COST stock ended Friday’s session at $1,048.61, just below a record high of $1,078 reached on February 13. With a market cap of $465 billion, Costco is the world’s second most valuable brick-and-mortar retailer – behind Walmart (NYSE:). Costco has stood apart from other retailers this year, with shares rising 14.4% so far in 2025.
InvestingPro’s AI-powered quantitative model rates Costco with a ‘GOOD’ Financial Health Score of 2.94, indicating robust operational stability and financial management.
Be sure to check out InvestingPro to stay in sync with the market trend and what it means for your trading. Subscribe now and position your portfolio one step ahead of everyone else!
Stock to Sell: Foot Locker
In stark contrast, Foot Locker (NYSE:) is set for a challenging week ahead. The New York-based sportswear retailer, which specializes in sneakers and athletic apparel, is expected to report its Q4 financial results ahead of the market opening on Wednesday at 6:45 AM ET.
Market participants expect a sizable swing in FL shares following the print, with the options market pointing to a possible implied move of 16.2% in either direction. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly bearish with 16 downward revisions and no upward adjustments in the weeks preceding the report.
Source: InvestingPro
The outlook for Foot Locker appears dim as it grapples with a tough economic environment characterized by high inflation and shrinking disposable income, leading to slower consumer demand for discretionary items.
The company is forecast to earn $0.72 per share, while revenue is expected to decline by 2.5% year-over-year to $2.32 billion. These figures reflect the mounting pressures on Foot Locker, as consumers tighten their belts and competition intensifies.
Looking ahead, the retailer’s management is expected to reveal soft profit and revenue guidance for the current quarter amid slowing sales and compressing margins.
Ongoing shifts in consumer behavior towards online shopping and direct-to-consumer models have left Foot Locker in a precarious position.
Source: Investing.com
FL stock ended Friday’s session at a 52-week low of $17.32, a level not seen since August 2023. At current valuations, Foot Locker has a market cap of $1.6 billion. Shares, which are trading below their key moving averages, are down 20.4% year-to-date.
Be aware that Foot Locker currently has a ‘WEAK’ InvestingPro Financial Health score of 1.5 out of 5.0, reflecting operational challenges and financial pressures.
Whether you’re a novice investor or a seasoned trader, leveraging InvestingPro can unlock a world of investment opportunities while minimizing risks amid the challenging market backdrop.
Subscribe now and instantly unlock access to several market-beating features, including:
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Disclosure: At the time of writing, I am long on the S&P 500, and the via the SPDR® S&P 500 ETF (SPY), and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ). I am also long on the Invesco Top QQQ ETF (QBIG), Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), and VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH).
I regularly rebalance my portfolio of individual stocks and ETFs based on ongoing risk assessment of both the macroeconomic environment and companies’ financials.
The views discussed in this article are solely the opinion of the author and should not be taken as investment advice.
Follow Jesse Cohen on X/Twitter @JesseCohenInv for more stock market analysis and insight.
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Golden Nuggets: Farewell to Deebo Samuel – Niners Nation
Golden Nuggets: Farewell to Deebo Samuel – Niners Nation
Golden Nuggets: Farewell to Deebo Samuel Niners NationLet’s grade the Deebo Samuel trade: Who won the deal, and does he fix the Commanders’ WR issues? ESPNA peek around at the Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders – and the Deebo Samuel trade – ahead of free agency PhillyVoice.com49ers agree to trade Deebo Samuel to Commanders: report Fox NewsDeebo Samuel is first move of a Washington receiver-room makeover NBC Sports
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Americans say Trump changing how government works, but divide over Musk, workforce cuts — CBS News poll
Americans say Trump changing how government works, but divide over Musk, workforce cuts — CBS News poll
There’s at least one thing Americans widely agree on about President Donald Trump: they think he’s changing the way the government works.
But they’re more split on whether that’s for the better or worse.
His approach to immigration and deportation continues to receive positive marks, and his border policies are seen as effective. A large majority agree there is some waste in the federal government.
DOGE and Elon Musk’s efforts divide the nation, though, as Americans foresee an impact from dismissing federal workers. Half the country thinks this will cut their services and remove essential people. Half think it’ll save money.
Either way, it isn’t the main issue they want Mr. Trump focused on. They overwhelmingly say he should prioritize inflation and the economy, and far fewer think he actually is.
The people who think Mr. Trump is changing the government for the better — who include a lot of Republicans and people who voted for him — overwhelmingly approve of things like his policies on deportation and his efforts to reduce the federal workforce. They would specifically give Elon Musk and DOGE a lot of influence.
Those who see major changes for the worse — most Democrats and those who didn’t back him — go the other way on all of this. Most of them don’t think Musk and DOGE ought to have any influence. They see reductions in the workforce as eliminating essential workers and as having the effect of consolidating Mr. Trump’s power.
Most Americans see a wide range of potential impacts from the federal workforce reductions.
For most Republicans, these reductions will lead to efficiencies and savings.
For Democrats, it’ll remove essential workers, and they also see political impacts: removing workers who don’t support him and conferring more power on Mr. Trump.
The public is on balance wary of Musk and DOGE’s access to government agency data records. Democrats and independents think he has too much access, but Republicans either say he has the right amount or would give him more.
That said, most do think there is at least some waste in the federal government, and that view crosses party lines. But they differ on how much and what causes it: Republicans think there is a lot, mostly caused by fraud in the system, while Democrats think there is only some, mostly caused by poor spending decisions.
Is Trump prioritizing what people want?
Mr. Trump gets narrowly positive ratings for handling the economy, but not inflation specifically.
There’s a big difference between what Americans think Mr. Trump ought to give high priority and what they think he is prioritizing.
They overwhelmingly want Mr. Trump focused on the economy and inflation. That cuts across partisan lines. (Perhaps no surprise there, as they’ve been among Americans’ top issues for years.)
The percent who think he is giving a lot of priority to the economy and inflation, though, is far lower.
Most think he is prioritizing the border, the federal workforce and tariffs, more so than inflation. And his policies aren’t seen as driving down food and grocery prices.
The focus on the border does help him politically: he gets approval on his handling of immigration, and most continue to back his deportation policy. Most say his policies are reducing the number of migrants crossing the border.
That all leaves Mr. Trump’s approval rating in positive territory, but more closely divided than a couple of weeks ago.
In all, Republicans now overwhelmingly think things in the country are going at least somewhat well, which has driven up the overall percentage of Americans who are saying that since Mr. Trump took office.
Changes in international relations
Americans also think there are major changes happening with U.S. international relations. And again here, a split on whether that is better or worse.
Interviewing for the poll was almost entirely conducted prior to the Oval Office meeting between Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Americans overall want to remain engaged on the world stage. Though few think the U.S. should take the leading role in the world, most do think it should work alongside its allies.
And most see the nations of Western Europe collectively (Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy) as allies of the U.S.
Half of Americans say they back Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, almost half are neutral.
In interviews largely conducted prior to the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, few Americans thought Mr. Trump favored Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Those who personally support Ukraine overwhelmingly say Mr. Trump favored Russia, while those who don’t pick a side overwhelmingly say he’s treated them equally.
His handling of the conflict is largely split along party lines.
Most Americans do continue to see Russia as unfriendly or an enemy. Republicans are comparably less inclined to see it as an enemy than are Americans overall.
The nation continues to divide along partisan lines over military aid to Ukraine.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,311 U.S. adults interviewed between Feb. 26-28, 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ±2.5 points.
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I have finally filled the Guitar Hero sized hole in my life
I have finally filled the Guitar Hero sized hole in my life
Like any teen growing up in the 2000s, Guitar Hero was an important part of my life. I didn’t even own it; it was just so fundamental to any gaming set up that I could practically play it anywhere I went. Whether it was at a friend’s house or a school function, I was constantly rocking out anytime I wasn’t in class. It was no surprise when the pricey peripheral fad eventually died out, but I was heartbroken nonetheless. I’ve tried to replicate the thrill of my glory days over the past decade with throwbacks like Fortnite Festival, but I could never recapture the magic.
Now, I finally have — and you can too with two simple steps.
First off, you’ll want to grab a copy of Rift of the Necrodancer. Released at the top of February, the new rhythm title from Brace Yourself Games is follow-up to Crypt of the Necrodancer. Unlike that game, though, Rift isn’t a roguelike where players move to the beat of music. It’s an excellent riff on Guitar Hero that turns notes into monsters, all of which have different timing patterns that players need to learn.
I praised Rift in my review, noting that it really captures what it feels like to play live music. It scratched that Guitar Hero itch more than any music game I’ve played like it, but something was still missing. Tapping my keyboard to hit notes still didn’t feel right. I wished that I could play it on a plastic controller with a fretboard full of buttons. As it turns out, that wasn’t a dream. It’s entirely possible to pull off.
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
Accessory-maker PDP got back in the plastic guitar market last year with the Riffmaster, a modern spin on Guitar Hero’s iconic controller. It has everything you could want: fret buttons at the top and bottom of the neck, a whammy bar, a strum button, wireless support, and more. It even has some fun engineering tricks packed in, as the neck can be dethatched for easy storage, and there’s a sneaky joystick conveniently tucked under the head. It’s a high quality controller that can be easily hooked up to a compatible platform via a USB dongle.
I was eager to see if it was compatible with Rift, though I had been exclusively playing it on Steam Deck. That wasn’t a problem thanks to my Razer Handheld Dock Chroma. I plugged the dongle into its back side and could immediately control my Steam Deck with it. Then, I fired up Rift and jumped into the controller remapping menu. I was able to assign commands to my fretboard and even make it so I could activate my special ability by pressing my whammy bar down. The only thing I couldn’t do was strum to trigger the fret buttons, so I’d just have to press them instead.
Was it a success? You bet. As soon as I started playing, the joys of the Guitar Hero era came rushing back to me immediately. It’s not just that it’s fun to use a goofy controller. There’s a physicality to using the Riffmaster, especially since its wireless. I could bop around my office to my heart’s content, showing off with rockstar tricks. I was in heaven.
As an added bonus, the experiment gave me an excuse to check in on Rift of the Necrodancer‘s Steam workshop community, which has churned out over 1,000 custom songs since the game’s launch. You can download everything from Uptown Funk to Not Like Us to Sonic’s Live and Learn. My personal favorite? Someone has already turned The Simpsons‘ infamous Steamed Hams bit into a playable song — and it even utilizes fire traps at the exact moment that Principal Skinner burns dinner. It’s incredible.
So, if you’re still trying to recapture the thrill of Guitar Hero too, I can’t recommend this setup enough. Rift of the Necrodancer and the Riffmaster are a match made in heaven, and I imagine they’ll take up a lot of my gaming time this year. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even start making my own custom songs. Somebody needs to add some Limp Bizkit to the mix.
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NYT Crossword: answers for Sunday, March 2
NYT Crossword: answers for Sunday, March 2
The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough, even if it isn’t the Sunday issue! If you’re stuck, we’re here to help you out with today’s clues and answers.
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‘Fire the Intel board and rehire Pat Gelsinger,’ argues former Intel CEO Craig Barrett
‘Fire the Intel board and rehire Pat Gelsinger,’ argues former Intel CEO Craig Barrett
Former Intel CEO Craig Barrett said that Intel should not divide its business into two pieces, especially as it just had a technological breakthrough that would allow it to catch up with TSMC’s N2 process node. Barrett said this in his opinion piece on Fortune, in response to the suggestion of a few former Intel directors that championed dividing the chip giant instead of letting TSMC take it over.
Barrett said that the reason why Intel’s foundry business failed in the past years is because it lacked the technology to compete against the Taiwanese chipmaker, not because customers won’t trust Intel since it also makes and sells chips. But now that it’s seeing success with its 18A process technology, he argues that splitting off the foundry will only serve as a distraction and introduce complications. Instead, Intel should focus all its efforts on the 18A node, ensuring that it delivers “good customer service, fair pricing, guaranteed capacity, and a clear separation of chip designers from their foundry customers” alongside this advanced technology.
Aside from speaking up against the notion of splitting up Intel, the former CEO also criticized Intel’s former and current board. He said that the Intel board “bears ultimate responsibility for what has happened to Intel over the last decade” while saying that the next CEO to take the company’s reins should build on Pat Gelsinger’s accomplishments. The former CEO also took a swipe at the four former Intel board members. Barrett said that although they mean well, they were academics and former government bureaucrats who weren’t familiar with the complex workings of running a semiconductor business.
Pat Gelsinger, who was ousted as CEO of the company just last December, was one of the key people who led Intel to achieve its recent technological breakthroughs that might put it on par with TSMC. Developing and setting up production for new chip technologies takes years, something that Gelsinger pushed under his watch. In the end, it seems that Craig Barrett thinks that forcing Pat Gelsinger to retire was the wrong move for intel. He says, “In my opinion, a far better move might be to fire the Intel board and rehire Pat Gelsinger to finish the job he has aptly handled over the past few years.”
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NATO’s Rutte urges Zelenskiy to mend his relationship with Trump
NATO’s Rutte urges Zelenskiy to mend his relationship with Trump
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Saturday he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that he needs to find a way to restore his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump after their clash at a White House meeting on Friday.
The confrontation flared over differing visions of how to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion, with Zelenskiy seeking strong security guarantees from a Trump administration that has embraced diplomacy with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The meeting, which Rutte described as “unfortunate”, plunged ties between Kyiv and its top military backer to a new low.
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“I said: I think you have to find a way, dear Volodymyr, to restore your relationship with Donald Trump and the American administration. That is important going forward,” Rutte told the BBC, commenting on a call he had with Zelenskiy on Friday.
He said he told Zelenskiy that “we really have to respect what President Trump has done so far for Ukraine”, reminding Zelenskiy that Trump was the one who provided Javelin anti-tank weapons to Ukraine in 2019 that had enabled the country’s forces to fight back after Russia’s invasion.
“Without the Javelins in 2022, when the full-scale attack started, Ukraine would have been nowhere”, said Rutte. “I told him we really have to give Trump credit for what he did then, what America did since then and also what America is still doing.”
Quizzed on some of the accusations traded between the leaders on Friday, the NATO chief declined to comment in detail, saying the U.S. was very invested in the military alliance, including in its mutual-defence clause Article 5.
Rutte called Trump a friend but did not directly address questions about whether Trump was right when he accused Zelenskiy of gambling with World War Three, or when he said Zelenskiy either needed to strike a deal or the U.S. would be “out”.
“I am absolutely convinced that the U.S. wants to bring Ukraine to this durable peace…And obviously, what they need to get there is to make sure that we’ll all work together on this,” he said.
Asked whether NATO allies would be capable of filling the gaps should the U.S. withdraw its military support from Ukraine, Rutte replied: “Let’s move beyond this question. It is crucial that we stay all in this together – the U.S., Ukraine, Europe, that we bring Ukraine to a peace, this is exactly what President Trump is fighting for, what we all are fighting for.”
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; editing by David Evans, Editing by William Maclean)
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NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Sunday, March 2
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Sunday, March 2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
How to play Strands
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strand answers
Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.
Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.
How to play Strands
You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.
If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it.
Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once.
Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow.
The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s theme is “Geting closure”
Here’s a hint that might help you: keep it together.
Today’s Strand answers
NYT
Today’s spanagram
We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:
Today’s Strands answers
CLASP
BUTTON
SNAP
VELCRO
MAGNET
BUCKLE
ZIPPER
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Oscars 2025: Who’s hosting, favorites to win and how to watch – The Washington Post
Oscars 2025: Who’s hosting, favorites to win and how to watch – The Washington Post
Oscars 2025: Who’s hosting, favorites to win and how to watch The Washington PostHow to Watch the Oscars 2025: Date, Time and Streaming The New York TimesHow to watch — and stream — the 2025 Oscars show and red carpet The Associated PressOscar nominations 2025: See list of nominees and categories for 97th Academy Awards USA TODAY2025 Oscars predictions: Who should win — and who will win ABC7 Los Angeles
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Is Thomas Massie the only Republican serious about fixing government spending?
Is Thomas Massie the only Republican serious about fixing government spending?
House Republicans passed their budget resolution this week, with all but one Republican supporting the bill in a massive win for Speaker Mike Johnson. The sole no vote, to little surprise, was Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Massie and I see eye to eye on relatively little, even though he and I would call ourselves conservative. I disagree, for example, with his foreign policy stances and America’s relationship with Israel. However, I tend to agree with him far more often on the issue of government funding concerning the deficit.
He and I would probably cut funding from different sources, but we can agree that the worryingly large budget deficit is a pressing issue and that Republicans are going along with the scheme to spend now and pay later, or never.
Massie has made it clear he is unwilling to vote to increase the deficit, and his stance on the matter will likely be the thorn in the side of Republican leadership for the foreseeable future. I’m glad somebody is concerned with it in Congress, even if Republicans have the votes to more or less ignore him.
Massie is the only Republican consistent on the deficit
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 25, 2025.
This isn’t the first time Massie has opposed reckless spending. He voted against the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in 2020 and against the government funding bill in December to avoid a shutdown.
“We have no plan whatsoever to balance the budget other than growth, but what they’re proposing is to make the deficit worse,” Massie said of Tuesday’s budget passage.
Massie is right, the Republican budget adds $3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, all because they insist on upholding the Trump tax cuts while bypassing the traditional budget process. Tax cuts without the proper spending cuts to balance them is downright irresponsible, and it’s maddening that only one GOP House member was willing to oppose it.
Gerth: Is Elon Musk planning to use DOGE and Fort Knox gold tour to bolster X? | Opinion
Massie doesn’t oppose only out-of-control spending but also the process through which Congress has arrived at that end point.
Even before Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s removal as House speaker in 2023, Massie warned legislators of the risk that massive omnibus packages pose, and it’s a big part of why he’s been willing to dispose of Johnson as speaker.
Sadly, Republicans can afford for Massie to continue his defections, so long as the rest of the GOP holds the line.
Up until this point, Massie’s no votes haven’t derailed the Trump agenda, and it’s unlikely that he’ll have a true impact on these votes.
Massie remains one of the few lone wolves in Congress
Speaker Mike Johnson leaves after the House passed the Republican budget resolution on the spending bill on Feb. 25, 2025.
While most of the GOP has become beholden to President Donald Trump, even on issues that go against conservative principles, Massie has been going against Trump for years, impressively surviving primary attempts despite Trump calling for him to be thrown out of the party at one point.
Massie is as close to being a libertarian as there is in Congress, and he has earned the infamous nickname of “Mr. No.”
Gerth: Once a Republican hero, Mitch McConnell will be GOP target as he retires | Opinion
Whether his no votes are sincere or part of his media strategy is for the voters to decide, but I choose to believe that his approach to conflict with the top of the GOP is out of a genuine desire to balance the budget. It seems that his constituency agrees, given that his deeply Trump-supporting district has continued to reelect him despite his antics.
Regardless of what I think of his politics, it’s hard to find anyone else in Congress, particularly someone nowhere near retirement, who acts with as little regard for the wrath of Trump than Massie does, and he deserves to be commended.
I’m glad that at least one member of Congress genuinely cares about the deficit, even if it means he’ll be met with criticism from the most powerful man in the Republican Party. I hope that Mr. No can persuade some of his colleagues to say no themselves.
Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The GOP budget won’t fix the economy. Rep. Massie knows it. | Opinion
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*** gives Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a warm welcome after Trump confrontation – Al Jazeera English
*** gives Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a warm welcome after Trump confrontation – Al Jazeera English
*** gives Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a warm welcome after Trump confrontation Al Jazeera EnglishRussia-Ukraine war: ***, France and Ukraine agree to work on ceasefire plan The Associated PressUK’s Starmer tries to revive hope for Ukraine peace at summit ReutersEurope Races to Repair a Split Between the U.S. and Ukraine The New York Times
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PSA: Don’t Pre-Order Forza Horizon 5 On PS5
PSA: Don’t Pre-Order Forza Horizon 5 On PS5
IGN: “The OG Xbox podcaster Danny Peña from Gamertag Radio joins us to discuss one of Xbox’s “core four” franchises, Forza, heading to PlayStation 5 in the form of Forza Horizon 5. What does it mean for Xbox? And is any franchise “safe”? Plus: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is out and awesome (and successful), we show some love to one of the newest games on Xbox Game Pass that you might not be familiar with, and more!”
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Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ:RDFN) Just Reported And Analysts Have Been Cutting Their Estimates
Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ:RDFN) Just Reported And Analysts Have Been Cutting Their Estimates
It’s been a mediocre week for Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ:RDFN) shareholders, with the stock dropping 15% to US$6.67 in the week since its latest annual results. The statutory results were mixed overall, with revenues of US$1.0b in line with analyst forecasts, but losses of US$1.36 per share, some 3.6% larger than the analysts were predicting. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.
View our latest analysis for Redfin
NasdaqGS:RDFN Earnings and Revenue Growth March 2nd 2025
Following last week’s earnings report, Redfin’s 16 analysts are forecasting 2025 revenues to be US$1.06b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Losses are supposed to decline, shrinking 16% from last year to US$1.10. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$1.13b and losses of US$0.98 per share in 2025. So it’s pretty clear the analysts have mixed opinions on Redfin after this update; revenues were downgraded and per-share losses expected to increase.
The average price target fell 9.5% to US$7.84, implicitly signalling that lower earnings per share are a leading indicator for Redfin’s valuation. There’s another way to think about price targets though, and that’s to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Redfin at US$12.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$4.00. As you can see the range of estimates is wide, with the lowest valuation coming in at less than half the most bullish estimate, suggesting there are some strongly diverging views on how analysts think this business will perform. As a result it might not be a great idea to make decisions based on the consensus price target, which is after all just an average of this wide range of estimates.
Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the ******* picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of Redfin’shistorical trends, as the 1.8% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2025 is roughly in line with the 1.9% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry (in aggregate), which analyst estimates suggest will see revenues grow 10% annually. So although Redfin is expected to maintain its revenue growth rate, it’s forecast to grow slower than the wider industry.
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The most important thing to take away is that the analysts increased their loss per share estimates for next year. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target fell measurably, with the analysts seemingly not reassured by the latest results, leading to a lower estimate of Redfin’s future valuation.
With that in mind, we wouldn’t be too quick to come to a conclusion on Redfin. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year’s profits. We have forecasts for Redfin going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here.
However, before you get too enthused, we’ve discovered 2 warning signs for Redfin (1 can’t be ignored!) that you should be aware of.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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The riskiest way to trade hottest tech stocks is not well understood
The riskiest way to trade hottest tech stocks is not well understood
Over the last few years, a new class of big-cap stocks have stolen the attention of investors and day-traders. Nvidia, Tesla and Palantir often lead the market’s daily trading volume. Exchange-traded funds that give investors the opportunity to double, or even triple, bets on these stocks have also grown into a larger share of the market. In 2016, leveraged and inverse ETFs were 2% of the ETF market. Now, they represent almost 8% of ETF assets, and like the hot tech stocks they track, they are often among the most traded ETFs, placing in the top 20, sometimes even top 10, in daily trading dollar volume.
With three-quarters of the trading action in these ETFs coming from retail investors, investing experts worry about the risks not being understood well enough. “You get explosive upside but also explosive downside,” as index fund legend Charley Ellis recently put it during an appearance on CNBC’s “ETF Edge.”
Being able to buy a double-leveraged, single-stock Nvidia ETF does not only mean you can gain twice as much on Nvidia shares over a short amount of time, a day or less. When the stock goes down, you lose twice as much. And the longer a leveraged or inverse ETF is held, the ******* the divide between the underlying stock and the ETF performance. With Nvidia down 10% year-to-date, and Tesla down over 20% year-to-date, this is an important risk factor to understand.
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Capturing the attention of investors all over the world.
The trend began with Wall Street firms offering double- and triple-leveraged and inverse sector and index ETFs, like the ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ), which is designed to increase three times the amount of the Nasdaq 100, or the ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ), which allows investors and traders to triple their gain when the Nasdaq 100 falls. There are now also leveraged ETFs for commodities, including the ProShares Ultra Gold ETF (UGL).
Used properly, these leveraged and inverse ETFs offer investors a way to trade the market in the short term around news events where they believe there is an opportunity, such as earnings, or in reaction to other breaking news headlines. Investors can also hedge exposure to stocks that have gained a lot in recent years, without having to sell the stocks and incur taxable gains, by taking short positions using these ETFs.
Single-stock leveraged ETFs like the T-Rex 2x Inverse Tesla Daily Target (TSLZ) and Direxion’s Daily NVDA Bull 2X Shares (NVDU) launched in 2023. Last Wednesday, when Nvidia announced its latest earnings, the stock fell even after surpassing estimates and increasing revenue by 78%. The T-Rex 2X Inverse Nvidia Daily Target (NVDQ) was the ETF with the sixth-highest amount of volume by midday Thursday. As the stock was down 3.5%, the double inverse ETF was up 7.3%. But any investor holding the GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF (NVDL) was down a lot.
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Taking the short side with leverage.
Douglas Yones, CEO of Direxion, told Bob Pisani on CNBC’s “ETF Edge” last week that these ETFs will continue to attract attention in the current market environment. “There are market-moving headlines happening two to three times a day. And so, the volatility is going up, not down,” he said.
But Yones stressed that before trading these ETFs, investors need to learn about how these ETFs work. “You need to understand daily leverage. You need to understand the daily reset,” Yones said.
Direxion’s website warns that “investing in the funds involves a high degree of risk.”
But despite the warnings on websites and the disclosures, not everyone is getting the message. “The challenge I have is that many folks are not visiting the website of an asset manager, or they’re not visiting our website, where we have education content,” said Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi. “They’re just going onto their brokerage account or on their phone even, and just buying something because it is a single-stock leverage ETF, and thinking they’re going to get two times the return of Nvidia when Nvidia reports results today. It’s a little bit more complicated than that.”
Many investing pros do believe leveraged ETFs can have a place, but only for a short time in a given portfolio. “Every investor that’s using these should know exactly how they work, and they should be looking at them every single day,” Yones said.
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Going the other way on Nvidia, with leverage.
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Pope expresses gratitude for closeness and urges prayers for peace – ******** News
Pope expresses gratitude for closeness and urges prayers for peace – ******** News
Pope expresses gratitude for closeness and urges prayers for peace ******** NewsPope remarks on ‘blessing’ that comes with ‘frailty’; says ‘war appears even more absurd’ in his current state Fox NewsPope ‘stable’, no repeat of breathing crisis: ******** YahooPope absent from St Peter’s Square for third week running BBC.com
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Experts celebrate rediscovery of rare species 120 years after it went missing: ‘I was completely amazed’
Experts celebrate rediscovery of rare species 120 years after it went missing: ‘I was completely amazed’
After 120 years, scientists in Mexico have rediscovered a type of rabbit long thought extinct. The Omiltemi cottontail rabbit was finally spotted on camera in the conifer forests of Mexico’s Sierra Madre del Sur.
The five-year mission to find the elusive Omiltemi rabbit was led by ecologist José Alberto Almazán-Catalán. Locals had claimed for years that they regularly hunted Omiltemi rabbits, but scientists could never seem to find them.
But with the information from the locals, the scientists set up a series of cameras that eventually started capturing footage of the rabbits. And Almazán-Catalán was thrilled. “I was completely amazed and very happy to have had the opportunity to see one.”
The effort was done in conjunction with Re:wild as part of a global initiative to locate and protect animals and plants that have not been seen for 10 years or longer. The goal of the effort is to protect and restore our planet, and it has been successful. The Omiltemi rabbit marks the 13th species Re:wild has rediscovered.
But the work is not over. Now that the species has been rediscovered, scientists hope to learn more about the elusive rabbits. They want to gain insight into their reproductive habits as well as the role the species plays in the mountains so that they can be better preserved and protected.
Conservation efforts are not limited to just rediscovering species. For example, conservationists have recently had success reintroducing pygmy pigs in India. And creative efforts in Tristan da Cunha helped save a very rare bird species, the Wilkins’ bunting.
Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City?
The ability to save and preserve all the species on our diverse planet is extremely important. All species are part of our biosphere and are essential to a healthy and thriving ecosystem.
The Omiltemi rabbits are a perfect example of this. As José Alberto Almazán-Catalán explains, “They are important for seed dispersal. … Their droppings are important for soil fertility. … They are the base of the food chain for predators such as snakes, owls, tigrillos, ocelots, pumas and coyotes.”
Christina Briggs of Re:wild applauded the efforts of the scientists. “Alberto and his team are helping fill a huge knowledge gap to make sure that the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit is never lost to science again.”
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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Hedge funds are buying more of these ‘rising star’ stocks, according to Goldman
Hedge funds are buying more of these ‘rising star’ stocks, according to Goldman
A change in popularity among hedge fund investors for stocks could signal where they’re headed in the months to come, and there are some that may be poised for future gains, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank analyzed the holdings of 695 hedge funds with $3.1 trillion of long and short equity positions at the start of the first quarter this year, based on the latest regulatory filings. Goldman then detected several Russell 1000 stocks that saw the largest increase in number of hedge fund owners during last quarter. “Historically, stocks with the largest increase in the number of hedge fund investors (“Rising Stars”) have typically gone on to outperform sector peers during the quarters following their rise in popularity,” analyst Ben Snider wrote in a recent note. Here are some names that appeared on Goldman’s latest Rising Stars list. Robinhood saw the third largest increase in the number of hedge funds owning the financial services platform’s stock at 23. That brought the total number of hedge funds owning it to 66, as of Dec. 31. While shares closed the week lower on the heels of the Securities and Exchange Commission ending its investigation into its crypto arm last Monday, they’ve still massively outperformed the broader market this year, recording a year-to-date gain of 34.5% compared with the S & P 500’s 1.2% increase in the *******. Over the past year, Robinhood has soared around 210.6%. More than half of the analysts covering Robinhood on Wall Street are bullish, with 12 out of 19 having a strong buy or buy rating, according to LSEG. Its roughly $70 average price target also implies more than 40% from Friday’s close. Shares of Coupang have also meaningfully outperformed the S & P 500 this year, jumping 7.8% year to date. The South Korean e-commerce stock has also surged about 30% in the last year. Last quarter, the name saw 19 more hedge funds owning it, which put its total hedge fund ownership at 64. Like Robinhood, most analysts have taken a bullish stance on Coupang, as 12 out of 15 have a strong buy or buy rating. It also has a consensus target of around $29, which implies 23.6% from Friday’s close. Deutsche Bank is one of the firms that has grown more optimistic on the stock’s performance. Last Wednesday, Deutsche upgraded shares to buy from hold and increased its price target to $28.50, reflecting more than 20% upside ahead. That call sent shares 3.5% higher during that day’s session. Electric vehicle-maker Tesla also made the list, seeing 17 more hedge funds own the stock in the ******* ended Dec. 31. With that change, 101 total hedge funds own the stock. While shares have fallen more than 27% in 2025 and most of its postelection gains have been lost, the stock has still climbed around 45% in the last 12 months.
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General Services Administration shutters its technology unit
General Services Administration shutters its technology unit
As part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to shrink the federal workforce, the General Services Administration eliminated its technology unit, CBS News learned Saturday.
The GSA’s tech unit, known as the 18F office, employed a team of researchers, website designers and product managers. It’s unclear exactly how many workers were impacted.
The office was responsible for helping build the Internal Revenue Service’s free tax-filing service and updating other government agency websites.
GSA Administrator Thomas Shedd announced the elimination of 18F in an internal email that was sent early Saturday morning. In it, Shedd wrote that the team had been identified as “non-critical,” and that the cuts had been made “in alignment with the President’s Workforce Optimization EO and the recent memo from GSA per the Trump Administration requiring cutting ‘non-essential consulting’ functions.”
“The decision was made with explicit direction from the top levels of leadership within both the Administration and GSA,” the message read.
Shedd added that “we anticipate more change in the future.”
The official website for the 18F office was taken offline Saturday.
The GSA, first established in 1949, has about 12,000 employees and is tasked with a wide range of support services for other government agencies, such as managing office space and real estate, acquiring supplies and overseeing digital technology.
Among its responsibilities is assisting with presidential transitions. After Mr. Trump won the November election, however, his transition team refused to sign a memorandum of understanding with the GSA as had been done by both Republicans and Democrats in previous transitions. That agreement allows for office space, secure email addresses and funding for transition staffing and other activities to be provided by GSA.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been charged by President Trump with reducing federal spending, a process which has so far involved laying off thousands of workers across the government.
In a social media post Saturday, billionaire Mark Cuban, who campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris last year and has been critical of Mr. Trump, wrote that if “you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company.”
“It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create,” Cuban added. “They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms. I’m happy to invest and/or help.”
Ed O’Keefe
Ed O’Keefe is CBS News senior White House and political correspondent. He previously worked for The Washington Post covering presidential campaigns, Congress and federal agencies. His primary focus is on President Biden, Vice President Harris and political issues across the country.
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How to watch the 2025 Oscars live without cable tonight: Full nominee list, ways to stream free and more – Yahoo Entertainment
How to watch the 2025 Oscars live without cable tonight: Full nominee list, ways to stream free and more – Yahoo Entertainment
How to watch the 2025 Oscars live without cable tonight: Full nominee list, ways to stream free and more Yahoo EntertainmentOscars 2025: How to watch Academy Awards and who is nominated BBC.comOscars 2025: Who’s hosting, favorites to win and how to watch The Washington PostOscar nominations 2025: See list of nominees and categories for 97th Academy Awards USA TODAYWhat Time Do The Oscars Start? How To Watch On Free TV And Streaming Forbes
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This former public school teacher went from nearly $0 in savings at 50 to a secure retirement at 70 – here’s how
This former public school teacher went from nearly $0 in savings at 50 to a secure retirement at 70 – here’s how
‘I never thought that I would be able to retire’: This former public school teacher went from nearly $0 in savings at 50 to a comfortable retirement at 70 – here’s how she did it
Cheryl Waters, now 74 years old, never imagined she’d have enough money to retire — let alone do so comfortably. But as she packed her bags for a wedding anniversary trip to Puerto Rico, she took a moment to reflect on just how far she’d come.
“I never thought that I would be able to retire,” Waters told The Washington Post. “If anyone had told me I was going to live like this, I would not have believed it.”
For much of her life, retirement felt out of reach. As a former public school teacher, Waters found herself in her 50s with almost nothing saved after a divorce. And she likely wasn’t alone in that struggle.
A recent study by Fidelity Investments found that fewer baby boomer women invest (70%) compared to Gen Z (77%) and millennial women (74%).
But by 70, Waters had managed to turn things around, retiring with a stable nest egg that allowed her to live on her own terms.
A 2024 AARP report found that 20% of adults aged 50 and over have no retirement savings. Waters was in the same boat — until she made a decisive shift in her financial strategy. Determined to take control of her future, Waters sought guidance from a financial planner recommended by a colleague.
She approached the meetings with intent, pressing for actionable advice on which stocks to sell to eliminate her consumer debt. But the most valuable insight she received had little to do with cutting losses.
Her planner made it clear: to secure a comfortable retirement, she didn’t just need to manage her money — she needed to grow her income. So she took on several tutoring jobs over the years to supplement her full-time income and applied for an interest-only mortgage, which gave her the cash flow to diversify her investments.
It’s not uncommon for Americans to look for additional income streams. According to NBO’s 2024 Financial Wellness Survey, 53% of Americans report having at least one passive income stream. The survey highlights that economic uncertainty — driven by inflation and the rising cost of living — is a major factor pushing people to have multiple sources of income.
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Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they’re banking on instead
When Waters turned 66 and a half, she made the decision to begin collecting her Social Security benefits, but continued working and funding her retirement accounts.
Retirees who start collecting Social Security at 62 receive up to a 30% reduction in benefits for the rest of their lives. By waiting a few extra years, Waters ensured she had passed her full retirement age so she could receive the full amount she was entitled to. Though, if she delayed even further past that age, she could have gotten an 8% benefit increase each year until she reached 70.
But by collecting at a reasonable age, she was able to use her Social Security payments as an opportunity to continue building wealth. With the extra cash, she even started a 529 education savings plan to provide future support for her grandchildren. Waters was ultimately able to make up for the years she let her employer-based retirement account sit passively.
By taking a thoughtful approach to retirement planning, she demonstrated that working a little longer and making strategic financial moves – even later in life – can significantly strengthen financial security in later years.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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China investing risks aren’t gone. Wall Street shares its safer plays
China investing risks aren’t gone. Wall Street shares its safer plays
As excitement over DeepSeek moderated, JPMorgan gave its clients a warning: “Be careful: U.S.-China risks back in focus.” The Feb. 24 note cautioned that the White House’s new America First Investment Policy could trigger a pullback in ******** stocks after the recent rally. Indeed, on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump said an additional 10% tariff on ******** goods would be coming on March 4. Duties of 25% on Canada and Mexico would also be implemented on that date, he said. Stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China fell Friday on the news. JPMorgan’s stock recommendations for names to add included three ******** real estate-related companies: U.S.-listed KE Holdings and China Resources Land and China Overseas Land and Investment (known as CR Land and Coli, respectively) both traded in Hong Kong. The investment firm rates all three stocks overweight. KE Holdings operates a major brokerage for apartment rentals and home sales in China. CR Land and Coli are two state-owned companies that develop and manage residential and commercial properties in China. “In the coming weeks, we anticipate that Defensive and Value may outperform Growth and that A-shares may outperform offshore listed China/HK equity indices while the market debates downside related to the new” America First Investment Policy, JPMorgan’s chief China equity strategist Wendy Liu and a team wrote in the report. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down 2.3% for the week after hitting a three-year high Thursday. The CSI 300 index of major Shanghai and Shenzhen-listed stocks fell 2.2% for the week. “We believe China is the real focus of the Trump administration and posit that a significant worsening of tensions between the worlds’ two largest economies might be inevitable,” Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, said in a note Thursday afternoon Beijing time. “While markets currently appear to be ignoring these risks, they could come to the forefront in coming months,” he said. The new America First Investment Policy has also caught analysts’ attention for its revived focus on ******** companies with alleged ******** military affiliations, and on an audit dispute that recently threatened the delisting of ******** stocks in the U.S. That issue was resolved temporarily in late 2022. “Rising U.S. policy uncertainty, including tariff risks, underscores the importance of [China] delivering forceful macro policy stimulus, boosting private sector confidence, and aiding high-quality and tech (AI) development,” Goldman Sachs analysts said in a Feb. 25 note. In a separate report the following day, the analysts detailed several stock baskets, including one for Asia Pacific ex-Japan domestic consumption that could benefit from additional support due out at China’s so-called Two Sessions that kicks off in the week ahead. The top three ******** names by basket weight, at 10% each, are Meituan Dianping , ******** e-commerce giant Alibaba and its rival PDD Holdings . Hong Kong-listed Meituan Dianping operates apps for food delivery, discovering nearby attractions and getting restaurant deals. The Goldman basket picked Alibaba’s Hong Kong-traded shares, while Pinduoduo and Temu parent PDD trades in the U.S. Coincidentally, analysis from HSBC found that while U.S. investors have the largest positions in Alibaba, Tencent and Meituan, most of the positions are via U.S. mutual funds and are not affected by the White House’s latest policy focus on investments by government pensions and endowment funds. Despite looming U.S. tensions, China’s economic outlook will be front and center in the week ahead. On Wednesday, China is expected to officially raise the deficit and detail stimulus plans , but acknowledge weaker domestic demand with the softest inflation outlook in just over 20 years. The moves follow a high-level directive in September to halt the property sector’s decline. Macquarie’s chief China economist Larry Hu shared Friday three positive signals for the housing market with growing hopes for a bottom this year. He pointed out that housing inventories are due to return to normal levels by the end of the year, while policymakers keen on stopping the decline now seem willing to bail out Vanke, a major developer. In addition, Hu said that rental yields are starting to climb above that of China’s 10-year government bond yield, making housing more attractive relative to other long-term assets. Foreign capital is starting to act on new ******** real estate investment opportunities, particularly given a Beijing policy push to increase rental housing . Invesco last week announced its real estate investment arm formed a joint venture with Ziroom, a ******** company known locally for its standardized, modern-style apartment rentals. Part of the opportunity comes from how traditional developers are less financially able to participate right now, Calvin Chou, head of APAC, Invesco Real Estate, said in an interview. “We think there’s a good runway here.” The joint venture, called Izara Holdings, plans to initially invest 1.2 billion yuan (about $160 million) in a 1,500-room rental housing development near one of the sites for Beijing’s Winter Olympics, with a targeted opening of 2027. Ziroom’s digital system allows the company to quickly assess regional factors to improve operational efficiency of the rental units and control investment risks, Ziroom Asset Management CEO Meng Yue said in a statement, adding that joint venture plans to tap not only a new stage of China’s real estate market, but eventually overseas markets. Ziroom is privately held. It’s a client of KE Holdings, which disclosed in annual reports that it has sold online marketing and agency services to Ziroom. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
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‘Sanctuary city’ mayors hope to avoid an embarrassing spectacle in Congress – POLITICO
‘Sanctuary city’ mayors hope to avoid an embarrassing spectacle in Congress – POLITICO
‘Sanctuary city’ mayors hope to avoid an embarrassing spectacle in Congress POLITICOYvonne Abraham: Mayor Wu is heading to the D.C. circus The Boston GlobeMayor Wu preparing to head to D.C. to defend Boston immigration enforcement policies Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News‘All hell’ at congressional panel Boston Mayor Wu is set to go before next week Boston HeraldSanctuary city mayors to testify before House this week | Morning in America Yahoo
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Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander successfully touches down on the moon
Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander successfully touches down on the moon
Relive Blue Ghost’s lunar landing as it happened and follow updates on its ongoing mission.
An uncrewed spacecraft developed in the United States has successfully soft-landed on the moon, making Texas-based Firefly Aerospace only the second private-sector company ever to complete such a feat.
Firefly’s 6.6-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) Blue Ghost lunar lander touched down on the moon’s near side around 2:34 a.m. CT (3:34 a.m. ET) Sunday.
A parade of lunar landers developed by the private-sector have launched this year, part of a convoy of robotic spacecraft that NASA and its partner agencies hope will pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon’s surface later this decade.
Success was far from guaranteed. In February 2023, another Texas-based space company, Intuitive Machines, became the first private-sector company to soft-land a vehicle on the moon, but broadly speaking, about half of all lunar landing attempts have ended in failure.
Firefly CEO Jason Kim said that the lander was “stable and upright” after landing.
“Every single thing was clockwork, even when we landed,” Kim said. “We got some moon dust on our boots.”
Each of Blue Ghost’s four feet were equipped with sensors that were designed to immediately confirm when they had touched lunar soil. But when the spacecraft touched down, the webcast showed only three of the vehicle’s four landing legs confirmed contact.
Firefly’s Ray Allensworth, the program director for Blue Ghost, told CNN in an interview that there may be a benign explanation.
“So there’s also a good chance that the software just ignored — threw the data out — from that sensor because maybe it tripped early. I’m not 100% sure,” Allensworth said. “We’d have to go back and look at the data.”
But it is abundantly clear that Blue Ghost is sitting upright, she said. What’s more, all signs so far point to the fact that Blue Ghost touched down within its expected 330-foot (100-meter) target, Allensworth said in a news conference.
Firefly Aerospace shares the first images of the lunar surface from Blue Ghost following its successful touchdown. – Firefly Aerospace
The lander also conducted two “hazard avoidance” maneuvers during its final descent that included boulders and rocks, indicating that Blue Ghost’s autonomous landing software worked as it needed to, she said.
The mission landed near an ancient volcanic feature called Mons Latreille, which lies on the far eastern edge of the moon’s visible face just north of the equator. Mons Latreille is located within Mare Crisium — or “Sea of Crises” in Latin — a sprawling lunar basin that stretches 340 miles (550 kilometers) wide.
The team chose the site because “it avoids large magnetic anomalies — (or interruptions) — on the lunar surface that could disrupt some of our payload measurements,” said Ryan Watkins, the program scientist for NASA’s Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office, during a December briefing.
An ‘incredible achievement’
About 40 minutes after landing, Blue Ghost’s first image of its new home arrived on Earth, showcasing the lunar dust beneath its feet, craters and a portion of the lander as seen by one of its cameras.
“The navigation system did such a phenomenal job finding what looks like a relatively flat surface for us to land on,” said Brigette Oaks, Firefly’s vice president of engineering.
The shadow of the Blue Ghost lander can be seen on the lunar surface, with Earth visible above it. – Firefly Aerospace
Kim said he hopes the landing inspires the next generation of kids. “You never know where you’re going to land,” he said. “We just landed on the moon. We hope that the Fireflies today inspire a whole generation. There’s space for everyone in space.”
NASA’s acting administrator Janet Petro offered her gratitude to the Firefly team and everyone who worked on the mission, highlighting their motivation and dedication.
“This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all,” Petro said. “We have already learned many lessons — and the technological and science demonstrations onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will improve our ability to not only discover more science, but to ensure the safety of our spacecraft instruments for future human exploration — both in the short term and long term.”
While the lander touched down during the middle of the night for North America, lunar daytime is just beginning at Blue Ghost’s landing site.
“That’s when the sun rises at our landing site in Mare Crisium, and we want to take full advantage of the entire lunar day (14 Earth days) when we have sunlight to operate our 10 payloads,” said Risa Schnautz, Firefly’s director of marketing and communications in an email to CNN.
Blue Ghost will spend the next 14 days conducting science and technology demonstrations, including collecting lunar samples, drilling into the subsurface, conducting X-ray imaging and capturing high-definition imagery.
Blue Ghost’s suite of science equipment
Blue Ghost comes equipped with 10 science instruments and technology demonstrations from NASA, some of which already began collecting data as the lunar lander traversed the roughly 239,000-mile (384,400-kilometer) void between Earth and the moon.
The equipment includes a device that’s testing out how GPS services might be used in orbit and on the lunar surface, a vacuum that will aim to ***** up soil, and a telescope that will observe how Earth’s protective magnetic field, also known as the magnetosphere, responds to space weather.
Blue Ghost’s planned landing site of Mons Latreille (inset) within Mare Crisium. – CNN/NASA
Firefly is also expecting the spacecraft to deliver stunning images from its landing site.
Allensworth said that rather than using its high-definition cameras to stream a live broadcast of the lunar landing, Blue Ghost’s team in mission control wanted to focus the vehicle’s communications bandwidth on delivering accurate real-time data, getting information about the spacecraft’s altitude and speed.
“Even though you might have the camera capability to do live streaming, it’s not always the most practical thing to do in the moment,” Allensworth said.
During its 14 days of operations on the moon, Blue Ghost will photograph an eclipse, during which Earth will block the sun’s rays from the moon’s surface for about five hours. The vehicle is also expected to snap pictures of a phenomenon last witnessed by astronauts more than 50 years ago.
“There’s a phenomenon called the lunar horizon glow (scattered light caused by floating electrostatic particles) that only the Apollo 15 and 17 astronauts have seen with their eyes,” Kim told CNN in a previous interview. “We’re going to be able to capture that in 4K-by-4K high-definition video and share that with the rest of the world.”
Firefly’s Blue Ghost will also continue collecting data for several hours into lunar night — when brutally cold conditions thrust the landing zone near Mons Latreille into shadow and temperatures could drop to as cold as minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 173 degrees Celsius).
The fall of lunar night has typically spelled the end for lunar landers. But NASA wants Blue Ghost to go for it. The space agency even upped the value of the contract it’s paying to Firefly — from $93 million to $101 million — in part so that the company could prepare the lander to survive such frigid temperatures, Kim said.
Paving the way for humans on the moon
The Blue Ghost lander is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative.
The program is a concerted effort by the space agency to encourage the private sector to develop lunar landers in the hopes that their robotic exploration will pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon for the first time in 50 years under the Artemis program.
Dr. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said Firefly made something that is incredibly difficult look easy.
“This is an incredibly challenging technical feat to pull off, to land anything on the surface of the moon, and what you saw today is an existence of proof that the model that NASA has been pursuing since 2018 is possible to be successful,” he said, referring to the CLPS program.
Firefly employees at a watch party in Cedar Park, Texas, celebrate as Blue Ghost successfully touches down on March 2. – Jackie Wattles/CNN
There are 14 companies currently able to bid on CLPS contracts, which provide money to carry out lunar landings. So far, two companies — Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines — have attempted missions, but only the latter has managed a soft touchdown.
Astrobotic’s first mission last year failed shortly after reaching orbit because of propulsion issues. And while Intuitive Machines’ mission was largely successful, its lander tipped over on its side, limiting the length of time it was able to operate.
Two other private-sector vehicles are currently making their own approaches to the moon. Intuitive Machines’ second lander launched Wednesday and is heading for the moon’s south pole region. And a lander built by Japan-based company Ispace, which launched alongside Blue Ghost in January, will attempt a soft landing this spring — an effort to redeem the company’s failed first attempt in 2023.
Kim told CNN he is looking forward to Firefly’s next lunar mission for NASA, which is already on the books and is slated to land a Blue Ghost vehicle on the far side of the moon. So far, only China has sent a spacecraft there.
The CEO said Firefly has exciting new technology on deck for that feat.
A separate spacecraft for that mission, called Elytra, will be put in orbit around the moon to serve as a communications relay, beaming data between the spacecraft and Earth because Blue Ghost’s antennas won’t be able to point directly home.
“That orbiter is very exciting because we could put cameras on there, we could put other sensors on there, and now we can start creating a new category of mapping out the moon,” Kim said. “And so we’re really excited about doing that, because there’s a lot of government and science and commercial entities that want that data.”
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