Stock Pick

  • Restaurant chain K&W Cafeteria abruptly closes all its locations after 88-year run

    K&W Cafeteria outpost
    K&W Cafeteria shuttered all of its locations this week.

    Kristoffer Tripplaar/Sipa USA/ Reuters

    • K&W Cafeteria has closed all of its locations after nearly nine decades in business.
    • The cafeteria-style Southern comfort food restaurant chain faced declining sales.
    • K&W Cafeteria previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, but emerged a year later.

    K&W Cafeteria, an 88-year-old Southern comfort food chain, abruptly shut down all nine of its restaurants across North Carolina and Virginia this week, leaving hundreds of employees out of work and loyal patrons devastated.

    The cafeteria-style eatery, known for its affordable, homestyle meals of fried chicken, baked spaghetti, and chocolate cream pie, announced its permanent closure in a Facebook post on Monday.

    The restaurant chain thanked customers for their support and added, "We are truly sorry to bring this chapter to an end, but profoundly thankful for the love you've shown us for nearly nine decades."

    No explanation was offered for K&W's sudden closure. Just last month, the chain was hawking a $30 gift card and a free pie for holiday season shoppers.

    K&W did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider on Tuesday, but told FOX8 WGHP in a statement that "like many restaurant companies across the country, we have struggled to navigate an extremely challenging operating environment."

    Data from foodservice industry research firm Technomic's Ignite database showed that K&W's sales fell 10% year over year in 2024, and its 2025 sales were predicted to be even more grim.

    The chain's abrupt closure comes as the restaurant industry has been under pressure due to rising food and labor costs, as well as tightening consumer budgets.

    A bankruptcy filing for K&W in 2020

    The restaurant chain began as the Carolinian Coffee Shop in the North Carolina city of Winston-Salem before its original investors — T.K. Knight and his brothers-in-law, Thomas, Kenneth, and William Wilson — renamed it K&W, using their initials, in 1937.

    In 1941, the late Grady Allred Sr., who worked at the Carolinian Coffee Shop, became the sole owner of K&W and ultimately expanded the business to 16 locations across the Carolinas and Virginia.

    By 2020, the Allred family had grown the restaurant to 28 outposts, however, the business, like many others, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    K&W shuttered several restaurants at the time and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2020, saying in court papers that it had just over $30 million in assets and $22.1 million in liabilities.

    The chain emerged from bankruptcy a year later after a reorganization.

    While there are no current bankruptcy filings under the K&W name, data from S&P Global Market Intelligence shows that 2025 corporate bankruptcies are on track to hit levels not seen in 15 years, since 2010. Personal bankruptcies are also on the rise, according to data from the Administrative Office of the US Courts.

    In 2022, K&W was acquired by Falcon Holdings, a Texas-based company that also owns the Piccadilly restaurant chain.

    By the end of its reign, K&W was operating eight locations in North Carolina and one in Virginia. A former employee told WFMY News 2 that more than 300 K&W workers were left jobless.

    Following K&W's closure announcement, customers flooded the comments section to share their sadness, reminisce about their memories, and even beg for recipes.

    "Can you at least give us the baked spaghetti recipe???" one post read.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Forget savings accounts, these ASX dividend stocks pay more

    Worried woman calculating domestic bills.

    With savings account rates slipping and term deposit returns rolling over, many Australians are starting to realise that parking cash in the bank may no longer be the most rewarding option.

    For income investors that are willing to take on a modest level of market risk, several ASX dividend shares currently offer yields that comfortably outpace what the banks are paying.

    Here are three ideas that could deliver far better results than leaving your money in cash.

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

    If you want steady, property-backed income, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT continues to stand out. The company owns a nationwide portfolio of essential-service retail assets, including supermarkets, pharmacies, and health clinics. These are businesses that Australians rely on regardless of economic conditions.

    Its tenant list reads like a who’s who of defensive retail, with Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), and Chemist Warehouse among the largest contributors. These long-term, inflation-linked leases support a level of earnings stability that most savings accounts can only dream of.

    The consensus estimate is for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT to increase its dividend to 8.7 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on its current share price, this would mean a dividend yield of 6.2%.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Rural Funds is a unique income play and one of the few diversified farmland REITs on the ASX. It owns agricultural assets such as cattle properties, vineyards, and cropping land, leasing them to high-quality tenants on long agreements.

    Farmland has historically been a resilient asset class with low correlation to equity market volatility. This means that Rural Funds’ rental streams remain stable even through economic downturns, which helps underpin its distribution profile.

    Management is guiding to a dividend of 11.73 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on its current share price, this would mean an attractive 5.7% dividend yield.

    Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

    For investors who prefer broad diversification, the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is one of the simplest ways to tap into a basket of high-yielding Australian blue chips in a single trade.

    The ETF holds ASX dividend shares such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), all of which have long histories of paying reliable dividends.

    The benefit here is instant exposure to dozens of income-producing companies, rather than relying on one or two individual stocks. In addition, the fund distributes quarterly, making it appealing for retirees or investors wanting regular cash flow.

    At present, the fund trades with a trailing dividend yield of 4.2%.

    The post Forget savings accounts, these ASX dividend stocks pay more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Homeco Daily Needs REIT right now?

    Before you buy Homeco Daily Needs REIT shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Homeco Daily Needs REIT wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Is the BHP share price a buy for passive income?

    Different Australian dollar notes in the palm of two hands, symbolising dividends.

    Passive income is usually one of the best reasons to own large ASX iron ore shares. At the current BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price, it’s definitely worth asking if the ASX mining share is a buy.

    As the chart below shows, the company has made a recovery over the past few months. While that’s a good thing for existing shareholders, but it means a lower dividend yield for prospective investors.

    For example, if a business has a 5% dividend yield and then the share price rises 10%, the dividend yield becomes around 4.5%. In the last five months, the BHP share price has grown by 15%, which is a headwind for yield hunters.

    I’ll run through my views on the positives and negatives of investing for passive income.

    Positives

    BHP offers investors pleasing commodity diversification across iron ore, copper, steelmaking coal and energy coal. By generating earnings across a variety of sources, it’s able to provide investors with more profit stability than a resource business focused on a single commodity.

    A somewhat stable profit means the business can provide fairly stable dividends for owners of BHP shares.

    The broker UBS is expecting virtually the same dividend from BHP in FY26, FY27 and FY28. While growth would be preferred, stability could be valuable in the next few years (if that’s what happens). UBS suggests the ASX mining share could pay an annual dividend per share of US$1.13 in FY26.

    The projection translates into a potential grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%, including franking credits.

    I like the company’s efforts to expand its copper exposure, although its final attempt to engage a takeover of Anglo American was unsuccessful. It looks like copper has a pleasing long-term outlook with rising demand with expanded electricity grids, more electric vehicles, more smart devices and so on. Supposedly, it’s likely to become harder to find high-quality copper deposits, which could be supportive for copper prices.

    The ASX mining share’s efforts to expand into potash – in what’s seen as a greener form of fertiliser for the agriculture sector – could also help diversify and grow earnings.

    Negatives

    Firstly, whilst it isn’t that much of a negative, the strength of the BHP share price has led to a lower dividend yield than it otherwise would have been if it hadn’t risen by more than 10% in the last six months.

    Given how cyclical resource prices can be, it could be wise to wait to buy when valuations are weaker rather than stronger, in my view.

    I’m more cautious on the outlook for ASX iron ore shares when the valuations go higher because of how the new Simandou project in Africa could lead to pressure on the iron ore price due to the additional, significant supply it will add. Time will tell how much it weighs on profit, dividends and the BHP share price.

    Samarco costs are another headwind for the business as BHP compensates people affected by the dam failure in Brazil. The business is expecting cash outflows in FY26 to be approximately US$2.2 billion and then in FY27 the cash outflow could be US$0.5 billion. These payments are negative for how much money BHP has to pay its dividends.

    Foolish takeaway

    At the current BHP share price, it could provide investors with solid passive income. However, there could be an even more appealing valuation on offer in the coming months or years.

    The post Is the BHP share price a buy for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

    Before you buy BHP Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and BHP Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Macquarie tips 28% upside for Breville shares

    Man with cookie dollar signs and a cup of coffee.

    There was a time when Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) shares could seemingly do no wrong. Between January 2016 and July 2021, the ASX 200 appliance maker soared a massive 445%, making its long-term investors very wealthy in the process.

    But then the company hit a major snag. In the 12 months to June 2022, Breville shares lost almost half of their value and stagnated over the subsequent 12 months as well.

    As it stands today ($29.62 at the time of writing), the Breville share price is down 11.3% over the past 12 months, and has lost about 16.5% of its value since December last year. Its five-year gain sits at just under 20%, a rather paltry performance, considering the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained about 30% over that same span.

    To be fair, Breville has actually had a fairly successful year, if we ignore its share price performance. Back in August, the company posted revenue growth of 10.9% to $1.7 billion for its full 2025 financial year. That growth hit double-digits across all three global markets that Breville operates in, too.

    Net profits after tax were up an even more impressive 14.6% to $135.9 million, which allowed Breville to increase its full-year dividend by 12.1% to a fully franked 37 cents per share.

    Given this company’s sagging share price performance of late, but also with its rather rosy-looking FY2025 results, many investors might be wondering where Breville shares are heading next.

    Well, fortunately for those investors, analysts at Macquarie have recently run the ruler over this appliance maker.

    Does Macquarie rate Breville shares as a buy today?

    Macquarie liked what they saw. Analysts gave Breville shares an ‘outperform’ rating, alongside a 12-month share price target of $39.20. If realised, that would see investors enjoy a potential upside of about 32.3%.

    Macquarie’s optimism is derived from what it sees as positive trends in sales of coffee, as well as appliances from other manufacturers, mainly De Longhi. One of Breville’s most important product categories is coffee and espresso machines.

    As a result of these projections, Macquarie has “forecast for a 10%-plus revenue CAGR [compounded annual growth rate] FY25-FY28E”. Indeed, Macquarie is predicting that Breville shares will be able to grow adjusted earnings per share (EPS) from the 93 cents achieved in FY2025 to 95.3 cents by FY2026, $1.096 by FY2027 and then to $1.246 by FY2028. That would represent growth rates of 2.5%, 15% and 13.7% respectively.

    That earnings growth will, at least according to the analysts, support higher dividends too. Macquarie has Breville paying out 39.1 cents per share over FY2026, 44.9 cents by FY2027 and 51.1 cents by FY2028.

    No doubt investors and owners of Breville shares will be pleased to hear these impressive numbers. But we’ll have to wait and see to know for sure whether Macquarie is on the money here.

    The post Macquarie tips 28% upside for Breville shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Breville Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Breville Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Breville Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Luigi Mangioni claimed he was a homeless man named ‘Mark’ in surreal, newly revealed bodycam footage of his arrest

    Luigi Mangioni in court
    Luigi Mangioni in court

    Pool/Getty Images

    • Luigi Mangione, charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare's CEO, was in a NY court on Tuesday.
    • Prosecutors played police bodycam video as Mangione challenged his arrest.
    • The video showed the moments before Mangioni's arrest following a manhunt that riveted the nation.

    The suspect is nervous as he's frisked in a corner of a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His hands shake.

    There's fibbing on both sides: The suspect says he's a "homeless" guy named "Mark." The cops say it's just an ID check.

    And through it all, surreally, Christmas carols play on the restaurant sound system — with one cop whistling along to keep things calm as they try to verify his identity.

    Dramatic police bodycam video of Luigi Mangione, screened for the first time Tuesday in a New York City courtroom, shows the 28-year-old's December arrest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as it has never been seen before.

    "Stand up for us — put your hands on top of your head," Altoona Police Officer Joseph Detwiler can be heard telling Mangione twice in the video, which is not being released to the public and could only be seen in court.

    "You seem nervous right now," the officer says next, as Mangione stands up and is patted down at 9:50 on a Monday morning — five days after Thompson's murder on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk.

    When the officer asks, "Why are you nervous?" Mangione, his hands atop his head, gives no answer.

    "Sit down. Sit down," the officer tells him.

    Luigi Mangione is seen eating inside a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania shortly before his arrest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
    Luigi Mangione inside a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania shortly before his arrest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

    Pennsylvania State Police

    The video was played throughout most of Tuesday morning and into the afternoon — the second day of an evidence-suppression hearing in state court in Manhattan. It was narrated from the witness stand by Detwiler, who, with his partner, was the first officer on the scene.

    As they rolled up to the McDonald's in their patrol car, Detwiler was thinking the job would be a waste of time, he testified.

    "I did not believe it was going to be the person that they said it was," Detwiler said Tuesday, during questioning by the lead state prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann.

    The 911 call had come in from a very skeptical restaurant manager. She's called police reluctantly, according to Monday's testimony, after customers insisted the guy sitting back by the men's room — his face obscured by a hat and medical mask — looked like "the CEO shooter" in the news.

    The dispatcher was skeptical too, listing the call as "Priority: Low."

    And on the way to the McDonald's, Detwiler saw a text from his supervisor, Lt. Tom Hanley: "If you get the New York City shooter, I'll buy you a hoagie."

    Detwiler kept the patrol car's sirens silent as he and his partner, Patrolman Tyler Frye, rolled into the parking lot.

    Once inside, the two approached Mangione's table, interrupting a meal of a breakfast sandwich and a hash brown.

    They knew this was the guy the manager had called about, Detwiler testified. There was only one person in the restaurant wearing a mask.

    "Yeah, we don't wear masks," in Altoona, Detwiler explained in his testimony. "We have antibodies."

    "Can you pull your mask down?" the video showed Detwiler asking, while Mangione watched from the defense table, dressed in a dark suit and open-necked off-white dress shirt.

    Then the footage played in court showed the moment Mangione complied, showing his full face, and everything changed.

    As "Jingle Bell Rock" played on the McDonald's speakers, the five-day manhunt that had captivated the country — involving hundreds of law enforcement personnel in New York City and beyond — had ended.

    "I knew it was him immediately," Detwiler testified.

    It didn't help that Mangione appeared "nervous," as the officer described it on the stand, explaining, "I saw his fingers shaking a little bit."

    Defense lawyers are challenging the evidence and statements police took from Mangione in the 30-minute period when he was questioned and arrested in that McDonald's.

    By the time Mangione was cuffed and led out — with "Holly Jolly Christmas" playing on the restaurant sound system — some 10 cops had gathered in the restaurant.

    They included the lieutenant who'd promised Detwiler a hoagie.

    "I'm 100 percent sure that it's him," Detwiler testified he told the arriving lieutenant. "He was surprised," Detwiler testified.

    Prosecutors are trying to show that stopping, questioning, and searching the belongings of Mangione was proper, given the officers' knowledge from the news media of the Thompson shooting suspect's appearance and dangerousness.

    Defense lawyers are arguing that Mangione was improperly questioned before he was read his Miranda rights, and they want the judge to rule that any statements he made can't be used against him at trial.

    On Tuesday, Detwiler described asking limited questions focused on Mangione's identification and potential imminent dangerousness, not the facts of the case itself.

    "Mark," Mangione told police at first, when asked his name, according to the video. "Homeless," he said, when asked his address.

    "Did you ever mention the shooting in New York City?" Seidemann asked. "No," Detwiler answered.

    "Did you ever pull out your gun?"

    "No," the cop answered again.

    Mangione's lengthy hearing has so far featured testimony by five law enforcement and civilian witnesses involved in the manhunt and the Pennsylvania arrest. It is scheduled to continue Thursday and Friday — and possibly into next week.

    New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro has not said when he will decide if any evidence must be barred from an eventual trial. Judges have yet to set trial dates for Mangione's federal and state murder trials.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Instagram’s Adam Mosseri is getting rid of a part of work that many employees dread

    Adam Mosseri leaning over chair
    Adam Mosseri announced Instagram would be rethinking standing meetings in his latest memo.

    Emma McIntyre/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

    • Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced the company would reduce recurring meetings in his latest memo.
    • The memo encourages biweekly one-on-ones and suggests that employees decline unnecessary meetings.
    • Many leaders are rethinking meeting culture to improve efficiency.

    Instagram chief Adam Mosseri's latest memo didn't just cover RTO. It also tackled something that employees and leaders alike love to hate: the recurring meeting.

    The memo, titled "Building a Winning Culture in 2026," said that recurring meetings will be canceled every six months and only re-added if "absolutely necessary." He also encouraged making recurring one-on-ones biweekly "by default" and said employees should decline meetings that interfere with "focus blocks."

    "We all spend too much time in meetings that are not effective, and it's slowing us down," Mosseri wrote.

    Mosseri's crackdown on meetings echoes a growing chorus of executives frustrated by bureaucratic sluggishness. As AI tools introduce a new era of workplace efficiency and competition ramps up, leaders are rethinking culture from the ground up — trimming layers, streamlining processes, and doubling down on speed and efficiency.

    Leaders are rejecting meeting-heavy workplaces

    Many CEOs and billionaires have long held strong opinions on meetings. Jeff Bezos has favored "messy" meetings, while Airbnb's Brian Chesky and Nvidia's Jensen Huang prefer to eliminate one-on-ones altogether.

    Others view the practice as a distraction from real work. Elon Musk has argued large meetings should be eliminated or kept "very short," and billionaire investor (and lover of emails) Mark Cuban has similarly said meetings derail his productivity.

    "I try to only do meetings if I have to come to a conclusion or there's no other way — same with phone calls," Cuban said in 2023. "It kills so much time."

    The debate over meetings has only grown louder as efficiency takes center stage across corporate America. In Jamie Dimon's 2024 annual letter to shareholders, the JPMorgan CEO said he wants to "kill meetings" because it slows work down.

    Earlier this year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said he wants to bring back in-person collaboration, while also limiting the "pre-meeting for the pre-meeting for the decision." The tech giant recently cut 14,000 workers in a push to revive a scrappier, startup-like culture.

    Reversing the pro-meeting trend

    Benjamin Laker, a leadership professor at the Henley Business School who has researched effective meeting structures, told Business Insider that in the post-pandemic era, there was a "huge acceleration" of meetings, both in frequency and volume.

    Laker said that psychological factors, like heightened loneliness and anxiety during the pandemic, contributed to this rise in meetings, as they offered a way to regain a sense of connection.

    Petri Lehtonen, CEO of the meeting analytics platform Flowtrace, told Business Insider that the company's data indicates that 50% to 70% of total meeting hours in large companies come from recurring slots, and many companies find those standing meetings don't always have a clear purpose. The crackdown on meetings isn't just a cultural trend, but "a structural correction," Lehtonen said.

    That's why executives like Mosseri may be re-examining the habit, he said. Lehtonen said that as collaboration becomes increasingly asynchronous, due to AI-generated summary tools, companies are shifting from thinking of "meetings by default" to "meetings as escalation tools."

    Restoring balance

    In the aftermath of the pandemic, some companies have taken more radical approaches to reducing meetings.

    In 2023, Shopify's bosses introduced a plug-in to track the dollar amount spent during meetings, a move the COO said at the time was aimed at reducing meetings so employees could actually "get shit done."

    Others, like Salesforce, took a less extreme approach. The company tried a no-meetings week in 2021 to give employees a break from the disruptions, and ended up implementing three more no-meetings weeks. Other companies like Citi, gave meeting-free Fridays.

    In a yearlong survey of 76 companies published in MIT's Sloan Management Review in 2022, Laker wrote that productivity was 71% higher when meetings were reduced by 40%. However, Laker said that the advantages of no-meeting periods began to plateau after meetings were reduced by 60%, and diminished beyond that.

    Laker said the best way to keep meetings effective is to set clear boundaries, such as a maximum number of attendees, a 24-hour notice period before the meeting, an agenda, and a set timeframe.

    "As long as you have meeting hygiene, you don't have to eliminate meetings altogether," Laker said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • A Koch-funded group is tapping star marketers for a $250 million push to ‘reignite the American spirit’

    Charles Koch
    Charles Koch founded Stand Together, a philanthropic community that's behind a new campaign to unite America.

    David Zalubowski/AP

    • A Charles Koch-backed group is supporting an effort to "reignite the American spirit" around the US's 250th birthday.
    • The "Be the People" initiative has signed up top marketers and other notables, including Mark Cuban.
    • Organizers are pitching it as apolitical, as critics say the official America250 celebrations could take on a partisan tone.

    An emerging initiative to "reignite the American spirit," set to launch around the country's 250th birthday, is getting a funding boost from the billionaire and conservative megadonor Charles Koch, Business Insider has learned.

    The new effort, which has the tagline "Be the People," has enlisted a number of marketing heavy hitters in addition to its support from Stand Together, a philanthropic endeavor founded by Koch in 2003. It's led by Andrew Essex, the founding chief executive of creative agency Droga5 and a longtime media and ad executive.

    The organizers described the "Be the People" initiative to potential supporters as an apolitical effort to unite America, three people briefed on the plans in recent weeks told Business Insider. The initiative is a separate effort from America250, the official celebration that is being planned by a bipartisan commission, with involvement from President Donald Trump.

    A leaked "Be the People" presentation document dated October and seen by Business Insider lists six prominent marketers as advisors: John Hayes, formerly of American Express; Jim Stengel, formerly of Procter & Gamble; Mike Jackson, ex General Motors; Tariq Hassan, a vet of McDonald's; Jill Baskin, ex Hershey; and Remi Kent, formerly of Progressive.

    It cites data showing people are politically divided and also ready for change. It calls for a $250 million promotional campaign — an amount similar in scale to a blockbuster movie push — encouraging people to volunteer and give to causes like combating hunger. The campaign would also create a platform where people could find charitable organizations based on their interests, the pitch document says.

    The document emphasizes that the initiative is working to create a "brand safe, apolitical" coalition. It says it's in conversations with around two dozen blue-chip companies and organizations, including Starbucks, JPMorgan Chase, and Habitat for Humanity, to lend support.

    "We the People" also wants to enlist popular cultural figures to help amplify its mission. The document lists around 80 bold-face names spanning industries and disciplines, including Oprah Winfrey, Fox News' Bret Baier, happiness expert Arthur Brooks, and billionaire investor Mark Cuban. It's unclear from the document who has signed on and who is seen as a potential supporter. Cuban and Brooks confirmed they're involved. Reps for Winfrey and Baier said they weren't aware of the initiative.

    "The effort aims to support sustained civic engagement that begins with America's 250th anniversary and extends well beyond it, and is intended to complement the many other efforts around the anniversary," a spokesperson for Stand Together said in a statement. The rep said Stand Together is one of several funders helping build a coalition of leaders and partners, and declined to name the others. They said the presentation deck is an early aspirational concept, with the activities and coalition still taking shape.

    The "Be the People" pitch comes ahead of the official US birthday celebration, America250, which was similarly pitched as nonpartisan. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets have reported that Trump had been placing his allies and operatives in charge of much of the planning. America250 has faced criticism from lawmakers, including Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-NJ, who sits on the commission to plan the America250 celebration, as well as historians such as presidential biographer and frequent Trump critic Jonathan Alter, that Trump is making the official celebration about himself, as The Atlantic and other outlets have reported.

    An America250 spokesperson said its celebration is a bipartisan effort to involve all Americans through "values-based programming, the largest bicameral, bipartisan congressional caucus in history, and historic public-private partnerships."

    Koch and his brother David, who died in 2019, have been powerful forces in Republican politics and the modern conservative movement. The Kochs have sometimes been at odds with Trump, going back to his first term. Their political network endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 campaign, and in April, the Charles Koch-funded New Civil Liberties Alliance sued Trump over import tariffs. Trump successfully moved to have the case transferred to the US Court of International Trade, which is overseeing similar cases. The case is ongoing.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    A male ASX 200 broker wearing a blue shirt and black tie holds one hand to his chin with the other arm crossed across his body as he watches stock prices on a digital screen while deep in thought

    On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recorded a small gain. The benchmark index rose 0.15% to 8,579.7 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to rise

    The Australian share market looks set to rise on Wednesday following a solid night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 8 points or 0.1% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.45%, the S&P 500 is up 0.25%, and the Nasdaq is 0.65% higher.

    Oil prices fall

    ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.1% to US$58.67 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.15% to US$62.45 a barrel. This was driven by oversupply concerns.

    Hold Graincorp shares

    The team at Bell Potter thinks that Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) shares are fully valued at current levels. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its hold rating and $8.50 price target on the grain exporter’s shares. It said: “Wheatcast yield indicators imply a crop broadly consistent with a year ago and GNC should benefit from the removal of CPC outflows and GrainsConnect losses (+$50m YOY). Against this global grain supply remains high (limiting marketing returns) and crush margins appear to be a modest YOY tailwind.”

    Gold price falls

    It could be a poor session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Wednesday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.1% to US$4,229 an ounce. Traders were taking profit after a strong rebound in the precious metal.

    Buy Beacon shares

    Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX) shares. This morning, the broker has initiated coverage on the specialist retailer’s shares with a buy rating and $3.35 price target. It said: “On an FY26e P/E basis (~20x), we view BLX’s leading market position in a fragmented market (~12% market share) and vertically integrated business model (FY25 GM ~69%) as attractive and unique characteristics for a specialty goods retailer. We believe the business is well positioned to take advantage of a recovering retail environment, supported by a strong housing market and construction outlook.”

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beacon Lighting Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Beacon Lighting Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Beacon Lighting Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Leading broker thinks this ASX materials stock is set to double!

    Female miner on a walkie talkie.

    Viridis Mining And Minerals (ASX: VMM) is a small-cap ASX materials stock that has already increased significantly in the last 12 months. 

    Since December 2024, it has increased by an impressive 172.37%. 

    The company engages in mineral exploration in Australia, Canada and Brazil. 

    The team at Bell Potter released a new report on the company yesterday. 

    The broker has a speculative buy recommendation on this ASX materials stock, along with a price target indicating a further rise from current levels. 

    Here is the latest from Bell Potter.

    Brazil project faces delays 

    Viridis Mining & Minerals was scheduled to have a license hearing on 28 November. This hearing is part of the environmental permitting process in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

    The questioning focused on: 

    • proximity of operations to local residents
    • hydrogeological and water balance impacts
    • environmental and public impacts
    • processed clay residue

    However, the hearing was postponed because the state environmental agency (FEAM) needs to respond to a list of concerns raised by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF).

    This effectively created a delay and a share price fall 27% followed by a trading halt.

    The market likely interpreted the MPF’s intervention as a sign of elevated permitting risk, or possible delays, or potential for tougher environmental conditions.

    Bell Potter said in its report that it spoke with management who was optimistic the situation would soon be resolved.

    According to the broker, Management reiterated that the state environmental agency (FEAM) supports the project and has already responded to the federal prosecutors, with a more detailed reply coming soon. 

    They believe the MPF’s concerns are overstated – only 3 of 98 springs would be affected – and say the MPF also misrepresented issues around clay residue and the project’s proximity to residents.

    Bell Potter said that the company is targeting the December 19th COPAM meeting for approval of the project. 

    Price target indicates big upside

    It appears the strong selloff amidst the legal proceedings has created even more upside for this ASX materials stock. 

    The broker is optimistic on the outlook of the company’s Colossus project getting back on track.

    We see projects like Colossus being able to quickly scale into a growing market, offsetting supply shortages over the coming decades. The importance of low operating costs will become apparent in time we believe, with current hard rock projects facing margin pressure despite increasing production capacity.

    Bell Potter has reiterated its speculative buy recommendation. 

    The broker also has a price target of $2.65. 

    This is 154.81% higher than yesterday’s closing price of $1.04. 

    We maintain our Buy (spec) recommendation and valuation of $2.65/sh (unchanged). Our recommendation and valuation are based on a 40% risked assessment of estimated FCF for the Colossus ionic adsorption clay project in Brazil. Near-term catalysts, along with a strong secular tailwind, are likely to continue to support VMM.

    The post Leading broker thinks this ASX materials stock is set to double! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Viridis Mining And Minerals right now?

    Before you buy Viridis Mining And Minerals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Viridis Mining And Minerals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Invested in Fortescue shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026

    Man holding out $50 and $100 notes in his hands, symbolising ex dividend.

    Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have a reputation for generous dividend payments, but is this changing?

    The miner has a payout policy of returning 50% to 80% of full-year underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to shareholders as dividends.

    In FY25, the pure-play ASX 200 iron ore miner paid an annual dividend of $1.10 per share, equating to 65% of NPAT.

    NPAT fell substantially in FY25, coming in at US$3.4 billion, which was 41% lower than FY24.

    The miner reported 198.4 million wet metric tonnes of shipped iron ore for FY25, up 4% on FY24.

    The FY26 guidance is 195 to 205 million wet metric tonnes.

    The consensus expectation among analysts on the CommSec platform is that Fortescue will pay substantially lower dividends from here.

    The current consensus forecast for FY26 dividends is 92.3 cents per share.

    Based on a Fortescue share price of $21.80, that equates to a pretty modest dividend yield of 4.2% (with full franking).

    The forecast for FY27 is 82 cents per share, or a yield of 3.75%. The forecast for FY28 is 75 cents per share, or a yield of 3.4%.

    With all that said, here are the dates for Fortescue’s dividend announcements next year.

    When will Fortescue announce its 2026 dividends?

    Fortescue will announce its 1H FY26 results and interim dividend on 25 February.

    The full-year FY26 results and final dividend will be revealed on 24 August.

    We’ll get quarterly production reports on 22 January, 23 April, 23 July, and 22 October.

    Fortescue will hold its annual general meeting on 29 October.

    What happened to the Fortescue share price this year?

    The Fortescue share price has increased by more than 15% in 2025.

    The iron ore price remains above the psychological threshold of US$100 per tonne, and has risen 3% this year.

    In October, Fortescue reported a first-quarter record in total iron ore shipments at 49.7 million wet metric tonnes.

    However, this was 10% lower than 4Q FY25.

    Should you buy Fortescue shares?

    Analysts are divided on Fortescue shares.

    Ord Minnett reiterated its buy rating on Fortescue shares following the September quarter production report.

    The broker has a share price target of $20 to $21.50 on the ASX 200 mining giant.

    Bell Potter upgraded its rating on Fortescue shares to a hold with a price target range of $17.05 to $19.30.

    UBS reiterated its hold rating with a price target of $20.

    Macquarie reiterated its sell rating on Fortescue shares with a price target of $16.50 to $18.50.

    Jarden also has a sell rating with a price target of $16.

    The post Invested in Fortescue shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fortescue Metals Group right now?

    Before you buy Fortescue Metals Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue Metals Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.