Sean Duffy said ATCs who did not call in sick during the government shutdown would receive $10,000 checks.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Sean Duffy said 776 air traffic controllers would receive checks for working during the government shutdown.
He said the $10,000 bonus checks would be given out in early December.
"Santa's coming to town a little early," Duffy said in his X post.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said about 800 air traffic controllers who worked during the government shutdown would get $10,000 bonus checks.
Duffy said in an X post on Thursday night, "Santa's coming to town a little early."
"776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for Christmas," he added, specifying that the checks would go to rewarding people "for showing up to work EVERY DAY."
The video accompanying Duffy's post included a clip from the 2003 movie "Elf," as well as a clip of President Donald Trump saying air traffic controllers who worked without pay during the shutdown should be rewarded.
Duffy also said in the video that the checks would land in early December.
The 43-day government shutdown, the longest in US history, saw more than 13,000 air traffic controllers across the country working without pay, per a shutdown plan by the department on September 30.
Representatives for the department did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Duffy's announcement follows a similar one last week by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
On November 13, Noem said Transportation Security Administration officers who worked during the shutdown would get $10,000 bonus checks. She did not specify how many TSA officers would get these checks.
On November 11, Duffy said the department may penalize controllers who called in sick during the shutdown before missing their first paycheck.
"My concern is, for those air traffic controllers who, before they missed a paycheck, and were in the shutdown, they decided on a continual basis not to show up for work," Duffy said to reporters in Chicago last week, and said he questioned their "dedication" and "patriotism."
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union told the Associated Press in a statement on Thursday that only 311 of its more than 10,000 members would receive the checks.
"We are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition," the union told the AP.
The Gentrack share price is up 7.5% to $6.82. This morning, this billing software company revealed that its new g2 platform has been selected to enhance operations and customer experience at Pennon Water Services. It is one of the UK’s leading business water and wastewater retailers. This marks the first customer to adopt g2 in the UK, and the first g2 water implementation. In other news, Bell Potter reaffirmed its buy rating on Gentrack’s shares with a reduced price target of $9.80. It said: “We are positive on secular tailwinds in decentralised energy driving utility billing stack transformations broadly.”
The Kogan share price is up over 1% to $3.03. Investors have been buying this online retailer’s shares following the release of an update at its annual general meeting. Kogan revealed that in the first four months of FY 2026, adjusted EBITDA was $10.1 million with a margin of 6.5%. The latter is within its guidance range of 6% to 9%.
The Webjet share price is up over 2% to 91 cents. This has been driven by news that the online travel agent has received another takeover offer. Helloword Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) made an offer of 90 cents per share earlier this week, but this morning BGH Capital has joined the bidding with a 91 cents per share proposal. In response, the company said: “After carefully considering the revised BGH proposal, the Webjet board has agreed with BGH’s request to provide BGH with an opportunity to conduct due diligence, subject to the parties agreeing to a mutually acceptable non-disclosure agreement.”
The WiseTech Global share price is up 4% to $66.82. This morning, this logistics solutions technology company released its annual general meeting update and reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026. WiseTech’s new CEO, Zubin Appoo, said: “Looking ahead, we reconfirm our guidance and expect revenue between $1.39 and $1.44 billion and EBITDA of $550 to $585 million. As outlined when we announced our FY25 Results in August, the e2open integration will temporarily impact margins â and that is exactly as planned. We have a clear execution roadmap, backed by more than three decades of successfully integrating strategic acquisitions and rebuilding margin strength. We know how to do this.”
Should you invest $1,000 in Gentrack Group right now?
Before you buy Gentrack 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 Gentrack 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…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group, Kogan.com, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The Accent share price is down over 12% to $1.05. Investors have been selling the footwear retailer’s shares following the release of guidance for FY 2026. Accent revealed that it expects first half earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the range of $55 million to $60 million. This is down sharply from $80.7 million in the first half of FY 2025. For the full year, EBIT in the range of $85 million to $95 million is expected. This will be down from $110.2 million in FY 2025. This has been driven by like for like sales weakness and margin pressure due to promotional activity.
The DroneShield share price is down over 7% to $1.75. This could have been driven by news that the US is pushing for Ukraine and Russia to sign a peace deal. While peace would clearly be good news for the world, it could mean lower counter drone sales in the near term.
The Lovisa share price is down almost 10% to $31.45. This follows the release of a trading update from the fashion jewellery retailer this morning. Despite what you might expect given the share price weakness, Lovisa has started FY 2026 in a very positive fashion. It revealed that it has increased its store network by 44 stores so far in FY 2026 to 1,075 stores across more than 50 markets. This means it is currently trading from 148 more stores than this time last year. In addition, it advised that global total sales for the first 20 weeks of FY 2026 were up 26.2% on the prior corresponding period. Management notes that it is “benefiting from the continued growth in the store network over the past year, with global comparable store sales up 3.5% on FY25 for this period.” This sales growth is ahead of consensus estimates.
The Pilbara Minerals share price is down almost 7% to $3.91. Investors have been selling lithium shares on Friday following a poor night of trade for their peers on Wall Street. It seems that with market volatility returning today, investors have been quick to hit the sell button on high risk investments and switch into safe haven assets.
Should you invest $1,000 in Accent Group Limited right now?
Before you buy Accent 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 Accent 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…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Accent Group and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group and Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
Key Points
Fiscal third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) soared 62% and 60%, respectively, year over year, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations.
Q4 guidance also exceeded the analyst consensus estimates on the top and bottom lines.
Nvidia’s report indicates that the outlook for the AI market in general remains robust.
Shares of Nvidia(NASDAQ: NVDA) are up 4.5% in Wednesday’s after-hours trading as of 5:57 p.m. ET, following the artificial intelligence (AI) tech leader’s release of its report for its third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Oct. 26, 2025).
Investors’ positive reaction is attributable to Q3 revenue and adjusted earnings per share both beating Wall Street’s estimates, and Q4 guidance for both the top and bottom lines also coming in higher than analysts had expected.
The strong guidance was probably the most significant catalyst for Nvidia stock’s upward move. It’s an indication that the outlook for the AI market in general remains robust.
In recent weeks, Nvidia and other AI stocks have been struggling. Investors have become increasingly concerned about AI stock valuations, fearing that an AI stock bubble may be forming. These struggles were in part caused by the Nov. 4 revelation that Michael Burry, now a former hedge fund manager, took bearish positions (by buying put options) on Nvidia and Palantir stocks in the third quarter.Â
Nvidia’s key numbers
Metric
Fiscal Q3 2025
Fiscal Q3 2026
Year-Over-Year Change
Revenue
$35.08 billion
$57.01 billion
62%
GAAP operating income
$21.87 billion
$36.01 billion
65%
GAAP net income
$19.31 billion
$31.91 billion
65%
Adjusted net income
$20.01 billion
$31.77 billion
59%
GAAP earnings per share (EPS)
$0.78
$1.30
67%
Adjusted EPS
$0.81
$1.30
60%
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) numbers include one-time items. Investors should focus on the adjusted numbers, which exclude one-time items.
Wall Street was looking for adjusted EPS of $1.26 on revenue of $55.09 billion, so Nvidia exceeded both expectations. It also beat its own guidance, which was for adjusted EPS of $1.22 on revenue of $54 billion.
For the quarter, GAAP and adjusted gross margins were 73.4% and 73.6%, respectively.
Platform performance
Platform
Fiscal Q3 2026 Revenue
Year-Over-Year Change
Quarter-Over-Quarter Change
Data center
$51.22 billion
66%
25%
Gaming
$4.27 billion
30%
(1%)
Professional visualization
$760 million
56%
26%
Automotive
$592 million
32%
1%
OEM and other
$174 million
79%
1%
Total
$57.01 billion
62%
22%
The data center platform’s performance was driven by “three platform shifts — accelerated computing, powerful AI models, and agentic applications,” Colette Kress said in her CFO commentary. She added that “Blackwell Ultra is now our leading architecture across all customer categories while our prior Blackwell architecture saw continued strong demand.”
The 1% sequential slip in gaming revenue is no cause for concern. Kress said that distribution channels have reached “more normalized levels heading into the holiday season.”
Professional visualization had a strong quarter, driven by the launch of the company’s new DGX Spark (a compact AI supercomputer) and the growth of Blackwell sales.
Auto revenue growth was driven by the continued adoption of Nvidia’s self-driving platforms, which are widely adopted by car companies and others developing driverless technology and driverless vehicles.
What the CEO had to say
CEO Jensen Huang stated in the earnings release:
Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud [computing] GPUs [graphics processing units] are sold out. Compute demand keeps accelerating and compounding across training and inference — each growing exponentially. We’ve entered the virtuous cycle of AI. The AI ecosystem is scaling fast — with more new foundation model makers, more AI start-ups, across more industries, and in more countries. AI is going everywhere, doing everything, all at once.
Guidance for the fourth quarter
For Q4 of fiscal 2026, which ends in late January, management expects revenue of $65 billion, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 65%.
Management also guided (albeit indirectly, by providing several inputs) for adjusted EPS of $1.50, representing 69% growth.
Going into the report, Wall Street had been modeling for Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.43 on revenue of $61.84 billion, so the company’s outlook sprinted by both expectations.
Nvidia stock is not in a bubble
In short, Nvidia delivered yet another report with fantastic quarterly results and strong guidance.
Nvidia stock is not in a bubble. Shares were priced at 52 times trailing one-year earnings and 27 times forward one-year earnings at the close of Wednesday’s regular trading session. These are reasonable valuations for a company that has just grown its quarterly adjusted EPS by 60% and guided for adjusted EPS growth of 69% next quarter.
This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy Nvidia 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 Nvidia wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service heâs 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…
Beth McKenna has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
"His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching with them this semester, and he is not scheduled to teach next semester," a spokesperson for Summers said in a statement on Thursday.
He will also go on leave from his role as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School as the university undertakes its review, the spokesperson added.
Summers taught economics at Harvard.
A Harvard spokesperson directed Business Insider to Summers' team for comment.
In a statement on Monday, Summers said that he was "deeply ashamed" of his actions and the pain they caused after emails showing his friendship with Epstein surfaced last week.
Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender known for his elite social circle. In 2019, he killed himself in jail before his trial for sex-trafficking charges, which prosecutors said involved underage girls. Epstein's social network over the years included prominent politicians and celebrities, including US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, and Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew.
The emails, showing years of personal correspondence between the two men, were released by the House Oversight Committee last week. They revealed that Summers, who was Treasury Secretary under Clinton and an advisor to Barack Obama, sought advice from Epstein on how he could romantically pursue a woman he called his mentee.
In a separate exchange, Summers suggested that women have a lower IQ than men. In 2005, similar remarks by Summers about women's aptitude in mathematics compared with men prompted a public outcry and his resignation as Harvard's president in 2006.
Summers had long been associated with Epstein. He flew on Epstein's private plane, according to flight logs obtained by Gawker in 2015, and appeared on Epstein's 2014 calendar, per scheduling emails obtained by Business Insider in 2023.
In Monday's statement, Summers said that he wouldstep back from public commitments to "repair relationships with the people closest" to him.
In a TikTok posted on Tuesday on Tuesday, Summers appeared to speak to his students about the statement.
"I think it's very important to fulfill my teaching obligations," he told the students.
Summers' departure from his role at Harvard comes after Sen. Elizabeth Warren called on Harvard to sever ties with him.
Warren, who spent nearly two decades teaching at Harvard Law School and previously sparred with Summers over economic policy, told CNN on Monday that Summers' relationship with Epstein "demonstrates monumentally bad judgment."
"If he had so little ability to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein even after all that was publicly known about Epstein's sex offenses involving underage girls, then Summers cannot be trusted to advise our nation's politicians, policymakers, and institutions — or teach a generation of students at Harvard or anywhere else," she told CNN.
Warren's press secretary referred Business Insider to an X post that the senator shared on Wednesday.
"Larry Summers cozied up to the rich and powerful — including a convicted sex offender. He cannot be trusted in positions of influence," she wrote.
The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant is taking place in Thailand on Friday morning local time.
Former Miss Universe contestants have become famous after competing in the pageant.
Some became actors and TV personalities, like Olivia Culpo and Gal Gadot.
Women from around the world have gathered in Thailand to compete for the most prestigious pageant title: Miss Universe.
The 74-year-old competition is considered to be a powerful stepping stone, helping many past contestants find fame — even if they didn't win the crown.
From reality TV to the big screen, here are some of the celebrities who have competed for Miss Universe.
Kenya Moore represented the United States at the 1993 Miss Universe pageant.
Ron Galella/Getty Images
Moore won Miss USA while representing Michigan, becoming the second Black woman to ever win the pageant.
She placed in the top six at Miss Universe, while Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico took home the crown.
After her Miss USA reign came to an end, Moore appeared on television shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Living Single," but today, she's best known for her extensive career in reality television.
Moore was a longtime cast member on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," and she's appeared on other reality shows, including "The Apprentice" and "Dancing With the Stars."
Ali Landry competed at Miss Universe in 1996.
Miss USA 1996 Ali Landry.
MISS UNIVERSE/ho/AFP via Getty Images
Landry won the Miss Louisiana and Miss USA pageants in 1996, earning her a spot at that year's Miss Universe competition.
Like Moore, she placed in the top six at the pageant but did not win. Alicia Machado of Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe that year.
Landry also pursued acting after her pageant career, gaining fame from appearing in a Doritos ad that aired during the 1999 Super Bowl and starring as Rita Lefleur on "EVE" from 2003 to 2006. She was also in the divisive 2023 film "Sound of Freedom."
Gal Gadot represented Israel when she competed in the Miss Universe pageant.
MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images
Gadot was crowned Miss Israel in 2004. She went on to compete for her home country at Miss Universe the same year, but she didn't place among the top 10 during the pageant. The Miss Universe crown went to Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.
After her Miss Israel win, Gadot enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces from 2004 to 2006 before she pursued a career in acting. As her IMDb page notes, Gadot's role as Gisele in 2009's "Fast and Furious" propelled her to fame. She's gone on to appear in American and Israeli films, most notably starring as the titular character in 2017's "Wonder Woman" and other films in the DC universe. She most recently appeared in Disney's live-action version of "Snow White."
Gadot also stirred up controversy in Hollywood in 2020 when she spearheaded a now-notorious video of celebrities singing "Imagine" at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Miss USA president Crystle Stewart competed at Miss Universe in 2008.
Crystle Stewart after winning the Miss USA pageant in 2008.
Denise Truscello/WireImage
Stewart first gained fame when she won Miss USA in 2008 while representing Texas.
When she competed at Miss Universe that year, Stewart made it to the top 10 but fell during the evening gown round of the competition. Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela won the crown.
After her Miss USA win, Stewart went into acting, as her IMDb page notes. Her most notable role was Leslie Morris in the TBS and OWN series "For Better or Worse," which aired from 2011 to 2017.
Stewart returned to the pageant world in 2020, becoming president of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. She was suspended from her position in November 2022 after multiple contestants said the pageant was rigged in favor of R'Bonney Gabriel, who went on to win Miss Universe in January 2023.
An investigation found no evidence that the Miss USA pageant was fixed, but Miss Universe announced that Stewart was parting ways with the organization permanently in August 2023.
She is currently starring in Tyler Perry's Netflix series "Beauty in Black."
Olivia Culpo won the 2012 Miss Universe pageant.
Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe in 2012.
David Becker/Getty Images
Culpo became the first Miss USA to win Miss Universe in 15 years when she took the crown in 2012. She competed in her very first pageant, Miss Rhode Island USA, and then went on to win Miss USA and Miss Universe that same year.
She turned to Hollywood after her reign, appearing in films including "The Other Woman" with Cameron Diaz in 2014 and "I Feel Pretty" with Amy Schumer in 2018, according to her IMDb page.
In 2022, Culpo starred in the TLC reality show "The Culpo Sisters" with her family.
Culpo is now a successful Instagram influencer with more than 5 million followers. She is also married to the San Francisco 49ers player Christian McCaffrey. The couple welcomed their first child in July.
Catriona Gray represented the Philippines when she won Miss Universe in 2018.
Miss Universe Catriona Gray
Lillian Suwanrumpha/Getty Images
Gray was already a decorated pageant queen before she won Miss Universe in 2018. She competed at Miss World 2016 for the Philippines, placing in the top five, and is the first Filipino to represent the country at both Miss World and Miss Universe.
After her reign, Gray went on to host and perform on the Philippines musical variety show "Sunday Noontime Live!"
She has also been a backstage correspondent for the Miss Universe competition.
Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst ranked in the top 10 at Miss Universe.
Miss USA Cheslie Kryst appears onstage at the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Para Griffin/Getty Images
Kryst won Miss USA in 2019 while representing North Carolina and placed in the top 10 at Miss Universe. Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa took home the crown and became Kryst's roommate in New York City that year.
Kryst and Tunzi helped make history, as 2019 was the first time Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss Universe, and Miss America had all been won by women of color.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kryst became the longest-reigning Miss USA titleholder in the pageant's history at 557 days.
Kryst was a complex-litigation attorney before her Miss USA reign and once helped free a client who had been sentenced to life in prison. She became a correspondent for "Extra" and received two Daytime Emmy nominations.
Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA 2023 and placed in the top 20 at Miss Universe.
Miss Utah Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA in 2023.
Miss USA
Voigt won Miss USA in September 2023, where she competed as Miss Utah. She placed in the top 20 at Miss Universe, while R'Bonney Gabriel crowned Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua as the new queen.
Voigt was set to finish her tenure as Miss USA following the pageant, but in May 2024, she announced her resignation. Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava followed suit just two days later.
Voigt's and Srivastava's mothers told Business Insider at the time that their daughters were bullied by Laylah Rose, who was president and CEO of Miss USA from August 2023 to September 2025.
Representatives for Rose and Miss USA did not respond to a previous request for comment on the mothers' statements. However, Miss USA told ABC News at the time that it was "committed to fostering a healthy, communicative, and supportive environment for all contestants, state titleholders, national titleholders, and staff."
Voigt's resignation and the controversy surrounding the pageant were covered by news outlets worldwide, making her a household name. Voigt said Bella Hadid told her she was "inspired" by the pageant queen's decision to step down when they met at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The 1939 film starring Judy Garland and other interpretations of Oz, such as the '70s-era musical "The Wiz," are based on the original book by Frank L. Baum, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," written in 1900.
However, the Broadway show "Wicked" and its two-part film adaptation starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 revisionist novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West."
Maguire's novel reframes the plot of the original book and classic film. Instead of focusing on Dorothy, Maguire shifts the perspective to that of her antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Elphaba, as she's christened by Maguire, is the hero of this version; her backstory reveals trauma and noble intentions that contextualize her treatment of Dorothy. Meanwhile, Maguire rewrites Glinda, aka the Good Witch of the North, to follow a muddier, more complicated character arc.
The stage adaptation of Maguire's book has been a resounding success. Since its debut in 2003, "Wicked" has become the second-highest-grossing Broadway show, selling over a billion tickets.
Continue reading to understand how "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked," and "Wicked: For Good" dovetail on a timeline.
'Wicked' starts at the end of 'The Wizard of Oz,' after Dorothy melts the witch
The Wicked Witch of the West melts in "The Wizard of Oz."
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
"Wicked" closely follows the first act of the Broadway musical. The movie opens on a puddle of water and a witch hat lying on the floor of a castle, hinting at the events in "The Wizard of Oz."
In the opening sequence, the camera briefly pans over Dorothy and her crew — the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion — following the yellow brick road as a winged monkey soars over Oz.
The next scene shows Glinda arriving in Munchkinland to confirm the rumors: "The Wicked Witch of the West is dead," she announces. The subsequent celebration is soundtracked by the musical's opening number, "No One Mourns the Wicked."
Glinda doesn't explain exactly what happened, but those familiar with "The Wizard of Oz" will remember the fateful scene when Dorothy accidentally splashes the witch with a bucket of water. ("I'm melting! I'm melting!")
After the Wicked Witch has vanished, Dorothy brings her broom to the all-powerful Wizard in Emerald City, in hopes of exchanging it for a trip back to Kansas. Instead, the literal man behind the curtain is revealed.
The Wizard admits he has no real power to help Dorothy and flies away in a hot air balloon, so Glinda steps in to help. She tells Dorothy that thanks to her magic slippers — taken from the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East — all she has to do is click her heels and chant, "There's no place like home."
Dorothy follows her advice and wakes up back in Kansas. This is presumably when Glinda travels to Munchkinland (via bubble, of course) to spread the word of the witch's demise. There, she's confronted by a Munchkin, who asks, "Is it true you were her friend?"
Glinda admits, "Our paths did cross at school," and it is here that the real story of "Wicked" begins.
Part one of 'Wicked' is Elphaba's origin story
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked."
Universal Pictures
As Glinda knows, the Wicked Witch's real name is Elphaba Thropp. The movie flashes back to when the two girls met at Shiz University.
At that time, Glinda was still known as Galinda Upland, and Elphaba was a bullied outcast with budding magical powers — not yet feared, and certainly not seen as evil.
The movie shows how Elphaba was ostracized from birth due to her green skin. Even Galinda, who had a reputation for being sweet and popular, took part in shunning her.
The movie also shows how Galinda lacked any hints of magic, despite her dream of studying sorcery at school under Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
Although "Wicked" focuses heavily on Elphaba's inner life, her family dynamics (especially with her younger sister, Nessarose, played by Marissa Bode), and her ambitions, the movie also delves into the rivalry-turned-friendship between Elphaba and Galinda.
On a fluke, the two students are paired as roommates and forced to coexist. On the surface, they couldn't be more different — but what begins as unadulterated loathing (seriously, there's a whole song about it) blossoms into an earnest bond of love and respect.
Eventually, the pair travels to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), hoping to leverage his and Elphaba's combined power for positive change.
But Elphaba is disgusted to find that the Wizard has no magic, and as a means of controlling the Ozians, he has made talking animals the scapegoats for all the realm's ills.
Elphaba is staunchly opposed to the subjugation of Oz's animals, so she becomes an enemy of the state.
The first "Wicked" movie ends with a climactic performance of "Defying Gravity." Elphaba flees on her broom, sacred spellbook in hand, while Glinda (who has by now dropped the "a" in her name) is detained by royal guards.
'Wicked: For Good' shows how Dorothy's story overlaps with Elphaba's and Glinda's
Like Act Two of the Broadway show, the "Wicked" sequel opens after an unspecified time jump. Elphaba is still in exile, while Glinda has now allied with the Wizard and with Morrible, who works as the Wizard's press secretary and his primary propagandist.
Meanwhile, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) has become Captain of the Emerald City Guard, and Nessarose has stepped in as Governor of Munchkinland after the death of her and Elphaba's father.
The Wizard and Morrible are laser-focused on finding Elphaba, who's been messing up their plans by freeing enslaved animals across Oz.
After Glinda realizes Fiyero, her fiancé, has secretly been in love with Elphaba the whole time, she acts out of heartbreak and spite, suggesting to her superiors that they use Nessarose as bait to capture Elphaba — to threaten Nessarose's safety so that her sister will rush to her aid.
Morrible has the power to control the weather, so she decides to send a tornado toward Munchkinland — the same tornado that sweeps through Kansas in "The Wizard of Oz." Thus, Dorothy and her house drop into the narrative.
Dorothy pops up throughout 'Wicked: For Good,' but she's not a main character in the film
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked: For Good."
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
For over 85 years, Dorothy has been famous for dropping a house on the Wicked Witch of the East and melting the Wicked Witch of the West. Audiences know going into see "Wicked: For Good" that she plays a big role in the fates of key characters.
So, if you're wondering how Dorothy's arrival figures into the film's grand musical numbers and emotional onscreen revelations, the answer may surprise you: For the most part, it doesn't.
By this point in the story, both Glinda and Elphaba are dealing with plenty of personal drama. They hardly have the bandwidth to worry about some farm girl who fell out of the sky — and the film's director, John M. Chu, decided to play up their indifference. In fact, the audience never even gets a look at Dorothy's face.
"I didn't want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with," Chu told People. "[This] is still Elphaba and Glinda's journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it."
Grande made a similar choice in her portrayal of Glinda, delighting in the "shadiness" of their offscreen interactions. After all, the so-called Good Witch famously tells Dorothy to "follow the yellow brick road," knowing full well she could take a train to the Emerald City. She also instructs Dorothy to ask for the Wizard's help, knowing full well the Wizard has no magic.
"There's a lot going on, and she doesn't really have time to deal with this," Grande told Empire. "So I leaned all the way into Glinda sort of having an eye roll for Dorothy whenever she has to deal with her."
Ayomikun Adekaiyero contributed to an earlier version of this story.
Olivia Culpo became the eighth woman to win Miss Universe after she was crowned in 2012.
David Becker/Getty Images
The 2025 Miss Universe pageant is streaming on Peacock on Thursday night.
Nine Miss USAs have won Miss Universe in its 74-year history.
R'Bonney Gabriel, who won in 2022, was the last Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe.
Beauty queens worldwide are getting ready for the biggest night in pageants.
On Friday in Thailand, 120 women will compete in the 74th annual Miss Universe. The competition will be streamed on Peacock in the US on Thursday night.
Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel was the last American to win the Miss Universe pageant. It had been a decade since a contestant from the US took the crown.
In honor of the coming competition, take a look back at the nine Miss USAs who have won Miss Universe.
1954: Miriam Stevenson
Christianne Martel, 1953 Miss Universe, crowns Miss Universe 1954 Miriam Stevenson
Bettmann/Getty Images
Stevenson was crowned Miss Universe in 1954, making her the first American to win the pageant. She won after initially tying with Miss Brazil Martha Rocha, with Stevenson ultimately taking the crown because the judges decided she had a better physique than Rocha, according to Telemundo.
Stevenson was a student at Lander College when she started competing in pageants, first representing South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant in 1954, according to the college, which is now called Lander University.
After her reign came to an end, Stevenson finished her studies and became a TV host, Telemundo also reported. She met her husband, Donald Upton, through work, and they share two children.
Stevenson is still alive today.
1956: Carol Morris
Miss USA 1956.
Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Morris won Miss USA while representing Iowa before she went on to become Miss Universe.
The then-20-year-old was studying elementary education at Drake University when she found pageant success. After her win, she left her college career behind to act, according to the Des Moines Register.
Morris' last IMDb credit is for an "ITV Film of the Week" episode, and the Register reported that she stepped back from acting after she got married and had her four children.
Morris is still the only representative from Iowa to win both Miss USA and Miss Universe.
1960: Linda Bement
Miss USA 1960.
Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images
Bement, who died in 2018, won the 1960 Miss USA pageant while representing Utah before becoming Miss Universe the same year.
She was the first Miss Universe winner to be crowned during a live television broadcast, helping to bring the pageant to a larger audience around the world.
Bement coached other pageant contestants following her win, according to her obituary.
She also had two children with her ex-husband, Manuel Ycaza, a hall-of-fame jockey, and at the time of her death, she had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
1967: Sylvia Hitchcock
Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images
Hitchcock became Miss Universe in 1967 after winning the Miss Alabama and Miss USA pageants while she was a student at the University of Alabama. Though she represented Alabama during her pageant career, Hitchcock actually grew up in Miami.
According to AL.com, Hitchcock modeled and appeared in a few film productions after winning Miss Universe, and she didn't finish her studies at the University of Alabama. She also served as a judge for the 1972 Miss Universe pageant following her reign.
Hitchcock married William Carson in 1970, and they had three children and seven grandchildren. She died in 2015, according to her obituary.
1980: Shawn Weatherly
Keystone/Getty Images
Shawn Weatherly became the second Miss USA from South Carolina to take home the Miss Universe crown after she won in 1980.
Weatherly launched a career in Hollywood following her reign. She starred as Cadet Karen Adams in "Police Academy 3: Back in Training" in 1986 before landing the role of Jill Riley in the first season of "Baywatch" in 1989, according to her IMDb page.
She made cameos in several successful shows throughout the '90s, including "Thirtysomething," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Chicago Hope." Weatherly has not appeared in a film or TV series since the 2014 movie "Love in the Time of Monsters."
1995: Chelsi Smith
Miss USA 1995 Chelsi Smith.
PHILIP LITTLETON/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsi Smith became the first Miss Texas to take home the Miss Universe crown when she won in 1995. She was the third African American woman to win Miss USA, as well as the first African American woman to win Miss Texas.
Smith moved to Los Angeles after her reign to pursue a career in Hollywood, according to People. In addition to modeling and acting, she signed a record deal and her first single, "Dom Da Da," appeared on the soundtrack for the 2002 film "The Sweetest Thing." She also appeared in the 2003 film "Playas Ball," according to IMDb.
Smith died of liver cancer in September 2018 at the age of 45. This year, the Miss USA organization announced it had renamed the Miss Congeniality award in honor of Smith.
1997: Brook Lee
Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee
Chris Bernacchi/Getty Images
Brook Lee, who took the crown in 1997, is the first and only native Hawaiian to win Miss Universe. At the age of 26, Lee was the oldest Miss Universe winner at the time.
Lee appeared on several TV shows after winning the crown, including "The Nanny" and "Boy Meets World," according to her IMDb page.
The pageant queen then turned her attention to hosting shows, including "Hawaii Sports Adventure" on ESPN, "Top Ten Beaches of America" and "Cruises We Love" on the Travel Channel, and "Casting Session" for Fox Movie Channel, according to her official website.
Lee also created her own show, "Modern Wahine Hawaii," and co-hosted the podcast "It's A Hawaii Thing."
2012: Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe in 2012.
David Becker/Getty Images
Olivia Culpo entered her first pageant in 2012 when she competed in Miss Rhode Island USA. After taking home the crown, she won Miss USA and Miss Universe that same year.
Following her reign, Culpo — like many of her predecessors — began acting in Hollywood. She appeared in "The Other Woman" with Cameron Diaz in 2014, as well as the 2018 film "I Feel Pretty" with Amy Schumer, according to her IMDb page.
With 5.5 million Instagram followers, Culpo has since launched a successful career as an influencer. In 2022, she starred in the TLC reality series "The Culpo Sisters" with her family.
Culpo and her husband, Christian McCaffrey, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, had their first child in July.
2022: R'Bonney Gabriel
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 2023.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
R'Bonney Gabriel became the second Miss Texas to win Miss Universe after she took home the crown in January 2023.
Gabriel only began competing in pageants in 2021 after a hairstylist convinced her, she told Business Insider after winning Miss USA in October 2022.
The fashion designer made history as the first Filipino American to win the pageant. But the day after she was crowned, more than a dozen Miss USA 2022 contestants said the competition had been rigged in her favor. They pointed to multiple conflicts of interest between Gabriel and Miss USA's national sponsors, as well as then-Miss USA president Crystle Stewart. The Miss Universe Organization launched an investigation and suspended Stewart.
Gabriel denied the rigging allegations, and a Miss Universe spokesperson told Business Insider in January 2023 that the investigation found no evidence of rigging. The organization announced it had parted ways with Stewart in August 2023.
After Gabriel won the Miss Universe title, she told Business Insider it was the "sweetest victory" following the Miss USA scandal.
"No matter if people try to knock you down or there are misconceptions about you, you can't let that get to you," she said. "Just keep going, and you'll get what you deserve."
The S&P 500Index (SP: .INX) took a tumble overnight.
Amid diminishing hopes for another US Fed interest rate cut in 2025, and mounting concerns over a potential AI bubble, the S&P 500 closed down 1.6% on Thursday, ending the day at 6,539 points.
This sees the benchmark US stock market index down 5.1% since notching its record closing high of 6,891 points on 28 October.
Taking a step back, however, the US index has still materially outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
Year to date, the ASX 200 is up 2.9% while the S&P 500 has gained 11.2% over this same period.
As for the year ahead, the team at Morgan Stanley forecasts a big uplift for the US markets.
We’ll look at one ASX ETF (exchange-traded fund) that stands to benefit from that bullish forecast below.
But firstâ¦
Why Morgan Stanley expects the S&P 500 to surge in 2026
“We believe a new bull market began in April with the end of a rolling recession and bear market,” Morgan Stanley chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson said on Wednesday. “Remember the S&P 500 was down 20% and the average S&P stock was down more than 30% into April.”
According to Wilson:
This narrative remains underappreciated, and we think there is significant upside in earnings over the next year as the recovery broadens and operating leverage returns with better volumes and pricing in many parts of the economy.
Our forecasts reflect this upside to earnings which is another reason why many stocks are not as expensive as they appear despite our acknowledgement that some areas of the market may appear somewhat frothy.
And Morgan Stanley expects the US index, and by extension, the ASX ETF we’ll examine below, to come roaring back.
“For the S&P 500, our 12-month target is now 7,800, which assumes 17% earnings growth next year and a very modest contraction in valuation from today’s levels,” Wilson said.
That target represents a 19.3% upside from current levels.
As for which stocks could lead the charge, Wilson added:
Our favourite sectors include Financials, Industrials, and Healthcare. We are also upgrading Consumer Discretionary to overweight and prefer Goods over Services for the first time since 2021.
How to mirror those outsized potential gains with one ASX ETF
If you’re looking to mimic the potential 19% plus gains Morgan Stanley expects from the S&P 500, you might want to have a look at the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (ASX: SPY).
The ASX ETF provides you with exposure to 500 of the largest US-listed companies, with the goal of tracking the performance of the benchmark US index.
Should you invest $1,000 in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust right now?
Before you buy SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 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 SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 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…
Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) has dropped 1.39% at the time of writing on Friday morning. But both Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) shares are travelling in the opposite direction.
At the time of writing, Ampol shares are 0.13% higher, trading at $31.28 each. For the month, the shares are trading 4.79% higher, and they’re now 9.6% higher than this time last year.
Meanwhile, Viva Energy shares are trading 2.53% higher at the time of writing, at $2.02 a piece. Over the past month, the ASX 200 energy company’s shares have stormed 15.71% higher, but since January, the stock’s price has fallen 24.44%.
There has been no price-sensitive news out of either energy business this morning, but analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) have written to investors about their improved outlook on both stocks.
The broker has raised its outlook on the ASX 200 energy company’s shares to outperform from neutral. It has also raised its target price to $36, up from $32 last month.
At the time of writing, that implies a potential 15.1% upside for investors over the next 12 months.
“ALD executing well on M&A and non-refining (NZ had a tough 3Q, but improving). U-GO conversions add network resilience (but don’t all need to work successfully). Lytton ULSG project has been tough with delays and capex overruns, but ALD should now capture the cycle until its deferred FCCU turnaround (1H-2026, mainly impacting gasoline),” the broker said in its investor note.
Macquarie has also raised Ampol‘s 2025 and 2026 estimated earnings per share (EPS) by 4% and 10% respectively, on stronger refining margins.
“Our TP is +12.5% to $36.00/sh (still based on 16x P/E rolling NTM) based on the earnings upgrades. We had hoped for a better re-entry point ahead of full year results, however with refining margins now surging into heating season we no longer expect this to occur.”
Macquarie’s revised outlook for Viva Energy shares shows robust upside
The broker has also raised its outlook on Viva Energy shares to outperform, up from neutral. It has raised its target price on the ASX 200 company’s shares to $3.20, up significantly from the $2 target price last month.
At the time of writing, this suggests a potential upside of 58.4% over the next 12 months.
“The CEXP & OTR acquisitions have disappointed on earnings runrate, high site conversion costs, progressive loss of tobacco business & culminating with head of C&M resigning. Market appears to be ignoring refining leverage that still exists at Geelong (far more material in an upcycle than C&M’s incremental growth could have been in same period),” the broker said.
Macquarie has raised Viva Energy’s estimated EPS for 2025 and 2026 by 17% and 33%, respectively, based on stronger refining margins.
“Our TP is +60% to $3.20/sh, factoring the earnings as well as a target P/E expansion (14x rolling NTM, was 12x), reflecting healthier cashflow and balance sheet (refining windfall helps to accelerate post-OTR deleveraging).”
What else did the broker have to say about the ASX 200 shares?
Macquarie’s analysts said that the refined product markets are tight, with constrained Russian product supply, relatively low inventories (particularly diesel), and surprisingly solid demand.Â
They added that net capacity additions have slowed down versus recent years, given that major capacities are now in service, and China exports appear constrained.Â
The analysts also commented that Russian sanctions and increased Ukrainian drone attacks are driving the risk premium. Some drivers, such as high refinery outages, are likely to be temporary, while others, like reduced Russian exports, are likely to be more structural.
Should you invest $1,000 in Viva Energy Group Limited right now?
Before you buy Viva Energy 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 Viva Energy 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…
Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.
