

Comcast Co-CEOs Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh said they are already talking with potential partners for NBCUniversal, as the media unit prepares to become an independent company by next summer. "We just came from one of the conferences, and there's just great ideas, and I'm excited about the road ahead to expand the partnerships we've already got," Roberts said on Comcast's second-quarter earnings call Thursday, in an apparent reference to the Allen & Co. Sun Valley conference for media and tech executives. The separation, announced earlier this year, will split Comcast into two publicly traded companies: one anchored by NBCUniversal and Sky focused on entertainment content, and another operating the legacy cable TV, broadband and wireless networks. Cavanagh called NBCU "an extremely valuable collection of assets" that, combined with Sky, has "the heft and the relationships and the operational capabilities to continue to be a major player, as an independent." The restructuring represents a major shift in media industry structure, with NBCU controlling marquee sports rights including this year's Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, plus ongoing deals with the NFL and NBA. Peacock added 2 million subscribers in the quarter, the company said, as the streaming service gains scale ahead of the separation. Cavanagh said the independent structure will give NBCU "the focus and opportunity and platform to invest behind the growth opportunities that it has in its own businesses, and the spaces around these businesses that offer growth." He contrasted NBCU's approach with rivals pursuing walled-garden strategies, saying the company will "look for opportunities to partner or bundle, and exhibit other people's IP in our parks, and create IP in our studios that go to other platforms." "Our relationships with our leagues go way beyond our financial terms of our deals," Cavanagh said of NBCU's sports business. "We've built very longstanding relationships that are growing their audiences, elevate the presentation of their sports for the long term, and expand the value of their rights." Roberts said being independent will enable NBCU to "partner well, and to bring to life people's dreams and content, and sporting events, and the like." The execs did not disclose specific potential partners or deal structures, but Cavanagh said NBCU is "in a great position to partner with others." The separation is expected to close by summer 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Comcast shareholders will receive shares in both companies under the planned split. The move follows a broader trend of media conglomerates unwinding vertical integration strategies, with Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount also pursuing structural changes in recent years. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Raymond James Financial posted fiscal third-quarter profit that beat estimates, driven by record revenue and a $26 million benefit from credit-loss provisions. "Our diversified business model continues to generate strong results across wealth management and capital markets," Chair and Chief Executive Officer Paul Reilly said in the statement. The company reported record net revenue for the quarter ended June 30, with growth across its wealth management, capital markets, and asset management segments. The provision for credit losses swung to a $26 million benefit from an expense in the prior-year period, reflecting improved credit quality. Total expenses rose, partially offsetting the revenue gains. The earnings beat signals resilient demand for wealth management and investment banking services despite a mixed macroeconomic backdrop. Investors will watch the fiscal Q4 outlook for signs of sustained momentum in capital markets activity. Raymond James' wealth management segment benefited from higher client asset levels and market appreciation, the company said. The capital markets unit also contributed to the record top line as investment banking fees and fixed-income trading revenue strengthened. The $26 million provision benefit compares with a provision expense in the same quarter last year, reflecting improved credit conditions in the company's lending portfolio. Higher compensation and technology costs weighed on expenses during the period. The results provide a positive read-through for the broader financial services sector, suggesting that consumer and corporate balance sheets remain healthy and that investment banking activity is recovering. Rivals such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have also reported improved wealth management and dealmaking revenue in recent quarters. The profit beat shows management expects continued strength across wealth management and capital markets. Investors will watch the fiscal Q4 earnings call for updated commentary on expense trends and deal pipeline activity. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

A securities class action has been filed against BitGo Holdings Inc. alleging the company misled investors about its exposure to digital asset price declines. BTGO shares lost more than 57% from their $18 IPO price after the crypto custodian reported a $14.8 million net loss for 2025, swinging from a $156.6 million profit a year earlier. A class action lawsuit hit BitGo Holdings Inc. on July 23, alleging the crypto custodian misled investors about its vulnerability to digital asset price declines. "Investors deserve transparency about material risks that could affect their investments," Joseph E. Levi, managing partner at Levi & Korsinsky LLP, said. "When consistent reassurances about business fundamentals effectively override cautionary language, shareholders may be left without the information they need to make informed decisions." The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, covers investors who bought BTGO shares in the company's January 2026 IPO or between Jan. 22, 2025 and May 13, 2026. BitGo sold 11.8 million shares at $18 each in its IPO, raising $187.6 million. The stock closed at $7.67 on March 27 after the company reported a $14.8 million net loss for 2025, compared with $156.6 million in net income in 2024. Digital Asset Sales margins fell to 0.21% from 0.47% a year earlier. The shares fell another 17% on May 14 after BitGo posted a $60.7 million net loss for the first quarter of 2026. The complaint alleges BitGo's offering documents and public statements repeatedly described the company's business fundamentals as "strong and resilient," effectively negating risk-factor warnings about the impact of digital asset price volatility on its percentage-based fee model. Staking revenue fell 16% year over year for 2025 and 64% in the fourth quarter alone, according to the filing. Three law firms — Robbins LLP, Levi & Korsinsky LLP, and Bernstein Liebhard LLP — have announced the class action, which seeks damages for investors who purchased shares during the class period. The court has set Aug. 7, 2026 as the deadline for investors to apply for lead plaintiff appointment. The lawsuit adds legal risk to a stock that has already lost more than half its value since going public. Investors will watch for any settlement announcements or additional disclosures from BitGo as the case proceeds through the Eastern District of New York. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.