$VPER up 36%

Dividend Hike: A Sign of Strength When a company like Aflac, with its sprawling presence both in the U.S. and Japan, decides to hike its dividend, it says a lot more than any quarterly report ever could. They just announced a 4.9% bump in the first quarter 2027 dividend, pushing it to $0.64 per share. You better believe this isn't just a pat on the back for their...

Diving into Kroll's New Geoeconomic Risk Index When global storms brew, businesses yearn for a reliable compass. In swoops Kroll with its Geoeconomic Risk Index—a new tool aimed at taking the mystique out of geopolitical and economic uncertainties to forecast their impact on businesses' bottom lines. Understanding the Index This isn't just another fancy gadget for the...

Spotlight on Ardelyx: The Legal Smoke Signal Ah, lawsuits. They're like bad weather for companies—sometimes, you know they're coming, and they still hit you hard. Ardelyx's investors who've been in the game from January 13, 2025, to August 6, 2026, are now dealing with just such a storm. What's the Lawsuit Racket? Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a securities law firm that seems...

QFIN Executives in Legal Hot Water Qfin Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN) is in a tight spot as a securities class action lawsuit casts a harsh spotlight on its senior executives. The CEO and CFO, during the contested class period, are front and center in this legal tangle. Qfin's stockholders are grappling with losses, and it's all tied back to some certified SEC filings...

Meola's Strategic Move to Quandary Peak Some folks got a knack for solving more than just ordinary puzzles, and Matthew Meola happens to be one of them. This guy's spent 13 years knee-deep in litigation consulting, wrangling with the big boys over patent, software copyright, and trade secret disputes. Now, he's teamed up with Quandary Peak Research, and it's not just any...

Florida's Call for Safeguarding Kids Online You know, it's not every day you see a political agreement that can unite parents regardless of which side of the fence they're on, but this one seems to be doing the trick. The call for better online safety measures for kids in Florida is gaining serious muscle, with two-thirds of parents backing the state's participation in a...

Innovative Twist on a Common Household Item Most folks don't give a second thought to the humble wall plate. It's just something you see, not something you think about until—bam!—sparks fly. But here's the scribble from a couple of bright minds down in Elko, Nev.: they've cooked up something called the SAFE WALL PLATE. Their goal? To patch up a glaring safety flaw...

Thailand's Wellness Economy Flexes its Muscles When your economy grows at a clip of 8.8% in a single year, folks in the investment world start raising their eyebrows, and Thailand’s been doing just that with its booming wellness sector. In 2025, the numbers came rolling in, tall and proud, marking Thailand’s wellness economy at a hefty $46.5 billion. This is not just...

Voyageurs' Skyward Triumph: A Stellar Win for Conservation Ah, the night sky. That vast, galaxy-speckled canvas we too often ignore, drowned out by urban light pollution. But hey, not in Voyageurs National Park, no sir. This gem's just snagged the 2026 International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award, handed out by those watchful folks at DarkSky International. It's a...

UMG Steps into the Spotlight at Morgan Stanley Event Music, money, and technology—it's a compelling trio. Universal Music Group (EURONEXT: UMG) is sending its heavyweights, Matt Ellis and Michael Nash, to the Morgan Stanley European Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on November 18, 2026. This isn't just any run-of-the-mill industry hobnob. We're talking about the...

Paycor HCM, Inc. Announces Tiffany Sieve as New CMO Paycor HCM, Inc. (Nasdaq: PYCR), a leading provider of human capital management software, has officially promoted Tiffany Sieve to the position of Chief Marketing Officer. In her new role, Sieve is set to play a crucial part in steering the company towards its ambitious goal of reaching $1 billion in revenue. She will...

Exciting Prizes Await in BTCC Exchange's Halloween Campaign BTCC, the exceedingly reputable cryptocurrency exchange, has introduced an exhilarating campaign to celebrate Halloween, known as the Spooktacular Halloween Night of Fortune. This unique initiative, running from October 24 to October 31, invites participants to engage in futures trading while unlocking impressive...

ASM Capital Group's Vision for American Whiskey Today, ASM Capital Group, a leader in spirit investments, is excited to announce the launch of the ASM Capital Whiskey Fund. This unique fund is specifically focused on promoting the American Single Malt Whiskey category, a designation recently recognized by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The ASM Capital...

Navigate Tax Season Smoothly with W-2 Insights As tax season approaches, it becomes increasingly crucial for employees to understand their Form W-2, officially known as the Wage and Tax Statement. This document is essential when reporting income and tax withholdings to the IRS. With the 2024 Form W-2 deadline fast approaching, it is vital to thoroughly review this form...

GlobalPlatform Aims to Streamline IoT Security Compliance In an ever-evolving digital landscape, GlobalPlatform is urging manufacturers of connected devices to adopt its innovative "Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms" (SESIP) methodology. This initiative aims to assist in meeting the stringent requirements set forth by the European Union’s new Cyber...