Latest news with #Reno
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Google AI Mode May Kill Online Media As New Ads Boost Reddit Stock
Google AI Overview and AI Mode could further slash online media revenue. Will Reddit capitalize on its user-generated content to defy this trend? The Google AI logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo in Reno, United States, ... More on December 18, 2024. (Photo Illustration by Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images) AI chatbots are replacing Google search which devastates some online publishers' traffic. Publishers are cutting staff and are struggling to makeup for lost revenue. Reddit's licensing of its content to Google and others may not be sufficient to forestall the collapse of online media. The news business — which has suffered disruption for decades — is poised for more trouble ahead. That's because more people are using AI chatbots to find information — which is cutting into Google's search traffic, according to the Wall Street Journal. To win back users, Google has introduced AI summaries which return to users enough of the answer that they do not click on the link to read the original document. In so doing, the content creators are getting much less traffic. Organic search traffic to Business Insider and related websites fell by 55% between April 2022 and April 2025, according to data from Similarweb featured in a Journal report. As a result, their revenue is declining and some are cutting staff to keep from burning through their remaining cash. For instance, Business Insider cut 21% of its staff in May, noted the Journal. On the surface, Reddit appears to be a beneficiary of the rise in Google's AI summaries. However, analysts appear divided on whether the fees Reddit receives from Google and other AI chatbot makers will be sufficient to boost its stock, reported Investor's Business Daily. Reddit is optimistic about the future. 'Ever-shifting macro environments like these create both challenges and opportunities,' Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said in a May letter to shareholders featured by CNBC. 'We're well-positioned to meet this moment.' The news industry's business model has been under attack for decades. The rise of AI chatbots threaten to deliver a fatal blow. Until the Internet came along in the 1990s and made news available online in exchange for watching display advertising, local newspapers were a highly profitable duopoly, according to Warren Buffett and his Newspaper Investments, a business school case I co-authored. Since then Buffett has shed most of those formerly prized local newspapers in March 2020, according to the Nebraska Examiner. A few months later, I published Goliath Strikes Back: How Traditional Retailers Are Winning Back Customers From Ecommerce Startups. In addition to examining the disruption of five other industries and how established companies responded, the book highlights how various Internet companies most notably Google profited from wiping out the profitability of local newspapers. Here's a quick summary: Since the digital disruption began decades ago, online content providers and local newspapers have changed their strategies — many have sold themselves to private equity firms and publishers. As these online content providers operate under new ownership. Google has changed how online content shows up in its search results and content providers have struggled to keep up. In the last year, generative AI has taken a fresh bite out of online content revenue streams. If you have used Google recently, you have noticed AI overviews — which search the most relevant documents related to a user search and returns a summary of the content. While AI overviews include links to the sources, more users are choosing not to click on them. The result is plunging online content traffic. Since 2022, traffic from organic search to 'HuffPost's desktop and mobile websites fell by just over half,' noted the Journal and by 'nearly that much at the Washington Post, according to Similarweb data featured by the Journal. A more serious threat to online content is on the horizon — Google's AI Mode which responds to user queries 'in a chatbot-style conversation, with far fewer links,' the Journal reported. While currently optional, Google says AI Mode is here to stay. "This is the future of Google Search," Google's head of Search, Liz Reid, said according to the BBC. Online content business leaders are not taking this threat lying down.'Google is shifting from being a search engine to an answer engine,' Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson said in a Journal interview. In response to the likelihood Google search traffic will evaporate, 'We have to develop new strategies,' Thompson added. AI Overviews cut the traffic volume Google sends to websites by between 30% and 70%, BBC reported. What's more, analyses have also found that Thompson's 'zero click' scenario is not far-fetched because 'some 60% of Google searches are now ending without the user visiting a single link,' wrote the BBC. To be fair, AI Overviews have boosted impressions 49% across the web, according to the data analysis firm BrightEdge featured in the BBC's report. However, since people get their answers from the AI, click on the links have fallen 30%, BBC noted. The new strategies Thompson advocated aim to connect news sites directly with readers. Atlantic is doing that by running live conferences, offering an improved app, printing more magazines, and investing more in events. The result is a rise in subscriptions and advertising revenue, Thompson told the Journal. One possible remedy for content providers — which Atlantic highlights — is to maintain direct access to your content consumers. One such publicly-traded online content provider is Reddit — which went public in March 2024 and has since defied my then-gloomy view of its prospects about which I wrote in a February 2024 Forbes post. Reddit shares have risen 191% since going public. Why? In May 2025, Reddit posted strong sales — Q1 revenue rose 61% to $392 million ($22 million more than London Stock Exchange Group projects, according to CNBC) — and upbeat guidance — $34 million more than the LSEG consensus estimate of $396 million. Reddit benefited from recent changes to Google search and internal site improvements — such as convincing logged-out users to open accounts since 'logged-in accounts are more beneficial to advertisers,' reported CNBC. To boost ad revenue, Reddit debuted two AI-powered marketing tools to help advertisers aim advertising to Reddit discussion boards, noted CNBC. These include: The new tools may help advertisers to 'connect meaningfully with high-intent communities around the world,' according to a company release. Reddit faces challenges ahead — most notably macroeconomic uncertainty. 'We've grown through challenging times before — people need connection and information just as much in uncertain times,' Reddit operating chief Jen Wong said during the company's earnings call. While 'there's a lot of uncertainty in the market,' it has been 'mostly business as usual,' Wong added. In addition, Reddit and Google have a complex relationship — featuring good and bad news for investors. Google entered into a $60 million partnership in which the search giant pays Reddit content to train its AI models, reported Business Insider. What's more, Reddit is the second most-cited website in Google AI Overviews, following Quora, according to Analytics firm Semrush data featured by BusinessInsider. Since much of that traffic comes from logged-out users, the value to Reddit is less significant than it would be if the users logged in and readers are less likely to click on the Reddit links in the AI Overview, according to Redburn analysts quoted by BusinessInsider. One analyst lowered his price target for Reddit from $168 to $115. How so? With more than half of Reddit users logged out, Wells Fargo analyst Ken Gawrelski fears the company will not be able to beat and raise in future quarters despite its new tool aimed at boosting logged-in users, according to IBD. Gawrelski is more pessimistic than his peers. The 23 Wall Street analysts with price targets see 25% upside of the company meets their average target of $147.71, noted TipRanks.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
AppLovin Stock: Worth It At $365?
The AppLovin Corporation logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo in Reno, ... More United States, on December 20, 2024. (Photo by Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images) AppLovin (NASDAQ:APP), a firm that assists mobile app developers in publishing and promoting their applications, has excelled over the past year, though it has experienced some ups and downs in 2025. While the stock dropped nearly 57% from the peaks observed in early February 2025 following a report from a short-seller claiming AppLovin violated service terms and exaggerated the success of its e-commerce operations, these claims have yet to be substantiated, and the stock saw a strong recovery after reporting solid earnings in the first quarter. The stock is currently approximately 7% up year-to-date in 2025 and has increased nearly 4.5x over the previous year. Demand for Axon 2.0, AppLovin's exclusive machine learning algorithm for ad placement, has surged. The software effectively determines which ad to show, to which user, and at what time in order to optimize click-through rates or user engagement. While this resembles the strategies employed by Meta and Google, Axon is specifically designed for mobile app advertising. The company's advertising platform reported impressive revenue growth of 71% year-over-year in Q1 2025, achieving $1.16 billion. Overall financial results have also been strong, with revenue soaring nearly 40% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA experiencing an increase close to 83%. Although the bulk of the company's revenue still comes from advertisements for mobile gaming applications, it is concentrating on expanding its e-commerce sector. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how effective this initiative will be, as AppLovin possesses an extensive dataset in gaming but may lack the comprehensive first-party e-commerce data that competitors like Meta and Alphabet have. That being said, despite its impressive growth and success, the AppLovin stock may be a challenging choice at its current price of approximately $360. We believe there is little reason for concern regarding APP stock, which makes it appealing, but it is also very responsive to negative events due to its elevated valuation. We reached this conclusion by comparing APP's current valuation with its operational performance over the past few years, as well as its current and historical financial positions. Our evaluation of AppLovin according to key metrics such as Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Downturn Resilience indicates that the company possesses a very strong operational performance and financial standing, as elaborated below. Nonetheless, if you are looking for potential with lower volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers a viable alternative - having outperformed the S&P 500 and delivered returns greater than 91% since its founding. Separately, see – Should You Buy CRWV Stock After A Whopping 4x Rise? Based on the amount you pay per dollar of sales or profit, APP stock appears to be very expensive relative to the overall market. • AppLovin has a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 25.1 compared to a figure of 3.0 for the S&P 500 • Additionally, the company's price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) ratio stands at 50.8 compared to 20.5 for the S&P 500 • Furthermore, it has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 67.1 compared to the benchmark's 26.4 AppLovin's Revenues have substantially increased over the last few years. • AppLovin has experienced an average revenue growth rate of 23.2% over the last 3 years (versus an increase of 5.5% for the S&P 500) • Its revenues have risen 41.6% from $3.6 billion to $5.1 billion in the past 12 months (compared to a rise of 5.5% for the S&P 500) • Moreover, its quarterly revenues increased by 40.3% to $1.5 billion in the most recent quarter from $1.1 billion a year prior (versus a 4.8% increase for the S&P 500) AppLovin's profit margins are significantly higher than most companies within the Trefis coverage universe. • AppLovin's Operating Income over the last four quarters was $2.4 billion, indicating a significantly high Operating Margin of 46.5% (compared to 13.2% for the S&P 500) • AppLovin's Operating Cash Flow (OCF) for this period was $2.5 billion, indicating a significantly high OCF Margin of 49.4% (versus 14.9% for the S&P 500) • For the last four-quarter span, AppLovin's Net Income was $1.9 billion - reflecting a significantly high Net Income Margin of 37.4% (compared to 11.6% for the S&P 500) AppLovin's balance sheet appears solid. • AppLovin reported a Debt figure of $3.7 billion at the end of the most recent quarter, while its market capitalization is $124 billion (as of 6/13/2025). This results in a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.9%(in contrast to 19.9% for the S&P 500). [Note: A low Debt-to-Equity Ratio is preferable] • Cash (including cash equivalents) constitutes $551 million of the $5.7 billion in Total Assets for AppLovin. This gives rise to a moderate Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 9.7% (in comparison to 13.8% for the S&P 500) APP stock has underperformed compared to the benchmark S&P 500 index during several recent downturns. While investors remain hopeful for a smooth economic adjustment in the U.S., the potential consequences of another recession could be severe. Our dashboard How Low Can Stocks Go During A Market Crash illustrates the performance of key stocks during and after the last six market crashes. • APP stock declined 91.9% from a high of $114.85 on 11 November 2021 to $9.30 on 27 December 2022, compared to a peak-to-trough drop of 25.4% for the S&P 500 • The stock completely rebounded to its pre-Crisis peak by 16 September 2024 • Since then, the stock has risen to a maximum of $510.13 on 17 February 2025 and currently trades at around $360 • APP stock dropped 36.7% from a high of $88.22 on 17 June 2021 to $55.88 on 16 August 2021, in comparison to a peak-to-trough decline of 33.9% for the S&P 500 • The stock completely recovered to its pre-Crisis high by 14 October 2021 In conclusion, AppLovin's performance across the parameters mentioned previously can be summarized as follows: • Growth: Extremely Strong • Profitability: Extremely Strong • Financial Stability: Very Strong • Downturn Resilience: Weak • Overall: Very Strong Therefore, despite its high valuation, the stock seems attractive yet volatile due to its poor downturn resilience. This leads us to affirm that APP is a challenging stock to purchase. Not satisfied with the volatility associated with APP stock? The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which consists of 30 stocks, has demonstrated a history of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the past four years. Why is this the case? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have provided superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; offering a smoother experience, as shown in the HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a ‘reliable' $160 retractable car charger for $20, and shoppers say it's ‘convenient and fast'
The Walmart, Inc. logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo in Reno, United States Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. A messy car can cause anxiety and stress. That's why it's important to have the proper cleaning equipment to make sure your vehicle is tidy and dirt-free. There's also instances when a cluttered car needs to be organized. If you have an endless amount of wires and chargers in your vehicle, we've found the perfect solution for you. Right now, Walmart is having a jaw-dropping sale on the Tikland 4-in-1 Retractable Car Charger, and you can grab the device for 88% off. Tikland 4-in-1 Retractable Car Charger, $20 (was $160) at Walmart For the low price of $20, you can add this versatile and compact charger to your vehicle. It is equipped with a 33W PD USB-C port and a 15W USB-A port that can charge up to four devices at the same time. You can charge anything from cell phones and tablets to wireless headphones and digital cameras. Its retractable cable includes a type C cable and USB-C lightning adapter that can extend up to 31.5 inches, making it long enough to reach the front and back seats of your car. One shopper wrote, 'This 4-in-1 car charger is convenient and fast, charging multiple devices simultaneously with no hassle!' Another added, 'Powerful car charger.' 'A reliable car charging companion,' said another reviewer. 'This car charger charges quickly, operates safely and steadily, making it perfect for long trips.' The charger measures 5 inches long, 2.2 inches wide, and 1.25 inches high, so it won't take up too much space on your console. It can swivel 180 degrees, making it adjustable for different needs and car interiors. The device also uses a LED status indicator and voltage display feature to monitor the battery level of whatever device you are charging. 'Amazing car charging tool,' wrote another customer. 'This car charger charges rapidly, is very safe, easy to use, and perfect for daily travel.' Get rid of all the unnecessary extra wires in your vehicle with this $20 retractable car charger. It will truly make your charging experience a whole lot better. About the Author Victoria Garcia View Profile
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Top fantasy baseball prospects: Brady House joining the Nationals, James Tibbs traded to Boston
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025. That out of the way, here's a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season. 1. Brady House, INF, Washington Nationals2025 stats: 65 G, .304/.353/.519, 13 HR, 0 SB, 20 BB, 75 SO at Triple-A Rochester. For the third straight week, we get to cheat. House will be called up Monday against the Rockies to make his MLB debut. Yes, the Rockies still count as an MLB team, how dare you insinuate otherwise. House has considerable power in his right-handed bat, and while he does have swing-and-miss issues -- issues might be an understatement as you can tell from those strikeout totals -- he makes enough hard contact to compensate. Don't be surprised if there are some highs and lows for House in his first taste of MLB action, but he's worthy of a roster add for those looking for an offensive spark in their fantasy lineup. 2. Jordan Lawlar, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks 2025 stats: 49 G, .324/.405/.583, 9 HR, 16 SB, 25 BB, 59 SO at Triple-A Reno; 8 G .000/.175/.000, 0 SB, 3 BB, 9 SO at Arizona. It's worth noting that Geraldo Perdomo suffered an injury during Sunday's game, but as of publication there was no word about a potential replacement or if said replacement is necessary. Lawlar's average has taken a dip since being demoted back to Reno, but he's seen his slugging percentage go up and had another homer and stole two more bags since our last update. Even with how disappointing his run with Arizona was, there's doubt in my mind that he belongs on this list. There's five tools at his disposal, and he offers as much upside as any prospect in the minors -- at least at the higher levels. When the Diamondbacks give him another chance this summer, I'd still be willing to make the roster move. 3. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles 2025 stats: 43 G, .264/.371/.588, 14 HR, 0 SB, 25 BB, 44 SO at Triple-A Norfolk. Now, things get tricky. The majority of the top prospects in baseball are either in the majors or in the lower levels, so while this is not just the 'best of a bad situation' it's not all that far off. That being said, Basallo and the next three prospects on this list are far from slouches. The left-handed hitting backstop has considerable power in his left-handed bat, and while he may not be able to hit for a high average, he draws a good amount of walks and will carry catcher-eligibility. He's getting the majority of his reps at catcher, but the Tides have also had him play first base. There's no guarantee Basallo gets a promotion soon, but he'll absolutely be worthy of a fantasy addition if/when it takes place this summer. 4. Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners 2025 stats: 52 G, .315/.427/.495, 8 HR, 3 SB, 36 BB, 42 SO at Triple-A Tacoma. Another catcher? And this time one who is in the same organization as the best catcher in baseball in Cal Raleigh? Have I lost my mind? Probably, but I can explain my rationale. Ford has been one of the best hitters in Triple-A over the last month-plus for an offense that has been inconsistent -- at best -- in that time frame. Ford is also athletic enough to play in the outfield and first base, and Mitch Garver and Donovan Solano are currently languishing on the Seattle roster. Seattle would be able to find a way to get Ford at-bats, and the tools are there for him to be a fantasy-relevant player once that takes place. 5. Chase Burns, RHP, Cincinnati Reds 2025 stats: 12 G, 59 IP, 1.83 ERA, .170 BAA, 13 BB, 82 SO at High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. Burns was the second-overall pick of last year's draft, and made his first start in Triple-A on Thursday while allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He did walk four,, but he also struck out seven in a very solid -- if unspectacular -- first outing at the second-highest level. Burns has as good of stuff as any prospect in the sport, and while it wasn't necessarily on display Thursday, he's able to command it at an impressive level. The one concern I have for Burns in 2025 is that the Reds may be looking to monitor his innings, but his ability to miss bats makes him well worth fantasy consideration if Cincinnati lets him make starts for the Reds this summer. All signs point to yes, even if he may be on a more rigid pitch count. Around the minors: Let's talk about James Tibbs, the top prospect acquired by the Red Sox in the blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers. Tibbs was selected with the 13th pick by the Giants out of Florida State -- one pick ahead of his collegiate teammate, Cam Smith -- and he's currently put together a.246/.379/.478 slash with 12 homers over 207 at-bats with High-A Eugene. The 22-year-old has plus power in his left-handed bat, and has a quality approach at the plate that should lead to a good amount of free passes. He's also prone to weak contact and will strike out at a pretty solid rate as seen in 45 strikeouts over 57 games, and he's a well below-average runner; hurting his chances of stolen bases and making his likely landing spot a corner-outfield role. He also may be a platoon player, so while there's a chance of him making an impact with Boston, his fantasy upside is a little more limited. Charlie Condon's season got off to a late start because of a fracture in his left wrist, but he's made up for lost time pretty quickly. Even after going hitless Sunday, Condon is still hitting an impressive .369 with an even more impressive .509 on-base percentage while slugging .488. The third-overall pick from last year's draft has enormous raw power in his right-handed bat, but he's shown that the hit tool isn't too shabby; albeit at the High-A level as a 22-year-old. Condon has gone a bit under the radar, but his offensive upside is considerable even before you consider the Coors Field factor. He should get a chance to shine at the upper levels before the 2025 season comes to a close, and he should be an everyday player by the end of 2026. Mariners infield prospect Michael Arroyo was hitting just .195 with a .718 OPS at the end of April at High-A Everett. That's not very good. He followed that up with an OPS of 1.001 in the month of May, and in June, he's been borderline unrealistic with a slash of .432/.563/.973. That'll play. Arroyo has tapped into his power quicker -- and better -- than anyone could have anticipated, and he stings the baseball to all parts of the field to give him a great chance to hit for average on top of it. There are some questions where he lands defensively even before you consider the Seattle infield situation, but whatever position he plays, Arroyo's offense plays at it and then some. He's maybe the most underrated fantasy prospect in the sport.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Gary man gets 70 years for killing marijuana dealer
A Gary man got 70 years Friday for killing a marijuana dealer. Tyrone Reno, 34, was convicted last month of murder in the Nov. 15, 2021, death of Quintez Johnson, 31, plus a gun enhancement. He faced up to 85 years. Johnson's two kids, aged 8 and 6, were in the apartment when he was shot. At trial, jurors viewed footage of an unmasked man running down a stairwell just after Johnson's death. They returned a guilty verdict after 15 minutes. Reno has said he is innocent and plans to appeal, his lawyer Natalie Williams said in court Friday, asking for a 45-year sentence. During lengthy remarks, Deputy Prosecutor Milana Petersen said Reno killed Johnson over cash and a 'little bit of weed.' She ultimately asked for 75 years. Johnson's mother, emotional on the stand, said her grandson still wouldn't eat spaghetti because it was the last dinner he ate with his dad. She expressed empathy for Reno's family. My son would have helped you, she told Reno. 'I just want to know why,' she said. 'He would have done anything you asked.' Earlier in the hearing, Petersen questioned Detective James Nielsen on videos from Reno's Facebook account. They showed him holding guns, money with rap music playing, or smoking. Williams objected throughout – saying they were posted in 2022 or later. His Facebook account was deactivated around the time of Johnson's death, she said. The lawyer argued there was no proof he was in a gang, a point Judge Salvador Vasquez agreed. Posting videos on Facebook with guns, money or rap music was not proof he lived a violent life. It was a false conjecture, she argued. Gary Police responded that day to an apartment building on the 1300 block of W. 5th Avenue for a homicide. Detectives found a trail of marijuana up the stairs to an open Pringles inside a third-floor apartment. Johnson was lying on the sofa. He had been shot twice in the head. There were no signs of struggle. Security cameras showed a Black man — later identified as Reno — arriving at Johnson's apartment, then fleeing about three minutes later. He had a handgun and a backpack with marijuana. Police believe Johnson was shot around 2 p.m. While a patrolman was writing a report at the Gary Police Station, 555 Polk St., a man who matched the one seen on the video walked by him and a colleague. He was wearing the same clothes, including a Black hoodie with white lining and brown tag. The other officer approached him. Reno gave his name, but he wasn't arrested, since the man in the video wasn't identified yet. Police learned Johnson started selling marijuana a month earlier to help pay his bills. Reno was arrested two years later. Investigators used 'facial recognition software' to help match security footage outside the Gary Police station to the man seen on camera at Johnson's apartment, court filings show. That left some questions on the software's accuracy. State lawmakers recently passed legislation to tighten standards for witness identification on photo lineups. It requires police to tell witnesses a suspect might not be in the lineup, cutting pressure to pick a photo; 'filler' photos – the non-suspects — have to look as close to a suspect as possible, and a witness' 'confidence' will have to be recorded. It also requires police to corroborate an identification by facial recognition software with other evidence. The law goes into effect July 1. mcolias@
