Latest news with #SGI
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea suffers OECD's 4th-biggest AI brain drain
South Korea, despite being a leading producer of educated professionals in artificial intelligence and science, is rapidly losing talent to countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan and Germany, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce's Sustainable Growth Initiative. In 2024, South Korea recorded a net loss of 0.36 AI experts per 10,000 people. That puts it near the bottom of the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, at 35th place. Luxembourg, by comparison, gained 8.92 persons per 10,000 people. Germany gained 2.34 and the US 1.07. This measure subtracts the number of local professionals leaving the country from those coming in. In Korea's case, the gap is growing wider every year. This trend marks a reversal from what had been a modest but positive inflow of AI talent into South Korea. Just five years ago, in 2020, the country recorded a net gain. That has since shifted to a steady and worsening outflow. The broader science sector tells a similar story. In 2021, Korea's rate of scientists moving abroad (2.85 percent) was higher than the rate of foreign scientists moving in (2.64 percent). This placed Korea 33rd out of 43 countries in terms of scientific talent retention. The US is the top attractive destination for Korean researchers. The US issued 5,684 high-skilled EB-1 and EB-2 visas to Korean nationals in 2023. That is roughly 11 per 100,000 people, a far higher rate than China (0.94), Japan (0.86) and even India (1.44). And 71.1 percent of Korean Ph.D. graduates in the US reported plans to stay there long-term, a rise from the previous five years, when it had stayed below 70 percent. The SGI report identifies several structural issues behind the exodus. Chief among them is Korea's rigid and hierarchical workplace culture, which many young professionals find stifling. Compensation is also a major issue. The median starting salary for assistant professors in Korea is about $32,000 a year. In the US, it's over 83,000. Countries like Japan ($46,000) and Germany ($70,000) also pay significantly more. In addition, the report posits that Korea's 52-hour workweek cap, though intended to protect workers, often limits the flexibility that high-performing researchers need. Other countries make exceptions. The US, for instance, exempts many high-earning professionals from strict working hours regulations. Japan and Germany also allow special provisions for researchers in advanced fields. With Korea's working-age population shrinking and the research workforce projected to decline by over 20 percent by 2040, the report warns that the country faces a future where it trains the world's talent but struggles to keep enough of it to sustain its own growth. SGI recommends sweeping policy changes, including performance-based pay, flexible work arrangements for high-skilled professionals, and structured incentives for overseas Koreans to return. 'We're watching the foundation of Korea's scientific future quietly erode,' said SGI researcher Kim Cheon-goo. 'And we are helping build it elsewhere.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LOVE or SGI: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
Investors looking for stocks in the Retail - Home Furnishings sector might want to consider either Lovesac (LOVE) or Somnigroup International (SGI). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look. The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits. Currently, Lovesac has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Somnigroup International has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that LOVE has an improving earnings outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors. Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels. The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value. LOVE currently has a forward P/E ratio of 24.26, while SGI has a forward P/E of 26.18. We also note that LOVE has a PEG ratio of 0.69. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. SGI currently has a PEG ratio of 1.70. Another notable valuation metric for LOVE is its P/B ratio of 1.46. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, SGI has a P/B of 4.95. These metrics, and several others, help LOVE earn a Value grade of A, while SGI has been given a Value grade of D. LOVE sticks out from SGI in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that LOVE is the better option right now. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Lovesac Company (LOVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Somnigroup International Inc. (SGI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Apex Labs Granted Israel MoH Approval to Expand Phase 2b Macrodose Psilocybin PTSD Clinical Trial
Israel's Ministry of Health (MoH) approval to add additional sites to APEX SUMMIT-90 160 patient phase 2b macrodose clinical trial: Tel Aviv University (TAU)'s Institute for Psychedelic Research located at the Sagol Brain Institute (SGI) in Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Be'er Yaakov Mental Hospital (Merhavim) Center for Psychedelic Studies. For more information or to register visit (Canada) and (Israel). VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apex Labs Ltd. (APEX or the Company), a pharmaceutical company transforming the standard of mental health care with psilocybin is pleased to announce the approval by the Israeli MoH and IRBs to open two additional clinical trial sites for SUMMIT-90. The trial is a double-blind, placebo controlled phase 2b study evaluating multiple doses of APEX-90, a psilocybin macrodose utilizing APEX's US patent pending capsule. APEX-90 is administered in-clinic with study-assisted psychotherapy for severe depression within diagnosed PTSD. Israel is facing a severe mental health crisis: 44% of adults report depression and 42% PTSD, far above the 8–13% depression and 6–10% PTSD rates seen in the US and Canada. This MoH approval leverages the expertise of TAU's renowned SGI and Merhavim Hospital, which both have a rich history of pioneering research in neurological sciences. Their cutting-edge facilities and teams profound understanding of PTSD dynamics are poised to add patient recruitment expertise. 'I am honoured to have been able to facilitate this new partnership; another example of building important bridges between Canada and Israel in innovative clinical research, which will result in advancing patient access to emerging treatments,' says Sharon J. Fraenkel, TAU Canada's CEO for Ottawa, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, on behalf of the organization. 'As someone deeply connected to Israel, witnessing the toll of PTSD among my loved ones, I'm driven to lead research that brings hope and healing,' says Alysa Langburt, APEX's VP of Global Clinical Development. 'This marks more than a clinical milestone, it represents a fundamental step towards transforming the mental health landscape in Canada and Israel, where the need has never been greater. Through our incredible partnerships, we aim to catalyze a shift in access, care and outcomes for those suffering with PTSD.' "SUMMIT-90 offers a beacon of hope for the significant numbers suffering from PTSD in Canada and Israel,' says Tyler Powell, co-Founder and CEO of APEX. 'It underscores our commitment to global mental health innovation and our belief in the opportunity for clinically proven psilocybin therapies to transform mental health care.' About Apex Labs is a patient-driven pharmaceutical company focused on revolutionizing the standard of mental health care with psilocybin. APEX's strategy is two-pronged, clinical evaluation of drug assets alongside a robust Early Access Program. APEX recognizes and prioritizes Veterans as a patient base with the most severe unmet medical need. Visit for more information and follow APEX on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability to control or predict, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: receiving authorization of Health Canada Dealers Licence; filing US provisional patent, the Company evaluating the safety and efficacy of APEX-52 (psilocybin) and APEX-90 (psilocybin) in treating depression in Veterans and patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; statements related to APEX-52 and APEX-90, including manufacturing, dosing, and trial details; statements made by the Company's executives with respect to Health Canada's Dealer's Licence and capsule patent filing; the Company's efforts around the Early Access Program; statements made relating to Canadian Veteran patients; approvals by the Israeli Ministry of Health and ethics; the inherent risks involved in the general securities markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements' best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. SOURCE Apex Labs Ltd. CONTACT: For further information: info@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SGI Q1 Earnings Call: Revenue Miss, Guidance Cut, and Tariff Mitigation Plans Detailed
Bedding manufacturer Somnigroup (NYSE:SGI) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales rose 34.9% year on year to $1.6 billion. Its non-GAAP EPS of $0.49 per share was 5.1% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy SGI? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.6 billion (34.9% year-on-year growth) Adjusted EPS: $0.49 vs analyst estimates of $0.47 (5.1% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $182.8 million vs analyst estimates of $185.4 million (11.4% margin, 1.4% miss) Management lowered its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $2.47 at the midpoint, a 11.6% decrease Operating Margin: 0.8%, down from 11.1% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $13.6 billion Somnigroup's first quarter performance was shaped by the initial integration of Mattress Firm and the ongoing launch of new product lines, particularly the Sealy Posturepedic collection in North America. CEO Scott Thompson cited 'continued strong performance in our international business' and highlighted solid mid-single-digit sales growth in key markets, despite the impact of foreign exchange. Management also addressed weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer demand over the President's Day period and a challenging market backdrop. The company's operational focus included expanding distribution, accelerating private label initiatives, and streamlining logistics, all of which were intended to counteract industry headwinds and drive market share gains. Looking forward, Somnigroup's revised outlook reflects lowered expectations for the U.S. bedding market, with management now projecting a mid-single-digit industry decline for the year. CFO Bhaskar Rao attributed the guidance cut primarily to a 'rapid change in consumer confidence or sentiment in the U.S.,' describing it as volatile and policy-driven. The company plans to offset new tariff costs by combining supplier negotiations and price increases, which are set to take effect in the third quarter. Management emphasized upcoming marketing campaigns and the ongoing rollout of the Sealy collection as potential drivers for a modest second-half improvement, though they cautioned that overall industry demand is likely to remain subdued. Management discussed the integration of Mattress Firm, evolving market conditions, and the company's response to tariff developments as major themes impacting the quarter. International business momentum: The international segment, led by the Tempur brand, delivered mid-single-digit sales growth on a reported basis and high single digits in constant currency. Management highlighted the success of new Tempur products and an expanded price range that increased distribution opportunities and market reach. Sealy Posturepedic launch progress: The comprehensive rebranding and rollout of the Sealy Posturepedic collection in North America was a major operational focus. Early locations showed encouraging results, and the product is expected to be widely available by Memorial Day, supported by a national advertising campaign. Mattress Firm integration and synergies: Somnigroup completed the first phase of integrating Mattress Firm, focusing on leadership alignment, cost reduction, and logistics optimization. The company increased its near-term synergy target for 2025 to $15 million and is leveraging Mattress Firm's home delivery network for enhanced operational efficiency. Tariff mitigation strategy: Facing new tariffs, Somnigroup acted to reduce exposure through supplier changes and cost-sharing arrangements. The remaining impact will be addressed by a 2% price increase in North America, effective in the third quarter, with management expecting the combination of actions to fully offset the tariff cost. Advertising and merchandising changes: Somnigroup is doubling down on advertising scale, aiming for more effective campaigns by aligning messaging and leveraging buying power. Mattress Firm is also expanding its assortment through new vendor partnerships and increasing the share of Tempur Sealy-manufactured products, including an expanded private label offering. Somnigroup's updated outlook centers on cautious U.S. consumer sentiment, cost pressures from tariffs, and the pace of synergy realization from the Mattress Firm acquisition. Consumer confidence uncertainty: Management attributed the lower guidance to a double-digit decline in U.S. consumer confidence, which it sees as the main determinant of short-term demand. While this index is considered highly volatile and policy-sensitive, any recovery in sentiment could improve sales trends. Tariff pass-through and cost management: The company expects to manage increased tariff-related costs by shifting suppliers and raising prices. While these actions are intended to neutralize the margin impact, there is a lag in implementation, leading to a temporary headwind in the second quarter. New product and marketing initiatives: The ongoing rollout of the Sealy Posturepedic collection and the reimagined Mattress Firm advertising campaign are expected to drive incremental demand in the second half. Management is also focused on merchandising changes and expanded vendor partnerships to enhance store traffic and average order value. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the pace of synergy realization and operational improvements following the Mattress Firm acquisition, (2) the market response to new product launches and expanded vendor partnerships, and (3) the effectiveness of tariff mitigation and price increase strategies. Progress on these fronts, as well as shifts in U.S. consumer confidence, will be key indicators of future performance. Somnigroup currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 22.7×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. 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Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Group led by Mary McAleese gives update on 2027 Gaelic games integration target
The Steering Group on Integration (SGI) says it remains committed to its target of bringing the three Gaelic games governing bodies together by 2027. The SGI, which is led by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, has issued an update on where the process is at, with a Central Fixtures Oversight Committee established last month while a separate working group, chaired by former Munster chairman Ger Ryan, is charged with producing a new structure for county boards and provincial councils in the new integrated model. In a statement, the establishment of the fixtures oversight committee was described as a 'significant step towards full integration of Camogie, GAA and LGFA and a fixtures programme for all'. 'The purpose of this group is to take a wide-angle view of fixtures across the three associations with a long-term vision for fixtures in one association,' the statement read. 'There is also a requirement for a high-level vision towards integrated fixtures which would see the development of a protocol around the provision of facilities across all codes, in one association.' The other working group led by Ryan, who has been touted as a candidate in next February's GAA presidential election, is 'committed to delivering on the task at hand before the end of 2025'. With many clubs already operating off a 'one club model', it is hoped to update this template by the end of the year also. The stated aim of the SGI has been to have all three organisations successfully integrated by 2027, which some feel is an overly ambitious target given the complexities involved, but it has doubled down on this target, saying that 'the goal is to have one single membership for all' by then and that 'there is a clear commitment to deliver an Integrated Association for all by 2027'. Commenting on the process at this stage in its development, President McAleese urged 'all stakeholders to do everything they can to make an integrated mindset a reality'. She said: 'From the beginning of the integration process the Steering Group has engaged with and listened intently to the fullest range of the many stakeholders in Gaelic games and culture, from players through to government, and every cohort between. 'We have welcomed their views and they have greatly assisted in our comprehensive planning which is moving us steadily towards an integrated organisation bearing the name GAA and benefitting from the collaborative approach and experience of the three organisations. 'I urge all stakeholders to do everything they can to make an integrated mindset a reality in their sphere of influence. It is our future and making it happen is the responsibility of all."
