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Disney's "The Mandalorian and Grogu" tallied and estimated $82 million in domestic ticket sales through its first three days in theaters. View More

In this articleIMAXDISFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Still from Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu."Disney Walt Disney's "The Mandalorian and Grogu" jettisoned into theaters Friday, marking the first time in seven years that a new Star Wars film has launched on the big screen.Sunday estimates indicated that the film, based on the hit Disney+ show "The Mandalorian," surpassed initial box office projections, tallying $82 million in domestic ticket sales through its first three days in theaters. Official numbers will be released on Monday.While "The Mandalorian and Grogu" outpaced the $80 million that most box office analysts predicted, it has so far tallied less than 2018's "Solo: A Star Wars Story," which at $84 million was the previous lowest-opening Star Wars project in the era of Disney Star Wars releases, according to data from Comscore.Analysts foresee the film exceeding $100 million domestically for the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. Internationally, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" snapped up around $63 million in ticket sales.The film benefited from premium large format screenings like IMAX and Dolby Cinema, as 41% of tickets were sold for these upgraded, more expensive showings, according to data from EntTelligence. Standard tickets for the film averaged $16.01 apiece, while premium tickets cost an average of $19.43 each, the data company reported.However, the film's box office isn't the only metric that Disney will be keeping an eye on. The company's strategy doesn't just rely on ticket sales — it has other avenues for revenue growth, including merchandise, its streaming service and theme parks.Star Wars generates more than $1 billion in retail sales each year, even without a new title arriving in theaters.Additionally, "The Mandalorian" series is the most-watched original show on Disney+, with more than 1.3 billion hours watched globally. Viewership of the series and other Star Wars titles have gotten a bump on the platform in recent weeks because of the release of "The Mandalorian and Grogu."At its domestic theme parks, the company updated its "Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run" ride to feature a new mission featuring Grogu in the cockpit. At the same time the BDX droids featured in the film have reappeared in Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge themed area. Also, through its close partnership with developer Epic Games, Fortnite has introduced new environments, characters, vehicles and purchasable cosmetics for gamers. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Inflation and high debt levels continue cause financial anxiety for many Americans. Nonprofits can help with debt mangement. View More

Economic conditions like gas prices well above $4 a gallon, according to AAA estimates, and annual inflation nearing 4%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are pushing Americans' financial stress levels higher.The National Foundation for Credit Counseling expects Americans' economic stress levels to tick back up in the second quarter of the year after a slight fall in the first quarter, according to its quarterly Financial Stress Forecast released on Wednesday.  The forecast considers data on consumer counseling behavior as well as other broader economic indicators to predict trends in Americans' financial stability. It rates Americans' financial stress on a scale of 1 through 10, with 10 as the highest stress level. The rating has remained at or above 6.3 since the end of 2024, compared with a post-pandemic low of 3.5 in 2021. The forecast for the three months ending in June: 6.7. Americans "are entrenched in financial stress," Bruce McClary, senior vice president of membership and media relations at NFCC says — the result of elevated prices on top of near-historic highs of consumer debt on credit cards and auto loans. The nonprofit organization, which provides education and solutions for individuals struggling with their finances, especially debt management, reported a "significant surge" in consumers reaching out for credit counseling, which could be a warning sign for the broader economy, NFCC says. While it's encouraging to see individuals seeking help before they have run out of options and can't pay their bills at all, the widespread struggle could be evidence of the overall consumer economy's health declining, the organization says.Wednesday's reading "tells us that the pressure from sustained credit reliance and affordability challenges has reached a tipping point," Mike Croxson, CEO of NFCC, said in a press release. "Consumers want to manage their obligations responsibly, but their traditional capacity to do so is evaporating under current market conditions." How debt management plans can help reduce financial stress David Devaney understands the weight that comes off your shoulders when you get out of debt. The 80-year-old was recovering from a back injury and subsequent surgery in 2020 when he sought help to address his $45,000 in debt, he says. He racked up the debt on credit cards prior to his injury on normal cost-of-living expenses and occasionally helping his children with education bills or emergency expenses like car repairs, he says. He hadn't yet missed a payment on the credit card balances he owed, but he knew he would be struggling to keep up as he relearned how to walk after his surgery."I called my credit card holders and the banks and everything, and they wouldn't talk to me"," Devaney says. "They just said, 'Oh no, we can't help you.' I wasn't in arrears or anything, and they couldn't understand why I was calling."He was living on around $1,800 a month from Social Security, and though he resided in an affordable area in Arizona at the time, his debt payments were threatening his ability to stay afloat. After his banks declined to help him, Devaney reached out to AARP, which connected him with American Financial Solutions, a member organization of NFCC based in Seattle. The organization negotiated a debt management plan with Devaney's creditors on his behalf. High interest rates were the biggest factor preventing Devaney from being able to get out of debt on his own, he says. The credit counseling organization negotiated his minimum debt payments down to $900 a month from around $1,200, he says, and he paid around $35 a month as a fee to the organization. As his balance shrank, so did his minimum required payment, but he kept paying $900 a month and even upped his payments when he was able to start working and had extra money to put toward his debt."I found the right agency to [help me] pay it off, and they did a phenomenal job," he says. Devaney finished paying off his $45,000 in debt in 2024. He relocated to New Orleans to be closer to his family, and bought a house. He spent around $3,500 on a credit card furnishing the home, he says, but that and his mortgages are his only debts now. Who debt management plans are best for Anyone can enroll their unsecured debt in a debt management plan through NFCC's partners, McClary says. The credit counseling agencies work with creditors to reduce interest rates for individuals to help them pay down their debts. Enrollees can see their interest rates on debts such as credit cards and personal loans drop from around 25% to 10% or lower, he says."The late fees and over-limit fees are stopped when you enroll in the program based on agreements with the creditors, and you get the interest rate reduction, so it saves people thousands of dollars each year just by enrolling those accounts into debt management programs," he says.Michael Reynolds, a certified financial planner based in Indiana has recommended similar credit counseling services to his clients in the past and "they tend to be a good option for people who are struggling to get ahead of credit card debt, especially if they have multiple credit cards with high balances and high interest rates," he says."It's partly psychological and partly optimization, but I've seen really good success rates with these programs getting people out of debt," he adds.The debt management plans typically come with a fee of $30 to $40 a month, depending on the size of the debt, McClary says, "but the fees can be waived if you are in a situation of extreme hardship or if you blow the poverty line."McClary says NFCC has seen a growing number of consumers relying on credit to keep up with the cost of living, but that debt has become unmanageable for many."People are falling behind, and they're sliding off the edge with their credit card payments," he says. "They're primarily looking to get that back on track, but they're also looking for answers about how to get their budget in line with their income, how to return ... to some level of affordability that they're not seeing right now," he says.The silver lining, however, is that once people get their debt under control, they're often able to get the rest of their household budgets in line, McClary says."That is a viable option for people who are struggling, and there is a good chance of success for people who enroll, even under these difficult circumstances that we see in the economy," he says.Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC's new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today! Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.Gas prices are high right now. Use these 6 tools to save on fuel Does debt relief hurt your credit?The best high-yield savings accounts of May 2026Nearly half of Americans feel homeownership is impossible VIDEO8:3608:3644-year-old brings in $251,000 a year with 3 jobs in the Bay AreaMillennial Money

International graduates say a weak hiring market and changing immigration rules make it harder for them to achieve their American dream of working in the U.S. View More

Sakshi Patel has known since she was little that she wanted to study in the U.S. She says she pictured herself landing a job in New York City, the financial capital of the world, and living out her version of the American dream far from home.Patel, who earned her master's degree in financial management from Boston University in May 2025, says she has about two months left on her current work authorization and is job hunting full force. If she doesn't get a job within that time, she'll have to move back to her native India.As difficult as it is for recent college graduates to gain their footing in one of the worst entry-level job markets in recent memory, international graduates are also having to navigate an unpredictable immigration environment in order to jump-start their U.S.-based careers and lives. Faced with additional and increasing difficulties, some international students are putting together backup plans. After graduating last year, Patel, 23, began working as a business analyst with a nonprofit under the optional practical training program, or OPT, the work authorization available to international students after they graduate. After her one-year OPT expires this summer, though, she'll need to find an eligible job related to her degree, then apply for a STEM OPT extension of up to two years — available to some graduates with science, technology, engineering and math degrees — in order to stay in the U.S.Patel told CNBC Make It that she's been "making every effort" to network and land a job in the U.S. The experience has been tough, she says, but she remains optimistic: "I came with that dream to the United States, and I still hope to live that dream." International graduates face additional hurdles in tight job market Approximately 84,000 international students will earn bachelor's degrees from American universities in 2026, according to an analysis of National Center for Education Statistics data by the Economic Innovation Group. Sakshi Patel graduated with her master's degree in May 2025 and hopes to secure a full-time job in finance.Courtesy of subject As of 2025, about 306,000 international students were working toward their master's degrees and 153,000 toward their doctorate degrees, according to the latest available data from Open Doors, an information resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Tens of thousands of these students are likely to hit the U.S. job market after earning their advanced degrees this spring.Many new grads will enter a weakening labor market for young workers.Job postings on Handshake, the early career site, were down 2% between July 2025 and March 2026 compared with the same period the year prior, and down 12% from 2019-2020, just before the Covid pandemic. The unemployment rate for recent college grads age 22 to 27 stood at 5.6%, according to New York Fed data for March 2026, compared with 3.1% for all college graduates and 4.2% for all workers. There are students concerned about whether the U.S. is a place where they can build their careers.Erica FordInternational career development coach, Cornell University Erica Ford, an international career development coach at Cornell University, says job hunting has gotten more difficult for students in recent years, including for the 300 international students she directly supports each year.Students in STEM fields who would have been in high demand in previous years are now happy to get just one job offer, Ford says. Doctoral candidates are seeing a drop in research jobs and are pivoting to industry opportunities, and those going into the nonprofit sector are seeing their potential employers conduct layoffs, she adds.The low-hire job market negatively affects students as a whole, but international students have to navigate additional barriers, such as temporary work authorizations, Ford says."Some of the most common concerns are: Are employers still hiring international students right now?" she says. "Am I being screened out because of my temporary work authorization or because I said that I would need sponsorship in the future?" Whether due to immigration policy changes, the tighter labor market or a combination of multiple factors, data shows employers scaling back on opportunities for international grads: The share of full-time job postings offering visa sponsorship dropped from 10.9% in 2023 to just 2.6% in 2026, according to Handshake data provided to CNBC Make It, with the tech sector seeing the steepest decline. Before, there was this golden standard of coming to the U.S., staying in the U.S., [and] realizing your American dream. This dream is collapsing.David LiPh.D. candidate in Madison, Wisconsin Beyond the job market, international graduates face additional hurdles in a challenging immigration environment under the second Trump administration.For example, application processing for some immigration benefits, including the OPT program, has been paused for people from countries that are part of President Donald Trump's travel ban, Inside Higher Ed reports, leaving many F-1 visa holders in limbo and unable to begin working after graduation. Students are 'parallel planning' as their 'American dream ... is collapsing' Many international students are responding to the job market and immigration hurdles by taking more time to find opportunities and "parallel planning," Ford says.They're still pursuing opportunities in the U.S., she says, "but they're also looking either back home or in a third country that's not home and not the U.S.," especially across Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada and Australia.David Li, 29, a doctoral candidate in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says he plans to start looking for postdoctoral programs and jobs in academia in September. Given federal funding cuts to U.S. universities, he's also considering opportunities in Europe, his native China and elsewhere in Asia, he says.Li says the increasing strains around immigration have "shaken the confidence" of his peers who aspire to study and work in the U.S. Two years ago, if someone got an offer from a U.S. university to study, it was assumed to be their best option, Li says, but not anymore. He says many of his younger peers are now considering studying and starting careers in Hong Kong and Singapore instead."Before, there was this golden standard of coming to the U.S., staying in the U.S., [and] realizing your American dream," Li says. Now, "this dream is collapsing." VIDEO10:5610:56Why Gen Z job hunting is out of control right nowMake It The U.S. issued 97,000 fewer F-1 visas to international students to study full-time in the U.S. for the 2025-26 academic year than for the previous year, a 36% drop, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of State data by The Chronicle of Higher Education.The growing obstacles could have long-term impacts on incoming scholars, Ford says: "There are students concerned about whether the U.S. is a place where they can build their careers."The loss of international grads in the U.S. could also have broader economic consequences. Former international students from American universities have gone on to found one-quarter of U.S. startups valued at $1 billion or more, according to a 2022 analysis from nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The impact of the loss could be especially significant in STEM fields. Researchers say a one-third reduction in the number of international STEM graduates could lead to annual gross domestic product losses of $240 billion to $481 billion over the next decade, according to an October 2025 working paper published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. "The research literature provides strong and consistent evidence that high-skill immigration drives U.S. productivity and economic growth, with the largest effects from STEM-trained immigrants ... [arising from their] effects on new business formation, scientific discovery, and the patenting of new economic ideas," the authors wrote. Trump has previously said it's a good practice to allow international students to study in the U.S., particularly those from China, and that reducing their numbers could cause financial harm to the university system, Fox News reported in November. Those comments stand in contrast to some of his administration's policies, including moves to revoke thousands of student visas, limit international student enrollment, and cap the length of time students can stay in the country. First jobs are just the beginning of immigration challenges Despite the tough job market, Ford, of Cornell, reminds international students that employers are still hiring and encourages them to embrace networking by taking actions such as attending conferences or messaging hiring managers, instead of relying only on online applications. "In a market in the condition that we're in right now, taking that extra step to build relationships and make personal connections makes a huge difference," Ford says.Doing so could help international students "be more than a candidate on paper" and build professional relationships in the U.S., where they may have limited connections compared with domestic peers, Ford says. They may also benefit from gaining a better understanding of how the U.S. recruitment market and timeline work differently from that of their home countries.Even graduates who secure a job after college aren't free of ongoing immigration stressors. That's the case for Xinran Xu, 24, who is from China, earned her master's degree from the University of Michigan in 2025 and works as a statistician at a medical device company outside Minneapolis.Xu's OPT expires this month. She says her company has been supporting her in working with an immigration attorney, paying the appropriate fees and helping her apply for an H-1B visa that would allow her to continue working in the U.S.; her petition is currently under review, she says. I just want to use that time to make a fair effort [at getting a job in the U.S.] so that I don't have any kind of regrets.Sakshi Pateljob seeker in Boston The Trump administration's recent changes to the H-1B visa process have already caused a stir: In September, the White House announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa recipients coming to the U.S. The change didn't directly affect Xu since she was already residing in the U.S., but the move signaled to her that the process for work authorization seems to be getting more restrictive.More uncertainty could lie ahead: In March, the Department of Labor proposed a new rule that would increase the minimum salaries required for employees seeking H-1B visas by 21% to 33%, depending on their designated job level. The proposed change could lead to fewer opportunities for younger international workers, who are earlier in their careers and less likely to command higher salaries. Xinran Xu says changes to immigration policies today make it feel more difficult to build a life in the U.S. than for previous foreign-born workers.Courtesy of subject Staying in the U.S. in effect means preparing to confront changing immigration policies. Xu says establishing a life in the U.S. feels harder for international grads today than it was before. "I'm just expecting a bumpy road throughout the next five years," she says.As for Patel, in Boston, she says that ultimately "if my destiny is in India, I will get a job in India." But even if she ends up moving back home, she says, she'll still try to find a way back to the U.S.Until her OPT authorization ends in the summer, she says, "I just want to use that time to make a fair effort so that I don't have any kind of regrets." — CNBC's Nathaniel Lee contributed to this report. Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.Gas prices are high right now. Use these 6 tools to save on fuel Does debt relief hurt your credit?The best high-yield savings accounts of May 2026Nearly half of Americans feel homeownership is impossible VIDEO7:1107:11Reverse recruiting is gaining traction, here's whyWork

Saving more money has a dual benefit that often goes unnoticed, according to financial advisors. View More

Patricio Nahuelhual | Moment | Getty Images At risk of stating the obvious: Boosting one's savings rate is among the best ways to improve a household's retirement prospects. Doing so increases the size of the financial war chest one can deploy in old age. But there's another, somewhat hidden benefit to saving a larger share of income, according to financial advisors — it simultaneously pushes households to live on less money, thereby reducing the amount of money they'll ultimately need to fund their lifestyle in retirement. It may even help reduce the age at which someone is financially able to retire."A higher savings rate doesn't just build the portfolio faster. It also lowers the amount you need to retire," Fran Walsh, co-founder of Opulus, a financial advisory firm based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, wrote in a recent post. "Because if you're living on less, you need less to sustain that life indefinitely," he wrote. 'Far more work than most people realize' watch nowVIDEO6:0706:07Countries are rethinking retirement systems – here's what that meansConverge Walsh provided an example to illustrate the concept.Consider two households: Each earns $250,000, starts saving at age 35, and gets an assumed 8% annual rate of return. Household A saves 10%, or $25,000 a year. Household B saves 30%, or $75,000 annually. Next, we use the so-called rule of 25 to determine the households' respective savings targets. This framework uses household spending to approximate the size of an adequate nest egg, by multiplying its annual spending by 25. Read more CNBC personal finance coverageCould Trump Accounts be a model for Social Security? Here’s what experts say'Survivor's penalty' can affect retirees after a spouse dies. What to expectThis federal program trains older workers. The Trump administration wants to cut itJeff Bezos says bottom half of earners should pay zero in income taxesCNBC's Financial Advisor 100: Best financial advisors, top firms ranked Household A, which saves less and spends $225,000 a year, would need about $5.6 million in retirement savings to continue to fund its lifestyle, according to the rule of 25. Household B, which saves more and spends $175,000 a year, would need about $4.4 million. The result is a reduction in the "finish line," or retirement age, Walsh wrote.The former household may be able to retire at age 73, while the latter may do so at age 57, according to his projections. The calculation doesn't account for factors like Social Security, pension income, taxes, inflation or investment fees, each of which would affect the actual outcome, according to Walsh. "But the directional point holds: savings rate is doing far more work than most people realize," he wrote. What is a good savings rate? Vithun Khamsong | Moment | Getty Images The question of how much to save is a perennial headache for many households. A household's savings rate is often subjective, guided by factors like desired retirement age and other financial goals — as well as certain unknowable details like how long one is going to live. But there are rules of thumb that can serve as a general starting point.For example, some financial planners recommend the so-called "50-30-20 rule" to develop a budget for spending and saving. The numbers refer to the share of take-home pay allocated to different areas of your life: Half of a paycheck for necessities like food and housing; 30% to discretionary spending like entertainment and travel; and 20% to saving and paying down debt. watch nowVIDEO3:2203:22TIAA retirement CEO on how to set yourself up for a secure financial futureCNBC Changemakers Walsh recommends saving at least 20% of income."If you can do that for 10, 20, 30 years, you're going to be in really good shape," he told CNBC in an interview.Often, households may start out by saving an adequate amount for retirement but inadvertently fall behind over the years due to "lifestyle creep." In other words, people get raises and increase their spending on things like bigger houses and fancier cars — but don't also adjust their savings upwards, advisors said. For example, a retirement saver who earns $100,000 a year and invests $20,000 annually would save 20% of their income. If their salary were to grow to $110,000 and the $20,000 sum doesn't change, that savings rate falls to about 18%; at a $150,000 salary, it's 13%. How to cut back on spending It's much easier for a young saver to build the habit early, so they don't get overly accustomed to spending tendencies that become harder to unwind decades later, advisors said. People looking to cut back on their expenses should do so gradually, rather than making drastic shifts that may be unsustainable, said Uziel Gomez, a certified financial planner and founder of Primeros Financial, based in Los Angeles."It has to be something very realistic that you're able to do," said Gomez, a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. "It's like a diet: You want to do it incrementally, not all at once," he said. "When you lose weight, you do it slowly and surely, so your body adjusts to the new way of eating." Starting small and throttling back incrementally helps people stick with the new plan over time, he said. For example, Gomez said he has clients who spend $500 a month on Amazon purchases. Rather than decrease that spending to perhaps $100 a month all at once, maybe first decrease it to $400, he said. Dining out, including takeout meals, and shopping are two of the categories where Gomez said he typically sees wiggle room for people to reduce outlays. "There's no universal right answer for what the savings rate should be," Walsh wrote. "What matters is that it's intentional — set in advance, not whatever's left over after everything else." Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Amid ongoing uncertainty, investors seeking consistent income can consider adding dividend stocks to their portfolios. View More

In this articleCVXWMBETCVXETWMBFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on March 25, 2026 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images The stock market has been volatile due to rising Treasury yields and high oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East. Amid this uncertainty, dividend stocks can help investors secure consistent portfolio income.Top Wall Street analysts can inform investors on their search for attractive dividend stocks that have the ability to generate solid cash flows and pay dividends consistently. Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street's top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.Energy TransferEnergy Transfer owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy assets in the U.S., with about 140,000 miles of pipeline and associated infrastructure. The company recently announced an increase in its quarterly cash distribution to roughly 34 cents per common unit. Energy Transfer offers a yield of 6.7%.Recently, TD Cowen analyst Jason Gabelman reiterated a buy rating on Energy Transfer and slightly raised his price target to $23 from $22, saying, "We continue to see upside from underappreciated growth potential including underused assets in second-tier gas basins."The five-star analyst highlighted that Energy Transfer raised its full-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, guidance, with the company capturing its full-year optimization target in the first quarter itself. The revised outlook reflects upside from higher volumes, rates, and spreads. Gabelman expects EBITDA to reach the high end of the outlook at current commodity pricing.Furthermore, Gabelman expects ET to see a gain of $200 million in EBITDA from some new projects and 800 million cubic feet per day Haynesville volume growth this year, which is projected to add $100 million in EBITDA. Interestingly, the company expects to sanction multiple projects in 2026, which could contribute an additional $400 million in EBITDA.Gabelman ranks No. 660 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 64% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.4%. See Energy Transfer Financials on TipRanks.ChevronThe next dividend-paying stock is oil-and-gas giant Chevron. The company recently announced its first-quarter results. It paid $6 billion of cash to shareholders in Q1 2026, including share repurchases of $2.5 billion and dividends of $3.5 billion. Chevron offers a current dividend yield of 3.7%. After hosting investor meetings with Chevron management, Wells Fargo analyst Sam Margolin reaffirmed a buy rating on CVX stock with a price target of $222. "The company is in a favorable operating posture with transparent capital allocation and asset momentum yielding positive FCF/leverage outcomes," said the analyst.The five-star analyst noted Chevron's solid operating momentum, with key assets in the Permian, Kazakhstan, Australia LNG and Guyana running at full capacity or above their designed production levels. He added that CVX's downstream is gaining from stronger vertical integration and access to equity crude supplies in California and Asia, helping ease potential feedstock constraints.Additionally, Margolin highlighted that Chevron plans to maintain a 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day plateau in the Permian Basin, driven by operational efficiencies achieved under its current program. He added that advanced chemicals treatment in wells, including both proprietary and third-party, has delivered about 20% productivity benefits in the first 10 months.The analyst also noted that CVX is advancing the first project under its power joint venture through an exclusivity agreement with Microsoft. Margolin believes that the company's advantage lies in being an early mover, with 5 gigawatts of turbines already on order, along with access to land and natural gas supply needed for power generation and data center development. Margolin ranks No. 455 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 71% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.3%. See Chevron Stock Buybacks on TipRanks.The Williams CompaniesWilliams runs interstate natural gas pipelines and gathering and processing operations throughout the U.S. The company recently announced a dividend of about 53 cents per share, payable on June 29. WMB offers a yield of 2.7%. Recently, UBS analyst Manav Gupta reiterated a buy rating on Williams stock and increased his price target to $91 from $89. The analyst is optimistic about the company's Power Innovation business and noted the updates on two recent projects – NEO and Atlas. With the addition of these two projects, which WMB announced alongside its Q1 results, the company now has $9.65 billion in Power Innovation projects.The five-star analyst noted that WMB continues to stand out by expanding its Power Innovation business at a faster pace than investors' and UBS' expectations. Based on projects already announced (Socrates, Atlas, Apollo, Aquila, Socrates the Younger and Neo), Gupta expects Williams' Power Innovation business to drive EBITDA upside of $1.93 billion by 2029.Gupta believes that the addition of NEO further bolstered WMB's position, giving it an edge over rivals such as Chevron in showcasing integrated, end-to-end power solutions tailored to hyperscalers. The analyst emphasized that while Chevron has confirmed its partnership with Meta Platforms on a project, that deal has yet to reach a final investment decision, which limits near-term visibility. "We remain constructive on WMB's Power Innovation platform and see potential upside to 2028–2030 consensus earnings estimates as additional projects achieve commercial operation and contribute to earnings growth," said Gupta. Gupta ranks No. 168 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 70% of the time, delivering an average return of 21.9%. See Williams Ownership Structure on TipRanks. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Non-carbonated alcoholic drinks like Surfside and BeatBox are stealing "share of throat" from hard seltzers, particularly among Gen Z. View More

In this articlePEPBUDBUDFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Surfside drinks on display at the trade show during CinemaCon 2026 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 15, 2026.Travis P Ball | AP About a decade ago, sales of LaCroix began to skyrocket. Soon, flavored seltzers were everywhere, from grocery store refrigerators to liquor store shelves.But the era of bubbles looks like it is winding down, thanks to seltzer fatigue. Now, non-carbonated drinks, from Liquid Death to Surfside Iced Teas, are taking the spotlight."If you think about where there's more growth, where there's more consumer interest relative to a few years ago, it's a shift more to still, across both [alcohol] and non-alc," said Randy Burt, Americas director of consumer products at consulting firm AlixPartners.That's not to say seltzers and other carbonated beverages will disappear. But their growth has slowed, as Generation Z increasingly seeks out options without bubbles and beverage companies focus more of their innovation efforts on fizz-free drinks. Look no further than the alcohol category. Malt-based hard seltzers, which includes White Claw, saw volume drop 1.1% in the 52 weeks ended April 26, compared with the year-ago period, according to data from market research firm Circana. On the other hand, ready-to-drink premixed cocktails saw volume grow 46.4% in the same time, fueled by growth from Surfside, Sun Cruiser, BuzzBallz and Anheuser-Busch InBev's Cutwater Spirits, which has both carbonated and non-carbonated options. Bursting bubbles Much of the driving force behind the switch from bubbly to noncarbonated drinks is coming from Gen Z, which is typically defined as people born between 1997 and 2012. Over their lifetime, soda consumption has dropped dramatically from its peak in 1998, reusable water bottles have become a staple accessory, and a plethora of new drinks like refreshers and dirty soda have gone mainstream. Broadly, Gen Z wants to try new products. While older generations show more brand loyalty to their favorite beer or cocktail, younger consumers have a different mentality."We're seeing a lot of promiscuity within consumption and alcohol around new products," said Scott Scanlon, executive vice president of alcoholic beverages for Circana, citing the rise of White Claw and Truly about eight years ago. "Now what we're seeing is then consumers jump to the newest product — that's Surfside, Sun Cruiser because of that."He sees a generational shift between Gen Z and their predecessors, millennials, who couldn't get enough of seltzers.As Gen Z reaches drinking age, their alcoholic preferences reflect that generational divide. Non-carbonated alcoholic drinks like Surfside and BeatBox are stealing "share of throat" from hard seltzers, which have seen their growth slow. "Gen Z is a lot more likely to order tea-based beverages at happy hour, and they're sort of moving from carbonated — or seltzers — as their default, 'better for you' pick," Burt said. "I think that's part of the shift, toward wellness and functionality that you're seeing happen, especially from a Gen Z perspective."For fans of some beverages, like functional teas and coffees that target stress relief or immune support, going fizz-free makes more sense, given the drinks' non-carbonated base.Plus, some consumers do not view carbonation as the healthy option.Carbonated water is slightly acidic, which can wear down tooth enamel when consumed in large quantities, especially if the seltzer uses citric acid for flavoring. Plus fizzy drinks can cause bloating and burping for some people. And then there's the association bubbles of any kind can share with sugary sodas. What's the tea? Alcohol is leading the trend, thanks to the meteoric rise of Surfside.Indie vodka distiller Stateside Brands launched the hard iced tea brand in 2022. The ready-to-drink beverage uses vodka as a base and iced tea and lemonade as a mixer. At the time of its launch, carbonation was everywhere across the alcohol industry."Among the options out there were carbonated iced tea and carbonated lemonade, which is a little less unusual, but we were just like 'What the heck, man? Who carbonates iced tea?' That seems unholy," said Stateside co-founder and CEO Clement Pappas.Consumers seemed to agree. By 2024, Surfside was the fastest-growing alcohol brand in the U.S., based on Nielsen IQ data."I think there was a huge pent-up demand for non-carbonated options," Pappas said. "There are very few out there, especially in a ready-to-drink format."Surfside's customer base skews female. Pappas said that many of the brand's fans dislike carbonation because they find it leads to bloating, particularly after consuming several drinks in a sitting. Stateside is leaning further into fizz-free beverages with its latest brand: Super Lyte. The brand still uses vodka as a base, but the mixer is inspired by classic sports drinks.While Surfside may have popped the seltzer bubble, other non-carbonated alcoholic drinks have grown quickly since then.Volume growth of Cutwater's canned cocktails has nearly doubled over the last year, according to Scanlon. BeatBox, a wine-based punch brand that is majority owned by InBev, has also seen demand for its drinks skyrocket since the alcohol giant has ramped up its distribution. And then there is BuzzBallz pre-mixed cocktails, which launched in 2009 but has seen its growth rocket after its acquisition by Sazerac in 2024.Established alcohol players have also been trying to take on Surfside, further boosting the profile of non-carbonated drinks in the category. Twisted Tea owner Boston Beer launched Sun Cruiser in 2024 with the aim of directly competing with Surfside. So far, Surfside retains a bigger slice of overall market share, although Sun Cruiser is growing faster these days. Bubble-free Celsius heats up Cases of Celsius energy drinks at a store in San Francisco on March 17, 2025.David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images On the non-alcoholic side, the shift toward bubble-free drinks isn't as strong, according to AlixPartners' Burt. Some carbonated drinks are still showing strong growth; PepsiCo's Poppi, as well as energy drinks like Celsius and Ghost, are seeing strong demand. But there are signs that the soft drink landscape is shifting.Celsius, for example, expanded its fizz-free line of energy drinks earlier this year, inspired by Gen Z's focus on wellness and the general trend toward noncarbonated beverages in other categories. Typically, carbonated options dominate the energy drink aisle, allowing Celsius to stand out and win over customers who might otherwise stick to tea or coffee for their caffeine fix.The brand's pre-existing noncarbonated peach mango green tea flavor is consistently a top 10 performer for Celsius and is currently in the number four slot across all of its flavors, according to Celsius Chief Brand Officer Kyle Watson. The expanded line has helped Celsius grow sales from Gen Z and women, two key segments in the energy drink category."In focus groups that we've had ... even our brand ambassadors across all of our universities, a lot of them talk about how they don't like drinking sparkling," Watson said.When consumers drink "functional beverages — like those touting high protein content, prebiotics, caffeine or other benefits — they want "a better flavor experience," according to Watson.Watson said that part of the appeal of the fizz-free line is how it goes down "really smooth," making it a better pairing for meals. About 37% of Celsius consumers consume their energy drinks with a meal, according to Watson.And Celsius has made sure to put its noncarbonated bona fides front and center of the line's packaging."With the expansion, we also wanted to make sure that the callout around being fizz-free and that attribute of it being noncarbonated and having that smooth, refreshing flavor profile was more prevalent on the actual can design," Watson said.Some other beverage brands are betting big on the swing away from fizz."Our product is extremely drinkable because of the lack of carbonation," Hint CEO Michael Pengue said in an interview.Founded in 2005, the flavored water company has a devoted fan base, particularly in Silicon Valley. But the brand has gotten "dusty," and its growth has stagnated, according to Pengue. He is hoping that consumers' shift away from bubbles will boost sales, along with new packaging and a sexy new ad campaign. (While Hint has some sparkling options, it is a much smaller part of the brand's portfolio, according to Pengue.)Earlier in Pengue's career, he led Nestle's water and tea brands, which includes Perrier and San Pellegrino."I was on the other side of carbonation when carbonated soft drink consumers were looking for healthier alternatives, getting away from aspartame or high fructose corn syrup, and they moved over to Perrier, San Pellegrino, Polar, LaCroix," he said. "All of sparkling [water] exploded. We're seeing the same exact thing now, just the opposite."Hint's still flavored water offers "drinkability" and "pure hydration", giving the brand an edge over sparkling waters that cannot be drank as quickly, according to Pengue. He said it also has a "sensory softness" that appeals to consumers who do not like the bite of carbonation. Can-do attitude For decades, an aluminum can with a pull tab usually meant a carbonated beverage like beer, soda or seltzer was inside.But these days, most new non-carbonated drinks are coming in cans, resembling the seltzers and bubbly drinks from which they are stealing share."The can is winning," Ball CEO Ronald Lewis said on the company's earnings conference call earlier this month. Liquid Death canned water drinks at a store in Pinole, California, US, on Monday, March 11, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images He would know. Ball is the world's largest manufacturer of aluminum packaging.Celsius's Watson credits Liquid Death with paving the way for consumers to accept fizz-free canned drinks. When Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario started the company in 2017, he could not find a single bottler in the U.S. capable of putting still water in cans. Non-carbonated drinks require a quick dose of nitrogen to keep the can from collapsing on itself, presenting one issue for bottlers; carbonation creates high internal pressure to allows a can to keep its shape.Cessario told CNBC that the key to getting consumers to buy canned water — an otherwise unthinkable proposition — was by positioning Liquid Death as a cool brand."We designed it to look more like a beer than a water, so it felt like something a lot more familiar to people than just like a weird bottled water in a can," Cessario said.Liquid Death has since launch sparkling and flavored sparkling lines, although it returned to its non-carbonated roots with iced tea in 2023.For beverage companies, aluminum cans are typically cheaper than glass bottles and a more sustainable option than plastic bottles. And for consumers, cans feel colder — and maybe even cooler, a callback to the last wave of trendy beverages during the seltzer boom. 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This comes as markets continue to witness sharp downswings and muted recoveries, with oil prices remaining elevated amid the seesaw political game in the Middle East. View More

India's primary market is set for a busy week in the SME segment, where three new IPO s are scheduled to open this week, along with a few listings. However, no mainboard IPOs are opening for subscription during the holiday-shortened week between May 25-29. This comes as markets continue to witness sharp downswings and muted recoveries, with oil prices remaining elevated amid the seesaw political game in the Middle East. Yaashvi Jewellers IPO The SME IPO of Yaashvi Jewellers will open for public bidding on May 25 (Monday) and close on May 27 (Wednesday). The company aims to raise nearly Rs 44 crore through its maiden public issue which entirely comprises a fresh issue of shares at Rs 83 per share. The lot size has been fixed at 1,600 shares. The shares are scheduled to be listed on BSE SME platform on June 2 this year. The Jaipur-headquartered jewellery maker plans to use the IPO proceeds for working capital requirements, repayment or prepayment of certain borrowings, and general corporate purposes. Live Events SMR Jewels IPO SMR Jewels will launch its SME IPO on May 26 (Tuesday) before it closes on May 29 (Friday) to raise Rs 67 crore through a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 54 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of shares worth Rs 13.23 crore. The shares of the Gujarat-based company will list on BSE SME platform on June 3. The minimum lot size for the SMR Jewels IPO is 1,000 shares at a price band of Rs 128-135 per share. The company aims to use the fresh issue proceeds for the construction of a jewellery studio, repayment of borrowings, long-term working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. Rajnandini Fashion India IPO Rajnandini Fashion India aims to raise over Rs 18 crore from its SME IPO which will remain open from May 26 (Tuesday) and May 29 (Friday). The company has set the price band at Rs 59-63 per share for the IPO which will entirely comprise a fresh issue of shares. The garment-maker will use the proceeds raised from the IPO to set up a new manufacturing facility, repay some debt, and meet working capital needs. Along with the three IPOs opening for public subscription this week, the SME IPOs of Q-Line Biotech, Autofurnish, Bio Medica Laboratories and MR Maniveni Foods which opened last week, will close for bidding during the upcoming week. This week will also see the SME listings of NFP Sampoorna Foods , Teamtech Formwork Solutions, Vegorama Punjabi Angithi. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)

Indian cement companies anticipate strong growth of 7-8 per cent in FY27. Government infrastructure projects and housing demand are key drivers. Companies are increasing capital expenditure to support this expansion. Despite rising fuel costs and geopolitical concerns, the sector remains optimistic about its long-term growth trajectory. View More

New Delhi, Leading cement makers expect a healthy growth in the range of 7-8 per cent in FY27, driven by government infrastructure spending , housing demand and urbanisation, notwithstanding short-term headwinds due to rising fuel costs amid the West Asia crisis. Top executives of companies like UltraTech Cement , Ambuja Cements , Shree Cement , Dalmia Cement and Nuvoco Vistas, in their latest earnings calls, expressed optimism about medium-term demand, projecting industry growth in the range of 7-8 per cent, while betting on premiumisation and improved sales realisations to support earnings amid cost pressures. Moreover, cement companies are also stepping up capital expenditure plans for FY27, betting on an infrastructure push and housing demand despite near-term challenges. UltraTech said the sector is facing near-term challenges from higher fuel costs, freight expenses and import-dependent supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia. "It's a real headwind on fuel costs, packing bags and freight, on certain import-dependent supply chains, on near-term sentiment in some demand segments," said UltraTech Chief Financial Officer Atul Daga. He added that elevated crude oil prices could also lead to an increase in domestic petrol and diesel prices. Live Events Power, fuel and selling costs constitute 50-55 per cent of the total operating costs for cement companies. However, Daga maintained that India's long-term growth story remains intact, supported by the government's capital expenditure, infrastructure projects execution and robust housing demand. "We would target double-digit growth," he said, while projecting sustainable cement volume growth of 7-8 per cent annually, aided by urbanisation, affordable housing initiatives and rural demand. Ambuja Cements Chief Executive Officer Vinod Bahety projected consolidated volumes to grow about 8 per cent in FY27 to around 80 million tonnes, with an increased focus on trade sales and premium cement offerings. At the industry level, Bahety expects growth to remain moderate at around 5-5.5 per cent amid concerns over inflation and a weak monsoon. However, he expects a higher growth of 8 per cent for the Adani Group cement business. "On our overall consolidated volumes, we are expecting it to grow in FY27 by almost 8 per cent to around 80 million-odd tonnes. And we are cognizant of the fact that we will focus on value with trade volumes and premium cement," he said. Moreover, cement makers' top executive also said premiumisation and improving trade mix are helping companies lift sales realisations even in a relatively stable pricing environment. UltraTech said grey cement pricing strengthened about 2.5 per cent across most geographies during the quarter, supported by premiumisation and a better trade mix, helping improve realisations. Dalmia Bharat Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Puneet Dalmia said the company would continue to aggressively pursue premiumisation in FY27, even as revenues improved due to both higher volumes and better realisations. "Although our realisations appear flattish, it has actually improved by about 1.7 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis," he said. Shree Cement Managing Director Neeraj Akhoury said geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and forecasts of a moderate monsoon could temporarily impact the sector's momentum, though domestic demand fundamentals remain resilient. "India's macroeconomic environment remains resilient, supported by steady domestic demand and continued policy focus on infrastructure-led growth," he said. Nuvoco Vistas Managing Director Jayakumar Krishnaswamy also flagged risks from geopolitical uncertainty, rising fuel costs, currency volatility and higher raw material expenses, particularly for packing materials, warning that margins may remain under pressure for one to two quarters. Still, he said, infrastructure investments and government spending continue to underpin optimism, with the industry likely to grow 7-9 per cent in the coming year. The Nirma group firm has earmarked Rs 900 crore capex for FY27 and Rs 960 crore for FY28, underscoring its expansion focus over the next two years. Dalmia Bharat has outlined a capital expenditure plan of Rs 3,200-3,400 crore for FY27, as it continues to invest in growth and premiumisation. Aditya Birla group flagship firm UltraTech said Rs 10,000 crore of capex is happening every year, at least for 4-5 years going forward. "We see a plan of investing around Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore every year for the foreseeable future. Future capex pipeline remains fully funded, and the growth story is intact," said Daga. While Adani group firm Ambuja Cements is keeping its capex in FY27 "moderate" in the range of Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 6,500 crore as against Rs 7,500 crore last year, as it focuses on completion rather than taking on new one. .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! 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