Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title challenger Darren Till will make his return to the boxing ring at Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 from inside AO Arena in Manchester, England, as “Gorilla” meets former UFC middleweight fighter Darren Stewart on the undercard for the KSI vs. Dillon Danis main event.
Till, who parted ways with UFC back in early 2023, made his professional boxing debut this past January with a blistering TKO stoppage over combat veteran Anthony Taylor at Misfits Boxing 20. It was originally supposed to be Till vs. Tommy Fury, but Fury pulled out after threats of a Till head kick. It was bizarre to say the least, yet Till still cashed in against Taylor in dramatic fashion.
While fans would have liked to see Till vs. Fury re-booked and witness that drama unfold, Till will now face another former UFC fighter and try to build on his new career. Misfits Boxing announced the booking on its social media account earlier Saturday.
While most will be watching to see how Till does in his second trip to the ring, this is a tremendous opportunity for Stewart. The 34-year-old veteran retired from MMA last year citing financial difficulties as the main reason. “The Dentist” now gets a second chance to put his good striking to use and make a nice payday in the process.
Stick with Mania for more Misfits Boxing 21 fight card news
If you’re on a quest to add more vegetables to your meals, this recipe might just make you fall in love with a certain leafy green. Cabbage, often “overlooked” despite its “impressive nutrient content,” is packed with vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin K, according to Healthline.
It’s also believed to support digestion and heart health among other benefits. But how can you elevate this humble vegetable from being just another bland addition to your plate?
Chef @melizcooks has a method that ensures cabbage is “packed full of flavour,” and it’s simple to follow.
This technique works with any type of cabbage except red, and it’s particularly useful for using up leftovers. She instructs: “Char it first in some olive oil, finely shredded until it looks like lovely, darkened, beautiful charred pieces.”
Then, she adds either 500ml of chicken or vegetable stock, a heaped teaspoon of dried mint, a good pinch of black pepper, and reduces it on the highest heat possible.
“Add a nob of butter in there, too, for a little bit of extra luxury, but it’s not necessary.”
The end result, as Meliz shows, is a delectable dish that’s “full of so much flavour.”
The home cook has shared her enthusiasm for the simple yet delightful dish, stating: “It’s so easy to make and is perfect with any kind of roast dinner, or any dinner really as a lovely vegetable side,” The recipe seems to have piqued people’s attention, prompting comments from fellow food enthusiasts.
One person highlighted the affordability of the ingredient, saying: “Plus a head of cabbage is only 40p in Tesco!! I think people avoid it as we got emotional damage from cabbage at school, but it’s a gorgeous vegetable!” Another added: “Butter is super necessary,” indicating the importance of this ingredient in enhancing the dish.
Brown University Health has also weighed in on the benefits of cabbage, noting: “Cabbage, like other cruciferous vegetables, is packed with vitamins and minerals that your body craves while remaining low in calories. Given its nutritional profile, it certainly qualifies as a superfood, but is often passed over for more trendy and fashionable items such as acai berries.”
So, if you’re looking for a nutritious and delicious superfood to add to your meals, cabbage might just be the underrated gem you need to try.
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If you’re trying to move up in your career with a new position, you can get up to three times more job interviews by using LoopCV, the company claims. A lifetime subscription to the Premium Plan is on sale for only $39.
Since you’ll have lifetime access to LoopCV, you can use it to search for jobs throughout your career. It’s connected to more than 30 platforms and job boards, including LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster Jobs, Workable and many more. There is even a LinkedIn Apply extension included.
The monthly allowances are 50 job title searches and 300 emails or applications. You can create a custom email address just for your job searches, label some applications high-priority, and even perform global searches for remote jobs worldwide.
First, create a profile and upload a resume or CV. Then choose your settings, including locations, job titles, and other options. Once LoopCV shows you jobs that fit your criteria, you can apply for them manually or let LoopCV apply for you.
LoopCV allows you to apply automatically to just the jobs you like best, via email or by filling out application forms. When the program applies automatically, it uses your resume or CV. You can literally apply to hundreds of jobs at a time.
LoopCV also provides you with data that can help you improve your odds of getting interviews. It gives you statistics on which resumes/CVs got the most attention, how many companies opened the emails you sent, how many replied, and more. This allows you to A/B test various email and resume/CV versions so you can use the one that works best.
A 28-year-old Jefferies banker who fell victim to a suspected drug overdose was working as much as 100 hours a week before his death — even as fellow staffers griped to bosses about punishing workloads, The Post has learned.
Carter McIntosh, who joined the Wall Street investment bank in 2023 after doing stints at Goldman Sachs and Moelis in New York City, was found dead in his Dallas apartment on Jan. 27.
A police report cited a “possible overdose” and said officers who found the junior banker dead on his couch discovered “a white powdery substance” along with a “rolled up 100 dollar bill” in the kitchen, The Post reported exclusively on Friday.
McIntosh, who graduated from Seton Hall in 2018, had only joined Jefferies in September 2023. Facebook / Carter McIntosh
McIntosh had been prescribed medication for attention deficit disorder, or ADD, according to the police report — raising fears that he could have overdosed on Adderall, a stimulant used by Wall Streeters to weather their punishing work days.
“He was a grinder,” a source said of McIntosh. “He was a really hard worker and he was on a very difficult team in Dallas. They gave him a lot of sh-t.”
A Jefferies insider told the Post that Adderall’s use was widespread at the firm, as at many banks across Wall Street where staffers struggle to keep up with the industry’s brutal schedule.
“Tons of people at the bank take it,” the source said.
McIntosh was described as a hard-working colleague who was well-liked by his peers at the bank. Linkedin / Carter McIntosh
The former Green Beret died from a blood clot in his heart days after allegedly working 100-hour weeks to close a major deal. While there is no evidence his death was linked to his work, JPMorgan moved to cap work weeks at 80 hours after the scandal.
Jefferies has no such cap and its hard-driving culture carried over from the company’s Madison Avenue headquarters in Manhattan to the satellite office in Dallas, according to multiple sources at the investment bank who requested anonymity before speaking to The Post.
They claimed McIntosh and other young bankers were pushed to their limits under pressure to close megabuck M&A deals.
Insiders told the Post that the working environment was particularly toxic, with some bankers accused of behaving “like a bull in a china shop” in their interactions with younger staffers. Bloomberg via Getty Images
The California native was on the bank’s technology, media, and telecoms team. He reported directly to managing director Lawrence Chu and worked closely on deals with fellow MD Nicholas Brown.
McIntosh “had been worked like a dog” in the weeks before his passing, one of the sources said.
“The guys are kind of ruthless on that team.”
Both Chu and Brown did not respond to The Post’s request for comment, but one Jefferies source described the 28-year-old hours as “unsustainable.”
One banker, who asked for their identity to be withheld amid fear of reprisals, said that some senior tech bankers were known to behave “like a bull in a china shop” toward younger co-workers.
Two Jefferies insiders also told The Post that junior team members raised concerns about the grueling hours to senior management in the month before McIntosh’s death.
Wall Street’s culture came under the microscope once more after the death of BoA banker Leo Lukenas. Linkedin / Leo Lukenas
“You are working with increasingly difficult people who are going to give you sh-t no matter what you send them,” one anonymous banker alleged.
“These kids are geared towards blaming themselves rather than blaming the system. So they just work harder and sleep less, eat less, and work out less.”
A Jefferies spokesperson said: “This wild speculation needs to end. These statements are simply false. We believe that people are using this tragic incident and twisting it for their own purposes.”
The rep declined to comment on McIntosh’s schedule or the nature of the firm’s working environment.
Law enforcement officials told The Post that their investigation is ongoing.
An official with the city’s medical examiner said an autopsy report had not yet been compiled because they were waiting for the results of toxicology tests.
McIntosh, shown with his parents and sister, moved from California to New Jersey for college before he embarked on his high-flying Wall Street career. Facebook / Carter McIntosh
California property records show McIntosh grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 40 miles east of Los Angeles, and graduated from the nearby all-boys Damien High School in 2014.
McIntosh moved to New Jersey for college, graduating in 2018. He joined Jefferies in September 2023 after stints at Goldman Sachs and Moelis, according to his LinkedIn profile.
His parents and sister still live in California. McIntosh’s mother did not return a request for comment from The Post.
Jefferies CEO Rich Handler called McIntosh “a well-liked and respected professional”, adding that he “had a joy for life and was so welcoming to everyone.”
The 63-year-old finance titan has been with the firm since 1990, starting as a trader. The bank’s latest available proxy statement from 2024 shows that Handler raked in an $18.9 million salary during the previous 12 months.
The CEO was caught in an awkward Instagram video at a Miami client event on the day after McIntosh’s death. On Feb. 1, he wrote a lengthy note on X urging younger staffers to speak up.
Social media posts by Canadian financier Moez Kassam showed Handler a Miami client event on Tues Jan. 28 — the day after McIntosh’s death at his Dallas apartment complex. @munchingmoez/Instagram
“We must appreciate our juniors,” he wrote, insisting that he was “just a phone call away” for those who need help managing their workloads.
His X profile bio states “be a good person.”
Jefferies recently introduced anonymous surveys for young bankers to provide feedback on the top executives working above them, sources told The Post.
Two sources familiar with the situation said the work environment can be particularly stressful owing to the firm’s “onerous” bonus clawback policy — which forces new workers to return 100% of their lucrative windfall if they leave for a rival investment bank within the first year.
Handler praised McIntosh as “a well-liked and respected professional” who “had a joy for life.” Instagram / @handlerrich
The clawback is gradually reduced over time, but it only drops to zero after having worked at the firm for four years.
Successful bankers will, of course, earn more of those bonuses every year.
The draconian policy, written into the company’s work contracts, effectively prevents staffers from seeking another banking job, the sources said. Filings made by Jefferies describe the policy as “robust.”
“You can never leave unless you are fired,” said one ex-Jefferies banker who was terminated recently. “It’s a tough culture because most of the senior guys are stuck there. Everyone in that firm operates in a state of fear, stress, and uneasiness.”
“I was constantly pushing back on false deadlines,” the source added. “We are not curing cancers so not everything needs to be done tomorrow.”
Another insider with a deep knowledge of Wall Street recruitment said: “They are in a no-win situation. It’s like being a prisoner. Overall, it’s relatively awful. People are praying to get fired by Jefferies.”
The industry veteran singled out the bank’s technology, media, and telecoms team as known on Wall Street for being “toxic.”
One source who is still with the bank is already plotting an exit.
“I’m just trying to survive this job, get it on my resume, and get out of here,” the source said.
The Department of Transportation’s petty bureaucrats — who gave us infinitely extended bike lanes and ugly, traffic-congesting “plazas” – have won again.
The power-mad DOT has been out of control for years, ever since former Mayor Mike Bloomberg first gave it free rein to run roughshod over other city agencies.
An outdoor dining shed is seen on 1st Ave. and 69th St. in Manhattan. Robert MeceaThe FDNY has agreed to allow a “conditional waiver” for new alfresco sheds Gregory P. Mango
The FDNY’s “reluctant” agreement to allow a “conditional waiver” for new alfresco sheds on a “case-by-case basis” proves that even “The Bravest” turns to jelly before the all-powerful DOT.
What can they possibly be thinking in allowing new roadway sheds in some of Manhattan’s narrowest, West Village streets?
The DOT took its sweet time — at least two years after there was any legitimate need for 13,000 roadway sheds— before it got around to cracking down on the crime- and vermin-breeding monstrosities.
The new rules made licensing, design, and seasonal requirements for replacement so complicated that few restaurateurs applied for them.
A few responsible uptown owners did apply, such as at Fresco by Scotto in Midtown and Orsay on upper Lexington Avenue.
If approved, their new sheds, smaller and more safely constructed than the old ones, would stand on straight and wide blocks where fire trucks and emergency vehicles could get to the scene before it was too late.
But letting them back onto the West Village’s and Chinatown’s twisting lanes, and the narrow ones of Little Italy, is a calamity waiting to happen. Many streets are so narrow that even ordinary car drivers slow to a crawl lest they clip pedestrians or other vehicles.
The new rules made licensing, design, and seasonal requirements for replacement so complicated that few restaurateurs applied for them, according to reports. William FarringtonA few uptown owners did apply, such as at Fresco by Scotto in Midtown. Brian Zak/NY Post
Eatery owners who want their sheds back care only about adding seats while paying only a pittance in license fees – more than nothing as during the pandemic but still much, much less than actual rent would cost them for a larger indoor space.
That no fatal crashes occurred downtown during the first round of sheds means nothing.
There were no fatal air-to-air collisions at Washington, DC’s, poorly managed Dulles International Airport, either – until there was one.
It’s time for City Hall (if anyone’s still in charge) to smack down the DOT before it has blood on its hands.
Over the past decade, some investors have made a lot of money owning shares in Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). In the past five years alone, Tesla stock has moved up by 567%, meaning it now has a market capitalisation of $1.1trn.
However, Tesla stock has slumped by a quarter since the middle of December. Could this be a sign the investment case is becoming less attractive – or a potential contrarian buying opportunity for my portfolio?
Business performance and prospects drive share prices
Shares often move around and that is typically down to one of two things – momentum and fundamentals.
Momentum is when a share moves because lots of people are buying or selling it, even if the business performance has not changed in a way that merits a new valuation.
That can have a big effect on share prices, sometimes for years. Tesla stock has certainly seen a lot of momentum in recent years, with some speculators piling in just because they expect it to keep going up, rather than because they saw the share as good value for what they paid.
Momentum can work both ways of course, and I think we have seen some of that lately. In any case, I am an investor not a speculator, and momentum does not strike me as a sound basis for long-term investment.
Rather, I prefer to buy (or sell) based on what are called fundamentals — how well a business is expected to do in financial terms.
Tesla’s a great, proven business
Given the recent share price tumble, it can be hard to forget that Tesla is a genuinely great, successful business.
It has been a mass market pioneer in electric vehicles (EVs) and has a strong market share. It has developed a vertically integrated manufacturing and sales operation that has helped it scale up sales quickly. The company now sells thousands of vehicles each day globally.
The expertise Tesla has developed in batteries is helping it ramp up its already sizeable power generation business. Meanwhile, a large customer base, strong brand and proprietary technology could all help it keep doing well in the EV business.
Unlike many sector makers, Tesla is already solidly profitable. However, its vehicle sales did fall slightly last year.
Combined with growing rivalry in that space, I see a risk that revenues could decline and profit margins may also be eroded due to more price competition.
Nonetheless, if I could buy Tesla stock at the right price, I would.
So are Tesla sharers overvalued after the fall? There’s the rub… despite the recent share price crash, the share still sells on a price-to-earnings ratio of 175.
That looks far too expensive to me, even if ignoring the prospect that price competition and reduced tax rebates could lead to Tesla’s earnings falling in years to come.
As an investor not a speculator, I will not be touching Tesla stock at its current price.
Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell worked closely on the Rams staff for two seasons, molding an offensive scheme that helped the 2021 team make a playoff run that it capped with a victory in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
Now McVay and O’Connell, the third-year coach of the Minnesota Vikings, will face each other in the postseason for the first time when the Rams play host to an NFC wild-card game on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
Does McVay see a lot of the Rams’ offense in O’Connell’s Vikings?
“What I see is he’s done an excellent job of morphing it to his players,” McVay said during a video conference with reporters. “I think that sometimes can get a little bit overemphasized.
“There’s a foundational philosophy that I think people carry offensively, but he’s put his own spin on it. … There’s some similarities of things that we’ve done together and then there’s been some things that they’ve kind of added that fits their group.”
Later during the conference, McVay again attempted to downplay the similarities and the McVay-O’Connell story line.
“There’s a familiarity with just kind of the rhythm and routines of how we all operate,” he said, “but there’s an evolution and adaptations that occur season to season and week to week.
“It’s a fun narrative, but I think it gets a little overemphasized.”
The Rams are coming off a 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a game in which McVay rested quarterback Matthew Stafford and other starters. The Rams finished 10-7, with an Oct. 24 victory over the Vikings at SoFi Stadium among the key performances in their second-half turnaround.
The Vikings (14-3) ended the regular season with a 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. The defeat dropped the Vikings from a potential No. 1 seed with a bye to the No. 5 seed and a matchup against the Rams.
The Vikings feature quarterback Sam Darnold and receiver Justin Jefferson, both of whom made the Pro Bowl Games, receiver Jordan Addison, running backs Aaron Jones and Cam Akers and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Rams coach Sean McVay, left, talks with offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell were working side by side in 2021.
(Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
A defense coordinated by Brian Flores includes Pro Bowl linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy, linebacker Blake Cashman and safety Harrison Smith.
In Week 8, Stafford passed for four touchdowns in a 30-20 Thursday night victory over the Vikings. The Rams were four days removed from defeating the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Vikings were four days removed from a 31-29 loss to the Lions, who have left opponents beat up throughout the season.
Both teams will have a full week of preparation for a Monday night matchup that has some longtime Rams fans agonizingly harking to the late 1960s and ‘70s, when the Vikings beat the Rams in the divisional round or NFC championship game four times before the Rams broke through in 1978.
After their loss to the Rams this season, the Vikings won nine games in a row, a streak that ended against the Lions on Sunday night at Ford Field in Detroit.
“Sometimes you get hit in the mouth a little bit and you’ve got to respond,” O’Connell told reporters afterward, “and I know we’ve built this thing in a way where we’re going to do that.”
O’Connell also referenced the Rams’ 2021 playoff run, which began after they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in the season finale.
“Was a part of a team in 2021 where we lost our last game and found a way to do what we needed to do to find a way to have a chance to play for a world championship,” he said.
On Monday, at the Vikings training headquarters, O’Connell looked ahead.
“Part of the type of building and the type of world we’ve created here is, I think, we’re all looking inward,” he told Minnesota reporters, “and let’s try to pull some things out of it to apply for what’s going to be clearly another home-field advantage for the Rams, an atmosphere, the moment, and let’s just focus on doing our jobs.”
Sounded an awful lot like McVay.
Etc.
Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein, who was sidelined the last two games because of a shoulder injury, is expected to play against the Vikings, McVay said. … The Rams’ 2025 opponents are set. The Rams will play home games against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. They will play road games against the Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.
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Black bean brownies are rich, fudgy, and packed with chocolatey goodness! They have a slightly denser texture, similar to a protein bar, but still satisfy that brownie craving. While adults may notice a slight difference from traditional brownies, kids won’t be able to tell!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Rich & Fudgy: These black bean brownies have a dense, chocolatey texture that satisfies any sweet tooth. Even better, most people won’t taste the black beans at all.
Better-For-You Dessert: Thanks to black beans, this sweet treat offers a nutritious boost of extra protein and fiber.
Kid-Approved: Most kids won’t even notice the difference from regular brownies. I love sneaking nutritious ingredients into treats like this chocolate hummus and chickpea cookie dough!
Sweet and Satisfying
This black bean brownie recipe is my new go-to when I’m craving something sweet. I love being able to satisfy my sweet tooth while also getting some of my fiber for the day! I don’t feel as guilty eating more than one! The texture the black beans add to these brownies makes them perfectly dense and fudgy. You guys are going to love them!
Black Bean Brownie Ingredients
How to Make Black Bean Brownies
Black bean brownies are a breeze to make with simple ingredients and a food processor! Just mix, bake, and enjoy! I love seeing my kids enjoy these, raving about how they’re the best they’ve ever had—completely unaware that they’re packed with a whole can of black beans!
Prep: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the rinsed black beans to a food processor.
Process Beans: Blend the beans until smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the processor as needed.
Add the Other Ingredients: Add the cocoa powder, flour, sugar, melted butter, egg, salt, instant coffee, vanilla extract, and baking powder to the food processor.
Combine: Blend until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the food processor and blend for a few more seconds to ensure the batter is fully combined.
Stir in Chocolate Chips: Transfer the batter to a medium bowl and stir in the chocolate chips.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top, if desired, and bake for 21-24 minutes. They are done when a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let the brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making Black Bean Brownies
Check out these helpful tips and variations for your black bean brownies! They are sure to turn out perfect every time you make them.
Make sure youblend until smooth! When blending the black beans, make sure to blend them completely smooth! If you leave them a little bit chunky, then the texture of the brownies will be a little lumpy and could have more of a bean flavor to them.
Do I have to use the instant coffee? You don’t have to use instant coffee, but I swear it’s the secret ingredient that makes these taste amazing! I recommend leaving it in if possible!
Richer Brownies: For a richer, darker chocolate brownie, you may substitute Dutch cocoa powder for the regular cocoa powder.
Chocolate Chips: Try switching up the flavor with different kinds of chocolate chips! My favorites are peanut butter or mint chips.
Using a Blender: I’ve seen black bean brownies made in a Magic Bullet or regular blender. I’ve never tried it myself, but I believe these options would work, provided they are at least 1 quart in capacity.
How to Store Leftovers
These black bean brownies make great leftovers! Here’s how to store them to keep them moist and fudgy for days.
Room Temp: Store leftover black bean brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
In the Freezer: You can freeze these brownies in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let the brownies thaw at room temperature before serving.
More Brownie Recipes
If you’re craving more brownies, you have to try these other favorites! Each one has a unique flavor, but they all have one thing in common—they disappear fast because they’re so delicious! Check out my full collection of brownies!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Add 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, to a food processor and blend until smooth.
Add ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup melted salted butter, 1 large egg, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon instant coffee, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon baking powder and blend until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the food processor and blend for a few more seconds to ensure the batter is fully combined.
Transfer the batter to a medium bowl and stir in ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top, if desired, and bake for 21-24 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
Let the brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
There are lots of shares on the FTSE 250 with high yields and rock-bottom prices. Unfortunately, each of these two factors is a result of the other — as the price drops, the yield rises.
Of course, everyone likes a high yield especially if it’s at a bargain — but that’s not always a good thing. The price could just keep dropping until the company goes bankrupt. When looking for dirt cheap shares with dividend potential, it’s critical to assess the long-term viability of the company.
Shares in the price-comparison media platform MONY Group (LSE: MONY) are down 23% in the past year. I recently bought some of the shares when the price fell to a two-year low a few months ago. However, it’s been slow to recover so it still looks like a good bargain.
The key driving factors behind my decision remain in place, a 6.5% dividend yield, decent earnings growth potential and future return on equity (ROE) expected to be around 40%.
The current price level of around 180p has proven to be an attractive buying point for investors in both 2014 and 2022. However, past performance isn’t indicative of future results. So I must also evaluate the company’s market position, demand for its services, and managerial performance.
Economic challenges
Previously known as Moneysupermarket.com, the business rebranded as MONY Group last May. It now operates as a specialist in technology-led money-saving platforms, including several price comparison websites.
The company enables consumers to compare prices on a range of products, including energy, car, home and travel insurance, mortgages, credit cards and loans. Its subsidiaries include MoneySuperMarket, TravelSupermarket, IceLolly, Decision Tech, Quidco, and MoneySavingExpert.
Although it’s considered a market leader, it still operates in a highly competitive industry. The rise of multiple other outfits competing for market share is an ongoing risk pressuring the company. Regulatory changes in the UK financial services sector are another concern that could impact MONY’s operations and profitability.
However, the most likely culprit behind its recent losses is inflation. Consumer spending declined significantly through 2022 and 2023 as the economy suffered a downturn. Many companies using price comparison services have suffered losses and, subsequently, so have the sites themselves.
Long-term potential
Despite the risks mentioned above, I see good long-term growth potential in MONY Group.
We’ve already experienced the first interest rate cut this year and more are expected, with the aim to help reduce inflation. The benefits of a revitalised economy and increased consumer spending would be a boon for the price comparison industry.
If so, MONY’s in good stead to enjoy renewed growth. The share price is currently trading at only 13 times earnings, well below the UK market average.
With earnings forecast to grow 8.6% a year, that figure could come down even further. It’s already 51% below fair value, based on anticipated cash flows, and is forecast to rise an average of 42% in the coming 12 months.
It appears to be a well-established business operating in a high-growth industry and trading below value due to external factors.
I’m as optimistic as ever about its long-term potential and believe it’s worth considering as part of an income-focused portfolio.
Pixar Animation Studios has an unusual logo. The basic logo is the word “Pixar.” But sometimes, an animated lamp named Luxo Jr. hops into the frame and jumps on the letter “i.” The lap exudes personality and represents Pixar’s ability to turn any object into a compelling character.
Inspired by Luxo Jr., Apple’s Machine Learning Research division decided to create a personality-expressive lamp of their own. Apple’s ELEGNT research project explores what’s possible with an expressive physical user interface for non-humanoid robots.
Based on the situation and context of the user, as well as voice interaction, gestures and touch, the lamp can appear to express itself through a variety of movements, including nodding or shaking its “head,” lowering its head to convey sadness, “tail wagging” to signify excitement, “sitting down” to imply relaxation, head tilting to show curiosity, leaning forward to show interest, gazing to direct attention, adjusting speed and pausing to communicate attitudes and emotions, and moving forward or away to show interest or disinterest.
