CWS Overview

Bunge Limited's Business Sale: Bunge Limited is selling its North America dry corn and corn masa milling businesses to Grain Craft, which includes multiple facilities across the U.S. and Mexico, as part of a strategic decision to focus on core business areas.

Stock Performance and Financials: Bunge's shares have decreased by over 25% in the past year, currently trading down 1.61%, while the company holds $3.31 billion in cash and has long-term debt of $4.694 billion.

AppLovin's Interest in TikTok: AppLovin Corporation has expressed a preliminary interest in acquiring TikTok's international operations, joining other companies like Amazon and a group led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely in the competitive bidding process as the platform faces a deadline for ownership change.

Challenges Facing AppLovin: The company is currently experiencing stock declines and criticism from short-sellers regarding its e-commerce practices, which may complicate its efforts to navigate regulatory hurdles while pursuing the TikTok acquisition.

AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF Performance: The AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF, managed by Eddy Elfenbein, is outperforming the market in 2025 with a five-star Morningstar rating, primarily due to its conservative stock holdings and low turnover strategy.

Investor Advice During Market Volatility: Elfenbein advises investors to maintain a long-term focus and not panic during market fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of holding quality stocks that can endure volatility.

Investment and Shareholder Changes: Henry Schein, Inc. announced a $250 million strategic investment from KKR & Co. Inc., making KKR the largest non-index fund shareholder with a 12% stake, and allowing for potential increase to 14.9%. Additionally, KKR will have representation on the Board of Directors.

Financial Outlook: The company reported preliminary fourth-quarter revenue of $3.2 billion, slightly below consensus estimates, and projected low to mid-single-digit growth in revenues and adjusted EPS for 2025, with plans to release full financial results on February 25, 2025.

Mixed Financial Results: Otis Worldwide Corporation reported a 1.5% year-over-year sales growth to $3.675 billion, but its adjusted EPS of 93 cents fell short of analysts' expectations, leading to a premarket share decline of nearly 3%.

2025 Outlook and Strategic Initiatives: The company anticipates net sales between $14.1 billion and $14.4 billion for FY25, below consensus estimates, while implementing a transformation program in China aimed at achieving significant cost savings by the end of 2025.