Category: 3. Business

  • Undiscovered Gems In Australia For October 2025

    Undiscovered Gems In Australia For October 2025

    As the Australian market experiences a soft upswing, buoyed by optimistic trade talks and rising commodity prices, investors are keenly watching small-cap stocks for potential opportunities. In such an environment, undiscovered gems often possess strong fundamentals and resilience to broader market fluctuations, making them appealing candidates for growth-oriented portfolios.

    Name

    Debt To Equity

    Revenue Growth

    Earnings Growth

    Health Rating

    Fiducian Group

    NA

    10.00%

    9.57%

    ★★★★★★

    Rand Mining

    NA

    10.19%

    2.74%

    ★★★★★★

    Euroz Hartleys Group

    NA

    1.82%

    -25.32%

    ★★★★★★

    Hearts and Minds Investments

    NA

    56.27%

    59.19%

    ★★★★★★

    Spheria Emerging Companies

    NA

    -1.31%

    0.28%

    ★★★★★★

    Focus Minerals

    NA

    75.35%

    51.34%

    ★★★★★★

    Djerriwarrh Investments

    2.39%

    8.18%

    7.91%

    ★★★★★★

    Energy World

    NA

    -47.50%

    -44.86%

    ★★★★★☆

    Zimplats Holdings

    5.44%

    -9.79%

    -42.03%

    ★★★★★☆

    Australian United Investment

    1.90%

    5.23%

    4.56%

    ★★★★☆☆

    Click here to see the full list of 60 stocks from our ASX Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener.

    Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener.

    Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆

    Overview: Diversified United Investment Limited is a publicly owned investment manager with a market cap of A$1.15 billion.

    Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its investment activities, amounting to A$46.71 million.

    Diversified United Investment (DUI) has shown resilience with a net income of A$37.99 million for the year ending June 2025, up from A$36.03 million the previous year, reflecting steady growth in earnings per share from A$0.166 to A$0.176. Over five years, earnings have grown at an annual rate of 5%, although recent growth of 5.4% lagged behind the broader Capital Markets industry at 19.3%. The company is debt-free, contrasting with its past debt-to-equity ratio of 9%, which highlights prudent financial management despite significant insider selling recently observed over three months.

    ASX:DUI Debt to Equity as at Oct 2025

    Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆

    Overview: Peet Limited is an Australian company that focuses on acquiring, developing, and marketing residential land, with a market capitalization of A$894.18 million.

    Operations: Peet generates revenue primarily through its Company Owned Projects, contributing A$313.24 million, followed by Funds Management at A$56.39 million and Joint Arrangements at A$51.88 million.

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  • AI and tech are potentially the biggest equalizers Africa has ever seen, former Nvidia exec says

    AI and tech are potentially the biggest equalizers Africa has ever seen, former Nvidia exec says

    Artificial intelligence is poised to become a transformative growth driver for African economies, which will also export its own AI in the coming years, according to the head of a data infrastructure company.

    At Fortune’s Global Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, Amini founder and CEO Kate Kallot said her company is building computing power that will enable purpose-built AI solutions for Africa.

    The former Nvidia executive also predicted that AI will add $2.9 trillion to Africa’s economy over the next five years as governments begin to view data and computing capacity as critical infrastructure, alongside roads and hospitals. Kallot served as head of emerging areas at Nvidia before departing in 2022 to start Amini.

    As infrastructure investments grow, governments are demanding that large language models deployed in Africa actually reflect local realities, given that nearly a billion Africans are still offline while LLMs are trained on internet data, Kallot said.

    This new mindset of strategic partnerships has expanded from the governmental level to the private sector, and startups have emerged that will help shape the future of their countries and their economies, she said.

    “We’re seeing technology and AI as potentially one of the biggest equalizers that Africa has ever seen,” Kallot added.

    But that’s not yet reflected in the global narrative, which doesn’t recognize AI innovation in Africa, she pointed out.

    The reality is that the continent is actually a leader in developing AI that’s efficient, responsible, and inclusive—and the rest of the world is about to find out.

    “Within the next five to 10 years, we’re going to see African intelligence being exported in other countries across the Global South,” Kallot said.

    Changing the global narrative

    The negative narrative about Africa is costly, according to Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, CEO of the global advocacy group One Campaign.

    That bias has made borrowing costs for African countries more expensive, with negative reporting about the region costing an estimated $4.2 billion. But in fact, certain sectors are seeing returns as high as 10x.

    “We’re changing the narrative, and we’re saying Africa is a return on investment, not a risk,” she told Fortune’s Diane Brady. “And this is the time to partner with us with fair financing that delivers results and delivers jobs.”

    Flipping the script is also top of mind for Boris Kodjoe, cofounder of the investment and impact platform Full Circle Africa.

    The former model and Hollywood actor noted that Africa’s diaspora—the world’s third-largest after China’s and India’s—has been structuring its capital in recent years and is key to the growth story.

    Today, Africa’s economy is young, creative, digital, and moving fast, defining itself with culture and technology rather than just its natural resources, Kodjoe explained.

    “Africa is the only region where population is getting younger, more connected, and more entrepreneurial all at the same time,” he added. “I think the world is no longer asking ‘why Africa,’ but ‘when can we get in?’ And i think the time is now.” 

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  • Cristcot to Present Data on Novel Ulcerative Colitis Treatment at the American College of Gastroenterology 2025 Annual Meeting

    CESSA Phase 3 Clinical Trial Results Earn ACG Presidential Poster Distinction Among Nearly 6,000 Abstracts

    Next-generation Hydrocortisone Acetate (ngHCA™) Suppository Administered with Sephure® Suppository Applicator Demonstrates Statistically Significant Rates of Clinical Remission in Patients with UC in CESSA Phase 3 Trial

    Additional Findings Reinforce Rapid and Sustained Drug Release of ngHCA

    AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cristcot, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company advancing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that the Company is presenting three posters highlighting pivotal new data in ulcerative colitis (UC) of the rectum research at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. 

    “We are excited to present Cristcot’s data at ACG 2025, which showcases our meaningful contributions across the spectrum of UC research and reinforces the transformative potential of our ngHCA suppository – the first investigational agent to show rapid clinical remission in UC,” said Jennifer J. Davagian, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cristcot. “As we progress towards FDA submission and commercialization of our novel therapy, we are focused on close collaboration with the gastroenterology community through forums like ACG to ensure we are best positioned to address the needs of patients, providers, and payers in this field. We look forward to continuing to advance our innovative, patient-centric solutions.”

    ACG Presidential Poster Distinction Recognizes Excellence in Clinical Research

    The CESSA abstract was selected as an ACG 2025 Presidential Poster Recipient among nearly 6,000 abstracts. The distinction is reserved for approximately five percent of submissions and recognizes high-quality, novel, and clinically meaningful research contributing to advances in gastroenterology.

    Pivotal Phase 3 CESSA Trial

    Poster Title: Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Investigational Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation and Optimized Applicator for Treatment of Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results of the Phase 3 CESSA Trial
    Key Findings: The Phase 3 CESSA trial evaluated efficacy and safety of Cristcot’s ngHCA 90 mg suppository administered with the proprietary Sephure® suppository applicator in adults with confirmed active moderate to severe UC.

    Efficacy

    • The trial achieved its primary endpoint of clinical remission at Day 29 and secondary endpoint of clinical response at Day 15, both using modified Mayo Score (MMS) criteria, demonstrating statistically significant improvements for patients treated with the ngHCA 90 mg suppository compared to those who received placebo.
      • Clinical and endoscopic remission was achieved by 21.2% (p=0.0005) of study participants in the ngHCA QD (once-daily) arm versus 1.5% of patients in the placebo arm.
      • Secondary efficacy analyses showed that treatment with ngHCA QD resulted in greater improvement in rectal bleeding and stool frequency scores at Day 15 and Day 29 versus placebo.
      • Concomitant medication for UC (stable dose) was taken by 63.5% of patients throughout the study. No non-study corticosteroids were permitted.

    Safety and Compliance

    • ngHCA was well tolerated.
    • There were no treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs).
    • Treatment-related adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 4.5% of patients in the QD treatment group and 7.6% in the placebo group.
    • The majority of TEAEs were mild and moderate in severity.
    • Compliance was very high – 100% of subjects in the ngHCA QD group had greater than 90% adherence with the required dosing.

    Additional details on the CESSA trial can be found in Cristcot’s January 2025 press release, available on the News page of its website.

    “There is an urgent need for a fast-acting, localized, and easy-to-administer option to manage patients with active ulcerative colitis,” said Raj Devarajan, MD, Global Medical Advisor, Cristcot, and presenting author. “I’m thrilled to share the pivotal CESSA trial results as a Presidential Poster at ACG, which marks a meaningful advancement in this area. The efficacy demonstrated in CESSA, notably clinical responses within two weeks and endoscopic remission by four weeks, has never been achieved in the moderate to severe UC population. Combined with a favorable tolerability profile, these data support this novel HCA combination product to treat UC exacerbations alongside maintenance therapies or as a monotherapy. I look forward to its continued evaluation as a new option for the many patients who continue to face gaps in effective management of this disease.”

    Innovation in Pharmacokinetics

    Title: Pharmacokinetics and Relative Bioavailability of an Investigational Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Administered with a Novel FDA-Cleared Applicator Versus Hydrocortisone Liquid Enema
    Key Findings: In this Phase 1 study, the ngHCA suppository administered using the Sephure® suppository applicator demonstrated sustained release with optimal bioavailability that is expected to provide consistent efficacy over the intended treatment period.

    New Data Highlights: Clinical Trial Methodology

    Title: Recent Recall as an Alternative to Daily Study Participant Diaries in Ulcerative Colitis Trials: Evidence from a Phase 3 Clinical Trial
    Key Findings: This prespecified exploratory analysis from the Phase 3 CESSA trial demonstrated that participant-reported UC symptom data collected through recent (3-day) recall correlated with data collected through daily participant diaries. These findings indicate that recent recall offers a reliable, lower-burden alternative to daily diaries for collecting patient-reported outcomes in future UC trials.

    Cristcot’s presence at ACG 2025 underscores its commitment to advancing evidence-based, patient-focused solutions that address persistent gaps in ulcerative colitis care.

    Additional information, including abstracts, can be found on the ACG 2025 Annual Meeting website.

    About Cristcot’s HCA 90 mg Suppository

    Cristcot’s investigational hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) 90 mg suppository formulation is a novel corticosteroid therapy delivering a small volume suppository using the Sephure® applicator to ensure precise placement, minimizing discomfort and leakage. Rectally administered topical treatments, including topical corticosteroids, are important treatment options (either alone or in combination with other therapies), for directing delivery to inflammation sites and limiting systemic drug exposure, though there is no FDA-approved corticosteroid suppository on the market. Unlike traditional corticosteroid treatments, Cristcot’s advanced HCA formulation allows for rapid, sustained release with optimal bioavailability, consistent and localized efficacy, and very limited systemic exposure. The innovative delivery system may enhance patient compliance.

    About Ulcerative Colitis

    UC is a life-long, chronic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine, including the rectum and sometimes, all or part of the colon. Symptoms often include rectal bleeding, profuse diarrhea, bowel urgency, tenesmus, and abdominal pain significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. UC flares frequently originate in the rectum, and untreated inflammation can progress to more extensive disease, leading to hospitalization or surgery. There is no cure for UC and, breakthrough flares, even while taking maintenance medication, is a known characteristic of the disease profile. Over 55% of UC patients experience 3-5 flares annually, with many reporting debilitating effects on daily activities, work, and mental health. Despite existing treatments, patients experience intermittent flares and often change therapies as a measure to treat increased disease activity. The time of transition between one treatment to another is further complicated while waiting for the new therapy to reach full efficacy potential. Gaps remain in addressing flares quickly and effectively, highlighting the need for targeted therapies that can provide rapid symptom relief and remission.

    About Cristcot

    Cristcot is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases. The Company’s lead asset, a novel hydrocortisone acetate suppository, is positioned to become an important therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis. Cristcot’s diversified pipeline includes investigational development programs for ulcerative colitis, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhoid disease and other inflammatory gastrointestinal indications with an emphasis on innovative, patient-centric solutions. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

    For more information, please visit www.cristcot.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain information set forth in this press release contains “forward-looking information”, including “future-oriented financial information” and “financial outlook”, under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) market prospects and potential future sales for the Company products; (iii) expected development of the Company’s products, business and projects; (iv) availability of competing products in the market; (v) prospects for regulatory approval of the Company’s products; (vi) execution of the Company’s vision and growth strategy; and (vii) availability of protections under applicable intellectual property laws.

    These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

    Although forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    Contacts

    Jenny Gizzi, Chief Administrative Officer
    Cristcot
    [email protected]

    Tanner Kaufman / Katie Harris
    FTI Consulting
    [email protected] / [email protected]  

    SOURCE Cristcot

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  • Nigeria’s Dangote plots refinery expansion part financed by stake sale

    Nigeria’s Dangote plots refinery expansion part financed by stake sale

    Stay informed with free updates

    Nigeria’s leading industrialist Aliko Dangote is planning to expand capacity at his group’s petroleum refinery to 1.4mn barrels per day and will sell shares in the business to help finance the expansion.

    Dangote told the Financial Times he would sell up to a 10 per cent stake in the refinery “depending on what the Nigerian market can take” and is also seeking $5bn in financing from Afreximbank, the African trade bank.

    The expansion, which the multi-billionaire industrialist announced in Lagos on Sunday, would make the refinery in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, rival Reliance Industries’ refinery at Jamnagar in India as the biggest in the world. Jamnagar says it has an output of 1.4mn barrels a day.

    The plant, which has an existing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has yet to reach full throttle.

    However, the plan reflected his confidence in the Nigerian economy and a response to rising regional demand, Dangote said, adding that it would help further reduce the continent’s dependence on imports.  

    “This expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria’s future, our belief in Africa’s potential, and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent,” he said.

    Dangote is the only African on the Forbes list of the 100 wealthiest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of $26bn.

    Aliko Dangote is the only African on the Forbes list of the 100 wealthiest people © Victor J Blue/Bloomberg

    He said the expansion would require 65,000 workers, most of whom would be Nigerian, and expected it to take three years.

    The initial phase of the refinery took nearly a decade to construct from start to finish and cost about $20bn, and Dangote said he had learned lessons from the first phase to reduce the completion time of the second.

    George Elombi, the new president of Afreximbank, said his institution was in talks with the Dangote group to provide $5bn in loans towards the expansion.

    “We have agreed to look for the money so (the Dangote group) can double production, maximise certain production lines and thereby reduce the price of most of its products,” he told the Financial Times.

    This was part of a wider strategy the bank has begun in order to encourage industrialisation and increase support across the continent for the processing of raw materials, he said.  

    Since it began producing diesel and aviation fuel, and gasoline in 2024, the Dangote group has shaken up the Nigerian oil market, which after years of mismanagement at state-owned refineries had become dependent on costly imports of refined products.

    But it faced difficulties at the outset in securing enough oil from Nigeria’s national oil company NNPC, which owns a 7.2 per cent stake in the refinery.

    The group sourced crude from around the world with cargoes from Angola, Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and the USA to satisfy demand, but has reduced inflows recently in response to rising global prices.

    At an Afreximbank event in Cairo on Saturday, Dangote said the refinery construction had been severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but previous support from the African trade bank had helped see the project to completion.

    “Without Afreximbank the Dangote refinery wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.  

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  • Biotechnology and Digital Health in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

    Biotechnology and Digital Health in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

    Introduction

    The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is fast emerging as a global leader in biotechnology and digital health. This growth is driven by the unique mix of demographic pressures, economic diversification goals, and health security imperatives experienced in these countries. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the sector’s regional expansion: Saudi Arabia’s recent launch of its National Biotechnology Strategy envisions a contribution of US$34.6 billion to non-oil GDP by 2040, while the UAE’s digital health market is forecast to grow by over 23 percent by 2030, pushing the sector to approximately US$2.65 billion in value.

    The expansion of such initiatives strengthens GCC countries’ reputations for delivering high-quality healthcare for both locals and expatriates and aligns with wider economic transformation agendas. The biotechnology industry and health tourism sector are lucrative opportunities with estimated values of US$1.5 trillion and US$8.7 billion, respectively.

    The biotechnology industry and health tourism sector are lucrative opportunities with estimated values of US$1.5 trillion and US$8.7 billion, respectively.

    However, while intensive public and private investment in initiatives such as digital health partnerships, national genome programmes, and AI-driven diagnostics mark major progress, the sector still faces bottlenecks in research infrastructure and data governance. Consolidating these advances through stronger coordination with research institutions and developing comprehensive health data governance frameworks will be key to turning early gains into lasting global leadership. 

    Diseases of modernity: rising wealth, sedentary lifestyles and ageing populations

    The Gulf states face a health paradox common to high-income societies: economic gains have brought prosperity and longevity, but also a surge in non-communicable diseases. The WHO estimates that around 74 million people in the Eastern Mediterranean live with diabetes, with prevalence rates in the GCC reaching up to 20 percent. At the same time, life expectancy has risen dramatically from 60 years in the late 1970s to around 83 years in 2025 in the UAE, with similar trends observed across the five other GCC states. This puts increasing pressure on both hospitals and home-based care services, given that 80 percent of healthcare needs typically occur post-retirement age.

    To meet these needs, states are seeking to implement new technologies within their healthcare offerings. Saudi Arabia’s Digital Health Strategy and Roadmap explicitly includes remote monitoring, virtual clinics, and the integration of telehealth as priorities under Vision 2030 and related health transformation programmes, incorporating technologies that can provide more accessible healthcare to citizens who may have limited mobility. This is also particularly important given Saudi Arabia’s large population and vast geography, as it enables care delivery to more people without extensive travel. In the UAE, ambitions for the health sector outlined in Vision 2021 and the more recent We the UAE 2031 consist of enhancing quality of life and specialised care offerings by continuing to develop an innovative, state-of-the-art healthcare system. As such, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Policy on Digital Health identifies technologies such as “telemedicine, web-based analysis…  wearable devices, and clinic or remote monitoring sensors” as essential for early diagnostics and care management.

    Next-generation sequencing and AI are being deployed to analyse population-wide genetic data, identifying variants linked to rare and hereditary disease.

    Alongside these efforts, the GCC is deepening its focus on gene mapping and preventative health. The Gulf’s high consanguinity rate among local populations has been a concern for decades, prompting Saudi Arabia to institute a law requiring pre-marital genetic testing in 2002 — the first such law in the region, subsequently adopted across all GCC states. Building on this foundation, targeted testing between couples has now been expanded as governments work to map entire populations. Next-generation sequencing and AI are being deployed to analyse population-wide genetic data, identifying variants linked to rare and hereditary disease. Such projects are essential to the development of “precision medicine”, in which the patient’s specific genetic profile is used to inform and optimise treatment plans rather than relying on generalised clinical guidelines. These programmes also address the Eurocentric bias in earlier datasets, creating population-specific genetic baselines that strengthen diagnostic accuracy.

    These initiatives position Gulf countries as leaders in data-driven healthcare, advancing Vision 2030 and We the UAE 2031 goals for economic diversification and improved quality of life. The UAE’s medical tourism market alone was valued at US$334.9 million in 2024, projected to reach US$975 million by 2032. By expanding biotechnology and digital health, both countries aim to extend life expectancy and ease pressure on healthcare systems as populations expand and age.

    Building momentum: investment, research and data regulation

    Biotechnology and digital health initiatives in the GCC are benefiting from significant levels of government commitment and capital investment. The healthcare-focused private equity company Quadria Capital recently allocated a quarter of its latest US$1 billion fund to the GCC, specifying digital health as a key sub-sector for growth and marking the region as a strategic hub for next-generation healthcare innovation. Saudi Arabia’s flagship Global Health Exhibition saw approximately US$13.3 billion in announced healthcare investment in 2024, and has dedicated a considerable tranche of activities and discussions to the topic of “Digital Health” for the upcoming 2025 edition in late October. In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) recently signed an MoU with GSK to establish a medical institute in the emirate, focused on integrating genomics data to advance cancer research. Another strength for the region is the positive reaction that genome projects have received from citizens. Because such projects necessitate a vast amount of data, the voluntary participation of citizens is an essential component. Public support is likely thanks in part to the existence of genetic testing as a pre-marital requirement, in addition to strong public messaging and education campaigns in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia that emphasise the transformative potential of AI’s algorithmic analyses and its central place in the GCC’s future economies.

    To ensure long-term competitiveness in medical tourism and biotechnology, GCC countries should expand research capacity alongside treatment infrastructure.

    However, challenges related to research capacity and infrastructure, which are uneven across the region, remain. While Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City and Dubai Science Park are key host centres for life sciences firms working in genomics and digital health, most clinical research remains concentrated in only a handful of facilities. The UAE, for example, has only eight on-site research centres across its 168 inpatient facilities. This is also true of Saudi Arabia, where specialist institutions like King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) are impressive, but relatively few in number compared to global leaders in life sciences innovation, such as the US and Switzerland. To ensure long-term competitiveness in medical tourism and biotechnology, GCC countries should expand research capacity alongside treatment infrastructure. Developing research ecosystems would likely attract more global talent while simultaneously increasing economic gains by driving high-value innovation. In addition, future policy development in the evolving landscape of global data governance must balance security with flexibility — strong enough to guard against high-profile data breaches that have become a persistent risk across the sector, yet open enough to encourage biotech investment. Focusing on research depth and trusted data systems will position the GCC as a secure and innovation-driven healthcare hub.

    Conclusion

    Over the past decade, the GCC — led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE — has laid the groundwork for a modern, innovation-driven healthcare landscape. Through large-scale investment in the sector, including digital health initiatives and national genome programmes, the region is positioning itself as a global hub for precision medicine and data-driven health innovation. These initiatives address the challenges of population growth, increased life expectancy, and lifestyle-related diseases while supporting broader diversification goals under Vision 2030 and We the UAE 2031. Yet, progress remains uneven, particularly in research infrastructure and regulatory coherence — areas that will determine whether current momentum translates into lasting global influence.

    The strong investment trends in the wider sector should be matched by greater allocations toward building specialised research institutions to enable the region to generate original medical advances.

    Given that it is the UAE’s ambition to become a global destination for specialised care and Saudi Arabia’s mission to further encourage a competitive environment among healthcare providers, research capacity must become a priority. The strong investment trends in the wider sector should be matched by greater allocations toward building specialised research institutions to enable the region to generate original medical advances. In addition, GCC countries should seek to continuously advance and refine their health data regulations while avoiding overburdening market actors with excessive compliance duties, thereby balancing investor confidence with robust safeguards for privacy and ethical use.


    This commentary was originally appeared on ORF Middle East.

    The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.

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  • Is Archer Aviation Poised for Growth After eVTOL Test Flight Success and 264% Stock Surge?

    Is Archer Aviation Poised for Growth After eVTOL Test Flight Success and 264% Stock Surge?

    If you’ve been eyeing Archer Aviation lately, you’re not alone. The stock has been on a wild ride, up just 0.4% in the past week, but a jaw-dropping 264.2% over the last year. Plenty of investors are asking the same question: Is this growth just lift-off, or is turbulence ahead?

    Why all the excitement? Headlines around successful eVTOL test flights and key partnerships with global airlines have helped fuel optimism. Investors also seem to be recalibrating their risk appetite, especially after government agencies signaled strong support for urban air mobility. That could have a lot to do with the stock’s staggering one-year gain and a recent 21.7% jump in just the last month. Even the year-to-date climb is impressive at 18.0%, hinting at a shift in how the market views both risk and opportunity in the air mobility space.

    But the big question remains: Is Archer Aviation’s valuation truly justified? According to our assessment, the company lands a value score of 3 out of 6, meaning it’s undervalued in half the key areas we look at, but there’s still room for improvement. Of course, numbers only tell part of the story.

    Let’s break down how we measure value, and then I’ll share what really matters most for those trying to get ahead of the curve.

    Archer Aviation delivered 264.2% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Aerospace & Defense industry.

    A Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model looks at a company’s future free cash flows, then discounts those projections back to today’s value to estimate how much the business is truly worth right now. This approach is widely used in growth sectors like aerospace where consistent profits might still be years away.

    For Archer Aviation, the most recent free cash flow sits at -$472.3 Million, reflecting heavy investment and development costs. Analysts forecast that by 2029, annual free cash flow could swing to a positive $286 Million. Looking even further, projections out to 2035 estimate free cash flow climbing steadily each year, all denominated in US Dollars. These assumptions combine analyst forecasts for the next five years and are followed by extended projections to capture the full growth profile of the business as provided by Simply Wall St.

    The results are compelling. The DCF analysis estimates a fair value for Archer Aviation at $29.72 per share. With the stock currently trading at a level that implies a 62% discount to this intrinsic value, the company appears deeply undervalued by this measure.

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  • Evaluating Valuation as Baricitinib Advances Toward Expanded Approval for Adolescent Alopecia Areata

    Evaluating Valuation as Baricitinib Advances Toward Expanded Approval for Adolescent Alopecia Areata

    New data from the Phase 3 BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial highlights baricitinib’s strong performance in adolescents facing severe alopecia areata. Incyte (INCY) and Eli Lilly now plan to pursue global approvals for expanded use based on these results.

    See our latest analysis for Incyte.

    Incyte’s momentum has really picked up this year thanks to positive trial results and recent pipeline updates, such as its advances in atopic dermatitis and cancer immunotherapies. The stock’s strong 31% share price return since January, along with a 40% total shareholder return over the past year, signals renewed optimism about both its near-term growth and long-term potential.

    If Incyte’s clinical breakthroughs have you thinking bigger, this could be a smart time to discover See the full list for free.

    With such a run-up in the share price and a fresh wave of optimism, investors have to ask: does Incyte still offer significant upside from here, or has the market already priced in the expected growth?

    The most popular narrative among analysts puts Incyte’s fair value at $84.76, which is almost $6.50 below the recent closing price. This signals a view that current market optimism has gone a little too far. Let’s examine one of the biggest factors feeding this analyst consensus.

    Recent price target increases highlight optimism about Incyte’s commercial execution, particularly following positive updates on flagship therapies and confidence expressed by new leadership.

    Read the complete narrative.

    Want the story behind this valuation? Dive in for analysts’ bold projections on future profit margins, share growth, and a crucial earnings target that could make or break the investment case. The real surprise: see how a future multiple drives everything.

    Result: Fair Value of $84.76 (OVERVALUED)

    Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

    However, overreliance on Jakafi and regulatory or competitive pressures could still cast doubt on Incyte’s long-term growth narrative.

    Find out about the key risks to this Incyte narrative.

    While analyst consensus sees Incyte as expensive at current prices, a fresh look using our SWS DCF model tells a different story. The DCF suggests Incyte could be significantly undervalued, with shares trading at a steep 44% discount to estimated fair value. Are the market and the model seeing something different, or is there an opportunity hiding in plain sight?

    Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.

    INCY Discounted Cash Flow as at Oct 2025

    Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Incyte for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover undervalued stocks based on their cash flows. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match – so you never miss a potential opportunity.

    If you have your own perspective or want to dig deeper into the numbers, creating your personalized narrative is quick and straightforward. Do it your way

    A good starting point is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards investors are optimistic about regarding Incyte.

    If you want to stay ahead of the market and uncover the next big opportunity, don’t stand on the sidelines. Let the right tools steer your portfolio.

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Companies discussed in this article include INCY.

    Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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  • Assessing Mizuho (TSE:8411) Valuation Following Recent Trading and Investor Attention

    Assessing Mizuho (TSE:8411) Valuation Following Recent Trading and Investor Attention

    Mizuho Financial Group (TSE:8411) shares have been catching investors’ attention following a modest move in recent trading sessions. With returns over the past month slightly negative, but up around 8% in the past 3 months, some are taking a closer look.

    See our latest analysis for Mizuho Financial Group.

    Mizuho Financial Group’s share price has cooled a bit in the last month, though the backdrop is still positive. Momentum has been building steadily, leading to a 25.74% year-to-date share price return and a striking 63.36% total shareholder return over the past year. This run has caught the market’s eye as investors weigh up growth potential against a changing risk profile.

    If you’re looking for fresh ideas beyond the top financial names, this could be the perfect opportunity to discover fast growing stocks with high insider ownership

    With shares pulling back just as fundamentals remain largely stable, the key debate is whether Mizuho is trading below its true value or if the market has already factored in all of its future growth potential.

    The most widely followed narrative values Mizuho Financial Group higher than its last close, suggesting the stock could be discounted relative to fair value. There appears to be alignment around strong fundamentals driving optimism, setting the stage for a deeper look at what is powering this view.

    Strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and cost-cutting initiatives aim to enhance competitive edge, improve efficiency, and expand revenue streams for Mizuho Financial Group. Diversifying revenue sources and enhancing shareholder returns through investments and buybacks could stabilize growth and elevate stock valuation.

    Read the complete narrative.

    Want to see how ambitious cost-cutting and bold expansion strategies combine to shift the valuation needle? The narrative leans on projections not typically seen for banks in this market environment. Curious what assumptions about earnings growth and margins drive this potential upside? Click through for the full methodology and numbers behind the headline value.

    Result: Fair Value of ¥5,231.82 (UNDERVALUED)

    Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

    However, rising operational costs and the challenges of integrating new partnerships could put pressure on profitability and could disrupt the positive outlook for Mizuho.

    Find out about the key risks to this Mizuho Financial Group narrative.

    If you have a different view or want to examine the numbers firsthand, you can build your own perspective in just a few minutes using the same data. Do it your way

    A great starting point for your Mizuho Financial Group research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision.

    Expand your portfolio’s horizons and never miss your next big opportunity by checking out unique investment ideas that go beyond the familiar names.

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Companies discussed in this article include 8411.T.

    Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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  • The Value of Routine Histopathology After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis

    The Value of Routine Histopathology After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis


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  • Clinical Management and Outcomes of Ectopic Pregnancies: Experience From Sohar Hospital Over Three Years

    Clinical Management and Outcomes of Ectopic Pregnancies: Experience From Sohar Hospital Over Three Years


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