The government is expected to announce an extra £1.3bn in funding for a scheme encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs) at next week’s Budget.
The Electric Car Grant scheme started in July as part of the move to zero emission vehicles. The government says it has helped 35,000 switch to EVs.
However, early research suggests there is little indication the scheme has attracted entirely new buyers.
There will also be money to create more charging points, and a consultation on helping people without driveways to charge their cars.
It is also possible EV owners could face a new tax elsewhere in Wednesday’s Budget in the form of a pay-per-mile charge in future.
All new cars will have to be electric or hybrid from 2030, when a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars comes into force.
The Electric Car Grant scheme, which provides a discount of up to £3,750 on eligible vehicles, was launched with an initial fund of £650m.
New AutoMotive, a non-profit organisation supporting the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, found in a recent study that the scheme had yet to expand the market for EVs.
EVs covered by the scheme made up 23.8% of new registrations in September, the same as their share before the Electric Car Grant was announced, New Automotive said.
“It isn’t yet clear that it’s prompting consumers to consider buying cars that they wouldn’t have gone ahead and bought anyway,” David Farrar, policy manager for New AutoMotive, said at the time.
The Budget is also expected to announce a further £200m for speeding up the rollout of chargepoints across the UK.
Data from Zapmap shows almost 87,000 points across the UK, in about 44,000 locations. Those include places like supermarket car parks and lamppost chargers.
“The proposed funding will support the creation of thousands of chargepoints and provide extra resources for local authorities to ramp up charging infrastructure on local streets – making it easier for everyone to access reliable charging, including those without off-street parking,” the government said.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, it added, was “expected to publish a consultation on Permitted Development Rights to make it easier and cheaper for people without a driveway to charge”.
However, it is also possible that EV owners could face a new tax in the Budget in the form of a pay-per-mile charge from 2028.
A government spokesperson told the BBC earlier this month: “Fuel duty covers petrol and diesel, but there’s no equivalent for electric vehicles. We want a fairer system for all drivers.”
Reeves is being urged not to raise taxes on drivers overall, with campaigners preparing to deliver a petition to Downing Street early next week which calls for fuel duty, long frozen, not to be increased.
Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said that “handing out £1.5 billion in EV subsidies while hard-working taxpayers are squeezed dry” was “madness”.
“Ordinary families are facing increased taxes and spiralling inflation under Labour, yet the Government’s priority is handing out discounts on new electric cars,” the Conservative MP said.
Reeves is expected to increase some taxes in the Budget after saying she means to bring down NHS waiting lists, the national debt and the cost of living.
America’s most popular car brand is recalling more than one million vehicles (1).
On Oct. 30, Japanese vehicle manufacturer Toyota announced a sweeping recall of several models released between 2020 and 2023 as a result of malfunctioning backup cameras (2). The Toyota Newsroom stated that drivers of some Toyota and Lexus models could experience a blacked out or frozen camera when reversing, a violation of federal car safety standards (3) .
Some of the impacted models include the Camry, Highlander, and Prius. Toyota says affected drivers will be notified of the recall by late December 2025.
A faulty backup camera may not sound like a serious enough issue to send your car into the shop, but companies only issue recalls after receiving customer complaints and when there’s a verified safety risk (4). A malfunctioning backup camera can fail to alert drivers to obstacles, animals, or children in the rear of the car, and creates an additional blind spot for drivers of newer vehicles who aren’t used to having to look behind or check their mirrors when backing up (5).
It’s a hassle to deal with a vehicle that has been recalled, but it’s important to get the issue fixed. Here’s what drivers need to know.
Recalls are not uncommon: nearly 30 million vehicles in the U.S. were impacted by nearly 1,100 different recalls in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (6) .
If a driver is alerted to a recall, they should schedule service with the car dealership as soon as possible, especially if the issue presents a severe safety risk. Some recalls, like a faulty camera, may not present immediate risks. In this case, Toyota isn’t issuing notices to impacted drivers until December. But sometimes, your car might need an urgent fix.
Fortunately, it’s the manufacturer’s responsibility to pay for the fix. But returning your car to the road isn’t always smooth.
Car makers may announce a fix is needed before they are actually ready to make the repairs.
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According to Michael Crossen, lead auto technician at Consumer Reports, “Automakers may announce a recall before they’ve figured out how to handle the problem, because of federal reporting requirements. “
“If that happens, you’ll have to wait for a second notice to tell you that a repair is ready.”
Plus, since hundreds of thousands of vehicles will at least theoretically be going into dealerships for the same issue, there’s a chance the required part won’t be available, or that the next open appointment time isn’t as soon as you’d prefer.
What’s most inconvenient to impacted drivers, however, is when a dealership purposely drags their heels on repairs. Raymond Roth, director and automotive recalls practice leader at analysis firm Stout, says that since dealers don’t stand to make money from the recall repair, they might prioritize other work first.
“We have observed some instances of dealers telling vehicle owners that parts are not available when they actually were, because (the dealerships) viewed other repair work as being more profitable,” Roth told Consumer Reports (7).
If you have an impacted vehicle, the notice will probably come in the mail, and you may get more than one. If you receive a recall notice, call your car dealership to schedule the fix. Make sure it’s an authorized dealership that works directly with the recall issuer, and bring the recall letter with you.
And remember, the only cost to you is likely to be the time out of your day. You should consider asking the dealership for a loaner vehicle, especially if the issue has rendered your car undriveable or the repair will take hours or even days.
If your model is listed on a recall but you haven’t received a notice, don’t assume it’s not affected, as manufacturers have 60 days to issue notices (8). If you want to check whether your car has a current recall, you can enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA’s recall checker (9).
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Experian (1); USA Today (2); Toyota (3); NHTSA (4); Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers (5); NHTSA (6); Consumer Reports (7); Lehigh Valley Acura (8); NHTSA (9)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CCP issues show-cause notices to 17 major private schools for selling logo-branded items at inflated prices
RAWALPINDI:
The Competition Commission of Pakistan has initiated action against major private schools across the country that sell notebooks, textbooks, uniforms, school ties, girls’ scarves and registers at extremely high prices by simply placing their school logos on them.
The Commission has issued show-cause notices to owners of 17 major private schools, seeking replies within two weeks. The move has been widely welcomed by private school associations, parents, citizen action groups, the District Bar Association, and stationers.
They said issuing notices alone is not enough; the action must be implemented strictly.
They demanded a complete ban on the sale of textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, shoes, ties, and school canteen items through specific shops only.
They stressed that stationery and uniforms for all government and private schools should be available at every open-market shop, which would encourage competition and reduce prices.
The competition commission has summoned the 17 schools within 14 days for selling school-logo textbooks, copies, uniforms and stationery at 200-300 per cent higher prices than the open market.
President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, Irfan Muzaffar Kayani, said he fully supports the government’s action. He added that franchise schools are forced to sell logo-branded books and uniforms, as it is the decision of the owners, not the franchisees.
The association supports making all textbooks, copies and uniforms available in the open market. He said they provide some relief to students by offering 10 per cent of seats with free education and books.
President of the District Bar Association, Sardar Manzar Bashir, said the Bar and lawyers are taking the matter directly to the Rawalpindi Bench of the High Court, challenging excessive fees, registration charges, and the sale of logo-branded books and uniforms.
The Bar will request the court to set a strict timeline for creating a uniform national policy in consultation with all stakeholders.
Parents Chaudhry Shaukat and Haji Ibrahim said education and health have already become too expensive, and major private schools worsen the burden by selling logo-branded books and uniforms at prices up to 300 per cent higher. Parents, they said, are forced to bear this burden by cutting household expenses.
They warned that if the government limits itself to issuing notices without enforcement, it would also be considered complicit.
Stationer Waseem Ahmed said that just as meat, clothing, lentils, ghee, sugar, chicken, milk, and yoghurt are available in the open market, school textbooks, notebooks, and uniforms must also be sold openly.
This will encourage competition and reduce prices. “We are booksellers and sell items with minimal profit,” he said. Terming it a positive step by the Punjab government, he added that it would bring relief to people already crushed by inflation.
Earlier this week, Lumen Technologies launched its Lumen Defender Advanced Managed Detection and Response with Microsoft Sentinel and joined Meter in announcing an integrated WAN-to-LAN networking solution tailored for AI-driven enterprises.
These developments underscore Lumen’s commitment to expanding its digital security and connectivity ecosystem through deeper integrations with industry leaders and innovative platform offerings.
We’ll examine how the Microsoft Sentinel-powered cybersecurity launch enhances Lumen’s transformation story and investment considerations.
Outshine the giants: these 25 early-stage AI stocks could fund your retirement.
To be a Lumen Technologies shareholder, you need to believe in the company’s pivot toward enterprise fiber networks, digital security, and AI-driven connectivity as offsetting its legacy declines. This week’s cybersecurity and AI networking launches bolster Lumen’s platform credentials, but they do not materially shift the most important near-term catalyst: successful enterprise revenue scaling, nor do they reduce the biggest risk of persistent legacy revenue contraction and financial strain.
Of Lumen’s announcements, the Microsoft Sentinel-powered Advanced Managed Detection and Response stands out, reinforcing efforts to reposition beyond legacy assets and ride the AI data boom. However, the core challenge remains converting these innovations into durable, higher-margin recurring revenues fast enough to counterbalance ongoing declines and balance sheet pressures.
By contrast, investors should also be aware of the risk that…
Read the full narrative on Lumen Technologies (it’s free!)
Lumen Technologies’ narrative projects $11.8 billion revenue and $1.5 billion earnings by 2028. This requires a 2.7% yearly revenue decline and a $2.7 billion earnings increase from current earnings of -$1.2 billion.
Uncover how Lumen Technologies’ forecasts yield a $6.86 fair value, a 10% downside to its current price.
LUMN Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025
Ten community-generated fair value estimates for Lumen range from US$2.00 to US$14.50 per share, highlighting a wide spectrum of opinions among private investors on Simply Wall St. While many are focused on the growth potential in AI-driven network services, the persistent decline in legacy business continues to shape both expectations and uncertainty around Lumen’s future performance.
Explore 10 other fair value estimates on Lumen Technologies – why the stock might be worth as much as 91% more than the current price!
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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 LUMN.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
For decades, the joke was that nuclear fusion would always be 30 years away. Harnessing the process that powers our sun here on Earth was a lofty thought experiment ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel that smacked of futurism rather than pragmatism. But in the last few years, the rate of technological breakthroughs has sped up astronomically, finally making commercial fusion a matter of when, not if.
Achieving fusion here on Earth requires staggering levels of heat – in the region of 100 million degrees Celsius – and costly materials capable of enduring and maintaining such temperatures. Due to incredible high barriers to entry, most fusion experiments are behemoth ventures funded and managed by national governments, or in the case of the world’s largest fusion experiment ITER, a consortium of six deep-pocketed nations and the European Union.
But as the AI boom continues to drive energy demand projections ever higher, the race for commercial nuclear fusion is becoming increasingly privatized as the tech sector becomes involved in research and development. Fusion has received a lot of buzz as a potential “holy grail” of clean energy, as it could provide virtually unlimited zero-carbon energy without generating any of the hazardous nuclear waste associated with nuclear fission.
Some of tech’s biggest names, including Bill Gates and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, are major proponents of nuclear fusion, believing that it will be critical to supporting the tech sector’s AI ambitions. “If you know how to build a fusion power plant, you can have unlimited energy anywhere and forever. It’s hard to overstate what a big deal that will be,” Gates wrote in an October essay. “The availability and affordability of electricity is a huge limiting factor for virtually every sector of the economy today. Removing those limits could be as transformative as the invention of the steam engine before the Industrial Revolution.”
Already, 12 different nuclear fusion startups have raised over $100 million dollars each. And some of these nuclear fusion startups, which can move and adapt much more quickly than massive government-backed ventures, are starting to rack up technological breakthroughs at an astonishing pace.
Just this week, a startup in the United States called Zap Energy – one of the 12 to have raised over $100 million in funding – announced the latest groundbreaking achievement in the field. The company revealed that they reached plasma pressures comparable to those found deep within the Earth’s crust in a presentation at the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma Physics meeting in Long Beach, California this week.
“The researchers’ latest measurements showed electron pressures reaching 830 megapascals,” reports Interesting Engineering. “When both electrons and ions are accounted for, the total plasma pressure approached 1.6 gigapascals (GPa).” That’s 10 times the amount of pressure felt at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in any of our oceans – or about 10,000 times the atmospheric pressure we feel at sea level.
The Seattle-based startup is using a Z-pinch experiment, which is a kind of system that uses electrical currents to create a magnetic field to control and contain plasma. As the field of fusion research becomes more diverse and competitive, approaches to achieving plasma are becoming more diverse as well. Whereas the oldest and largest experiments use tokamaks – huge donut-shaped machines that control plasma with magnets – and some of the most accomplished fusion experiments are laser-controlled, Z-pinch machines are emerging as a promising alternative.
Zap Energy’s newest prototype, the Fusion Z-pinch Experiment 3 (FuZE-3) device, enables the achievement of extreme pressures and temperatures in a system that is far more compact than leading alternatives. “The capability to independently control plasma acceleration and compression gives us a new dial to tune the physics and increase the plasma density,” Colin Adams, Zap Energy’s head of experimental physics, told Interesting Engineering. “The two-electrode systems have been effective at heating, but lacked the compression targeted in our theoretical models.”
This breakthrough alone is not enough to usher in commercial nuclear fusion, but it is one of many exciting milestones that prove that that once purely aspirational achievement is now just around the corner. And Zap Energy thinks that it’s FuZE-3 machine could be integral to that achievement. As Ben Levitt, Zap Energy’s R&D vice president, wrote in a recent press release,“[FuZE-3] was built and commissioned just recently, we’re generating lots of high-quality shots with high repeatability, and we have plenty of headroom to continue making rapid progress in fusion performance,”
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What was the design of the ReNeu trial examining mirdametinib in NF1-PN?
The multicenter, single-arm ReNeu study enrolled patients at least 2 years of age with symptomatic, inoperable NF1-associated PN causing significant morbidity; of the 114 patients enrolled, 56 were children ranging from 2 years of age to 17 years of age, and 58 were adults who were 18 years of age or older.1,3
For the treatment phase, patients were administered mirdametinib as a capsule or dispersible tablet at a twice-daily dose of 2 mg/m2 as part of a 3-weeks-on/1-week-off schedule. Treatment continued until progressive disease or intolerable toxicity.3
After the treatment phase, patients entered a 30-day safety follow-up period, and they were assessed for eligibility for optional LTFU.1 Specifically, 84% of adults (n = 26/31) and 86% of children (n = 32/37) elected to continue mirdametinib in the LTFU period. This was followed by another 30-day safety follow-up period.
Key trial end points comprised BICR-assessed confirmed ORR, which was defined as the percentage of patients who experienced a reduction in target PN volume of at least 20% by MRI on consecutive scans at any time before data cutoff; change in target PN volume from baseline; DOR; and safety and tolerability.
In the adult population, the median age was 34 years (range, 18-69), 64% were female, the median volume of target PN was 196 mL (range, 1-3457), and 53% had target PN progressing at the time of trial entry. The most common location of target PN was head and neck (48%), followed by lower/upper extremities (29%), paraspinal (9%), torso (9%), and other (5%). The most common type of PN-related morbidity was pain (90%), followed by disfigurement or major deformity (52%), motor dysfunction or weakness (40%), other (17%), or airway dysfunction (5%).
In the pediatric population, the median age was 10 years (range, 2-17), 54% were female, the median volume of target PN was 99 mL (range, 5-3630), and 62% of patients had target PN progressing at the time of entering the trial. Again, the most common location of target PN was head and neck (50%), followed by lower/upper extremities (14%), torso (14%), other (14%), and paraspinal (7%). The most common type of PN-related morbidity in this population was again pain (70%), followed by disfigurement or major deformity (50%), motor dysfunction or weakness (27%), other (21%), and airway dysfunction (12%).
What was learned about the long-term safety profile of mirdametinib in NF1-associated PN?
Long-Term ReNeu Data Reveal Additional Insights About Mirdametinib in NF1-PN
Long-term ReNeu data show that additional time with mirdametinib led to improved ORR and deeper, more durable responses in both adults and children with symptomatic NF1-associated PN.
Response rates, depth of response, and DOR all improved with extended therapy, with most patients maintaining durable tumor shrinkage beyond 12 months.
Mirdametinib continues to demonstrate a consistent and manageable safety profile, reinforcing its FDA approval and recent conditional marketing authorization in Europe.
No new drug-related safety signals emerged with LTFU.
In the adult population, any-grade treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs) occurred in 98% of patients, 17% of which were grade 3 or higher. The most common TRAEs experienced by at least 20% of patients included dermatitis acneiform (any grade, 78%; grade ≥3, 9%), diarrhea (48%; 0%), and nausea (36%; 0%). Serious TRAEs were experienced by 2% of patients. Additionally, TRAEs led to dose reductions, interruptions, or discontinuations for 17%, 9%, and 22% of patients, respectively.
In the pediatric population, any-grade TRAEs occurred in 95% of patients; 25% of cases were grade 3 or higher in severity. The most common TRAEs in this population were, again, dermatitis acneiform (any grade, 43%; grade ≥3, 2%), diarrhea (38%; 2%), and nausea (21%; 0%). TRAEs led to dose reductions, interruptions, or discontinuations for 14%, 14%, and 9% of patients, respectively.
“No additional serious TRAEs [and] no additional dose interruptions [were observed]; [there was] 1 additional dose reduction and 1 additional discontinuation due to TRAEs compared to the prior data cutoff,” Hirbe noted in the presentation.
What prior data have been reported from ReNeu?
Previous data showed that in adult patients (n = 58), the confirmed ORR was 41% (95% CI, 29%-55%) with 88% of patients experiencing a DOR of at least 12 months and 50% experiencing a DOR of at least 24 months.3 In pediatric patients, the confirmed ORR with mirdametinib was 52% (95% CI, 38%-65%), with 90% and 48% of patients experiencing a DOR lasting for at least 12 or 24 months, respectively. Early, sustained, and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and health-related quality of life (QOL) were also reported.4
The prior data supported the February 2025 FDA approval of mirdametinib for adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with NF1 who have symptomatic PN not amenable to complete resection.5 At the time of the decision, Christopher L. Moertel, MD, told OncLive in an exclusive interview:6,7 “The approval of mirdametinib is significant because this a highly selective MEK inhibitor that will provide benefit to both adults and children with neurofibromatosis type 1 who have plexiform neurofibromas that are not amenable to surgery and are causing significant QOL or pain issues.”
Moertel serves as a pediatric neuro-oncologist and professor at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Minneapolis, where he directs the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program and co-leads the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and Neurofibromatosis Programs. Listen to the interview via OncLive On Air.8
Moreover, in July 2025, the European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization for mirdametinib (Ezmekly) for the same indication based on ReNeu data.9 In another exclusive interview with OncLive,10Ignacio Blanco, MD, PhD, director of the Catalan Reference Center for Neurofibromatosis in Barcelona, Spain, discussed the significance of this decision: “For Europeans, this is a great achievement because…we had no treatment for adult patients with NF1‑associated PNs. In the context of NF1, there are a lot of adult patients with symptomatic PNs where [there was] no possibility to offer anything.” Listen to the full OncLive On Air podcast episode.11
References
Hirbe AC, Moertel CL, Shuhaiber HH, et al. Update from the long-term follow-up (LTFU) phase of ReNeu: A pivotal phase 2b trial of mirdametinib in adults and children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated symptomatic plexiform neurofibroma (PN). Presented at: 2025 SNO Annual Meeting; November 19-23, 2025; Honolulu, Hawaii. Abstract CTNI-06.
Hirbe AC. Dr Hirbe on long-term efficacy and safety outcomes with mirdametinib in symptomatic NF1-PN. OncLive.com. November 22, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/dr-hirbe-on-long-term-efficacy-and-safety-outcomes-with-mirdametinib-in-symptomatic-nf1-pn
Moertel CL, Hirbe AC, Shuhaiber HH, et al. ReNeu: a pivotal phase 2b trial of mirdametinib in adults and children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated symptomatic inoperable plexiform neurofibroma (PN). J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(suppl 16):3016. doi:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.3016
FDA approves mirdametinib for adult and pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 who have symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas not amenable to complete resection. FDA. Feburary 11, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-mirdametinib-adult-and-pediatric-patients-neurofibromatosis-type-1-who-have-symptomatic
Moertel CL. Dr Moertel on the FDA approval of mirdametinib for NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas. OncLive.com. February 11, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/dr-moertel-on-the-fda-approval-of-mirdametinib-for-nf1-associated-plexiform-neurofibromas
DiEugenio J. Mirdametinib provides long-awaited treatment option in NF1-associated PN: Q&A with Christopher L. Moertel, MD. OncLive.com. February 18, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/mirdametinib-provides-long-awaited-treatment-option-in-nf1-associated-pn
Moertel CL. FDA Approval Insights: Mirdametinib for NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas: with Christopher L. Moertel, MD. OncLive.com. February 20, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/da-approval-insights-mirdametinib-for-nf1-associated-plexiform-neurofibromas-with-christopher-l-moertel-md
The European Commission has granted conditional approval of Ezmekly (mirdametinib) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1–associated plexiform neurofibromas (NF1-PN). News release. SpringWorks Therapeutics. July 18, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://springworkstx.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/european-commission-grants-conditional-approval-ezmeklyr
Blanco I. Dr Blanco on the conditional EU approval of mirdametinib for NF1-associated PNs. OncLive.com. July 31, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/dr-blanco-on-the-conditional-eu-approval-of-mirdametinib-for-nf1-associated-pns
Blanco I. The European approval of mirdametinib expands the treatment paradigm for NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas: with Ignacio Blanco, MD, PhD. OncLive.com. August 7, 2025. Accessed November 22, 2025. https://www.onclive.com/view/the-european-approval-of-mirdametinib-expands-the-treatment-paradigm-for-nf1-associated-plexiform-neurofibromas-with-ignacio-blanco-md-phd
Earlier this month, JFrog unveiled new AI governance capabilities at swampUP Europe, introducing Shadow AI Detection to its Software Supply Chain Platform to help enterprises monitor and control the use of AI models and APIs.
This development specifically addresses mounting organizational concerns about unapproved AI adoption by automatically discovering and cataloging both internal and third-party AI assets for improved oversight and compliance.
We’ll explore how JFrog’s Shadow AI Detection addresses regulatory requirements and its potential impact on the company’s investment outlook.
Uncover the next big thing with financially sound penny stocks that balance risk and reward.
Investors in JFrog need to believe in the company’s ability to lead software supply chain security and governance, particularly as AI adoption and regulatory scrutiny accelerate. The introduction of Shadow AI Detection addresses a key short-term catalyst, customer security and compliance needs, but does not immediately resolve the risk of elongated enterprise sales cycles and cloud migration challenges, which could still impact near-term revenue and margin expectations.
JFrog’s earlier rollout of an enhanced AI Catalog is especially relevant, as both announcements strengthen the company’s value proposition in secure, centralized AI model management for enterprises. This suite of recent product updates plays directly into rising regulatory and security demands, reinforcing JFrog’s positioning as a trusted provider of unified DevSecOps solutions supporting multi-cloud and hybrid environments.
However, against these growth opportunities, investors should be aware that if large enterprise deals are lost or delayed, resulting earnings volatility could …
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JFrog’s narrative projects $736.3 million revenue and $96.4 million earnings by 2028. This requires 15.8% yearly revenue growth and a $182.7 million increase in earnings from -$86.3 million.
Uncover how JFrog’s forecasts yield a $56.44 fair value, a 5% downside to its current price.
FROG Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025
Five Simply Wall St Community fair value estimates for JFrog span a wide range from US$37.57 to US$141.21 per share. While opinions differ, keep in mind that rising demand for secure software supply chains is a central theme shaping the company’s outlook.
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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 FROG.
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A shopper pushes a cart outside a Walmart store in Pittsburg, California.
(Bloomberg) — US retail sales growth likely moderated a touch in September, capping an otherwise solid quarter of spending by consumers who are nonetheless frustrated by high prices and anxious about job security.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Economists expect a 0.4% increase in sales after the 0.6% gain a month earlier, based on the Bloomberg survey median estimate. Delayed for more than a month by the government shutdown, the Census Bureau is scheduled to issue the figures on Tuesday.
Retail demand proved resilient over the summer, probably helping to fuel an acceleration in economic growth during the third quarter. At the same time, there’s a risk that consumer outlays will cool as many employers temper hiring.
Moreover, discretionary spending is being supported mostly by upper-income shoppers enjoying the fruits of the year’s stock market rally. For those further down the income ladder, the higher cost of many staple items is taking a toll.
The latest University of Michigan data show consumers have the dimmest views of their personal finances since 2009, and see the probability of losing their jobs at the highest in five years.
In the retail space, companies including Walmart Inc. and Gap Inc. have reported strong quarterly sales as well as success in appealing to higher-income shoppers. Yet Home Depot Inc. warned that many consumers are putting remodeling projects and big-ticket purchases on hold.
Other key US data in the coming week include the producer price index and durable goods orders for September, as well as weekly jobless claims. Those reports come ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday, the biggest retailing day of the year.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book on Wednesday, covering October and early November, is likely to highlight weakness in employment and activity.
What Bloomberg Economics Says:
“Labor-market conditions bottomed during the summer, then improved gradually until the government shutdown began — which led to some renewed weakness in spending and hiring. Firms are mostly seeking ways to cut costs by adopting technology and trimming hiring. Altogether, we believe the Fed can and probably should cut rates in December to sustain the fragile recovery that began during the summer.”
—Anna Wong, Stuart Paul, Eliza Winger, Estelle Ou, Chris G. Collins, Troy Durie and Alex Tanzi. For full analysis, click here
Canada will release gross domestic product data on Friday. It likely grew slightly in the third quarter after contracting between April and June as US tariffs crushed exports. The Bank of Canada expects 0.5% expansion on an annualized basis, and has said it believes rates are at “about the right level” as long as the economy and inflation evolve in line with its forecasts.
Traders in overnight swaps currently see just a slim, 3% chance of a rate cut at the central bank’s Dec. 10 meeting. Still, the GDP report is expected to show a sluggish economy with a manufacturing sector hit hard by the US trade war.
Elsewhere, the long-awaited UK budget and inflation readings from Australia to Germany to Mexico will draw attention. Central bankers in New Zealand, Israel and Nigeria are likely to cut interest rates, while South Korea is expected to hold.
Click here for what happened in the past week, and below is our wrap of what’s coming up in the global economy.
Asia
Asia’s final week of November brings a dense run of price data and rate decisions that will shape how policymakers close the year.
The week begins with Singapore’s October CPI, with economists predicting an acceleration in prices, while Taiwan follows with its unemployment rate.
On Tuesday, South Korea releases consumer confidence, Japan has department-store sales, and Taiwan reports industrial production for October. The data will give a sense of how consumption and external demand are holding up across North Asia.
Attention shifts mid-week to Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s October CPI will show whether price pressures remain elevated enough for the Reserve Bank to stay on an extended hold. Third-quarter construction data, due the same day, will highlight the impact of lower borrowing costs on the building pipeline.
In Wellington, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to lower borrowing costs again to bring its official cash rate to 2.25%, a near 3-1/2 year low. Singapore’s industrial production figures and the Philippines’ budget balance are also on the calendar.
Attention turns to Seoul on Thursday, where the Bank of Korea is set to leave rates unchanged at 2.5%. The same day, New Zealand reports third-quarter retail sales and ANZ business surveys, key to measuring how easier monetary conditions are feeding through to households and firms.
The week concludes with a data-heavy Friday. Japan’s Tokyo CPI, labor-market data, retail sales and industrial production will offer a comprehensive snapshot of how households and manufacturers are coping with tighter monetary settings and a weaker yen. South Korea’s industrial production and the Philippines’ trade balance are also on tap.
Taiwan posts preliminary third-quarter GDP and India closes the week with its third-quarter growth print ahead of a long-awaited trade pact with the US.
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Public finances will dominate the headlines in Europe. Most prominent will be the UK, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a budget after weeks of speculation that have roiled financial markets and — according to survey data — unsettled business sentiment.
Reeves needs to find as much as £30 billion ($39 billion) in extra funds to restore stability to the public finances. Having floated the prospect of income tax increases that would have broken pre-election promises, she dialed back on that and is now likely to take other steps to achieve her goal.
Czech lawmakers on Wednesday will start discussing a draft budget for 2026 that may indicate an outlook for the fiscal deficit.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian lawmakers may approve their own finance bill for 2026 in the coming week — the country’s first budget to be denominated in euros — amid criticism from experts and the opposition that debt levels are rising rapidly while the deficit, at the European Union’s 3% threshold, is unrealistic.
And in Romania, the government may approve a set of reforms likely to include spending cuts for the public administration through a fast-track procedure in parliament.
Turning to the euro zone, Germany’s closely watched Ifo business confidence index will be released on Monday, with only a slight improvement in sentiment anticipated for Europe’s largest economy.
All four of the region’s biggest economies will publish inflation numbers on Friday. Germany and France are predicted to see acceleration, with no change for Italy and a slowdown in price growth in Spain.
Several European Central Bank officials are scheduled to speak, including President Christine Lagarde in Bratislava on Monday. The institution’s financial stability review comes two days later, followed on Thursday by its account of the discussion by policymakers at their Oct. 29-30 meeting.
Some monetary decisions are on the calendar in the wider region:
Israel is set to lower its key rate for the first time in almost two years on Monday as a ceasefire in Gaza tames inflation and stabilizes markets. The Bank of Israel is expected to cut by 25 basis points to 4.25%, according to economists in a Bloomberg survey.
Nigeria is poised to reduce its benchmark by 100 basis points on Tuesday, to 26%, after inflation slowed more than expected in October to 16%.
In Ghana, where annual inflation has cooled to a more than four-year low, policymakers are predicted to cut borrowing costs for a third straight meeting — by 325 basis points to 18.25% — after a surprise 350-point reduction in September.
Latin America
There’s very little chance that Mexico’s mid-month consumer prices report on Monday will either cement or derail the central bank’s 12th straight rate cut at next month’s meeting — 33 of 35 economists in Citi’s most recent survey expect just that on Dec. 18.
Headline inflation is taking a bumpy path down to Banxico’s year-end forecasts — though the core readings have been less cooperative — and policymakers are much more focused on the risk of a recession after output contracted in the third quarter.
Perhaps of greater interest to Mexico watchers, Banxico’s inflation report on Wednesday may present downward revisions to growth and inflation projections as a mix of US tariffs, trade uncertainty and fiscal retrenchment batter Latin America’s No. 2 economy.
Expect Brazil’s mid-month consumer prices data on Wednesday to offer more evidence that the central bank’s take-no-prisoners, scorched-earth monetary policy is working. Brazil will also post its broadest inflation gauge — the IGP-M general price index — for November.
The week will offer check-ins on the labor markets of four of the region’s bigger economies. Unemployment in Brazil has been running at a record low 5.6% since July, and joblessness in Mexico and Colombia are below long-term levels as well, while holding above average in Chile.
The highlight of a light week in Argentina is September GDP-proxy data, certain to reflect the sharp selloff of local assets in the run-up to the Oct. 26 midterm election.
A third-quarter contraction seems likely, and analysts surveyed by the central bank anticipate 3.9% growth in 2025, down from July’s forecast of 5%.
–With assistance from Andrew Atkinson, Carla Canivete, Jeremy Diamond, Mark Evans, Robert Jameson, Laura Dhillon Kane, Swati Pandey, Piotr Skolimowski and Monique Vanek.
Liquidation calls from the sidelines are growing louder for Strategy (MSTR) as bitcoin tumbles and the company’s common stock has plunged nearly 70% from last year’s peak, calling into question — for some — the firm’s ability to continue to meet its obligations.
Throughout 2025, Strategy has relied on perpetual preferred stock as its primary financing vehicle for bitcoin purchases, while mostly using at-the-market (ATM) common share issuance mainly to cover its preferred dividend obligations.
Led by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, the company issued four U.S.-listed preferred series during the year: Strike (STRK) pays an 8% fixed dividend and is convertible into common stock at $1,000 per share. Strife (STRF) carries a 10% fixed non cumulative dividend and ranks as the most senior of the preferreds. Stride (STRD) also pays 10% but on cumulative terms and sits junior in the structure. Stretch (STRC), the newest series, debuted in August at $90 with a 10.5% fixed cumulative dividend and now trades just above its offer price.
As of Nov. 21 STRK trades near $73, an 11.1% current yield, with a 10% decline since issuance. STRD has been the weakest performer, falling to about $66 for a 15.2% yield and a 22% total return loss. STRF is the only series still above issue, trading around $94 and delivering roughly an 11% gain, reflecting its senior standing.
Bitcoin’s plunge over the past weeks has market participants focusing on the roughly $74,400 level at which Strategy — after more than five years of accumulation — would actually be in the red on its bitcoin holdings.
While that’s surely an important level for talking points, a decline below $74,400 surely does not mean the company would face a margin call or need to engage in forced sales of any part of its BTC stack.
The nearest structural pressure point is almost two years out on September 15 2027, when holders of the $1 billion 0.625% convertible senior notes receive their first put option.
The notes were priced when MSTR traded at $130.85 and carry a conversion price of $183.19. With the stock now at about $168, holders would be unlikely to convert and would probably seek cash repayment, potentially requiring Strategy to raise or liquidate assets unless the share price rises meaningfully before 2027.
Even if the MSTR share valuation premium to bitcoin holdings (the mNAV) collapses further and maybe even goes to a discount, Strategy still has a clear path to cover the annual preferred dividend bill.
