A recent class-action lawsuit against AI hiring software company Eightfold AI risks setting a misguided legal precedent by categorizing the vendor as a consumer reporting agency. The author argues that courts should avoid interpreting decades-old consumer reporting laws too broadly, as Eightfold AI functions as a tool for employers, not an independent reporting agency. Instead, the focus should be on who operates the tools and controls the hiring process, leaving regulatory expansion to legislators rather than stretching existing statutes.

UniFirst Corp (UNF) shares are trading near their 52-week highs following a strong fiscal Q2 2025 earnings report. The company reported revenue of USD 623 million, exceeding expectations, and adjusted EBITDA of USD 70 million, driven by solid demand in its North American markets. UniFirst specializes in workwear rental and facility services, with long-term contracts forming the core of its business model.

Franklin Resources Inc. (stock symbol BEN) saw its shares trade near 2026 highs despite reporting a modest decline in March 2026 assets under management (AUM) to $1.68 trillion from $1.73 trillion in February. The company's stock has risen nearly 30% year-to-date, indicating that investors are focusing on long-term net inflows and overall business improvement rather than short-term AUM volatility. Franklin Resources continues to demonstrate positive long-term net inflows and maintains a significant average asset base of $1.70 trillion.

Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) has received an average "Hold" rating from eleven brokerages, with a consensus one-year price target of $98.10. While the company exceeded Q1 EPS estimates at $2.07, revenue of $3.53 billion fell short of expectations. Principal Financial Group also increased its quarterly dividend to $0.82 per share, resulting in a 3.2% annualized yield.

Regeneron has developed Otarmeni, a surgically-delivered gene therapy drug designed to treat a rare genetic condition causing hearing loss in children. The drug recently received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Jonathon Whitton, head of Regeneron's auditory global program, is featured in the article discussing the development.

Walmart Inc. has achieved its one-millionth drone delivery, rapidly expanding the service since its trial inception. The company reported that 40% of these deliveries occurred in the first fiscal quarter, with substantial activity in Texas. Walmart plans to extend its drone capabilities to 66 stores across four states, utilizing various drone companies including Wing, a unit of Google-owner Alphabet.

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon declared 2026 as the "Year of AI Agents" and introduced Dragonfly, a new brand for data center AI inference chips, signifying the company's entry into the data center market. Qualcomm also launched new AI PC platforms and a robotics reference design, while emphasizing its "Computing Continuum" strategy to manage AI workloads. Despite these announcements and acknowledging Taiwanese partners, Qualcomm's shares fell nearly 9% following NVIDIA's own AI PC chip collaborations and analyst concerns about Dragonfly's short-term revenue impact.

Align Technology has awarded twelve research grants totaling $300,000 to universities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific as part of its fifteenth Annual Research Award Program. These grants support studies focused on advancing orthodontic and dental research, covering various topics from apical root resorption to the stability of alignment in retention. The initiative underscores Align Technology's commitment to fostering scientific inquiry and innovation in the dental profession.

Jim Cramer has expressed strong approval for Citigroup (C), stating that CEO Jane Fraser is doing an excellent job and calling the bank "fantastic." This sentiment is echoed by analysts, with Goldman Sachs reiterating a Buy rating and KBW an Outperform rating, citing potential benefits from higher profitability, improved return on equity, and strong performance in the bank's Wealth and Markets business. Sound Shore Management also highlighted Citigroup's progress in its Q4 2025 investor letter due to strong revenue growth and capital return plans.

Stellar Bancorp Inc. shares experienced a slight dip on the NYSE, with no new specific company news driving the movement. The decline is attributed to a lack of fresh announcements, causing investors to focus on the regional bank's existing earnings and the broader U.S. financial landscape, including interest rate expectations. The company, which has seen its market capitalization grow by approximately 35.8% over the past year to about USD 1.9 billion, continues to be a subject of discussion among investors regarding its valuation and exposure to commercial real estate.