This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. Stephanie Lewis | Forbes Stephanie Lewis was promoted to the finance chief of Forbes. Lewis joined the media company in 2008 as a financial analyst and has held several leadership roles throughout her tenure, including director of financial reporting and controller. She has been in her most recent role of senior vice president of finance since 2023. Before that, she worked at ...

Core Viewpoint - Immersion Corporation has received a Staff Determination Letter from Nasdaq due to non-compliance with the Filing Rule, as the company has not filed its Quarterly Reports for the fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2025, and October 31, 2025, along with the Annual Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025. The company plans to request a hearing to maintain its listing status on Nasdaq [1]. Group 1: Compliance and Reporting - The Staff Determination Letter was issued on February 10, 2026, based on the company's failure to file the Delayed Reports with the SEC [1]. - Immersion Corporation had previously notified Nasdaq of late filings on multiple occasions in 2025, indicating ongoing audit committee investigations that will lead to the restatement of financial information [1]. - The company is actively working to complete the necessary filings to regain compliance with the Filing Rule [1]. Group 2: Hearing and Listing Status - The Staff Determination Letter does not result in immediate suspension or delisting of the company's securities [1]. - Immersion Corporation intends to request a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel, which will temporarily stay any suspension for 15 days from the date of the hearing request [1]. - Hearings are typically scheduled 30-45 days after the request, and the company will also seek an extended stay pending the hearing [1]. Group 3: Company Background - Immersion Corporation, incorporated in 1993 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999, is a leading provider of haptic technology, enhancing digital interactions through touch feedback [1]. - The company acquired a controlling interest in Barnes & Noble Education on June 10, 2024, which operates bookstores and provides educational content and tools [1].

Core Viewpoint - The article introduces DAC Research as a new contributing analyst for Seeking Alpha, encouraging readers to share their investment ideas for publication and potential earnings [1]. Group 1 - The author emphasizes a strategy focused on investing in deeply out-of-favor companies with minimal analyst coverage, aiming for a 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years without leverage [2]. - The preference for low-debt companies is highlighted, indicating a cautious approach to financial risk [2]. - The author references a fictional character known for successful investments, contrasting it with their own investment journey, which reflects a realistic perspective on investment challenges [2]. Group 2 - The article includes a disclosure stating that the author holds a beneficial long position in the shares of BNED, indicating a personal investment interest [3]. - It clarifies that the article expresses the author's own opinions and is not compensated beyond Seeking Alpha, ensuring transparency in the analysis [3]. - Seeking Alpha's disclosure notes that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not represent the platform as a whole [4].

Core Insights - Barnes & Noble College (BNC) has entered a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley to manage retail and e-commerce operations for the university's stores starting January 20, 2026 [1][2] Company Overview - Barnes & Noble College is a leading solutions provider for higher education, operating over 1,160 physical and virtual stores across the United States [5] - The company focuses on enhancing affordability, access, and achievement in education, serving millions of students [6] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to modernize campus retail, improve customer experience, and enhance access to course materials for the UC Berkeley community [2][3] - Key benefits include a transformed retail experience with a modern layout, improved flow, and a customer-friendly environment that reflects the university's culture [8] - The partnership will also feature an elevated merchandising assortment and enhanced technology offerings, including computers and support services [8] Strategic Goals - The collaboration is designed to create a central hub for engagement among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors, fostering a sense of community [4] - The initiative aligns with UC Berkeley's commitment to providing an exemplary campus experience while supporting student success and affordability [5]

Core Insights - Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. reported fiscal 2025 results that align with preliminary unaudited ranges disclosed on November 25, 2025, showing a revenue increase and a significant reduction in net debt [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - Full-year revenue for fiscal 2025 was $1.6 billion, reflecting a $43 million increase, or 2.7%, compared to the previous year [5]. - Gross comparable store sales rose by $117.2 million, or 7.5%, year-over-year [5]. - The net loss from continuing operations for fiscal 2025 was $65.8 million, an improvement from a net loss of $75.0 million in the prior year [7]. - Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 was $59.4 million, up $22.7 million from $36.7 million in the previous fiscal year [7][10]. Debt and Working Capital - Total debt at the end of fiscal 2025 was $103.1 million, down from $196.3 million in the prior year, resulting in total net debt of $94 million, a decrease of $91.8 million year-over-year [8]. - The company's net working capital position improved to a positive $186.2 million from $46.1 million the previous year [8]. BNC First Day Program - Revenue from BNC First Day programs increased by $119.9 million, or 25.3%, year-over-year, with strong growth in institutional adoption [6]. - For the fall 2025 academic term, 223 campus stores utilized First Day Complete, with total enrollment reaching approximately 1.14 million students, a 24% increase from the prior year [11]. Outlook - The company reiterated its fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting top-line growth despite one fewer operating week and ongoing market uncertainties [13]. - Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be in the range of $65 to $75 million, supported by gross profit dollar growth and continued expense discipline [13]. - Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, the company aims for a 15% to 20% increase in Adjusted EBITDA [14].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights concerns regarding "deferred interest" retail payment plans, which many Americans believe should be outlawed due to their complexity and potential for high costs if not fully understood and managed [1][2][3]. Group 1: Understanding Deferred Interest - Deferred interest plans allow consumers to make large purchases without immediate interest if paid off within a promotional period, but failing to do so results in retroactive interest charges, often exceeding 30% annually [2][8]. - Approximately 50% of American consumers do not fully understand how deferred interest works, leading to potential financial pitfalls [2][9]. - A WalletHub study indicates that 51% of consumers believe deferred interest should be illegal, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with these financing options [3]. Group 2: Retailer Practices - Many major retailers, including JCPenney, Best Buy, and Home Depot, utilize deferred interest plans to encourage purchases of high-ticket items, often downplaying the associated high-interest rates in fine print [4][6]. - WalletHub has been monitoring deferred interest practices since 2012, rating retailers on the transparency of their financing offers [4]. Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Alternatives - In 2020, consumers spent over $60 billion on deferred interest purchases, with a significant portion allocated to home improvement [12]. - While about 80% of consumers using deferred interest manage to pay off their debt within the promotional period, those with lower credit scores face challenges, with only 60% successfully avoiding interest [13]. - Experts suggest that zero-APR credit cards are a better alternative, allowing consumers to avoid deferred interest altogether by only incurring interest on remaining balances after the promotional period [14].

Market Performance - U.S. stocks experienced an upward trend, with the Dow increasing by 1.20% to 47,007.17, the NASDAQ rising by 0.48% to 22,980.75, and the S&P 500 gaining 0.74% to 6,754.86 [1] - Health care shares saw a significant increase of 2% on the same day, while energy stocks fell by 0.9% [1] Retail Sales and Economic Indicators - U.S. retail sales rose by 0.2% month-over-month in September, a decrease from the 0.6% gain observed in August [2][11] - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index increased by 1.4% year-over-year in September, marking a slowdown for the eighth consecutive month [11] - U.S. producer prices gained 0.3% month-over-month in September, following a 0.1% decline in the previous month [11] - U.S. pending home sales increased by 1.9% month-over-month in October, following a revised 0.1% growth in the previous month [11] Commodity Market - In commodity news, oil prices decreased by 1.8% to $57.78, while gold prices increased by 0.9% to $4,129.50 [5] - Silver prices rose by 1% to $50.765, and copper prices increased by 2.8% to $5.1100 [5] Company-Specific Movements - Rubico Inc shares surged by 45% to $0.22 after announcing an extension of its tanker charters [9] - Clean Energy Technologies Inc shares increased by 67% to $1.79 following the securing of a $10 million battery energy storage project in New York [9] - Barnes & Noble Education Inc shares rose by 36% to $9.11 after announcing preliminary financial results for fiscal 2025 and year-to-date fiscal 2026 [9] - MingZhu Logistics Holdings Ltd shares plummeted by 85% to $0.16 after announcing an $8 million registered direct offering [9] - Zhihu Inc shares fell by 11% to $3.57 due to a year-over-year decrease in third-quarter financial results [9] - Burlington Stores Inc shares declined by 11% to $254.28 after reporting mixed third-quarter financial results and a significant drop in store traffic post back-to-school season [9]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance with the Dow Jones increasing by over 250 points, up 0.61% to 46,729.44, while NASDAQ fell by 0.28% to 22,808.72 and S&P 500 rose by 0.08% to 6,710.34 [1] - Communication services sector saw a rise of 1.4% [1] - Information technology stocks experienced a decline of 1.1% [2] Company Performance - Alibaba Group Holding reported quarterly revenue of $34.81 billion, a 5% year-over-year increase, exceeding analyst expectations of $34.43 billion [3] - Adjusted earnings per American Depositary Share (ADS) for Alibaba were 61 cents, surpassing the consensus estimate of 49 cents [3] Commodity Market - Oil prices decreased by 2.1% to $57.59, while gold prices increased by 1.1% to $4,140.50 [5] - Silver rose by 1.7% to $51.185 and copper increased by 3.8% to $5.1545 [5] European Market - European shares showed positive movement with the eurozone's STOXX 600 rising by 0.6% and Spain's IBEX 35 Index increasing by 0.8% [6] Asian Market - Asian markets closed mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei gaining 0.07%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng up by 0.69%, and China's Shanghai Composite increasing by 0.87% [7] Notable Stock Movements - Rubico Inc shares surged by 67% to $0.26 after extending tanker charters [9] - Clean Energy Technologies Inc shares rose by 75% to $1.87 following a $10 million battery energy storage project announcement [9] - Barnes & Noble Education Inc shares increased by 37% to $9.18 after announcing preliminary financial results [9] - MingZhu Logistics Holdings Ltd shares dropped by 84% to $0.17 due to an $8 million registered direct offering [9] - GreenPower Motor Company Inc shares fell by 34% to $0.8500, and K Wave Media Ltd shares decreased by 24% to $0.68 [9] Economic Indicators - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index rose by 1.4% year-over-year in September, marking the eighth consecutive month of slowing growth [11] - The FHFA house price index remained flat for September [11] - U.S. producer prices increased by 0.3% month-over-month in September, following a 0.1% decline in the previous month [11] - U.S. retail sales rose by 0.2% month-over-month in September, compared to a 0.6% gain in August [11]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks are trading flat, with the S&P 500 at 6,693.86 (+0.02%) and the Nasdaq at 22,778.64 (-0.05%) [2] - The Russell 2000 (+0.44%) and Dow (+0.32%) are performing slightly better this morning [2][4] Economic and Industry News - A significant deal between China and the U.S. for Boeing aircraft is reportedly close [5] - A Bain report indicates that AI firms may fall $800 billion short of the revenue needed to meet projected demand by 2030 [5] - Gold futures for December 2025 have surpassed $3,800, continuing their rally [5] - The OECD has raised its growth forecasts for the U.S. and global economies but warns that the impacts of tariffs have yet to be fully realized [5] - AutoZone (AZO) reported a 2% decline in sales, attributed to price increases due to tariffs [5] Earnings Reports - Nasdaq is set to release 15 earnings reports today, with six from firms having a market cap over $1 billion, including Micron Technology (MU) and AutoZone (AZO) [8] - Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is also expected to report earnings, which may provide interesting insights [8]

Core Viewpoint - LifeMD, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit due to alleged securities fraud, with a significant stock price drop following the company's revision of its revenue and EBITDA guidance for 2025 [2][3]. Group 1: Company Performance - On August 5, 2025, LifeMD announced a revision of its full-year 2025 guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA due to temporary challenges in its Rex MD business [2]. - Following this announcement, LifeMD's stock price fell by $5.31, or 44.8%, closing at $6.53 per share on August 6, 2025 [2]. Group 2: Allegations in the Lawsuit - The class action complaint alleges that LifeMD's management made materially false and misleading statements regarding the company's business and operations during the class period [3]. - Specific allegations include that the management overstated LifeMD's competitive position and failed to account for rising customer acquisition costs in its RexMD segment [3]. - The lawsuit claims that positive statements made by the management lacked a reasonable basis and were materially misleading [3]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings - Investors who purchased LifeMD securities during the class period are encouraged to file a lead plaintiff motion by October 27, 2025 [4]. - The law firm Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is leading the class action and is available for inquiries regarding participation [5][6].