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Esther Peterson, the woman who advocated for the Equal Pay Act and made it possible in 1963 – GOOD

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In a rendition of "Santa Baby," Miley Cyrus sings, "A girl's best friend is equal pay." The remix might be new but debates and discussions about equal pay have been quite long-standing. Esther Peterson was the woman who pushed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 and paved the way for discussions and actions around the same. The bill was signed by President John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963, to ensure that there was no sex-based wage discrimination.

Peterson was the leading reason behind the act and was the highest-ranking woman in Kennedy's administration. The president appointed her as the Head of the Women's Bureau at the beginning of his term. She was later promoted to Assistant Secretary of Labor in 1963. As per History TV 18, Peterson remembered advocating for the Equal Pay Act even when it was not a top agenda at White House in a 1970 interview.

Equal pay was never a top priority, she said in the interview and added, [The White House] helped me at certain times, but Ive literally carried that bill up. However, the Equal Pay Act was not the first time someone had pushed for equal pay for women. As per the source, the interest in this topic began in 1896, when it was first brought to the Republican party platform. As a senator, Kennedy co-sponsored the Equal Pay bill in 1957 but never held much discussion around it. Although he supported equal pay it was not a priority for him. Peterson confirmed this in the 1970 interview and shared that the White House didn't intervene much in the work of the Women's Bureau on the Equal Pay Bill. She said, We were given the responsibility and we lobbied it through. She was asked if the bill was a top priority at the White House, to which she replied, No. We didnt get help from them We got the bill through ourselves, frankly.

She played a key role in putting together the testimony for the hearing on the Equal Pay Bill in 1962. She also liaised with other groups to lobby members of Congress to support the bill. The next year Congress passed the bill through amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to protect against wage-based discriminations. However, the bill was slightly different from what Peterson had advocated for. She advocated for "Equal Pay for comparable work" while the bill passed was for "Equal pay for equal work." Peterson believed that the bill needed some strengthening and work.

Peterson was proven right because, as per the Pew Research Centre report in 2022, gender-based and ethnicity-based discrimination in wages still exists. As per the report, black women earned 70 percent of what white men earned while Hispanic women earned 65 percent of what white men earned.

In 2023, Congress even considered the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the Equal Pay Act but didn't pass it. Peterson's contribution was not restricted to this single act though. After JFK's assassination in 1963, she continued to work for Lyndon B. Johnsons administration. He appointed her as Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs, a role she returned for during Jimmy Carters term. She advocated for food labels to list nutritional information and grocery stores to list down prices per unit so consumers could make better decisions. She also advocated for better child care. Her endeavor for the act is an inspiration for women in power and for women around the world to keep pushing for their rights.

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Esther Peterson, the woman who advocated for the Equal Pay Act and made it possible in 1963 - GOOD

Stem Cells Spark Hope in Spinal Cord Recovery – Neuroscience News

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Summary: A phase 1 clinical trial has revealed that stem cells derived from patients own fat may safely enhance sensation and movement in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries. In the study, seven out of ten adults showed measurable improvements on the ASIA Impairment Scale, experiencing increased sensation, muscle strength, and improved bowel function without serious side effects.

The findings challenge the longstanding belief that spinal cord injuries are irreparable, offering new hope for treatments. With the spinal cords limited repair capability, this research signifies a crucial step towards innovative therapies, emphasizing the need for further studies to unlock the full potential of stem cell treatments.

Key Facts:

Source: Mayo Clinic

AMayo Clinicstudy shows stem cells derived from patients own fat are safe and may improve sensation and movement after traumaticspinal cord injuries.

The findings from the phase 1 clinical trial appear inNature Communications.

The results of this early research offer insights on the potential of cell therapy for people living with spinal cord injuries and paralysis for whom options to improve function are extremely limited.

In the study of 10 adults, the research team noted seven participants demonstrated improvements based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. Improvements included increased sensation when tested with pinprick and light touch, increased strength in muscle motor groups, and recovery of voluntary anal contraction, which aids in bowel function.

The scale has five levels, ranging from complete loss of function to normal function. The seven participants who improved each moved up at least one level on the ASIA scale. Three patients in the study had no response, meaning they did not improve but did not get worse.

This study documents the safety and potential benefit of stem cells and regenerative medicine, saysMohamad Bydon, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon and first author of the study.

Spinal cord injury is a complex condition. Future research may show whether stem cells in combination with other therapies could be part of a new paradigm of treatment to improve outcomes for patients.

No serious adverse events were reported after stem cell treatment. The most commonly reported side effects were headache and musculoskeletal pain that resolved with over-the-counter treatment.

In addition to evaluating safety, this phase 1 clinical trial had a secondary outcome of assessing changes in motor and sensory function. The authors note that motor and sensory results are to be interpreted with caution given limits of phase 1 trials. Additional research is underway among a larger group of participants to further assess risks and benefits.

The full data on the 10 patients follows a 2019case reportthat highlighted the experience of the first study participant who demonstrated significant improvement in motor and sensory function.

Stem cells mechanism of action not fully understood

In the multidisciplinary clinical trial, participants had spinal cord injuries from motor vehicle accidents, falls and other causes. Six had neck injuries; four had back injuries. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65.

Participants stem cells were collected by taking a small amount of fat from a 1- to 2-inch incision in the abdomen or thigh. Over four weeks, the cells were expanded in the laboratory to 100 million cells and then injected into the patients lumbar spine in the lower back. Over two years, each study participant was evaluated at Mayo Clinic 10 times.

Although it is understood that stem cells move toward areas of inflammation in this case the location of the spinal cord injury the cells mechanism of interacting with the spinal cord is not fully understood, Dr. Bydon says.

As part of the study, researchers analyzed changes in participants MRIs and cerebrospinal fluid as well as in responses to pain, pressure and other sensation. The investigators are looking for clues to identify injury processes at a cellular level and avenues for potential regeneration and healing.

The spinal cord has limited ability to repair its cells or make new ones. Patients typically experience most of their recovery in the first six to 12 months after injuries occur. Improvement generally stops 12 to 24 months after injury.

One unexpected outcome of the trial was that two patients with cervical spine injuries of the neck received stem cells 22 months after their injuries and improved one level on the ASIA scale after treatment.

Two of three patients with complete injuries of the thoracic spine meaning they had no feeling or movement below their injury between the base of the neck and mid-back moved up two ASIA levels after treatment.

Each regained some sensation and some control of movement below the level of injury. Based on researchers understanding of traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury, only 5% of people with a complete injury would be expected to regain any feeling or movement.

In spinal cord injury, even a mild improvement can make a significant difference in that patients quality of life, Dr. Bydon says.

Stem cells are used mainly in research in the U.S., and fat-derived stem cell treatment for spinal cord injury is considered experimental by the Food and Drug Administration.

Between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide suffer a spinal cord injury each year, according to theWorld Health Organization.

An important next step is assessing the effectiveness of stem cell therapies and subsets of patients who would most benefit, Dr. Bydon says. Research is continuing with a larger, controlled trial that randomly assigns patients to receive either the stem cell treatment or a placebo without stem cells.

For years, treatment of spinal cord injury has been limited to supportive care, more specifically stabilization surgery and physical therapy, Dr. Bydon says.

Many historical textbooks state that this condition does not improve. In recent years, we have seen findings from the medical and scientific community that challenge prior assumptions. This research is a step forward toward the ultimate goal of improving treatments for patients.

Dr. Bydon is the Charles B. and Ann L. Johnson Professor of Neurosurgery. This research was made possible with support from Leonard A. Lauder, C and A Johnson Family Foundation, The Park Foundation, Sanger Family Foundation, Eileen R.B. and Steve D. Scheel, Schultz Family Foundation, and other generous Mayo Clinic benefactors. The research is funded in part by a Mayo Clinic Transform the Practice grant.

Review thestudyfor a complete list of authors and funding.

Author: Megan Luihn Source: Mayo Clinic Contact: Megan Luihn Mayo Clinic Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access. Intrathecal delivery of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in traumatic spinal cord injury: Phase I trial byMohamad Bydon et al. Nature Communications

Abstract

Intrathecal delivery of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in traumatic spinal cord injury: Phase I trial

Intrathecal delivery of autologous culture-expanded adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) could be utilized to treat traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

This Phase I trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03308565) included 10 patients with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A or B at the time of injury.

The studys primary outcome was the safety profile, as captured by the nature and frequency of adverse events.

Secondary outcomes included changes in sensory and motor scores, imaging, cerebrospinal fluid markers, and somatosensory evoked potentials. The manufacturing and delivery of the regimen were successful for all patients.

The most commonly reported adverse events were headache and musculoskeletal pain, observed in 8 patients. No serious AEs were observed. At final follow-up, seven patients demonstrated improvement in AIS grade from the time of injection.

In conclusion, the study met the primary endpoint, demonstrating that AD-MSC harvesting and administration were well-tolerated in patients with traumatic SCI.

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Stem Cells Spark Hope in Spinal Cord Recovery - Neuroscience News

There Might Be No ChatGPT-like Apple Chatbot in iOS 18 – The Mac Observer

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The recent months in the tech scene have been all about artificial intelligence and its impact, but one company that has been late to the party is Apple. Apple first hinted about inhouse-AI development during a recent earnings call, which followed the earlier reports of the company reaching out to major publishers to use their data to train its AIs dataset, canceling the Apple Car project and shifting the team to AI. However, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple might not debut a ChatGPT-like chatbot, at all. Instead, the company is exploring deals with established tech giants such as Chinas Baidu, OpenAI, and Google about potential partnerships.

That said, Apple might instead focus on licensing already-established chatbots like Googles Gemini (fka Bard) or OpenAIs ChatGPT. They might delay all plans to release an Apple chatbot, internally dubbed Ajax GPT.

Nevertheless, Mark Gurman believes AI will remain in the shows spotlight at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), slated for June 10-14, 2024 where we expect to see iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. Although he doesnt delve into details of the upcoming AI feature, he mentions the companys plans to unveil new AI features, which could serve as the backbone of the next iOS 18. This suggests that even if Apple doesnt intend to bring a native AI chatbot to the devices, we might see a popular chatbot pre-installed on the phones or supported natively by the device. For reference, a London-based consumer tech firm, Nothing, recently partnered with the Perplexity AI search engine to power up its latest release, Phone 2(a), and Apple might have similar plans, but with generative AI giants.

CEO Tim Cook recently spoke to investors that the company will disclose its AI plans to the public later this year. Despite Apples overall reticence on the topic, Cook has been notably vocal about the potential of AI, particularly generative AI.

More importantly, according to previous reports, he has indicated that generative AI will improve Siris ability to respond to more complex queries and enable the Messages app to complete sentences automatically. Furthermore, other Apple apps such as Apple Music, Shortcuts, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are expected to integrate generative AI functionality.

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MWC 2024: Microsoft to open up access to its AI models to allow countries to build own AI economies – Euronews

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Monday was a big day for announcements from tech giant Microsoft, unveiling new guiding principles for AI governance and a multi-year deal with Mistral AI.

Tech behemoth Microsoft has unveiled a new set of guiding principles on how it will govern its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, effectively further opening up access to its technology to developers.

The announcement came at the Mobile World Congress tech fair in Barcelona on Monday where AI is a key theme of this years event.

One of the key planks of its newly-published "AI Access Principles" is the democratisation of AI through the companys open source models.

The company said it plans to do this by expanding access to its cloud computing AI infrastructure.

Speaking to Euronews Next in Barcelona, Brad Smith, Microsofts vice chair and president, also said the company wanted to make its AI models and development tools more widely available to developers around the world, allowing countries to build their own AI economies.

"I think it's extremely important because we're investing enormous amounts of money, frankly, more than any government on the planet, to build out the AI data centres so that in every country people can use this technology," Smith said.

"They can create their AI software, their applications, they can use them for companies, for consumer services and the like".

The "AI Access Principles" underscore the company's commitment to open source models. Open source means that the source code is available to everyone in the public domain to use, modify, and distribute.

"Fundamentally, it [the principles] says we are not just building this for ourselves. We are making it accessible for companies around the world to use so that they can invest in their own AI inventions," Smith told Euronews Next.

"Second, we have a set of principles. It's very important, I think, that we treat people fairly. Yes, that as they use this technology, they understand how we're making available the building blocks so they know it, they can use it," he added.

"We're not going to take the data that they're developing for themselves and access it to compete against them. We're not going to try to require them to reach consumers or their customers only through an app store where we exact control".

The announcement of its AI governance guidelines comes as the Big Tech company struck a deal with Mistral AI, the French company revealed on Monday, signalling Microsofts intent to branch out in the burgeoning AI market beyond its current involvement with OpenAI.

Microsoft has already heavily invested in OpenAI, the creator of wildly popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. Its $13 billion (11.9 billion) investment, however, is currently under review by regulators in the EU, the UK and the US.

Widely cited as a growing rival for OpenAI, 10-month-old Mistral reached unicorn status in December after being valued at more than 2 billion, far surpassing the 1 billion threshold to be considered one.

The new multi-year partnership will see Microsoft giving Mistral access to its Azure cloud platform to help bring its large language model (LLM) called Mistral Large.

LLMs are AI programmes that recogise and generate text and are commonly used to power generative AI like chatbots.

"Their [Mistral's] commitment to fostering the open-source community and achieving exceptional performance aligns harmoniously with Microsofts commitment to develop trustworthy, scalable, and responsible AI solutions," Eric Boyd, Corporate Vice President, Azure AI Platform at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post.

The move is in keeping with Microsoft's commitment to open up its cloud-based AI infrastructure.

In the past week, as well as its partnership with Mistral AI, Microsoft has committed to investing billions of euros over two years in its AI infrastructure in Europe, including 1.9 billion in Spain and 3.2 billion in Germany.

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ChatGPT Stock Predictions: 3 Cloud Computing Companies the AI Bot Thinks Have 10X Potential – InvestorPlace

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In a world continually reshaped by technology, cloud computing stands as a pivotal force driving transformation. With its rapid ascent, early investors in cloud computing stocks have seen their investments significantly outperform the S&P 500. This serves as a highlight to the sectors explosive growth and its vital impact on business and consumer landscapes.

2024 shouldnt be any different, which is why, in seizing this momentum, I turned to ChatGPT, initiating my research on the top cloud computing picks with a precise ask.

Kindly conduct an in-depth exploration of the current dynamics and trends characterizing the United States stock market as of February 2024.

I proceeded with a targeted request to unearth gems within the cloud computing arena.

Based on this, suggest three cloud computing stocks that have 10 times potential.

The crucial insights provided by ChatGPT lay the foundation for our piece covering the three cloud computing stocks pinpointed by AI as top contenders poised to deliver stellar returns.

Source: Karol Ciesluk / Shutterstock.com

Datadog Inc. (NASDAQ:DDOG) has emerged as a stalwart in the observability and security platform sector for cloud applications. It witnessed an impressive 61.76% stock surge in the past year and currently trades at $134.91.

Further, the companys third quarter 2023 financial report underscores its robust performance. It showed a 25% year-over-year (YOY) revenue growth, reaching $547.5 million. Additionally compelling is the significant uptick in customers from 22,200 to 26,800. This signals the firms efficiency in expanding its client base and driving revenue.

Simultaneously, Datadog generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) foresee potential growth in cloud workloads. AI-related usage comprised 2.5% of third-quarter annual recurring revenue. This resonates notably with next-gen AI-native customers and positions the company for sustained growth in this dynamic landscape.

The projected $568 million revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 reflects a commitment to sustained expansion. Also, it underlines the companys ability to adapt to market dynamics and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is a pioneer in providing cloud-based information security solutions.

The company made a noteworthy shift to 100% renewable energy for its offices and data centers in November 2021. This solidifies its standing as an environmental steward and leader in the market. Also, CEO Jay Chaudhry emphasizes that beyond providing top-notch cybersecurity, Zscalers cloud services contribute to environmental conservation by eliminating the need for on-premises hardware.

Beyond sustainability, Zscaler thrives financially, boasting 7,700 customers, including 468, contributing over $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). In the first quarter, non-GAAP earnings per share exceeded expectations at 67 cents, beating estimates by 18 cents. And, revenue soared to $496.7 million, a remarkable 39.7% YOY bump.

Looking forward, second-quarter guidance forecasts revenue between $505 million and $507 million, indicating a robust 30.5% YOY growth. Also, it has an ambitious target of $2.09 billion to $2.10 billion for the entire fiscal year. Thus, Zscaler attributes its success to a potent combination of technology and financial acumen.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

Snowflake (NASDAQ:SNOW) stands resilient amid market fluctuations, emerging as a top performer in the cloud stock landscape over the past year.

Moreover, while yet to reach previous all-time highs, its strategic focus on AI integrations has propelled its recent success. Positioned at the intersection of the enduring narrative around AI and the high-interest cloud computing sector, Snowflake captures attention with its forward-looking approach.

Financially, Snowflake demonstrates robust figures with a gross profit margin of 67.09%, signaling financial strength. Additionally, the impressive 40.87% revenue growth significantly outpaces the sector median by 773.93%. This attests to the companys agility in navigating market dynamics.

Peering into the future, Snowflakes fourth-quarter guidance paints a promising picture, with an anticipated product revenue falling between $716 million and $721 million. Elevating the outlook, the fiscal year 2024 projection boldly sets a target of $2.65 billion in product revenue. Therefore, this ambitious trajectory demonstrates Snowflakes adept market navigation, savvy AI integration, and steadfast commitment to robust financial performance.

On the publication date, Muslim Farooque did not have (directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Muslim Farooque is a keen investor and an optimist at heart. A life-long gamer and tech enthusiast, he has a particular affinity for analyzing technology stocks. Muslim holds a bachelors of science degree in applied accounting from Oxford Brookes University.

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The 3 Best Cloud Computing Stocks to Buy in February 2024 – InvestorPlace

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These cloud computing stocks can march higher in 2024

Source: Blackboard / Shutterstock

Cloud computing has helped corporations increase productivity and reduce costs. Once a business uses cloud computing, it continues to pay annual fees to keep its digital infrastructure.

Cloud solutions can quickly turn into a companys backbone. Its one of the last costs some companies will think of removing. Firms that operate in the cloud computing industry often benefit from high renewal rates, recurring revenue and the ability to raise prices in the future. Investors can capitalize on the trend with these cloud computing stocks.

Source: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) had a record-breaking Black Friday and optimized its logistics to offer the fastest delivery speeds ever for Amazon Prime members. Over seven billion products arrived at peoples doors on the same or the next day or the order. Its a testament to Amazons vast same-day delivery network that encompasses 110 U.S. metro areas and more than 55 dedicated same-day sites across the United States.

The delivery network makes Amazon Prime more enticing for current members and people on the fence. The companys efforts paid off and resulted in 14% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Amazons ventures into artificial intelligence (AI) can also lead to meaningful stock appreciation. The companys generative AI investments have paid off and strengthened Amazon Web Services value proposition. Developers can easilyscale AI appswith Amazons Bedrock. These resources can help corporations increase productivity and generate more sales.

Innovations like these will help Amazon generate more traction for its e-commerce and cloud computing segments. The AI sector has many tailwinds that can help Amazon stock march higher for long-term investors.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a staple in many funds. The equity has outperformed the broader market with a 58% gain over the past year. Shares are up by 170% over the past five years.

Shares trade at a reasonable 22x forward P/E ratio. The stock initially lost some value after earnings but has parried some of its losses. The earnings report wasnt too bad, with 13% YoY revenue growth and 52% YoY net income growth.

Investors may have wanted higher numbers since Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) reported better results. However, a 7% drop in earnings didnt make much sense. The business model is still robust and is accelerating revenue and earnings growth. Alphabet also has a lengthy history of rewarding long-term investors.

Many analysts believe the equity looks like a solid long-term buy. The average price target implies a 9% upside. The highest price target of $175 per share suggests the equity can rally 16.5% from current levels.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) is an information technology company with an advanced cloud platform that helps corporations increase their productivity and sales. The equity has comfortably outperformed the market with 1-year and 5-year gains of 77% and 248%, respectively.

The company currently trades at a 61x forward P/E ratio, meaning youll need a long-term outlook to justify the valuation. ServiceNow certainly delivers on the financial front, increasing revenue by 26% YoY in Q4 2023. ServiceNow also reported $295 million in GAAP net income, a 97% YoY improvement. The company generated $150 million in GAAP net income during the same period last year.

Revenue is going up, and profit margins are accelerating. These are two promising signs for a company that boasts a 99% renewal rate for its core product. The companys subscription revenue continues to grow at a fast clip and generates predictable annual recurring revenue.

On this date of publication, Marc Guberti held a long position in NOW. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Marc Guberti is a finance freelance writer at InvestorPlace.com who hosts the Breakthrough Success Podcast. He has contributed to several publications, including the U.S. News & World Report, Benzinga, and Joy Wallet.

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The 3 Best Cloud Computing Stocks to Buy in February 2024 - InvestorPlace

Beyond Cloud Nine: 3 Cutting-Edge Tech Stocks Shaping the Future of Computing – InvestorPlace

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Source: Peshkova / Shutterstock

Cloud computing has helped millions of companies save time and money. Businesses dont have to worry about hardware costs and can access data quickly. Also, cloud computing companies offer cybersecurity resources to keep data safe from hackers.

Many stocks in the sector have outperformed the market over several years and can generate more gains in the years ahead. Therefore, these cutting-edge tech stocks look poised to expand and shape the future of cloud computing.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

ServiceNow(NYSE:NOW) boasts a high retention rate for its software and continues to attract customers with deep pockets. The company has over 7,700 customers and almost 2,000 of them haveannual contract values that exceed $1 million.

Further, NOWs remaining performance obligations are more than triple the companys Q3 revenue. The platform allows businesses to runmore efficient help desksand streamline repetitive tasks with built-in chatbots. Also, ServiceNow offers high-level security to protect sensitive data.

Additionally, the company has been a reliable pick for investors who want to outperform the market. Shares are up by 74% over the past year and have gained 284% over the past five years. The stock is trading at a 58-forward P/E ratio. The companys net income growth can lead to a better valuation in the future. And, ServiceNow more than tripled its profits year over year (YOY) in thethird quarter. Revenue grew at a nice 25% clip YOY.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

Alphabet(NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) makes most of its revenue from advertising and cloud computing. Google Cloud has become a popular resource for business owners, boasting over 500,000 customers. Also, Alphabet stands at the forefront of AI , enhancing the tech giants future product offerings.

Notably, the companys cloud segment remains a leading growth driver. Revenue for Google Cloud increased by 22.5% YOY in thethird quarter. And, Alphabets entire business achieved 11% YOY revenue growth, which is an acceleration from the previous period.

Also, Google Cloud reported a profitable quarter, swinging from a $440 million net loss in Q3 2022 to $266 million net income in Q3 2023. Alphabet investors positive response to the news helped the stock rally by 57% over the past year. The stock has gained 163% over the past five years.

Alphabet currently trades at a 22-forward P/E ratio and has a $1.8 trillion market cap. Finally, the companys vast advertising network gives them plenty of capital to reinvest in Google Cloud and the companys smaller business segments.

Source: Karol Ciesluk / Shutterstock.com

Datadog(NASDAQ:DDOG) helps companies improve their cybersecurity across multiple cloud computing solutions. Cloud spending is still in its early innings and is expected to reach$1 trillion in annual spending in 2026. The company is projected to have a $62 billion total addressable market (TAM) in that year.

Specifically, Datadog removes silos and friction associated with keeping cloud applications safe from hackers. Over 26,000 customers use Datadogs software including approximately 3,130 customers with annual contract values exceeding $100,000. The companys revenue growth over the trailing twelve months is currently 31%. Further, operating margins have improved significantly to help the company secure a net profit in the third quarter.

In fact, DDOG has a good relationship with many cloud computing giants, including Alphabet. The two corporationsexpanded their partnership to close out 2023.

Investors have been rushing to accumulate Datadog stock in recent years. Shares have gained 68% over the past year and are up by 240% over the past five years. DDOG is still more than 35% removed from its all-time high. However, continued revenue growth and profit margin expansion can help the stock reclaim its all-time high.

On this date of publication, Marc Guberti held a long position in NOW. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to theInvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Marc Guberti is a finance freelance writer at InvestorPlace.com who hosts the Breakthrough Success Podcast. He has contributed to several publications, including the U.S. News & World Report, Benzinga, and Joy Wallet.

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Beyond Cloud Nine: 3 Cutting-Edge Tech Stocks Shaping the Future of Computing - InvestorPlace

Russian official compares media claims that NATO is preparing for Russian offensive to "last year’s horoscope" – Yahoo News

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has responded to a leaked German plan for how the country would respond to a Russian hybrid assault on NATOs eastern flank, which it suggests might occur in July 2024.

Source: Maria Zakharova on Telegram

Details: German tabloid Bild has leaked the details of what it claims to be a secret memo by the German Defence Ministry that outlines a possible "path to conflict" between Russia and NATO. The memo outlines Russias actions and the Wests response month by month, with Russia expected to launch hybrid assaults on European countries in the summer of 2024 and to start a full-scale war in the summer of 2025.

The memo envisions that Russia could use clashes in the Baltic states as a pretext to deploy troops and medium-range missile systems to Kaliningrad and could invade NATO countries during the US presidential elections.

The German Defence Ministrys Alliance Defence 2025 plan is allegedly set to be put in place in February 2024, as Germany considers it possible that Russia might launch a new offensive in Ukraine in the spring.

Quote from Zakharova: "I read Germanys secret plan that was leaked to Bild, an information gutter. Its like a mighty horoscope from last year for Pisces in Cancer. I suppose that the analysis was undertaken by the German Foreign Ministry headed by [Annalena] Baerbock."

Previously: Russian officials denied Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine ahead of the full-scale invasion. For the past two years, Russia has referred to its war against Ukraine as a "special military operation". It also denies it intends to launch an attack on NATO, but NATO countries are still preparing for a possible Russian invasion on NATOs eastern flank.

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Russian official compares media claims that NATO is preparing for Russian offensive to "last year's horoscope" - Yahoo News

Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3 veterans working on new Unreal Engine 5 open-world RPG – GAMINGbible

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Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 are now in the not-too-distant past, but there is reason to be excited as some CD Projekt Red veterans are working on a brand-new open-world RPG made in Unreal Engine 5.

Despite Cyberpunk 2077 having one of the biggest redemption arcs in gaming history, CD Projekt Red recently announced that it was done updating the game in favour of working on its inevitable sequel. The same can be said for The Witcher 3 which has received no major updates since July of this year.

While CDPR now shift their efforts onto the next entries in both of the above franchises, some devs have departed the studio to work on something altogether new.

Check out the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty trailer below!

Posted to r/GamingLeaksandRumours, one user has revealed CD Projekt Red veterans have formed a brand-new studio called Rebel Wolves and it is currently working on its first game potentially titled DAWNWALKER: ORIGINS.

The news originally comes from Kurakasis on Twitter, an account dedicated to video games research who shared the information about the upcoming IP.

Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by CD Projekt RED veterans, is working on a game potentially titled DAWNWALKER: ORIGINS. The first title in the DAWNWALKER Saga, they wrote. This is based on the company's trademarks, recently registered domains and various statements on their website and LinkedIn.

The user claims that two website domains have recently been registered and the IP is expected to be a story-driven RPG set in a brand-new dark fantasy universe built on Unreal Engine 5.

Additionally, DAWNWALKER: ORIGINS is expected to be released on PC and next-gen consoles, is an offline single-player title and will revolutionise the RPG genre. An unearthed job listing also hints at it being open-world but is not expected to be on the scale of The Witcher 3.

Finally, the source claims development is currently in the Alpha stage and as of three months ago, over 100 employees were working on it.

With no official announcement, it is worth taking this news with a pinch of salt. However, a brand-new IP from CD Projekt Red veterans is an exciting rumour nonetheless.

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Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3 veterans working on new Unreal Engine 5 open-world RPG - GAMINGbible