SAINT CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — Jaylon McDaniel's 22 points helped Lindenwood defeat IU Indianapolis 81-63 on Saturday night. McDaniel shot 9 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Lions (5-6). Markeith Browning II scored 18 points while going 8 of 19 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Reggie Bass shot 3 for 6 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists. Paul Zilinskas finished with 18 points for the Jaguars (5-8). IU Indianapolis also got 13 points and two steals from Jarvis Walker. Alec Millender also recorded 11 points and five assists. NEXT UP Lindenwood's next game is Thursday against Tennessee Tech at home, and IU Indianapolis visits Florida International on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy weekAll Wright scores 26 and Valparaiso earns 93-77 win over Central Michigan
VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — All Wright had 26 points in Valparaiso's 93-77 victory against Central Michigan on Saturday night. Wright shot 7 for 16 (4 for 8 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Beacons (5-4). Tyler Schmidt scored 21 points and added six rebounds. Jefferson Monegro had 16 points and shot 3 for 5 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. The Chippewas (5-4) were led in scoring by Anthony Pritchard, who finished with 20 points and six rebounds. Ugnius Jarusevicius added 18 points and six rebounds for Central Michigan. Jakobi Heady had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. Valparaiso led Central Michigan 36-31 at the half, with Wright (13 points) its high scorer before the break. Valparaiso took the lead for what would be the final time on Schmidt's 3-pointer with 10:13 remaining in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Pass tax reform bills into laws without delay, Afenifere, US Chapter charges NASSAs the weightlifting world continues to evolve and grow, the rivalry between North and South Korea adds a thrilling element to the sport, captivating fans and inspiring athletes to push themselves to new heights. The battle for supremacy in weightlifting is far from over, and the world eagerly awaits the next chapter in this captivating saga of strength and determination.
MundusImages/E+ via Getty Images Introduction Got some spare cash? According to current trends, plenty of people may soon answer this question with a very convincing “YES!” According to a recent report from Cerulli Associates, no less than $124 trillion will be Test Drive iREIT© on Alpha For FREE (for 2 Weeks) Join iREIT on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, and other income alternatives. 438 testimonials and most are 5 stars. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial . And this offer includes a 2-Week FREE TRIAL plus Brad Thomas' FREE book . Leo Nelissen is an analyst focusing on major economic developments related to supply chains, infrastructure, and commodities. He is a contributing author for iREIT®+HOYA Capital . As a member of the iREIT®+HOYA Capital team, Leo aims to provide insightful analysis and actionable investment ideas, with a particular emphasis on dividend growth opportunities. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CME either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Blakley's 28 lead Le Moyne over SUNY Delhi 106-51Finding top artificial intelligence (AI) stocks to buy right now is not a simple endeavor. Many AI stocks have boomed amid the release of a vastly improved version of ChatGPT in early 2023. Due to that growth, stocks like Nvidia and Palantir experienced outsized increases over a short period. Those increases may leave investors wondering what to buy now. Fortunately, even if finding the "best" AI stocks is elusive, we can assume AI will probably drive stock gains for years to come, meaning investors have not missed out. Under current conditions, these two stocks are likely to become leaders in AI and bring their shareholders significant gains. Qualcomm Amid the AI-driven gains in many stocks, investors seem to have forgotten about Qualcomm ( QCOM -0.81% ) . Indeed, the smartphone chipset leader has suffered as the 5G upgrade cycle has run its course. Additionally, Apple has worked for years to develop a 5G modem chipset that can run its iPhone. After years of throwing in the towel and extending its contract with Qualcomm, Apple appears ready to end the supply agreement after 2026. Nonetheless, Qualcomm has advanced AI in its chipsets beginning with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which incorporates AI capabilities into smartphones. That and the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could lead to another upgrade cycle. Moreover, Qualcomm has prepared for years for the day when smartphone chipsets will become a less reliable revenue source. To that end, it has built businesses in the Internet of Things, automotive, and, more recently, entered the PC business. These moves have helped growth turn positive again as the $39 billion in revenue generated in fiscal 2024 (ended Sept. 29) rose 9% compared to year-ago levels. During that time, Qualcomm curtailed increases in costs and expenses, allowing net income of $10 billion in the fiscal year to rise by 40% yearly. For now, analysts forecast that revenue growth will stay in the 9% range for fiscal 2025. However, with the stock selling at a P/E ratio of just 17, investors may be overreacting to its slower growth rate, especially considering AMD 's earnings multiple of 109. Also, Apple sells at 42 times earnings, and even its primary manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing , trades at a 31 P/E ratio. This implies Qualcomm stock could rise from multiple expansion alone. Also, given that Qualcomm anticipates lost business from Apple, the company has figured that into its fiscal 2025 estimates. Such an assumption likely sets up Qualcomm stock to surprise to the upside, meaning investors should profit as the company continues its growth. Alphabet Another tech company underappreciated for its AI is Google's parent company Alphabet ( GOOGL -1.45% ) ( GOOG -1.55% ) . This might seem surprising for a company that has incorporated AI in its applications since 2001. Still, the emergence of ChatGPT presents Google Search with its most serious competitive threat in years. Also, the release of its own generative AI product, Google Gemini, has not stemmed fears that the lost search business will hamper its lucrative advertising business. However, investors should not ignore Alphabet's vast resources and innovation. Currently, it holds a staggering $93 billion in liquidity . That is down from $111 billion at the end of 2023, but the Google parent now funds a dividend and has made significant investments in research and development, setting the stage for a possible resurgence. That investment not only includes AI but also spending on a technology that could supercharge AI, quantum computing. To this end, Alphabet just released its Willow quantum computing chip. Quantum computing could redefine the computing industry. Instead of holding a zero or one value like a traditional data bit, qubits, or quantum bits, process zeroes and ones simultaneously, exponentially increasing computing speeds. Willow is so fast that it performed a computation in under five minutes that a traditional computer could not perform in the entire history of the universe. Additionally, Willow made breakthroughs in addressing the error-prone nature of quantum chips. Instead of error rates rising as the number of qubits increases, Willow can reduce errors as the number of qubits grows. This addresses a key obstacle to making quantum computing technology viable. Also, for all the worries about the company, Alphabet generated $62 billion in free cash flow in the first nine months of 2024 alone. That cash gives the company considerable flexibility to continue innovating. Furthermore, Alphabet's P/E ratio of 25 gives it the lowest earnings multiple of the " Magnificent Seven " stocks. That valuation is less likely to stay at that level as more investors recognize the company's ability to move beyond Google Search.
If you’re sitting on a pile of travel or credit card rewards with no immediate travel plans, donating them to a charity is an easy way to have a positive impact. And it's a popular way to give: In 2021, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members donated around 94 million miles to charities at an approximate cash value of $2.6 million, according to the airline. Beyond the social benefits, miles donations also qualify as activity on your loyalty account and can prevent the rest of your rewards from expiring . But if you’re in the habit of maximizing points and miles, you might also want to stretch the value of your charitable donations as far as possible. And by that measure, some methods of donating points and miles fall short. Here’s what to consider before donating your miles and points . Many loyalty programs make it easy to redeem your points and miles for a donation directly through their rewards portals. But some portals — especially those from airline and hotel programs — don’t publish the cash value a charity will receive for your miles or points. That means the charity may receive less value for your donation than you’d think, while also making it hard to compare the value of a donation with the value of other options for redeeming your points. Best Western Rewards is one of the few loyalty programs that publishes a cash value for charitable points donations. The charity will receive $2 for every 500 points you donate, for a point a value of 0.4 cent each. NerdWallet values Best Western points at 0.6 cent apiece, so you would receive 33% less value for your donation relative to using them for a hotel stay. Generally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) doesn’t count points and miles as a source of income, so if you donate them, you can't deduct the cash value of your gift. This lack of favorable tax treatment for the consumer combined with the uncertain value you’ll often receive for miles and points donations should have you at least consider other avenues for your philanthropic endeavors. Keep in mind that this drawback only matters for taxpayers who itemize deductions on their income tax returns. If you're like most people and take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, you wouldn't be able to get a charitable tax deduction from any donation. Some rewards programs have a minimum donation amount for select charities. For example, you’d have to donate at least 2,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That minimum amount makes it tougher to donate points that may be collecting dust in your loyalty account. To maximize the value of your donation, consider a charity that books travel directly with your miles or points rather than donating directly through your loyalty program's portal. For example, Miles4Migrants uses donated airline miles and credit card points to directly book award travel for refugees and asylum seekers. “Instead of maximizing points and miles to book a dream trip, we do it to help refugees reach safe new beginnings,” said Patrick Stouffer, partnerships manager at Miles4Migrants, in an email. Miles4Migrants has redeemed over 775 million donated miles in pursuit of their mission, with a cash value of over $17 million. That expertise allows them to get more value out of every donation. “Our team has the specialized knowledge necessary to stretch the value of every point or mile, ensuring donations go as far as possible,” Stouffer said. “Even if you aren’t able to reap any tax advantages of donating your points, at least you’ll know they made the largest possible impact.” Direct cash donations help avoid the downsides of donating miles and points. If you have a credit card that earns cash back , or if you earn cash rewards through a shopping portal like TopCashBack or Rakuten , consider cashing out and donating those rewards instead of your miles and points. With a cash donation, you’ll know the exact value a charity will receive from your donation and likely qualify for a potential itemized deduction on your taxes. Some rewards programs make this process simple and transparent. Travel rewards programs sometimes incentivize charitable giving by offering bonus points for your cash donations. For example, American Airlines offers 10 AAdvantage miles for every dollar members contribute to the charity Stand Up To Cancer. That extra incentive can be an individual boon for your charitable donation. Just be aware that any points or miles you receive from such promotions will reduce the tax deductibility of your contribution. American Airlines values those bonus miles you receive through donations at 3 cents each. So if you donate $100 and receive 1,000 AAdvantage miles, American values those miles at $30. You’ll receive a tax form declaring those rewards as $30 in income, giving you a qualifying tax deduction of $70. When you donate cash and receive bonus points, the charity still receives your full donation and you get a slug of points. While you'll have to pay taxes on those points, it can still be a big win for your future travel plans. More From NerdWallet Craig Joseph writes for NerdWallet. Email: cjoseph@nerdwallet.com . The article Should You Donate Your Points and Miles to Charity? originally appeared on NerdWallet. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.
