BUSINESS

A mailer from Think Big PAC told voters that the Democratic U.S. House candidate once got $100,000 in support from the former head of failed global exchange FTX.

Jared Drinkwater transformed a snack idea into a fast-growing business with products sold in thousands of stores.

The yearly thresholds for achieving financial security range from roughly $62,700 for one-person households over age 65 to $169,300 for families with two or more adults and three or more kids.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealIf you’re excited for the warm, sunny spring weather and want a super comfortable and relaxing way to lounge, whether poolside or on the back deck, a luxurious patio set is sure to create the atmosphere you want. A lot of the patio sets or lounge chairs are comfortable, but when the sun gets too hot or you want to prevent sunburns, having an overhead canopy to help protect you while you lounge can make you feel like royalty. That’s why the Costway 2–Person Rattan Patio Daybed caught our attention. The lounge chairs and the adjustable overhead canopy make it a solid option for anyone who loves spending time in their backyard. Originally $399, shoppers can now get this daybed for just $280 and save 30% at Walmart.Costway 2–Person Rattan Patio Daybed, $280 (was $399) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?This daybed not only has a retractable canopy that offers comfortable shade for a nice outdoor nap, but it also features built-in side tables to hold your glass of iced tea, your favorite book, a plate of snacks, or a speaker, which can also be folded up or down as needed. The canopy can easily be adjusted with the pneumatic rod, and can be tied down with fixing ropes when not in use. The seating area has two seat cushions and four back cushions, offering a comfortable, plush area to lie down and relax. The cushions feature removable zipper covers that can be washed. Related: Macy’s is selling a charming $323 rattan porch swing for $102This daybed can hold up to 800 pounds, with the tables holding up to 10 pounds each. It features extra support legs and anti-slip footpads for safety, and the durable polyurethane rattan is designed for outdoor use. The retractable side trays measure 100 inches by 7.5 inches, and the daybed measures 58 inches long by 48.5 inches wide, with a 49.5-inch-wide canopy, offering room for two people to lie down, or three to four people to sit and chat. The pros and cons of a $280 patio daybedProsVersatility: This lounger is great for super sunny, windy, or cloudy weather. The canopy blocks wind and hot sun, or can offer a comfortable sunbathing area, and it can be used poolside, on the deck, or in the backyard grass. Weight capacity: The 800-pound weight capacity offers a sturdy, worry-free lounging experience.The daybed offers lots of room: The size allows you to fully lie down and relax by yourself or with others.Cons Color: The bright red color may not match your current outdoor decor.Care: The cushions should be covered during rainstorms to prevent wear and tear.One reviewer said, “I’m so happy with my purchase! It’s very sturdy and looks beautiful. You will love this lounger.” Another person said, “I love everything about it. The red color is perfect, it’s very nice! The cushions are good, and it’s comfy.”Shop more dealsCostway Outdoor Double Daybed with Canopy, $280 (was $399) at WalmartCostway Patio Convertible Sofa, $210 (was $399) at WalmartCostway 2-Piece Rattan Lounge Chair Set, $176 (was $349) at WalmartWhether you love to spend time lounging outdoors or want a comfortable place to relax with friends, the Costway 2–Person Rattan Patio Daybed is a solid choice. The sturdy metal frame holds up to 800 pounds, and the canopy is easy and convenient to use, whether you want to be out in the sun or prefer a bit of shade. The tables provide room for your phone and a drink, and the set comes with ample cushions for comfort. Shoppers can save $119 on this purchase, paying $280 for the daybed at Walmart.

Oil prices settled higher Friday, with global benchmark Brent crude posting a fifth straight weekly gain, after the Pentagon said it is sending more troops and warships to the Middle East.

One of the major sticking points on the crypto market structure bill may be resolved, at least enough to move toward a Senate hearing to advance the bill.

For decades, it seemed like the sky was the limit for Salesforce (CRM), the cloud-based enterprise software and customer relationship management platform.The company was founded in 1999 by Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, and Frank Dominguez, who built their platform in a tiny apartment on San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill (a closet functioned as their server), proving they could innovate from the get-go.Salesforce made its product accessible to businesses of all sizes by offering its CRM as a subscription service over the internet (SaaS) rather than as an expensive, locally installed software, which was more common at the time.As a result, businesses were finally able to integrate their sales, marketing, customer service, and analytics together for a “360-degree” view of their customers — and Salesforce took off.Since its IPO on June 23, 2004, CRM shares have soared by nearly 2,000%.According to Benzinga, if an investor had bought $1,000 of CRM stock 20 years ago, those shares would be worth $20,797.11 in March 2026.But Salesforce’s skies have darkened recently, due to its struggles to prove that its investments in AI are delivering tangible ROI.In fact, reports have surfaced that company insiders don’t even understand how to use its new technology, let alone explain it to customers.What’s going on with Salesforce stock?Rewind to last year, when the turbulence started. On February 26, 2025, Salesforce reported $37.9 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue, which was a 9% increase from the previous fiscal year.Related: Does Apple pay dividends? A history of rewarding shareholdersHowever, its revenue growth estimates slowed to 8.5%, down from 11% the prior year.In addition, Salesforce’s margins dropped to 27.2% from 29.4% in 2024. This suggested that the company’s AI investments had added significant costs to the company — without increasing its bottom line.As a result, CRM shares sold off and have yet to recover: Salesforce ended the year down 20% in 2025.What’s going on with Salesforce’s layoffs?Salesforce’s turmoil stems from its company-wide shift to “Agentic AI.” Through its Agentforce platform, launched on September 12, 2024, AI agents can take on tasks that were once delegated to people. These agents are considered more intuitive than chatbots, and they need less human oversight, as well.On the heels of its rollout, Salesforce posted strong quarterly results. CNBC reported that the company had secured 200 deals for the product and thousands more in the pipeline. CRM shares closed at an all-time high of $365.07 on December 4, 2024.Everyone, it seemed, was aboard the Agentic bandwagon.But the machine’s efficiencies came at a very human cost.In January 2025, Benioff told Bloomberg that Salesforce’s AI agents were already doing 50% of the company’s work.That fall, Benioff went on the Logan Bartlett Show and explained that he was reducing his workforce because “I need less heads.”Related: How many employees does Salesforce have in 2026? CRM’s workforce, locations & layoffsSalesforce cut 4,000 customer service jobs that month and laid off an additional 1,000 marketing employees in early 2026, amounting to around 5% of its total workforce.But while losing a job feels insurmountable on a personal level, for companies like Salesforce, reduced administrative costs increase AI’s return on investment.And it isn’t just Salesforce, either; CEOs across the board have felt the heat in proving their AI investments work, Fortune said.In a January 2026 survey of 3,700 business executives, 61% of CEOs said they were under “increasing pressure” to demonstrate returns on their AI investments.But Salesforce may have already redeemed itself with its latest earnings report, released on Feb 26, 2026, which touted $800 million in annual recurring revenue for its Agentforce system, and 2.4 billion Agentic work units to date — all of which is proof of enterprise adoption.CEO Marc Benioff added that Agentic AI “is a tailwind for our business.”So, is CRM’s long-term growth story likely to continue?Salesforce will invest $15 billion in San Francisco over the next five years, a move the company said will cement the city’s status as a global hub for artificial intelligence https://t.co/HIXASbevqz— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 13, 2025

Is CRM a good buy now?Salesforce certainly thinks so. The fact remains: Salesforce is still one of the largest enterprise software companies in the world, a niche it basically created, and it boasted $38 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue, a $3 billion increase over the year before.The company has big plans for the future, and dynamic leadership from Benioff could very well make his vision of $60 billion in revenue by 2030 a reality.“We’re leading the next great transformation in business — the era of the Agentic Enterprise — where AI elevates human potential and accelerates growth,” Benioff said, counting Dell, FedEx, Pandora, PepsiCo, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. among its users.In September 2025, the company launched the newest version of its AI enterprise, Agentforce 360, which promises even deeper platform integration. At the same time, Salesforce pledged to invest $15 billion into AI initiatives around San Francisco.This money will help to establish an AI Incubator Hub and add to workforce development programs.In addition, on March 16, 2026, Salesforce announced a massive $50 billion share repurchase program, half of which is funded by debt — another bullish sign from the company.Company histories:History of Microsoft: Company timeline & factsHistory of Coca-Cola: Timeline, facts & milestonesHistory of Nike: Company timeline and factsThe consensus estimates from analysts compiled by MarketBeat were that this move now makes the stock a “Moderate Buy.”And with shares trading around 14.7 times forward earnings, many even believe the stock isn’t overhyped but rather undervalued.Only time will tell, but Salesforce’s transition into an AI-focused platform may also have changed its business model from a high-flying growth story to a profitable, cash-generating enterprise that appeals to those who can patiently wait for artificial intelligence to prove itself in dollars and cents.Related: Who owns Salesforce in 2026? A look at its largest shareholders & leadership stake

One of billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s biggest insurance bets just landed a role at the center of a global crisis.Chubb, the Zurich-headquartered insurance giant in which Berkshire Hathaway has built a massive position, has been named the lead underwriter for a U.S. government program to insure commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. With oil prices spiking and tanker crews refusing to sail near a war zone, Washington needs a private-sector partner with real firepower. It chose Chubb (CB).For Buffett’s followers, it’s a reminder of why Berkshire quietly accumulated 34.2 million shares of Chubb, according to CNBC. It’s a stake worth roughly $11 billion at current prices, before publicly disclosing the position.Valued at a market cap of $126 billion, Chubb offers a dividend yield of more than 1% in March 2026.Over the past decade, the Warren Buffett stock has returned 219% to shareholders after adjusting for dividend reinvestments. Chubb offers a growing dividend yieldChubb has raised its annual dividend from $1.19 per share in 2010 to $3.88 in 2026, data from Fiscal.ai indicate. Chubb (CB) dividend snapshotAnnual dividend per share: $3.88Dividend yield: Approximately 1.2% (based on recent share price near $323)10-year dividend growth rate: About 3.8% annuallyPayout ratio: Approximately 15% of earnings (very conservative)Ex-dividend frequency: QuarterlyThe payout ratio tells an important story. Chubb returns cash to shareholders, but it doesn’t stretch the balance sheet to do so. More Dividend Stocks:HSBC drops blunt verdict on 150-year-old dividend stockDividend-paying restaurant stock stumbles as gas prices surgeMegacap dividend stock may make sweeping layoffs to offset AI costsWith a payout ratio well below 20%, the company keeps the vast majority of its earnings to compound on the balance sheet, the kind of discipline Buffett has always admired.In Q4 2025 alone, Berkshire-held Chubb returned$1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. For the full year, that figure was $4.9 billion, roughly half of core operating income.Analysts forecast the dividend stock to raise the annual dividend to $4.6 per share in 2027. 

Chubb will serve as lead underwriter for a U.S. government program to insure commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Shutterstock

Chubb steps in where few insurers canThe U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) is backstopping roughly $20 billion in potential damages on a rolling basis. Chubb will serve as the front-line insurer for shippers, handling everything from hull and machinery coverage to cargo and environmental damage, while the DFC provides the reinsurance layer behind it.Roughly 15 million barrels of oil move through the Strait each day, along with another five million barrels of other oil products. 
Source: A CNBC report
That flow has effectively stalled, and Brent crude has already climbed above $100 a barrel. Chubb Chairman and CEO Evan Greenberg commented in a statement to CNBC.The DFC may also bring additional insurers into the program beyond Chubb as the situation develops.Berkshire’s Chubb bet looks smarter by the dayThis is not the kind of role that any insurer can step into. It requires global reach, deep engineering and underwriting expertise, and enough balance-sheet strength to absorb worst-case scenarios. Chubb has all three.The company operates across six segments, from North America commercial and personal property and casualty (P&C) insurance to overseas general insurance, global reinsurance, agriculture, and life insurance. Related: Bank of America names the real risk for U.S. economyIt writes coverage in 53 countries and is the top crop insurer in America. It also calls itself the number-one direct marketer of accident and health insurance in Asia.Financially, Chubb just finished one of the best years in its history. For the full year 2025, the company posted the following numbers.Core operating income of nearly $10 billion or $24.79 per share, up about 9% year-over-yearP&C underwriting income of $6.5 billion, up 11.6%, with a record-low combined ratio of 85.7%Adjusted net investment income of nearly $7 billion, up 9%Total company net premium growth of more than 6.5%Per-share tangible book value growth of 25.7%Berkshire first disclosed its Chubb stake in mid-2024, after confidentiality agreements with regulators expired. By then, Buffett had already built a position worth more than $6 billion, Reuters reported. It has grown considerably since.The Hormuz assignment is a high-profile moment for a company that tends to let its results do the talking. It also raises Chubb’s visibility at a time when global risk is accelerating, and the insurer behind Berkshire’s quiet multi-billion-dollar bet is suddenly front-page news.Related: Down 63 percent, Warren Buffett dividend stock signals opportunity

It’s more important than ever to ask any financial adviser or insurance salesperson these key questions.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealFinding time to stay on top of your personal e-mails, monitor your important health metrics, and get in enough daily exercise can feel unmanageable in today’s busy world. These routine, everyday tasks can be instantly streamlined with the convenience of a smartwatch at the flick of your wrist. This modern wearable tech looks stylish and comes packed with helpful features, like message reminders, weather forecasts, and notifications to get up and move when sitting too long. Because of this advanced technology, smartwatches typically come with an expensive price tag, but one limited-time deal at Amazon is making it more affordable. With over 500 units sold in the past month, the Jacoosa Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker is currently ranked on Amazon’s bestselling smartwatch list, and at 85% off, it’s the lowest price in the past 30 days. This massive markdown brings the $200 price tag down to just $30, and these savings include the smartwatch in every band color: black, blue, pink, and purple. Considering you could get the smartwatch in all four colors and still pay less than what you would for one originally, this deal is seriously impressive.Jacoosa Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker, $30 (was $200) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?Constructed with a high-definition 1.83-inch display, this smartwatch is large enough to navigate with ease. The reliable and sensitive touchscreen allows you to navigate through the built-in applications, answer Bluetooth phone calls directly from your watch, and respond to real-time alerts from your favorite social media applications, like Snapchat, Facebook, and WhatsApp. It’s a widely compatible smartwatch that pairs with most Apple and Android devices. “Easy to set up and works perfectly with my iPhone,” one shopper wrote, praising the smartwatch. They also highlighted that “the fitness tracking is accurate” and “the battery lasts several days.”This sleek and modern design is just as fashionable as it is functional. A classic smartwatch design, like this one, looks attractive on the wrist with a wide range of attire, from business casual office looks during the workday to your go-to fitness apparel when tracking workouts at the gym afterward. You definitely won’t want to forget this smartwatch when you hit the gym, because it accurately tracks popular exercises like running, cycling, and swimming, with over 130 sports modes that use professional-grade sports algorithm data. Related: Amazon is selling noise-canceling earbuds for just $17 in 3 colors ahead of its Big Spring SaleBy wearing this watch, you’ll have 24-hour heart monitoring and get insights into other important health information, like how many steps you take each day. Since this smartwatch comes with a long-lasting battery, which runs around seven days on a single charge, you can keep it on at bedtime and perform a sleep cycle analysis while you snooze. Women can also use it to get additional data about their menstrual cycles.Details to know Color options: All four colors, black, blue, pink, and purple, are on sale for $30.Compatibility: This smartwatch pairs with devices using Android 5.0 or higher and Apple iOS 9.0 or higher.Is it waterproof?: Yes, the waterproof smartwatch has a 5 ATM water resistance rating, so it can withstand depths of 50 meters.Another noteworthy detail about this smartwatch is that 97% of shoppers have given it a perfect five-star rating. “I bought this mostly for step tracking and notifications, and it’s been great so far,” one shopper wrote. “It’s comfortable to wear all day and does everything I need without being complicated.”Shop more dealsMatast Fitness Smartwatch, $17 (was $19) at AmazonTimu Military Smartwatch, $36 (was $200) at AmazonSoudorv 2026 Bluetooth Smartwatch, $35 (was $200) at AmazonAdd efficiency to your day for just $30 with Amazon’s limited-time deal on the bestselling Jacoosa Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker. Don’t wait too long, as your favorite wristband color could sell out with savings this steep.