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Safety Insurance Group (SAFT) doesn’t usually make headlines. The Boston-based auto and home insurer is mostly seen as a quiet dividend payer.However, that changed in one trading session.Shares rose about 41% on Friday, July 24, closing at $103.20 after starting the week near $72.94. For a stock that had gone almost nowhere for months, the move was sudden, but the trigger was simple: someone agreed to buy the whole company.Why Mapfre is paying a 44% premium for Safety InsuranceSpanish insurance giant Mapfre S.A. agreed to acquire Safety in an all-cash deal that values the 47-year-old company at about $1.54 billion, according to the company’s press release.Shareholders will receive $105 in cash for each share they own.More Acquisition and Deal Coverage:Paramount’s Warner deal is suddenly in real troubleComcast eyes acquisition of 33-year-old rival amid strugglesParamount-WBD deal faces legal hurdle, delaysThat $105 figure represents a 44% gain over Safety’s July 23 closing price of$72.94, Stock Titan shows. A gain that size tells you Mapfre wanted this badly enough to pay up front.Mapfre is the largest Spanish insurer in the world, and buying Safety would make it the second-largest private passenger auto insurer in New England.The deal will also make it the region’s biggest homeowners and commercial auto carrier, Insurance Business reported.Mapfre expects more than $30 million in annual pre-tax savings within three years and forecasts the deal will lift group net income by more than 5% once fully absorbed.

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What the buyout means for Safety shareholders right nowHere is the part that matters for anyone holding SAFT stock today.At $103.20, SAFT already trades within about 1.7% of the $105 payout. Almost all of the reward is now priced in.The 1.7% spread between today’s price and the $105 payout is the entire remaining return if you buy now and hold until closing. And closing isn’t expected until the first quarter of 2027.In plain terms, you would be tying up money for roughly a year and a half to earn less than two cents on the dollar, assuming everything goes smoothly.This is what traders call a merger arbitrage setup. The stock stops moving with the insurance sector and starts moving on one question only: will the deal actually close at $105?The risks hiding inside a “sure thing” dealA signed agreement is not a closed deal, and this one still has to clear several gates.Both boards approved the merger unanimously, and Safety will keep its brand name and New England operations, Insurance Journal reported. Those are good signs, but they are not guarantees.Three things still stand between shareholders and the $105 check:Key hurdles before the deal closesRegulatory sign-off. The transaction needs clearance from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance and antitrust review under federal law, the SEC filing showsShareholder approval. Safety’s stockholders still have to vote yes.Legal review. Several shareholder law firms, including Ademi LLP, are already investigating whether $105 is a fair price and whether the board did its job.If regulators block the deal or shareholders reject it, the stock loses its safety net. Without the buyout, SAFT could fall back toward the low $70s, roughly where it traded before the announcement.That is the real downside here. The stock gives you 1.7% if things go right and a possible 30% drop if they go wrong.The weak quarter the buyout quietly rescuedThe company was coming off a rough start to the year. In the first quarter of 2026, Safety swung to a net loss of $14.3 million, or 99 cents per share, its earnings release showed. Stripping out one-time items, the adjusted loss was 72 cents per share.Related: Netflix has a stunning milestone in sight for 2027Two severe winter storms drove the damage, generating more than 1,600 property claims and $42.7 million in losses. That pushed the combined ratio to 113.4%, meaning the company paid out more in claims and expenses than it collected in premiums.Book value per share had slipped to $58.28 by the end of March.Against that backdrop, a $105 all-cash offer looks less like a bidding war and more like a well-timed exit for long-suffering holders.What Safety Insurance shareholders should weigh nowThe decision splits cleanly depending on what you own the stock for.If you bought SAFT years ago for its dividend and steady book value, this deal hands you a 44% one-day gain you were unlikely to see on your own. Selling near $103 lets you lock that in today rather than waiting 18 months for the final $1.80.If you are tempted to buy now purely to capture the last stretch to $105, understand you are making a bet on deal completion, not on Safety’s business.A few things worth tracking before the deal closes in early 2027:Whether a rival bidder emerges, which could push the price above $105Any signal from Massachusetts regulators on the timelineWhether the shareholder lawsuits gain traction or fade into routine settlementsThe stock has done its job. Selling now captures nearly the full value of the deal without carrying the risk that it falls apart.The buyout turned a struggling New England insurer into one of Friday’s biggest winners. What it did not do is leave much on the table for anyone arriving late.Related: Goldman Sachs sees writing on the wall for Eli Lilly stock

Alphabet (GOOGL) has spent billions of dollars preparing for a future that could disrupt its most profitable business.Generative AI helps people get thorough answers without the need to navigate through a standard list of search results. This raised a thorny question for Alphabet investors: Would Google’s own AI technologies replace the searches that drive its advertising business?Now Google says the opposite is happening.Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai noted that AI Overviews and AI Mode are prompting consumers to perform extra searches. AI Mode has more than a billion monthly active users, and Google believes the function is driving an incremental increase in overall searches. Its AI-powered Search capabilities are also sending billions of hits to websites every week.There is some truth in the company’s argument, as the numbers show.Advertising revenue from Google Search and other sources grew 17% from a year earlier to $63.3 billion in the second quarter. Paid clicks were up 13% and average cost per click was up 3%.That’s a significant early signal for stockholders. AI may be growing Google’s search business, not cannibalizing it right away.The bigger concern is whether Alphabet can generate enough profit from that incremental consumption to cover its fast-rising infrastructure expenditures. “Our popular AI features are driving Search query growth,” Pichai said in Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings statement.Alphabet’s AI features are strengthening its core businessAlphabet posted $119.8 billion in sales for the second quarter, up 24% from a year earlier. Search, subscriptions, and YouTube advertising helped boost Google Services revenue 15% to $94.5 billion.Search is still the backbone of the investment argument for Alphabet.The business generates ad revenue on a scale that newer AI competitors cannot match. Operating income for Google Services in the quarter was $39.5 billion, a 20% increase, and an operating margin of 41.8%.AI Mode might open up the option for people who would not have considered those queries to be searches, pushing them to ask longer, more complex questions.Queries in AI Mode have more than doubled every quarter since the functionality began, Google claimed. Internal business data reveals that searches connected to planning have surged 80% faster than general AI Mode queries in the past six months.Key numbers for Alphabet investors$63.3 billion: Quarterly Google Search and other advertising revenue.17%: Search advertising growth from a year earlier.13%: Increase in paid Search clicks.One billion: Monthly active AI Mode users.41.8%: Google Services operating margin.$119.8 billion: Alphabet’s total quarterly revenue.Additional queries can create more opportunity to show economically relevant responses and advertising.Already, Google is exploring conversational ads, sponsored product recommendations, and checkout in its AI Search experiences. The formats are meant to help advertisers contact customers while they compare products and make decisions, the business said.Related: Alphabet and Intel could reset the AI tradeGoogle is also working to alleviate publishers’ fears that AI-generated summaries could drive down visits to outside sites.More AI:Workers just sent AI companies an ultimatumPalantir CEO has a blunt verdict on OpenAI and AnthropicElon Musk pulls no punches with AI rivals as Grok 4.5 debutsThe company has introduced more direct links, article previews and recommendations for original sources to AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google says its AI Search capabilities now generate billions of visitors to websites each week, but it hasn’t said how that traffic compares with regular Search referrals.

Alphabet investors just got a powerful AI search signalAnna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Alphabet’s Search win comes with a costly second testRising queries and advertising income reflect only one side of the AI investment debate.Alphabet spent $44.9 billion in capital expenditures in the second quarter, most of it on servers, data centers and networking equipment. That spending led to a quarterly free cash flow deficit of $5.9 billion.Management lifted its full-year capital expenditure guidance to $195 billion-$205 billion from $180 billion-$190 billion. Alphabet also anticipates another jump in infrastructure investment in 2027.Those metrics are the main danger for Alphabet stock.AI Search may be driving usage higher, but additional queries are only useful when the money they generate is more than the cost of generating answers, constructing infrastructure and running data centers.Google said technical and hardware improvements pushed the cost of an AI Mode response to its lowest point since launch in the quarter. That’s positive, but the business didn’t divulge the cost per inquiry or compare the profitability of AI Search directly to conventional Search.Alphabet is making advertising revenues, and there is plenty of room to invest. Operating cash flow was $39.1 billion for the quarter and cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $242.5 billion at quarter-end June.Shareholders are also getting a quarterly dividend of 22 cents a share. As of the end of the first half of 2026, Alphabet had $69.5 billion left on its stock-repurchase authorization, but repurchased no common shares.The optimistic argument is getting clearer: Google can increase AI to Search without killing query growth or ad income.The bearish case has moved. Investors will have to decide if being on top means even higher expenditure and lower free cash flow instead of worrying about people leaving Google.For now, Alphabet has passed this initial test. AI Search looks to be making MORE searches, not less.The next test is to show that every additional AI inquiry can be as financially beneficial as the searches on which Google established its business.Related: Alphabet cloud surge overshadowed by negative cash flow shock

After closing more than two dozen restaurants over the past year, Panera Bread is overhauling its business with menu innovation, restaurant upgrades, and new marketing partnerships as café chains across the industry compete to attract increasingly value-conscious consumers.The company’s latest moves reflect a broader shift taking place across the fast-casual sector. As consumers become more selective with discretionary spending and competition intensifies, brands traditionally known for salads are expanding their menus, experimenting with trend-driven offerings, and leaning into celebrity and influencer partnerships to reach a wider audience.Panera Bread closuresPanera Bread unveiled the “Panera RISE” transformation plan in November 2025, outlining a goal of reaching $7 billion in systemwide sales by 2028. The initiative includes investments in menu innovation, higher-quality ingredients, digital capabilities, and improvements to the overall guest experience.As part of the effort, the company has also reassessed its restaurant portfolio by opening new locations, modernizing existing cafés, and closing underperforming stores.Since last summer, Panera Bread has closed 25 restaurants across California, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas, according to Fast Company. Texas accounted for the largest share of those closures after the franchise operator EYM Café filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leading to the sale of 10 Houston-area locations. Eight of those restaurants have since been acquired by an entity affiliated with Hamra Enterprises, one of Panera Bread’s largest franchisees, which operates cafés across several states, including Illinois and Massachusetts.Despite the closures, the company continues to expand. Panera Bread has opened 23 new bakery-cafés this year, including 15 company-owned and eight franchised locations, and expects to open at least 25 more before year-end, according to Fast Company.The chain currently operates approximately 2,240 restaurants nationwide, according to its store locator.Panera Bread expands its menuAlongside changes to its restaurant portfolio, Panera Bread has diversified its menu beyond its traditional lineup of salads, sandwiches, and pastries.Recent additions include Salad Stuffers, Market Bowls, specialty beverages, and limited-time offerings designed to appeal to evolving consumer tastes and encourage repeat visits.The company has also expanded its marketing efforts through celebrity collaborations. Its latest campaign features internet personality Jake Shane, who partnered with the chain to launch the “Pass That Panera” Meal, a custom Mix & Match Menu order that showcases several of the brand’s newest menu items.The approach reflects a larger trend emerging across the fast-casual café industry.

Panera Bread rivals diversify their menus.Derek White/Getty Images for Panera

Salad chains expand beyond their core menusPura Vida Miami has expanded beyond its signature salads and sandwiches by introducing trend-driven menu items, such as frozen yogurt, and by partnering with influencers and Miami FC to broaden its reach.Since opening in 2012, the café chain has grown to more than 50 locations across six states, according to its store locator.Sweetgreen (SG) has also diversified its offerings. The company introduced wraps nationwide in May 2026 and partnered with chef and food writer Alice Waters on the Peach & Goat Cheese Salad as part of its Summer 2026 campaign. Earlier, the chain tested Ripple Fries in March 2025 before discontinuing the item five months later.Those menu additions come as Sweetgreen also works to optimize its restaurant footprint. During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, CFO Jamie McConnell said the chain expects to close “a handful” of restaurants in 2026 as leases expire, while continuing to evaluate additional underperforming locations.Just Salad has followed a similar path, adding wraps in 2023 and introducing Market Plates in 2025 as it broadened its menu beyond salads. The chain now operates approximately 133 restaurants across eight states, according to its store locator.Why café chains are moving beyond saladsRestaurant operators are adapting as higher costs and changing consumer spending habits reshape the industry.According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food away from home increased 3.4% in the 12 months ending June 2026, contributing to higher menu prices across the restaurant industry.Here’s some of my previous coverage of restaurant strategy:Popular beverage chain closing multiple locations nationwideMcDonald’s builds its new menu around a flavor it never soldBurger chain closes most locations after partner’s collapseAt the same time, analysts say consumers have become more value-conscious than in previous economic cycles. Diners are also seeking greater menu variety and better value, prompting restaurant chains to expand beyond their traditional core offerings to appeal to a broader audience.James O’Reilly, a food industry executive with more than 15 years of restaurant marketing experience, told FSR Magazine that middle- and lower-income households continue to face financial pressure, despite broader economic improvements.”In strong economic environments, price increases have historically been tolerated by restaurant guests. Over the past few years, that’s become far more difficult,” said O’Reilly.”The restaurant industry is battling for its share of shrinking consumer wallets,” said The New York Times food industry writer and expert Julie Creswell. “Last year, most chains raised menu prices, and lower-income consumers were the first to cut back on eating out.”As competition intensifies, café chains that once relied heavily on salads are broadening their menus, investing in trend-driven products, optimizing their restaurant portfolios, and increasing their marketing efforts to attract new customers. For many brands, diversification has evolved from a growth opportunity into a competitive necessity as they adapt to shifting consumer preferences and an increasingly crowded fast-casual market.Related: Popular breakfast chain sold, 16 locations shut down

Another day to look at Micron (MU). I think I have covered this stock more than any other stock lately. One of the most recent best beats was the historic Q3 preview earnings coverage. I call it best because our target was hit on the same day as that Q3 blowout print. Plus, it has been one of the most rewarding stocks to follow in 2026. And that is exactly why Michael Burry’s latest move deserves some serious attention.On Friday, July 24, Burry disclosed on his Substack “Cassandra Unchained” that he sold short more shares of Micron Technology (MU) at $933.86, adding to a bearish position he has been building across the semiconductor sector. MU closed July 24 at $920.95, down 6.99% on the session, according to Yahoo Finance.Burry also added to his Nvidia short at $210.28, sold more Caterpillar at $893.49, added to his SOXX position at $535.83, and maintained shorts in Tesla and Palantir. It looks like the pattern is consistent because he is not making isolated stock calls. He is actually making a sector call.Also Read: Micron Technology Inc. Latest News and StoriesWhat Michael Burry is actually arguing: the circular demand thesisBurry’s bear case on semiconductors, including Micron, goes beyond valuation. It is a structural argument about the nature of current Artificial Intelligence (AI) demand.He stated in his Substack post that he believes much of the current and future demand is not being driven by end customers. Instead, Burry argued, demand is “financed off-balance sheet and not disclosed,” with future revenues “majority financed in a circular arrangement,” citing the 2026 Bank for International Settlements annual report as supporting evidence.More Micron:Micron stock draws aggressive target reset from 5-star analystMicron gets aggressive stock price target from veteran analystRoundhill CEO spots major shift for Micron stockHow many employees does Micron have in 2026? Its workforce, locations, and layoffs explainedI think the “circular arrangement” argument is significant and worth understanding. If hyperscalers are committing to massive infrastructure spending, and those commitments are generating the AI revenue expectations that justify further infrastructure spending, the loop is self-reinforcing until it is not. Burry is betting that the end-customer demand necessary to sustain the cycle will not materialize at the scale the market is pricing in.He also said he continues to hold Nvidia puts “in good size,” and described the SOXX position, together with those puts, as a “large position.” This doesn’t look like a hedging exercise. Instead, It’s more of a directional, high-conviction bet against the semiconductor complex.The remarkable Micron’s fundamental story Michael Burry is betting againstMy honest read of this situation requires acknowledging both sides.Micron’s Q3 fiscal 2026 results, reported June 24, were the most extraordinary in the company’s history. Revenue of $41.46 billion compared to $9.30 billion in the same period last yearGAAP net income of $28.24 billion, or $24.67 per diluted shareOperating cash flow of $25.39 billion versus $11.90 billion for the prior quarter and $4.61 billion for the same period last yearEnded Q3 with $30.2 billion in cash, marketable investments, and restricted cashFor Q4 fiscal 2026, Micron guided $50 billion in revenue, 86% gross margins, and non-GAAP EPS of $31.00. HBM4 is in high-volume shipments for the lead customer platform. HBM4E development is underway with volume production targeted for 2027. Multiple strategic customer agreements are in place.Related: Nvidia, Micron just got hit by an AI model from BeijingMicron still ranks third best performer among all S&P 500 components year-to-date, up 222%, according to Slickcharts, behind only SanDisk and Dell.Burry is not arguing the Q3 results were fake. Instead, he believes the cycle that produced them may be nearing its end. I find his circular demand argument intellectually serious, even if I am not yet convinced it will resolve on the timeline he is implying.

Micron’s Q3 revenue hit $41.46 billion compared to $9.30 billion in the same period last year. It also ranks as the third-best performer among all S&P 500 components year to date.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Micron’s technical picture and where the chart is pointing right nowI called the technical bottom correctly before Q3 earnings, identifying the double support zone near $1,020 and $980 as the entry (Level marked by a red circle) in my technical coverage. Price respected that level and ran to hit our anticipated target and all-time highs on the same earnings day.Since then, the picture has deteriorated meaningfully. The ascending trendline that served as our previous entry level was broken, retested, and rejected. Price has also pushed back below the $1,020 and $980 support zone, which has now flipped to resistance. Moving averages are also slowly turning strongly bearish.After that rejection, the stock has been moving lower. Burry appears to have entered his additional short position around that resistance rejection zone.

Trading view

The current trading area sits near an important test. The $810 to $860 zone represents a meaningful and strong technical support, visible across multiple timeframes, and acted as support in previous times. Burry hasn’t mentioned it yet, but if you ask me, I’d say that should be the first target for Burry’s short and the first potential stabilization zone for bulls looking to re-enter.If $800 breaks below on a daily close with follow-through selling, the next meaningful support sits toward $700. A drop to $700 would represent a 44% decline from the all-time highs reached on earnings day.Whether Burry’s fundamental thesis or Micron’s extraordinary earnings trajectory ultimately controls the price over the next several months is the central question we don’t have an answer to yet. What I can tell you is that the technical setup, right now, supports caution rather than aggression on the long side until one of those support levels holds cleanly. I’ll be happy to review Micron again when I get a meaningful call.Related: Bank of America doubles down on Micron stock after AI bombshell

Many people find comfort in telling themselves that old debt, if ignored long enough, disappears. After seven years, it falls off your credit report, and that’s that. Case closed. Ghost exorcised. It’s a lovely story, but it’s also a fallacy. And a growing industry of debt collectors is counting on this misbelief.Read:The Grandparent 529 loophole is readTwo different timelinesThe confusion that lies at the root of most zombie debt problems is the tendency to conflate two different timelines. Deb collectors profit from that mix-up every day. The first timeline: your credit report. Most negative information, including unpaid debts, drops off your credit report after seven years. That rule is accurate.The second timeline: the statute of limitations, or window during which a creditor can sue you in court to collect what you owe. State law governs this statute, not the credit bureaus, and it typically runs between three and six years — but it varies by state and type of debt.  The biggest takeaway? The credit report and statute clocks donot run on the same schedule. They don’t even start at the same time.Joe Braier, CEO and president of Lake County Advisors, said, “Zombie debt exists because credit reporting doesn’t expire on the same timeline that the debt becomes legally unenforceable. A debt can disappear from your credit report but still be something you’re still legally responsible for, depending on where you live.”Rick Munster, senior manager of compliance and media at Money Fit, said, “State law governs the legal right to sue you, not the credit bureaus.”The conclusion? “It’s off my credit report,” and “I can’t be sued for this” are two completely different statements, and only one is guaranteed by the calendar.The mechanics of zombie debtZombie debt is an old, inactive debt that a third-party collector surfaces, essentially bringing it back from the dead — and often long after you’ve forgotten about it. According to Experian, this debt “is resurrected debt that you may no longer owe or that doesn’t belong to you, but that a debt collector will try to get you to pay anyway.”This debt appears in several forms:Debt you’ve already paid offDebt that’s outlived its statute of limitationsDebt discharged in bankruptcyDebt that wasn’t yours to begin with, but was assigned to you because of an administrative mistake or through identity theftThe economics behind zombie debt are pretty straightforward and, unfortunately, not in your favor. Collection agencies buy this debt for pennies on the dollar, hoping to get consumers to pay even when they’re not technically on the hook for it (e.g., legally discharged debt). These agencies are betting that enough people won’t know their rights, which pushes the math in the collector’s favor.Why waiting out debt usually backfiresIgnoring debt creates a false sense of security that the debt is “gone-gone.” Believing a debt disappearing from your credit report means you’re no longer at risk for collection is one of the most common — and costly — misunderstandings in personal finance.And here’s the (perfectly legal) trap. Collectors aren’t necessarily required to tell you that your debt is past the point where they can legally sue you for it. Note that in most states, it’s legal for debt collectors to contact you and attempt to collect payment for time-sensitive debts. It’s only illegal for them to sue you over it.Most people aren’t aware of this distinction. A collector can call, write, and pressure you for money on a debt with zero legal weight behind it, and unless you knew to ask, you’d never know the difference.Asking matters more than nearly any action you could take, but it’s where the worst mistake of all happens. If you make any gesture toward an old debt — even something as small as a $25 good-faith payment — you can restart the statute of limitations clock. Depending on your state, paying even a tiny amount (or merely acknowledging the debt as yours) can revive a debt that was otherwise legally dead. Now the collector has a fresh window to sue you for the full amount.Why pressure tactics work well on older adultsHere’s a scary statistic. According to Ramsey Solutions, 56% of consumer complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were about collectors attempting to collect a debt the consumer doesn’t owe.Debt collectors rarely lead with patience and paperwork because urgency and fear are more effective. Braier said that common tactics they employ include:Repeated callsThreatening or legal-sounding language (e.g., “We will sue you,” “This is your final notice.”)A tone calibrated to make you think the only option is to act immediatelyBut that urgency is the whole manipulative point, pushing people to make quick decisions before they can pause, research their rights, or ask someone for advice. Unscrupulous collectors will misrepresent themselves, pretending to be someone they’re not, like a lawyer, specifically to scare people into paying, said Munster. While it’s illegal under federal law, these collectors may threaten to arrest people for not paying. This threat has zero legal basis.Then there’s the manipulative tactic of dangling a small, “easy” resolution of a promise (very much false) that a modest payment will stop the harassment. Or another false claim that paying will keep the debt off your credit report.  The combination of stress, repetition, and false urgency hits older adults hard. There’s a documented pattern of higher stress responses among elderly consumers to this kind of pressure. It’s often paired with a lower familiarity with newer consumer protections enacted specifically to guard against these tactics.Collectors also lean into a different kind of false urgency with older people. They’ll imply that the creditor could seize a bank account or Social Security benefits. In reality, those protections are far more robust, and the legal process far more limited than many people realize.The Fair Debt Collection Practices ActThe good news is that Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which governs what debt collectors can and cannot do. Munster said it includes a few concrete steps you can take to protect yourself:Never (ever!) agree to a payment over the phone. Some states permit a verbal “sure, I can pay something” to restart the clock. Also, you don’t get a paper trail, which is important to have.Ask for debt validation in writing. Before you do or say anything else, request that the collector send you written proof of what they say you owe, the original creditor’s name, and confirmation that the debt is yours and within your state’s statute of limitations.Dispute the debt in writing within 30 days. If you believe the debt inaccurate (or not even yours), you have a 30-day window to dispute it formally. Once you mail your dispute, the collector must legally pause collection efforts until they’ve provided validation.Send a cease-and-desist letter (if necessary). Once a collector receives this letter, they’re typically required to stop contacting you. Narrow exceptions include confirming their intent to comply or notifying you of a specific further action, like a lawsuit.Knowing the statute of limitations applicable to your specific debt and state is a key piece of information you should have before you respond to a collector’s call.What to do if a debt collector contacts youIf an old debt resurfaces, the instinct to panic and pay — or ignore it and hope it goes away — is understandable but risky. Braier suggests this strategy:Don’t confirm anything on the spot. Don’t verify your identity, address, or any account details over the phone with someone who called you first.Request written validation before any conversation about payment. Make the collector prove the debt is real, accurate, and still legally enforceable in your state.Check your state’s statute of limitations before agreeing to anything, including a payment plan, settlement, or verbal acknowledgment that the debt is yours.Put everything in writing, and keep records of every letter, call, and date.If you determine that the debt is legitimate and enforceable, you can choose to pay it. Do so in writing and with full knowledge of what the payment means for your legal exposure going forward.The bottom lineZombie debt is dangerous because it takes advantage of the widespread misunderstanding that all you need is time to wipe your credit report and statute of limitations clear. Time’s passage doesn’t automatically remove your legal exposure, and the only way to know the difference is to check, ask, and get it in writing before you do anything else, including grabbing your wallet.This story written for TheStreet by Nifty 50+

While markets data shows that the global market for dining out is projected to grow from $1.9 trillion now to more than $3 trillion by 2030, many individual chains that were popular in another era are struggling to survive amid changing consumer trends.U.S. chains like Smokey Bones, Peet’s Coffee, and Joe’s Crab Shack have collectively closed dozens of locations this year while, over in the United Kingdom, Leon and The Real Greek both nearly halved their store locations in 2026 despite once going through a period of rapid expansion that made them well-recognized chains in the country’s major cities.With the first location opening in the Greater London borough of Enfield in 1974, the restaurant chain Beefeater has over several generations earned a reputation for being a family-friendly steakhouse chain serving grilled steak cuts, burgers and fish and chips at more accessible prices.Beefeater to shut 106 restaurant locations across the UKThe chain had, at its peak, approximately 140 standalone and Brewers Fayre brewery-attached locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland but amid soaring operating costs the hotel and dining company Whitbread confirmed plans to shutter all remaining 106 restaurants by September.Earlier in the year, Whitbread announced a restructuring plan that aims to bring down annual costs down costs by £250 million ($333 million USD). The company’s largest holding is the hotel chain Premier Inn; the current strategy is to convert some locations into hotel rooms and others into integrated unbranded hotel restaurants. Still other locations will be sold for what the company estimates will free up £1.5 billion ($2 billion USD).Related: The latest wave of Italian restaurants has come to NYC”As you may have seen, we have recently announced changes to our business, which is resulting in the closure of our Branded Restaurants,” Whitbread said in a statement on the location closures. “This means that on Thursday 10 September 2026 your local Beefeater and all other UK Beefeaters will close.”For customers who collected points through repeated visits, the Beefeater loyalty scheme will be shut down by Aug. 31.

Beefeater sold several steak cuts in a family-friendly setting.Shutterstock

“We recognize the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites”: Whitehead on Beefeater closuresApproximately 3,800 employees have been registered as working for Beefeater as of 2026; while Whitbread said that some of these workers will be able to transfer to jobs with the hospitality portfolio and new hotel restaurants, it also acknowledged that the extensive closures will result in significant job losses.More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in the BahamasUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri Lanka”We recognise [UK spelling] the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites,” the letter sent to Beefeater rewards members reads further. “As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.”In operation for 54 years, Beefeater also held nostalgic connotations for many Brits who remembered going there for family outings or special occasions in a smaller town.”Until I went to university the only restaurant I’d ever been to was a Beefeater,” one woman wrote of the closures on the social media platform Reddit. “We’d go for various family birthdays. I absolutely loved it.”Related: 16-year-old chain restaurant quietly closes four locations

A well-funded retirement portfolio, decades of maximum contributions, and a carefully timed Social Security claiming strategy can provide a strong financial foundation. One expense, though, has the power to permanently drain a nest egg, and the vast majority of retirees never budget for it. In a recent Schwab retirement planning article, one of the firm’s wealth advisors identified a single cost as a bigger threat to retirement security than market volatility, inflation, or rising tax bills. The warning focused on an expense Medicare explicitly refuses to cover, one that can stretch across several years and compound with each passing month. For Americans nearing retirement, Schwab’s data indicates the exposure is large enough to shape planning decisions. Schwab identifies long-term care as retirement’s top financial threatKate Goesel, a senior manager for Schwab Wealth Advisory in Chicago, named extended custodial care as the answer. Goesel told Schwab that prolonged help with basic daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and eating poses the greatest financial danger to retirees.”The biggest derailer of retirement by far is long-term care,” Goesel said. “Even those with substantial retirement savings can be caught short by end-of-life expenses.”Women require long-term care for an average of 3.6 years, while men typically need it for about 2.5 years, according to a 2022 research brief from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).The median annual cost of a private room in a skilled nursing facility reached $129,575 in 2025, the CareScout Cost of Care Survey confirmed.Medicare, which most retirees treat as their primary health coverage, does not pay for ongoing custodial care under any of its standard benefit programs, Medicare.gov reported. Part A covers skilled nursing stays only after a qualifying three-day inpatient hospital admission, fully pays days 1–20, requires daily coinsurance for days 21–100, and pays nothing after day 100 in each benefit period. What five years of nursing home care could cost retireesAbout 70% of adults who reach age 65 will eventually need some form of long-term care assistance, the Department of Health and Human Services estimated. About one in five 65-year-olds will need long-term services and support for more than five years, the HHS/ASPE research brief found. More Retirement:Vanguard drops playbook on retirement incomeVanguard warns workers losing thousands in 401(k)sFidelity’s wake-up call on Social Security, IRAs, and 401(k)sThe projected 2026 median cost for a single private nursing home room runs approximately $11,122 per month, the CareScout 2026 projection showed. A five-year stay at that rate would total roughly $667,000, a sum large enough to deplete the vast majority of retirement accounts entirely.Even less intensive care options carry serious price tags that compound over a prolonged period into six-figure totals for most families. A nonmedical home caregiver working 40 hours per week costs about $6,250 per month at 2026 median rates, Schwab’s report noted.

Five years of nursing home care could exceed $667,000, exposing the long-term care costs many retirees fail to plan for.AnnaStills/Getty Images

Three paths to funding long-term care in retirementFinancial planners point to three primary routes for covering potential long-term care expenses: traditional long-term care insurance, hybrid life insurance policies, and self-insuring, and each has distinct trade-offs for retirees and pre-retirees.The first path is a stand-alone long-term care insurance policy. In 2025, the average annual premium for a $165,000-benefit policy without inflation protection was $950 for a 55-year-old single man and $1,500 for a 55-year-old single woman. Policies with inflation protection cost two to four times as much, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.The second path is a hybrid life insurance policy that bundles a death benefit with long-term care coverage and, unlike stand-alone long-term care policies, typically carries premiums that do not rise once the policy is issued. These products allow policyholders to redirect a lump sum into coverage that pays for care or delivers a death benefit if care is never needed.The third path is self-insuring, where retirees set aside a dedicated portion of their portfolio specifically to cover potential extended care.Health savings account balances can help cover long-term care costs tax-freeJoseph Reyes, a senior financial planner at Schwab, called health savings accounts a critical tool for covering retirement health care expenses. Contributions to a health savings account can reduce taxable income by up to $4,400 for individual coverage and $8,750 for family coverage in the 2026 tax year, the IRS confirmed.Those funds grow tax-free, and withdrawals used for qualified medical expenses, including Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, incur no federal tax.HSA balances can also be used to pay long-term care insurance premiums, giving retirees a tax-advantaged vehicle to cover both current medical costs and future care expenses, Schwab noted. Reyes said the tax treatment of HSAs makes them one of the most efficient vehicles retirees have for offsetting long-term care costs, with the added benefit of passing unused funds to heirs.The math here is powerful. And any money left behind in your HSA can be handed down to your beneficiaries.Unlike traditional retirement accounts, health savings accounts face no required minimum distributions, which allows the balance to grow untouched for decades if needed. Earlier long-term care planning gives retirees lower premiums and more options.Schwab’s planning guidance recommends that pre-retirees explore long-term care coverage several years before they might need it, ideally between ages 55 and 60, when applicants are more likely to qualify for the best rates, according to the firm’s retirement planning article.Applicants who develop a chronic condition before purchasing coverage face sharply higher premiums or outright denial, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance confirmed.Younger and healthier applicants tend to qualify for lower annual premiums, though carriers can still request rate increases on policies, with state approval, Schwab noted.Related: Charles Schwab warns of a dangerous blind spot in your 401(k)

Michael Burry built his reputation calling the 2008 housing crash, a trade immortalized in “The Big Short.” Since then, Wall Street has watched every new position he takes, even when his timing has occasionally run ahead of the market by months or years.This summer, Burry loaded up on bearish bets across some of the market’s most crowded AI-linked trades, spanning electric vehicles, heavy industry and semiconductors. A month later, the market pullback he seemed to be waiting for has actually shown up, and his scorecard is starting to fill in.How Burry’s Tesla and Caterpillar short positions are performingBurry’s short positions on Tesla and Caterpillar have moved sharply in his favor during July’s broader market pullback, CNBC reported on July 24. Burry disclosed in late June that he shorted Tesla at $416.22 a share. Caterpillar, meanwhile, has slid about 16% this month to $894.54 from the $1,060.98 level where Burry entered his short.Tesla’s drop isn’t just about Burry. The company’s second quarter 2026 earnings missed badly. EPS came in at $0.33 against analyst estimates of $0.51, CNBC reported, sending the stock sharply lower after the print. Burry said he hasn’t covered the short. “It gets smaller all on its own,” he wrote.More Tesla:Tesla merger with SpaceX won’t save investors, top analyst saysTesla stock gets a surprising SpaceX resetTesla’s $1.4 trillion valuation rests on what happens next in one cityFour of the five publicly disclosed trades in Burry’s basket have now turned in his favor. Along with Tesla and Caterpillar, a semiconductor ETF and Applied Materials have both fallen from the position where he shorted them. Nvidia is the outlier, climbing instead of falling, a reminder that even a well-timed short book rarely sweeps every position.Burry disclosed the trades through his Substack newsletter, Cassandra Unchained, rather than waiting on a quarterly 13F filing. That real-time disclosure is part of what has made his positioning so closely watched this year, since traders can react to his moves within hours instead of months.Why Burry’s Nvidia and semiconductor ETF bets are complicatedBurry’s chip-related bets have produced the messiest results of the group. He shorted the iShares Semiconductor ETF, ticker SOXX, at $642.80. The fund’s net asset value stood at $640.65 on June 30, near the top of its 52-week range, with a year-to-date return of 113%, as TheStreet reported. That kind of run is exactly the setup Burry tends to target.Applied Materials has fallen, dropping from Burry’s $729.40 entry to roughly $562.80, a decline of more than 20%, Benzinga reported. That move lined up with Burry’s argument that semiconductor valuations had climbed too far, even as the underlying companies kept reporting strong numbers.Nvidia is where the thesis has not worked. Burry shorted the stock at $198.09, and shares instead climbed past $210, where he increased his position on July 24, CNBC reported. “I continue to hold puts in good size,” he said. “I believe much of current and future demand is not driven by end customers, end demand. Much and possibly most is financed, off-balance sheet and not lit.” Nvidia’s sales rose roughly 85% year-over-year in its most recent quarter, underscoring why betting against the chip leaders carries real risk.Burry has been building this basket into July as well. On July 24, he disclosed initiating a short in Micron at $933.86, according to CNBC, after the stock had already climbed sharply over the prior year.

Tesla remains the riskier side of the trade, even with the stock lower than where Burry entered.Astrid/Getty Images

Why Burry shorted Caterpillar stock for the first time everCaterpillar stands out because Burry has almost never bet against it before. “Caterpillar jumped out at me. I have never shorted Caterpillar,” he wrote in the Substack post disclosing the trade, according to TheStreet. He had long owned the stock on the long side and described it as reliably profitable.Caterpillar’s Q1 2026 sales and revenues reached about $17.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year. Operating cash flow was $1.9 billion. The company deployed $5.7 billion toward buybacks and dividends in that single quarter and had a record order backlog. The CEO called it “robust order activity” on the earnings call, Fortune reported.Much of that strength traces back to Caterpillar’s unlikely second act as an AI infrastructure supplier. Its Energy and Transportation division, which makes the large engines and turbines used in data centers, saw sales climb 17% to $8.4 billion in a recent quarter, as electricity demand from AI computing pushed customers toward Caterpillar’s generators.Burry is not betting that the business is broken. He is betting that a 48.1 times trailing price-to-earnings multiple has priced in more AI infrastructure than the cycle can sustain, especially if data center construction eventually slows.What Burry’s short positions mean for stock market investorsTesla remains the riskier side of the trade, even with the stock lower than where Burry entered. Elon Musk’s fan base is large and the company has a habit of producing surprises. From robotaxi updates to the new Optimus robot, Tesla has squeezed bearish positions before, and a single announcement could erase weeks of gains for bears.Burry’s own track record cuts both ways too. He called Tesla a bubble in 2021, was mocked by Musk as a “broken clock,” and only looked right after a long delay, as TheStreet reported. The pattern suggests he tends to get the diagnosis right before the timing actually works.For now, the July pullback has done what months of warnings could not, giving Burry’s basket real numbers to point to instead of just a thesis. Whether that continues likely depends on how the next round of earnings from Tesla, Caterpillar and the broader AI supply chain land in the weeks ahead, and on whether hyperscaler spending plans hold up under closer scrutiny.Related: Michael Burry sends strong warning on AI development path

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 dealWhen it comes to storage in your home, a lot of times you’re thinking about long-term use. Seasonal clothes swap out of bins when the weather starts to change, holiday decor comes out for a handful of months before returning to its rightful place, and treasured keepsakes stay nice and tucked away almost 24/7 to keep their quality intact. But there are lots of instances where you need a temporary storage fix, for occasions as big as a weekend trip away or as mundane as a trek to the grocery store, where you need help staying organized without the longevity of a bin or container. That’s where adaptable products like the Clevermade Collapsible Storage Bins come in.Designed to help you when you need storage and easily stored away when you aren’t using them, the Clevermade Collapsible Storage Bins are the adaptable storage solution that helps keep your essentials tidy but doesn’t take up space when it’s not being used. During the latest Walmart deal, the $55 pack of three is on sale for 49% off, saving you $27 and making it easy to keep the everyday chaos to a minimum when you need some extra help. Clevermade Collapsible Storage Bins, $28 (was $55) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?These collapsible bins are made with a sturdy but flexible recycled plastic material that can be flattened and crushed down when they aren’t in use. When compressed, they measure about 2.75 inches high, but when expanded, each bin measures 18.63 inches long, 13.75 inches wide, and 9.25 inches high with 8 gallons of storage space per bin. Don’t let the compression feature make you think these bins aren’t sturdy. They’re durable enough to hold your heavy groceries and travel essentials with a weight capacity of 66 pounds per bin. Unlike your standard storage bin, which can be bulky and dig into your hands when you carry it, these collapsible bins are a great space-saving solution that’s more comfortable to carry via the handles thanks to their pliability. Perfect for basement and garage storage, car storage, or dorm room organization, these heavy-duty bins keep your space tidy without taking up too much room. When they get dirty, they are easy to clean with a quick wipe-down or rinse with water. Related: Practical storage cabinets to declutter every room in your homeDetails to knowDimensions: Each bin measures 18.63 inches long, 13.75 inches wide, and 9.25 inches high. When collapsed, the bin measures 2.75 inches high.Material: Recycled plastic.Weight capacity: 66 pounds per bin.  Space: Each bin provides 8 gallons of storage space.  These “easy to use, easy to store” bins are the perfect temporary storage space, and they provide enough weight and stability for all sorts of storage purposes. “I use these all the time,” one shopper said. “Perfect for trips to the grocery store to keep stuff from rolling around in the back.”Shop more deals Anywish 17-Quart Clear Storage Bins 6-Pack, $60 (was $75) at WalmartAgali Large Space Vacuum Storage Bags 10-Pack, $19 (was $32) at WalmartTaimasi Pull-Out 3-Tier Under Sink Organizers, $29 (was $47) at WalmartYour storage products shouldn’t cause you more stress, and with the Clevermade Collapsible Storage Bins, you have three useful bins that are helpful for carrying heavy items but can quickly be compressed for easy storage themselves.

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 dealPatio sets literally come in all shapes and sizes. From large multi-piece sectionals to individual rocking chairs, outdoor furniture can serve almost any purpose you need. One of the most convenient options we’ve seen in a while comes in the form of a basic three-piece set that’s currently on sale at Walmart. It works just as well as part of a larger patio setup as it does as a standalone piece for those with a small balcony or mini patio. Check out this deal now, since there’s no telling how long the current discount will last.The Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set is on sale at Walmart for 36% off and is available for only $77 right now. If you’re in the market for a beautiful, no-nonsense patio set that doesn’t cost a fortune, then this is the set, and now is the time to buy.Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set, $77 (was $120) at Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?This patio set is all about doing more with less. It includes two standalone chairs and a small end table. The chairs are upholstered with comfortable and attractive textilene fabric. Textilene is a thin, breathable textile that looks sleek and modern while providing the perfect level of support for your back and legs. The small bistro-style table has a tempered glass top that is both shatter-resistant and weatherproof. It’s a great accent piece that complements the chairs aesthetically while offering a great spot to keep drinks, snacks, or even your reading material. The entire set is constructed from powder-coated stainless steel. It’s durable and rustproof, making it a terrific option for year-round outdoor use. What’s more, the high armrests and slightly reclined seat backs give the chairs a comfortable ergonomic design that feels as good as it looks. Speaking of looks, the deep matte black steel next to the dark gray textilene fabric gives the entire set a modern look that fits great in almost any setting imaginable. While intended for outdoor use, we can even imagine this set looking wonderful in a living room as well.While assembly is required, the set comes with all the tools you’ll need as well as easy-to-follow instructions. Buyers shared that the assembly was relatively quick and hassle-free, with multiple customers calling the set “easy to put together.” Related: Amazon has a cushioned 3-piece patio set for just $50Details to knowChair dimensions:  24 inches long by 22.5 inches wide by 30 inches high.Table Dimensions: 19.2 inches long by 19.2 inches wide by 19.2 inches high.Furniture material: Powder-coated stainless steel.Upholstery material: Breathable textilene fabric.Walmart customers were very happy with this set. One shared that “the style, the price, and the sturdiness of the set is awesome…Will be ordering another set soon…The seating is comfortable and spacious.”Shop more deals Devoko 3-Piece Rattan Rocking Chair Patio Set, $122 (was $240) at WalmartTechmilly 3-Piece Patio Set, $180 at WalmartGymax 3-Piece Rattan Outdoor Patio Set, $176 at WalmartIf you want a patio set that’s both breathable and beautiful, then the Vineego Modern 3-Piece Patio Set is for you. At just $77, you won’t find a better patio set anywhere. That said, don’t rest on your laurels, as it’s likely to sell quickly while it’s so deeply discounted. Buy now, or forever hold your peace.