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This Week in Finance News: 11 Stories You Need to See

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A roundup of the most newsworthy financial press releases from PR Newswire this week, including the future of insurance, Jackson Hewitt’s tax season preparations and consumers’ perception of AI while shopping.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help finance journalists and consumers stay on top of the week’s most newsworthy and popular releases, here’s a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn’t be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Prosperity or catastrophe: #Insurance2040 study reveals four possible futures for the industry
By 2040, technological innovation driven by customer centricity could pave the way to greater climate resilience and more personalized offerings by the insurance industry. Alternatively, insurance could become a luxury afforded only to the wealthiest few.Cardinal Health announces two strategic additions to its portfolio
Cardinal Health will acquire a majority stake in GI Alliance (GIA), the country’s leading gastroenterology (GI) management services organization (MSO), from a combination of GIA physician owners and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo. Cardinal Health will also acquire the Advanced Diabetes Supply Group (ADSG), one of the country’s leading diabetic medical supplies providers, for approximately $1.1 billion in cash.BlackRock Launches New BUIDL Share Classes Across Multiple Blockchains to Expand Access and Potential of BUIDL Ecosystem
This initiative represents the next step in the evolution of the tokenization market, by enabling BUIDL to be used within leading blockchain-based financial products and infrastructure across ecosystems.Primo Brands Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Merger of Primo Water and BlueTriton Brands
“I believe Primo Brands is positioned to be a leader in the healthy hydration beverage category, thanks to the strength of its iconic, sustainably-sourced brands, its robust operations and extensive North American network, and its responsible operation of numerous springs across the country,” said Dean Metropoulos, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Primo Brands.Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Expands Workforce, Offering Job Opportunities Nationwide for Upcoming Tax Filing Season
The week-long event will launch the combined hiring of 18,000 employees to prepare for the upcoming tax filing season. The Jackson Hewitt hiring events are open to the public and include on-site interviews. Qualified candidates could receive a job offer immediately.PNC Bank to Double Planned Branch Openings to More Than 200 Across Six States This announcement brings the bank’s total investment to approximately $1.5 billion to open more than 200 new branch locations in 12 cities across the U.S. over the next five years, while completing the renovations of 1,400 existing branches during the same time period.Alchemy Pay Expands Virtual Card Functionality with Google Pay Support The new card BINs added will significantly enhance the capabilities of crypto cards, expanding their support for a broader range of payment scenarios and improving transaction success rates. This advancement is particularly impactful when paired with Google Pay, one of the most popular and widely used digital payment platforms, trusted by millions for its convenience and security.Finaya Unveils Nationwide Homeownership Platform
From providing rich and current information about home values and property conditions, to finding helpful repair and remodeling providers, to shopping for and securing the right insurance, the platform simplifies the homeownership process, making it more accessible, convenient and efficient. GenAI predicted to inspire revenue growth in 76% of businesses, but only 4% qualify as “leaders” in AI and analytics
Kearney’s report confirms that businesses are not only aware of how big data, AI, and analytics will impact revenue generation and enhance business strategies, but they are investing to stay ahead of the curve, too.GameAbove Sports Acquires Meaningful Ownership Stake in Brisbane Bullets with NBA Legend George Gervin as Part of Ownership Team
This move marks a significant milestone for GameAbove Sports, a CapStone Holdings Inc. company, as it expands its influence on international basketball ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.Most US shoppers are encountering generative AI while shopping without realizing it
A survey of 700 online shoppers in the US shows 71% are unaware of having used generative AI while shopping online even though most had recently shopped at retailers currently using it. 41% of customers say they would feel comfortable using a generative AI tool from a brand they trust.

For more news like this, check out all of the latest finance-related releases from PR Newswire.

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Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they’re signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger’s next story.Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles.Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

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PR Newswire is the industry’s leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

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Verda and Compal Announce Partnership to Accelerate AI Infrastructure Development and Expansion

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TAIPEI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Compal Electronics (Compal; TWSE: 2324) and Verda, the Helsinki-headquartered European AI cloud provider, purpose-built for the demands of frontier model training and agentic inference, today announced a strategic partnership under which Compal will supply next-generation GPU server systems to accelerate the build-out of its next-generation AI infrastructure across Europe and the APAC region.

Under this collaboration, Compal will supply high-density, liquid-cooled AI server platforms. The platforms are engineered for the workloads defining the next wave of AI: agentic applications that process extensive context and operate at high concurrency, while maintaining the thermal efficiency required for Verda’s sustainable cloud deployments.

The partnership underlines the growing global traction for Verda’s services as well as Compal’s growing role as an infrastructure partner to neocloud operators addressing rising demand for localized AI compute. As enterprises and governments increasingly prioritize data residency, security, and regulatory compliance, neocloud providers like Verda are emerging as key enablers of Sovereign AI strategies.

“Verda’s platform reflects where AI infrastructure demand is heading—toward regional, high-performance, and energy-efficient deployments,” said Alan Chang, Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions Business Group (ISBG) at Compal. “This collaboration demonstrates our ability to deliver advanced AI systems at scale for customers building the next generation of AI clouds.”

“Our mission is to build the next generation of cloud infrastructure for AI and empower pioneering teams across the globe. Working with Compal helps us deliver with world-class quality and reliability, and is an important step in our plans to expand our presence in the APAC region. We’re excited about what’s ahead,” said Jorge Santos, Chief Operating Officer at Verda.

Compal brings deep engineering expertise in accelerated computing, advanced thermal design, and system integration, enabling customers to deploy AI infrastructure efficiently while managing power density and operational complexity. To support global AI deployments, Compal continues to expand its manufacturing footprint across Taiwan, Vietnam, and the United States, strengthening supply-chain resilience and aligning production capacity with regional customer requirements.

About Compal
Established in 1984, Compal has grown into a leading global manufacturer of computers and smart devices, partnering with top-tier brands worldwide. Compal was recognized by CommonWealth Magazine as one of Taiwan’s top 7 manufacturers and has consistently ranked among the Forbes Global 2000 companies. Compal has actively expanded into new growth areas, including cloud servers, automotive electronics, smart medical and healthcare, and advanced communication solutions. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Compal operates design and production facilities in the United States, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, and Poland. Learn more at https://www.compal.com

About Verda
Verda (formerly DataCrunch) is a European AI cloud provider operating high-density GPU data centers across Europe, delivering on-demand compute for training and inference at scale. Headquartered in Finland, Verda runs infrastructure powered by renewable energy and serves frontier AI labs, research teams and startups building the next generation of models. Learn more at https://verda.com

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SOURCE COMPAL ELECTRONICS,INC.

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Mastercard and Yellow Card Partner to Unlock Stablecoin Payment Innovation Across EEMEA

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The two companies will explore innovative real-world use cases for stablecoin-enabled payments including strengthening digital asset payment security with Mastercard Crypto Credential

JOHANNESBURG and NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mastercard and Yellow Card, a licensed stablecoin infrastructure provider operating primarily across Africa, with additional capabilities in select emerging markets, have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate stablecoin-enabled payment innovation across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), with plans for global expansion.

The collaboration will explore breakthrough applications for stablecoin payments across four key verticals: cross-border remittances, B2B settlement, digital loyalty ecosystems, and treasury management. Both companies will work with banks, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies to pilot secure, compliant stablecoin solutions that enhance payment efficiency and reduce costs for businesses and consumers.

The alliance will establish joint working groups to identify high-impact use cases, and create interoperable solutions for banks and financial institutions in the Mastercard network that bridge traditional finance with blockchain-powered payments. Initial focus markets include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Emerging markets represent the greatest opportunity for payment innovation, but success requires deep local expertise and regulatory navigation,” said Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card. “We bring years of experience building compliant stablecoin infrastructure where traditional banking falls short. Mastercard’s global network amplifies these capabilities, allowing us to serve businesses and consumers who need better, more affordable ways to move money across borders,” added Mr. Maurice.

Stablecoins are an exciting and useful option for some payments, and we look forward to working on additional use cases with Yellow Card, while continuing to leverage Mastercard’s expertise to make stablecoins seamless and secure. Together we look forward to taking digital finance into a new sphere, unlocking new efficiencies in cross-border trade, business-to-business settlements, and digital asset security, to generate a wide-ranging positive impact across the financial ecosystem,” said Mete Güney, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

The partnership builds on Mastercard’s expanding blockchain ecosystem and Yellow Card’s proven track record as one of Africa’s leading licensed stablecoin operators, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to utility-focused digital asset innovation. As stablecoins gain regulatory clarity and institutional adoption across emerging markets, the collaboration positions both partners at the forefront of secure, scalable digital payment solutions that bridge traditional finance with blockchain technology.

About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

About Yellow Card
Yellow Card is one of the largest licensed stablecoin-based infrastructure providers with capabilities in 20 African countries and major emerging markets. From Stablecoin payment infrastructure to fiat settlement rails, wallet services, and custom local Stablecoin issuance, Yellow Card provides the complete à-la-carte infrastructure businesses need to manage Stablecoins, payments, and operations across emerging markets.

https://yellowcard.io/

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Chunghwa Telecom Reports Un-Audited Consolidated Operating Results for the First Quarter of 2026

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TAIPEI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (TAIEX: 2412, NYSE: CHT) (“Chunghwa” or “the Company”) today reported its un-audited operating results for the first quarter of 2026. All figures were prepared in accordance with Taiwan-International Financial Reporting Standards (“T-IFRSs”) on a consolidated basis.

(Comparisons throughout the press release, unless otherwise stated, are made with regard to the prior year period.)

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights

Total revenue increased by 7.5% to NT$ 59.99 billion.Consumer Business Group revenue increased by 6.2% to NT$ 36.73 billion.Enterprise Business Group revenue increased by 8.5% to NT$ 18.81 billion.International Business Group revenue increased by 10.7% to NT$ 2.70 billion.Total operating costs and expenses increased by 8.3% to NT$ 46.89 billion.Operating income increased by 4.6% to NT$ 13.10 billion.EBITDA increased by 3.4% to NT$ 23.30 billion.Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent increased by 3.2% to NT$ 10.11 billion.Basic earnings per share (EPS) was NT$1.30.Total revenue, operating income, net income attributable to stockholders of the parent, and EPS all exceeded the high-end target of quarterly guidance.

“We began 2026 with a strong start, delivering financial performance across revenue, operating income, net income attributable to stockholders of the parent and EPS all exceeding our quarterly forecasts. Moreover, revenue reached a first-quarter record, the highest since 2012. These results reflect the continued strength of our business momentum,” said Mr. Chih‑Cheng Chien, Chairman and CEO of Chunghwa Telecom.

“This performance was primarily driven by robust growth in our ICT business, where both recurring revenue and order intake reached new highs. Our ICT revenue grew significantly year over year, supported by strong demand across key areas such as IDC, cloud, and AIoT services, underscoring our success in capturing emerging digital and AI-driven opportunities,” said Mr. Rong-Shy Lin, President of Chunghwa Telecom.

“Our mobile and broadband businesses also continued to deliver stable growth, benefiting from escalating 5G penetration and ongoing improvements in ARPU. Notably, our four value-added services all exceeded their remarkable million-subscriber thresholds, demonstrating our success in delivering value to users. These results reflect not only the resilience of our core operations, but also the effectiveness of our long-term strategy to balance stable cash-generating businesses with high-growth digital initiatives,” Mr. Lin continued.

“We are committed to advancing our 6G transition and AI-powered future. Our phased 5G standalone deployment is strengthening networking founding by targeting services in select verticals and high-traffic commercial districts for the 6G era,” Mr. Lin added. “Meanwhile, by building ‘CHT AI Factory platform’ to integrate our DeepFlow solutions, compute power, AI models and agents, we offer AI-enabled applications to customers and accelerate AI-related revenue growth in 2026. Alongside our technology advancements, ESG remains a core pillar of our long‑term strategy. We are confident in our ability to achieve sustainable growth and create long‑term value for our shareholders.”

Revenue

Chunghwa Telecom’s total revenues for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 7.5% to NT$ 59.99 billion.

Consumer Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 6.2% Year-over-year to NT$ 36.73 billion and income before tax increased by 5.3% year-over-year, supported by steady increases in core telecom business and strong iPhone demands.

Enterprise Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased 8.5% year-over-year to NT$ 18.81 billion, driven by robust ICT growth, while pre-tax profit declined 2.7% due to fixed voice service decrease. Notably, ICT order intake hit a quarterly record-high, led by network resilience, anti-fraud initiatives, and large projects for national fiscal and public surveillance systems, underpinning future growth momentum.

International Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 10.7% to NT$ 2.70 billion and income before tax increased by 1.6% year-over-year, driven by rising demand for ICT services and stronger roaming revenue. In addition, we expanded investment in the AUG-East submarine cable this quarter, boosting Taiwan to Japan and Taiwan to Singapore bandwidth to 18+ Tbps, supporting international business growth.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Total operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 8.3% to NT$ 46.89 billion, mainly due to higher costs associated with growth in sales and ICT project revenue, as well as an increase in personnel expenses.

Operating Income and Net Income

Operating income for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 4.6% to NT$ 13.10 billion. The operating margin was 21.75%, as compared to 22.44% in the same period of 2025. Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent increased by 3.2% to NT$ 10.11 billion. Basic earnings per share was NT$1.30.

Cash Flow and EBITDA

Cash flow from operating activities, as of March 31st, 2026, decreased by 13.6% year over year to NT$ 11.19 billion.

Cash and cash equivalents, as of March 31st, 2026, increased by 20.8% to NT$ 35.10 billion as compared to that as of March 31st, 2025.

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2026 was NT$ 23.30 billion, increased by 3.4% year over year. EBITDA margin was 38.85%, as compared to 40.37% in the same period of 2025.

Business Highlights

Mobile

As of March 31st, 2026, Chunghwa Telecom had 13.34 million mobile subscribers, representing a 1.7% year-over-year increase. In the first quarter, total mobile service revenue increased by 4.4% to NT$ 17.70 billion, while mobile post-paid ARPU excluding IoT SIMs grew 3.6% year over year to NT$ 573.

Fixed Broadband/HiNet

As of March 31st, 2026, the number of broadband subscribers slightly increased by 0.5% to 4.45 million. The number of HiNet broadband subscribers increased by 1.4% to 3.80 million. In the first quarter, total fixed broadband revenue grew 3.0% year over year to NT$ 11.81 billion, while ARPU increased 2.5% to NT$ 818.

Fixed line

As of March 31st, 2026, the number of fixed-line subscribers was 8.57 million.

Financial Statements

Financial statements and additional operational data can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.cht.com.tw/en/home/cht/investors/financials/quarterly-earnings

NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Chunghwa’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from those statements as a result of a number of factors including, but not limited to the risks outlined in Chunghwa’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms F-1, F-3, 6-K and 20-F, in each case as amended. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current belief of Chunghwa as of the date of this press release and Chunghwa undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date, except as required under applicable law.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer or selling security holder and that will contain detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards pursuant to the requirements of the Financial Supervisory Commission, or T-IFRSs, Chunghwa Telecom also provides EBITDA, which is a “non-GAAP financial measure”. EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income (loss) excluding (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) total net comprehensive financing cost (which is comprised of net interest expense, exchange gain or loss, monetary position gain or loss and other financing costs and derivative transactions), (iii) other income, net, (iv) income tax, (v) (income) loss from discontinued operations.

In managing the Company’s business, Chunghwa Telecom relies on EBITDA as a means of assessing its operating performance because it excludes the effect of (i) depreciation and amortization, which represents a non-cash charge to earnings, (ii) certain financing costs, which are significantly affected by external factors, including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and inflation rates, which have little or no bearing on our operating performance, (iii) income tax (iv) other expenses or income not related to the operation of the business. 

CAUTIONS ON USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to the consolidated financial results prepared under T-IFRSs, Chunghwa Telecom also provide non-GAAP financial measures, including “EBITDA”. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with another method for assessing its operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing operations.

Chunghwa Telecom’s management believes investors will benefit from greater transparency in referring to these non-GAAP financial measures when assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when forecasting and analyzing future periods. However, the Company recognizes that:

these non-GAAP financial measures are limited in their usefulness and should be considered only as a supplement to the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures;these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures;these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered to be superior to the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures; andthese non-GAAP financial measures were not prepared in accordance with T-IFRSs and investors should not assume that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release were prepared under a comprehensive set of rules or principle.             

Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may be unique to Chunghwa Telecom, as they may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. As such, this presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not enhance the comparability of the Company’s results to the results of other companies. Readers are cautioned not to view non-GAAP results as a substitute for results under T-IFRSs, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.

About Chunghwa Telecom

Chunghwa Telecom (TAIEX 2412, NYSE: CHT) (“Chunghwa” or “the Company”) is Taiwan’s largest integrated telecommunications services company that provides fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and internet services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services to corporate customers with its big data, information security, cloud computing and IDC capabilities, and is expanding its business into innovative technology services such as IoT, AI, etc. Chunghwa has been actively and continuously implemented environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives with the goal to achieve sustainability and has won numerous international and domestic awards and recognitions for its ESG commitments and best practices. For more information, please visit our website at www.cht.com.tw

Contact:          Angela Tsai
Phone:            +886 2 2344 5488
Email:              chtir@cht.com.tw

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SOURCE Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.

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