Business
ABC Stands Firmly by Jimmy Kimmel After Melania Trump Criticism, No Plans to Fire Him
NEW YORK — ABC is standing firmly by Jimmy Kimmel and has no plans to remove the longtime host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” despite sharp criticism from former First Lady Melania Trump, according to multiple sources familiar with the network’s internal discussions.
AFP
The network’s decision comes after Melania Trump publicly condemned Kimmel for what she described as “cruel and personal” jokes about her family during a recent monologue. In a statement released Monday, Trump called the segment “disgusting” and accused Kimmel of crossing a line by involving her young son Barron in political humor. The remarks quickly went viral, reigniting debates about the boundaries of late-night comedy and political satire.
Despite the high-profile backlash, ABC executives are reportedly unified in their support for Kimmel. Insiders say the network views the controversy as part of the rough-and-tumble nature of political comedy and has no intention of making personnel changes. “Jimmy is the face of the show and has been for nearly 20 years,” one ABC source said. “This is not the kind of thing that would ever lead to him being fired.”
Kimmel has not publicly responded to Trump’s criticism as of Tuesday. However, sources close to the host say he stands by the segment as legitimate political commentary and has no plans to apologize. The monologue in question referenced recent political developments and included jokes about the Trump family that some viewers found humorous while others deemed inappropriate.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between late-night comedy shows and conservative figures. Kimmel has long been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, frequently using his platform to mock the former president and his family. While this style has earned him a loyal audience among liberal viewers, it has also made him a frequent target of Republican criticism.
Melania Trump’s statement was unusually direct. “Jimmy Kimmel’s so-called humor is not only unfunny but deeply hurtful,” she wrote. “To target a child, especially my son, is beyond unacceptable. ABC should be ashamed for allowing this kind of content on their airwaves.”
The former first lady’s comments resonated with many Trump supporters on social media, where calls for Kimmel’s firing trended for several hours. Conservative media outlets amplified the story, framing it as another example of Hollywood’s liberal bias and disrespect toward conservative families.
ABC has remained quiet publicly but has privately reassured Kimmel of its full support. Network executives believe the controversy will likely blow over, as similar incidents in the past have not significantly impacted ratings or advertiser relationships. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remains one of ABC’s strongest late-night performers, consistently drawing millions of viewers each night.
This is not the first time Kimmel has faced backlash for his Trump-related jokes. During Donald Trump’s presidency, the host frequently clashed with the administration, leading to several high-profile feuds. Trump himself has called Kimmel “unfunny” and “overrated” on multiple occasions. The latest exchange with Melania Trump continues this pattern of tension between the late-night host and the Trump family.
Media analysts say ABC’s decision to stand by Kimmel reflects broader industry trends. Late-night shows have increasingly embraced political commentary, with hosts like Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Trevor Noah building audiences around sharp critiques of conservative politics. Networks have generally tolerated or even encouraged this approach, viewing it as key to maintaining relevance with younger viewers.
However, the strategy carries risks. Advertisers sometimes express discomfort with overly partisan content, and there is ongoing concern about alienating moderate viewers. Still, ABC appears confident that Kimmel’s strong ratings and cultural influence outweigh any temporary controversy.
Kimmel’s supporters argue that political humor has always been part of late-night television, citing legends like Johnny Carson and David Letterman who occasionally targeted sitting presidents. They contend that Melania Trump’s criticism is an attempt to police comedy rather than engage with it.
Critics, including some moderate voices, suggest Kimmel sometimes crosses into personal territory that feels mean-spirited rather than satirical. The jokes involving Barron Trump have drawn particular scrutiny, with some arguing that children of public figures deserve protection from late-night mockery.
The situation has sparked wider conversations about the role of comedy in polarized times. As America remains deeply divided, late-night hosts walk a fine line between entertainment and activism. Kimmel has never shied away from this role, often using his platform to advocate for causes like healthcare and gun control.
Looking ahead, ABC’s support for Kimmel appears solid. The network has invested heavily in the show, recently renewing Kimmel’s contract through 2028. Executives see him as a key asset in the competitive late-night landscape, where streaming and digital platforms continue to challenge traditional television.
For Melania Trump, the public statement may serve multiple purposes. It defends her family, rallies her husband’s base, and positions her as a protective mother. The former first lady has generally maintained a lower public profile than her husband but has spoken out when she feels her children are unfairly targeted.
The controversy is unlikely to damage Kimmel’s career long-term. Past spats with political figures have often boosted his visibility and ratings. However, it does highlight the increasingly personal nature of political discourse in entertainment.
As the story continues to unfold, both Kimmel and ABC will likely maintain their current positions. The host will continue his nightly show with the same sharp style that has defined his career, while the network provides quiet but firm backing.
The exchange between Melania Trump and Jimmy Kimmel serves as another chapter in the ongoing culture wars playing out across American media. In an era where comedy and politics are deeply intertwined, moments like this remind us how personal and passionate these battles can become.
For now, Jimmy Kimmel remains firmly in his chair at “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” backed by ABC and supported by his dedicated audience. The latest controversy may fade, but the larger conversation about the limits of political humor is likely here to stay.
Ursula Querette
Head of Investor Relations
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to TRATON’s Q1 2026 Results Call. My name is Ursula Querette, and I’m Head of Investor Relations at TRATON SE. With me on this call is Christian Levin, our CEO, who is dialed in from Sweden. Dr. Michael Jackstein, our CFO and CHRO, is here with me in Munich. Christian will start today’s presentation with the key results and highlights of the first quarter. Michael will then guide you through the financial performance in more detail. As always, we will conclude the call with a Q&A session open to financial analysts, investors and media representatives. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this call, including the Q&A session, will be recorded and a replay will be made available on our website later today. You can find our 3 months interim statement, which we published this morning and the slides to this call on our IR website.
Before we start, let me remind you of the disclaimer with respect to forward-looking statements on Page 3 of our presentation.
And with that, I’m handing over to Christian Levin. Christian?
Christian Levin
CEO & Chairman of the Executive Board
Thank you, Ursula, and welcome also from my side, everyone. Yes, as you saw already from our unit sales pre-release, we had a somewhat
Uttam is a growth-oriented investment analyst whose equity research primarily focuses on the technology sector. Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud software are some of the key sectors that are regularly researched and published by him. His research also focuses on other areas such as MedTech, Defense Tech, and Renewable Energy. In addition, Uttam also authors The Pragmatic Optimist Newsletter along with his wife, Amrita Roy, who is also an author on the newsletter as well as on this platform. Their newsletter gets regularly cited by leading publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, etc. Prior to publishing his research, Uttam worked in Silicon Valley, leading teams for some of the largest technology firms in the world, including Apple and Google.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
Maruti Suzuki shares jump 4% after Q4 results. What Jefferies, Goldman Sachs and HSBC recommend now
Revenue from operations for Q4FY26 rose 28% to Rs 52,449 crore, up from Rs 40,910 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. The company’s profit after tax came in below Street estimates of Rs 4,279 crore, while revenue exceeded analyst expectations of Rs 51,486 crore.
Maruti Suzuki posted its highest-ever quarterly sales at 6,76,209 units, marking an 11.8% increase from Q4 FY2024-25. Domestic sales stood at 538,994 units, while exports reached a record 137,215 units. For the full financial year FY2025-26, MSIL reported its highest-ever net profit of Rs 14,445 crore, compared with Rs 14,298 crore in the previous year.
Maruti Suzuki shares: Should you buy?
Jefferies has maintained its Hold rating on Maruti Suzuki with a target price of Rs 13,800 (7% upside). However, the brokerage flagged that Maruti Suzuki’s market share has slipped to a 13-year low amid a shift in demand toward SUVs, which remains a concern. Following the recent correction, the stock is trading at 24x FY27E PE, compared with its 10-year average of 26x. Jefferies has cut its FY27–28E EPS estimates by 9%.
Goldman Sachs has maintained its Buy rating on Maruti Suzuki with a target price of Rs 15,800. The brokerage said fourth-quarter results were broadly in line with expectations, while domestic volume growth guidance of 10% for FY27 was positive. It also noted that channel inventory remains lean at around 12 days.
It added that demand momentum remains healthy despite geopolitical concerns, while the outlook for exports is balanced despite Middle East logistics issues. Several high-demand models continue to face supply constraints.
Morgan Stanley has maintained its Overweight rating on Maruti Suzuki with a target price of Rs 17,895 and has taken a tactical buy view on the stock. The price implies an upside potential of 39% from current levels. The brokerage expects near-term outperformance over the next 30 days.It believes margins are likely to bottom out in Q1FY27 and recover thereafter. The brokerage said operating leverage, lower discounts, and a richer product mix should help support margins going forward. It also pointed out that valuations are currently below long-term averages. Morgan Stanley has assigned a 70-80% probability to its positive scenario for the stock.
HSBC has maintained its Buy rating on Maruti Suzuki with a target price of Rs 15,000. The brokerage said the company reported an in-line fourth quarter and has so far managed commodity inflation effectively. It added that management’s 10% volume growth guidance for FY27 was encouraging and reflects a resilient demand environment. HSBC also noted that valuations at 20x FY28E EPS appear reasonable, while Maruti Suzuki is expected to be a key beneficiary of the 8th Pay Commission.
Motilal Oswal has maintained its Buy rating on Maruti while cutting its target price to Rs 15,529, implying an upside potential of 20%. The brokerage said the recent GST rate cut has helped revive demand for small cars, making vehicles more affordable for price-sensitive buyers.
The firm noted that Maruti currently has a strong order backlog of 190,000 units. Supported by this pending demand and a healthy pipeline of new launches, management remains confident of delivering 10% domestic volume growth in FY27E, which is expected to support market share recovery. The brokerage believes this improvement in volumes and market share could lead to a re-rating of the stock.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
A former Labor leader has called for a sovereign wealth education fund to support universities over the long term.
My name is Zoltan Ban, I have a BA in economics. I am a personal investor with two decades of active trading experience.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AETUF, SU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
The Vedanta Group company last week said that the 550% interim dividend on a face value of Rs 2 per share will lead to a total payout of Rs 4,648 crore. Shareholders who buy the company’s shares today will likely have them credited to their demat accounts by tomorrow, as per the T+1 settlement, making them eligible for the dividend. However, investors who buy shares of the company on or after April 30 will not be eligible for the dividend as these shares will not be credited to their accounts by the record date.
This latest dividend announcement marks a continuation of Hindustan Zinc’s steady tradition of rewarding shareholders. It is important to note that only those shareholders who own the company’s shares in their demat accounts as on the record date will be eligible for dividend payment.
Hindustan Zinc dividend yield
Hindustan Zinc has announced 44 dividends since 2001 and the stock has a dividend yield of 1.6% at the current market price, according to data on Trendlyne. In FY25, the company paid interim dividends of Rs 10 (May 2024) and Rs 19 (August 2024), with prior payouts of Rs 6 and Rs 7 in the early part of FY 2023–24.
Most recently, it paid a Rs 10 interim dividend to its shareholders in June 2025. Its parent company, Vedanta, is also known for its high dividend payouts.
Hindustan Zinc Q4 earnings
The dividend announcement came along with the firm’s Q4 earnings announcement. Hindustan Zinc reported a 68% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,033 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, as compared to Rs 3,003 crore in the year ago period. The Vedanta-arm’s revenue meanwhile rose 49% YoY to Rs 13,544 crore during the quarter under review.
Hindustan Zinc is India’s largest producer of zinc, lead, and silver. The company operates fully integrated mining and smelting facilities across Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. It accounts for nearly 80% of India’s primary zinc production and is among the world’s top 10 silver producers. The company’s operations include underground mines, captive power plants, and smelting facilities, ensuring self-sufficiency in raw materials and energy.
Hindustan Zinc share price
Hindustan Zinc shares have gained around 5% in one week and more than 21% in one month. The stock has jumped 36% in one year, buoyed by the strong surge in silver prices.
The shares of the company in the longer term have jumped more than 96% in three years and over 100% in five years.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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Facade of a Taco Bell Cantina restaurant in Danville, California, Jan. 8, 2026.
Smith Collection | Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images
Yum Brands on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, fueled by another strong quarter for Taco Bell.
Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $1.50 adjusted vs. $1.38 expected
- Revenue: $2.06 billion vs. $2.04 billion expected
Yum reported first-quarter net income of $432 million, or $1.55 per share, up from $253 million, or 90 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding charges related to its strategic review of Pizza Hut and other items, the company earned $1.50 per share.
Net sales climbed 15% to $2.06 billion, lifted by higher revenue from company-owned restaurants. Last year, the company bought more than 100 Taco Bell locations across the Southeast with a goal of accelerating development and profitability.
Across Yum, global same-store sales rose 3%, driven by growth at Taco Bell, the gem of the company’s portfolio.
Taco Bell’s same-store sales increased 8%, topping Wall Street’s estimates of 5.6% growth, according to a survey by StreetAccount.
“Taco Bell delivered an outstanding 8% same-store sales growth, meaningfully ahead of the [quick-service restaurant] industry, building off a very strong Q1 same-store sales growth rate in 2025,” Yum CEO Chris Turner said in a statement.
KFC reported same-store sales growth of 2%, shy of the 2.5% increase projected by StreetAccount. While the fried chicken chain’s international business is considered one of Yum’s “growth engines,” its U.S. business has struggled in recent years, buckling under increased competition and consumers’ value expectations. KFC U.S. system sales fell 2% during the first quarter.
To win back customers, KFC is taking some cues from Taco Bell’s successful playbook by leaning into innovation and affordability.
Similarly, Pizza Hut saw stronger results outside of its home market. The struggling pizza chain reported flat same-store sales globally, although its international business saw same-store sales rise 2% in the quarter. Its U.S. same-store sales shrank 4%.
Analysts were projecting global same-store sales declines of 0.7% for Pizza Hut, according to StreetAccount.
In November, Yum said it would explore strategic options for the chain, which has long been the laggard of its portfolio. Several private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management and Sycamore Partners, are among the potential buyers vying for Pizza Hut, Reuters reported earlier this month.
While Yum did not provide an update on the strategic review on Wednesday, its earnings release did include a bullet point showing the company’s system sales, unit count and core operating profit excluding Pizza Hut.
The price of crude oil has swung sharply as uncertainty over the war in the Middle East continues.
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