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Walmart Releases 2026 Annual Report and Proxy Statement
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, April 24 (TNSrep) -- Walmart issued the following news on April 23, 2026:* * *
Walmart Releases 2026 Annual Report and Proxy Statement
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) issued its 2026 Annual Report and filed its Proxy Statement today in preparation for the company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
2026 Annual Report Highlights
In his first letter to shareholders and associates as Walmart President and Chief Executive Officer, John Furner expressed confidence in the business model that delivered results, and highlighted investments in associates and ... Show Full Article BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, April 24 (TNSrep) -- Walmart issued the following news on April 23, 2026: * * * Walmart Releases 2026 Annual Report and Proxy Statement Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) issued its 2026 Annual Report and filed its Proxy Statement today in preparation for the company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2026. 2026 Annual Report Highlights In his first letter to shareholders and associates as Walmart President and Chief Executive Officer, John Furner expressed confidence in the business model that delivered results, and highlighted investments in associates andAI-powered solutions to better serve customers and members. Furner also showed appreciation for the company's 2.1 million associates who are contributing to Walmart as it leads the new era of retail through a people-led, tech-powered approach.
"While my title is new, my history with this company is anything but. It has been an incredible journey, and it has been exciting to have a front row seat as Walmart has evolved from a regional retailer to a people-led, tech-powered global leader," said John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart Inc.
Furner underscored the business results of FY26, which included revenue growth of 5.1% in constant currency/1, and profit growth of 5.4% on an adjusted basis1, performance that was driven by outsized growth in eCommerce, which grew 24%, globally. There was also broad-based growth across all segments, with Walmart U.S., Sam's Club U.S., and Walmart International all contributing to top-line expansion.
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"Walmart is a special company. Our business model is getting stronger, our associates continue to come up with great ideas, and we have a strong culture and values. The consistency of our results reflects strong execution in our core business, digital innovation, re-imagining how we accelerate delivery speed, and business mix."
- John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart Inc., 2026 Proxy Statement Highlights
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Chairman of the Board, Greg Penner, shared a message noting the company executed its strategy in a rapidly evolving retail environment and approaches AI-driven transformation in a disciplined way -- grounded in Walmart's values and focused on growth.
"Like any investment - whether in AI, automation, or our store and club expansion and remodel programs - we view capital deployment through the lens of return on investment, and I'm pleased with the discipline we have. This will ensure that we can scale newer, tech-powered businesses alongside our core retail operations to drive growth at a lower marginal cost," said Greg Penner, Chairman, Walmart Board of Directors.
This year's proxy materials seek shareholders' votes on 11 director nominees, three other company proposals and four shareholder proposals. As planned, Tim Flynn will retire from the Board following the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting and Bob Moritz, if elected, will assume the role of Audit Committee Chair.
"Tim has been a highly valued director since joining the Board in 2012 and an exemplary chair of our Audit Committee. We thank him sincerely for his dedicated leadership, deep financial acumen, and years of thoughtful oversight," said Randall Stephenson, Lead Independent Director, Walmart Board of Directors.
2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting and Proposal Voting
The company's 2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. Shareholders of record as of April 10, 2026, can attend the meeting online. The live audio webcast of the meeting will begin on June 4, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. CDT.
Shareholders who held shares as of the close of business on the record date of April 10, 2026, will be able to vote their shares before the meeting in the following ways:
* Online at proxyvote.com
* Calling 1-800-690-6903
* Mailing a completed proxy card or voting instruction form
* On their mobile device by scanning the QR code on the proxy card, notice of internet availability or voting instruction form
Shareholders may also vote while logged in and participating in the 2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting at virtualshareholdermeeting.com/WMT2026.
Resources:
* Walmart Inc. 2026 Annual Report (https://stock.walmart.com/2026-annual-report)
* Walmart Inc. 2026 Proxy Statement
* Walmart Inc. 2026 Sample Proxy Ballot
* John Furner's Letter to Shareholders
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1/ Constant currency revenue and adjusted operating income (profit) are non-GAAP measures. See our Q4 FY26 earnings release furnished with the SEC on February 19, 2026 for additional information regarding non-GAAP measures.
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About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
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Original text here: https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/04/23/walmart-releases-2026-annual-report-and-proxy-statement
[Category: BizConsumer Services]
Sarah Davidoff Discusses AI Literacy and Big Law Hiring in The American Lawyer
BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 24 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:* * *
Sarah Davidoff Discusses AI Literacy and Big Law Hiring in The American Lawyer
In a new article in The American Lawyer (https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2026/04/22/for-law-students-ai-literacy-and-enthusiasm-may-impact-big-law-employment-prospects/), co-hiring partner Sarah Davidoff discusses how AI literacy and enthusiasm are becoming important factors in attorney recruiting, as familiarity with AI tools and their applications in legal practice has become increasingly important, ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 24 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Sarah Davidoff Discusses AI Literacy and Big Law Hiring in The American Lawyer In a new article in The American Lawyer (https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2026/04/22/for-law-students-ai-literacy-and-enthusiasm-may-impact-big-law-employment-prospects/), co-hiring partner Sarah Davidoff discusses how AI literacy and enthusiasm are becoming important factors in attorney recruiting, as familiarity with AI tools and their applications in legal practice has become increasingly important,particularly for entry-level talent.
Sarah describes a new prompt added to Ropes & Gray's 2L summer program application this spring, asking candidates to explain what they are doing day-to-day to keep up with AI development as it relates to their future practice of law. She notes the range of responses the firm has received, from students whose law schools restrict AI use to those actively integrating AI into their coursework and envisioning specific use cases as junior associates.
Visit our AI Resource Center for our latest thinking and firm news on AI.
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Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/04/sarah-davidoff-discusses-ai-literacy-and-big-law-hiring-in-the-american-lawyer
Morgan Stanley Debuts Plan Smart 401 Pooled Employer Plan
NEW YORK, April 24 -- Morgan Stanley, a multinational financial services corporation, issued the following news release on April 23, 2026:* * *
Morgan Stanley Debuts Plan Smart 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan
Morgan Stanley to serve as ERISA 3(38) investment manager, with Transamerica Fiduciary Services as pooled plan provider
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Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today the launch of the Plan Smart 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), an institutional investment solution that enables multiple unrelated businesses to join a single professionally managed retirement plan, helping to lessen their administrative ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, April 24 -- Morgan Stanley, a multinational financial services corporation, issued the following news release on April 23, 2026: * * * Morgan Stanley Debuts Plan Smart 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan Morgan Stanley to serve as ERISA 3(38) investment manager, with Transamerica Fiduciary Services as pooled plan provider * Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today the launch of the Plan Smart 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), an institutional investment solution that enables multiple unrelated businesses to join a single professionally managed retirement plan, helping to lessen their administrativeworkload and fiduciary risks.
The Plan Smart 401(k) PEP is a qualified plan for which Morgan Stanley is serving as the ERISA 3(38) investment manager and Transamerica Fiduciary Services is serving as the pooled plan provider. Transamerica is supporting the offering through plan administration and recordkeeping services. Both firms are collaborating to offer a streamlined, robust retirement plan solution to both adopting employers and their plan participants.
Employers who join this PEP can offer their participants one of two investment lineup choices, which are thoughtfully curated by portfolio managers on Morgan Stanley's Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO) team. In addition, employers in the Plan Smart 401(k) PEP may benefit from lower investment fees, given Morgan Stanley's economies of scale, as well as a comprehensive, high-quality educational program for plan participants at no extra cost.
"We understand the many challenges faced by companies that want to help their employees reach their retirement goals but may not have the necessary capacity to design, implement and oversee a defined contribution retirement plan," said Tom Conlon, Managing Director and Co-Head of Retirement at Morgan Stanley Institutional Consulting Solutions. "The Plan Smart 401(k) enables those businesses to join a collective plan and delegate some of their fiduciary and administrative responsibilities, while supporting better outcomes for their participants."
"Pooled employer plans can meaningfully reduce complexity for employers while preserving strong retirement outcomes for participants," said Jason Frain, head of Retirement Solutions at Transamerica. "Thoughtful administration and a strong participant experience are essential to making that structure work at scale, and Transamerica is focused on delivering the operational consistency and support employers and participants rely on."
The Plan Smart 401(k) is now available to interested employers; please contact your Morgan Stanley representative for more information.
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About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
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About Transamerica
Transamerica believes everyone deserves the opportunity to live their best life. It's what inspires us to be a champion for helping everyday Americans thrive. As a leading provider of life insurance, retirement, and investment solutions for more than 10 million Americans, we help people make the most of what's important to them.
Supporting our customers' financial futures with innovative products and services has been our mission for more than 120 years. In 2024, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $62 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of customer-paid annuity premiums.
Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Aegon is an international financial services holding company. For more information, visit www.transamerica.com.
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Original text here: https://www.morganstanley.com/press-releases/morgan-stanley-debuts-plan-smart-401k-pooled-employer-plan
[Category: BizFinancial Services]
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: House Republicans Unveil National Data Privacy Bill - Here's What Employers and Businesses Need to Know
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following insight on April 23, 2026:* * *
House Republicans Unveil National Data Privacy Bill: Here's What Employers and Businesses Need to Know
House Republicans just introduced sweeping federal data privacy legislation yesterday that could reshape how businesses collect, store, and use personal information, aiming to finally replace a growing patchwork of state laws with a single national standard. But the bill, known as the SECURE Data Act, faces significant hurdles before becoming law, so employers and businesses should ... Show Full Article ATLANTA, Georgia, April 24 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following insight on April 23, 2026: * * * House Republicans Unveil National Data Privacy Bill: Here's What Employers and Businesses Need to Know House Republicans just introduced sweeping federal data privacy legislation yesterday that could reshape how businesses collect, store, and use personal information, aiming to finally replace a growing patchwork of state laws with a single national standard. But the bill, known as the SECURE Data Act, faces significant hurdles before becoming law, so employers and businesses shouldapproach it cautiously. This Insight will recap what you need to know about the bill and provide a few best practices all businesses can take when it comes to data privacy.
What Is the SECURE Data Act?
The Securing and Establishing Consumer Uniform Rights and Enforcement over Data Act, introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.) on April 22 and backed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), would create the first comprehensive federal consumer privacy framework in US history. The bill is the product of a Data Privacy Working Group that gathered input from more than 170 organizations and received over 250 written responses from stakeholders across industry, civil society, and government.
What Would It Require of Businesses?
The legislation builds on the framework already adopted by the majority of states that have enacted consumer privacy laws. It would impose several significant obligations on companies that process personal data above certain thresholds. Here are the key provisions employers and businesses need to understand.
Data Minimization
Companies would be required to limit their collection of personal data to what is "adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary" for the purposes disclosed to consumers. Many state laws already include similar language, but a federal standard would make it universally applicable to businesses operating across state lines.
Consumer Rights
The bill would give consumers the right to access, correct, delete, and obtain a portable copy of their personal data. Consumers could also opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of their personal data, and certain automated profiling decisions. Sensitive data (including health information, financial data, precise geolocation, and more) could only be processed with a consumer's affirmative opt-in consent.
Teen Data Gets Special Treatment
One of the bill's more significant departures from the typical state framework: personal data about anyone under age 16 would be classified as sensitive data, requiring verified parental consent to process. This expands the age-13 threshold contained in the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by three years and would have significant implications for any consumer-facing business that collects data from teenagers.
Data Broker Obligations
Data brokers would face new registration requirements with the Federal Trade Commission, which would maintain a public-facing registry. Brokers would also be subject to data minimization, disclosure, and security requirements under the bill.
Foreign Adversary Disclosures
Companies would be required to disclose when personal data is processed in or sold to China, Russia, or other designated foreign adversaries, a notable national-security addition not commonly seen in state privacy laws.
Two Big Wins for Businesses: Preemption and No Private Right of Action
The bill includes two provisions that businesses and employers have long sought in any federal privacy framework.
Key facts:
* First, the SECURE Data Act would strongly preempt state laws. Any state law or regulation that "relates to" the bill's provisions would be superseded by the federal standard. For multistate employers currently navigating a complex web of state privacy requirements - California, Colorado, Virginia, Texas, and nearly two dozen others - a single federal framework would represent a significant compliance simplification.
* Second, the bill does not include a private right of action. Enforcement would rest with the FTC and state attorneys general. This is a meaningful distinction from California's privacy regime, which has exposed companies to costly consumer lawsuits, and it aligns with how the majority of state privacy laws are structured.
The Road Ahead Is Daunting
Despite the bill's ambitions, passing it will not be easy. Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers, and the Senate requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, meaning Democratic support will be essential. So far, no Democrats have signed on as key sticking points emerge:
* Several states, California chief among them, have resisted federal preemption of their stronger local standards. (And it's also worth noting that even some Republicans have expressed hesitation about preemption given their preference for strong state's rights, so universal GOP support for a measure that preempts state privacy laws is not guaranteed - which could make passage even more challenging given the razor-thin margins in both houses.)
* Democrats have historically pushed for a federal privacy law that sets a floor rather than a ceiling, allowing states to go further as technology evolves.
* Democrats have also consistently backed a private right of action, which the Republican bill deliberately omits.
* And while some Democrats have proven willing to support versions of this type of bill in the past, the political will to compromise may not be there if they believe they have a chance to take back Congress in November's midterm elections.
But it appears the GOP House strategy here is to have Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Guthrie and Financial Services Committee Chair Hill endorse the bill to grow support on the Republican side first, including those who were on the working group that Rep. Guthrie previously formed. They will then attempt to get as many Democrats on board as they can after they know they have the votes. Democrats might try to assert leverage and extract concessions from GOP leaders before agreeing to any sort of support.
The bill will next head to a subcommittee hearing, followed by markup sessions at both the subcommittee and full committee level. That process alone will take months, and negotiations between the parties are just beginning.
What Should Businesses Do Now?
Given the bill's uncertain path forward, sweeping compliance overhauls would be premature. But employers and businesses should still pay close attention, as the SECURE Data Act represents the most serious federal privacy push in years.
In the meantime, good data hygiene remains the right call regardless of what happens legislatively. Conducting an inventory of the personal data you collect, reviewing your data minimization practices, and ensuring you have appropriate consent mechanisms in place for sensitive data will position your organization well whether this bill advances or a future iteration ultimately crosses the finish line.
Conclusion
We will continue to monitor the SECURE Data Act as it moves through Congress and will provide more specific compliance guidance if and when it gains meaningful traction, so make sure that you are subscribed to Fisher Phillips' Insight System to get the most up-to-date information directly to your inbox. For further information, contact your Fisher Phillips attorney, the authors of this Insight, or any attorney on the firm's Privacy and Cyber Practice Group or Consumer Privacy Team.
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Related People
Risa B. Boerner, CIPP/US, CIPM
Partner
610.230.2132
rboerner@fisherphillips.com
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Benjamin M. Ebbink
Partner
916.210.0400
bebbink@fisherphillips.com
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Usama Kahf, CIPP/US
Partner
949.798.2118
ukahf@fisherphillips.com
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Braden Lawes
Senior Government Affairs Analyst
202.916.7176
blawes@fisherphillips.com
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/house-republicans-unveil-national-data-privacy-bill
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Dow Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
MIDLAND, Michigan, April 24 -- Dow, a materials science company that says it serves customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications, issued the following news release:* * *
Dow reports first quarter 2026 results
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
* Net sales were $9.8 billion, down 6% year-over-year, reflecting flat sales in Performance Materials & Coatings and declines in the other operating segments.
* Volume decreased 2% year-over-year, driven by declines in Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, which was impacted by the Middle East conflict. ... Show Full Article MIDLAND, Michigan, April 24 -- Dow, a materials science company that says it serves customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications, issued the following news release: * * * Dow reports first quarter 2026 results FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS * Net sales were $9.8 billion, down 6% year-over-year, reflecting flat sales in Performance Materials & Coatings and declines in the other operating segments. * Volume decreased 2% year-over-year, driven by declines in Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, which was impacted by the Middle East conflict.Gains in Packaging & Specialty Plastics from higher polyethylene volumes were more than offset by lower merchant olefins sales following the idling of a cracker in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) in mid-2025 and planned maintenance activity in the U.S. Gulf Coast. * Local price was down 7% versus the year-ago period.
* The Company suspended Sadara equity loss recognition in the first quarter of 2026 in accordance with GAAP. The carrying value of all liabilities on the balance sheet reached total existing relevant obligations and commitments.
* GAAP net loss was $445 million. Op. EBIT1 was $154 million, down $76 million year-over-year. This was primarily driven by lower prices, which were partly offset by tailwinds from the Company's cost reduction program.
* GAAP loss per share was $0.74; operating earnings per share (EPS) 1 was a loss of $0.14, compared to earnings of $0.02 in the year-ago period. Op. EPS excludes significant items totaling $0.60 per share, driven by an adjustment to the Sadara guarantee liability and taxes associated with receipt of payment from NOVA Chemicals related to the Company's ongoing litigation.
* Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations was $1.1 billion, up $1.0 billion year-over-year, primarily driven by receipt of payment from NOVA Chemicals and working capital improvements.
* Returns to shareholders totaled $252 million of dividends in the quarter.
CEO QUOTE "In the first quarter, our results reflect the growing impact of Dow's self-help actions. Additionally, the margin backdrop began to positively inflect in March following global supply constraints, as impacts from the conflict in the Middle East quickly became widespread," said Jim Fitterling, Dow chair and CEO. "The strength of Dow's advantaged portfolio is a clear differentiator, enabling us to win in our key end markets. Our unmatched Americas manufacturing footprint, leading European feedstock flexibility and agile global supply chains allow us to continue to innovate and serve our customers safely and reliably through all cycles and macroeconomic conditions. We also remain steadfast in our commitment to Transform to Outperform, which is already becoming a catalyst for growth, productivity and sustained value creation well into the future."
Table: SUMMARY FINANCIAL RESULTS
Table: SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Packaging & Specialty Plastics
Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment net sales in the quarter were $4.9 billion, down 7% versus the year-ago period. Local price decreased 9% year-over-year, primarily driven by lower polyethylene prices. Currency increased net sales by 3%. Volume decreased 1% year-over-year as higher polyethylene volumes in all regions were offset by lower merchant olefins sales and lower licensing revenue.
Op. EBIT was $208 million, a decrease of $134 million compared to the year-ago period, driven by lower integrated margins and higher planned maintenance activity, partly offset by higher polyethylene volumes that were enabled by our new polyethylene unit in Freeport, Texas and tailwinds from the Company's cost reduction program.
Packaging and Specialty Plastics business reported a net sales decrease versus the year-ago period, as lower polyethylene prices and lower licensing revenue were partly offset by higher volume in resilient flexible packaging applications.
Hydrocarbons & Energy business reported a net sales decrease year-over-year, driven by lower merchant olefins sales due to planned maintenance activity in the U.S. Gulf Coast and the idling of a cracker in EMEAI in mid-2025.
Table: Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure
Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment net sales were $2.6 billion, down 8% versus the year-ago period. Local price declined 8% year-over-year, reflecting declines in both businesses. Currency increased net sales by 4%. Volume decreased 4% year-over-year, primarily driven by lower volumes in Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals, including impacts from the Middle East conflict.
Op. EBIT increased $10 million versus the year-ago period, driven by lower planned maintenance activity, the suspension of the recognition of equity losses from Sadara, and tailwinds from the Company's cost reduction program, which were partly offset by lower prices.
Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals business reported a decrease in net sales compared to the year-ago period, primarily driven by local price, along with lower volumes from the shutdown of our higher-cost upstream propylene oxide unit in the U.S. Gulf Coast in late 2025, and the Middle East conflict.
Industrial Solutions business reported a decrease in net sales compared to the year-ago period, as higher volumes from recent alkoxylation investments and increased demand for data center applications were more than offset by lower local prices and lower licensing revenue.
Table: Performance Materials & Coatings
Performance Materials & Coatings segment net sales in the quarter were $2.1 billion, flat versus the year-ago period. Local price decreased 4% year-over-year, driven by a decline in Coatings & Performance Monomers. Currency increased net sales by 2%. Volume increased 2% year-over-year, driven by higher volumes in both businesses, led by growth in downstream silicones and acrylic monomers.
Op. EBIT was $117 million, an increase of $68 million versus the year-ago period. This was driven primarily by volume gains across both businesses and lower fixed costs, including lower planned maintenance activity and tailwinds from the Company's cost reduction program, which were partly offset by lower price.
Consumer Solutions business reported an increase in net sales versus the year-ago period, driven by currency tailwinds and volume gains in downstream silicones, led by gains in electronics applications globally and home and personal care applications in the U.S. & Canada, which were partially offset by lower local prices.
Coatings & Performance Monomers business reported a decrease in net sales compared to the year-ago period, as lower prices were partly offset by higher acrylic monomers volume, primarily in the U.S. & Canada.
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OUTLOOK
"We are already seeing rapid positive momentum from our announced pricing actions in every business and every region, as well as constructive impacts to our operating rates," said Fitterling. "We are leveraging Dow's purposebuilt asset footprint, well-established supply chain routes and leading asset reliability to prioritize our customers and navigate the conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, our teams remain focused on capturing growth in attractive markets while delivering cost savings and cash support. Transform to Outperform aims to radically simplify how we operate, reengineer our processes and cost structures and modernize how we serve our customers. These collective actions position the Company for improved growth and productivity, expanded margins, and higher shareholder returns across the cycle."
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Conference Call
Dow will host a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call with investors to discuss its results, business outlook and other matters today at 8:00 a.m. ET. The webcast and slide presentation that accompany the conference call will be posted on the events and presentations page of investors.dow.com.
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About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world's leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, customer-focused innovation and leading business positions enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employ approximately 34,600 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $40 billion in 2025. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us at www.dow.com.
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Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements often address expected future business and financial performance, financial condition, and other matters, and often contain words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "will," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words or phrases.
Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond Dow's control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date the statements were made. These factors include, but are not limited to: sales of Dow's products; Dow's expenses, future revenues and profitability; any supply chain, operational or other disruptions, sanctions, export restrictions, or increased economic uncertainty related to the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East; capital requirements and need for and availability of financing; unexpected barriers in the development of technology, including with respect to Dow's contemplated capital and operating projects; Dow's ability to realize its commitment to carbon neutrality on the contemplated timeframe, including the completion and success of its integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives facility in Alberta, Canada; size of the markets for Dow's products and services and ability to compete in such markets; Dow's ability to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Dow's products; significant litigation and environmental matters and related contingencies and unexpected expenses; the success of competing technologies that are or may become available; the ability to protect Dow's intellectual property in the United States and abroad; Dow's ability to realize expected benefits from Transform to Outperform on the contemplated timeframe; developments related to contemplated restructuring activities and proposed divestitures or acquisitions such as workforce reduction, manufacturing facility and/or asset closure and related exit and disposal activities, and the benefits and costs associated with each of the foregoing; fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; management of process safety and product stewardship; changes in relationships with Dow's significant customers and suppliers; changes in public sentiment and political leadership; increased concerns about plastics in the environment and lack of a circular economy for plastics at scale; changes in consumer preferences and demand; changes in laws and regulations, political conditions, tariffs and trade policies, or industry development; global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, market uncertainty, interest and currency exchange rates, and equity and commodity prices; business, logistics, and supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East; weather events and natural disasters; disruptions in Dow's information technology networks and systems, including the impact of cyberattacks; risks related to Dow's separation from DowDuPont Inc. such as Dow's obligation to indemnify DuPont de Nemours, Inc. and/or Corteva, Inc. for certain liabilities; and any global and regional economic impacts of a pandemic or other public health-related risks and events on Dow's business.
Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the Company's subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These are not the only risks and uncertainties that Dow faces. There may be other risks and uncertainties that Dow is unable to identify at this time or that Dow does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. If any of those risks or uncertainties develops into an actual event, it could have a material adverse effect on Dow's business. Dow Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries assume no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities and other applicable laws.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This earnings release includes information that does not conform to GAAP and are considered non-GAAP measures. Management uses these measures internally for planning, forecasting and evaluating the performance of the Company's segments, including allocating resources. Dow's management believes that these non-GAAP measures best reflect the ongoing performance of the Company during the periods presented and provide more relevant and meaningful information to investors as they provide insight with respect to ongoing operating results of the Company and a more useful comparison of year-over-year results. These non-GAAP measures supplement the Company's GAAP disclosures and should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP measures of performance. Furthermore, such non-GAAP measures may not be consistent with similar measures provided or used by other companies. Non-GAAP measures included in this release are defined below. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP measures to GAAP are provided in the Selected Financial Information and Non-GAAP Measures section starting on page 11. Dow does not provide forward-looking GAAP financial measures or a reconciliation of forward-looking nonGAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because the Company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of pending litigation, unusual gains and losses, foreign currency exchange gains or losses and potential future asset impairments, as well as discrete taxable events, without unreasonable effort. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP results for the guidance period.
Operating Earnings Per Share is defined as "Loss per common share - diluted" excluding the after-tax impact of significant items.
Operating EBIT is defined as earnings (i.e., "Loss before income taxes") before interest, excluding the impact of significant items.
Operating EBIT Margin is defined as Operating EBIT as a percentage of net sales.
Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings (i.e., "Loss before income taxes") before interest, depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of significant items.
Free Cash Flow is defined as "Cash provided by (used for) operating activities - continuing operations," less capital expenditures. Under this definition, Free Cash Flow represents the cash generated by the Company from operations after investing in its asset base. Free Cash Flow, combined with cash balances and other sources of liquidity, represent the cash available to fund obligations and provide returns to shareholders. Free Cash Flow is an integral financial measure used in the Company's financial planning process.
Cash Flow Conversion is defined as "Cash provided by (used for) operating activities - continuing operations," divided by Operating EBITDA. Management believes Cash Flow Conversion is an important financial metric as it helps the Company determine how efficiently it is converting its earnings into cash flow.
Operating Return on Capital (ROC) is defined as net operating profit after tax, excluding the impact of significant items, divided by total average capital, also referred to as ROIC.
Table: Consolidated Statements of Income
Table: Consolidated Balance Sheets
Table: Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Table: Net Sales by Segment and Geographic Region
Table: Selected Financial Information and Non-GAAP Measures
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Original text here: https://s23.q4cdn.com/981382065/files/doc_financials/2026/q1/Dow-1Q26-Earnings-News-Release.pdf
[Category: BizLaboratory Sciences]
Accenture Invests in Iridius to Accelerate Compliance-First AI Adoption in Life Sciences
NEW YORK, April 24 -- Accenture, a global professional services company, presented the following news release:* * *
Accenture Invests in Iridius to Accelerate Compliance-First AI Adoption in Life Sciences
Collaboration will bring embedded regulatory compliance and auditability to enterprise AI solutions for life sciences companies
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Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has invested, through Accenture Ventures, in Iridius, an enterprise AI infrastructure company that designs compliant-by-design AI solutions for highly regulated industries, including life sciences and pharmaceuticals sectors. As part of this ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, April 24 -- Accenture, a global professional services company, presented the following news release: * * * Accenture Invests in Iridius to Accelerate Compliance-First AI Adoption in Life Sciences Collaboration will bring embedded regulatory compliance and auditability to enterprise AI solutions for life sciences companies * Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has invested, through Accenture Ventures, in Iridius, an enterprise AI infrastructure company that designs compliant-by-design AI solutions for highly regulated industries, including life sciences and pharmaceuticals sectors. As part of thisinvestment, Accenture and Iridius will also form a strategic partnership to support life sciences organizations in scaling AI adoption while ensuring compliance, traceability, and auditability are integrated at every stage.
The collaboration will combine Accenture's deep industry knowledge and delivery scale with AI-powered regulatory and compliance capabilities from Iridius, enabling clients to move beyond isolated AI pilots and achieve enterprise-wide, compliant AI transformation. Together, Accenture and Iridius will build end-to-end compliance workflows across the life sciences value chain, from regulatory submissions and pharmacovigilance to clinical and manufacturing operations. This will help speed up regulatory and clinical timelines, reduce manual compliance work, and maintain ongoing audit readiness.
Life sciences organizations are under increasing pressure to accelerate the journey from research to bringing new health treatments to patients. Success in this highly regulated sector depends on the ability to harmonize rapid AI adoption with rigorous frameworks for patient safety and data integrity. To unlock the potential of AI across the value chain, organizations must prioritize solutions that provide traceability and transparency essential for maintaining trust in an evolving, global regulatory landscape. Iridius' platform will address these challenges by transforming complex regulations and standard operating procedures into machine-readable logic, embedding compliance directly into enterprise workflows.
"Our investment in Iridius is about giving life sciences organizations the ability to innovate without hesitation," said Ray Pressburger, global life sciences lead at Accenture. "By embedding compliance into the core of AI, we're helping accelerate clinical development, improve decision-making, and bring therapies to patients faster, all while meeting the rigorous expectations of regulators worldwide."
Iridius' technology includes a knowledge engine that will translate regulatory standards and procedures into structured, machine-readable logic, and an intelligent solution factory that will help orchestrate compliant workflows across the pharmaceutical value chain. This architecture will enable organizations to apply compliance as part of system design and continuously monitor it during execution.
Mike Kropp, Co-Founder and CEO of Iridius, said, "Together, we're helping customers reimagine complex workflows with AI, turning it from a risk to manage into a trusted capability that strengthens compliance, enables innovation with confidence, and makes compliance a strategic advantage."
This investment underscores Accenture's commitment to helping clients in regulated sectors unlock the full potential of AI, ensuring that compliance and auditability are built into every solution from the start.
Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
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About Accenture
Accenture is a leading solutions and services company that helps the world's leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed across the enterprise, bringing together the talent of our approximately 786,000 people, our proprietary assets and platforms, and deep ecosystem relationships. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients and to be the most client-focused, AI-enabled, great place to work in the world. Through our Reinvention Services we bring together our capabilities across strategy, consulting, technology, operations, Song and Industry X with our deep industry expertise to create and deliver solutions and services for our clients. Our purpose is to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity, and we measure our success by the 360 value we create for all our stakeholders. Visit us at accenture.com.
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About Iridius
Iridius is a compliance-by-design AI platform that enables enterprises to design, build, and operate AI systems that are continuously compliant. By transforming regulatory standards into executable logic and embedding them directly into workflows, Iridius ensures compliance is enforced and evidence is generated as systems run, enabling AI to scale in regulated environments. For more information, visit https://iridius.ai/.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/2026/accenture-invests-in-iridius-to-accelerate-compliance-first-ai-adoption-in-life-sciences
[Category: BizConsulting]
7-Eleven Inc. Kicks Off a Major Chicken Takeover With Sandwiches, Wings and Big Deals
DALLAS, Texas, April 24 -- 7-Eleven, a convenience store chain, issued the following news release:* * *
7-Eleven, Inc. Kicks Off a Major Chicken Takeover with Sandwiches, Wings and Big Deals
Crispy sandwiches, flavor-packed wings and satisfying combos lead the latest menu deals
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7-Eleven, Inc., the world's largest convenience retailer, is declaring a chicken takeover and rolling out a lineup of crispy chicken sandwiches, saucy wings and handheld favorites made for big cravings. The lineup gives customers new ways to grab a hot, flavorful bite any time of day, now available at participating ... Show Full Article DALLAS, Texas, April 24 -- 7-Eleven, a convenience store chain, issued the following news release: * * * 7-Eleven, Inc. Kicks Off a Major Chicken Takeover with Sandwiches, Wings and Big Deals Crispy sandwiches, flavor-packed wings and satisfying combos lead the latest menu deals * 7-Eleven, Inc., the world's largest convenience retailer, is declaring a chicken takeover and rolling out a lineup of crispy chicken sandwiches, saucy wings and handheld favorites made for big cravings. The lineup gives customers new ways to grab a hot, flavorful bite any time of day, now available at participating7-Eleven(R), Speedway(R) and Stripes(R) stores nationwide.
The chicken takeover presents a lineup of chicken favorites and value-packed deals, available exclusively for 7Rewards(R) and Speedy Rewards(R) members, including:
- $4 Chicken Sandwich -Bite into a juicy chicken breast fillet, marinated and seasoned to perfection. Coated in garlic and savory-spiced breading that delivers that golden crunch, resting in a soft toasted bun for a mouth-watering sandwich experience./* Hungry for more? Double up and grab two Chicken Sandwiches for $6./**
- $4 Chicken & Waffle Sandwich - Customers craving a sweet-and-savory combo can grab a fried chicken filet topped with Hot Honey butter, tucked between warm Belgian-style waffles made with pearl sugar for a handheld twist on the comfort-food classic./***
- $5 Meal Deal - Start the morning out strong with a filling breakfast combo featuring a warm breakfast sandwich, golden Waffle Tots and a Monster Energy drink to kick off the day./****
- BOGO Boneless Wings - Whether looking for a snack break or a late-night bite, customers can buy one boat of the new and improved, larger boneless wings with seasoned breading for an even crispier bite at $5 and get another for $3./***** Choose between plain, Hot Honey for sweetness with a kick of heat, or Buffalo for tangy, peppery spice in every bite.
Raise the Roost(R) restaurants are also joining the chicken lineup with two fan-favorite picks.
- 2 for $5 Crispy Wraps - Customers can get two Crispy Wraps for $5, featuring hand-breaded chicken tenders fried to a deep golden crunch, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla with crisp lettuce and shredded cheese./****** Each wrap is finished with a drizzle of Roost Signature, Honey Mustard, Ranch or Spicy Ranch sauce for an extra hit of creamy, tangy flavor.
- Spicy Ranch Deluxe Chicken Sandwich - For those wanting to dial up the spice, the sandwich stacks juicy chicken tenders on a buttery, toasted brioche-style bun with smoky bacon, melted pepper jack cheese and sliced jalapenos./******* A layer of spicy ranch ties it all together for a sandwich loaded with heat, richness and mouthwatering bites.
"At 7-Eleven, we're continuing to grow our fresh food lineup with new flavors, formats and great value for customers," said Brandon Brown, Senior Vice President of Fresh Foods at 7-Eleven, Inc. "From stacked chicken sandwiches to saucy wings and sweet-and-savory mashups, our chicken takeover brings together a lineup of bold flavors and satisfying deals that customers can enjoy any time of day."
In addition to the chicken lineup, the roller grill is heating things up with a brand-new item: the Johnsonville Dr Pepper Sausage. The savory, slow-rolling sausage combines the signature sweetness of Dr Pepper with a smoky, grilled sausage flavor, marking the first time a sausage has joined the roller grill lineup. Customers can try it as part of the two for $3.50 Mix & Match Roller Grill deal available at participating stores./********
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*, **, ***, ****, ***** and ********/ Valid 3/4/26 through 4/28/2026. Plus tax where applicable. Copyright (c) 2026 7-Eleven, Inc. All rights reserved.
****** and *******/ Valid 3/4/26 through 4/28/2026. Available only at Raise The Roost(R) locations. Plus tax where applicable. Copyright (c) 2026 7-Eleven, Inc. All rights reserved.
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About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven(R) stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway(R), Stripes(R), Laredo Taco Company(R) and Raise the Roost(R) Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee(R), Big Bite(R) and Big Gulp(R), 7-Eleven offers customers fresh, high-quality and convenient food options like sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven also offers customers industry-leading packaged products at an outstanding value with its 7-Select(TM) private brand. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards(R) and Speedy Rewards(R) loyalty programs, which have more than 100 million members. Customers can also place an order in the 7NOW(R) delivery app with real-time tracking and delivery typically in about 30 minutes, depending on the market, driver availability, weather, traffic conditions, and other factors. Find out more online at www.7-eleven.com.
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Original text here: https://corp.7-eleven.com/corp-press-releases/7-eleven-inc-kicks-off-a-major-chicken-takeover-with-sandwiches-wings-and-big-deals
[Category: BizConsumer Services]