Cyberattack Shuts Down Auto Dealership Software Systems Across The Nation

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Stellantis shares are falling after the Jeep maker logged a 70% profit plunge in 2024

The parent company of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram reported earnings Wednesday.

2/26/25 9:02AM

Just because it builds some vehicles to go off-road doesn’t mean Stellantis enjoys a bumpy ride.

The fourth-largest global carmaker reported earnings Wednesday, and its full-year 2024 profit came in at $5.8 billion, down 70% from the year prior.

Net revenues fell 17% on the year to $164.5 billion. The Jeep, Dodge, and Ram parent was down more than 4% in premarket trading.

Stellantis’ consolidated shipments fell 9% year over year on the quarter, with a 28% drop in North America. The automaker has made efforts to shrink its bloated US inventories, and said it’s successfully decreased dealer stock by 20% from last year in the country.

Last month, Stellantis said its US sales fell 15% last year, dragged down primarily by Dodge (down 29%), and Ram (down 19%). US Jeep sales were down 9% on the year.

Following a monthslong public spat with its US dealer network over bloating inventories and poor sales, Stellantis ousted CEO Carlos Tavares in December.

The company expects lackluster profitability in 2025 and issued a mid-single-digit growth outlook for its operating income margin.

Stellantis still hasn’t named its next CEO — it says that’ll happen in the first half of this year — but it has been slashing its prices. Its average new vehicle transaction price has fallen by about $6,000 over the past year. Per data from Cox Automotive, new Jeep prices fell to about $49,000 in January, down 9% from a year earlier and the brand’s lowest level in three years.

Since the departure of Tavares, Stellantis has “recommitted” to US factory investments and moved the launch of a hybrid Ram pickup ahead of a full-electric version.

This year has the potential to get weird fast for Stellantis and rivals Ford and GM. Increased EV competition in China is still hurting bottom lines, and tariff-related obstacles could send car prices even higher. If President Trump’s planned 25% tariffs do ultimately get tagged onto vehicles, some analysts believe the average price of a car could rise by $3,000.

Max Knoblauch6/15/26

Electronic Arts launches a platform to put more ads in its games

Video game publishing giant EA launched a new platform on Monday designed to make the process of selling immersive ad space in its popular games easier.

The company says the platform, called EA Advertising, allows brands to “integrate directly into gameplay through dynamic, real-time placements, from stadium signage to custom in-game content.”

More so than other studios, EA has incorporated advertising into its most popular titles. As Kotaku points out, the company’s ad efforts stretch as far back as 2006. Several of its sports franchises already feature partnerships with brands like Visa, Lowe’s, Red Bull, and PepsiCo.

In-game advertising hasn’t exactly been embraced by fans, but industry experts expect it to ramp up as companies seek more revenue to offset higher games budgets and surging memory costs. EA rival Take-Two has taken a different approach, with CEO Strauss Zelnick recently saying the company was “not at risk of doing brand partnerships” in the forthcoming “Grand Theft Auto VI,” and that ads in full-price games seems “unfair.”

The $55 billion deal to take EA private, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is set to close at the end of this month. Being the largest leveraged buyout in history, EA will likely look for more ways to boost revenue to cover interest payments.

Electronic Arts Makes Push for Ad Dollars Tied to Sports

Millie Giles6/11/26

JM Smucker says it sold $1 billion worth of Uncrustables in FY2026

After years of booming sandwich sales, JM Smucker has finally earned a billion-dollar crust.

On Tuesday, the company reported results for fiscal year 2026, highlighting better-than-expected profits driven by higher prices for coffee and sweet baked goods. However, at another point on the earnings call, CEO Mark Smucker pointed to one particularly jammy figure: in line with previous forecasts, the company sold $1 billion worth of its (almost always) crustless sandwiches, Uncrustables, in the last year alone.

Max Knoblauch6/8/26

Paramount reportedly offers concessions to resolve multistate antitrust investigation

Paramount has reportedly offered up some concessions in an effort to prevent an antitrust lawsuit by California and about 10 other states, according to Bloomberg reporting on Monday.

Reuters first reported on the potential suit from a group of unnamed states last week, which could throw a wrench in Paramount’s plans to buy rival Warner Bros. Discovery in a Hollywood megamerger.

The list of concessions is unknown, though Bloomberg previously reported that Paramount is open to divesting some of its kids TV assets to appease EU regulators.

Late last month, reports said US regulators appeared likely to approve the $110 billion merger, following a meeting between Paramount CEO David Ellison and DOJ antitrust staffers.

Paramount Offers Concessions to Head Off State Antitrust Lawsuit

The list of concessions is unknown, though Bloomberg previously reported that Paramount is open to divesting some of its kids TV assets to appease EU regulators.

Late last month, reports said US regulators appeared likely to approve the $110 billion merger, following a meeting between Paramount CEO David Ellison and DOJ antitrust staffers.

$98B ⛽

Max Knoblauch6/8/26

The IATA released its latest financial outlook for the airline industry over the weekend, forecasting a $98 billion jump in the sector’s collective fuel bill. The world’s largest trade group representing airlines expects the oil spike to halve profits by 49% from last year to $23 billion.

The group also expects profit margins to halve year over year, falling from 2025’s 4.2% to 2%. Still, revenue is expected to climb to $1.17 trillion from $1.07 trillion.

A surge in the cost of jet fuel has rocked US and global airlines this year, leading Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and others to raise fares and ancillary charges like bag fees. Low-cost carriers, which operate on smaller margins, have been squeezed the hardest, resulting in Spirit’s shutdown.

“It’s a tough year for all airlines, especially those whose balance sheets had not yet recovered from COVID. And, of course, for those operating in the Gulf,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh, who added that demand is holding up and about half of passengers expect to spend more on travel this year. “That bodes well for a strong northern summer peak season. The big unknown is how long travelers and shippers can tolerate the higher costs of connectivity.”

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