==Aardvark Therapeutics (AARD) pauses Phase 3 Hunger Elimination or Reduction Objective trial

 

Aardvark Therapeutics pauses Phase 3 HERO trial of ARD-101 in Prader-Willi after cardiac findings as RBC, Stifel, Morgan Stanley, HC Wainwright cut ratings

• Pause followed reversible cardiac observations in an ARD-101 healthy volunteer study, which the company described as reversible.
• Pause delays HERO trial's topline data timeline for ARD-101 in Prader-Willi syndrome.
• RBC Capital, Stifel, Morgan Stanley and HC Wainwright downgraded Aardvark Monday and cut price targets to about $6–$7.

===Venture Global (VG) reported earnings on Mon 2 March 26 (b/o)

 

Venture Global beats Q4 2025 estimates with non-GAAP EPS $0.41 (+24% YoY) and revenue $4.4B (+192% YoY)

• Q4 2025 net income reached $1.1B, complementing revenue of $4.4B disclosed with earnings.
• Venture Global issues 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $5.20–$5.80B, providing outlook for next fiscal year.
• Company reaffirms Plaquemines Phase I commercial operation date target for Q4 2026.
• Escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities are driving Brent crude higher, supporting LNG exporter Venture Global's market backdrop.
• Venture Global signs 5-year binding deal to supply ~0.5 MTPA U.S. LNG to Trafigura from 2026.

Duolingo (DUOL) reported earnings on Thur 26 Feb 26 (a/h)

** charts before earnings **

** charts after earnings **

Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL) reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded analyst expectations but issued disappointing guidance for 2026, sending shares down 22.9% in after-hours trading Thursday as the company shifts strategy to prioritize user growth over near-term profitability.

The language-learning platform reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.84 for the fourth quarter, beating the analyst estimate of $0.83. Revenue rose 35% YoY to $282.9 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $275.74 million. However, the company's outlook for 2026 fell significantly short of Wall Street expectations, with first-quarter revenue guidance of $288.5 million below the $291.8 million consensus and full-year revenue guidance of $1.20-$1.22 billion trailing the $1.26 billion estimate. The midpoint of $1.21 billion represents approximately 17% growth, well below analyst expectations.

Daily active users grew 30% YoY to 52.7 million in the fourth quarter, while paid subscribers increased 28% to 12.2 million. However, CEO Luis von Ahn acknowledged that DAU growth decelerated throughout 2025 and expects approximately 20% DAU growth in 2026, down from growth rates exceeding 40% in prior periods.

===Janus Henderson (JHG) : unsolicited $57.04-per-share Victory Capital (VCTR) bid

•  Trian Fund Management (Trian) owns significant stakes in major public companies like GE Aerospace, Solventum Corp, Janus Henderson Group, Invesco, and Wendy's, often taking activist roles to improve performance; their portfolio is concentrated, focusing on large-cap value companies like Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, and Disney in the past, driving change through board seats and strategic collaboration rather than full ownership.  

Janus Henderson confirms receipt of unsolicited $57.04-per-share Victory Capital bid but continues to recommend shareholder approval of $49 Trian/General Catalyst deal

• Proposal was sent today to Janus Henderson’s special committee as an alternative to its existing Trian merger.
• Board’s special committee will evaluate the unsolicited, non-binding takeover proposal under the existing merger agreement.
• Victory Capital describes its fully financed cash-and-stock offer as a superior alternative to the existing Trian merger.