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Danushka Gunathilaka was given out obstructing the field. Image: BT Sports

Sri Lanka's ODI clash with the West Indies has exploded in controversy after Danushka Gunathilaka was given out for obstructing the field.

West Indies claimed the first one-day international of their three-game series, winning by eight wickets on Wednesday.

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However it was Gunathilaka's dismissal that had the cricket world talking.

The Sri Lankan batsman made 55 and put on 105 in an opening stand with captain Dimuth Karunaratne, which seemed to put Sri Lanka on course to a commanding total.

But the match became erupted in controversy in the 21st over when Gunathilaka was judged to have obstructed the field when he trod on the ball while Kieron Pollard was attempting to affect a run out.

After Pollard bowled a short ball which Gunathilaka fended away, Pathum Nissanka set off for a single but was sent back by his partner,

Gunathilaka then stepped back into his own crease, stepping on the ball and knocking it backwards in the process.

Pollard immediately appealed and on-field umpire Joe Wilson gave a soft signal of out before television umpire Nigel Guguid ruled that Gunathilaka had deliberately attempted to foil the run out.

However there seemed to be little evidence the batsman had acted deliberately.

Danushka Gunathilaka in action for Sri Lanka against West Indies. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

He does take a little glance down as hes about to take that second step there, but I dont know, Im not convinced in my mind that he actually knew (where the ball was) when he glanced down, West Indies great Ian Bishop said in commentary.

It looks bad there, so thats what the television umpire is seeing.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: Its official, cricket has gone bonkers!!!

West Indies star Darren Sammy said: Dont think that was wilful at all. I wouldnt appeal but hey."

Aussie great Tom Moody added: Wilful obstruction no way was that wilful #shocker #WIvSL.

Story continues

Former Australian women's captain Lisa Sthalekar tweeted: Just saw it oh please! Not out."

According to Law 37. 1 in the ICC's official rules: Either batsman is out obstructing the field if he wilfully obstructs or distracts the fielding side by word or action. In particular, but not solely, it shall be regarded as obstruction and either batsman will be out obstructing the field if while the ball is in play and after the striker has completed the act of playing the ball, he wilfully strikes the ball with: (i) a hand not holding the bat, unless this is in order to avoid injury. (ii) Any other part of his person or with his bat.

Gunathilaka became just the second batsman since 2015 to be given out obstructing the field in a one-day international.

Sri Lanka'S innings lost its way from that point and from 2-112 the tourists were all out for 232 in 49 overs.

The West Indies surpassed that total with Shai Hope making 110 and his opening partner Evin Lewis adding 65.

"We got a nice start but but we lost a couple of wickets," Karunaratne said.

"In the end we were short of 30-40 runs.

"If me and Danushka could have batted longer it would have been a different story."

with AAP

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'Disgrace to the game': Cricket world explodes over 'disgusting' farce - Yahoo Sport Australia

The Jacksonville Jaguars' rebuild might come along faster than anyone expects. That's what happens when you're about to grab a generational quarterback prospect in the draft and also have the most salary-cap space in the NFL to work with in free agency.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are about to take center stage this offseason, an unusual spot for a team that is often bad and ignored. Drafting Trevor Lawrence first overall will change the latter, at least. So will buzzy new head coach Urban Meyer.

Lawrence is an easy bet to go with the first pick to the Jaguars, and they have the ability to build around him. Given that Lawrence will be on a rookie deal for at least three years, it allows the Jaguars to hand out a few long-term contracts without too much worry about what it means for the cap. Any big deals they'd sign this offseason will come off the books about the time Lawrence is ready to sign a long-term deal, which will happen if he's as good as advertised.

You don't need your favorite team to have the first pick or oodles of cap space to be excited for the offseason. Each NFL team will be reshaping itself in free agency, which officially begins on March 17 after the so-called legal tampering period starts March 15. Some teams won't have the cap space to make many moves, and others lay low in free agency as a team-building philosophy. But we're about to get some interesting action around the league for the next month and a half.

The Jaguars are the team to watch this offseason. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Here is a ranking of the most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with last year's record and the current cap space as of Wednesday morning via Spotrac based on an estimated $185 million cap (Pro Football Talk reports the cap will be closer to $182.5 million) along with the team's biggest priority over the next few weeks:

32. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2, cap space: minus-$18.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line depth)

It's a tale as old as time: Pay your quarterback a half a billion dollars, lose the flexibility to be a player in free agency. The Chiefs can probably make a few under-the-radar moves once they get under the cap, perhaps getting a discount from free agents who want to be with a contender, but it'll likely be a quiet offseason for the Chiefs.

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31. Detroit Lions (5-11, cap space: $12.1 million, biggest priority: wide receiver)

The Lions already shook things up by trading away Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff and picks. That signaled a rebuild is underway, which means the Lions likely aren't going to be very aggressive signing players. Not giving the franchise tag to receiver Kenny Golladay was a curious way to start free agency, especially since Marvin Jones could depart too. This roster could look really rough by the end of the offseason.

30. New York Giants (6-10, cap space: minus-$5.5 million, biggest priority: edge rusher)

The Giants probably aren't in for a splashy offseason. They somehow don't have much cap space despite a quarterback on his rookie deal and not many other stars to pay. The Giants used a lot of the little space they had to franchise tag defensive lineman Leonard Williams. New York could add a few players but nothing major.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, cap space: $7.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

The Steelers are in a tough spot. They seem lukewarm on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger coming back, but had little choice given his contract. They have some key free agents, but not a lot of cap space to do much about them.

28. Tennessee Titans (11-5, cap space: $16.8 million, biggest priority: No. 2 receiver)

The Titans are probably going to have to make a decision between tight end Jonnu Smith and receiver Corey Davis, if they can re-sign either. It seems unlikely there would be another major addition if they can retain one of those two, but the front seven on defense could use some help too.

27. Atlanta Falcons (4-12, cap space: minus-$11.9 million, biggest priority: edge rusher)

The Falcons haven't made the playoffs in three straight seasons but are still in a bad salary cap situation. That's a rough combination. There will be Matt Ryan speculation, but it doesn't seem anything is happening right away. The lack of salary cap space means there isn't much to see here until the draft.

26. Minnesota Vikings (7-9, cap space: minus-$1 million, biggest priority: defensive line)

It's hard to fault the Vikings for swinging big on Kirk Cousins a few years ago. It's hard to find a quarterback if you don't have one. But everyone knew Cousins' deal would impact the Vikings' cap for a long time. That means the team is still in transition, trying to clear out some veteran deals while still trying to be competitive.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1, cap space: $46.6 million, biggest priority: protecting Joe Burrow)

Joe Burrow is coming off a torn ACL, and the team was blamed for not doing enough to fix the offensive line to protect last year's No. 1 overall pick. The Bengals are notoriously cheap but it would be a shock if they didn't spend on an offensive lineman or two. They need to invest in keeping Burrow upright.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8, cap space: $36.2 million, biggest priority: defensive backs)

The most predictable part of every offseason is the Raiders being linked to every possible free agent and trade target. Agents should give Jon Gruden a commission for all of the leverage they've been able to create by strategic media leaks about the Raiders, even if none of those big signings or trades ever happen. The Raiders were making strides last season until another late-season collapse. They'll probably make a big move or two, especially to bolster the pass defense, but they likely won't do much else, no matter how many tweets include them on every free agent's list of possible destinations.

23. Arizona Cardinals (8-8, cap space: $17.5 million, biggest priority: retaining their own free agents)

The Cardinals already made their big move, luring J.J. Watt with a big contract. What comes next is figuring out how to retain some of their own free agents like linebacker Haason Reddick and cornerback Patrick Peterson. Part of grading the Watt addition will be seeing how many other starters Watt's contract costs the Cards this offseason.

22. Dallas Cowboys (6-10, cap space: $4.5 million, biggest priority: defense)

Now that Dak Prescott is signed to a long-term deal, the Cowboys have a better idea how much capital they'll have to attack the defense, a weakness that was glaring last season. The Cowboys will need to refresh the offensive line too, but this offseason is all about defense now that the biggest question has been answered.

21. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, cap space: minus-$29.6 million, biggest priority: linebacker)

The Rams' big move was made, paying a ton to get Matthew Stafford in a trade. The Rams typically don't worry much about things like "draft picks" and "financial responsibility" so while it seems impossible they'd make any more bold moves given their cap situation, it can't be ruled out completely.

20. Green Bay Packers (13-3, cap space: minus-$5.8 million, biggest priority: receiver, still)

Well, we know they won't be signing a receiver or tight end. They have a tough call on Aaron Jones, and that move will dictate what else the Packers do in the offseason. It seems reasonable they'd want to spend now to maximize their changes to win with Aaron Rodgers, but that hasn't been the case lately and it makes them a tough team to predict.

19. Carolina Panthers (5-11, cap space: $22.3 million, biggest priority: upgrading at QB)

Carolina is in the same situation as a few other teams, with a good amount of cap space and no quarterback to spend it on. The Panthers are seemingly looking to upgrade from Teddy Bridgewater but that might have to happen in the draft. In the meantime, they could continue to build up a defense that was very young last season.

18. Buffalo Bills (13-3, cap space: $4.6 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

Josh Allen hasn't gotten his big extension yet, which gives the Bills a little wiggle room for an impact player on a one-year deal. They don't have a ton of cap space but they are a championship contender and will be creative and aggressive to add to the roster.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1, cap space: minus-$25.3 million, biggest priority: not losing too much while cutting cap)

The Eagles are suddenly a mess. They traded Carson Wentz after an uncomfortable few months. They need to restructure multiple deals or cut some players just to get under the cap. It's a team that was bad last season and needs improvements in free agency, but could be shedding some expensive veterans instead.

16. New Orleans Saints (12-4, cap space: minus-$55.2 million, biggest priority: getting the cap under control)

It's a bit strange that Drew Brees hasn't announced the retirement everyone seems to know is coming, but presumably that will happen. The Saints are in a weird spot, probably needing to rebuild but with enough stars (other than quarterback) that it's hard to tear things down. They didn't make it easier with their surprising move to give the franchise tag to safety Marcus Williams. How the Saints manage to shed enough salary get under the cap yes, that number above is real, and shocking will be one of the stories to watch this offseason.

15. Washington Football Team (7-9, cap space: $41.5 million, biggest priority: QB)

Washington has a ton of cap space. They also don't have a quarterback. This is a multi-year project to build up the roster and Ron Rivera's team made strides last season, so Washington is on the right track. They could certainly add some good pieces in free agency while they figure out what to do at QB.

14. Denver Broncos (5-11, cap space: $35.2 million, biggest priority: upgrading from Drew Lock)

John Elway isn't building the roster anymore, and we get to learn about George Paton's philosophy. Elway was always aggressive in free agency, and the Broncos do have a good amount of cap space. They'd presumably love to use that cap space on Deshaun Watson but it's hard to see how they could offer enough to get the Texans to deal. Assuming that doesn't work and it's another season of Drew Lock at QB, perhaps Plan B is adding to the defense. Von Miller's future is a big component of that.

13. Indianapolis Colts (11-5, cap space: $50.6 million, biggest priority: replacing Anthony Castonzo at LT)

Landing Carson Wentz, and not giving up too much to do it, answers a big quarterback question after Philip Rivers' retirement. Regardless of whether Wentz can rebound, the Colts won't spend all offseason chasing a QB. That allows them to use their cap space, built up through years of responsible spending, on other areas of need. But the Colts have typically avoided any big long-term deals, so they might not be as active as the cap space would indicate they could be.

12. Chicago Bears (8-8, cap space: minus-$20 million, biggest priority: figuring out QB)

Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are back, which didn't make many Bears fans happy. That duo has to know it needs to win or else. Could that lead to an offseason of reckless spending as they look to make the playoffs in 2021? We've seen that happen before from lame-duck GMs and coaches. Though salary cap problems will make that difficult anyway.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9, cap space: $32.7 million, biggest priority: offensive line)

The Chargers might be one strong offseason from being one of the NFL's sleeper contenders. Justin Herbert was great as a rookie, and he's still cheap. That allows Los Angeles to chase high-end free agents with a good amount of cap space. There's already talent on the roster and a great opportunity to add some more. Keep an eye on the Chargers; this might be the team we're talking about a lot over the summer.

10. Cleveland Browns (11-5, cap space: $26.9 million, biggest priority: safety)

Will the Browns ever run out of cap space? It seems they go into every offseason with the ability to spend big. A step forward in 2020, their typical generous approach to the offseason and the possibility of an Odell Beckham Jr. trade makes them a team to watch.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, cap space: minus-$397K, biggest priority: keeping the band together)

Chris Godwin got the franchise tag and will stay. Shaq Barrett didn't get the tag and might be gone. Same goes for Ndamukong Suh, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette. Bruce Arians was confident the Buccaneers could keep their free agents, but it won't be easy. Signing Lavonte David to an extension on Tuesday helped. How the Super Bowl champs navigate keeping their core together for another run will be a big story this month.

8. San Francisco 49ers (6-10, cap space: $28.6 million, biggest priority: cornerback)

I think Jimmy Garoppolo returns, mostly because the 49ers don't have a decent replacement. But if they can find a new quarterback and Garoppolo is on the move, the 49ers become interesting in a hurry. They're already a great rebound candidate for 2021, with plenty of talent on hand and a cap situation that should allow them to add a couple pieces. Figuring out the cornerback position is a must.

7. Houston Texans (4-12, cap space: $34 million, biggest priority: showing signs of competency)

Interesting teams aren't always the best teams. There's a train wreck element to the Texans after the past couple years. The biggest potential move in the NFL this offseason is Deshaun Watson being traded. Whether he stays despite letting the world know he's unhappy, or gets traded, it's a big story. The Texans could turn the offseason on its head.

6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, cap space: $26.6 million, biggest priority: going all-in during a championship window)

The Ravens have a good amount of cap space, thanks to Lamar Jackson still being on his rookie deal. Assuming Jackson will get paid soon, the window for the Ravens to make some luxury short-term signings is now. The Ravens are very good and if they're able to add a couple good free agents, they could be a title contender again.

5. New York Jets (2-14, cap space: $72.5 million, biggest priority: building an offense around whoever the QB will be)

The Jets can make a huge move if they decide to make a big play for Deshaun Watson. The second pick would be enticing in trade talks because it would allow the Texans to replace Watson with an exciting rookie. If that doesn't work, the Jets seem likely to draft a quarterback at No. 2, though building around Sam Darnold is a possibility too. The Jets are one of three teams with way more cap space than anyone else, which means that no matter who the quarterback is, he should be getting some new teammates to work with. This could end up being the team to win the offseason.

4. Seattle Seahawks (12-4, cap space: $24.8 million, biggest priority: fixing the Russell Wilson relationship)

How the Seahawks attack the offseason will get dissected more than usual. If they don't get offensive line help, is that a message to Russell Wilson? If they do add to the offense, is that a sign they're allowing Wilson more say in how they go about their business? Then again, maybe the Seahawks throw a wrench into the whole offseason by trading their future Hall of Fame quarterback.

3. Miami Dolphins (10-6, cap space: $35.6 million, biggest priority: either trading for Deshaun Watson or building around Tua Tagovailoa)

All of the Dolphins' maneuvers to add draft picks and cap space are starting to pay off. The big question is, will the Dolphins use some of that extra capital to land Deshaun Watson, moving on quickly from Tua Tagovailoa? Will they stick with Tua and trade the No. 3 pick to a team desperate at quarterback, or stay put and take an impact receiver or offensive lineman third overall? Miami has a lot of paths to improve a roster that came along quickly last season, and they could end the offseason as a serious challenger to the Bills for the AFC East title.

2. New England Patriots (7-9, cap space: $72.6 million, biggest priority: adding talent everywhere)

The Patriots have a ton of cap space. They have spent big before, but that was when they were clearly Super Bowl contenders. This is a different situation, with a team that doesn't want to do a long-term rebuild but has many questions starting at quarterback and going through the rest of the roster. How the Patriots approach free agency will provide valuable clues on how close Bill Belichick thinks his team is to making it back to the playoffs.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15, cap space: $72.8 million, biggest priority: making sure Trevor Lawrence has a good infrastructure)

Not long after having to shed a bunch of bloated contracts, the Jaguars are in a fun spot. They have the first overall pick and the most salary cap space in the NFL. Considering their next quarterback will be Trevor Lawrence on his rookie deal for a while, there's no reason Jacksonville can't spend on a couple of big-ticket free agents. This is a recipe for the Jaguars transforming from one of the NFL's worst franchises into a must-watch team this season and beyond.

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NFL Power Rankings: Ranking every team from most interesting to least interesting in free agency - Yahoo Sports

Fourth Quarter and Recent Highlights

Net sales of $175.9 million; increase of $33.6 million, or 23.6%, compared to prior year comparable period

Operating loss of $0.8 million, $32.9 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Net loss from continuing operations of $5.8 million; $26.2 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $7.3 million; $23.8 million improvement compared to prior year comparable period

Entered into $225.0 million term loan, including $125.0 million delayed draw facility; proceeds repaid existing term loan and will repay outstanding convertible notes; reduced interest rate with flexible financial covenants in support of Company's long-term strategic initiatives

Full Year Highlights

$39.1 million of cash generated from operating activities; $107.6 million improvement over prior year

Cash and availability(2) of $83.4 million; $38.5 million improvement over prior year

Net sales of $661.2 million; decrease of $29.2 million, or 4.2%, compared to prior year

Operating loss of $6.9 million; $50.3 million improvement compared to prior year

Net loss from continuing operations of $37.5 million; $72.5 million improvement compared to prior year

Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $26.4 million; $34.7 million improvement compared to prior year

Horizon Global Corporation (NYSE: HZN), one of the worlds leading manufacturers of branded towing and trailering equipment, today reported fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2020.

"2020 was a transformational year for Horizon Global as reflected by significant year-over-year improvements in profitability and cash flow generation," stated Terry Gohl, Horizon Globals President and Chief Executive Officer. "We entered 2020 with great momentum and high expectations for the turnaround of the Company. While we immediately faced unprecedented macro-economic challenges due to the global pandemic, the team maintained its focus and ultimately delivered significant value to our shareholders as well as all of our key stakeholders. To offset commercial headwinds in early 2020, we accelerated the execution of our operational improvement initiatives, including the operational transformation of Mexico manufacturing and Americas distribution, streamlining our Americas product portfolio and rationalizing our Europe-Africa distribution footprint. This resulted in improved productivity and throughput, which enabled us to deliver on customer commitments and further solidified Horizon Global as the supplier of choice during the second half of the year. Our strong financial performance allowed us to opportunistically address our full capital structure in early 2021, resulting in a new term loan with a lower interest rate, flexible covenants and other favorable terms that enable us to pursue our long-term strategic plan."

Story continues

2020 Fourth Quarter Segment Results

Horizon Americas. Net sales increased $24.7 million, or 34.3%, to $96.8 million. The net sales increase was primarily driven by a $13.3 million increase in the aftermarket sales channel, as well as a $7.5 million combined increase in the retail and e-commerce sales channels. Gross profit increased $15.6 million, due to higher net sales and operational improvements and manufacturing efficiencies, including favorable manufacturing costs, as well as lower scrap and inventory reserves. Horizon Americas generated operating profit of $8.6 million, an increase of $24.8 million compared to the prior year comparable period, driven by the segment's favorable gross profit, coupled with $8.6 million lower SG&A. Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $10.9 million for the quarter, as compared to $(5.6) million for the prior year comparable period.

Horizon Europe-Africa. Net sales increased $8.9 million, or 12.6%, to $79.1 million. The net sales increase was primarily driven by a $5.9 million combined increase in the automotive OEM and automotive OES sales channels, as well as a $3.1 million increase in the aftermarket sales channels. Gross profit increased $9.2 million, due to higher net sales coupled with favorable material input costs and labor efficiencies. Horizon Europe-Africa generated an operating loss of $(2.4) million, an improvement of $9.9 million compared to the prior year comparable period, driven by the segment's favorable gross profit. Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $2.5 million for the quarter, as compared to a loss of $(5.9) million for the prior year comparable period.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity. Cash and Availability(2) was $83.4 million, an increase of $38.5 million compared to the end of the prior year comparable period. Working Capital(3) was $55.6 million, a reduction of $34.0 million compared to the end of the prior year comparable period. Gross debt increased $25.2 million to $266.1 million over the prior year comparable period, primarily reflecting increased borrowings in the first two quarters of 2020 to strengthen liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary

Gohl commented, "Horizon Globals 2020 performance is testament to the hard work and dedication of each and every member of our global team. We established a culture of continuous improvement and we are not taking our foot off the gas in 2021. We will build on our positive momentum and remain laser focused on our strategic plan and operational excellence. With our current open order book, brand recognition and customer confidence, we believe we are well positioned to drive margin expansion, profitability improvement and increased cash flow generation."

Conference

Horizon Global will host a conference call regarding fourth quarter and full year 2020 earnings on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be hosted by Horizon Global's President and Chief Executive Officer, Terry Gohl, and Dennis Richardville, Chief Financial Officer. Participants on the call are asked to register five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time by dialing (844) 825-9786 and from outside the U.S. at (412) 902-4185. Please use the conference identification number 10152299.

The fourth quarter and full-year 2020 results and supplemental materials, including a presentation in PDF format, will be distributed before the market opens on March 11, 2021, and will be available on the Companys website at http://www.horizonglobal.com prior to the start of the call.

The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and in its entirety through the Horizon Global website. Shareholders, media representatives and others may participate in the webcast by registering through the investor relations section on the Companys website.

A replay of the call will be available on Horizon Globals website or by phone by dialing (877) 344-7529 and from outside the U.S. at (412) 317-0088. Please use the conference identification number 10152299. The telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the call and continue through March 25, 2021.

About Horizon Global

Headquartered in Plymouth, MI, Horizon Global is the #1 designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high-quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessory products in North America and Europe. The Company serves OEMs, retailers, dealer networks and the end consumer as the category leader in the automotive, leisure and agricultural market segments. Horizon provides its customers with outstanding products and services that reflect the Company's commitment to market leadership, innovation and operational excellence. The Companys mission is to utilize forward-thinking technology to develop and deliver best in-class products for our customers, engage with our employees and realize value creation for our shareholders.

Horizon Global is home to some of the worlds most recognized brands in the towing and trailering industry, including: Draw-Tite, Reese, Westfalia, BULLDOG, Fulton and Tekonsha. Horizon Global has approximately 4,000 employees.

For more information, please visit http://www.horizonglobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date they are made and give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as "may," "could," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "target," "plan" or other comparable words, or by discussions of strategy that may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity; the Companys ability to maintain compliance with the New York Stock Exchanges continued listing standards; the Companys debt, including the Companys ability to comply with the applicable financial covenants related thereto; liabilities and restrictions imposed by the Companys debt instruments; market demand; competitive factors; supply constraints; material and energy costs; technology factors; litigation; government and regulatory actions including the impact of any tariffs, quotas, or surcharges; the Companys accounting policies; future trends; general economic and currency conditions; various conditions specific to the Companys business and industry; the success of the Companys action plan, including the actual amount of savings and timing thereof; the success of the Companys business improvement initiatives in Europe-Africa, including the amount of savings and timing thereof; the Companys exposure to product liability claims from customers and end users, and the costs associated therewith; the Companys ability to meet its covenants in the agreements governing its debt; factors affecting the Companys business that are outside of its control, including natural disasters, pandemics, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, accidents and governmental actions; and other risks that are discussed in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The risks described herein are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deemed to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations or cash flows. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(1)

Please refer to "Company and Business Segment Financial Information" which details certain costs, expense, other charges, that are included in the determination of net income attributable to Horizon Global under GAAP, but that management would not consider important in evaluating the quality of the Companys operating results. The Companys management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as the key measure of company and segment performance and for planning and forecasting purposes, as management believes this measure is most reflective of the operational profitability or loss of the Company and its operating segments and provides management and investors with information to evaluate the operating performance of its business and is representative of its performance used to measure certain of its financial covenants. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income attributable to Horizon Global, which is the most directly comparable financial measure to Adjusted EBITDA that is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(2)

"Cash and Availability" refers to cash and cash equivalents and amounts of cash accessible but undrawn from credit facilities.

(3)

Working Capital defined as "total current assets" excluding "cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash", less "total current liabilities" excluding "current maturities, long-term debt" and "short-term operating lease liabilities".

Horizon Global Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

(unaudited)

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

44,970

$

11,770

Restricted cash

5,720

Receivables, net

87,420

71,680

Inventories

115,320

136,650

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

11,510

8,570

Total current assets

264,940

228,670

Property and equipment, net

74,090

75,830

Operating lease right-of-use assets

47,310

45,770

Goodwill

3,360

4,350

Other intangibles, net

58,230

60,120

Deferred income taxes

1,280

430

Other assets

7,280

5,870

Total assets

$

456,490

$

421,040

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings and current maturities, long-term debt

$

14,120

$

4,310

Accounts payable

99,520

78,450

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Horizon Global Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 - Yahoo Finance

One year ago, on the eve of the eventful day that signaled the start of the COVID-19 pandemic March 11, 2020 a plurality of Americans (44 percent) said the threat of the virus had been exaggerated, according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted at the time. More people said their peers were overreacting (36 percent) than said they were behaving appropriately (30 percent). Just 6 percent said they had worn a mask. And nearly everyone (88 percent) predicted that fewer than 10,000 Americans would ultimately die from the disease.

['The most unusual day': How March 11, 2020, marked the start of the COVID era]

Now, 12 tragic months later, with more than half a million U.S. lives lost to COVID-19, Yahoo News and YouGov repolled many of those same respondents and found that few have emerged unscathed from the pandemic particularly in communities of color.

According to the survey of 1,629 U.S. adults, which was conducted March 4-8, 2021, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) say they have either contracted COVID-19 themselves or seen a close friend or family member infected. More than a third (37 percent) say they have seen a close friend or family member hospitalized, or been hospitalized themselves. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) say they have suffered the death of a close friend or family member because of the disease.

And in a sobering sign of the viruss unequal impact, the number of white Americans who say they've been exposed to COVID-19 hospitalization (33 percent) and death (23 percent) is far lower than the number of Black Americans (47 percent/34 percent) or Hispanic Americans (52 percent/45 percent) who say the same.

Looking back, its remarkable how quickly the national consciousness shifted after March 11. In last March's initial Yahoo News/YouGov poll, just 29 percent of Americans said there had been coronavirus cases in their community; by the time Yahoo News and YouGov polled again two weeks later, that number shot up to 60 percent. Over the same period, the share of Americans who said the threat of COVID-19 had been exaggerated fell by half, to 22 percent. A full 62 percent suddenly said the opposite.

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Personal behavior changed rapidly, too. Between March 11 and March 26 the number of Americans who stopped shaking hands rose from 28 percent to 61 percent. The number who stockpiled food or other supplies rose from 15 percent to 31 percent. The number who avoided crowded public places rose from 37 percent to 70 percent. Meanwhile, 57 percent of Americans stopped eating at restaurants, 67 percent stopped leaving the house except for essential needs and 63 percent stayed 6 feet away from other people in public places.

Yet even then political divisions were emerging that continue to define Americas pandemic response today.

Darryl Hutchinson, facing camera, is hugged by a relative during a funeral service in Los Angeles in July for Hutchinson's cousin Lydia Nunez, who died from COVID-19. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Among Republicans, 58 percent initially believed that the threat of COVID was exaggerated; one year later, a nearly identical majority (57 percent) feels the same way. Meanwhile, the share of Democrats who consider the threat of COVID exaggerated has consistently fallen from 29 percent on March 11, 2020, to 12 percent two weeks later, to just 6 percent today.

This fundamental disagreement over the seriousness and severity of the pandemic persists across every aspect of public opinion. Among those who have not yet been vaccinated, Democrats (54 percent) are nearly twice as likely as Republicans (29 percent) to say they will get a shot as soon as its available to them, while Republicans (47 percent) are nearly three times as likely as Democrats (17 percent) to say they will never get vaccinated.

Today, 83 percent of Democrats say they are either very worried or somewhat worried about the newer, potentially more contagious variants of COVID-19 now spreading in the U.S.; just 38 percent of Republicans say the same. A mere 6 percent of Democrats say they wear a mask in public only some of the time or never; among Republicans, that number is six times as high (36 percent). And while 89 percent of Democrats say masks should be mandatory in public, two-thirds of Republicans now say the opposite.

Nowhere is this partisan divide more striking or more relevant right now than on the subject of reopening.

With cases down from their post-holiday highs, red states such as Texas and Mississippi have recently ended their mask mandates and reopened businesses at full capacity. But while a clear majority of Americans (57 percent) say they disapprove of this decision at a time when variants are spreading and most of the country remains unvaccinated, an even larger majority of Republicans (62 percent) say they approve.

Overall, the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found signs of growing optimism among Americans, with the share who say theyve received at least one vaccine shot ticking up from 17 percent to 23 percent over the last two weeks and the share who say the worst of the pandemic is behind us rising nearly as much (from 37 percent to 41 percent). A plurality of Americans (49 percent) say now is the right time to reopen schools; a majority (52 percent) say now is the right time to reopen indoor bars and restaurants at partial capacity.

[Also read: An oral history of March 11, 2020, the day COVID 'became real' for Americans]

Yet after a year of COVID-19, most now recognize the need to proceed cautiously. Late last March, 59 percent of Americans told Yahoo News and YouGov that Easter, which fell on April 12, would be too soon to open the country up for business, even though then-President Donald Trump had repeatedly said he hoped to do just that a number that parallels the 57 percent who now oppose the full reopenings in Texas and Mississippi. Last March, just 20 percent said Easter would be about right.

At the time, Republicans were 24 percent more likely than Democrats to say Easter was about right for reopening and 33 percent less likely to say Easter was too soon. Since April 12, 2020, more than 496,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.

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The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,629 U.S. adults interviewed online from March 4 to 8, 2021. The respondents all participated in a prior Yahoo News survey conducted either March 10-11, 2020, or March 25-26, 2020, and were contacted to participate. This sample was weighted according to gender, age, race and education based on the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, as well as 2020 presidential vote (or non-vote) and voter registration status. Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel. The margin of error is approximately 3.4 percent.

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Yahoo News/YouGov poll: One year into pandemic, a quarter of Americans say someone close to them has died from COVID-19 - Yahoo Sports

Cleveland Indians offensive standouts Jos Ramrez and Franmil Reyes are away from the team after breaking COVID-19 protocol, manager Terry Francona said Sunday from spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. It is the second violation for Reyes, who also missed time in July.

Francona said the two drove to Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. Afterward, they went for a haircut and ate dinner inside a local restaurant, per Mandy Bell of Cleveland.com.

They arrived at the facility Saturday morning and told the medical staff of their travels, initiating an immediate directive to head home.

We sent them home and self-reported to the league what they did, Francona said, via Cleveland.com. We turned it over to the league and were waiting to follow up. They have not had access to us.

Reyes has been in trouble before for breaking MLB safety protocol. He was not allowed at the team's summer training camp at Progressive Field in Cleveland last July after being spotted maskless at a July 4 party. The issue was discovered on an Instagram post days before he turned 25.

He joined the squad in 2019 in a trade with the San Diego Padres. Reyes hit .275 in the 2020 season with 34 RBI and nine home runs.

Ramrez is entering his ninth professional season, all with Cleveland, and led the league with 45 runs in 2020. He hit .292 with 46 RBI and 17 home runs.

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Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes away from team for violating protocols with haircut, dinner - Yahoo Sports

MMA Weekly

Saturday's championship heavy fight card is set now that the UFC 259 weigh-in results are official. All three title fights got the green light on Friday with all six athletes in the championship bouts stepping on the scale within the first 25 minutes of the two-hour weigh-in window. While UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz weighed in at 205 pounds on the nose, the top end of the limit, his opponent took a remarkedly different approach. When most fighters get as big as possible and then have a drastic weight cut during fight week, middleweight champ Israel Adesanya didn't follow the norm. He stepped on the scale at 200.5 pounds, pizza box in hand, in his quest to become a two-division champion. The UFC 259 co-main event features double-champ Amanda Nunes putting her featherweight title on the line against Megan Anderson. Nunes was first to the scale on Friday, weighing 145 pounds. Anderson was the last title fight athlete to the scale, weighing 144.5 pounds for the title tilt. The third championship bout on the UFC 259 fight card features bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan making the first defense of his belt. He'll square off against No. 1 contender Aljamain Sterling after both easily made weight. Yan tipped the scale at 135 pounds; Sterling at 134.5 pounds. Askar Askarov misses weight for UFC 259 All but two fighters weighed in during the first 30 minutes of the two-hour window. Askar Askarov and Kennedy Nzechukwu had yet to weigh in with one hour and 30 minutes left. Askarov took to the scale with about an hour left during the weigh-in window. He missed weight by one pound, weighing 127 pounds for his flyweight fight with Joseph Benavidez. If Benavidez's team agrees to the bout, Askarov would likely forfeit 20 percent of his fight purse to Benavidez to keep the bout intact. Nzechukwu was the final fighter scheduled on the card to the scale, making weight for his bout with just under an hour left during the weigh-in window. Glover Teixeira makes weight as UFC 259 main event back-up Light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira stepped on the scale after Nzechukwu, weighing 204.5 pounds. He will serve as an emergency back-up if anything happens to either of the UFC 259 main event fighters. It's not often that a fighter pulls out after weigh-ins, although it has become a bigger concern during the pandemic, as COVID-19 protocols have forced several fighters out on the day of the event. TRENDING > Dana White says UFC will be first to open up to Texas crowds UFC 259 weigh-in results UFC 259 weigh-in results: Israel Adesanya (200.5 pounds) UFC 259 Main Card (10p ET on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View) Main Event - Light Heavyweight Title Bout: Jan Blachowicz (205) vs Israel Adesanya (200.5)Co-Main Event - Womens Featherweight Title Bout: Amanda Nunes (145) vs Megan Anderson (144.5)Bantamweight Title Bout: Petr Yan (135) vs Aljamain Sterling (134.5)Lightweight Bout: Islam Makhachev (156) vs Drew Dober (156)Light Heavyweight Bout: Thiago Santos (206) vs Aleksandar Rakic (206) UFC 259 Prelims (8p ET on ESPN and ESPN+) Bantamweight Bout: Dominick Cruz (136) vs Casey Kenney (136)Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong (135.5) vs Kyler Phillips (136)Flyweight Bout: Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs Askar Askarov (127)Flyweight Bout: Rogerio Bontorin (126) vs Kai Kara-France (125.5) UFC 259 Early Prelims (5:30p ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass) Flyweight Bout: Tim Elliott (125.5) vs Jordan Espinosa (126)Light Heavyweight Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu (205.5) vs Carlos Ulberg (205)Welterweight Bout: Sean Brady (170.5) vs Jake Matthews (169.5)Womens Strawweight Bout: Livinha Souza (116) vs Amanda Lemos (116)Lightweight Bout: Uros Medic (156) vs Aalon Cruz (155)Bantamweight Bout: Mario Bautista (135.5) vs Trevin Jones (134.5) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Israel Adesanya comes in light for shot at Jan Blachowicz (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) UFC 259 weigh-in video: Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

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The Rush: WWEs The Miz challenges Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to a tag team match - Yahoo Sports

In case you were ever worried about the GOP-dominated state government of Tennessee not having the best interests of its citizens at heart, you can relax. Our boys are on the case, battling against the vast, nefarious invasion of transgender young people into high school sports, standing firm against college basketballers who kneel for the National Anthem, and, of course, battling for the right of every Tennessean to pack a gun pretty much anywhere.

Legislators are also planning to tackle the vital issue of East Tennessee State's men's basketball team kneeling for the National Anthem on state property. Look for some overtly unconstitutional legislative foofawfery soon. Never mind that the First Amendment right to protest and free speech is every bit as sacred and protected as, well, the Second Amendment "right" to openly carry a gun into Costco.

Speaking of ... If any of these guys ever has the nerve to say "Blue Lives Matter" again, they should be, well, arrested. Open carry laws are opposed by almost every major law-enforcement organization, by district attorneys groups, and by around 80 percent of American voters in recent polls. But Governor Bill Lee and his yahoo posse are more interested in pleasing the NRA and the 20 percent of the population that thinks gun regulations are a violation of the Second Amendment, even though most of them couldn't spell "amendment" if you spotted them the vowels.

Then there was the egregious piling on by several Republicans of the Shelby County Health Department in the wake of the discovery of 2,400 expired or wasted COVID vaccine doses.

Eighth District Congressman David Kustoff, for example, was shocked and outraged and demanded an investigation into this chicanery. This is the same buffoon who backed Donald Trump's ignorant and deadly approach to the pandemic for 11 months and who appeared, sans mask, slavishly praising Fearless Leader at rallies. He also voted to overturn the results of a free election after a mob violently demanding the same thing trashed the capitol building where he works, but yes, do demand an investigation into those who are trying, however imperfectly, to save people's lives.

Lee also weighed in with his concerns, as did several other Republicans. Where was this concern when much smaller (and whiter) Knox County "lost" more than 1,000 doses earlier in February?

Look, there is no denying that Shelby County screwed up some aspects of the vaccine roll-out, but let's not lose sight of the fact that this scenario is being replicated all over the country.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told NBC News earlier this month: "This kind of thing [having to throw away] vaccines is pretty rampant. I have personally heard stories like this from dozens of physician friends in a variety of different states. Hundreds, if not thousands, of doses are getting tossed across the country every day. It's unbelievable."

COVID-19 vaccines have a short shelf life once they are thawed out for use, Jha said. And because of federal and state mandates, many hospitals and other healthcare providers would rather risk a dose going bad than give it to somebody who isn't scheduled to get a shot.

So yeah, we've had some issues with vaccine distribution, but so have a lot of places. More than 120,000 people have been vaccinated in Shelby County, so it's not all bad. It's fair to point out mistakes, but let's keep the performative politics out of it.

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The Yahoo Posse | Letter From The Editor | Memphis News and Events - Memphis Flyer

Conference tournament betting previews: ACC

The dumb conference realignment shuffle of the past 10 or so years finally got something right when UConn came home to the Big East. When the Huskies officially re-entered the Big East last summer after a few seasons away, it just felt right.

This week UConn is in a familiar position, as a good bet to win the Big East tournament.

Connecticut has been the hottest team in the league, which plays its conference tournament this week at Madison Square Garden. Let's take a look at the teams to watch in the Big East tournament, with odds from BetMGM.

Connecticut was trudging along this season at 8-5, not giving anyone much reason to believe they could be a factor in the Big East tournament.

That has changed. UConn won six of its last seven, with the last five wins all by double digits. It's a Huskies team that plays slow but is efficient on both ends and is elite on the offensive glass. Sophomore guard James Bouknight leads the way at 20.2 points per game, but UConn's depth has been a major factor during the late-season surge. They're peaking at the right time.

Dan Hurley has a good chance to make UConn's return to the Big East tournament a memorable one.

Connecticut forward Josh Carlton (25) and the Huskies are peaking late in the season. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

The Wildcats are a good team, though a touch disappointing given their position as a preseason title contender. Now they're dealing with some rough injury issues as they head to New York.

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Villanova lost Collin Gillespie for the rest of the season due to a knee injury last week, and then in the season finale Justin Moore suffered a sprained ankle. Those two players are second and third on Villanova in minutes and points this season.

Considering Villanova coach Jay Wright called Moore's ankle injury "pretty severe," it seems unlikely the Wildcats would rush him back for the conference tournament even if he could play. Villanova is still a good team but it's hard to see them winning the Big East without two of its three best players.

St. John's fell behind 18-0 against Seton Hall on Saturday. They still won 81-71.

St. John's won nine of 12 down the stretch and is positioned to make a run in the Big East tourney. In their first game at Madison Square Garden the Red Storm get a rematch against the Seton Hall team they just beat by 10. Then they would likely get a banged-up Villanova team in the semifinals. Freshman guard Posh Alexander, perhaps the Red Storm's best player, has been out with a hand injury but St. John's played well last week without him and he could return for the conference tournament.

There are some flaws for St. John's, but they could end up being a great value at +2000.

Creighton +200

Villanova +300

UConn +300

Seton Hall +1200

Xavier +1400

Providence +2000

St. John's +2000

Marquette +2500

Georgetown +8000

Butler +10000

DePaul +10000

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NCAA March Madness betting: UConn back in Big East tournament, and they might win it - Yahoo Sports

Natalie Noel is the latest social media star to be added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit roster as a rookie for 2021.

The 24-year-old, best known for being the assistant to internet sensation David Dobrik, announced her inclusion in the iconic magazine on Wednesday with a post on Instagram. She also shared a video of her friends reacting to the news.

"IM A SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIM MODEL!!!!" Noel also known by Natalie Mariduena captioned her post. "Definitely still in shock."

According to the comments, however, the spot seems well deserved. "You're beautiful and I have a similar body type to you and this made me feel really beautiful!" one person wrote. Another said, "Honestly this will be so inspirational and will give confidence to so many people to see someone normal and not stick thin."

SI Swimsuit, led by editor MJ Day, has become known for representing inclusive body types as women of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and ages appear across the magazine's pages. Day has also made a point to select women with empowering stories to tell. In a post revealing this year's first rookie, she said that Mariduena's entrepreneurial spirit was one of the biggest reasons that the influencer was selected. "She recognizes the importance of changing the industry, using her following and her notoriety to help others," Day wrote.

"Being at the forefront of industry change, Natalie beautifully blurs the line in a world that too often tells women that they have to pick a lane and stay in it. We are proud to celebrate a woman like Natalie, a like-minded individual, who is passionate about seeing the SI Swimsuit message through," Day's statement continued. "She has created her own success story through her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and relatable mentality. We are excited to share her message in hopes of inspiring others."

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Aside from Mariduena's work for Dobrik's personal brand, the Chicago native has amassed a following of more than 4 million people on her own Instagram account where she posts authentic, relatable and impactful content that encompasses body positivity and political initiatives. She also showcases her personal business ventures through her own line of merchandise, sponsored content and her role as Head of Brand for a new social app, Dispo.

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Influencer Natalie Noel, 24, bringing body positivity to Sports Illustrated Swim: 'Someone normal and not stick thin' - Yahoo Lifestyle

TipRanks

Hi tech is the cool kid of investment sectors, offering an unbeatable combination of cutting edge chic and long-term stock market returns. Its understandable; our digital world has clearly passed a point of no return in the integration of tech with our daily lives. Tech companies, whether large or small, are clearly in a position to gain from this trend, offering the products and innovations that will facilitate and expand the growth of our high-tech footprint. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is at the forefront the tech wave. AI systems, which allow machines to learn from experience, adapt to change, and process more information faster than ever before, are powering the evolution of tech. New AI systems are making possible autonomous vehicles, personalizing sales and marketing, and speeding up the networked systems that hold the digital universe together. From an investor standpoint, the companies that are building and using AI systems now are in position for gains in the near future. AI is here, and its only going to expand its presence. With this in mind, weve opened up the TipRanks database to get the scoop on three "Strong Buy" stocks, according to the analyst community, which are making profitable use of AI technology, and jockeying for position out of the gate. iCAD, Inc. (ICAD) Well start in the medtech segment, where iCAD produces solutions, including advanced image analysis, radiation therapy, and workflow to facilitate early identification and treatments for cancer. iCAD offers a comprehensive platform of hardware and software. The companys ProFound AI Risk tool is an integrated platform that streamlines the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer; the VeraLook platform uses similar advanced technology to improve image processing in the detection of colon polyps. Medical technology is in high demand, and iCADs AI-powered platforms take common diagnostic tools and improve their accuracy. Its part of a natural trend in medtech, of greater integration of tools and treatments. The field, like much of the medical industry, is growth, and iCAD reported $10.5 million in revenues for 4Q20, a sequential gain of 47%, which was powered by a 70% sequential gain in product revenue from ProFound AI. Year-over-year, quarterly revenue was up 11%, and the ProFound AI sales, in particular, gained 21%. Covering this stock for Oppenheimer, analyst Francois Brisebois sees ProFound AI as powerful gainer for the company. "We believe growth investors will be rewarded over the years as ICAD gains further share in a growing TAM by providing transformative AI-driven breast cancer detection products as well as targeted, efficient, cancer therapy solutions (quality over quantity). We believe ICAD represents an attractive vehicle for investors looking for exposure to biotech innovation themes and AI data growth waves. Ultimately, while ProFound AI Risk is in its very early stages of launch, we believe it represents a great example of AI's potential in changing treatment paradigms," Brisebois opined. Unsurprisingly, Brisebois rates ICAD an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $27 price target. This figure implies a 63% one-year upside. (To watch Brisebois track record, click here) The unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating on ICAD shares shows that Wall Street is in broad agreement with Oppenheimers analyst; there are 7 Buy-side ratings on ICAD shares. The $21.57 average price target implies an upside of 30% from the $16.55 trading price. (See ICAD stock analysis on TipRanks) Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) Not every high-end AI stock is based in the US. Shifting our view to China, well take a look at Baidu, the Asian giants largest search engine. In fact, Baidu is the largest internet search platform in the worlds largest language, used daily by well over 1.3 billion people. Baidu has a massive userbase, and just because Western and Chinese internet systems arent interconnected doesnt mean that Western investors should overlook BIDU stock. Baidus gains are driven by a series of initiatives. The company benefits, like Google, from placing targeted ads on the search platform, ads that are powered by AI software. In addition, Baidu has been expanding the potentialities of its AI, moving into cloud computing and autonomous vehicles. In the past year, the company has even begun launching an autonomous vehicle system, the 14-passenger Apolong bus, in Guangzhou. In February, Baidu reported 4Q20 earnings and revenues, with slightly mixed results. The top line revenues came in at $4.6 billion, just below the forecast of $4.7 billion, but was still up 12% year-over-year; EPS on the other hand, at $3.08, slipped 25% yoy despite beating the forecast by over 10%. Among BIDU's bulls is Fawne Jiang, a 5-star analyst with Benchmark, who writes: BIDU is making great strides monetizing new AI initiatives including smart transportation and intelligent driving, which should fuel the Companys longer-term growth. We believe BIDU is well positioned to grow into a meaningfully expanded TAM capitalizing on growth opportunities in cloud, smart transportation, intelligent driving and other AI initiatives. In line with these upbeat comments, Jiang rates BIDU as a Buy, and sets a $385 price target that indicates confidence in a 65% upside potential. (To watch Jiangs track record, click here) With 14 recent Buy ratings, opposed to only 4 Holds, the BIDU shares have earned a Strong Buy from the analyst consensus. The stock is selling for $232.68, and its $343.44 average price target implies ~48% upside from that level. (See BIDU stock analysis on TipRanks) Five9 (FIVN) Lets look into the cloud now, where Five9 offers a scalable contact center platform using an AI cloud technology. Contact centers have been a successful growth segment in the past couple of decades, and cloud computing has changed the way we use software. AI, by making computers smarter and data analysis faster, more efficient, and more accurate, has revolutionized both; contact centers using AI smart clouds can track and route calls, process information, and direct callers and service agents to each other faster for better results. In 4Q20, the most recent reported, the company showed 39% year-over-year growth in revenue, to $127.9 million a company record. EPS, however, was negative, with the loss hitting 11 cents per share. This was an unfortunate turnaround from the 1-cent EPS profit posted in the year-ago quarter. On a more positive note, the company finished 2020 with $67.3 million in operating cash flow, up 31% from the prior year. Also of interest to investors, Five9 on March 4 announced that it has been selected as the cloud computing vendor for CANCOM, a leading UK IT company. The partnership makes Five9 the platform that CANCOM will use to expand its call center services, and gives Five9 a strong foothold in the European market. Weighing in for Craig-Hallum, 5-star analyst Jeff Van Rhee noted, Digital transformations have been kicked into high gear by COVID and the genie is not going back in the bottle. In addition, FIVN has been very aggressive over the past few years moving to public cloud for the entire stack and layering in outstanding AI capabilities. Demand for AI was noted to be playing an extremely important role in many of the largest deals theres little doubt about the momentum, performance, and remaining opportunity for FIVN. Van Rhee puts a Buy rating on the stock, along with a $215 price target implying a 40% one-year upside. (To watch Van Rhees track record, click here) Once again, we are looking at a Strong Buy stock. The analyst consensus rating here is based on 17 recent reviews, including 15 Buys and 2 Holds. Shares are trading for $153.81 and have a $202.31 average price target, making the 12-month upside ~32%. (See FIVN stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for AI stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Access Softek Survey: Financial Institutions Need Universal Mobile Biometrics to Modernize the User Experience - Yahoo Finance