Britain Launches Mass Vaccination Against COVID-19

Britain’s 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to get coronavirus vaccine after completing clinical trials.

The nonagenarian was given the vaccine through injection at University Hospital in Coventry as part of the mass vaccination program launched in the United Kingdom Tuesday.

“It’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year,” said Keenan, who turns 91 next week.

The United Kingdom is the first Western country in the world to start mass vaccination program against the pandemic.

UK is rolling out the vaccine manufactured by U.S. pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

The anti-COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 received temporary authorization for emergency use in the U.K. last week, marking the first authorization in the world for a vaccine against the pandemic.

It is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, according to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Health workers will be one of the first to get the vaccine.

The UK government is in deal with Pfizer for around 40 million doses of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Canada entered into a deal with Pfizer to start early delivery of doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed in a tweet. The country expects to receive up to 249,000 of initial doses of the vaccine this month.

H&R Block Posts Narrower Pretax Loss In Q2; Introduces Block Horizons Strategy

H&R Block, Inc. (HRB) reported a second quarter adjusted loss per share of $1.09 compared to a loss of $0.85, previous year. On average, nine analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report a loss per share of $0.94, for the quarter. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items. The company noted that its non-GAAP loss per share widened due solely to a lower effective tax rate resulting from favorable tax planning. Pretax loss improved to $237 million from $261 million.

Second quarter revenue increased to $177 million from $161 million, previous year. Analysts expected revenue of $163.68 million, for the quarter.

H&R Block also introduced its Block Horizons strategy, the next phase of the company’s strategic transformation. Block Horizons includes three strategic imperatives grounded in customer insight, market testing and a solid base of current business.

H&R Block also updated its financial principles to reflect the company’s new long-term strategy, including: annual revenue growth goal of 3-6% annually; EBITDA growing as fast or at a faster rate than revenue; and returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

John Wiley & Sons Q2 Adj. Profit Rises – Quick Facts

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (JWA, JWB) reported second quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.00 compared to $0.85, a year ago. Wiley recorded a favorable FX variance of $0.05 in adjusted EPS, for the quarter.

On an adjusted basis (at constant currency), second quarter revenue was $491.0 million, up 4% from previous year. Excluding acquisitions and currency impact, revenue was flat for the quarter.

For fiscal 2021, the company projects adjusted earnings per share of $2.50 – $2.70. For revenue, the company anticipates low-single digit growth overall.

Stock Alert: Foley Trasimene Acquisition Hits New 52-week High

Shares of Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II (BFT), a special purpose acquisition company, are rising more than 12 percent or $1.44 in Tuesday’s morning trade at $13.39, after touching a new 52-week high of $13.73.

Monday, Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II and Paysafe Group Holdings Limited, an integrated payments platform, said they have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger. The transaction reflects an implied pro-forma enterprise value for Paysafe of approximately $9 billion.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021. Upon closing, the newly combined company will operate as Paysafe and plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE under the symbol “PSFE”.

Foley Trasimene Acquisition has traded in a range of $9.60 to $13.73 in the past 52 weeks.

Brown-Forman Corp. Reports Decline In Q2 Earnings

Brown-Forman Corp. (BFB) reported a profit for second quarter that decreased from last year.

The company’s earnings totaled $240 million, or $0.50 per share. This compares with $282 million, or $0.59 per share, in last year’s second quarter.

Analysts had expected the company to earn $0.51 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company’s revenue for the quarter fell 0.4% to $985 million from $989 million last year.

Brown-Forman Corp. earnings at a glance:

-Earnings (Q2): $240 Mln. vs. $282 Mln. last year.
-EPS (Q2): $0.50 vs. $0.59 last year.
-Analysts Estimate: $0.51
-Revenue (Q2): $985 Mln vs. $989 Mln last year.

FDA Says Pfizer-BioNTech Covid Vaccine Effective: Report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine met the prescribed success criteria in a clinical study, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The FDA decision indicates that the agency will soon give approval to the vaccine, which is the first COVID-19 vaccine being considered for distribution in the U.S., the report added.

The FDA analysis reportedly highlighted the known benefits from the vaccine. This includes reduction in the risk of confirmed COVID-19 occurring at least a week after the second dose, and reduction in the risk of confirmed COVID-19 after the first dose and before the second dose.

The news of the FDA analysis comes just as Canada has secured an agreement with Pfizer to begin early delivery of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed in a tweet today that Canada would receive up to 249,000 of initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine this month, with millions more on the way.

The UK became the first Western country to start mass vaccination against Covid-19 with the Pfizer vaccine today. 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.