Markets

US stocks go nowhere with big week of earnings on tap

The grind higher continued on Monday, but at a snail’s pace ahead of earnings from megacap tech companies Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta this week.

The S&P 500 opened higher on the heels of this weekend’s trade deal with the European Union and hopes for an extension of the quasi-truce for cross-border commerce with China. The benchmark index gave back those gains throughout the day before creeping back into the green for another record close just before the end of trading.

The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% while the Russell 2000 ended 0.2% lower.

A Bloomberg index that tracks the Magnificent 7 closed at a record high for the first time since December 17.

Energy, technology, and consumer discretionary were the only S&P 500 sector ETFs to finish positive on the day, while real estate, materials, utilities, and consumer staples all fell at least 1%. The number of stocks that declined in the S&P 500 outnumbered those that advanced by 220.

The day’s paltry gains in the index were led by Super Micro Computer, which rose double digits, as well as Nike, which popped nearly 4% after JPMorgan analysts upgraded the stock to “overweight” and hiked their price target. Declines were led by Albemarle, which fell nearly 11%, as well as Revvity, which sank 8% after the medical equipment maker topped Q2 estimates but slashed its full-year profit forecast.

Meanwhile…

Shares of Samsung Electronics had their best day of the year, rising 6.8% during trading in South Korea after the electronics giant announced a $16.5 billion chip manufacturing deal that Elon Musk said was with Tesla. Tesla shares were up 3% on the news.

Energy companies including Cheniere Energy, Venture Global, APA Corporation, EOG Resources, and Diamondback Energy all jumped after the EU said it would purchase $750 billion in US energy products over the next three years as part of a trade agreement with the US.

Celcuity rose more than 150% after the biotech company reported positive results in late-stage trials for its breast cancer combination treatment.

Duolingo shares sank 6.5% after the language learning company got its price target cut to $450 from $475 by Citizens JMP as user engagement growth slows.

Opendoor shares initially popped after the real estate tech company (and retail favorite) postponed a shareholder vote relating to a planned reverse stock split, but gave all that back and then some to finish down 8%.

ChargePoint plunged nearly 19% after the EV charging company announced a 20-for-1 reverse stock split in an effort to stave off delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Shares of Centene slumped 5% after Cantor cut its rating on the stock to “neutral” and slashed its price target, citing uncertainty in the company’s key Medicaid and ACA exchange businesses. 

Palantir shares fell as much as 3% before closing down just 0.6% following a new report from The Information that federal agencies (like the Department of Defense) are testing AI to reduce reliance on contractors.

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Nike sinks to lowest level since 2014 after warning of “challenged” sales environment in Q4 report

Did Nike do it?

Investors had a mixed reaction after the global sports apparel company reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the bell. Shares initially rose 5% as Nike beat out Wall Street expectations amid a hefty tariff refund bonus. However, the stock then sank to its lowest level since August 2014 in postmarket trading.

Here are the Q4 numbers:

  • Revenue of $11.0 billion (estimate: $10.8 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20 (estimate: $0.12).

Ahead of this report, Nike warned that results would be flattered by a one-time tariff refund (now estimated at roughly $0.52 per share for the bottom line). That gave the company an extra cushion in snapping its streak of seven quarters of year-over-year profit declines.

Over the past year, the company had been punished by tariffs on imported goods, stagnant consumer spending, and increasing competition from other footwear brands like New Balance, Adidas, and Hoka.

Outgoing CFO Matthew Friend deemed it an “increasingly challenging operating environment, where sell-through remains challenged.”

markets

Rocket Lab deal lifts space stocks

Shares of Rocket Lab are surging after announcing an $8 billion acquisition of satellite communications operator Iridium Communications, helping lift a broader basket of space-related stocks as investors piled back into the sector.

Planet Labs, AST SpaceMobile and Redwire all traded higher alongside Rocket Lab, extending gains in an industry that has drawn enhanced investor attention in recent months in light of the strategic importance that governments place on space and satellite communications infrastructure.

In a presentation, Rocket Lab’s management called the purchase “a shortcut” for its satellite communications business.

Under the terms of the agreement, Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash and Rocket Lab stock, valuing Iridium at $54 per share. Backed by a $3.6 billion bridge loan committed by Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, Rocket Lab absorbs Iridium’s globally licensed spectrum and an active base of 2.5 million subscribers.

Rocket Lab has also remained one of the most active launch providers in the sector. The company completed its 12th launch of the year last week, maintaining one of the highest launch cadences among commercial space companies.

Today's rally helps offset a brutal stretch for the group. Rocket Lab shares had fallen over 35% over the prior month, while Planet Labs stock was down more than 40% and AST SpaceMobile stock was down around 30% over the same window.

markets
Jake Lahut

Comcast shares rise on news of NBCUniversal spinoff deal

Comcast rose on the news that the telecom behemoth is spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky from its cable portfolio. 

Comcast initially jumped up to 17% in early trading, with the deal leaving management to focus on its core verticals of cable, wireless, and business services. 

NBCUniversal and Sky will form a new publicly traded company, similar to Versant Media, the holding company of CNBC and MS NOW that Comcast officially spun off in January. Bravo, one of the most lucrative properties that remained at Comcast, will remain part of NBCUniversal in the deal. The Universal theme parks and studios will also come with the new spinoff entity, along with Telemundo and Peacock.

Mike Cavanagh, the co-CEO of Comcast, will become the CEO for NBCUniversal, according to CNBC. 

The spinoff will be completed in about a year, according to a Comcast company statement. Its shareholders will also own shares in NBCUniversal, according to the same statement.

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