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☆ Something strange has been happening with jobless claims numbers lately
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

That's because most of the past several weeks have shown that first-time claims for unemployment benefits haven't fluctuated at all — as in zero. "Initial claims for unemployment insurance are state programs, with 50 state rules, hundreds of offices, and 50 websites to file. Weather, seasonality, holidays, and economic vibrations drive the number of people filing claims from week to week," he added. Indeed, a Labor Department spokesperson noted that while the string of 212,000 prints on the jobless claims data is "uncommon," it would not be considered anomalous. The Labor Department official also pointed out that new seasonal factors to the claims data were announced a month ago.

Persons: Jim Bianco, Tracey Ryniec, Jim Organizations: Labor Department, Bianco Research, Zacks Investment Research, Labor, Federal Reserve Locations: New York City

☆ Supermicro is absolutely a meme stock without profits, says John Blank
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSupermicro is absolutely a meme stock without profits, says John BlankJohn Blank, Chief Equity Strategist at Zacks Investment Research, discusses Supermicro Computer and other meme stocks.

Persons: John Blank John Blank Organizations: Zacks Investment Research, Computer

PepsiCo got a bump to fourth quarter profits thanks in part to lower charges and continued price hikes, but higher prices have weakened consumer demand for the company's snacks and drinks. Volume for Frito-Lay North America fell 2% in the final quarter of the year, and beverages North America in North America slid 6%. Volume fell 8% in the Quaker Foods North America unit, as the division dealt with a recall. Pepsi has wrestled with higher prices and how to pass those costs along, raising prices by double-digit percentages for several quarters. Its profits are up, though higher prices have dragged down sales as people trade down to cheaper brands.

Persons: Quaker Oats Organizations: PepsiCo, New, Zacks Investment Research, Wall, Frito, Lay, Pepsi, Quaker Foods, Quaker Foods North America, Global, Carrefour, Quaker, Lipton, PepsiCo Inc Locations: New York, America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, China, Quaker Foods North, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Purchase , New York

The Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based company also trimmed its full-year adjusted earnings forecast, citing the possibility of higher medical costs. For the three months ended Dec. 31, CVS Health earned $2.05 billion, or $1.58 per share. CVS Health officials said in November that investors should ground their expectations for 2024 adjusted earnings at the low end of a range of $8.50 to $8.70 per share. CVS Health now foresees 2024 adjusted earnings of at least $8.30 per share. Pharmacists and technicians — mostly for Walgreens and other big retailers like CVS Health — were involved.

Persons: That’s, — Organizations: CVS, CVS Health, Zacks Investment Research, Revenue, CVS Health Corp, Company, Medicare, FactSet, Pharmacists, Walgreens, Rite Aid Locations: Woonsocket , Rhode Island

Uber posted its first full-year profit since going public in 2019 and its stock hit an all-time high Wednesday as strong bookings in the final quarter of the year pushed profit and revenue beyond Wall Street expectations. Like its final year as a private company, the last time Uber turned a profit, it got a huge tailwind from investments that helped fuel profits, $1 billion in 2023. The company earned $595 million, or 29 cents per share, in the same period last year. Revenue totaled $9.94 billion, beating Wall Street projections for $9.75 billion. For the year, Uber posted a profit of $1.89 billion, or 87 cents per share, on revenue of $37.28 billion.

Persons: Uber, ”, Dara Khosrowshahi, lockdowns, William Blair's Ralph Schackart, Gross, Khosrowshahi Organizations: Industry, Zacks Investment Research, Revenue, Uber Technologies Inc Locations: San Francisco

Still, it posted a healthy adjusted profit and the company raised its quarterly dividend. Exxon earned $7.63 billion, or $1.91 per share, for the quarter. Chevron also reported its financial results Friday, posting a fourth-quarter adjusted profit of $3.45 per share on revenue of $47.18 billion. Wall Street was calling for a profit of $3.29 per share on revenue of $52.59 billion. On Thursday, Shell plc reported an adjusted profit of $2.22 for the fourth quarter, with revenue totaling $80.13 billion.

Persons: Chevron, “ Organizations: Exxon Mobil's, Revenue, Zacks Investment Research, Exxon, Denbury Resources, Natural Resources, Federal Trade Commission, Hess Corp, Chevron, Shell plc, Analysts, Hamas, U.S Energy Information Administration Locations: California, , Texas, premarket, San Ramon , California, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel

Kohl’s posted on Tuesday a bigger-than-expected decline in quarterly sales, as customers spent less at its department stores. Lowe's, the nation's second-largest home improvement chain behind Home Depot, also reported drops in both sales and profits. The consumer electronics retailer posted revenue of $9.76 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. In the year-ago period, sales were $10.59 billion. Best Buy expects full-year earnings in the range of $6 to $6.30 per share, with revenue in the range of $43.1 billion to $43.7 billion.

Persons: Kohl’s, they're, Corie Barry, Barry, Anne Organizations: Federal, “, Zacks Investment Locations: Richfield , Minnesota

Macy's third-quarter sales declined with consumers cautious about spending, but sales and profit both topped Wall Street expectations. The department store also raised the top end of its full-year revenue and adjusted profit forecasts. Overall sales fell 7% to $4.86 billion, with sales at traditional stores and online sales both down 7%. “We delivered better-than-expected top and bottom line third quarter results and are entering the holiday period in a healthy inventory position,” Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette said in a prepared statement. Also on Thursday, Walmart posted better-than-expected third-quarter results as its low prices attract shoppers looking for deals in a tough economic environment.

Persons: Jeff Gennette Organizations: Zacks Investment Research, Walmart, Target, Inc

Home Depot sales continue to slide as Americans wrestle with persistent inflation and it narrowed its outlook for the year. But the nation's biggest home improvement retailer topped expectations for the quarter. Political Cartoons View All 1244 ImagesHome Depot earned $3.81 billion, or $3.81 per share, in the quarter. Home Depot now expects a earnings per share to decline between 9% and 11% in 2023 and same store sales to fall 3% to 4%. The company previously anticipated an earnings per share drop between 7% and 13% and a same-store sales decline of 2% to 5%.

Persons: Ted Decker Organizations: Home Depot Inc, Zacks Investment Research, Atlanta - Locations: U.S, Atlanta

Pfizer lost more than $2 billion in the third quarter as an expected COVID-19 product sales decline clipped revenue. Both the company and analysts who follow it expected revenue from those key products to tumble this year before eventually rebounding as commercial sales take hold. But two weeks ago, Pfizer Inc. warned that sales of its COVID-19 drugs were weaker than it had expected, and it cut its annual revenue expectations by $9 billion. Falling sales of both Paxlovid and Comirnaty also trimmed sales in the second quarter, but Pfizer said in August that it expected a rebound in the second half of 2023. Pfizer also had a revenue reversal of more than $4 billion in the third quarter.

Persons: Pam Eisele Organizations: Pfizer, Pfizer Inc, U.S ., New, FactSet, Analysts, Zacks Investment Research Locations: New York, _____

☆ Exxon Mobil third-quarter profit falls compared with last year's record numbers, but refineries are strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Fuel prices are displayed at an Exxon Mobil Corp. gas station in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Exxon Mobil 's third-quarter profit declined compared with last year when the oil giant was put up record numbers due to soaring crude prices, but net income was up 15% compared with the previous quarter. Exxon Mobil earned $9.07 billion, or $2.25 per share, in the period. The company posted unprecedented profits last year of $55.7 billion, breezing past its previous record of $45.22 billion in 2008 when oil prices hit record highs. While attacks on Israel do not disrupt global oil supply, according to an analysis by the U.S Energy Information Administration, "they raise the potential for oil supply disruptions and higher oil prices."

Persons: Exxon isn't, Darren Woods Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corp, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Natural Resources, Chevron, Hess, Zacks Investment Research, Mobil, Hess Corp, drillers, U.S Energy Information Administration Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Texas, New Mexico, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel

Exxon Mobil’s third-quarter profit declined compared with last year when the oil giant put up record numbers as oil prices soared, but net income jumped 15% compared with the previous quarter. Exxon Mobil Corp. earned $9.07 billion, or $2.25 per share in the period. Revenue slipped to $90.76 billion from $112.07 billion, but still topped Wall Street's estimate of $89.29 billion. Exxon also announced Friday that it raised its fourth-quarter dividend to 95 cents per share from 91 cents per share. Exxon shares are up slightly before the open bell, while shares of Chevron are down more than 2%.

Persons: Exxon isn't, Darren Woods, “, Exxon Organizations: Exxon Mobil’s, Exxon, Chevron, Hess, Exxon Mobil Corp, Zacks Investment Research, Natural Resources, Mobil, Hess Corp, drillers, U.S Energy Information Administration Locations: Texas, New Mexico, San Ramon , California, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Syria

Hasbro's third-quarter revenue performance missed Wall Street's expectations and the company cut its full-year revenue outlook again as signs of a possible industry slowdown in toy sales heading into the holiday season weighs on jittery investors. Holiday shopping is traditionally a critical selling season for toy companies and can comprise a large portion of their annual toy sales. Rival Mattel Inc. had a better third quarter, reporting on Wednesday that its sales rose 9% in the period. Still, experts are pointing to toy industry sales being down for the year to date and the third quarter as a concern. Mattel Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz said during a conference call on Wednesday that the company anticipates the global toy industry will experience a mid single-digits decline in toy sales for the full year.

Persons: Barbie, Ynon Kreiz Organizations: Zacks Investment Research, Hasbro, Mattel Inc, Mattel Locations: Pawtucket, Rhode Island

☆ Chevron tops estimates with first-quarter profit gain despite slide in oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil major Chevron beat market expectations on Friday as profit nudged higher in the first quarter, with earnings from refining compensating for a slide in energy prices and in oil and gas production. Net profit climbed 5% to $6.57 billion or $3.46 per share. That compares with a Wall Street consensus for flat profit at $3.38 per share, according to figures compiled by Zacks Investment Research. The company's standout business was oil refining, where higher margins helped income surge more than five-fold to $1.8 billion. But its oil and gas production division saw its net profit tumble 25% on a big year-over-year decline in prices.

☆ Chevron tops estimates with Q1 profit gain despite slide in oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON, April 28 (Reuters) - Oil major Chevron Corp (CVX.N) beat market expectations on Friday as profit nudged higher in the first-quarter, with earnings from refining compensating for a slide in energy prices and in oil and gas production. Net profit climbed 5% to $6.57 billion or $3.46 per share. That compares with a Wall Street consensus for flat profit at $3.38 per share, according to figures compiled by Zacks Investment Research. The company's standout business was oil refining, where higher margins helped income surge more than five-fold to $1.8 billion. But its oil and gas production division saw its net profit tumble 25% on a big year-over-year declines in prices.

☆ Tesla bulls and bears are duking it out and one strategist now thinks Elon Musk's car company is "boring"
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The presentation did, however, lay out broad plans aimed at making Tesla the largest car company in the world. The announcements were tepid enough that strategists at Vanda Research wrote in a note to clients that this month could see a sell-off for Tesla stock. That said, Zacks Investment Research forecasts 30% upside for Tesla, and that climb could happen in 2023. While Tesla has long been touted as innovative and futuristic over the last decade, Bespoke Investment Group concluded that the company is now actually a normal, boring car maker. The stock market is getting the jitters with a key bearish signal flashing red again.

☆ Tesla stock could spike nearly 30% over the next year with aid from its coming Cybertruck, equity strategy chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla shares are likely to rise by nearly 30% to $260 in the next six to 12 months, says Zacks. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about — delivered daily to your inbox. "I think that's doable," John Blank, chief equity strategist at Zacks, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday. I think $260 is where we're headed." And I think that's the real message we should hear about this whole Cybertruck," the strategist said.

☆ Zacks Executive Put Earnings Estimates at Investors’ Fingertips
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Bob Tita | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Benjamin Zacks and his brother started a financial-data firm that would help change the way the stock market evaluates public companies. Mr. Zacks and his older brother, Len, collected Wall Street analysts’ predictions for companies’ quarterly profits and distilled them into consensus estimates. Zacks Investment Research Inc., the company they started, said it was the first in the U.S. to distribute the quarterly consensus estimates to investors in the early 1980s, though another company had earlier started compiling estimates for companies’ annual income. Zacks’ calculations for per-share profits or losses gave investors a handy comparison to actual results and provided a catalyst for stocks to rise or fall in the aftermath of quarterly results.

☆ Buffett may have invested in TSMC too early, analyst says, predicting the best time to buy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Legendary investor Warren Buffett may have overpaid for his latest investment in chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor , according to one equity analyst. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought more than 60 million shares of TSMC worth $4.1 billion (1.2% of TSM) in the third quarter, according to a quarterly regulatory filing . New York-listed shares in the chip stock rose 5.8% in after-hours trading to $77.08. Blank said Buffett, 92, was not as interested in buying the bottom as other investors, given Berkshire Hathaway's long-term investment horizon. The median price target of 30 analysts covering TSMC indicates a 29.8% potential upside from its share price prior to Buffett's investment, according to FactSet.

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