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☆ Walgreens removes purchase limits on children's fever medicines
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) said on Monday it has removed online-only purchase limits for its over-the-counter pediatric fever-reducing products, as supply conditions improve. Pharmacy chains including CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) and Walgreens as well as U.S. grocer Kroger Co (KR.N) had last month limited purchases of children's pain and cold medicines at a time when the country was experiencing one of the worst flu seasons in a decade. Walgreens had put a limit of six over-the-counter pediatric fever reducer products per online transaction. Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Apple, Amazon, Uber, Nike, Boeing, Netflix & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Baird names Boeing a top 2023 pick Baird named Boeing as a top idea this year and says it sees a recovery in aerospace. UBS names Target a top pick in 2023 UBS says it sees Target as a market share gainer in 2023. Wells Fargo initiates Snowflake as overweight Wells said in its initiation of the stock that it's built to "weather the storm." Piper Sandler names Amazon a top 2023 pick Piper Sandler says it sees share gains and easing comps for the e-commerce giant. " Bank of America names Domino's a top 2023 pick The firm says Domino's is well positioned in a declining macroeconomic environment.

☆ Jim Cramer: My worldview for the first half of 2023 and the stocks that will win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +27 min

Our stock market comes out of 2022 better than any other. The profitless companies today — like the dot-com stocks in 2000 — almost all disappointed and will continue to disappoint in 2023. I had thought these people would come back to work when they realized that savings from the stock market and Social Security aren't enough of a safety net. Money will be exiting the stock market all year into the safer and somewhat greener pastures. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Novartis to pay $245 mln to end antitrust cases over Exforge drug generics
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Novartis AG (NOVN.S) said on Wednesday it will pay $245 million to end antitrust litigation accusing the Swiss drugmaker of trying to delay the launch in the United States of generic versions of its Exforge hypertension drug. The class-action litigation stemmed from a 2011 licensing agreement between Novartis and Endo International Plc's (ENDPQ.PK) Par Pharmaceutical unit. Novartis's annual U.S. sales of brand-name Exforge exceeded $400 million before generic versions were sold, court papers show. The case is In re Novartis and Par Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

This is why we have seen less activity," said Dirk Albersmeier, co-head of global M&A at JPMorgan. In the fourth quarter, there has been a 56% contraction in global M&A to $641.2 billion, partly caused by a 66% drop in private equity activity. Top rainmakers expect a pickup in cross-border M&A activity. Going forward, private equity funds are expected to kickstart the recovery as they seek assets at a discount. We were probably more optimistic a year ago," said David DeNunzio, global head of M&A at Wells Fargo.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, McDonald's, Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla, Meta & more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi reiterates Apple as buy Citi said it sees several reasons that Apple stock is likely trade higher. Jefferies names McDonald's a top 2023 pick Jefferies said the fast food giant is a top defensive idea for 2023. Jefferies downgrades Starbucks to hold from buy Jefferies said it sees a more "balanced" risk/reward outlook for the stock. Evercore ISI reiterates Alphabet as outperform Evercore lowered its estimates on the stock but said it's still "highly attractive" for long-term investors. UBS reiterates Nike as buy UBS said Nike's earnings growth potential is "underestimated" after the company's earnings report on Tuesday.

☆ CVS, Walgreens limit purchase of children's pain medicines
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Pharmacy chains CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) limited purchase of children's pain drugs as they face supply constraints and high demand with the United States experiencing one of the worst flu season in a decade. CVS said there is currently a two-product limit on all children's pain-relief products at all its pharmacy locations and online, while Walgreens said it had put a limit of six over-the-counter pediatric fever reducers per online transaction. Bloomberg Law, which first reported about the purchase limit, said U.S. supermarket chain Kroger Co (KR.N) was also putting a limit over the purchases to two children's pain medicine products. Kroger did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reporting by Raghav Mahobe and Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - PepsiCo plans to roll out 100 heavy-duty Tesla Semis in 2023, when it will start using the electric trucks to make deliveries to customers like Walmart and Kroger, the soda maker's top fleet official told Reuters on Friday. PepsiCo is the first company to experiment with the battery-powered Tesla Semis as a way of cutting its environmental impact. When Tesla starts building them, PepsiCo "will rotate those up" into its fleet, he said. PepsiCo declined to share details on the price of the trucks, a figure that Tesla has kept quiet. O'Connell said that a 425-mile (684-km) trip carrying Frito-Lay products brings the Semi's battery down to roughly 20%, and recharging it takes around 35 to 45 minutes.

PepsiCo, which ordered the Semis in 2017, is the first company to experiment with them as a way of cutting its environmental impact. PepsiCo is deploying 36 electric trucks from Tesla, with 15 in Modesto and 21 in Sacramento, so far. When Tesla starts building them, PepsiCo "will rotate those up" into its fleet, he said. PepsiCo declined to share details on the price of the trucks, a figure that Tesla has kept quiet. O'Connell said that a 425-mile (684-km) trip carrying Frito-Lay products brings the Semi's battery down to roughly 20%, and recharging it takes around 35 to 45 minutes.

[1/2] The Albertsons logo is seen on an Albertsons grocery store, as Kroger agrees to buy rival Albertsons in a deal to combine the two supermarket chains, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, U.S., October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Aude GuerrucciDec 10 (Reuters) - U.S. grocery chain Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) said that Washington State Court had denied a request of preliminary injunction by the state's Attorney General to prevent the company from paying $4 billion to shareholders in a special dividend. The court has extended the existing temporary restraining order until Dec. 19 to give the Attorney General an opportunity to appeal, the company said late on Friday. The Washington Attorney General has said that the dividend payout "risks severely undercutting the grocery giant's ability to compete" during the lengthy regulatory scrutiny. Albertsons has maintained that it was in a strong position financially and that the dividend would not hurt it.

☆ Albertsons says Washington AG is denied request for injunction to stop Co's dividend payment
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Industry Insight | Insights In Action | Service Is Now Table Stakes As Clients Seek Higher Value Firms | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] The Albertsons logo is seen on an Albertsons grocery store, as Kroger agrees to buy rival Albertsons in a deal to combine the two supermarket chains, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, U.S., October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Aude GuerrucciDec 9 (Reuters) - Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) said late on Friday that Washington State Court has denied a request of preliminary injunction by the state's Attorney General to prevent the company from paying a dividend to its shareholders. The attorneys general of California, Illinois and Washington D.C. asked a federal court last week for a preliminary injunction that would prevent Albertsons, which is being purchased by rival Kroger Co (KR.N), from paying a $4 billion dividend to shareholders. Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bank of America says these stocks have the most 'potential upside' this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Analysts at Bank of America named five stocks this week that they say every investor must own heading into 2023. CNBC Pro combed through Bank of America research looking for stocks with major upside potential. Netflix Shares of Netflix are down 46.8% this year, but analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich is standing by the streaming giant. Kroger Kroger shares have gained nearly 2.6% this year, but the stock has a lot more room to run, according to analyst Robert Ohmes. ... We rate Solo Brands' shares Buy as we believe its unique platform strategy should enable its high growth Leisure brands."

☆ Jim Cramer's Investing Club meeting Friday: Inflation data, Salesforce, Microsoft trouble
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. "I think things have kind of bottomed, and the publicity and the long knives are overdone to me at this point," Jim Cramer said Friday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Kroger receives FTC request for additional information on Albertsons deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Kroger Co (KR.N) said on Tuesday it received a request for additional information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as part of the regulatory review process for its planned $25 billion merger with Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N). The deal, which was announced in mid-October, has drawn fire from lawmakers and consumer groups amid concerns the tie-up of the No. 1 and 2 standalone grocers in the United States could boost already-high food prices and stifle competition. The request from FTC extends the required waiting period until 30 days after the companies have "substantially complied" with the requests, Kroger said. The company added it still expects to complete the deal in early 2024.

☆ Walmart CEO: Inflation on toys, clothing and sports equipment is easing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN Business —Finally, shoppers are getting some good news about prices: Inflation is falling on discretionary merchandise just in time for the holidays, Walmart chief Doug McMillon said Tuesday. “In toys, sporting goods, apparel, categories like that, prices have come down more aggressively,” McMillon said in an interview on CNBC. Sporting goods were up 3%, while apparel was up 4.1%. McMillon said budget-conscious customers were most pressured by inflation, but other shoppers “have money to spend.”Kroger (KR)also said last week that food inflation was easing. “If you look at in our fresh departments, clearly, inflation is slowing down in many categories,” Kroger chief Rodney McMullen said on a call with analysts.

☆ Activision acquisition would be good for Microsoft and the overall stock market
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

That implies that the other 35% of the market is made up of firms with equal to or less than about a 2% market share. For simplicity's sake, let's say an additional 17 firms have a 2% market share each to bring us to 100% of the market. That means the HHI, calculated by the market share number squared and then added together for all 27 companies, would be under 650. If the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal goes through, and you combine the market share concentration of the two companies, the HII would be just over 700. The other issue is how one measures the gaming market.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Designer Brands, Lands' End, Salesforce and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Peter Schacknow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dollar General (DG) – Dollar General slumped 6.1% in premarket trading after the discount retailer cut its annual forecast due to higher costs. Lands' End (LE) – The apparel retailer reported an unexpected quarterly loss. Salesforce (CRM) – Salesforce fell 7.4% in the premarket after the business software company announced that co-CEO Bret Taylor would be stepping down January 31, leaving Chairman Marc Benioff as the sole CEO. Five Below (FIVE) – Five Below rallied 9.3% in premarket trading in the wake of better than expected quarterly results. Splunk (SPLK) – Splunk staged an 8.1% premarket rally after the data management software company reported upbeat quarterly results and boosted its full-year forecast.

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Skeptical lawmakers from across the political spectrum questioned executives at grocers Kroger Co (KR.N) and Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) on Tuesday about their planned $25 billion merger amid concerns the tie-up could boost already-high food prices. The deal will be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission to ensure it is legal under antitrust law. Stores under the Albertsons umbrella include Balducci's, Haggen, Kings, Safeway, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons, among others. The companies have also been criticized for a plan to give Albertsons' shareholders a $4 billion dividend payment. Senator Tom Cotton, a conservative Republican, criticized Kroger for the company's aprons with a design that appeared to support gay pride.

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Top executives at Kroger Co (KR.N) and Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) on Tuesday defended their planned $25 billion merger before skeptical lawmakers who fear the deal would push up food prices at a time of high inflation. "A combined Kroger and Albertsons will remain at number four as we will continue to compete with these companies to sell groceries. Those same three competitors have nearly three times the share of grocery sales of Kroger and Albertsons combined," he said, according to written remarks. In that case, the companies were forced to sell 168 stores to ensure that competition would remain fierce and prices would not rise. The companies have also been criticized for a plan to give Albertsons' shareholders a $4 billion dividend payment.

☆ Albertsons, Kroger CEOs to defend $25 bln merger to skeptical U.S. senators
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Top executives at Kroger Co (KR.N) and Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) are expected to face tough questions on Tuesday from lawmakers who worry the grocers' planned $25 billion merger will push up food prices at a time when inflation is a concern. Kroger Chief Executive Rodney McMullen and Albertsons' chief, Vivek Sankaran, will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, some of whose members have already criticized the deal. Senators Amy Klobuchar, chair of the Senate antitrust panel, and Richard Blumenthal were among those who signed a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, saying the merger "raises considerable antitrust concerns." Ideally, they would like to find buyers for the facilities but could also put them into a new company that would be owned by Albertsons' shareholders. The companies may also draw fire on Tuesday for a widely criticized plan to give Albertsons' shareholders a $4 billion dividend payment.

The hearing was called by Klobuchar along with Senator Mike Lee, the top Republican on an antitrust panel of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "The hearing will examine the impact of the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, the two largest grocery chains in the country," the statement said. The FTC is expected to aggressively review the deal to ensure it complies with antitrust law. While the two are the largest standalone grocers, Walmart is the market leader. Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Stocks finish higher as the Street awaits key inflation data next week
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks finished higher on this holiday-shortened trading week, with all the major U.S. averages posting gains. Under the hood, all sectors closed higher for the week, led by utilities, materials and financials. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. The U.S. Federal Reserve, alongside global central banks, has been trying to get a handle on soaring inflation.

The following are major companies that were accused of contributing to the crisis, and settlements or judgments involving those companies. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA)-In November, finalized claims nationwide for $4.25 billion, some of which is to be paid as a supply of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N)-In November, finalized a $2.37 billion nationwide settlement resolving claims against Allergan, a company it acquired in 2020. Endo International Plc (ENDPQ.PK)-Reached a $450 million settlement with more than 30 states as part of a bankruptcy filing in August. Mallinckrodt Plc (MNK.A)-Reached a $1.7 billion nationwide settlement as part of its bankruptcy reorganization plan, approved in February.

☆ Labor union Teamsters ratifies contract at Kroger
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Labor union International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Monday a new national contract at U.S. grocery chain Kroger Co (KR.N) has been ratified with overwhelming support. The five-year master agreement covers over 1,500 Kroger workers nationwide and provides significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions, the organization said in a statement. This comes as Kroger looks to complete its $25 billion deal for smaller rival Albertsons Cos Inc (ACI.N). Teamsters at Kroger voted by an 88% to ratify the contract, the union said, adding for the first time the national negotiating committee included rank-and-file members working in the industry. Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Analysts see one retailer winning this holiday and taking share as Target struggles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In contrast, Target reported an earnings miss Wednesday, with profit that fell by about 50% in its fiscal third quarter. "General merchandise softness continues to be linked to Covid-winner categories (CE, home, and apparel basics), although the category's performance also improved sequentially." Walmart's general merchandise sales fell at a low-single digit pace, its chief financial officer, John Rainey, said on the earnings conference call Tuesday. For Target, the softness in general merchandise is taking its toll. The retailer has made some progress clearing through its excess inventory, but the fiscal thir quarter brought higher-than-expected markdowns, Target said.

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