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☆ Big U.S. firms adopt cautious tone on China recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In April, China's imports contracted sharply, underscoring signs of weak domestic demand as a battered property market, worries over job stability and global economic uncertainty kept shoppers wary. "We grew mid-single digits in China, which had previously been a double-digit growth market for us pre-pandemic. "Consumer confidence remains weak and shaken because many Chinese faced job and salary cuts in 2022 and Chinese New Year bonuses in 2023 were low," said Shaun Rein, managing director at China Market Research Group. Still, a rapid recovery in domestic travel demand propped up sales at hotels. "China will be a growth driver for many multi-national companies but will not be at the high growth rates many analysts predict," China Market Research's Rein said.

☆ Einride: 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swedish startup Einride is among those looking to swap out the diesel engines that currently dominate the industry in favor of fleets of autonomous electric vehicles . Just as electric vehicles are gaining popularity among consumers, so too are they catching on in the commercial trucking realm. Before Tesla, Renault Trucks, owned by Volvo, and Daimler, also produced and delivered electric heavy-duty trucks. Only 0.1% of heavy-duty trucks sold in Europe were zero-emission in 2021, according to BloombergNEF estimates. Electric trucks are also facing competition from hydrogen-powered vehicles, which boast quick refueling and a longer driving range, unlike electric vehicles.

☆ A number of outperforming stocks have bucked macro trends, Jim Cramer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Investors should be wary of bearish strategists who opt for a macro view and instead focus on individual companies, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday. In a market where idiosyncratic performers are plentiful, following one-size-fits-all macro advice can leave investors confused, Cramer says. Cramer pointed to outsize performers in myriad industries that would have been written off by those same bearish strategists. Investors might expect that industrial and homebuilding stocks would be suffering given the continued rate hikes, Cramer said. But industrial names like General Electric or Cummins have done extremely well, as have housing stalwarts like KB Home and Lennar , Cramer said.

☆ Kellogg lifts annual forecasts on price hikes, resilient demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Kellogg Co (K.N) on Thursday forecast a smaller drop in annual profit and raised the lower end of its sales outlook on the back of consistent price hikes and resilient demand for its cereals and snacks. Shares of the Michigan-based company rose marginally in premarket trading after the Corn Flakes maker beat market expectations for first-quarter revenue and profit. The Pringles maker's strong outlook reflects comments from peers PepsiCo Inc (PEP.O) and Hershey Co (HSY.N), who also lifted their annual forecasts in recent months boosted by price increases. However, organic volumes declined by 1.9% in the first quarter, while overall prices rose 15.6%. Net sales in the first quarter rose 10.4% to $4.05 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $3.95 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

☆ Kraft Heinz lifts profit outlook on price hikes, easing costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Aatrayee Chatterjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -Kraft Heinz Co raised its full-year profit forecast on Wednesday on the back of higher prices and sustained demand for its packaged food items as raw material costs, which have plagued the industry, also ease. FILE PHOTO: A Heinz Ketchup bottle sits between a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a bottle of Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce on a grocery store shelf in New York March 25, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoShares of the Philadelphia Cream Cheese maker were up 3.9% in early trading after it also reported better-than-expected quarterly results. The strong outlook echoes comments from peers PepsiCo Inc and Mondelez, who have also lifted annual forecasts supported by price increases. Excluding one-off items, Kraft Heinz earned 68 cents per share, topping analysts’ estimate of 60 cents per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

☆ The Fed could deliver the final rate hike of a historically aggressive cycle today. Here's what to know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

All eyes are on the Fed today as officials ready their decision on what could be the final rate hike of the cycle. We'll hear from central bank chief Jerome Powell today at 2 p.m. The last time the fed funds rate hit that level was during the housing boom in 2006, in the run up to the 2008 crisis. Broadly, markets are acting as if today's potential rate hike will be the final one of the Fed's lengthy, aggressive cycle that's brought so far nine consecutive raises, the last of which was a 25 basis-point move in February. "The market is telling you, in terms of forward yield curves, that they expect the Fed to make a mistake."

☆ New grads are already worried about being overworked in their first jobs out of college
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The top concern soon-to-be-grads have about entering the current job market has nothing to do with money, according to a new survey of 500 incoming college graduates from A.Team, a tech hiring platform. Instead, when asked about their top concern about the work landscape, 21% said they were most worried about finding a role that affords them work-life balance. Not far behind, 19% of new grads are concerned about not finding a job they're passionate about, while another 18% say potential layoffs are their biggest worry. Reports of academic burnout from college students got worse during the pandemic and remains a problem: As of 2022, 2 in 5 undergrads say they frequently feel stress while attending school, according to research from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. Gen Z's calls for work-life balance could reshape workplace culture

☆ Pepsi bottler Varun Beverages posts Q1 profit jump; announces stock split
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU/CHENNAI, May 2 (Reuters) - India-based Pepsi bottler Varun Beverages (VARB.NS) on Tuesday reported an about 69% jump in quarterly profit on price increases and steady demand, and said it would split each of its existing shares into two. The company reported a consolidated net profit of 4.29 billion rupees ($52.46 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, compared to 2.54 billion rupees a year earlier. Gurugram-based Varun Beverages, which is PepsiCo's No.2 franchisee outside the United States, packages and distributes beverages under the Pepsi, Mirinda and Tropicana labels. Varun Beverages approved a share split of its existing shares in a ratio of 1:2 to boost its liquidity and make its stock "more attractive" to small investors. The stock was last up marginally at 1,450 rupees and up about 10% so far this year.

☆ Prebiotic soda Olipop approaches $200 million in annual sales — and CEO says Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have already come knocking
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Prebiotic soda maker Olipop is set to cross $200 million in annual sales this year, just five years after it arrived on grocery store shelves. Olipop had raised $55.4 million as of Jan. 2, at a reported valuation of $199.8 million, according to Pitchbook data. Consumers are also increasingly interested in "gut health," one of the latest wellness trends. Both Olipop and Poppi have leaned into influencer marketing on TikTok, where gut health became a trending topic last year. But Olipop's Goodwin is confident that consumers are willing to pay more for the drinks he formulates.

☆ The world's 12 wealthiest people got richer by $36 billion in a day - and have now gained $264 billion in net worth this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and their peers have added $264 billion to their fortunes this year. The surge in their companies' stock prices this year has added $46 billion and $42 billion to their respective fortunes. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt-Myers have gained around $27 billion, $25 billion and $23 billion each. The billionaire best friends have added $13 billion and $7 billion to their respective fortunes since the start of January. Meanwhile, the $36 billion of wealth they gained on Thursday rivals the the market values of grocery giant Kroger and Taco Bell-owner Yum!

☆ Consumers are wising up to 'greedflation' as food companies keep prices high
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Most consumers think food brands are using inflation "as an excuse to hike prices," a survey says. PepsiCo, Nestlé, Conagra, and other food companies say they are trying to cover their costs. While costs of raw materials, labor, and shipping have continued to be high, many food companies have reported leaps in profit at the same time. Many have noticed that food companies' profits have been increasing, too, a sign to them that some of the higher prices are about something other than covering production costs. Recent earnings from food companies suggest that many have raised prices higher than inflation.

Cloetta AB, (CLOEb.ST) a Swedish confectioner which makes Lakerol lozenges that use gum arabic, has "ample" stock of the ingredient, a spokesperson said in an email. Global production of gum arabic is about 120,000 tonnes a year, worth $1.1 billion, according to estimates cited by Kerry Group. "Both buyers and sellers are clueless on when things will normalise.”Alwaleed Ali, who owns AGP Innovations Co Ltd, a gum arabic exporting business, said his customers are looking for alternative countries to source gum arabic. It accounts for the livelihoods of thousands of people and the more expensive variety can cost about $3,000 a tonne, according to Gum Sudan. There is a poorer quality, cheaper gum from outside of Sudan, but the preferred ingredient is only found in acacia trees in Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, Alnoor said.

☆ Instacart, Walmart, and others are rushing to power streaming TV ads to capture a $5.6 billion opportunity for retail media
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

They hope to use shopper data to prove that streaming ads are more effective than linear TV ads. Instacart, Walmart, Kroger, and Best Buy are racking up partnerships with streaming TV companies like Roku and Disney. By partnering with retailers, streaming TV ad sellers can gun for the big budgets that CPG brands spend on linear TV, she said. Streaming ads are often pitched as being more targetable and measurable than linear ads. Both Walmart and Albertsons works with the Trade Desk to target streaming ads.

Cost inflation rose during the COVID-19 pandemic and was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which sent energy prices to record highs last year. Energy costs have since dropped, however, while global prices for some commodities are rising more slowly. Companies like Nestle (NESN.S), Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) and Danone (DANO.PA) continued to raise prices sharply in the first quarter even though input costs are easing. First quarter price/mix, a basket of variables the company uses to help determine what prices to charge, rose 12.4% while sales volumes declined 4.5%. Similarly, Nestle increased its prices by 9.8% during the quarter and sales volumes - which the company calls real internal growth - fell only 0.5%.

SBUX mountain 2021-11-01 Starbucks (SBUX) China's reopening from last year's Covid lockdowns has progressed according to plan with no setbacks. 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 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.

☆ Move over Red Bull and Monster. This energy drink stock may be the next big industry breakout, Piper Sandler says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's time to buy Celsius Holdings as the firm's energy drinks break away from industry leaders Red Bull and Monster, according to Piper Sandler. "CELH has a differentiated brand that sets it apart from competitors like Red Bull, Monster, other energy drinks, and coffee. It offers a more refreshing alternative to coffee with a strong caffeine boost but without the sugar of most energy drinks," Lavery said to clients in a Tuesday note. "And while leading brands like Red Bull and Monster offer sugar free alternatives, CELH's flavors are primarily fruit-forward and unique," Lavery added. CELH YTD mountain Celsius shares YTD Celsius shares are underperforming this year, down by more than 10%.

This helped push the Dow Jones Transport Average index (.DJT) down 3.6%, for its biggest one-day drop since September. The Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) dropped 238.05 points, or 1.98%, to 11,799.16 in its biggest one-day percentage decline since March 9. The KBW Regional Banking index (.KRX) dropped 3.9% as First Republic (FRC.N) shares fell 49%, hitting a record low. General Motors Co (GM.N) shares fell 4% after it cautioned that 2022 price gains will not last as the year goes on, even as it lifted full-year profit and cash flow forecasts. On U.S. exchanges 10.78 billion shares traded compared with the 10.32 billion average for the last 20 sessions.

☆ McDonald’s, PepsiCo, GM Flex Their Pricing Power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Heather Haddon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg NewsShoppers looking for price breaks on basics may have to wait. Consumers remained willing to pay more for burgers, soda, diapers and other everyday items in the beginning of the year, lifting sales of companies including McDonald ’s Corp., PepsiCo Inc., and Kimberly-Clark Corp. even as some executives warn that shoppers may become more resistant to price increases.

The insurance company posted 84 cents in adjusted earnings per share and $1.11 billion in revenue. However, the company's $592.2 million quarterly revenue fell below the $593.9 million anticipated by Wall Street. Although the company's quarterly adjusted earnings and revenue topped analysts' expectations, investors may have been disappointed in its muted full-year outlook. Danaher's GAAP operating profit of $1.79 billion fell below analysts' estimates of $2.12 billion, according to FactSet. General Motors — Shares fell 3.3% after the automaker lowered its guidance for net income attributable to stockholders in 2023.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Novartis, First Republic, 3M and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

3M reported $1.97 in earnings per share, higher than analysts expectations of $1.58 from FactSet. The company reported $2.63 in adjusted earnings per share on $5.9 billion in revenue. The company reported $39.99 billion in revenue, higher than $38.96 billion according to Refinitiv data. Novartis reported earnings per share of $1.71 on $12.95 billion in revenue, topping analysts' expectations of $1.54 per share on $12.52 billion in revenue. PepsiCo reported earnings per share of $1.50, topping analysts' expectations of $1.39.

☆ McDonald's diners are pushing back against price increases in some markets, CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's customers are pushing back against higher prices in some markets and adding fewer menu items to their orders, CEO Chris Kempczinski said Tuesday. Kempczinski's comments come as consumer companies report mixed reactions to higher prices during the first quarter. For example, Coca-Cola saw a muted reaction to demand as it kept raising prices on its drinks. Additionally, McDonald's topped Wall Street's estimates for its first-quarter earnings and revenue, helped both by its higher prices and increased demand. Watch the full interview with McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski on CNBC Pro:

☆ PepsiCo raises outlook as quarterly results beat expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PepsiCo on Tuesday boosted its outlook for the year as it posted earnings and revenue that beat expectations. Shares of the company rose more than 2% Tuesday, hitting a new 52-week high. Organic revenue, which doesn't include the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, rose 14.3%. PepsiCo Beverages North America's organic revenue increased 12%, with with Pepsi delivering double-digit net revenue growth and brands like Gatorade and Aquafina delivering high single-digit net revenue growth. The company said it expects its full-year 2023 organic revenue to increase 8%, up from 6%, and core constant currency EPS to increase 9% up from 8%.

☆ Earnings playbook: Your guide to a busy week of earnings, featuring Meta and Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

What history shows: GM has reported a better-than-expected bottom line in 29 of the last 30 quarters, per FactSet. McDonald's is set to report earnings in the premarket, with management slated to hold a call at 8:30 a.m. What history shows: History shows Google's parent company beats earnings expectations 68% of the time, with the stock averaging a gain of 1.6% on earnings day, per Bespoke. Meta Platforms is set to report earnings after market close, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. What history shows: Bespoke data shows Intel beats earnings expectations 77% of the time.

April 24 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) on Monday topped estimates for first-quarter revenue and profit on resilient demand for its sodas and multiple price increases by the beverages maker to combat higher commodity and shipping costs. Average selling prices increased 11%, the maker of Fanta and Sprite said, while global unit case volumes rose 3%. Coca-Cola said in February it would raise soda prices further in 2023 "across the world" to combat the stubbornly high costs but at a moderating pace, while rival PepsiCo (PEP.O) hit a pause on price hikes. Still, Pepsi and Coca-Cola faced little or no pushback from consumers, thanks to their near domination of the global carbonated drinks market. Coca-Cola's first-quarter operating margin was 30.7%, compared to 32.5% a year earlier, as price hikes did not fully help offset an impact from higher operating costs, an increase in marketing spending, investments and a stronger dollar.

☆ Johnson & Johnson to price shares of consumer spinoff Kenvue at $20 to $23 in IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Johnson & Johnson will price shares of its consumer-health spinoff Kenvue at $20 to $23 in an initial public offering later this year, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday. J&J said it launched a roadshow for the IPO of more than 151 million shares of common stock. Kenvue estimates the IPO will generate net proceeds of around $3.15 million, the filing said. Kenvue expects to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 22.6 million shares of stock to cover any over-allotments, according to the filing. The company noted it will own 1.7 billion shares of Kenvue's common stock after the IPO, representing 91.9% of the spinoff's total shares.

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