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LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - GSK (GSK.L) chief executive Emma Walmsley on Wednesday made replenishing the drugmaker's pipeline of vaccines and therapies her number-one priority. But analysts say there is not enough in the medicine cabinet to keep the momentum going even beyond the next few years. Meanwhile, analysts say the market for Shingrix will eventually become saturated, further limiting the company's growth prospects. GSK shares lagR&D SPENDGSK's spending on R&D has long lagged behind its peers, something activist investor Elliott highlighted in a 2021 letter pressuring the company to make sweeping changes. Lucy Coutts, investment director at wealth management firm JM Finn, which holds GSK shares, there is hope the company will eventually deliver a streamlined and specialist portfolio of blockbuster drugs.

☆ Tokyo booms for shareholder-relations advisers as activists raise pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Men walk past an electric board displaying Nikkei and other countries' indexes outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan January 16, 2023. At that company, activist shareholders have forced board changes, rejected the management's turnaround plan and prompted the company to consider going private to remove them. Shareholder relations advisers do that, too, and they say they are generally more focused on longer-term strategies. EY announced a foray into shareholder relations in Japan in December, with a full-service line-up from identification of shareholders to proxy solicitation. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp said it would continue to expand its shareholder-relations support unit, Japan Shareholder Services Ltd (JSS), which now has about 80 staff members.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Alphabet, Ford, Lucid, AMD, Uber & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Barclays reiterates Apple as equal weight Barclays said it sees a miss when the Apple reports earnings Thursday. Deutsche Bank reiterates Disney as buy Deutsche Bank said it's standing by shares of Disney heading into earnings on Feb. 8. Bank of America reiterates Alphabet as buy Bank of America said Alphabet continues to pull the right "cost levers in a tough environment." Mizuho reiterates Uber as buy Mizuho said it's "constructive" on Uber shares heading into earnings on Feb. 8. Deutsche Bank reiterates PayPal as buy Deutsche said it's staying bullish heading into PayPal earnings in early February.

☆ Three years on, Britain still waits for Brexit dividend
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Britain exited the EU on Jan. 31, 2020, though remained in the bloc's single market and customs union for 11 more months. The government, led by Brexit-supporting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, says Britain is prospering with new-found freedoms. "Our problems pre-date Brexit," Lyons said, pointing to chronically low rates of investment in Britain. Exports, especially in goods, have disappointed over the last three years - despite high hopes for a "Global Britain" rebalancing of the economy after Brexit. Britain still boasts higher rates of employment and lower unemployment than most EU countries but there are some signs that Brexit may have impacted the labour market too.

☆ Wall Street says Europe's a better bet than the U.S. right now — and names its top stock picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European stocks are are having a good year so far. While the underperformance has been marginal, the outlook for U.S. stocks is decidedly more muted — Wall Street is still wary of a recession. European stocks are therefore worth a look in the near term, according to Bernstein, which expects more upside for them. Stock picks One of Bernstein's top plays is low leverage stocks, which the bank defines as stocks with a low net debt to equity ratio. Bank of America has a number of European picks with exposure to higher Chinese consumer spending and improving overall demand in light of China's reopening.

☆ Rolls-Royce slumps as new CEO warns of 'last chance' to change
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Sarah Young | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

According to the Financial Times, Tufan Erginbilgic told staff at Rolls-Royce's main British site in Derby, central England, that the company's performance was "unsustainable" and it faced a "last chance" to change. "He was honest about our financial underperformance compared with our peers," a Rolls-Royce spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Friday. Shares in Rolls-Royce, which before the Financial Times report were at their highest for about a year, lost 4% in morning trading. Rolls-Royce was plunged into crisis when most air travel stopped for months during the pandemic, and then recovered only slowly. Many rounds of restructuring and asset sales were already undertaken under prior CEO Warren East, putting to question just how much more can be implemented," Zhao said.

☆ General Mills upgraded to buy at UBS after recent underperformance creates attractive entry point
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

General Mills was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS, which said it's optimistic about the outlook despite the stock's rocky performance, and investor concerns are overblown. The Pillsbury and Cheerios maker's stock has fallen 12% since mid-December, UBS said, vs. a 5% loss for peers, UBS said. "Investors are concerned that structural headwinds are beginning to form in Pet," analyst Cody Ross wrote in a note, referring to the pet food business. UBS foresees strong consumer demand for upgraded dog food in coming years, driving market growth of 5%. This will be critical in helping General Mills achieve 2% long-term sales growth, the note added.

☆ The GOP tackles one of the worst midterm election performance in decades by voting to change nothing at the RNC
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AnalysisRonna McDaniel won a fourth term as chair of the Republican National Committee. McDaniel won with 111 votes. On average, the party that doesn't control the White House has picked up between 30 to 25 House seats, as shown by The Washington Post. Going by historical average performance, Democrats should have lost four US Senate seats. The GOP kicked out the sitting chair of the House Democrats' campaign arm, and Republicans also flipped four House seats in the Empire State.

But COVID-19 vaccine sales exceeded diminished expectations and demand for cancer drug Darzalex helped drive the fourth-quarter profit beat. The company reported $689 million in quarterly COVID-19 vaccine sales from outside the United States. J&J said it expects U.S. sales of Stelara to be flat to lower in 2023 due to competition from less expensive biosimilars in certain regions. It forecast adjusted 2023 earnings of $10.45 to $10.65 per share, above analysts' estimates of $10.35. Excluding items, J&J earned $2.35 per share for the quarter, topping analysts' estimates by 12 cents, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

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☆ Disney’s Bob Iger and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff are the latest high-profile execs to come under pressure from activist investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Billionaire activist investors are putting pressure on top CEOs who were previously thought to be untouchable. Leaders of beloved brand names are coming under fire — and Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Disneys' Bob Iger are the two latest execs to feel the heat, as my colleague Matthew Fox writes. That means activist investors, moguls they may be, still face an uphill battle in winning over shareholders and management teams. What's your take on this burgeoning wave of activist investors? US stock futures fall early Tuesday, as investors brace for the next wave of high-profile earnings and despite growing hopes for a mild recession.

Haley also tapped Betsy Ankney, a former political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to run the PAC, according to Axios. Longtime Haley advisor Jon Lerner, will likely have leadership roles within a Haley presidential campaign, two of the people said. Haley has publicly hinted in two recent interviews with Fox News that she could be ready to run for president. Kevin Lemarque | ReutersTrump, who lost his reelection bid to Biden in 2020, is the only candidate so far to jump into the 2024 presidential race. She even said in 2021 that she wouldn't run for president in 2024 if Trump was on the ballot.

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Hedge fund Elliott Management Corp has built a "significant" stake in Japanese automotive battery component supplier Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd (DNP) (7912.T), sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. A DNP spokesperson said the company had confirmed Elliott's investment late last year, but declined to comment on details. The Financial Times, which first reported the news, said Elliott now holds a stake just under 5% worth $300 million. Elliott declined to comment. It recently won a board seat at Pinterest Inc (PINS.N) when the company added Elliott portfolio manager Marc Steinberg as a director.

☆ Morgan Stanley's favorite buys and shorts for earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks are set for big swings this earnings season , and that spells opportunity for investors to buy and short some names, according to Morgan Stanley. More important for investors this earnings season will be the 2023 guidance, the firm said. Given this, traders should expect a rise in price dispersion over the next couple weeks as corporate earnings season unwinds. Seventy companies in the S & P 500 have released results so far this earnings season, according to FactSet data. Here are three positive names, and two negative, that Morgan Stanley highlighted: Bath & Body Works will react positively to earnings, according to Morgan Stanley.

☆ Qatar doubles Credit Suisse stake as embattled lender forges ahead with strategic overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Qatar Investment Authority is the second-largest shareholder in Credit Suisse after doubling its stake in the embattled Swiss lender late last year, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The QIA — Qatar's sovereign wealth fund — initially began investing in Credit Suisse around the time of the financial crisis. Combined with the 3.15% owned by Saudi-based family firm Olayan Financing Company, around a fifth of the company's stock is now owned by Middle Eastern investors, Eikon data indicates. Credit Suisse will report its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings on Feb. 9, and has already projected a 1.5 billion Swiss franc ($1.6 billion) loss for the fourth quarter as a result of the ongoing restructuring. The shake-up is designed to address persistent underperformance in the investment bank and a series of risk and compliance failures.

☆ We're using the recent sell-off in this industrial stock to add to our position
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shortly after the opening bell, we will be buying 150 shares of Emerson Electric (EMR) at roughly $87.40 apiece. Following Monday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 575 shares of EMR, increasing its weighting in the portfolio to about 1.72% from roughly 1.28%. The proposed acquisition of National Instruments looks very consistent with the objectives Emerson management laid out at its November Investor Day event. 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.

☆ Clash of the titans: Billionaire activist investors are putting pressure on top CEOs who were once thought untouchable
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The bear market in stocks last year has opened up a new window for aggressive activist investors. Once high-flying tech stocks and beloved brand names are subject to unfamiliar pressure from billionaire activists. Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Bob Iger of Disney are the latest high-profile CEOs to face pressure. Nelson Peltz of the Trian Fund and Paul Singer of Elliott Management recently launched activist investor campaigns against Disney and Salesforce, respectively. Activist campaigns targeting firms of this size and caliber are uncommon, but their struggling share price has painted a target on management's back.

☆ Cybersecurity was supposed to be a resilient area of tech, but these ETFs are struggling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Through the first three weeks of the year, the exchange traded funds tracking cybersecurity stocks are underperforming the rest of tech sector. The iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF (IHAK) , for example, has returned just 1% in January, well behind the tech and communication services funds that are also sponsored by BlackRock. The January underperformance comes at a time when high growth cybersecurity stocks were expected stay in favor. "From my perspective, it should be doing better in terms of performance because of the tailwinds that are behind cybersecurity," Maier said. Cyber stocks moved broadly higher, with the Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) gaining almost 3%.

☆ Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said he 'thanked God' that he wasn't on the House floor during Kevin McCarthy's contentious speaker vote process
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Adam Kinzinger said he "thanked God" he didn't have to endure the marathon of votes to elect a House speaker. "I knew what it would be like to be on the floor and I just thanked God that I was not there," he told Charlie Sykes. Kinzinger, who left Congress earlier this month, was highly critical of McCarthy during his last term in office. "I knew what it would be like to be on the floor and I just thanked God that I was not there," he continued to say. "This couldn't happen to a nicer guy," Kinzinger said of McCarthy's struggles in rallying the far-right wing of the party shortly after the midterm elections.

☆ Credit Suisse CEO says outflows have reduced 'very significantly' as overhaul progresses
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Switzerland's second largest bank Credit Suisse is seen here next to a Swiss flag in downtown Geneva. Credit Suisse is seeing a sharp reduction in client outflows, as the embattled Swiss lender progresses with its major strategic overhaul, new CEO Ulrich Koerner told CNBC on Wednesday. As part of the overhaul, Credit Suisse shareholders in November greenlit a $4.2 billion capital raise, including a new private share offering that will see the Saudi National Bank become the largest interest holder, with a 9.9% stake. Koerner said the transformation towards a "new Credit Suisse" was going well. Credit Suisse has also reached out to tens of thousands of clients in Switzerland and around the world for feedback, Koerner said.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, IBM, Amazon, Tesla, Exxon, Gap, Netflix & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Morgan Stanley upgrades Gap to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said it sees more "upside than downside" for the stock. Morgan Stanley downgrades Skechers to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock on valuation. Morgan Stanley names Apple a top 2023 pick Morgan Stanley said Apple is a "rare best-of-both worlds outperformer." Morgan Stanley names Amazon a top 2023 pick Morgan Stanley said Amazon is operating from a "leading e-commerce profit generating position." Morgan Stanley downgrades IBM to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley downgraded IBM and said "late cycle outperformance [has] runs its course."

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☆ Morgan Stanley upgrades consumer goods maker Church & Dwight, says now is a good time to buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Now's the time to snap up shares of Church & Dwight as the consumer goods maker is set to gain after a dismal 2022, according to Morgan Stanley. The firm on Monday upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight and boosted its price target to $91 from $82. But, the firm expects a "sharp fundamental turn in 2023 to above-consensus organic sales and GM results," Mohsenian wrote. Morgan Stanley now expects robust second-half organic sales growth of 6.4%, solidly outperforming 2022 and moving ahead of its peers. Morgan Stanley is lowering its earnings per share estimates to be more in-line with consensus, but wouldn't be surprised to see upside in the second half of the year.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Alphabet, Chipotle, Microsoft & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Morgan Stanley downgrades Chipotle to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley said it's concerned about "traffic headwinds." Morgan Stanley upgrades Domino's to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said Domino's is best positioned to handle a downturn. Morgan Stanley upgrades Church & Dwight to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said it sees "fundamental inflection ahead." Morgan Stanley downgrades AutoNation to underweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said it sees too many headwinds for shares of AutoNation right now. Morgan Stanley upgrades Kroger to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said it sees more people eating at home.

☆ Morgan Stanley says these attractive stocks have the best risk-reward for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

They include Dick's Sporting Goods, Verizon , Alibaba, Constellation Brands and Sealed Air. Dick's Sporting Goods It's been an "Olympic transformation" for the sporting goods retailer, according to analyst Simeon Gutman. Dick's Sporting Goods made pre-pandemic structural changes that leaves the company with a "faster-growing & more profitable business," Gutman added. Meanwhile, he said the retailer's customers have gotten wealthier and the sporting goods category has room for growth. Sealed Air The maker of bubble wrap and other packaging products is firing on all cylinders, according to analyst Angel Castillo and his team.

☆ Vanguard's global head of portfolio construction explains why the 60/40 portfolio still offers investors the best chance of long-term success even after a dismal year — and lays out the key investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Despite abysmal returns in 2022 there's a reason the 60/40 portfolio is a classic, says Vanguard. Long hailed as the cornerstone investing strategy, the 60/40 portfolio swiftly fell out of favor with investors after its returns were annihilated last year. But as equity valuations collapsed in 2022 so too did the 60/40 strategy, with an illustrative portfolio plunging 12% from the beginning of the year to December. In 2023, he predicts that the equity market returns between 5% and 6% — not anywhere near the dizzying gains of 2021, but far from last year's collapse. Furthermore, last year's massive correction may actually spell a brighter future for the 60/40 portfolio over the longer term.

☆ Disney board exposed itself to activist intervention, but Peltz may be overreaching
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's share price spike in 2021 was caused by the same phenomenon — investors charging into streaming services with significant subscriber growth. Activist investor Nelson Peltz spent about 30 minutes Thursday morning speaking with CNBC's Jim Cramer and David Faber in a wide-ranging interview about why he wants a Disney board seat. Now Iger's back, and the Disney board has tasked him with finding a successor in the next two years. It's a far easier case to be made that Disney's board and Iger have consistently bungled succession planning. As Trian noted in its presentation (on Slide 28), the Disney board extended Iger's retirement date five different times between October 2011 and December 2017.

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