Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) – Darden Restaurants, owner of Olive Garden, agreed to acquire Chuy’s Holdings for $605 million in an all-cash deal. The purchase will add 101 Chuy’s restaurants in 15 US states to Darden’s portfolio, which includes brands like LongHorn Steakhouse and Yard House.

Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) – Beyond Meat is facing financial difficulties due to declining demand for its products, such as plant-based burgers and sausages. This has led the company to initiate discussions with bondholders to restructure its debt, aiming to address its reduced liquidity. Shares fell 13.95% in pre-market trading.

Petco (NASDAQ:WOOF), Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) – Petco named Joel Anderson as its new CEO on Wednesday, shortly after his departure from Five Below, where shares fell 25% due to forecast revisions. Anderson led Five Below for nearly a decade and will face similar challenges at Petco. Five Below shares rose 0.90% in pre-market trading.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) – Mercedes-Benz announced a partnership with Starbucks to install fast chargers at its stores in over 100 locations in the US. Initially, 400 kW chargers will be implemented along Interstate 5, from Canada to Mexico. This expansion is part of an initial $1 billion investment by Mercedes in its electric vehicle charging network. Starbucks shares rose 0.13% in pre-market trading.

Coca-Cola Femsa (NYSE:KOF) – Femsa SAB de CV agreed to sell its refrigeration equipment and food service operations for 8 billion pesos (approximately $452 million) to New York-based private equity firm Mill Point Capital LLC. The sale includes Imbera in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, along with Torrey and Cooking Depot. The transaction awaits regulatory approvals and aligns with Femsa’s strategy to focus on retail and beverages, with second-quarter results to be announced on July 24.

Conn’s (NASDAQ:CONN) – Furniture retailer Conn’s plans to close approximately 100 stores and liquidate inventory as part of an imminent bankruptcy filing, seeking financing to support the process. The company faces financial difficulties after three years of losses, exacerbated by the acquisition of WS Badcock, reflecting in its shares falling more than 80% this year.

VF Corp. (NYSE:VFC) – The owner of iconic apparel and accessory brands sold the Supreme brand to EssilorLuxottica for $1.5 billion in cash. Following the sale, VF Corp. shares closed up 13.22% on Wednesday. The sale was driven by the lack of synergies between Supreme and VF Corp. and occurs despite Supreme’s success in Asia. The transaction is expected to negatively impact VF Corp.’s earnings in the next fiscal year but will also reduce some of its debt. Shares fell 0.93% in pre-market trading.

Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H) – Hyatt is close to acquiring boutique hotel operator Standard International, expanding its luxury portfolio in tourist destinations. Negotiations are advancing, involving properties in London, Ibiza, and other locations. Hyatt, under the leadership of Mark Hoplamazian, seeks to strengthen its brand licensing model and attract loyal customers.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) – Walmart’s shares hit a new high on Wednesday, rising 1.49% and closing at $71.03, despite a general market downturn. This increase reflects investor confidence in the company’s growth strategies, including e-commerce and automation improvements. During meetings with management, a KeyBanc analyst raised the price target for Walmart shares, indicating positive future prospects for the company. Shares rose 0.11% in pre-market trading.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – During the first day of Amazon’s Prime Day in the US, consumers spent approximately $7.2 billion online, according to Adobe Analytics. Major retailers like Walmart and Target competed with significant discounts, while total online sales increased 11.7% compared to the previous year. During the first 32 hours of Prime Day, the average spend per order on Amazon was $60.03, up from $56.64 in 2023. Additionally, back-to-school spending surged significantly, with a 210% increase on Tuesday compared to daily sales levels in June 2024. Shares rose 0.34% in pre-market trading.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) – Netflix will report second-quarter results after the market close today. The company likely saw the smallest subscriber increase in five quarters, with about 4.82 million new subscribers compared to 9.3 million in the previous quarter. However, its new ad model drove strong growth in advertising revenue, which is expected to more than double. Shares rose 0.08% in pre-market trading.

Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) – Warner Bros Discovery plans to split its streaming and studio businesses from its TV networks, aiming to recover its declining market value. Most of the company’s debt, around $39 billion, could stay with the TV networks if the split occurs. Shares rose 0.36% in pre-market trading.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) – Disney leads the 2024 Emmy Awards nominations with its FX and Hulu series. FX’s “Shogun” received 25 nominations, followed by FX/Hulu’s “The Bear” with 23, and Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” with 21. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC on September 15. Shares rose 0.51% in pre-market trading.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta Platforms announced on Wednesday that it has suspended the use of generative AI tools in Brazil, in response to government concerns over its new privacy policy. With over 200 million users in the country, Brazil is a key market for Meta, especially for platforms like WhatsApp. Shares rose 0.84% in pre-market trading.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is collaborating with Sobrato Philanthropies and other groups to launch the Bay Area Housing Innovation Fund, with an initial investment of $50 million. The fund aims to support affordable housing projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, part of Apple’s $2.5 billion commitment to address California’s housing crisis since 2019. Shares rose 0.73% in pre-market trading.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether the AI agreement between Google and Samsung, involving the Gemini Nano on Galaxy S24 smartphones, harms rival chatbots. The European Commission seeks to understand if this limits the installation of other generative AI systems and interoperability with pre-installed apps. Shares rose 0.30% in pre-market trading.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) – Google and Microsoft are offering access to Nvidia’s AI chips for Chinese companies through data center services outside China, according to Information. This move comes despite US restrictions on advanced AI technology for China, aiming to ensure compliance with US export controls. Microsoft shares rose 0.11% in pre-market trading, while Nvidia shares rose 2.68%.

Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC), Globalfoundries (NASDAQ:GFS) – Intel and Globalfoundries saw their shares rise on Wednesday, contrasting with the overall drop in the semiconductor sector. Investors speculated that both could benefit from new policies under Biden or Trump, including stricter trade restrictions against Chinese chip companies. Intel shares rose 1.77% in pre-market trading.

AT&T (NYSE:T) – According to Bloomberg, the hacker responsible for AT&T’s data breach initially underestimated the stolen records of calls and texts from 109 million customers, including location data, not realizing its value initially. He received only $400,000 from AT&T to delete the data, a modest payment compared to recent cyberattacks. Shares remained stable in pre-market trading.

Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Boeing factory workers in Washington state voted over 99% in favor of a strike order, seeking a 40% increase in their first full negotiations with the company in 16 years. The vote, held at T-Mobile Park, reflects concerns about Boeing’s executive decisions and comes at a time of financial and production challenges for the aircraft manufacturer. Shares rose 0.09% in pre-market trading.

Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA) – Stellantis is increasing production of hybrid vehicle transmission systems due to growing demand, while adjusting strategies due to lower demand for fully electric cars. The company plans to accelerate production of electrified gearboxes by 10% at its Mirafiori plant, focusing on hybrids to meet consumers’ preference for more affordable options less dependent on charging infrastructure. Additionally, Serbia is offering Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen an opportunity to acquire lithium for car batteries, prioritizing European automakers over Chinese ones. President Aleksandar Vucic highlighted the desire to strengthen ties with the EU in an interview with Handelsblatt, ahead of discussions with the German chancellor on raw materials for electric cars. Stellantis shares rose 1.38% in pre-market trading.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – On Wednesday, Tesla shares fell 3.3%, closing at $248.50, despite recent target price increases ahead of the second-quarter earnings report. The tech sector faced a broad decline, also affecting the Nasdaq Composite and companies like Nvidia, which fell 6.7%. Analysts raised Tesla’s target price but remained cautious due to uncertainties about robotaxis. Shares rose 0.89% in pre-market trading.

GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) – GE Vernova shares fell 9.3% on Wednesday due to fragments of an offshore wind turbine blade found in Nantucket, shutting down the Vineyard Wind project for investigation. Shares remained stable in pre-market trading.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) – Berkshire Hathaway shares rose 1.65% on Wednesday, closing at $671,280.00, with Class A shares close to reaching $1 trillion in market value. Driven by value and financial stocks, they outperformed the S&P 500 with a 23% gain for the year, reflecting continued confidence in Warren Buffett’s leadership.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS), KKR & Co (NYSE:KKR), Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG), Capital One (NYSE:COF) – Discover Financial Services agreed to sell a student loan portfolio to Carlyle and KKR for up to $10.8 billion, marking a premium over the nearly $10.1 billion principal balance. The sale aims to reduce Discover’s loan book risk, preparing it for acquisition by Capital One. Additionally, Capital One committed to investing $265 billion over five years in loans, philanthropy, and investments if its acquisition of Discover Financial Services is approved. This includes maintaining loans for low- and moderate-income communities at $200 billion, preserving branches, and significantly increasing philanthropic donations. The initiative aims to address criticisms and secure regulatory approval. Capital One shares rose 1.02% in pre-market trading.

Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE:MFG) – Mizuho Securities is launching a fund to finance low-budget Japanese animation films, with $9.5 million to $15.9 million (¥1.5 billion to ¥2.5 billion) per film. This move aims to attract institutional and foreign investors to support a sector that has created global hits like Demon Slayer and Spirited Away, seeking to revitalize the industry.

TWFG – Insurance broker TWFG, backed by RenaissanceRe, announced it priced its IPO above the indicative range, selling 11 million shares at $17 each to raise up to $187 million. Texas-based TWFG, operating in 41 US states, primarily focuses on the Texas, California, and Louisiana markets.