Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) – Exxon Mobil predicted
a drop in first-quarter operating results due to lower oil and gas
prices and significant losses on fuel derivatives. After two years
of strong profitability, the quarter registered an operating profit
of about $6.65 billion.
Twilio (NYSE:TWLO) – Twilio, a leader in cloud
communications, proposes to shorten the board’s tenure to one year.
Byron Deeter will retire before the 2024 meeting, reducing the
board to nine members. Andy Stafman, from Sachem Head, joins the
board. Pressured by investors such as Legion Partners and Anson
Funds, the company faces demands for strategic changes.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is delving into
personal robotics, eyeing potential innovations for its next
product phase. Research includes a mobile robot that accompanies
users at home and a desktop device with robotic movement. Despite
the early stages, Apple is seeking new revenue streams.
Additionally, issues with Apple’s services such as the App Store,
Apple TV+, and Apple Music were resolved after disruptions in
various regions, including reports of crashes in Apple Fitness+,
Arcade, Audiobooks, Books, and Podcasts.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Alphabet is
considering introducing paid premium features in its AI-based
search engine, exploring options like incorporating them into
premium subscription services. The move, a first for Google, aims
to boost its presence in the AI field. The free search model would
continue with ads.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta’s WhatsApp
resumed operation on Wednesday after hours of global outage. The
service confirmed the resolution of the issues. Thousands of users
were affected in the US, UK, Brazil, and India. Instagram also
experienced outages.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon Web Services
(AWS) eliminated hundreds of jobs in sales, marketing, and
technology, part of a restructuring at Amazon.com. The affected
team includes employees from the sales, marketing, and technology
divisions of physical stores. The reorganization reflects efforts
to streamline the organization, according to Reuters.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
(NYSE:TSM) – TSMC resumed operations after the worst earthquake in
25 years, with no significant damage to essential equipment. The
earthquake left 10 dead and over 1,000 injured.
BlackBerry (NYSE:BB) – BlackBerry surprised
with a profit in the fourth quarter, driven by high demand for its
cybersecurity services amid rising online crimes. The company
reported an adjusted net profit of 3 cents per share in the fourth
quarter. Quarterly revenue was $173 million, with cybersecurity
unit revenue at $92 million and IoT at $66 million. The revenue
forecast for 2025 is $586-616 million, and for the first quarter in
the range of $130 million to $138 million, below the analyst
estimate of $151.12 million.
Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD) – The proposed merger
between Vodafone Group Plc and CK Hutchison Holdings’ UK unit Three
now faces an in-depth antitrust investigation in the UK, with the
companies at risk of having the deal blocked unless they offer
concessions.
Levi Strauss (NYSE:LEVI) – Levi Strauss
reported an adjusted net profit of 26 cents per share in the first
quarter, exceeding expectations. Net revenue was about $1.56
billion, slightly above estimates. Direct-to-consumer sales grew
8%, while wholesale sales fell 19% in constant currency. Levi
Strauss revised its annual profit forecast upwards, driven by cost
savings, job cuts, and less aggressive discounts.
Simulations Plus (NASDAQ:SLP) – The company
specializing in pharmaceutical safety software reported a 16%
increase in second-quarter revenue, reaching $18.3 million,
surpassing analyst projections. As a result, its shares saw a
pre-market increase of 8.7%.
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) – Billionaire investor
Nelson Peltz faced a defeat on Walt Disney’s board, but his
investment portfolio remains solid, with Disney shares up 50% since
his involvement. Despite the loss, he influenced changes at Disney,
showing that even in defeat, his impact is significant. With
Peltz’s months-long battle in the rearview, Disney focuses on CEO
Bob Iger’s succession. The board extended his retirement five
times, promising to take the matter seriously, considering both
internal and external candidates.
Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) – Paramount
Global opted for exclusive merger talks with Skydance Media instead
of accepting Apollo Global Management’s (NYSE:APO) $26 billion
offer. This decision could end Shari Redstone’s control over
Paramount.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) – Costco
Wholesale will expand its partnership with online healthcare
provider Sesame, offering members access to weight loss programs,
including prescription medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Members
will pay $179 for three months, compared to $195 for
non-members.
Tapestry (NYSE:TPR), Gap
(NYSE:GPS) – Luxury handbag maker Coach sued Gap, claiming that the
Old Navy brand sold T-shirts with the “Coach” name without
authorization, potentially confusing consumers. Coach and its
parent, Tapestry, seek compensation for damages and the destruction
of the inventory.
Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) – Jesse Cohn from Elliott
Investment Management expressed confidence in Etsy, foreseeing
“significant long-term upside.” Holding more than 10%, he envisions
growth opportunities, citing potential for user expansion and
monetization. Elliott appointed Marc Steinberg to Etsy’s board in
February.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs faces
pressure to separate the CEO and chairman roles, currently held by
David Solomon, as recommended by the Institutional Shareholder
Services (ISS). ISS highlighted mistakes in the consumer sector and
executive departures. The bank disagrees with the recommendation,
citing its robust leadership structure.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) – JPMorgan Chase
launched Chase Media Solutions, allowing advertisers to target its
80 million customers based on spending data. The platform combines
a retail media network with Chase transaction data, helping brands
precisely reach customers. The launch follows the acquisition of
the Figg platform two years ago.
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) – Bank of America’s
securities portfolios decreased in the fourth quarter as markets
recovered, but pressures return. By the end of 2023, unrealized
losses exceeded $100 billion. The $595 billion portfolio,
predominantly mortgage-backed, withstood these declines.
Nomura Holdings (NYSE:NMR) – Nomura Holdings
plans to expand its US credit portfolio to over $50 billion in 10
years, possibly seeking smaller acquisitions to strengthen its
private credit business. This reflects its strategy to diversify
revenue and expand in private markets to mitigate global risks.
BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) – BlackRock, the world’s
largest asset manager, is considering investing in Kenyan stocks,
which rebounded after poor performance in 2023 due to economic
policy changes, offering investment opportunities in a stable
market with high growth potential.
Block (NYSE:SQ) – Block’s shares are falling in
pre-market trading, down 3.75% to $76.66, after Morgan Stanley
analysts downgraded their rating from Equal Weight to Underweight.
They also lowered the stock’s target price from $62 to $60, as
reported by The Fly.
Wayfair (NYSE:W) – Wayfair’s rating was
upgraded from In-Line to Outperform by Evercore ISI, while analysts
raised the stock’s target price from $65 to $80. As a result,
shares saw a 5.3% increase in pre-market trading, reaching
$65.69.
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU) – Nearly 5,000
pilots from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) requested
JetBlue to start negotiations for a new collective bargaining
agreement. The pilots negotiated an extension during the canceled
merger talks with Spirit Airlines (NYSE:SAVE).
Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – Stellantis CEO Carlos
Tavares emphasized the need to halve the weight of electric vehicle
(EV) batteries over the next 10 years to make electrification
environmentally viable, during the automaker’s Mobility Freedom
Forum. He highlighted the importance of advancements in cell power
density to achieve this goal, aiming also to address the lithium
shortage, a key component in current batteries. Tavares dismissed
hydrogen as a viable alternative due to high costs, suggesting it
could be a solution for large corporate fleets but not for ordinary
consumers.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Elon Musk acknowledged
that Tesla is struggling to retain artificial intelligence experts,
some migrating to his new AI venture. Tesla is adjusting AI team
salaries based on performance, in response to intense competition
for talent.
Fisker (NYSE:FSR) – On Wednesday, Fisker
announced the withdrawal of its financial projections for 2024,
while exploring alternatives to address financial challenges. The
company is considering options such as restructuring, fundraising,
and asset sales, but warns of uncertainties and risks.
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) – After NASA
awarded one of three contracts to develop a new lunar lander to
Intuitive Machines, its shares increased by 8.7% in pre-market
trading. The company became the first to successfully land a
privately funded probe on the Moon with its Odysseus spacecraft, in
February.
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