Arcus Biosciences (NYSE:RCUS), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) – Arcus Biosciences‘ shares rose 19.5% in pre-market trading on Tuesday following news of a $320 million investment by Gilead Sciences, which also led to a revision of their collaboration agreement. This change aims to boost the growth of their joint development programs and includes the appointment of Johanna Mercier from Gilead to the Arcus board.
Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) – Super Micro Computer announced projected net sales between $3.7 billion and $4.1 billion for the March quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $2.87 billion. Super Micro‘s value has tripled since May 2023 due to strong demand for AI servers. CEO Charles Liang believes growth will continue for many quarters, and the company is at an advantage due to its market agility and relationships with semiconductor manufacturers. However, investors are also wary of a potential downturn, as has happened with other server suppliers in the past.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT) – Amazon and the robotic vacuum manufacturer iRobot announced the termination of their merger plans due to opposition from EU and US antitrust regulators. Amazon cited the impossibility of regulatory approval in the EU as the reason. Regulators were concerned that Amazon could harm iRobot‘s rivals on its online marketplace. The FTC was also prepared to reject the deal before its cancellation. Additionally, iRobot plans a significant restructuring, cutting 31% of its workforce.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft has appointed Johanna Faries as the president of the Blizzard Entertainment gaming publishing unit, part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Matt Cox is the new Senior Vice President and General Manager of Call of Duty.
Teradyne (NASDAQ:TER) – Teradyne, a supplier of semiconductor testing equipment, has moved about $1 billion in production out of China due to US export regulations. This affected its operations and sales in China, resulting in a market share drop from 16% to 12% in the three months ending on October 1st.
Calix (NYSE:CALX) – Calix, a broadband software company, experienced a 22% drop in pre-market trading on Tuesday after reporting a fourth-quarter loss and projecting first-quarter revenue between $225 million and $231 million. This forecast was below the previous year’s $250 million and analysts’ expectations of $267.5 million in revenue.
F5 (NASDAQ:FFIV) – In the fiscal first quarter, F5 reported adjusted earnings of $3.43 per share, beating analysts’ expectations, along with revenue of $693 million, which also exceeded forecasts. The company anticipates second-quarter sales between $675 million and $695 million, compared to analysts’ predictions of $673 million.
Sanmina (NASDAQ:SANM) – Sanmina forecasted second-quarter revenues between $1.825 billion and $1.925 billion, exceeding FactSet’s expectations of $1.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are projected between $1.20 and $1.30, above analysts’ estimates of $1.02. In the first quarter, the company reported a net income of $57.07 million and revenue of $1.87 billion, with shares falling 8.8% over the past 12 months.
Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) – Albemarle, the world’s leading lithium producer, laid off over 300 employees, about 4% of its workforce, as part of a cost-cutting strategy due to falling metal prices used in electric vehicle batteries. The move aims to save at least $50 million in 2024, although the company has not disclosed specific figures.
Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) – Cleveland-Cliffs announced a fourth-quarter loss that, although smaller than the previous year, was accompanied by $5.11 billion in revenue that fell short of expectations. The steel company forecasts that the adjusted profit in the first quarter, before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, will “significantly exceed” the $279 million recorded in the fourth quarter. This resulted in a 2.6% drop in shares in Tuesday’s pre-market trading.
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) – Investors are concerned about Exxon Mobil avoiding the US securities regulator by suing shareholders over resolutions, as the SEC has made it harder to avoid these resolutions under the Biden administration. Currently, fewer companies are rejecting shareholder resolutions, and the change in SEC rules has encouraged activist shareholders, resulting in an increase in resolutions submitted.
BP (NYSE:BP) – Activist investor Bluebell Capital Partners criticizes BP Plc for its planned reduction in oil and gas production, arguing that the company should abandon this goal. Bluebell emphasizes the importance of balancing strategy considering the ongoing demand for oil and the transition to low-carbon energy. BP‘s new CEO, Murray Auchincloss, has the opportunity to review the strategy, but Bluebell is not calling for a complete halt to clean energy investments. The campaign increases pressure on Auchincloss, who replaced Bernard Looney, the architect of BP‘s clean energy strategy. BP plans to invest more than half of its annual spending on oil and gas by 2030, despite the ongoing focus on clean energy.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) – An influential industry leader expressed concerns about Boeing, warning that additional production problems could lead to stricter regulations. The president of Air Lease Corp, Steven Udvar-Hazy, called on Boeing to demonstrate leadership in aircraft design. He mentioned the explosion incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet but downplayed systemic concerns. Boeing withdrew a request for an exemption from safety standards for the 737 MAX 7, which is awaiting certification. The decision came after opposition from Senator Tammy Duckworth, who was concerned about the anti-icing system that could cause dangerous debris. Instead, Boeing will opt for an engineering solution during the certification process.
Gol (NYSE:GOL) – A US bankruptcy judge allowed the Brazilian airline Gol to borrow the first $350 million of its proposed bankruptcy financing, deemed “desperately” needed to maintain normal operations. The financing has a high interest rate and additional costs, while Gol‘s shares have significantly dropped. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to significant debts and post-pandemic challenges.
VinFast (NASDAQ:VFS) – The Vietnamese electric vehicle company VinFast announced plans to establish an electric vehicle business network in the Philippines, according to a statement issued by its parent company, Vingroup. The investment in the Philippines is scheduled to start this year.
Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – Stellantis has started mass production of hydrogen fuel cell vans in Europe, expanding its lineup of zero-emission commercial vehicles. Larger vans will be manufactured in Poland, and medium-sized ones in France. The production faces tensions with the Italian government. Stellantis expects to sell over 10,000 units annually by 2025, with a range of up to 500 kilometers and refueling times of 4 to 5 minutes.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) – US House Committee chairpersons have called for an investigation into four Chinese companies allegedly linked to sensitive issues related to Ford‘s battery plant in Michigan. Ford faces concerns about its partnership with CATL but states that it follows strict regulations and human rights standards. Lawmakers also called for investigations related to sanctions evasion and ties to North Korea.
Toyota (NYSE:TM) – Toyota retained its title as the world’s best-selling automaker for the fourth consecutive year, recording record annual sales of 11.2 million in 2023. However, its president, Akio Toyoda, apologized for scandals at group companies, including Daihatsu and Hino Motors, which damaged the brand’s reputation in terms of quality and safety. Toyota faces governance challenges after irregularities in certification testing procedures for cars and engines. Toyota also recently issued a “Do Not Drive” warning to owners of about 50,000 older vehicles in the US due to problems with Takata airbag inflators. This measure aims to prevent potentially deadly explosions associated with these inflators. To date, more than 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries have been linked to Takata airbag inflators worldwide.
Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) – Whirlpool revised its 2024 projections, forecasting sales of $16.9 billion, below estimates of $17.68 billion, and an adjusted annual profit between $13 and $15 per share, compared to analysts’ average expectation of $15.48 per share. The company reported that it eliminated about $800 million in costs in 2023 and expects to cut up to $400 million more this year.
WPP (NYSE:WPP) – The British advertising group WPP announced that its net revenue, after pass-through costs, grew by 0.9% last year. They predict similar results in 2024, with a slight improvement in operating profit margin. The company has also set a medium-term revenue growth target of over 3%, driven by investments in technology.
EchoStar (NASDAQ:SATS) – EchoStar Corp., parent company of Dish Network, ended an exchange offer of over $5 billion in debt due in the coming years for new notes, without disclosing the reason. The previous offer to exchange $4.9 billion in convertible debt for new securities is still in effect. Dish (NASDAQ:DISH) faces a challenge in managing its debt of over $20 billion, leading creditors to split into groups and hire consultants.
Diageo (NYSE:DEO) – Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker, experienced a 0.6% drop in organic net sales in the first half, below estimates, due to a decline in Latin America. Organic operating profit fell by 5.4%, worse than expected, but the company anticipates an improvement in the second half.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) – Chipotle Mexican Grill plans to hire 19,000 new employees for the busy season, targeting Generation Z workers. The company is introducing benefits such as retirement plans and access to mental health resources to attract and retain this young workforce.
UBS (NYSE:UBS) – The combined market share of UBS and Credit Suisse in the Swiss fund sector fell to 37.6% in 2023 as UBS integrates Credit Suisse and some investors avoid overexposure to a single institution. The Swiss fund market grew by 3.7%, reaching 1.37 trillion Swiss francs in 2023. Switzerland is the third-largest asset management market in Europe, after the UK and France. Moreover, as UBS moves forward with the integration of Credit Suisse, it faces regulatory concerns due to its size. Investors fear ongoing conflicts with Swiss regulators over the bank’s size.
Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) – The CEO of Deutsche Bank expressed concerns about the threat of right-wing extremism in Germany, especially related to the rise of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD). He warned that this could impact investment and confidence in the country’s democratic values. Critical state elections this year are also mentioned as crucial for the future of democracy in Germany and business in the country.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) – Morgan Stanley analysts are optimistic about major US banks due to expectations of less burdensome regulations on capital levels, which could lead to stock buybacks. They upgraded recommendations for Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Citigroup (NYSE:C), and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and consider the large-cap banking group attractive. The regulatory reform, known as “Basel III End Game,” could be less severe, allowing significant stock buybacks due to the high levels of excess capital held by the largest US banks.
HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC) – HSBC was fined $73 million in the UK for failing to comply with deposit protection rules, incorrectly excluding billions of pounds of customer money from a protection program. The fine reflects the seriousness of the failures that occurred between 2015 and 2022.