Perficient (NASDAQ:PRFT) – After an acquisition agreement with EQT, a Swedish private equity firm, Perficient saw its shares soar 52.9% in pre-market trading to $73.55. EQT offered $76 per share, representing a 58% premium over Perficient’s closing price on Friday of $48.11.
Luminar Technologies (NASDAQ:LAZR) – Luminar Technologies faces staff cuts, reducing 20% of its workforce due to financial challenges. Shares plummeted 10.1% in Monday’s pre-market as the pioneering LiDAR technology company plans to save $80 million annually by outsourcing more production.
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) – Berkshire Hathaway saw a significant increase in operating profits in the first quarter of 2024, especially from gains in insurance underwriting, highlighted by a 185% growth at Geico. However, net profit, including stock investment fluctuations, decreased by 64%. The cash reserve reached a record $188.99 billion, showing Warren Buffett’s caution in making large acquisitions. Buffett announced the sale of all of Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in Paramount Global, taking full responsibility for the decision, and also reduced its stake in Apple. At the annual meeting, shareholders rejected proposals on environmental and social issues, while Buffett paid tribute to Charlie Munger, discussed company opportunities, and reassured shareholders about succession, stating that the designated executives were prepared to take over. Shares rose 1.16% in pre-market trading.
Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) – Paramount Global’s special committee is evaluating new proposals after ending negotiations with Skydance Media. Negotiations began with Sony (NYSE:SONY) and Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO), possibly involving broadcasting rights for CBS. Meanwhile, Skydance is weighing its options. Paramount faces challenges, including fierce competition in the streaming market.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is set to finally break the silence of over 18 months on updates to its iPad line. At the online event “Let Loose,” scheduled for May 7, CEO Tim Cook will unveil the much-anticipated new models of the iPad Pro and iPad Air, along with updated accessories. The broadcast will occur three hours earlier than usual, aiming to reach a global audience, with special attention to boosting sales in China. The new iPads will feature innovations such as OLED technology and M4 processors, while the absence of announcements about Macs suggests that fans will have to wait until late 2024 for updates in this product line.
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) – Following a sharp decline in sales, former CEO Howard Schultz urged the company to address its shortcomings and implement significant changes. He emphasized the importance of a renewed approach to market strategy, focusing on coffee innovation and improving customer experience, especially in China.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Google and the U.S. Department of Justice concluded final discussions on antitrust allegations, highlighting Google’s dominant influence on the web and online advertising. Judge Amit Mehta examined the viability of competing platforms like TikTok and Facebook as alternatives for advertisers. A decision is pending.
Reddit (NYSE:RDDT) – Reddit co-founder and CEO Steve Huffman holds 62.4 million Class A shares of the company, representing 61.5% of that class, according to a regulatory document released on Friday. The company, valued at $6.4 billion after its initial public offering in March, will present its first quarterly results on Tuesday.
Block (NYSE:SQ) – Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block, left the board of the social networking platform Bluesky, which he helped launch a year ago, after expressing disappointment with the sale of Twitter to Elon Musk. He turned to Musk’s platform, now called X, to announce philanthropic donations to open internet protocols, highlighting the importance of technological freedom. Jack Dorsey reduced his list of people he follows on the social networking platform X to just three profiles: Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, and Stella Assange, wife of the imprisoned WikiLeaks editor. This change suggests a possible approach between Dorsey and Musk.
Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) – Investors eagerly await Palantir’s quarterly results, reflecting its growing strength in the artificial intelligence market. Revenue is expected to be between $612 million and $616 million, with adjusted operating profit between $196 million and $200 million. Projections for 2024 indicate revenues between $2,652 billion and $2,668 billion, with an adjusted free cash flow between $800 million and $1 billion. Analysts expect commercial segment revenue of $292 million and government segment revenue of $322 million for the first quarter.
HSBC (NYSE:HSBC) – Ping An Insurance Group, the largest Asian investor in HSBC, voted against reappointing CEO Noel Quinn as a director on the bank’s board. Quinn, who announced his departure, defeated Ping An’s campaign to spin off HSBC’s Asian businesses, being reelected with 83.93% of votes in favor.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs announced on Friday that it reached a preliminary agreement to settle a class action from 2014 concerning the trading of platinum and palladium. The bank, among several defendants, was accused of violating antitrust laws by allegedly manipulating the prices of these metals. The settlement awaits judicial approval.
UBS (NYSE:UBS) – UBS is set to disclose its first quarter results on Tuesday. Expectations are for total revenue of $11.95 billion and a pre-tax profit of $1.51 billion, compared to $8.74 billion and $2.35 billion, respectively, in the same period last year. Investors are attentive to the Swiss government’s regulatory proposals, concerned about the effects on UBS’s capitalization and its ability to return capital to shareholders. Additionally, the integration of Credit Suisse continues to influence UBS’s results.
Beijing Momenta Technology – Beijing Momenta Technology, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, has submitted a confidential filing for an initial public offering in the U.S., potentially raising between $200 million and $300 million. Momenta has investor General Motors (NYSE:GM), which obtained a license in August to test autonomous electric vehicles in designated zones in Shanghai, using Momenta’s technology.
Vistra (NYSE:VST), Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:MARA) – Texas energy company Vistra will be included in the S&P 500 index on Wednesday, replacing Pioneer Natural Resources, acquired by Exxon Mobil. Aaon, focused on HVAC, will replace Vistra in the S&P MidCap 400 index, while Bitcoin miner Marathon Digital will enter the S&P SmallCap 600.
Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) – U.S. shares of Li Auto saw a 6.9% increase in pre-market trading after the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer announced a significant increase in orders for its L6 model.
Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) – Rivian Automotive named Javier Varela as its chief operating officer, bringing his experience from Volvo as it expands electric vehicle production. Varela, former vice CEO and COO of Volvo, will replace Frank Klein in August, leading key operations to drive growth and profitability for Rivian.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla shares rose 1.1% in pre-market trading after the company replaced its standard range rear-wheel drive Model Y with a long-range version over the weekend, reducing the range to about 320 kilometers per charge.
United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL), American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) – United Airlines and American Airlines agreed to proceed with an $8.5 billion renovation of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, after months of disagreements over costs. The plan prioritizes the O’Hare Global Terminal, aiming for benefits for travelers and job creation. Construction will be phased.
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) – Southwest Airlines plans to reduce pilot hours and salaries to cope with higher costs and staffing excess due to delays in Boeing (NYSE:BA) aircraft deliveries. The company, affected by the Boeing crisis, is also cutting operations at airports and reducing hiring to lower expenses.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Boeing is set to launch its Starliner spacecraft on its first manned flight to the International Space Station on Monday, marking a milestone for NASA and Boeing. The launch is scheduled for 10:34 PM. The mission, led by NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will test Starliner’s capabilities throughout the space journey.
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) – Exxon Mobil expects it will take 18 to 24 months to achieve full production synergies after its $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD). Bart Cahir of Exxon anticipates rapid growth in oil production in the Permian and smooth integration of operations.
BP plc (NYSE:BP) – BP will present its first-quarter results on Tuesday. It is expected to post a profit of $2.87 billion, a significant drop from 2023. The RC profit before interest and taxes is estimated at $5.83 billion. Investors will watch the operational performance, restructuring plans, and shareholder returns.
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) – Aetna, a subsidiary of CVS Health, agreed to pay $2 million and revise its fertility treatment coverage policies after a lawsuit alleging discrimination against LGBTQ+ beneficiaries. The settlement establishes a new equal health benefits plan, addressing concerns of unequal access. Additionally, CVS Health faced a Medicare Advantage crisis last week, resulting in a 19% stock drop on Wednesday, the largest since 2009. Medical insurance costs exceeded expectations by about $900 million, leading to a downward revision of the annual earnings per share projection to at least $7.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought more details on Novo Nordisk’s $16.5 billion proposal to acquire Catalent (NYSE:CTLT), following a recent approval request. Novo aims to expand its production of the drug Wegovy, which may raise antitrust concerns.
Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW) – Steward Health Care, a hospital network, plans to file for bankruptcy protection, impacting Medical Properties Trust shares with a 17.3% drop in Monday’s pre-market trading. Medical Properties Trust’s financing could reach up to $225 million, while Steward faces financial challenges, evidenced by reports of operational issues in hospitals.